This is an ever growing list of Union County Biographies. If there is just the page listed it is one that I have transcribed. Otherwise, it will have the name of the person who donated the biographies.  If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

CHARLES L. KALER. - A real pioneer of the pioneers, who has wrought on the Pacific coast for forty years and more with display of energy and skill that have placed him among the leaders of the county in attaining its progress, the well-known gentleman, whose name is at the head of this article is deserving of representation in the volume of his county's history. He is proprietor of the large green house in Lagrande and handles one of the largest nurseries of the state, having a full line of all varieties of both ornamental trees and rare shrubs and flowers.

Mr. Kaler was born in Waldoborough, Maine, being the son of Charles L. and Mary Kaler, both of whom died when he was very young. His childhood days were spent with a neighbor, and when nine years had rolled by he inaugurated independent action and set out to Vermont, returning later to Maine, thence to Florida and again returning to Maine and then to San Francisco, where he spent two years. The next trip was to Vancouver Island, whence he made his way to the Caribou mines and four years were spent there in search for gold. He came back to Westminster, through Olympia and Cowlitz to Portland, thence to Salem, Mooney's station, Waldo Butte and Umatilla, in which latter place he remained for a number of years, then repaired to Old Lagrande, and a few years after that time he went to Clove creek and took up a ranch, now known as the Willow Glen. Upon this farm he has placed much improvement. He has a nursery of one-half million trees, embracing all the kinds of flowers and nut trees that are used in this country, besides all of the smaller fruits and ornamental shrubs and trees and many rare specimens, as the Acacia, from Mount Sinai, pineapples, bananas, pepper, coffee, tea, ginger, oranges, lemons, plants from the Canary Islands, silk oak from Australia, bamboo, a dozen kinds of palms, and many others too numerous to describe, which are kept in stock both in the nursery and a large green house that he has provided for the purpose. In addition to this, Mr. Kaler has constructed a large, artificial lake, that is perfectly round and surrounded with beautiful shade trees and fine walks which make it a place of real comfort and artistic beauty. Many thousands of dollars were spent in this work, and Willow Glen is justly renowned as one of the most beautiful spots of the county. In addition to this Mr. Kaler has a large green house in the city of Lagrande where he makes his headquarters, and he justly holds rank with the most capable business men of the section. Mr. Kaler has many personal accomplishments that are very becoming and entertaining, as for instance his ability to handle with credit any musical instrument that comes to his hand, being in earlier days a master in music. He is esteemed among his fellows and is the recipient of the confidence and respect of all, which is fully merited.

On July 20, 1830, in a village in Oswego county, New York, there was born a son to Martin P. and Melvina (Potter) Kellogg, the subject of our humble sketch. The father was a faithful laborer in the ministry of the Methodist church and moved from place to place, taking our subject at an early age to Holmes county, Ohio, and also to various other sections of that classic commonwealth. At the noted Oberlin College of that state John R. was trained not only in the lore of books, but in the sound principles that have characterized him in his later life of worthy service. At the age of twenty-three he departed from his alma mater and took up the life of the educator, manifesting capabilities and perseverance at the inception that betokened the gratifying success that he gained later in this realm. He continued in various counties of Ohio, then removed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and in 1855, we find him in the new country of Iowa, teaching school in Wayne county, where five years were spent in successful instruction, and then he enlisted in Company I, Fourth Iowa Infantry, serving as fifer for the company, and attending the rallies until they were ready to go to the front, and then he was appointed fife major, but after one short month's service he was taken sick so as to be incapacitated for further service and was forced to resign. In 1862 he fitted the popular ox team outfit and measured the plains from Iowa to the Grande Ronde valley, having some difficulty with the savages on the route, but none since that time, as he has constantly befriended them. He took the place where he now lives, three miles north from Lagrande. He erected a cabin, improved the land, bought more and steadily added by industry and management until he has a fine estate, excellently improved and free from all debts and a competence that his thrift and labor have provided for the golden time of his life.

In 1858 Mr. Kellogg married Miss Rocsa A., daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Thornton) Hill. She was born in July, 1840, crossed the plains with her husband, enduring her share of all hardships of pioneer life and is still vigorous and healthy. They have reared two adopted children, having none of their own, and these two daughters are now married. Mr. Kellogg has always allied himself with the Republicans, although that party was weak in the beginning of this county. He is, and always has been, active in politics, and has been in the field for office several times.

Formerly Mr. Kellogg adhered to the Methodist church, but is now a member of the United Brethren, and for thirty years he has been superintendent of a union Sunday school, wherein he has done excellent work and has left a record capable of much good. In the early days here Mr. Kellogg taught vocal music and had such pupils as Governor Geer, Professor Horner and others. He is now one of the substantial men of the county and has the joy in his retired days of seeing the fruits of his hands in the institutions and good springing up around him.

While crossing the plains in 1862, near American Falls, as they were plodding their weary way westward, a horseman came dashing up to his father - the captain of the train - with the report that the company just ahead had been attacked by Indians and were in need of assistance. The captain immediately ordered a corral, and after posting pickets and guards took the available men and proceeded to the relief of the distressed. He found the train almost totally annihilated. Men, women and children were scattered along the road dead, dying, disabled, crying, pleading, or running back towards his train for refuge. The road at that point passed through a rocky coulée; and as the company hurriedly passed p they found other men, women and children secreted among the rocks, as well as a few of the Indians looking for more victims; while the majority of the Indians were engaged in driving off the stock from the train assailed. Captain Kennedy brought up his own train and encamped, having a strong guard out. The next morning, not having stock enough to haul the wounded and the little ones, as well as the supplies for the remnant of the train attacked, he took twenty-five men and went to reconnoiter and if possible recapture enough of the stock to pull the extra wagons. They were partially cut off from their camp and did some blooding fighting on their return, losing seven men killed, while the captain and five others were wounded.

After graduating he located at LaGrande, Oregon, where he followed the practice of medicine for two years, and in 1873 moved to Dayton, Washington Territory, where he remained until 1887; he then moved to Sprague, and from there again to Spokane Falls, coming from there to Weston, Oregon, where he now resides. The Doctor is building up a fine medical practice; and we predict a successful future to this man of worth.

In 1876 they drove a band of a thousand cattle across the plains to Wyoming, and sold them to advantage. The brothers now own eighteen hundred acres of choice agricultural
land six miles west of Baker City, upon the site of their first location. They now have residences in Baker City, Oregon, and are in the full enjoyment of life, having accumulated sufficient means, as a reward for their perseverance, to take life easily.

Mr. J.P. Kinnison was married to Miss Mary Chandler in 1864. In 1884 this companion died; and his present wife, formerly Mrs. N.W. Hannah, conducts his household, caring for her own tow girls and her husband's five boys.

Mr. H.A. Kinnison married Miss Mary A. George in 1867. They have one boy and a girl now living.

Caswell county, North Carolina, is his native place and September 19, 1838, the date of his birth, his parents being William and Susan R. (Harrison(, natives of North Carolina, the father being a farmer there until 1843, in which year he removed to adair county, Misouri, in that place also being numbered with the agriculturists until the time of his death, which occurred September 19, 1865, the mother passing away in October of the same year. They sleep quietly in Macon county, Missouri. Until the age of majority our subject remained with his parents and then started on the path of independent action in life, going first to Kansas, where for six months he was engaged in farming and then returned to Missouri, remaining there until 1865. In this last year he came overland to the Grande Ronde valley, purchasing a farm of two hundred acres near Summerville from the state and settling down to farming and raising stock. Ten years were spent in this place and then he sold his property and took a homestead at his present place, four miles northeast from Elgin. He has increased his holding of real estate until at the present time he is the proprietor of four hundred and eighty acres. He gives his attention to the dual occupation of tilling the soil and raising stock, and success in unbounded measure has rewarded his thrift and industry. He has a modeern dwelling, tasty and comfortable, besides good barns and outbuildings and his farm is skillfully handled.

In June 1863, Mr. Knight married Priscilla, daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Harris, mention of whom is made in another portion of this work. The nuptials were celebrated in Sullivan county, Missouri, and eight children have been the fruit of the union, Hester, William, Mary, Ida, Viva, Samuel, Flora and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are valuable members of society and they are esteemed by all, always displaying exemplary lives for the upbuilding and advancement of the best interests of the county and its inhabitants.

SILAS W. KOGER is one of the prominent and capable farmers of Union county, who has done a good part in its development and has maintained a reputation untarnished and displayed ability and integrity in all of his endeavors that are becoming and commend him to all who are lovers of the upright and desirous of progress.

Our subject's father was a native of Kentucky, as also the mother. While quite young the father began the task of getting an education by unaided effort, which to his praise be it said he accomplished in a becoming manner. His birth occurred on November 11, 1816, and when he had arrived at the age of his majority, he took up the work of the ministry in the Baptist church, with this difference from the common clergyman that he never preached the gospel of grace for wages, deeming it more in accord with the spirit of this distinguished message that it be promulgated by men free. Until the time of his death, which occurred on October 2, 1870, he was more or less in faithful adherence to the dispensation of the gospel. He was married in Kentucky, migrated to Missouri, thence to Iowa, and then across the plains to Linn county where our subject was born on July 5, 1862. In 1865, the father removed to the Grande Ronde valley, taking the present place where our subject lives, three miles north from Cove. The mother lived until June 13, 1892, when she too was called to enter upon the rewards awaiting her in another world, and peacefully the faithful and venerable pioneer and his gracious wife sleep until the morn of eternal waking.

Our subject looks to Linn county as his native place and the Grande Ronde as the place of his early childhood days, receiving in this latter place his education. He was always occupied on the farm and while his father was engaged in the ministerial labor he attended to the farm, commencing when he was fifteen years of age. He has a good farm of one-quarter section, well improved and all cultivated and producing abundant crops in response to the skill of his husbandry.

On December 6, 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. Koger and Miss Ella, daughter of William F. and Elizabeth (Phillip) Alexander, pioneers from Missouri. Mr. Alexander is now operating a livery stable in Cove. Mr. Koger is a member of the Masons, cove Lodge, No. 91. His father came across the plains in the train that was lost in the famous Meeks cut off and was instrumental in discovering the famous blue bucket diggings that have never been seen since. On the farm of our subject stands one of the old landmarks of 1866, in the shape of a well preserved log cabin. To the faithful efforts of such men as the subject of this sketch are due the steps of progress from the wilds of nature to its present opulent position that our county has made, and he is deserving of especial mention in this volume as one of the builders of the county.

Among the many sturdy pioneers of Eastern Oregon who years ago bid a fond farewell to the comforts and pleasures of their happy eastern homes and journeyed toward the setting sun to find a new home in the wonderful and distant west was Abraham Krandall, now living in the Cove. The advance of years appear to have lightly cast their burdens upon him and with 4 scores past on the great highway of Life almost reached, he is still a vigorous specimen of manhood, to whome the growing ailments and feeblesness of age are strangers still. Born in the state of New York, he at an early age came with his parents to Pickaway county, Ohio and in the wilds of the Sciota valley found a new home in what was then regarded as the far west. He has a vivid remembrance of the stirring events of the war of 1812, and his father, Zibah Randall, was mong the first to rally to the aid of "Old Tippecanoe" to save the settlers from the tomahawk and scalmping knife of the Indians whose bloody deeds were striking tewrror to the hearts of the new settlers. As a child he learned to revere the name of General Harrison and it was a proud moment of his life when in 1840 at the little town of Westfall, Ohio, he cast his vote for

and later on to know that Harrison was elected president of the United States. Mr. Randall tells many stories of that eventful campaign. The enthusiasm of the people of Sciota valley knew no bounds. It was one continued round of excitement day and night that culminated in a frenzy of joy, when, in the slow coach days of the period it was at last ascertained that Harrison and Tyler had been elected. To those, who like Mr. Randall voted for Harrison in 1840 and are now living. It is natural that they should feel enthusiastic over the nomination of the grandson of their illustrious hero, and Abraham Randall's face kindled with pride as he expressed the hope that Ben Harrison would be elected and that it would be a happy event in his life when in next November he cast his ballot for him. During the civil war Mr. Randall's eldest son, Ruther, promptly answered the call to arms and with knapsack strapped to his back and musket shouldered he with the thousands of other brave defenders marched forth to defend the same flag under which his grandfather had fought against England in 1812. As he was about to leave home:

his father took him by the hand and bidding him adieu said: "Luther, you are going to fight for the right. It will be hard to lose you but I would rather hear of your falling in battle than to learn of you turning your back to the enemy." These were a patriots words to a patriot son and through the weeks and din of 22 hard fought battles, Luther Randall, with his face always to the foe performed a soldier's duty and escaped unharmed to return at the close of the war to the loved ones at home.

There are many others of the aged pioneers of the State who voted for Harrison in 1840, a number that seems almost incredible and not one of them but what has expressed the desire to be spared to vote for Harrison next November. It would be interesting to know how many of these valiant supporters of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" are living in this part of Oregon and an invitation is extended to them to send their names to the REPUBLICAN with a short account of the stirring events of the stirring events of that memorable campaign in their localities.

ELIAS KUHN.-The venerable pioneer of whom we now have the pleasure of speaking is an esteemed member of society and one of the real builders of Union county, being a worthy member of the sturdy men who drew a halt on the immigrant road here in 1862, since while time his toil and sagicity have been displayed here in a commendable manner and much credit is due him for the praiseworthy labors that he has performed in these years, while his record in long and faithful pilgrimage is untarnished and his example has been an exemplary one.

In Cambria county, Pennsylvania, we find the birthplace of our subject and his parents were David and Elizabeth (Good) Kuhn, who received the birth of this son on April 14, 1829, with joy, and five years later proceeded westward to the frontiers of Ohio, and thence to Iowa in 1851, where their pilgrim way closed and they went to their rest after having done faithful work in three states for their development and progress. The father was born in March, 1804, and died in May, 1884, while the mother was born in 1808 and died on the anniversary of her birth, March 19, 1887. In the Buckeye state our subject received his education that fortified him for the walk of life in his subsequent years. He also in that state learned the art of agriculture and then came to Iowa, where he and a brother took land and improved the same until 1862. In that year he was led by an adventurous spirit and by the reports from the gold fields of the west to fit out an ox team and join a train that rolled its slow and ponderous way toward the setting sun. The Salmon river gold diggings were the mecca of the pilgrim, and why he turned aside to dwell in the Grande Ronde valley can only be accounted for by the fact that he perceived the rich advantages that its soil and boundless fertility offered. Howbeit, in the later months of the year in which he started from Iowa we find our subject settled on a quarter-section of raw land busily engaged in making it a comfortable home for himself and little ones. This farm grew betimes to the extent of four hundred acres, three hundred of which are good producing ground and the balance is timber and pasture. The farm has been a good producer and has a four-acre orchard, and is one of the skillfully tilled pieces of the county.

On March 6, 1854, while in Iowa our subject married Miss Esther, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Cassidy, natives of Ohio, and to them were born the following children: Ellen, wife of S.D. Ficklin; Mary Ann, wife of F.S. Johnson and said to be the first white child born in Union county, the date of this event being November 27, 1862; David, in Wallowa. In 1871 death came into the household and took thence the beloved wife and mother and her departure was sincerely mourned by all who knew her as she was a gracious and faithful woman. In 1874 Mr. Kuhn married Miss Sarah J., daughter of James and Barbara (Toot)McElderry, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio and to bless this union there have been the following children: Viola, wife of W.W. Wade, of Wallowa: Peter C., Charlie, Irven, Willard and Bertie. Mr. Kuhn has served as constable of the Summerville district also in the capacity of road supervisor while for nearly one dozen years he has been director in the district and for fifteen years he served as clerk. Mr. Kuhn is not actively engaged in the affairs of his property, as the sons attend to the farm and he simply oversees, giving his time to the enjoyment of the fruits of his faithful labors.