ELZIE O. MAKIN.--Any volume that purports to
give the salient points in the careers of the leading and prominent citizens
of Wallowa County would be open to serious criticism were there failure to
incorporate therein an epitome of the life of the esteemed gentleman whose
name is at the head of this article, and has labored for the building and
development of Wallowa county for years, displaying meanwhile a vigor, energy
and sagacity, coupled with other capabilities of a high order, while also
his sound principals, unswerving integrity and strict adherence to the ways
of uprightness have given him the meed of the confidence and admiration of
his fellows, while he has also gained a goodly portion of the good things
of this world.
In Indiana, on August 7, 1862, the subject of this
sketch opened his eyes to the light of this world, and from that time until
he had reached the age of nineteen years we have no data of his career. When
he arrived at the interesting age of nineteen years, he stepped from the
parental roof into the arena of life’s struggles, prepared to meet the forces
and take advantage of the opportunities there awaiting him. He labored with
his father in the lumbering interests, operating in the Blue Mountains, then
he took an extended trip to the east, exploring different states, in search
for a place to settle. Finally he decided to locate in Arkansas and there
engaged in the lumbering business and in operating a sawmill. Seven years
were spent there and then the spirit that had known the boundless resources
of the west could no longer be restrained in the east and accordingly he
came to the west, settling in Wallowa County and taking up a pre-emption.
After proving up, he sold this property and repaired to the Snake River,
the year being 1890, and there took up a homestead. This quarter section
increased to five hundred and sixty acres, while where he lives on Prairie
Creek, seven miles east from Enterprise, he owns in one body as much more
good land. He gives proper attention to general farming, but devotes his
energies principally to raising sheep, of which he has about three thousand
stock animals.
On July 7, 1880, in the Grande Ronde valley, occurred
the marriage of Mr. Makin and Miss Margaret, daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Wilson) Finley, who were formerly farmers of Alabama, but now residents
in Arkansas. To this union there have been born the following children: Louisa,
Allen, Walter, Viola, Edith and Melford. Mrs. Makin was born in Alabama on
July 7, 1880 ( The birth date July 7, 1880 is shown as her marriage date,
maybe the other bio has correct date). Mr. Makin is one of the capable and
substantial men of our county and is deserving of especial honor for his
worthy labors.
Information is from a book called
History of Union and Wallowa Counties 1902
Gary Jaensch
****************************************
WILLIAM MAKIN. --To the capable and enterprising
citizen whose name initiates this paragraph we are pleased to accord a representation
in the history of Wallowa county, since he has trod the path of the pioneer
in a worthy manner, displaying constantly qualities of moral worth and value,
and has achieved a success in temporal affairs that is commendable and praiseworthy,
being the meed of continuity in wisely directed effort and energy and sagacity
in all of his ways, and consequently it is very fitting that he should be
placed to-day as one of the prominent men of the county, which position he
fills with acceptability.
Mr. Makin was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania,
on December 12, 1837, and went hence at the age of five to Marshall county,
Indiana, with his parents, Robert and Margaret (Brewer) Makin. Soon after
this journey, the father died and our subject was left with the mother, with
whom he lived until he reached manhood’s estate. During this time he gained
from the primitive schools of the place of education, walking to and from
school three miles each way and searching for wisdom’s treasures around the
old fashioned fireplace in a log schoolhouse. When our subject reached the
age of eighteen, his mother was called to pass the river of death, and the
following year he removed to Wayne county, Iowa whence after a short stay,
he returned to Indiana. In 1857 he again made the trip to Iowa, remaining
this time until 1862. In this last year, he prepared his family and holdings
to take the long and arduous journey across the mountains and plains to the
Pacific coast, utilizing ox teams for transportation. The team consisted
of one hundred and five wagons, and although many others suffered from the
attacks of the savages, on account of the size of this train it was unmolested
during the entire journey. He halted at Auburn, Baker County, and engaged
in packing both there and in the Idaho basin, also gave some attention to
mining, and in 1863 moved his family to the Grande Ronde valley.
In 1860, Mr. Makin married Miss Mary Fox, and one
child was born to them in Iowa, Elzie O. He is now living in the vicinity
of Enterprise. After coming to the Grand Ronde valley, one more child was
born to our subject, Allen, who died in 1897. The mother and wife was called
from her by death in 1865. Mr. Makin continued to farm in the grand Ronde
valley for a time after this sad event and also gave some attention to raising
stock.
In 1866 Mr. Makin married a second time, Angeline
Shoemaker being his choice at this time, and four children blessed this union;
Frederick, married to Mary Tuttle and living near Enterprise; Annie, wife
of J. K. Romic,(Romig?, there was a family of Romigs who lived in Baker at
one time) of La Grande; Molly, wife of Charles Stacy, near Enterprise; William,
deceased.
On February 23, 1884, Mr. Makin was married a third
time, Jemima Williams of Enterprise becoming his wife on this occasion, and
to them have been born eight children, Otho, deceased, Inez, Eva, Ralph,
Wilden?, Lila, and Lula, twins and deceased, Glenwood. In 1887 Mr. Makin
sold his ranch in the Grande Ronde and moved to his present home two miles
south from Enterprise, which consists of an estate of six hundred acres.
It is all well fenced and improved, having comfortable house and good barn,
and the farm well supplied with water which assists him in raising abundant
crops of the cereals and timothy and alfalfa. He has a large band of sheep
and is one of the leading wool growers of the county. He and his son Frederick
own the electric light plant that furnishes Enterprise with light. Mr. Makin
is a man that has always allied himself with the side of morality and good,
and is upright and faithful in all his ways. His bright example of moral
conduct and stanch support of the cause of religion in his section have made
him worthy to be emulated and he is a light in the community. Many of the
various denominations have profited much by his liberality and while he is
a member of no sect, still he supports the cause always, and is foremost
in working for the cause of education also.
Information taken from a book called:
History of Union and Wallowa Counties 1902
*************************************
WILLIAM MAKIN, One of the widely known and
highly esteemed residents of Wallowa county is William Makin, who is now
living retired in Enterprise, but for many years he owned and operated one
of the largest sheep ranches in this valley. He was born in Erie county,
Pennsylvania, on the 12th of December, 1837, and is the son of Michael and
Margaret (Brewer) Makin, the father a native of Ireland and the mother of
Erie County, Pennsylvania. The father immigrated to the United States when
a boy with his parents, who located in Erie county, Pennsylvania. There he
was reared and met the lady who subsequently became his wife. The early years
of their domestic life were passed in the Keystone State, where they resided
until about 1840, when they removed to Marshall county, Indiana. Shortly
after they settled there the father was killed at a barn raising. The mother
survived him about fifteen years.
William Makin became a wage earner when he was still
in his early boyhood, having been compelled to assist his widowed mother
in the support and maintenance of the family, and thus he acquired but little
schooling. He continued to make his home in Indiana until 1857, when in common
with many other young men of that time he developed an uncontrollable desire
to see the west. So in the early spring of that year he started with his
ox teams across the prairies to Pike’s Peak and the valleys of Colorado.
When he reached the western part of Illinois he met several bands of returning
immigrants, all of whom discouraged him by their recital of the dismal failures
they had made in the western country. He continued his journey into Iowa,
however, and there passed the summer, returning to Indiana in the fall. That
winter he spent in the community where he had lived from early childhood
and in the spring of 1858 again started westward, Iowa being his destination
on this occasion. He located in Wayne county, that state, where he secured
a farm on a land warrant that he owned, and immediately applied himself to
the its improvement and cultivation. There he was married in 1860 to Miss
Mary Fox, who had migrated to Iowa from Ohio some time previously. They began
their domestic life on Mr. Makin’s farm, amid the pioneer conditions that
yet prevailed in that section, which at that time was but sparsely settled.
Two years later, Mr. Makin disposed of his interests in Iowa and together
with his wife, an infant son and a friend started across the plains for Washington.
They made the journey westward with a large party and a train of about one
hundred and five wagons, which was the only way to travel at that period,
the life of the plainsman being constantly menaced by the Indians. Several
times while they were en route they passed gruesome ruins, revealing the
terrible fate that had befallen smaller parties of immigrants, who had fallen
into the merciless hands of the red men. Their party was exceptionally fortunate
however, and the long journey was a joyous one, there being no accidents
of any movement and but little illness. They did not hurry, but took time
to enjoy themselves and their weary oxen a chance to rest. In November, 1862,
just six months after they started, they reached Auburn, Oregon, where they
decided to spend the winter. The following spring Mr. Makin went down into
the Grande Ronde valley and entered some government land, to the cultivation
of which he devoted his entire time and energy for twenty -seven years. He
owned three hundred and twenty acres there, two hundred and fifty acres of
which he placed under cultivation practically every year, planting it in
wheat, that annually yielded during the long period of his residence
thirty bushels to the acre. His efforts prospered in a most gratifying measure,
but in 1890 hr decided to dispose of this place and remove to Wallowa. Here
he first purchased three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Enterprise,
bur he later extended his holdings until he owned fifteen hundred acres of
excellent land. He has disposed of some of this and has given each of his
sons a farm but still owns his original tract and fifty acres adjacent to
Enterprise, where he is now living. After locating here, Mr. Makin devoted
practically his entire attention to sheep raising, in which he met with excellent
success, maintaining one of the largest ranches in this section, his herds
containing between fifteen and sixteen thousand sheep. In 1904 he disposed
of his stock and, withdrawing from active life, came to Enterprise, where
he has ever since lived retired. He now rents his old ranch, containing three
hundred and twenty acres, from which he realizes a good income. Mr. Makin
worked with unceasing energy for many years, but he directed his undertakings
with intelligence toward a definite aim and met with a corresponding degree
of success. He realized his best returns from his stock- raising both here
and in the Grande Ronde valley-where he made a specialty of cattle, never
having engaged to any great extent in the sheep business until he came here-although
his investments in real estate proved very lucrative and netted him a good
profit.
Mr. Makin has been married three times and has eight
living children. To him and his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Fox,
there was Elzie O., a retired farmer of Joseph who is mentioned at greater
length elsewhere in this work; and Allen, who is deceased. The mother of
these children passed away while Mr. Makin was living in Grande Ronde, and
there he was later married to Miss Angeline Shoemaker, and they became the
parents of three children, two of whom are living: Anna, the wife of James
Romig, a prominent mining man of Baker City; and Molly, who is married to
Charles Stacy, a railroad engineer, of la Grande, Oregon. Mr. Makin married
for his third wife, Jemima C. Williams, and she is the mother of eight children,
five of whom are living, as follows: Inez, who is a teacher in the Enterprise
schools; and Eva, Ralph, Welden and Glen. The two latter are engaged in the
operation of a ranch, containing four hundred and eighty acres, which was
presented to them by their father.
In his political views Mr. Makin is a staunch republican,
and although he is public-spirited and takes an active interest in all governmental
affairs, he has always been too deeply engrossed in the development of his
private affairs to become an office seeker. As a pioneer of the northwest,
he is one whose life clearly demonstrates that success as often comes from
enterprise and diligence as from favorable circumstances and that the most
worthy achievements and highest attainments are invariably the result of
individual effort and are deserving of the greatest commendation.
Information taken from a book called The Centennial History
of Oregon 1911