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Daniel A. was born in Coles county, Illinois, on February 6, 1842, and there received a good education from the common schools, attending the same in the winter and assisting on the farm in the summer. At the age of seventeen he spent his whole time on the farm and continued in the same until he was twenty, working with his stepfather. Then he went to Putnam county, Missouri, to visit an uncle and found him preparing to come to the Pacific coast. Our subject was enthused with the plans and heartily set to work assisting in the preparations, and in good time they joined the Yount train. Our subject rode on horseback the entire distance, driving loose stock. They were planning to go to the Willamette valley, but upon the description of the Grande Ronde valley by some soldiers they were led to investigate, and the natural result was that they stopped in that fertile region. The uncle attended to the family and out subject went with ox teams to The Dalles for provisions, consuming thirty days in the trip. He assisted to erect cabins upon his return and then was dispatched to Walla Walla to procure seed, paying there five cents per pound for oats, wheat and potatoes. Twenty-one days were consumed in this trip and then in the fall, the year being 1862, he took up a squatter's claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He set to work splitting rails, an occupation that other statesmen have followed. The wedge for this work cost five dollars, the maul the same amount, and the price for the finished rails was three dollars per hundred. He taught school some later, and in 1866 he sold his claim and the following year rented thirty acres, seeded it, and then went to the Willamette valley to purchase stock. He returned with what cattle his money would buy, landing in the Grande Ronde on July 4th, and as he expressed it "tired out." He soon bought the quarter-section where he now resides, two miles east and one-half mile south from Lagrande, and began to stock and improve the farm. In 1870 he was ready to purchase more land and secured the title to a half-section two miles east from his present place in 1888 he purchased another quarter, and the following year the same amount, all good farm land. In 1898 he sold a half section and in 1901 he bought two hundred and eighty acres of pasture land in Baker county. Mr. McAlister is a fancier of good stock, displaying skill in this line equal to his other achievements. In 1879 he went to Kent, Indiana, and brought back some of the finest stock that was ever imported to the state. He raised a horse that holds the stallion record of the world for trotting, Blondy, now in the Sandwich Islands. he raised another that was exported to Central America. This commendable record in agriculture and in stock raising stamp the man as eminently successful and a benefactor of his fellows and one that hasdoen much for his county, and this brilliant success is only surpassed by the triumphs that have been achieved in the world of legislation and politics. Mr. McAlister is a Democrat in the highest and fullest sense of the word and his faithful adherence to his convictions and open and manly expressions of them is one of hte potent reasons of the folloiwng most brilliant record. Twice since 1893 he has served in the state senate. In 1892 he was the Democratic nominee, his opponents, being M.B. Reese, Republican J.F. Johnson, Populist, of Wallowa and our subject received three hundred and fifty majority. The second term we are not favored with the figures, but Mr. McAlister went to the senate. In 1898 he ran for the legislature against Ed Davis, Republican, and John McAlister, Populist, and our subject was elected by a large majority. In 1900 he ran against Dobler, Republican, and beat by one hundred and thirty majority. Mr. McAlister always runs ahead of his ticket, showing that he is a favorite with the people and especially with his party. His nomination is always unanimous and by acclamation. The secret of his success lies in his ability and his faithfulness and good judgment in handling questions, while every one firmly believes that Daniel McAlister would lose his life rather than be untrue to his principles.

In November, 1867, Mr. McAlister married Nancy J., daughter of Peter and Angeline (Painter) Moe, and to this union there have been born ten children, six of whom are living, as follows: Frank A., married to Lizzie Stanley, and living three miles east from North Powder, having one son, Elmer; Mary A., wife of Willard Moss, living at Island City, and has two children, Murrel and Guy; Charles C., single and residing in southern California; William D., married to Epsie Sanderson, lives at Summerville; and has one daughter, Mildred; Reese M., going to agricultural college at Corvallis; Arthur E., the youngest.

D.A. McALLISTER. - Mr. McAllister is a pioneer among the horse-breeders of Eastern Oregon, and has animals in his band of three hundred easily worth four thousand dollars each. He sells colts at from five hundred to six hundred dollars each. It is not always noted, but it is nevertheless a fact, that the value and service of stock of all kinds ins multiplied rather by improving the quality of the animals than by increasing the number of those of inferior grade. In one particular Mr. McAllister is peculiar among horsemen. He despises gambling, and trots or runs only for establishing the reputation of his stock. He has a mare, Leona, that trots a mile in 2:23, and a horse, Blond, which covers the same ground in 2:42, at two years old. The three-year-old Baymont is surprisingly fast; and Centershot of his stable has a wide reputation among horse-fanciers. His animals are Mambrino Chiefs, Hambeltonians, Almonts and Pilot Juniors, - all trotters, and from the best Kentucky strains. His start in this line was made in 1869 by bringing eight animals from the Bluegrass state to the Blue Mountains of Oregon.

His ranch is one of the finest in the Grande Ronde, is situated three miles east of La Grande, Oregon, and contains six hundred and eighty acres. The climate, feed, etc., of this section is well adapted to producing a wiry, nervy and intelligent horse.

Mr. McAllister came to this country in 1862, and is of a frontiersman's family of Illinois. In crossing the plains he experienced more or less trouble with the Indians, but escaped with only a few brushes. George Geckler, Samuel Williamson and George Harpool, now residents of this region, were of his party, of which Joseph Yount was captain. His uncle, Harvey McAllister, was also in the immigration, and brought some fine stock, of which our subject was drover. His first work was with this uncle in the performance of odd jobs; and it was not until 1867 that he began ranching on his own account with stock purchased with his earnings.

His wife, Nancy Moe, in every way his compeer, is the daughter of Peter Moe, a pioneer of 1864 from Michigan. They have nine children, - Frank, Allison, Mollie, Lulu, Charles, Cleveland, Melvina, William, Reese and Ada.

Mr. McAllister showed his courage in 1878, during the Indian scare, by refusing to go to the fort. He is one of the men to whom the state looks for its energy and capacity for improvement.

HON. JOHN W. McALISTER. - It now becomes our pleasant privilege to outline in brief review the eventful career of the well known and highly esteemed gentlman whose name initiates this paragraph and whose life is connected with the county of Union, having been identified with it since his early boyhood and having been one of the potent factors in its development as also in making the laws which have proved so salutary for its progress and gaining, meanwhile, a reputation throughout the state because of the ability and sagacity displayed in the state halls of legislation, while no whit behind are the commendable moral virtues which his daily life exemplify, and the intrinsic worth of his character in constant display.

Joyn W. was born in Putnam county,Missouri, on June 13, 1856, being the son of Harvye McAlister. When the son was six years of age, the father removed to the west with his family, having no particular objective point except Oregon.Having been safely guided through the long and dangerous journey until they came to Grande Ronde valley, and the teams being tired out, it was determined to stop and recruit, and the result was that Union county gained a prominent and substantial citizen. The father soon took up a squatter's right on the land where our subject now resides, two miles east from Lagrande, and later homesteaded it. Two houses constituted the town of lagrande, when Mr. McAlister stopped his teams there first. Our subject grew up on the home place, receiving a good training from the schools of the county, and when he was twenty-three years of age attended for one and one-half years the University at Eugene in this state. Sickness terminated the course, which it was his purpose to pursue until graduation. He then turned his attentionto raising hops and failure being his lot there he came again to Union county then to Wallowa county and for a time was in the horse business, then returned to Lagrande and engaged as foreman for Rogers and Williamson, two years being spent in that occupation. In 1888 he removed to hispresent location and here he has been engaged in stock raising and genreal farming since. Success has attended his efforts andhe is one of the most prosperous and substantial farmers of the county to-day. He handles blooded stock, consisting of fine Jersey cattle and thoroughbred hogs, having some specimens of the swine tribe that weight seven hundred and thirty-five pounds each.

In 1899 Mr. McAlister married Miss Grace daughter of Henry and Delia (Clement) Cronkite, residents of Hillsboro, Oregon. In the political realm Mr. McAlister has been the recipient of much honor from an appreciative and discriminating people, and his ability, his faithfulness,his wisdom and his sound principles have entitled him to all the gifts in the power of his constituents; and while true to all trusts reposed in him, he has never accepted a public position that he did not fill to the satisfaction of the people, with credit to hmself and with stanch faithfulness that is gratifying and highlycommendable. In 1890 he was nominated by the Democrats for the state legislature against Charles Goodnough of the Republican party and he gained the day by twenty-three majority, being one of three on his ticket that were elected.In 1896 he was nominated by the Populists against Fred Stanley and J.A. Wright of the Repblican party and William Hunter of the Democrats, to to be elected, and our subject received one hundred and eightymajority, running away ahead of his ticket, and being one of five elected on his ticket. In 1898 he received the nomination of the Populist ticket, D.A. McAlister being the Democratic nominee and Fred Stanley and Ed Davis the Republican candidates, two to be elected and our subject was defeated by a small majority. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, Red Men, Artisans, and the Eastern Star. Mr. McAlister is also a member of the Christian church and is at present the only resident elder in that body. He is highly esteemed throughout the county, both for his ability and personal qualities of worth, as well as for the excellent public service that he has rendered.

James is a native of East Tennessee, and the son of Joseph and Malinda (Cradick) McCall, who removed with their son to Hancock county, Illinois, soon after he had gained his primary education, and in this latter place he finished a good education and then taught school for a time, gaining a good success in that line. In 1865, he crossed the plains to Oregon, locating in the Grande Ronde valley and taking up the dual occupation of raising stock and tilling the soil. In 1869 he was called back to Illinois on business and there he remained until 1885, when he returned to the Grande Ronde valley, purchasing four hundred acres of fine land where he now lives, one mile northwest from Island City. He gave his attention to farming and handling stock, and a brilliant success has been the meed of his faithful and wisely directed efforts. He purchased recently eight hundred acres of land, devoting it to grain and hay purposes. He has an elegant and attractive home, and happiness, and joy are constant guests, within its walls.

In 1868 Mr. McCall married Miss Sarah E., daughter of Charles L. and Tabitha A. (Halley) Surber, of Lagrande. Ten children have become members of the household since that time, named as follows: Mamie M., wife of U.G. Couch, living in Island City; Linna A., wife of Price McAlister, living in Whatcom, Washington; Fannie J., wife of U.R. Wilson, living in Wallowa; Lillie A.; George A., deceased; W. Arthur, going to business college in Portland; Hugh, attending high school at Lagrande; Edna, Florence, and Marjorie, attending school in Lagrande. Mr. McCall is a member of the I.O.O.F., and he and his wife affiliate with the Methodist church. Mr. McCall is a practical hunter and he has a trophy of a beautiful mounted swan that he secured near his place. He is always interested in those measures that are for the benefit of the county, and he and his wife are valuable members of society, being capable, amiable, and progressive, and from their good and faithful example in life there has been much good accomplished in our county.

In 1867 we find him in the mines at Baker City, looking after "lodes" and "leads," and also in 1870 engaged in the stock business with his present partner, B.W. Bartholomew.

In 1874 he was married to Miss Mary, the only daughter of the pioneer David J. Chambers, of Chambers Prairie. Engaging in business at Olympia with A.H. Chambers, three years were spent until a change to the dryer climate of Baker county became necessary from considerations of health.

In 1879 he sold his stock ranch, and located the next year at Island City, following such pursuits as were suited to the condition of his health. He is at present residing at La Grande, having been appointed as head of the land-office of that district by President Harrison.

Born in Missouri in 1832, he went to Mexico in 1850, and in 1851 crossed the plains to Oregon, settling near Brownsville on the Calapooia. He soon undertook the toilsome and exciting life of a miner in Northern California and Southern Oregon, and in 1853 assisted the settlers of Rogue river valley in protecting themselves form the Indians, being one of the relief party from Table Rock to help the reconnoitering party who were surrounded on Evans creek. he was also in the hot fight on the same creek in which General Lane was wounded.

In 1855 he was on the way with a pack-train from Yreka to Frazer river, when the news of the great outbreak reached him at Salem. Turning about at once, he joined the company of  Bailey as second lieutenant, to avenge the death of the captain's brother, and to save the rest of the Whites. This was the band of Linn and Lane volunteers, and the first to reach the scene, making the trip by forces marches. The details of that campaign are given elsewhere. McClure, however, was in the whole of it. At the place where Captain Bailey was murdered, the oxen and hogs still lay as they had been killed, and the chickens had escaped from their coops and were pecking morsels from among the dead bodies of the animals and men.

He was in the fight at Grave creek and on Hungry hill, where the boys were twenty-four hours without food, and were fighting all the time. He participated in all the movements of the volunteers, including the Big Bend adventures in the autumn. The winter was passed by him with his company at Little Camas; and he assisted in the defense of the Looking Glass, where Bailey's company alone drove out the Indians. When this company disbanded, McClure joined Latshaw's and afterwards Waldron's company as second lieutenant. This company took part in the decisive fight at the Big Bend; and McClure was later in command of a detachment in the running fight on Cow creek. after his own relief, he went to the reinforcement of Captain Smith on the Rogue river. He was also of the party fired upon after dark when spending a social hour at their cam0p, losing four of their number.

After leaving the service in which he so well performed his part, he engaged in packing and stage business in Western Oregon, and in 1861 extended his operations to the minds of Idaho. In 1870 he made a home in the Grande Ronde, near La Grande, Oregon, and has invested largely in farm lands and in stock, now owning five thousand acres, with six thousand sheep and sixty horses.

He has a family of a wife and six children.

When he came to this county he made his home with his parents until 1887 and then launched out into the world in independent action. In 1886, he purchased his present home of one hundred and sixty acres, which is situated eight miles south from Lagrande. The farm is well improved and every where hears testimony to thrift and industry. He has one of the finest orchards in the county and is skillful in the production of the fruits of the soil, and in raising stock.

On January 2, 1887, the marriage of Mr. McClure and Miss Helen D., daughter of Mary A. Earl, was solemnized. They have been blessed with the advent of the following children. Harley E., Lucy, and Neal N. Mr. McClure is a member of the Modern Woodmen of American and is popular in these relations as well as in his associations generally. Mr. McClure is one of the oldest and best known citizens of the county as well as one of its progressive and substantial upbuilders whose efforts have been in the line of advancement constantly and whose wisdom and faithfulness commend him to every upright and honorable man who desires the advancement and welfare of all.

Evans S. was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1839, being the son of John and Janette (Carr) McComas, natives respectively of Kentucky and Ohio. He obtained a good education before he reached the years of majority, and at the age of twenty-one entered the ranks of the educators where he did commendable work for a few years. In 1861 he crossed the plains with ox teams, buoyant and hopeful in the anticipation of the smiles of fortune expected in the new country of the west. Auburn, in Baker county, was at the end of the journey, and he mined there during the fall of 1862 and in the summer of 1863 he set out on a tour of search for the famous "Blue Bucket Diggins" which occupied so many in the days of vigorous prospecting. Failing, as all the others did in this quest, he came through Union county to Umatilla in 1863 and there operated a wood yard. In 1864, he came to Lagrande and ran a hotel until 1866, when he was elected county clerk of Union county, serving for two terms, and conducted a livery barn at the same time. He also held the office of register of state lands for the Lagrande district for four years. In 1868 he published the first paper that was put out in Union county, and continued it until 1881. The title of this pioneer sheet was The Mountain Sentinel, a very appropriate cognomen. Subsequent to 1881, Mr. McComas spent six years in the east. In 1876, the county seat was removed to Union and thither came Mr. McComas and opened a mining and real estate office under the name of the Union Promotion and Development Company. Previous to this venture he had been clerk of the house of representatives in 1870.

In 1867 the marriage of Mr. McComas and Miss Harriet M., daughter of P. and Elizabeth Welch, of Lone Tree, Iowa was celebrated in Umatilla. Fraternally, Mr. McComas is affiliated with the Yellow Hawk Lodge, No. 23, Improved Order of Redmen, of Lagrande. He is a man of prominence throughout the county and is highly respected by all, and has ever manifested unswerving integrity and upright principles.

He crossed the plains in 1864, leaving with Colonel Flurney's train. At Baldock's ranch, in the Powder river valley, Oregon, he at once entered into the blacksmithing business at Pocahontas, seven miles northwest of Baker City. He came down the valley the next spring, and started the little town of Wingville, which he named after a little town near his old home in Wisconsin. At Wingville, too, he plied the art of  Vulcan, but in 1868 came to Baker City and engaged in his trade in partnership with his brother, R.D., who was there before him. The brothers dissolved partnership in 1871; and S.B. entered the hardware business on his own responsibility.

He was a member of the first city council of Baker City, and in 1886 was elected county treasurer on the Democratic ticket, being re-elected in 1888. He was also elected the first mayor of Baker City in 1887, and was re-elected in 1888. He takes special pleasure in remembering the fact that he was the first to advocate bringing in and operating a water system for Baker City. In that effort he encountered the heavy opposition of a company of capitalists, who desired a franchise for a private enterprise. Clearly seeing the danger of putting so important a public matter in any other than city control, Mr. McCord exerted all his efforts in opposition, and was successful; and the citizens of the city may well thank him for his great service.

He was married in 1871 to Miss Angie Speelman, daughter of a pioneer of 1862; and they now have a family of seven children.

Mr. McCord believes that the resources of Baker city and county are great enough to insure a flourishing future. The combination of mining, farming, lumbering and grazing interests points to a diversity of industries and a consequent large population.

Iowa City, Iowa, is the birth place of our subject, and July 27, 1861, the date of this event, while his parents were James and Mary A. (Calahon) McIlroy, farmers of that state. The father migrated to Oregon later in life and lived on a farm east from Elgin. At the budding of his majority, our subject inaugurated independent action, going to South Dakota where he farmed for two seasons then came to Washington, tilling the soil in Walla Walla and Whitman counties for two years. In 1885 he came to Union county, settling on a farm three and one-half miles east from Elgin for five years when he sold and repaired to Los Angeles, California, farming there for three years. Returning to Elgin in 1893, he remained in the town for a time and then rented S.S. Thompson's farm for some time until he purchased nine hundred and sixty acres ten miles south east from Elgin, also taking up a homestead there. He is now taking up the stock business on an extended scale and is manifesting great skill and wisdom in this enterprise, which will doubtless bring to him the accustomed success that has been his to enjoy.

On July 2, 1890, at the home of the bride's parents near Elgin, Mr. McIlroy married Miss Inda, daughter of W.W. and Priscilla (Hoffman) Gordon, and three children have been born, Elsie, Jessie, and Una. Mr. and Mrs. McIlroy are highly esteemed members of society and they are numbered among our most substantial citizens, having displayed both a becoming demeanor of wisdom and affability, couple with uprightness that mark the worthy ones.

In the Dominion of Canada, on December 26, 1858, was born James A., being the son of Roderick and Margaret (Ross) McKenzie, both natives of Scotland. The year following the birth of our subject his parents removed to Illinois, whence, in 1863, they came via the plains to the Grande Ronde valley. The train divided at this point, part going on to the Walla Walla country and our subject's father locating on a piece of land a little south from Summerville. In the district schools of our country James A. was educated, and he remained with his father on the cultivation of the farm, which grew from the homestead to eight hundred acres. They were occupied in general farming and raising stock until the railroad came. Our subject removed to his present place, three and one-half miles south from Sumerville, in the eighties. He has a quarter section of fine soil, which is well improved and produces abundant crops. He also owns some fine specimens of Shorthorn cattle, as well as some other stock.

On November 30,1890, Mr. McKenzie married Miss Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Polly (Jesse) Williams, natives of Virginia. In political matters of the county and state, Mr. McKenzie takes an active and intelligent part, while also he has given the district where he resides the benefit of his wisdom in the office of clerk for some time. Mr. McKenzie has never sought for preferment in political lines and he is one of that substantial number who form the real bone and sinew of any community and are the boast and pride of our commonwealth.

To Robert and Catherine (Macbeath) MacKenzie, on February 14, 1834, in Sheildaig, on the Applecross estate, in Rosshire, among the highlands of Scotland, was born the subject of this sketch. His father died when Roderick was a child, and he remained with his mother until he had arrived at the age of twelve, then embarked with an uncle on a sailing vessel, bound for the fishing regions, and for four years he filled the position of cook, subjsequent to which he spent two years in fishing off the east coast of Scotland, then was a sailor before the mast on a trading vessel out from the ports of England to the neighboring countries. In the spring of 1857 he came on a sailing vessel to Montreal, Cambria, of Greenock, was the good ship, and six weeks were consummed in the trip. Our subject came from Montreal to Buffalo and thence to Chicago by rail. He spent some time as sailor on the great lakes, then worked on the Mississippi river, then back to the lakes and finally turned his attention to farming in Illinois. In December 1861, Mr. JacKenzie married Miss Maggie Ross, a native of Inverness, Scotland, who came to this country in 1859, and three children were born to them; James A.; Donald; Katie, wife of L. Rinehart. In the spring of 1863 Mr. MacKenzie prepared the horse team outfits and took up the dangerous journey across the plains in company with six families. Being escorted across the most dangerous prtions of the road by soldiers, they were not seriously injured by the hostile Indians, although they suffered several attacks. He came direct to Union county and located his present place on Sandridge, trading a team for the improvements on a quarter. Few settlers were in the valley, there being only three log cabins on the entire ridge. He built the fourth, a cabin twelve by fourteen and covered with dirt. His first wheat was tramped out by horses and winnowed by the breezes, but for this crop he received ten cents per pound. It is of note that when Mr. MacKenzie landed here he had the sum of five dollars in cash, and his present magnificent holdings are the result of his labor and sagacity. He owns an estate of one thousand acres, well improved with good buildings, orchards and other accessories. He has a hundred head of fine stock, and as many hogs, owns four houses in Summerville, a fine large livery and feed stable, and much other property. He resides in Summerville, and is considered one of the leading men of the county. For a number of years he filled acceptably the office of city councilman.

Death came to the happy home of Mr. MacKenzie and snatched thence his wife. He married Miss BelleThompson, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and three children have been born to them; Alexander, Clyde and Leroy. Politically Mr. MacKenzie is affiliated with the Republican party and he has always sought the interests of the county and has displayed commendable zeal for the welfare of all.

John L. was born in Jackson county, Ohio, on July 3, 1843, being the son of Craner and Catherine (Truseler) McKinnis, and six eyars later was taken by his parents to Ottumwa, Iowa, and thence to Knoxville, in the same state. He remained with his parents on the farm until the spring of 1864, gaining meanwhile a good education from the school of the sections where he resided. At the date last mentioned, he undertook the dangerous trip across the plains with ox teams, completing the same in the Grande Ronde valley after some trouble with the Indians, and enduring the hardships and deprivations incident to such a journey. He engaged here for wages for a time on the farm and in frewighting and then took up the school teaching, later identifying himself with the saw milling business. Then occurred one of the most important items of his life on the third day of March, 1867, namely, his marriage with Miss Rachel C., daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Sturgill) Harris. Mrs. McKinnis had crossed the plains with her parents in 1865, making the entire journey with ox teams from Sullivan county,Missouri, to the Grande Ronde valley. Then, on the 3d day of March, also, in1868, our subject and his wife moved onto the nucleus of their present farm, three miles northeast from Summerville, having purchased a man's right to a quarter of state land. With courageous hearts and good health, they started to build a home for themselves, and how well they have succeeded is better told in a brief summary of the possessions of Mr. McKinnis at the present time than in any other way. At his home place he owns nine hundred and twenty acres of good land and also eight hundred acres of timber land. He has a fine dwelling of twelve rooms, large barn and all outbuildings necessary for the operation of the estate. In addition to this handsome showing, Mr. McKinnis has achieved a distinct and brilliant success in altogether another line, each one of which will mark him as a man of both ability and sagacity worthy of especial note. In 1880 he engaged in the saw milling business, first near Elgin then north from Summerville, and success crowned his efforts, but in 1898 his mill burned. Mr. McKinnis was one of the builders of the Alliance flouring mill at Lagrande, being one of the heaviest stockholders in the enterprise. In the spring of 1900 he sold his entire interest in this plant. In 1898 he was one to incorporate the Elgin Milling Company, of which he now owns one-half of the stock. They have a plant, which for completeness of equipment and quality of machinery is not surpassed in the state. The mill has an output capacity of one hundred barrels per day and it is one of the most successful and excellent industries in the county. In addition to this, Mr. McKinnis has achieved a good success in raising fruit, having about eight acres in orchard, and also has a fine band of stock.

To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born eleven children, as follows: Clement L., married to Nettie (English); Beatrice, wife of W.F. Hug; Hershcel married to Cora Bishop, of Elgin; Ina, wife of Isaac Bingaman, of Flora; Frank, married to Anna McKenzie; Hannah, wife of Henry Davidhizar, of Joseph; Rosa B., wife of George Bade, of Milton; Thomas, twin to Rosa; James; Charles; Stella. Mr. McKinnis was one of the delegates who nominated J.B. Weaver for president in 1892. He has served as county school superintendent, being elected to that position in 1874. And of Mr. McKinnis it may be said that in public service, handling the weighty industries of this section, in all of his business career, and also in all of his private life, he has displayed both great ability, stanch and unswerving uprightness and integrity and he is beloved and esteemed by all.

Neil C. was born in the seagirt land of Prince Edward Island, August 15, 1859, being the date, and the booming billows chant was the music familiar to his infantile ears. His parents, John and Margret (Shaw) McLeod, natives respectively of Isle of Sky, Scotland, and Prince Edward Island, were numbered with the progressive and intelligent tillers of the soil in his native place. In 1875 they bade farewell to their island home and traveled to Otoe county, Nebraska, where they settled to farming, the son working with his father and also teaching school, thus manifesting that his boyhood days were well spent in the acquisition of practical lore. It was in 1880 that they removed to Union county, settling near Summerville, where they engaged in farming, and our subject gave his spare time to the study of the law. In 1892 they removed to Summerville and our subject gave his entire time to the study of law, also practicing the same. It was in May, 1894, at Pendleton before the supreme court of Oregon that he finally passed the severe examinations and was admitted to practice in all the state courts. In 1901 he was also admitted to the United States courts. Immediately subsequent to his admission to the state courts Mr. McLeod removed to Elgin, and there opened a law office, also doing collection and insurance. He has been rewarded with the sure meed of industry, ability and faithfulness and enjoys a good practice and also the confidence of the people. Mr. McLeod owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and seven acres in the city where he lives.

On May 16, 180, in Indianola, Nebraska, Mr. McLeod and Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Kate McLeod, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, and three children have blessed the union, Maggie, Walter and Mabel. Mrs. McLeod is a second cousin to her husband, and was born in Prince Edward island on August 1, 1864, her parents coming from that country to Otoe county, Nebraska, in 1868, thence to Washington county, Oregon, in 1880, where they are now numbered with the agricultural population. Mr. McLeod is a member of the Masons, Elgin Lodge, No. 93, and of the Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 62, of E.O.S. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is a man of the community in whom is reposed the respect and esteem that become a typical, upright and capable citizen and it is but just to remark that his career, which has been eminently successful, bids fair to become much more powerful and distinguished in the county and even in the state.

At that young city, then a rival of Portland, he leased the sawmill of Lot Whitcomb, and subsequently that of Collins & Torrence, opposite Milwaukee, which was run by steam. His lumber sold readily at from forty to fifty dollars per thousand, and laths at sixteen dollars. In 1854 he erected and furnished at Mlwaukee the Veranda Hotel at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, the best then in Oregon.  In 1856 he worked for or in the sawmill of Bradford & Company at the Cascades for four years, and sawed the lumber for the steamer Hassalo, long known on the Columbia, and also prepared the planking for the bottom of the steamer Colonel Wright, built for the Upper Columbia traffic.

In 1857 he was married to Miss Olive W., daughter of Lot Whitcomb, who built and launched the steamer Lot Whitcomb on the 25th of December, 1849, at which event the captain of a vessel was killed by the bursting of the cannon that was being fired on the occasion. The boat was a side-wheel, high-pressure, double-engine, walking -beam steamer, with Captain J.C. Ainsworth as captain. and pilot, and Joseph Myrack, assistant pilot and clerk, and Jacob Kamm engineer. She was sold to a California company in 1882.

Many of Mr. McWilliams' early enterprises led him among the Indians, as when in 1854 he accompanied Green Arnold to the Umatilla country, and was with him barricaded by the Cayuses for more than a week. The years of 1863-64-65 were spent in mining expeditions seventy-five miles from Lewiston, in a place called Elk City, while his family remained at Milwaukee.

The Grande Ronde proving attractive to his mind, he accepted employment in a large livery stable at La Grande, known as the Cattle Stable. As proprietor of the "Our House" hotel for two years, and afterwards of the Sixteen-mile House, as keeper of the Clover Creek Station, and in different enterprises at La Grande, he passed the years until his removal to Summerville in 1874. At that point he was instrumental in reopening the Thomas and Ruckle Blue Mountain road. He also carried the Wallowa mail, and increased the service from two to seven times per week. The sixteen days of the first years he carried the same. He also purchased the Patton sawmill of Summerville, and conducted the same, together with two livery stables. Afterwards, in 1887, he removed to the town of Elgin in Indian valley, Oregon; and this beautiful section in his present home.
 

In Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, Mr. McWhirter first saw the light and there remained for twenty years, and then in 1853 his adventurous spirit le him to the wildness of the west for exploration and to carve a place for himself in the annals of the country. He landed in Portland and shortly afterward went to a place called Marysville and there wrought at his trade, harness making, for one J.B. Congle, for three months, and then migrated to Union Point and opened a shop for himself, remaining over one winter and then went to prospecting on the Coquille river, but on account of the hostility of the Indians he came back to Scottsburg and again took up his trade, remaining there for six months, and then went to the Willamette valley. From that place he went overland to California, visiting Sacramento, San Francisco, Stockton and many other places, and finally turned his attention to mining. For four years he worked on a ditch that was seventy-five miles long and that cost one million of dollars. The proprietors of the dtich sold out and left our subject and seventeen others without their pay. The new company refused to pay the bill, and finally the men became desperate and fought their cause with such vigor that they were rewarded by the payment of twnety thousand dollars. After this Mr. McWhirter started to the Florence diggins, making his way across the country from Hangtown, California, without trail. He struck the old emigrant road and came to Auburn, Baker county, and there took up mining. Afterwards he went to Walla Walla and bought goods and transported them to the mines. Two trips of this work were made by him and then he sold out and came to union county and located on the river about one mile east from Lagrande and bought from the state two hundred and forty acres of land, a portion of which he still owns. For five or six years he gave his attention to tilling the soil and then he came to what is now called Old Town and opened a harness shop and store, and in the steady prosecution of this industry he has been engaged ever since until the time of his retirement, eight years ago. He opened the shop in 1865 and operated it for nearly thirty years. His excellent work, deferential treatment of his patrons and upright business methods gave him a large and opulent patronage, and he is well known all over the county and respected wherever he is known. As stated, Mr. McWhirter retired from the greater activities of business some time since and he is now living in a comfortable house in Lagrande and the people have shown their approval of his worth and integrity by electing him to the office of chief executive of the city, and in this capacity he is found at the present time. He has manifested excellent executive ability and has shown marked faithfulness in the discharge of the duties incumbent upon him. He was also much interested in the educational advantages of the early times and the districts profited much from his services and ability as clerk. In politics Mr. McWhirter is a Republican and has the courage of his convictions, and is an ardent supporter of the principles of the party.

The marriage of Mr. McWhirter and Miss Helen M. Henderson, a native of Iowa, was celebrated in 1870. She passed from this life shortly afterward and is buried in the cemetery at Lagrande. She left one daughter, Helen M., who died at the age of seventeen.

In 1872 Mr. McWhirter was married a second time and the lady that then became his wife was Miss Kate Tantlinger, and to them have been born two children, May and Fannie. Mr. McWhirter is passing the richer days of mature life in the quiet of his pleasant home and is the recipient of the honor freely bestowed by his fellows and is one of the prominent and capable citizens of the county and a promoter of advancement and sound principles in government.