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JOHN N. SMITH. - A man who has labored with assiduity, energy and enterprise as had the subject of this sketch, in Union county for years, is justly entitled to representation in any volume that purports to chronicle the careers of the leading citizens, and with pleasure we accord such to him here. Mr. Smith is a man endowed with excellent capabilities, and possesses a goodly share of that coveted ability to handle successfully financial ventures and is also richly favored with executive force to carry out the plans and purposes that he may bring forth, while commensurate with this list is the stanch integrity and probity, accompanied with sound principles, which he manifests constantly.

Mr. Smith was born in Cole county, Illinois, on april 28, 1853, being the son of George W. and rebecca (Lamb) Smith, agriculturists of that section. The father was born in Indiana on January 19, 1830, and the mother was a native of Illinois, and first saw the light on November 7, 1836. They removed to Iowa from Illinois in 1856, remaining on the prairies of the latter state for eight years, then fitted out the popular ox team conveyance of the day and crossed the plains to Boise valley, whence one year later they came to the Grande Ronde valley. Here they located a quarter section, one and one-half miles east from Island City, bought as much more land and settled down to farming and stockraising. They accumulated six hundred acres of good land and continued in the culture of the same until 1888, when they erected a sawmill on Ladd Hill and operatd that until it burned down in 1889. In 1892 the father was taken hence by death, but the mother is still living. The father had been a pioneer to California in 1851.

The immediate subject of this sketch was educated in this valley and continued at home, occasionally working for wages in herding stock until 1876, then drove ox teams from Boise to Rocky Bar, and then returned to Union county. In the spring of 1878 he married Miss Miranda J., daughter of Leonard and Catherine Colbern, residents of Malheur county, settling there in 1874. The father is now dead and the mother is living in Montana. To the subject of this sketch and his estimable wife have been born the following children: Elva Montana; Vada; and Jessie E., all at home. Mr. Smith rented land for two years and then bought eighty acres, where his house stands at present. He sold this in 1883 and migrated to Montana, but after one year there he returned to Grande Ronde valley, renting his present place, and in 1887 bought thirty acres from the owners. He now owns a fine estate of four hundred and fifty acres, which is all cultivated except forty. He raises about one hundred and fifty acres of grain each year, has two acres in good orchards and uses the balance of the land in caring for his tock. He has good stock, among which are some excellent Shropshire sheep.Mr. Smith is not a condidate for preferment in political lines, although he is ever ineterested, as the good citizen should be, in the manipulation of the affairs of government. He has acted as road supervisor and the district has profited by his wisdom in the office of school director and clerk for a number of years. In church matters Mr. Smith is much interested and does much for their advancement, while his personal life is an exemplification of the tenets of the faith that he professes, and a manifestation of its virtues, and he is esteemed by all.

HON. THOMAS S. SMITH. - It is very fitting that in a compilation of the character that we are now endeavoring to bring forth, there should appear an epitome of the career of the leading agriculturist and stockman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and who has played a prominent part in the development and progress of Union county, having been one of the earliest settlers, and having labored with display of courage, sagacity and enterprise in the affairs of this life, while coupled with this thrift there have been an exemplary walk in the path of uprightness and morality and integrity.

Mr. Smith was born in 1837 in Missouri, being the son of Shelton and Mary (Wallace) Smith. In 1849 the father migrated to California, but was taken away by death in the following year. At the age of twenty-one the time came for independent action and the subject of this sketch entered the harness for himself, his first occupation being farming in Missouri until 1862, when he undertook the arduous journey across the plains to Oregon. He landed in the vicinity of Lagrande in due time and without any serious accident, and he soon set about selecting for himself a pre-emption, which was situated one and one-half miles northeast from where Island City now stands. For several years he devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement of this farm and then sold out and purchased land three miles northeast from Lagrande. Here he took up general farming and stock-raising, with his accustomed skill and enterprise and the result was that he was attended with prosperity and he added to his original holding until he now has four hundred and twenty acres of good land in one body, besides several pieces of good timber land in various places. Mr. Smith is active in political matters, being allied with the Democratic party and is prominent in its councils int he county. He is a member of the Methodist church and has been a leading figure there for many years, while his life of careful practice of the principles of Christianity has been a light in the community and a help to many.

The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mary, daughter of John T. and Nancy Hunter, was celebrated in 1868, and they have been blessed with the advent of the following children: James R.,; Charles E.,; and gen. M., now Mrs. E.E. Bragg. Mrs. Smith's father crossed the plains in 1849 to California, and in 1852 came back by water, suffering great hardships in a shipwreck. After this he made his way to his home in Missouri, and in 1865 crossed the plains from Gentry county, Missouri, to Union county, Oregon, and settled five miles north from Lagrande, in a place known as "Old fort." He wrought here faithfully until his death, whic occurred in a runaway. In politics he was very prominent, being with the democratic party,a nd was the choice of the people for representative to the legislature, where he did faithful and efficient work. His demise was mourned by all, and he was one of the prominent men of our county.Mr. Smith is one of the most careful and intelligent agriculturists of the county and is a man of stanch worth and a substantial citizen. He and his faithful wife have wrought here for many years, enduring the hardships of the pioneers and working always for the advancement of the county and its substantial progress and it is very fitting and gratifying that they now should have the pleasure of enjoying the fruits of their toil and see their triumph of the hardy and worthy pioneers who have done more for the county than can ever be told.

WILLIAM M. SMITH. - To the esteemed and capable gentleman, whose name heads this article, we are pleased to grant a representation in this volume that chronicles the history of Union county, since he is one of the enterprising and substantial business men of Lagrande, and because he has shown himself a man of broad public spirit and a patriotic and loyal citizen of this commonwealth.

In Winterton, Lincolnshire, England, Mr. Smith was born, being the son of Samuel and Mary (Baxter) Smith, and the date of this event was August 3, 1840. He was educated in his native place, and at the age of fifteen years started in life for himself in the carrier business, using one horse and cart. He manipulated the business with such skill, that in a short time he was the proprietor of a first class bus line, handling five excellent vehicles and horses sufficient to carry on the entire business successfully. In 1878, he sold the business and turned his attention to stock, and for two years he gained a good success in that business and then he sold out and came to American, where the prospects were more favorable and the chances better. Lagrande was the place that he chose for his start, and he opened here a feed store that was conducted with his characteristic attention to business and with skill. Eight years later he sold this business and bought the Red Front livery stables, which he is handling at the present time with excellent patronage, which his careful and deferential treatment of customers has merited in every particular. He has about eleven rigs, with good vehicles and fine horses, plenty of first-class harness and saddles to match, while he enjoys as good a trade as any barn in the city, and it is to his credit to mention that his affability and close attention to the wants of his patrons is causing his trade to constantly increase.

In 1870, Mr. Smith married Miss Jane D., daughter of James and Mary (Campbell) Campbell, of West Halten, England. Her father was a business man of that section, and there she was educated in the schools of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Episcopalean church and are devoted to their faith.