Walla Walla G Biographies

Walla Walla Valley
G - Biographies

GEORGE C. GRAY. - Mr. Gray was born in East Tennessee in 1840. His father was a farmer, and also an active worker as preacher in the Baptist church, and upon arriving in Oregon in 1853 laid a Donation claim near Corvallis, conducting his farm six days in the week and carrying on religious work on Sundays.

It was in these surroundings that young George grew to man's estate; and his first independent exertions were as a laborer in Corvallis from 1854 to 1860. In 1861 he went to the Oro Fino mines, and in 1862 brought cattle to Walla Walla, selling the beef at the butcher's block until 1863. Early in the spring of that year he went to the granite creek mines on the John Day river, shoveling his way through snow across the mountains. Purchasing a pony train he was enabled to do a large business in packing, but sold out some time after to Ish & Hailey. For a number of years he was engaged in mining speculations, and enlarged his operations as packer by extending his range to Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, meeting by the way adventures, the recital of which would fill a volume. In 1868 he engaged in mammoth operations in cattle, supplying as many as fifty to eighty beeves per week to the markets in the mines. In all these extensive operations, as was usually the case, the losses and hazards of the business left but little profit.

In 1872 he began real life by locating a beautiful, level and fertile tract of land on the Lower Cove, and making a permanent home. Here he has eight hundred acres of improved land, a hundred cattle and horses, and pleasant surroundings. He was married in 1864 to Miss Levina, a daughter of Merrill Jasper, of Benton county. Their home has been blessed with five children.

History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
348

BURRELL W. GRIFFIN. - Mr. Griffin, who has been long and favorably known throughout the Inland Empire, was born in Missouri in 1840, and since his arrival in Oregon in 1848 has seen as much of our Northwestern life in Indian wars, in the mines, and in our distinctive old-time traveling system by stage, as any one of us. His first residence was in the "Forks" of the Santiam with his father, B.B. Griffin, who moved to the Rogue river valley in 1852, and was a farmer and fancier of horses; who in 1852 was with Captain John F. Miller in the difficulty with Chief Sam, in Southern Oregon; who again in 1853 was one of the most active in suppressing the disorders of Old John, being one of the scouting party which inadvertently ran upon the Indian band on Williams creek, and who in the sharp skirmish received a severe wound; who still again in the larger and more bloody wars of 1855-56 took a large share in the comic, often tragic, and inevitably fatiguing campaigns on the Rogue river.

Young Burrell W. was in the meantime growing into a stout lad, and was receiving his education under the tuition of Honorable Orange Jacobs. At the age of twenty-two he was ready to pack his blankets and seek his fortune. He went to the mines of Eastern Oregon, and was one of the party who discovered the Granite creek mines on the John Day river. After two summers he arrived at Silver City, Idaho territory, and was initiated in stage driving on the Umatilla and Placerville route for Ish & Hailey. For the greater part of the time until 1870, he satisfactorily occupied the position of division agent for this company.

Having been married in1869 to Miss Abbie Parish of Port Townsend, the year following he engaged in farming and stock-raising on a large scale. His election as sheriff of Walla Walla county two years later forced him to quit this occupation. Upon the expiration of his term, he engaged unsuccessfully for three years in mining on Gallice creek, Josephine county, Oregon. Returning to his old business of staging, he took charge of the Mammoth line from Boise to Winnemucca, and a year later was agent for the Utah, Idaho & Oregon Stage Company throughout the Inland Empire.

Securing a section and a half of land near Blalock he erected a hotel and conducted it in connection with the business of office agent for the stage company, and for Wells, Fargo & Co. Several years there, however, prepared him for a removal to Wallowa Bridge, Oregon, where he is at present presiding, and is owner and manager of the La Grande and Wallowa stage line.

Mr. Griffin lost by death his first wife in 1875. Some years later he married Miss Margaret Courtnay, of Umatilla county. They have five children.

History of Pacific Northwest - Oregon and Washington
Volume II
350, 351

THEODORE GROTE.

Theodore Grote, one of the foremost farmers of Columbia county, Washington, owning ten thousand acres of fine wheat and pasture land, was born in Germany, July 5, 1881, a son of John and Anna (Dryer) Grote, also natives of that country. In 1882 they emigrated to America with their family and took up their residence in Ohio, whence three years later they removed to Kansas. They resided in that state for three years and then came to Washington, first locating in Whitman county. In 1893, however, they removed to Walla Walla county, and there the father passed away in 1915, while the mother survives.

Theodore Grote, who is one of a family of five children, was brought to Washington when a child and in the acquirement of his education attended the common schools. In 1897 he began farming in partnership with his father and brothers, operating eighteen hundred acres of leased land. He devoted six years to that work and then removed to Canada, where for a year he was in the sheep business. He then returned to Walla Walla and purchased fifty-five hundred acres of land and leased six thousand acres. Four years later he sold his property to his brother Ben, but after a period of two years he again purchased and, becoming the owner of a valuable tract in Columbia County on section 10, township 11 north, range 38 east. He has since added to his holdings and is now the owner of ten thousand acres, of which forty-three hundred acres is wheat land and the remainder pasture land. He has a herd of six hundred head of cattle and his stock raising interests are very profitable. As a wheat grower he met with unusual success, and he is always among the first to adopt a new method or implement of value He is systematic and businesslike in the management of his affairs, realizing that the day of haphazard, unthinking faring has passed.

Mr. Grote was married in February, 1911, to Miss Matie C. Baumann, who was born in Washington. He is an advocate of the principles of the republican party but confines his participation in public affairs tot he exercise of his right of franchise. He belongs to the Elks at Walla Walla and is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 106 F.&A.M., at Starbuck and of the Royal Arch Chapter at Dayton. His ability stands out as an unquestioned fact and it is generally recognized that he is an important factor in the development of Columbia county along agricultural and stock raising lines.

Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County - 1918
Page 244, 247

JOSEPH L. GWINN, who now lives on a farm seven miles southeast of Walla Walla City, was born in Clinton Co., Kentucky, January 11, 1824. His father's name was Joseph; he was of Irish origin, and was born March 18, 1797. The mother of Joseph L., whose maiden name was Rebecca Owens, was of Welch origin and was born December 4, 1797. His father's name was Joseph; he was of Irish origin, and was born March 18, 1797. the father went to new Orleans to follow his trade as a carpenter, when the subject of this sketch was but four years old, and probably became one of the many victims of the assassin, or some sudden or fatal disease, as he was never heard from afterwards. The mother, following her children in their changes of home, finally died at her son's place in Walla Walla, in 1866. Mrs. Rebecca Gwinn, as the years rolled by and no tidings came from her absent husband, settled on a farm given to her by her father with her family, and Joseph L., with his younger brother, became the working members of the little household firm. This could not last always, a termination being put to it in 1844, when Mr. Gwinn was married to Miss Martha Triplett of Clinton Co., Kentucky, on the 27th of December of that year. Mrs. Martha Gwinn was born December 17, 1828. The next year the newly married couple moved to near Unionville, in Putnam Co., Missouri, where they lived until 1864, when they came to Walla Walla Co., W.T., and settled on the farm that now constitutes their home. Mr. Gwinn was forced to live in the cauldron of seething contention engendered by the War, or sacrifice his farm in Missouri; and it was due to those turmoils that he finally concluded to take what he could get for his property there, and move to the West. Consequently he arrived in this valley with but limited funds, that were expended in purchasing his home of 120 acres, where he now resides. To this he has added from time to time, until now he has, in various localities, 400 acres of land, 200 of which are inclosed and cultivated, where he lives. He has a fine orchard of some five acres, but, if the reader would know more of it, look at the sketch in this work, or visit the locality at the base of the Blue mountains, from where a grand view of the Walla Walla valley is obtained.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gwinn are as follows: Sarah J., born May 27, 1848; John W., February 14, 1850; William O., January 6, 1852, died September 22, 1869; Nancy A., June 2, 1853; Rebecca I., May 24, 1855, died August 28, 1861; Mary M., March 13, 1857; Benjamin S., April 3, 1859; Joseph D., October 29, 1860; Susan C., January 18, 1862; Louisa E., May 1, 1864, died September 27, 1864; Rachel E., September 22, 1865; George M., May 22, 1867; Thomas M., May 31, 1870, died June 24, 1878.

Gilbert's Historic Sketches
Biographical Supplements
1882
Page 17, 18