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.

JOHN A. WAGNER. Deceased- In the person of the esteemed gentleman whose name is at the head of this article we have one of the first of Union county's settlers and a man who bore the brunt of assisting to open upthis section for the settlement of man and in developing the same, while he was ever enterprising and progressive, both in his private business operations as well as in the interests of the welfare of the county at large, and it is eminently fitting that a memorial be accorded to him in these abiding chronicles of our county, where he labored so faithfully and for so many years, ever manifesting that integrity, sagacity and uprightness which were characteristic of his whole life.

John A. Wagner was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, on May 8, 1837, being the son of James Wagner, a master collier in the coal mines of that vicinity. When he had reached the age of nineteen he started from home and took up the battles of life for himself, going first to Iowa, where he was occupied on the farm for a time. Next he started to Pike's Peak in 1859, but as the train disbanded he fell in with another train and came to southern Oregon by ox teams, being in the employ of a man who was importing fine stock to this country,and in his services he remained until 1862, when he took up packing to the various mines. He was in parntership with Volney and William Rector, and they kept a depot of stores at Auburn which they drew upon to pack to the Boise Basin. In 1862 William died and the stores were stolen. That winter our subject stayed in the vicinity of Cove and until 1866 was constantly engaged in packing to Boise and Coeur d' Alene. In 1867 he bought a quarter-section adjoining the present home and took up general farming and stock-raising, and from 1877 to 1894 he was occupied in addition with a dairy, milking from twenty to forty cows all of the time. He had about sixty acres to pasture, one hundred to meadow and one hundred and twenty to grain. In 1894 he sold out the dairy cows and confined his attention to general farming.

The marriage of Mr. Wagner and Miss Mary A., daughter of Lewis and Charity Bloom, pioneers of the Grande Ronde valley of 1862, was solemnized on March 28, 1867, and to them were born eight children, two of whom are still living, namely: Myrtle M., wife of Charles M. Davis, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Mimmie E., wife of James E. Weaver, now farming the old place. The place where the family is now living is the old Lewis Bloom homestead, and is situated two miles northwest of Cove. On September 30, 1896, Mr. Wagner was callled from the labors and duties of this life to that beyond, and his death was a time of great mourning.

The widow is still residing on the farm and attending to the oversight of affairs in a commendable manner. She has reared one grandson, Elmer C. Fulp, now sixteen years of age. She handles considerable stock and runs a dairy of sixteen cows. Her farms are well improved, and the home place is embellished with fine buildings and a beautiful residence. Mr. Wagner was one of the most highly respected citizens of the county and was always looked up to by his fellows as a man of excellent principles and good judgment. His widow is the recipient of the confidence of the entire community and is esteemed by all and cherished as a woman of gracious personality, true, noble, and upright.

WILLIAM T. WALLSINGER. - It is very gratifying to find that as the old pioneers lay down the noble work that they were doing in this couhty, and go hence to the rewards of another world, there are those left behind, whose willing hearts and strong hands will take up the toil of development nad continue to build in a becoming manner on the broad and deep foundation that those faithful hands laid, perhaps even better than they then knew. One such, a product of Union county, and a son of whom his native place may well be proud, is named at the head of this article, and we are pleased to grant him space in this volume that purports to give reviews of the leading citizens of our county.

William T. was born on May 8, 1870, to John Q. and Eliza (Woodell) Wallsinger, four miles south of Summerville, on Sand Ridge. His parents were pioneers to the Grande Ronde valley in 1862, the father then taking a homestead three miles northwest from Summerville, In 1898 he passed away but the mother is still living in Lagrande. Our subject attended school in the valley and in this county received the entire educational training with which he is supplied. He was one of the home circle until he was twenty-five years of age, working, however, for two or three years for wages, meanwhile. In 1897 he bought his present place of one hudred and sixty acres, which lies two and one-half miles southeast from Alicel. His farm is well improved, producing grain principally, although he has a good orchard and handles some stock.

In 1897, Mr. Wallsinger married Miss Letha, daughter of John and Margaret S. Peach, pioneers to California in 1849 and to the Grande Ronde valley in 1861. Mr. Peach was manager of the mill at Orodell and also operated a large dairy, importing the first throughbred Jerseys that came to the county. He died in 1894, and his wife passed away in 1892. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born one child, Harold. Mr. Wallsinger is a member of the Modern Woodmen, Island City Camp. No. 103. He is one of the progressive and successful young agriculturists of the county, and gives promise of a useful and bright future. His father assisted to build the first house on Sand Ridge nad was a typical pioneer in all ways.

Mr. Wallsinger has a fine home, well appointed, where his wife presides with gracious dignity.

JAMES WEBB. - To the industrious and progressive agriculturist and stockman, whose name initiates this paragraph, we are pleased to accord a representation in this volume of chronicles of Union county, since he is one of the substantial citizens of the county, having wrought out here a commendable success in the vocations which he follows, while his uprightness and integrity have won for him the confidence of the entire community.

Born to John and Arminda (McKinnis) Webb, in Wapello county, Iowa, on January 2, 1874. James knew nothing of a father's guiding hands, as John Webb died in March of the same year. The death of the mother in 1877 gave the orphan to the hands of the grandmother, and he dwelt in the home of his uncle, L.E. Wilkinson. Until he was sixteen, he remained in his native place, attending district school and assisting on the farm, then in 1890 came to Union with his great uncle, George Wilkinson. The first five years of his stay here were spent in school and general farm work. In the employ of William Wilkinson, in the latter's saw mill, one yeear was spent. Then he labored for Langrell & Brown, in their saw mill, at Sparta and Carson. In 1898 he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is situated in High valley, eight miles southeast from Union. He uses about half of the place for cultivation of grain and hay and about half for pasture. His hay yields two and one-half tons per acre and his grain land gives bounteous returns to his skillfull husbandry. He owns about twenty head of good cattle and seven head of horses, the latter being fine specimens of their kind, as Mr. Webb takes especial pride in rearing the equines. He has recently completed a fine seven-room modern residence, has a commodious barn and a well-selected orchard, and his place prsents an air of thrift and taste that characterize the owner as to skill and enterprise.

The marriage of Mr. Webb and Miss Nora, daughter of Andrew and Mary Virginia (Lamere) Wilkinson, was celebrated in August, 1897. Mr. Webb's parents are pioneers of Union county and are now residing in High Valey. Mrs. Webb is numbered among the successful educators of the county, and has gained an enviable record in pedagogic work. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have acquired a pleasant skill in handling the modern photgraphic instruments, and are possessors of some excellent specimens of their work in this line. Fraternally, Mr. Webb is affiliated with the King City, Camp, No. 86, Woodmen of the World in Union. His energy and his perseverance have guided by a praiseworthy sagacity, given him a prestige and competence that are wisely used for the advancement of home interests and in manifestation of public-spirited interest in the affairs of the county and its government.

GEORGE E. WELLS. - The subject of this sketch is a man of great energy and power of adaptability, as is manifested in the occupations that have been engaged in by him during the years in which he has been in this western country, and it is pleasant to remark that during all of these varied undertakings, some of which have been exceedingly arduous and fraught with hardship and danger, he has manifested a stanch and unflinching courage, marked industry and enterprise, with excellent personal qualities of integrity and upright principles, while a good success has attended his efforts, both became of the excellent practical judgment used and because of his keen foresight and untiring efforts to do well whatever his hand undertook.

George E. was born in Licking county, Ohio, on November 3, 1850, being the son of John and Sarah (Holmes) Wells. The father came to Oregon in 1859, settling at Oregon City and following the milling business for two years, when he repaired to Vancouver, Washington. The mother and three children then came and they all remained in that place until June, 1865, then they went to Lagrande, landing there on June 1, of that year. The father engaged in packing from Umatilla Landing to the mines of Boise Basin and others in this section. Our subject remained with his father one year in packing and then procured teams and continued the transportation of freight to the various points named until 1871. At that date the father quit teaming and went to dealing in wood in Lagrande and in that business he continued until the time of his death on November 16, 1888, that sad consummation being brought about in an accident with a team. The mother died on May 30, 1899. After 1871, our subject began teaching school, and continued the same until 1873, then went to Silver City, engaging in the hotel business for three years, following which during the winter of 187601877 he was a disciple of Nimrod, hunting all winter in the Wind River mountains. After this he spent six months in the Black Hills and on December 26, 1877, he landed in Prescott, Arizona. Remaining there until the spring of 1878, he returned to Roseburg, Oregon, and for one and one-half years was occupied in a printing business, handling the Douglas Independent. In 1879 he rode back to Lagrande and again took up teaming from Umatilla Landing to Lagrande and adjacent points, continuing the same until 1883 (?), the date of the advent of the railroad. He then went into the wood and tie business, following the same until February 9, 1891. He then removed to his present place and has been engaged in general farming since. He owns two hundred and forty acres five miles southeast from Alicel, which is all farmed to grain, except two acres which are planted to apples and pears. His farm is skillfully handled and produces excellent returns in good crops.

On August 4, 1889, Mr. Wells married Mrs. Minnie Buchanan, widow of D.J. Buchanan, an old resident of Union county. She is a daughter of Alexander and Carrie (Lucas) Jackson, natives of Des Moines county, Iowa. They came to California in 1860, to Oregon in 1861, and to the Grande Ronde in 1879. Mr. Jackson carried the mail from the depot to the postoffice from the time of the railroad's coming until 1900. He did also a general draying business. On November 4, 1901, he was called away by death. The mother is still living in Lagrande. To Mr. And Mrs. Wells have been born two children. Ralph, eleven years old, and Fred, seven years of age. Mr. Wells is school director of his district, and is a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 16, of Lagrande, and he has held all the chairs of the same. He is also a member of the Maccabees Tent No. 31, at Lagrande.

SULVANAS J. WHITE is a well known resident of Union county, near the town of Lagrande, having been identified with the industrial life of that city for some time and having also operated in the mercantile business here, being attended with success and also manifesting his characteristic ability and integrity during his residence here, while also he is one of the pioneers of the northwest, as his father Was also, and has wrought for many years in the development and for the progress of this and adjoining states.

Charles F. and Elizabeth (Buchanan) White are the parents of our subject, who was born to them in Stark county, Illinois, on January 6, 1846. It was in 1851 that the parents determined to try their fortunes in the west, and accordingly fitted out the requisite conveyances and ox teams and started on the long and dreary journey across barren plain and rugged mountains infested with dangers of savages and wild beasts, besides the lurking disease that was then sweeping across the country. In due time they landed in Portland, having lost some from the train by accident and one by the Indians. The savages charged toll for crossing the streams, and had the train not been large doubtless would have massacred them all. Captain Dray piloted them in safety to their destination, and after one winter spent there the father went to Olympia, which then consisted of two houses, and after exploring the country for three months located a claim and later went to the Cowlitz country, and at Boisport took a claim of three hundred acres, the mother living there at the present time, being seventy-eight years of age. Our subject was educated in the primitive schools there and in 1867 engaged himself as head sawyer in a lumber manufacturing establishment in Olympia, and in this capacity he continued until 1887, then removed to the Grande Ronde valley to put in the water works for the Chaplin & McConnell Company. Upon the completion of this enterprise he went into the implement business for Mitchell Lewis & Staver, continuing therein for eleven years. In 1891 Mr. White purchased fifteen acres where he now lives just northeast from Lagrande. The property had twelve hundred trees bearing besides much small fruit. He has improved the place and has an elegant home with good grounds and a first-class orchard.

Mr. White married Miss Rosina, daughter of Antone and Anna (Snyder) Kuhn, of Olympia, and two children have been born to bless this union: Lena, wife of F.L. Coykendall, conductor on the O.R.&N. and living in Lagrande: Alice B., wife of George Henry, living in Lagrande. In political matters Mr. White is associated with the Republicans and is active in this field, having been justice of the peace in Lagrande in 1896. Mr. White is affiliated with the A.O.U.W. and he and his wife belong to the D. of H. They are both spiritists and are much interested in manifestations. Mr. White is a member of the worthy pioneers that wended their way across the plains in 1852, the year of scarcity of provisions, flour costing as high as one dollar per pound. These worthy pioneers are now spending the time of the golden years of their life in the retirement of their comfortable and attractive home secure in the esteem and confidence of all.

Mr. Wills was born in Taylor county, Iowa, on April 3, 1866, being the son of William E. and Martha J. (Laney) Wills. The father was a farmer and carpenter and died when our subject was one year old. In his native place the son was reared and there attended school, gaining a good educational discipline. He also worked on the home place and for the neighbors, until he had arrived at man's estate, and then fitted the old-fashioned "prairie schooner" and traveled toward the west until he landed in Oregon, arriving in this state on August 1, 1887, and in the Grande Ronde valley on October 1, 1887. He engaged with a saw mill company, whose plant was situated north of Summerville, and these wrought for two months, then made rails,a nd later went to work on a ranch. In these occupations he continued until 1894, also assisting in 1891 to erect the brick blocks in Lagrande. In 1894 he rented a place of eighty acres, one mile west from Alicel, and there did general farming for one year, living during that time in a tent. On October 24, 1894, he rented the place that he now owns, and the following year he purchased the property. He added to this quarter section eighty acres more, all good land. This land is situated three-fourths of a mile from Alicel, and is all well cultivated and produces good crops. He has it well improved with all necessary conveniences, and also has a fine orchard. he makes a specialty of grain and stock, taking a great interest in well-bred animals. In 1898 he had one hog at the county fair that took first premium, being Poland China breed.

In political matters Mr. Wills is very active, being chairman of the Republican committee, from 1900 to 1902, and is always laboring for good men in office. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I.O.O.F., Farmers Lodge No. 49, of Summerville. He has held all of the chairs in the subordinate lodge and also has served as delegate to the grand lodge. He is also a member of the encampment No. 7, of Baker City, of Knights of Pythias, Red Cross Lodge, No. 27, of Lagrande, and of the Modern Woodmen, Island City Camp, No. 1003. Mr. Wills is is interested in the welfare of the county and displays the intelligence of a typical citizen. He is a stockholder in the Artesian Company that is intending to sink wells next summer throughout the county. Mr. Wills and A.J. Hughes are the patentees of a device for spreading manure that is working very successfully, nad to this they add a scraper and cultivator attachment, and many of them are in practical operation throughout the county. They completed this excellent invention on September 25, 1899. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Wills' mother came from Iowa to dwell with her son, and is at the present time so doing. Mr. Wills is one of the leading citizens of our county, and his uprightness and integrity have won for him hosts of friends in every walk of life and he has the esteem and confidence of all.

WILLIAM M. WINN. - Although the subject of this sketch has not been domiciled within the borders of Union county a sufficient length of time to be called a pioneer, still he has been here long enough to thoroughly demonstrate to all that he is a man of capabilitities and enterprise and favored with those qualities that make the upright man and substantial citizen, while his industry and thrift are apparent, as well as his good judgment and financial foresight.

On December 28, 1858, he was born to Thomas G. and Phoebe (Orton) Winn, in Springville, Utah, and there he was reared on a farm and attended the public schools during his boyhood days. The family removed to Idaho and later returned to Utah, whence they went to Colorado and from that place Mr. Winn came to Union county. It was in 1898 that he settled here purchasing a farm of three hundred and twenty acres about twelve miles south from Lagrande. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine timber, making his entire estate four hundred and eighty acres. His home place is well improved and is one of the valuable farms of the county. He is enterrising and industrious and is very successful in raising stock and the fruits of the soil. Mr. Winn started in this world for himself when he was nineteen years of age and at the time of his marriage his bank account revealed but tend dollars to his credit. Since that time he has been especially successful and now has a home place for which he refused recently four thousand dollars, besides much other property of value.

The marriage of Mr. Winn and Catherine K., daughter of Hiram and Elisabeth (Clapper) Hendrickson, was solemnized on July 6, 1884 at Summit, Iron county (?), Utah. They have become the parents of five children: Pearl R., William M., Forest L., Clyde V. and Irene. Mr. Winn is affiliated with the A.O.U.W. of Lagrande. He is well esteemed by his fellows and neighbors and stands as one of the substantial citizens of the county.

JOSEPH M. YOUNCS. - The proverb sayeth: "Time and chance happeneth to all men," but surely it is to the faithful and enterprising ones who are able to discern these things and to take advantage of the opportunity that fortune puts once in the path of every man, that comes the emoluments of sagacity and thrift and honor from their fellows that is due to proper manifestation of sound principles and real merit of stanch integrity. It is but right to say that to the subject of this sketch belongs the distinction of having so ordered his life that he has won the respect and confidence of his fellows and his manipulation of the business affairs that have come to hand has resulted in giving him a goodly share of this world's property as the result of his sagacity.

On May 1, 1846, Joseph M. was born to William and Julia Ann (Carl) Youncs, in Kentucky, and while he was still a child his parents removed to Bates county, Missouri, where they all remained until the breaking out of the Civil war. The elder Mr. Youncs was major of Hunter's Regiment in the Confederate army, and the subject of this sketch did excellent military duty under his father whose regiment was part of the number that composed Price's army. Our subject participated in many skirmishes and several battles among which was the one at Westport, Kansas, where his father received a mortal wound and died soon after. Until the end of the struggle, Mr. J.M. Youncs continued to champion the cause with which he had allied himself, and then laid down the arms of war and turned to the more quiet occupations of civil life. For a time he traveled over parts of Texas and New Mexico and then made his way to Sedalia, Missouri, remaining there for four years. Thence he went to Benton county. In 1880, he fitted teams and went over the trail that had been so well frequented before the advent of steam transportation. He ultimately landed in Union county and secured land near his present home, and then bought the place where he lives now, which is four miles northwest from North Powder. Here he has two hundred and eighty acres of good land that he has improved in a becoming and skillful manner. He has a good house and substantial barn, and in addition to the production of the fruits of the soil he raises some stock. Mr. Youncs is well respected in the community and counted a good business man, upright citizen, and faithful and kind neighbor.

In 1822, where rolls the Rhine its pleasant course through rich valleys and vendured hills in the land of Germany, our subject was born and there he received the thorough training given in the common schools. He remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until 1844, and then sailed from the Fatherland to America's free lands. He settled in Richland county, Ohio, until 1850, then crossed the dreary plains to California, landing in Hangtown, thence to Sacramento, and after a short stay there came into Trinity county, where he took up mining. Six years were spent in this industry and he did well in a financial way, then he came to the mining districts of Idaho, but not finding them as he supposed, came thence to the Grande Ronde valley, and took up the stock business. After a few years, he went to Silver City, Idaho, and ten years later he sold his stock and came to dwell in Union. There in company with H. Striker, he built a brewery and operated it for five years, and then sold and came to Lagrande and went into the merchandise business.

It was in March, 1887, that the marriage of Mr. Zuber and Susan C. Reeves occurred, and one child has been born to them, Dorothy M. Mrs. Zuber's parents were Elijah S. and Margaret (McDonald) Reeves and she was born in Brown county, Illinois, in 1848 and the family crossed the plains and located in the Grande Ronde valley in 1867. Mrs. Zuber has two children by a former marriage, Laura E., wife of John Childs, living in Lagrande; Elza, married and living in San Francisco. Our subject has a fine home of twelve rooms and of modern architectural design, one of the finest in the city, and in addition he owns twelve houses and twenty lots, besides six hundred acres of land. He is one of the substantial and capable men of the county, and he and his estimable wife are valuable members of society, being esteemed and highly respected by all, and the later years of their pilgrimage is being spent in quiet enjoyment of the fruits of their worthy labors.