Oregon Republican League: History 101

Every Wednesday, the Oregon Republican League will post the biographies of important figures, in the League's/State of Oregon's history. Click on the head link above, to visit more of our listings at genealogy.com. Feel free to comment or share stories of your family's Republican affiliation.

Oregon Republican League:

Republican League Register of Oregon, The Register Publishing Company, 1896, page 204-210.

DUNIWAY, WILLIS S., Private Secretary of Governor Lord, was born in Clackamas County, Oregon, in 1856. He learned the printer’s trade after graduating from the Portland High School, and in 1880 became managing editor of the New Northwest. Ill health sent him to the stock ranges of Idaho in 1886, where he still owns a cattle ranch in Custer County. He is a member of the Multnomah Typographical Union and the Multorpor Club. In 1894 he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for State Printer, but failed for geographical reasons. After the election he was appointed Private Secretary to the Governor, and has also been appointed Major and Assistant Adjutant General.

DURHAM, HON. GEORGE H., a leading attorney of Portland, was born in Springfield, Illinois, December 4, 1843, and came to Oregon four years later. In 1858 he entered Willamette University, but left it in 1861 to enlist in the First Oregon Cavalry. He returned to school the next year. He graduated from Pacific University in 1866 and was admitted to the bar in 1869. In 1871 he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy by the United States District Court. In 1872 he was elected District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District, and served four years. He has since devoted himself to his profession in general practice. He is an earnest Republican, has frequently taken part in conventions, and is now a member of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

EAKIN, ROBERT, of Union, was born in Elgin, Illinois, March 15, 1848, and came to Oregon in 1866, locating in Eugene. He attended the Willamette University, graduating in 1874, and the next year was admitted to the bar. The same year he settled in Union County in the practice of his profession. He has been an earnest and influential Republican, and has taken an active part in managing party affairs. He was a delegate to the county convention of 1876, and nearly every subsequent one. He was chairman of the county central committee six years, and a delegate to the state convention in 1884, 1888 and 1892. In 1880 he was nominated for County Judge and in 1882 for District Attorney, and in 1892 for District Judge of the Sixth District. In February, 1895 he was appointed Judge of the Eighth District by Governor Lord. Judge Eakin is a member of the Republican Club at Union.

EAKIN, S. B. [Editor inserted: Stewart Bates Eakin], of Eugene, was born in Elgin, Illinois, September 27, 1846, and came to Oregon when twenty years of age, driving a four-mule team across the plains. He has lived continuously in Eugene, and is cashier of the First National Bank. He has been an active Republican continuously, and frequently a member of county and state convention. He was elected Sheriff in 1874 and re-elected in 1876 and 1878. In 1882 he was elected to the legislature, and in 1886 to the State Senate, serving two sessions.

EARHART, HON. ROCKEY P., deceased, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, June 23, 1837, and came to Oregon in 1855. For several years he was in the Quartermaster’s Department of the army. He was then in business in Yamhill and Polk Counties, and Indian Agent at Warm Springs Agency, Special Indian Agent, etc., until 1868. He was then in business in Salem till 1872, being elected to the legislature in 1870. From 1872 to 1874 he was in the business office of the Portland Bulletin, and from 1874 to 1878 was Chief Clerk in the Surveyor General’s office. He was elected Secretary of State in 1878, and for a second term in 182. From 1885 to 1887 he was Adjutant General, and in 1888 was elected to the legislature from Multnomah County. Mr. Earhart died in Portland about four years ago. He was one of the most prominent Masons on the Pacific Coast.

EASTHAM, HON. EDWARD L., deceases, was born near Oregon City, Oregon, January 18, 1848. He attended the Willamette University. He then taught school and studied law, and in 1876 was admitted to the bar. He retired from practice in 1888. For six years he was a School Director. In 1881 he organized the Bank of Oregon City. In 1886 he established the water works system of Walla Walla on a firm foundation. He then formed a syndicate and organized the Willamette Falls Electric Company, secured possession of the water power and much adjacent real estate and factory sites at Oregon City, out of which has grown the Portland General Electric Company. In 1890 he was elected State Senator, but died during the session January 18, 1891, literally worked to death. He always took an active part in party matters.

EBI, O.N. S. [Editor inserted: Owen S. Ebi], of Arlington, was born in Cass County, Michigan, and has been a resident of Gilliam County fourteen years, during which time he has been a representative Republican and a constant party worker. He was elected Mayor of Arlington in 1890, and Justice of the Peace in 1895. He was a delegate to the league in 1895.

EDDY COLONEL JAMES B., of Pendleton, was born at St. Ives, Cornwall, England, in 1855. He learned the printer’s trade. In 1872 he came to America and began work on the printer’s trade. In 1872 he came to America and began work on the Reveille at Austin, Nevada, subsequently editing the paper two years. In 1881 he came to Oregon. He was Deputy Sheriff of Umatilla County four year, and editor of the Pendleton Tribune three years. In 1892 he was appointed special agent for the allotment of lands on the Umatilla Reservation. He was Reading Clerk of the State Senate in 1893, and at that session was elected Railroad Commissioner, which office he still holds. He is an able speaker, and has done much campaign work, and has been a member of many conventions and club meetings, and for four years was president of the Republican club at Pendleton. For several years he was a member of the Governor’s staff, with rank of colonel.

EHLEN, LORENZ V., of Salem, was born in Shelby County, Mississippi, May 8, 1859, and came to Oregon in 1863. He settled on a farm near Aurora, Marion County. He has taken an active part in politics for many year, having been a delegate to conventions frequently, and an earnest member of Republican Clubs. In 1894 he was elected County Clerk of Marion County, and is again the party nominee for that office, having made a record for efficiency that won him renomination.

ELLIS, HON. WILLIAM R., of Heppner, and Member of Congress for the second district, was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, April 23, 1850. He graduated at the Iowa State University in 1874. He held several municipal offices if Hamburg, Iowa, including that of Mayor. In 1883 he located in the practice of law at Heppner, Oregon. In 1885 he was appointed by Governor Moody Prosecuting Attorney of the Seventh Judicial District, and in 1886 was elected to the same office. In 1888 he was again elected. In 1892 he received the Republican nomination as the first Representative of the Second Congressional District, and was elected. He was again nominated and elected in 1894, and this year has received the nomination for the third time. He is a firm protectionist and an earnest worker for the interest of Oregon.

ELLIS, DR. M. H. [Editor inserted: Matthew H. Ellis], of Albany, was born at Port Hope, Ontario, March 19, 1858. He came to Oregon twelve years ago and located in Albany in the practice of medicine. He has been for several years surgeon of the Second Regiment, O. N. G., with rank of captain. He is an earnest Republican, and president of the Albany Republican Club. He was a delegate to the convention of 1894 and the league meeting of 1895, when he was elected a delegate to the National League meeting at Cleveland, Ohio, which he attended.

ELMORE, HON. SAMUEL, proprietor and manager of the Daily Astorian, was born at Lloyd, Ulster County, New York, in 1847. His father, R. P. Elmore, at the age of eighty-four years, is still managing an extensive coal business in Milwaukee, founded in 1851. Samuel was educated in Milwaukee and at Lawrence University and Genesee College, Lima, New York. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in the Fifty-first Wisconsin infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant. At the close of the war he engaged in business in Milwaukee, but in 1866 went to California, and by his own exertions laid a foundation for his present business success. For a time during Grant’s administration he was Deputy Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, but soon resigned to return to California. He became interested in the Oakland Smelting & Lead Company, and later embarked in canning Columbia river salmon. Though one of the latest of the Astoria canners to embark in the business, he has the largest and most perfectly equipped salmon cannery in the world. Mr. Elmore is also proprietor and manager of the Daily Astorian. He is an ex-Mayor of Astoria, has served two terms on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the G.A. R., was a delegate to the state conventions of 1888 and 1892, was chairman of the central committee in 1892, and in 1895 was elected a delegate to the National Republican League.

FAILING, HENRY, of Portland, was born in New York City, January 17, 1834. At the age of twelve he entered a store in that city and received a good business education. In 1851 he accompanied his father, Josiah Failing, to Portland, where the firm of J. Failing & Co. was established. The senior member retired in 1864, and Henry conducted the business alone till 1871, when he formed with Henry W. Corbett the firm of Corbett, Failing & Co. In 1869 these two gentlemen purchased a controlling interest in the First National Bank, and have managed its affairs ever since. Its stock has been increased to $500,000, and it stands at the head of the financial institutions of the Pacific Northwest. He has been a promoter of some of the leading industries of this section. Mr. Failing has always been an earnest Republican, and was chairman of the Republican state central committee in 1860 to 1862. In 1864 he was elected Mayor of Portland, and again in 1875. He has attended conventions frequently, though not as an office-seeker. His name has been frequently mentioned in connection with Senatorial honors, and at one time quite prominently as a possible secretary of the treasury in President Harrison’s cabinet. In 1876 he received the appointment as one of the ten United States commissioners to the World’s Fair at Paris, but was impelled by business reasons to decline.

FAILING, JESSE, of Pendleton, was born in Wayne County, New York, September 25, 1829, and came to Oregon in the fall of 1859. He worked as a carpenter in Portland. In 1879 he went to Pendleton, where he is a dealer in carpets and furniture. He has been a delegate to county convention regularly, and to state conventions. He was a member of the City Council from 1884 to 1888. He has been the party nominee for County Clerk and County Treasurer, at time when there was a regular Democratic majority of from 300 to 600 to compete against.

FAILING, HON. JOSIAH, deceased, was born in Canajoharie, New York, in 1806. He went to New City when a young man and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1851 he came to Oregon and followed the same business successfully till re retired in 1864. In 1853 he was elected Mayor of Portland. In 1864 and 1869 he was a delegate to the national convention. He took a great interest in education, and Failing school is named in his honor. He died August 14, 1877.

FALSON, MOSES E., of Pendleton, was born in Bangor, Maine, February 28, 1827. He came to Oregon in 1852 and lived in Clackamas County till 1863, when he settled in Pendleton. He has been a delegate to several county conventions, and in 1892 was elected Treasurer of Umatilla County.

FEE, JAMES A., of Pendleton, was born at Plattville, Wisconsin, April 19, 1857. He came to Oregon in 1884, and settled in Pendleton in the practice of the law. He was a delegate to the state convention of 1888. In 1888 he was elected Judge of the Sixth Judicial District, and served until 1894. He was again nominated by the Republicans, and was indorsed by the Democrats and by the Populist of Union County. The Populist finally put up a man against him, who was defeated by 3800 majority in the district. Judge Fee was editor of the Pendleton Tribune ten months, and in 1888 was president of the Republican Club. He has been a league delegate.

FISHER, DR. J. J. [Editor inserted: John J. Fisher], of Portland, was born in Linn County, Missouri, in 1841, and went with his widowed mother to Tippecanoe, Indiana, in 1843. He enlisted in 1861, serving six months, and in 1862 again enlisted for thirty days to fight guerrillas in Kentucky. He engaged in teaching and the study of medicine, attending the Rush Medical College, Chicago. In 1869 he began practice at Iroquois, Illinois. From 1871 to 1880 he practiced at Central City, Nebraska, where he served as Coroner and member of the School Board. In 1880 he came to Oregon, and in 1883 embarked in the drug business in Albina. In 1888 he was elected to the legislature, and is now nominated again to that body.

FLINN, DR. M. A. [Editor inserted: Michael A. Flinn], a physician of Portland, was born in Westchester County, New York, in 1841, and moved to Dodge County, Wisconsin, in 1848. He began the study of medicine in 1860. In 1863 he came to the Pacific Coast and engaged in mining in Idaho and the stock business in Eastern Oregon. In 1869 he resumed the study of medicine and graduated from the medical department of the Willamette University in 1872. He was physician at the Warm Springs Agency till 1875, practiced at Vancouver till 1877, at Gervais till 1885, and since in Portland. He is a member of the Oregon State Medical Society and of the faculty of the medical department of the University of Oregon. Dr. Flinn is an earnest Republican. He was elected to the legislature in 1875, and served as president of the Gervais City Council. He has been frequently a member of conventions and club meetings.

FLOYD, E. J., of Portland [Editor inserted: Joseph E. Floyd], was born at the town of Radruth, County of Cornwall, England, March 26, 1851. He was reared in that country, and was apprenticed to the plumbing trade. In the spring of 1870 he came to America, landing at Dover, New Jersey. In 1880 he came to Portland and at once engaged in the plumbing business. By years of hard work he built up a good business and became on of the most expert in his line. In July, 1894, he was appointed Inspector of Plumbing and Drainage of the City of Portland, which position he still holds. He is an intense Republican, and an earnest and active worker for party success. His singing at clubs has been a special feature to maintain interest in them.

FOSTER, C. M. [Editor inserted: Charles M. Foster], of Baker City, County Surveyor for the past twelve years, was born in Vermont in 1837. He received an education as a civil engineer. He located in Portland in 1860, and in 1862 in Baker County, where he has since been engaged in mining and engineering. He was elected the first County Clerk, on the Republican ticket, and subsequently Superintendent of Schools. He has been elected County Surveyor continuously for twenty years, and is again the Republican nominee for that office. He has been Surveyor of Baker City since its incorporation, and has been Deputy United States Mineral Surveyor since 1871, and was Deputy United States Marshal for a time.

FOLSOM. COLONEL F. W. [Editor inserted: Frederick W. Folsom], of Eugene, was born in Caledonia County, Vermont, in 1828. In 1846 he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1848 to Iowa and in 1851 to Missouri, where he taught school. In 1857 he crossed the plains to California, and came to Oregon the same year. He taught school and formed near Eugene till 1861, when he held a position in the Surveyor General’s office till 1863. He then organized the Lancaster Light Cavalry and was commissioned captain. He also in 1864 organized the Springfield and Cottage Grove Cavalry and the Eugene Infantry, forming the Third Regiment, of which he became colonel. From 1864 to 1871 he was Assessor of the Internal Revenue Department, and since then has engaged in farming on a large scale near Junction City. He has served ten years in the City Council and four years as Mayor. He has always been a consistent Republican, and been a delegate to county and state conventions since 1860.

FORD, HON. TILMON, of Salem, graduated from the Willamette University in 1870. He was admitted to the bar in 1872, and has ever since practiced in Salem, near which he also owns a fine farm. In 1880 he was elected to the legislature, and re-elected in 1882. In 1892 he was again elected to that body. He has been a member of state and county conventions and league meetings, and as a speaker commands close attention. Mr. Ford was the candidate of Marion County for the congressional nomination in 1896.

FORD, H. P. [Editor inserted: Henry P. Ford], of Hillsboro, was born in Clackamas County, Oregon, November 2, 1859. He has lived in Washington County ten years. He was a Deputy Sheriff from 1888 to 1892, and in the latter year was elected Sheriff, being re-elected in 1894. Mr. Ford took an interest in politics and was an earnest Republican before coming of age, and has since been an active worker in the party ranks. He was a delegate to the conventions of 188 and 1894, and to the club conventions of 1894-95-96.

FOX, JOHN, of Astoria, was born in Darlington County, Ontario, Canada, September 11, 1849, and came to Oregon in 1867. He lived in Portland till 1871, when he moved to Astoria and engaged as a machinist and engineer. He is now president and manager of the Astoria Iron Works. Mr. Fox has taken an active part in Republican affairs, especially the past ten years, during which time he has been a delegate to nearly all county conventions, and to the state convention of 1894. He was elected to the legislature in 1890, and ion 1894 was the Republican nominee for the State Senate. He was a member of the City Council in 1889, 1890 and 1891, and a School Director in 1890-91-92. He was made one of the State Board of Pilot Commissioners by the legislature of 1893, and was elected president of the Board, which position he still holds.

FRENCH, T.A. [Editor inserted: Theron A. French], of Starkey, was born in Georgia County, Ohio, in 1850, and came to Oregon in 1883, and is engaged in farming. He has been a frequent member of county conventions and central committees.

FRANK, HON, GEORGE P., Mayor of Portland, was born in Granville, New York, June 11, 1852. In 1864 the family moved to Madison, Wisconsin. He began business in the office of the C., B. & Q. Railroad, but in 1875 went to San Francisco and became a member of the agricultural implant firm of Frank Bros. The next year he came to Portland to manage a branch house. He has always taken an active part in party matters, and in public enterprises, and before being elected Mayor, in 1894, had served as Police Commissioner and as a member of the Water Committee building Portland’s extensive water system.

FRATER, W. A. [Editor inserted: William A. Frater], of Roseburg, was born in Eastern Ohio in 1843. He was Second Sergeant of Company E, One Hundred and Fortieth Ohio Volunteers, in the war, and at the close of the war returned to his farm. In 1877 he took his family to Kansas, but fire robbed him of all his possessions, and he came on to Oregon, locating in Douglas County. For sixteen years he lived there, engaged in farming, carpentering and other labor. In 1893 he was appointed Treasurer of Douglas County, to fill a vacancy, and in 1894 was elected to the position. He was a member of the county central committee in 1888 and a delegate to the county convention in 1890.

FRAZER, JACOB, of Pendleton, was born in Ohio in 1820, went to California in 1850 and came to Oregon in 1867, and has lived in Pendleton since 1871. He has been heavily engaged sheep raising, and has been president and vice-president respectively of the Pendleton National Bank and First National Bank. He has been a wheel horse of the party, a frequent delegate to conventions and member of committees, but has never sought office.

FRIENDLY, S. H. [Editor inserted: Samson H. Friendly], of Eugene, was born in New York City, December 6, 1840, and came to Oregon in 1865, locating in Eugene, where he has since resided and is engaged in merchandising. He has been a prominent Republican for a third of a century, and has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions and to the league meetings. He was several times elected to the City Council, and in 1893 was elected Mayor. He is an active member of the Republican Club.

FULLERTON. J. C. [Editor inserted: James C. Fullerton], of Roseburg, was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 16, 1848, and came to Oregon in 1853, locating in Douglas County, where he has resided ever since. He was a delegate to the state conventions form 1880 to 1890, and twice a member of the state central committee. He was Receiver of the United States Land Office at Roseburg from 1873 to 1885, and a member of the State Senate from 1888 to 1892. In 1892 he was elected Circuit Judge, which position he now holds. He is a member of the Republican Club.