Oregon Republican League: History 104 Biographies

Oregon Republican League: History 104 Biographies

Every Wednesday/Thursday, the Oregon Republican League will post the biographies of important figures, in the League's/State of Oregon's history. Feel free to comment or share stories of your family's Republican affiliation.

An Illustrated History of Umatilla County & Morrow County, by Colonel William Parsons and W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the State of Oregon. W. H. Lever, Spokane, WA, (1902), p. 354-363.

JOHN N. BAHR.- Some of the most enterprising and reliable citizens of this republic have come from the Anglo-Saxon Empire of Germany, and among that number is the worthy and estimable subject of this sketch, an epitome of whose life is justly incorporated in the records of Umatilla county.

He was born in the “Fatherland” to Jacob H. and Margaret (Clausen) Bahr, on September 17, 1845, and there continued for the first twenty-five years of his life, acquiring a fine education in its excellent schools. In 1870 he left behind the scenes of childhood and sought out the better opportunities of the new world. He first settled in Solano county, California, and began operations as a tiller of the soil. Eight years later he came direct to this county and took a homestead, nine miles northeast from Pendleton, where he still resides. With assiduity he has continued here in the pursuit of agriculture and success has crowned his efforts at every point. His realty holdings have increased until now he is the proprietor of an estate of one thousand acres, which his wise husbandry has made to yield the best returns in wheat. Commensurate with his large estate are the mammoth barn, comfortable residence, well selected orchard and other numerous and substantial improvements.

Miss Katherine McColgan, a native of the state of Maine, and daughter of Dennis and Mary (Cunningham) McColgan, became his bride on July 2, 1878, and to them have been born the following children: Katherine, Ellis, Matha, Maria. Mr. Bahr has always taken and active part in political affairs, realizing the importance of attending to the public matter in the same careful and wise manner that he operates his own business. He is a frequent delegate to the county conventions, and always strives to put forward the men of worth and integrity, although he has never aspired to public office for himself. The Republic party holds to the principles that he believes are the best for the country and hence he co-operates with it. He is a member of the Lutheran church and takes a hearty and active interest in its affairs, while his upright Christian life and sterling principles have won for him the regard and respect of all with whom he has to do.