Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/102



r,2 BEPBESENTATIVE MEN OF OREGON.

the fall of 185(3. Stood frxunCx many times, and though youthful, felt him- j ..elf t.i be a valiant home guard; He spent the )-emainder of the time at various farm occupations, such as chopping, rail splitting, ditching, plow- ing, harvesting, etc.-especial choice of work chopping-until June 10, 1861. Then he began learning the printing trade in Olympia, W. T., in the office ,.f the Washington " Standard," John Miller Murphy editor and proprietor. Remained in that office until March 10, ISM, when he practically left home f„r the first time, and started March 11 for Portland, Oregon, arriving March 12. Inasmuch as he felt that all moneys earned during his minoiity belonged rightfully to his parents, especially as they had hard struggles, owing to misfortunes on the plains, and afterwards loss of property by In- dians, upon arriving in Portland he had ^2 in his pocket. On March l.Sth lie began work as compositor on ti-e Daily Morning "Oregonian," continuing there until September 20, 1864, when the proprietor of the " Oregonian," then State Printer, telegraphed him to go to the capital. Here he remained employed on State work until the Legislature adjourned. He then re- sumed labor on the Daily " Oregonian," and continued until June 3, 186.5. On June 26, same year, being tired of monotonous round of duties belong- ing to the life of a compositor on a morning news|japer, he apprenticed him- self to W. D. Carter, a job printer, for one year, at the expiration of which time he emerged a full-fledged journeyman job printer, and continued in Carter's employ until October 5, 1868. He then formed a partnership with his employer to carry on the jol) printing business. He remained in part- nership until April, 1870, since 'which time he has conducted the business alone. He published a small four-page paper in 1869 for about four mouths calk d the " News Budget." It not proving a financial success it was aban- doned. In June, 1873, he bought the " Commercial Reporter," published it for seven mouths and sold it, not having the necessary time to devote to it, owing to the demands of his jobliiug business upon him in that respect. He was one of the proprietors of the Daily "Bee," which began its career in November, 1875, and remained so conutcied for one year. Not having full control of the paper he withd • w from it, and since has had no interest in newspapers. Brought the second cylinder press to the State in 1871, that of the Daily "Oregonian" being the first, and was the first in Oregon to use steam in driving job printing machinery. Has always kept rather in ad- vance of the times in providing himself with facilities for doing the best grades of job printing, and now has twenty-five employes on his weekly pay roll. Has published numerous books on his own account, the ninth volume of Reports of the Oregon Supreme Court being the largest and most important. At the age of twenty-two years and seven months, he was mar- ried to Miss Anna F. Riggs, youngest daughter of D. L. Rigg, of Salem, Oregon, by Rev. O. Dickinson, on December 24, 1866, She was bom in New Ha\en, Connecticut. She, also, descended from Puritan stock. At the age of fourteen he united with the what is known as the Christian or Disciple church. Internal discussions, caused by political differences, de- stroyed the organization in 1863. In March, lo07, he and his wife became members of the First Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon. He held