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 terprise" and conducted that paper until the Fall of 1875. In January, 1876, he commenced the publication of the Portland Daily and Weekly "Standard," and he is still at the head of that prosiierons and able advocate of Democratic principles. Mr. Noltner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through the various official chairs. In 1873 he was a Graud Representative of the Order to the Supreme Grand Lodges, and he was also the institutiu<^ officer of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia, the Grand Encampment of Oregon and the first Subordinate Encampment of Washington Territory. He was married in 1861 to Miss Ellen Fox, of Albany, and two years later became a widower. He was married a second time, in 1865, to Miss Martha N., daughter of the late James E. Williams, one of the early pioneers of Oregon, having arrived here in 1845, Mrs. N. being born at their newly-settled home in Polk county in 1847. Mr. Noltner is what may be termed a thorough journalist, being a practical man in every branch of the business. Being endowed with good common sense, strengthened by a more than average education, and having a full knowledge of political matters generally, he has proven to be a valuable acquisition to the Democratic party in this State, to which he has been allied from "time immemorial." Personally, he is a quiet, genial, unassuming gentleman, and is well calculated to make friends at all times, both for himself and his enterprise.

The subject of this sketch was born in the city of New York in 1835, and came to California in '53. He commenced writing for the newspapers in 1855 as a free lance, and since that time has been employed almost continuously in journalistic work. In 1864 he edited the Sacramento "Star," and was connected with the "Bee" in the same city in 18G5, in an editorial capacity. Some thirteen years ago Tom Merry journeyed to Oregon, where he has been engaged in several newspaper enterprises. He published the Coos Bay "News" from 1873 to 1875, and the "Inland Empire" at The Dalles from 1878 to 1880. About a year ago Mr. Merry, in recognition of his eminent fitness for the post, was selected as managing editor of the "Sunday Oregonian," which paper, since he assumed the tripod, has been conducted with marked ability. He wields a facile pen and is as brilliant in conversation as he is polished in diction. His English is pure, strong and sinewy, and he never impairs the force of it by a qiK^tation from a foreign tongue. Out of his wonderful wealth of language, he can always hit the nail on the head in good, vigorous Saxon. Coming to California a boy, his mind was as wax to receive, and as marble to retaui, the vivi.l impressions of the Argonautic era and pioneer days, which he has so faith- fully and picturesquely portrayed in those reminiscences of which hw read- ers 'never tire. Those who know genial Tom, ana have listened to any of his good stories (and as a "raconteur" he is unrivaled), will id ways recall with a thrill of pleasure his many excellent qualities. Tom Merry stands in the foremost rank of Pacific Coast journalists.