Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/51



REPRESENTATIVE MEN. OF OREGON. 11

the farm or as a clerk iu his father's store iu Dallas. In 1872 he was ad- mitted as a partuer in the store, the name of the firm beiii;,' N. A- J. ]). Lee, and iu 1873 he purchased his father's interest in the establishment and as- ■^nmed entire control, and to-day he occupies the position of leading mer- . hant in that city, his attention to business and intricate knowl6d;,'e of the trade haviny resulted in a most successful business career. He was ap- pointed Postmaster at Dallas in 1870 and served as such for three yeai-s, and was a memlaer of the first Board of Trustees m that place. In 1S78 he was elected Representative from that county, the balance of the Republican ticket sulferiuf? defeat, and in 1880 he was elected State Senatt)r by a handsome majority. He was married May 10, 1872, to Miss Eliza A. Witten, and they have a family of three children. Kc is a member of the M. E. Church and an honored member of tiie I. O. O. F. He stands about six feet one inch in his stocking feet, and is well-proportioned, weighing in the neighborhood of 200 pounds. His features are pleasant, his eye expressive, and his hair and whiskers auburn. He is an active member, indulges in debate but seldom, but always to the point. He guards with zealous care the interests of the State, and is inclined to be economical, but not parsi- monious. He is a Republican iu politics aud was one of the original six- teen who, at the commencement of the session refused to enter or abide by the decision of the caucus.

HON. JOHN M. SIGLIN,

The hold-over Senator from Coos and Curry counties, is a gentleman who at once attracts attention on the tloor of the Seuate. He is of ordinary height and weight, with piercing black eyes and prominent features, black beard and hair and plainly dressed. When in street costume he generally wears a tall silk hat, which style this session is an exception rather than a rule. He often indulges m debate, and his opposition to a measure is gen- erally vindictive and severe, while his support is considered a strong feature in its favor. He is a Democrat on general principles, but iu obedience to what he claimed was the wish of a majority of his constituency, he was a strong supporter of Hon. John H. Mitchell, Republican nominee for United States Senator. He did not take this stand, however, until fully convinced in his own mind that there was no possibility of the election o{ a Democrat, when he naturally had his preference among the Republicans named. Mr. Siglin was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, and at the age of twelve years moved with his pareuts to Illinois, where at Galena he received the benefits of an academic education. At the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted as a private in Company F, loth Illinois Infantry, under the gal- lant Col. Wyman. For meritorious conduct at the battle of Wilson's Creek, in Missouri, he was promoted to a Second Lieutenancy and transferred to the 8th Illinois Cavalry, Company B, and was the youngest conmiissioued oHicer in that regiment. Ke participated iu a number of engagements, including Fair Oaks and the seven-days' battle before Richmond, being compelled to resign iu 1863 owing to failing health. Returning North, he commenced reading law and was admitted to the l)ar in 1867. He came to Oregon in