Biography of Wilber J. Selby, 1902, Baker Co., Oregon: Surnames: Selby, Howerton, Tinsman, Otto.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - December 2001
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 331

Wilber J. Selby

this prominent young merchant and respected citizen of Baker City is a native
of Kirksville, Missouri, born October 19, 1867, the son of Joshua and Harriet
(Howerton) Selby. He grew to manhood there, receiving unusually good
educational advantages, the same consisting of a course in the local common
and high schools and in the State Normal school. In 1888 he went to Utah,
where he taught successfully for the ensuing decade; then the moved to
Colorado, and was there engaged in the mercantile business for a period of one
year, after which he came to Baker county. He was employed here by P. Basche
for a short time, but soon he had purchased an interest in the Baker City
Mercantile Company, an establishment doing business in the Geiser Grand
building, carrying a full line of fancy and staple groceries, queensware,
feed, etc. He is manager of the business and the other members of the firm are
M. and L. B. Miller. Theirs is one of the leading mercantile establishments of
the city and does credit to the men whose energy and business ability have
built it up.

Our subject is a public-spirited man and has ever taken an active interest in
the affairs of communities in which he has lived, as he is doing in the
politics and welfare of Baker City. He once served on the city council of
Ophir, Colorado.

In Kirksville, Missouri on October 17, 1900, Mr. Selby married Miss Alice,
daughter of Solomon and Fannie (Tinsman) Otto, of that city. Both she and our
subject are members of, and prominent workers in, the Methodist Episcopal
church here located. They reside in a pleasant home, No. 2314 Fifth street.