Columbia County OR Archives Biographies.....Pringle, Sr., William November 22, 1863 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com November 10, 2009, 8:18 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 242- 243
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     WILLIAM PRINGLE, SR., who has been a resident of Columbia county for more 
than half a century, has attained success as the result of his determined and 
continued efforts and is now living retired from active business in a 
comfortable home in Vernonia. Mr. Pringle was born in London, England, on the 
22d of November, 1863, a son of John and Mary (Brown) Pringle. His father was 
born on the borderline between Scotland and England in 1833 and his mother in 
Durham, England, May 24, 1833. The father was an expert mechanic,, being able 
to make anything out of wood, and was also a good brick or stone layer, being 
able to do well almost anything in the way of mechanics. He brought his family 
to the United States in 1870 and located in St. Louis, Missouri. Two years 
later he went to Denver, Colorado, and from there to Oakland, California, 
during this period being employed at work along his line. In 1877 he came to 
Columbia county, Oregon, and took up a homestead and a preemption claim about 
two miles east of Vernonia. The land was covered with timber and brush and, 
after building a log house, with the help of his two sons, he proceeded to the 
task of clearing the land. About forty acres were eventually cleared and 
devoted to raising hay for feed for the large number of cattle which he kept 
on the place. He lived there until 1897, when he moved to Vernonia, erected a 
store building and stocked it with a general line of merchandise, continuing 
the business until 1909, when he sold out and retired, moving into a small 
house which he had built, and there his death occurred in 1911. His wife 
passed away in 1897. He was postmaster of Vernonia four years, and took an 
active interest in everything pertaining to the development and progress of 
his community, particularly along the line of good schools and improved 
highways. Soon after coming to this locality he taught one term of school and 
in 1879 helped to build the Pittsburg and St. Helens highway, to which he 
devoted many days of hard work. He gave his political support to the 
democratic party. While living in England he served in the British army, 
taking part in the Crimean war of 1854-6, and was one of the few survivors of 
the famous charge of the "Light Brigade" at Balaklava. His wife's father, 
Robert Brown, was also for many years a soldier of the British army, being a 
member of the famous "Scots Greys," a cavalry regiment which, fought under the 
Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. To Mr. and Mrs. Pringle 
were born two children, William, of this review, and John, who also was born 
in England and now lives in Portland, Oregon.

     William Pringle received his educational training in the public schools 
of St. Louis, Missouri, Denver, Colorado, and Oakland, California. He came to 
Oregon with his parents in 1977 and in 1884 took up a homestead six miles 
north of Vernonia, the land being covered with a dense growth of timber. He 
built a small log house, cleared about thirty acres and engaged in raising 
cattle, also running a dairy. His principal crops were hay and potatoes. He 
worked hard, used good judgment in his business affairs and operated the ranch 
successfully until 1924, when he leased it to his son, William, Jr., and for 
two years conducted the Nehalem Hotel in Vernonia. In 1926 he built a modern 
and attractive home, in which he is now living, having retired from active 
pursuits. He built the Nehalem Hotel in 1922, and still owns it as well as 
several other business properties in Vernonia.

     On March 19, 1891, at St. Helens, Oregon, Mr. Pringle was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Margaret Somerville, who was born in Edinburgh, 
Scotland, and is a daughter of William Wood and Margaret (Mackie) Somerville, 
also natives of the land of hills and heather. The family came to the United 
States in 1875 and located at Lockport, Illinois, where the father followed 
the trade of machinist until 1882, when he went to Portland, Oregon. He was 
similarly employed there for about two years, when he came to Nehalem valley, 
Columbia county, and took a claim of timber land, two miles north of Vernonia. 
He lived there until 1887, when he sold the place and went to New Zealand, 
where his death occurred in 1895. His wife died in Oregon in 1887. Mrs. 
Pringle is their only child. To Mr. and Mrs. Pringle have been born six 
children, namely: William, Jr., who now leases and operates his father's farm; 
Mrs. Mabel Mellinger, who lives in Portland; Mrs. Margaret Parker, who is the 
mother of two children, Margaret, aged twelve years, and Viola, aged ten 
years; John, who died March 13, 1924; Bertha, who graduated from high school 
and from the State Normal School at Monmouth, and is now teaching school at 
Manning, Washington county, Oregon, and is the wife of Perry D. Smith, of that 
place, and they have a son, William III; and Donald, who is at home. All of 
the children were born in Columbia county, and received good educations. 
William enlisted in the aviation branch of the United States Army at the 
beginning of the World war and served in France from July, 1917, until the 
close of the war, after which he was with the Army of Occupation in Germany 
until July, 1919. John was in the United States Navy, being in convoy service 
on the Atlantic until the close of the war.

     In his political views Mr. Pringle is a stanch democrat and has been 
actively interested in public affairs, having served for twenty-five years as 
a director of the Natal school. He is one of the charter members of Vernonia 
Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and has served as secretary and treasurer. For 
twenty-five years he has been a member of Vernonia Lodge, No. 264, I. O. O. F. 
His life has been characterized by earnest purpose, persistent industry, 
strict integrity and sound judgment and he is accorded prestige among the 
enterprising and substantial citizens of his community, where he has many warm 
and loyal friends.

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