Biography of James Small, 1902, Grant Co., Oregon
Surnames: Small
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co.
of Chicago. page 463

JAMES SMALL

In 1824 he was born in England, and at the tender age of ten shipped for a
seafaring life, knowing the hardships of the craft from cabin boy to the top.
In 1844 he landed in Baltimore, and from there made his way to Washington, D.
C. and being of an adaptive turn of mind, found that market gardening was a
paying business and immediately embarked therein. Four years later he shipped
on the "W. P. Sable" for an exploration trip in the southern Pacific ocean. On
November 14, 1849, in the midst of the unparalleled excitement of that
memorable year, he landed in San Francisco, and for eight year she searched
for the hidden treasure with diligence and much labor and hardship. In 1857 he
commenced to ranch in Shasta county and this occupied his attention until
1862, the date of his advent into Canyon City, which ten consisted of a few
houses and two stores, was the spring of 1863, and here he immediately took up
mining and followed it closely for two years. Then it was his happy lot to
take a pleasure trip to the east for one year, after which he again came to
Canyon City and commenced the raising of sheep, which he has followed ever
since, being attended with a very gratifying success. He was the first one
that raised sheep in Grant county, and to-day he is one of the leaders, having
one section of land and many of these profitable animals, besides a number of
horses. In political matters he is a prominent figure in the county, pulling
ever with the Republican party, where his wisdom and keen foresight are
particularly useful and acceptable to the good of his party. Fraternally he is
a member of the Masons and the I.O.O.F., having passed all the chairs of these
institutions. The charms of the celibate's quiet life of comfort and good
cheer are his, having never been lured therefrom to try martrimony's sea of
uncertainty and career of cares and responsibilities.