Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Furnish, W. J. August 16, 1862 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net July 28, 2006, 6:34 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons

Page 340, 341

W. J. FURNISH
	The subject of this sketch, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, on 
the 16th day of August, 1862.
	His father, James F. Furnish, and mother, nee Eliza F. Williams, were 
both native Americans, having been born in Missouri. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years old, his parents joined a party emigrating to the 
Willamette valley. They traveled by ox-team across the plains, as far as Lost 
River, in Idaho, where the father of Mr. Furnish was taken sick, and died 
after a short illness, and was buried on the banks of that stream, after which 
the party made its way to Polk county, in this state. Afterwards, in 1870, the 
family moved to Pendleton.
	Mr. Furnish received his education in the public schools of Pendleton, 
supplemented by a course in the private school of John C. Arnold, after which 
he attended the Portland Business College, where he graduated.
	For two years after leaving the business college Mr. Furnish was 
employed as bookkeeper, and then entered into business, forming a partnership 
with J. L. Sperry, in the wool business, in Portland. After some two years in 
the firm of J. L. Sperry & Co., he was appointed United States deputy marshal, 
with headquarters at Pendleton, which position he held for three years, being 
at the same time engaged in the wool commission business at that point, which 
he has ever since carried on, in connection with his many other enterprises.
	In the spring of 1890, Mr. Furnish was elected sheriff of Umatilla 
county, and two years later was re-elected. At the end of his term as sheriff 
he was elected cashier of the Pendleton Savings Bank. Under his management the 
bank’s business and deposits steadily increased, until at present it is one of 
the strongest financial institutions in eastern Oregon. As soon as Mr. Furnish 
was elected cashier of the Savings Bank his well-known honesty and integrity, 
as well as his ability and knowledge, brought confidence and business to the 
institution, and his natural courtesy and deferential treatment of the patrons 
retained and increased it, until it has become one of the great money 
institutions of the state. In 1899 the directors, recognizing the valuable 
services of Mr. Furnish, elected him president of the bank, which position he 
still holds. Mr. Furnish is also engaged in successful farming and stock 
raising, which he personally superintends.
     He has, since boyhood, taken a great interest in public affairs of his 
own city and county, as well as those of the state at large. He was twice 
elected mayor of Pendleton, and then a happy change in the old methods put the 
city government on a solid basis, which is fast bringing it out of debt.
	In July, 1889, Mr. Furnish was married to Miss Jessie M. Starkweather, 
a native of Illinois. The fruits of this marriage are two children, Kathleen, 
a young miss of eleven years of age, and William Eldon, who is now about the 
age of eight.
	Fraternally Mr. Furnish is associated with the Masons and the Elks.


Additional Comments:
 An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.


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