Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Luhrs, John April 4, 1836 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net September 26, 2006, 5:05 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 469, 470

John Luhrs
	A man of marked activity and pronounced ability, which has been 
manifested throughout a long and successful career, the man whose name heads 
this article is now one of the prominent and leading citizens of our county 
and it is with pleasure that we accord to him a place in this record of its 
history. Like so many of America's most thrifty citizens, he was born in 
Germany, Hanover province, on April 4, 1836. There he resides on a farm with 
his father until 1851, when they came to the United States, where he engaged 
as clerk in a grocery store in New York, continuing therein for five years. 
His father, Herman A. Luhrs, always followed farming and lived to a good ripe 
age, passing away in 1893, in the month of May.
	Our subject was much impressed with the beauty of the Atlantic voyage, 
having passed an especially fine trip, and after his five-year stay in New 
York came to San Francisco. It was in 1856 when he landed in the Golden state, 
and after a few months on the seaboard he turned his attention to mining in 
the interior, continuing at it for three years. After this he bought some 
mules and operated a pack train for twelve years in various portions of the 
west, finally coming to Umatilla county in 1863. It is worthy to relate that 
the place where the thriving city of Pendleton is now was but a prairie at 
that time. After considerable time spent in traversing the country and viewing 
many places, he at last selected his present home place, and purchased it in 
1872. His holdings of realty aggregate sixteen hundred acres, three hundred of 
which is planted to wheat and barley, the remainder being utilized for grazing 
land. Mr. Luhrs is handling a great deal of stock, of sheep, two thousand, 
five hundred, and of horses and cattle and hogs, large bands.
	On August 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Julia I. Pomery, daughter of 
Walter Pomery, a resident of this county. To this union were born the 
following children: Lillie A. born July 17, 1873; John W., born December 11, 
1874; Glenn M., born May 18, 1886. Lillie was married to L. A. Spicer, a sheep 
man and farmer of this county; John W. married Miss Lizzie Ready, daughter of 
Joe Ready, in October, 1900, and is now living in Union county. During the 
Indian trouble Mr. Luhrs was confined to a sick bed and unable to take an 
active part. He has been the choice of the people for county commissioner for 
eight years, which office he has acceptably filled, manifesting in his care 
for the welfare of the citizens that interest that has made him so successful 
in his own financial affairs, and he enjoys the confidence of the people, 
being held in their esteem commensurate with his own ability and meritorious 
qualifications.


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.

	Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies 
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies. 

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