Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Minor, Ellis  June 1, 1832 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still jesco@oregontrail.com January 4, 2007, 10:21 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 500, 501

Ellis Minor
	To This esteemed and venerable pioneer we gladly pay the tribute of a 
representation in this volume, assured that to no more worthy citizen within 
the precinets of Morrow county could admiration be expressed for excellent 
enterprise and unswerving purpose constantly employed in the material 
upbuilding and substantial improvement and advancement of the county since its 
organization and of this section for over thirty years.
	He was born in Pennsylvania on June 1, 1832, coming from excellent 
blood, whose representatives had fought for the freedom of the colonies and 
endured the discomfort and hardships of the pioneer life for four generations. 
His father and grandfather were among the first settlers of his native state 
and his grandfather's grandfather and two brothers built a fort on Big Whitley 
creek in Greene county for protection against the Indians. His maternal 
grandfather, Colonel Lowery, was a Colonel in the Revolutionary war and his 
friend and neighbor, Colonel Crawford, was afterward burned at the stakes by 
the savages near Sandusky, Ohio. Our subject was educated in the old 
subscription schools of that day and passed the years of his minority in his 
native state, removing at the age of twenty-five years to Johnson county, 
Iowa, where he engaged in the sawmill business. In 1864 he crossed the plains 
with his family to Wauconda, now Gervais, Marion county, using ox teams for 
the trip, although he owned mules and horses, experiencing en route some 
difficulty with the Indians, one man being severely wounded and a number of 
their horses stolen. Arriving at his destination he embarked in the butchering 
business and supplied Ben Halliday while he was building the railroad from 
Oregon City to Salem with meat for his men. In 1871 he emigrated to this 
county with a band of cattle and settled on Rhea creek, about ten miles west 
from Heppner, where he bought a squatter's right, filing a homestead, which he 
relinquished, however, before he had proved up, and in 1877 went to the 
mountains and hewed out the sills of the city hotel, which he erected in 
Heppner and operated in connection with a livery and butcher shop, continuing 
the latter until seven years ago, when he sold out and retired from active 
business. He owns a handsome residence on May street, where he lives, passing 
the riper years of his career in quiet comfort and enjoyment, being surrounded 
by his grown children and a large circle of friends and companions.
	He was married in Iowa on September 15, 1858, to Miss Ann, daughter of 
Jacob and 
Rozena (Byers) Hill, and to them have been born the following children: 
William Oscar, living in town; Ella, wife of Taylor Dodson, of Fairhaven, 
Washington; Emma, wife of Frank Rogers; Delia, wife of Fred Hallock, of 
Heppner; Arthur, married and in the stock business and living near town; Etta, 
wife of Frank Roberts, of Heppner; Nira, wife of William Potter, of Heppner; 
Ada, wife of William Irwin, of the firm of Minor & Company; Willa May, at 
home. Of the entire number all are living with the exception of Mrs. Dodson, 
who has passed to the other world. Mrs. Minor is a member of the Christian 
church, being active in the cause of her faith. Mr. Minor has ever taken an 
active part in the political affairs of the county and the country at large, 
and was very influential in assisting to locate the county seat at Heppner, 
having repeatedly been called to serve in the capacity of public official, one 
of which positions was as councilman of Heppner, being the first incumbent of 
that office, and it is worthy of note that during his administration there was 
no city tax levied, the whole expense of the city being defrayed by the saloon 
licenses and fines. He has constantly so demeaned himself, both in public 
office and in private enterprise, that he has won the confidence of the entire 
community and fully merits the generous approval bestowed upon him from time 
to time.
						

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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