Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Salisbury, John Whitman February 26, 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net September 8, 2006, 3:01 am Author: Colonel William Parsons Page 420, 421 JOHN WHITMAN SALISBURY One of the early pioneers of this county, the subject of this sketch is one who has been identified with its interest from the first, during which time he was wrought with an energy and wisdom that have been recognized and rewarded by the constituency of the county from time to time. His career has ever been marked with that breadth of intellect that could grasp the largest problems and an activity that would omit no detail, whether in public service or private enterprise. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, on February 26, 1842, and came to Salem, Oregon, when eleven years of age by the Isthmus route, accompanied by his mother, Eliza Salisbury, his father, Stephen M. Salisbury, having gone across the plains in the previous year. Our subject was educated in the public schools near Salem, remaining in that vicinity seventeen years. In 1870 he came to Umatilla county and settled on his present ranch, eight miles south from Vinson, taking a squatter’s right on one quarter section. To this his thrift and industry have enabled him to add by purchase until he is now the proprietor of a princely estate of one thousand six hundred acres of fine land, a part of which lies in Morrow county. Upon this he is rasing hay for fattening his stock, while he raises also about four thousand head of fine sheep, mostly of the Delaine stock. Formerly he was in partnership with his brother, Harold A., but bought him out in 1892. He is quite active in political matters and has frequently been called to discharge the duties of public office, which has always been done with a skill and carefulness that is quite commendable and gratifying to his constituency. Among the different offices he has filled may be mentioned that of school director for ten terms, justice of the peace and county commissioner. During the Bannock war he and his brother, Harold, joined John Sperry’s company of Oregon Mounted Volunteer Infantry and took part in the battle of Willow Springs, which lasted from one o’clock in the afternoon of July 6 to daylight on the morning of July 7, 1878. Forty-six men in this company were pitted against eight hundred Indians, and after this long struggle were compelled to retreat, carrying their wounded in a wagon. Only twenty-two were left to cover the retreat. At daybreak the little band of brave men were met by Major Throckmorton’s body of regulars, who precipitated a hasty retreat among the red skins. During the battle the brother Harold was shot through the right thigh and also wounded in his left foot, but still managed to escape the savages. His horse was shot from under him at the beginning of the fight. Our subject went through the whole struggle without a scratch, excepting one nail bruised with a bullet; he also received three bullet holes in his clothing. He still owns the guns used by him and his brother. During the next winter he was elected captain of Company E, Second Regiment of the Third Brigade of the state militia, a company formed from the settlers on Butter creek for protection from the Indians. Mr. S. G. Lightfoot was first lieutenant, Harvey Elliott second. The company ceased to exist because of failure to meet for drill. Mr. Salisbury was married to Miss Isabel Gwinn, a native of Oregon, on November 30, 1888, at Salem. Five children have blessed the union, LeRoy N., Madeline M., W. Lloyd, Thelma Ruth, and Ruby, who died at two years of age. Our subject is a brother of Mrs. Lightfoot, to whom Marcus Whitman is great- uncle. Mr. Salisbury possesses a silver cup that has been in the family since before the war of the Revolution. He also owns a drawing of Chicago, made by George Davis, the clerk of Cook county, in 1835. It is said to be the only one in existence of its kind, but many of Mr. Davis’ drawings are still preserved in various places. 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. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/umatilla/bios/salisbur205gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb