Please note: A member of the Blue Mountain Genealogical Society is transcribing these biographies. New links are being added as the transcriptions are completed and put on line. We are striving to be as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know. The person to contact: Carlene Still

Page 333, 334

JAMES TAYLOR
One of the earliest pioneers to the section, now Umatilla county, a man who always labored for the good of his fellow men both in example and precept, James Taylor stood pre-eminent as a representative citizen and a noble Christian. He was born in Missouri on January 4, 1824, where he lived until he was twenty-six years of age, and where also he obtained a good common school education and received that training from his father, William Taylor, that was the foundation of his later worthy career. The next year after famous "Forty-nine" he threaded the dreary plain road with ox teams and rested at his journey's end in the Willamette valley, where he bought a farm near Albany and continued tilling it until 1864, when he came to this county. He selected a place one mile southeast from Echo, where he resided and followed stock raising and farming. The barrenness and wilderness-like appearance that met him on every hand are hard for the later settlers of this county to realize. From this waste he wrought out a veritable garden spot that speaks highly of his taste and ability and industry. At the beginning he commenced to raise sheep, but later divided his attention between these and cattle, of which latter he had two hundred head, and over thirteen hundred head of sheep. He had sixty acres planted to alfalfa, and ninety acres more that will grow that crop, from which he fed cattle during the winter ready for the high spring markets. During the busy scenes of life he always found time to attend to political and school duties, being especially interested in all that was for the good of his fellows. He was a member of the Masonic order and had been for the past thirty years. His marriage occurred May 7, 1894, when Miss Bessie Young, daughter of John M. and Caroline (Weir) Young, natives of Indiana, became his bride. Mr. Taylor built a fine two story brick residence and numerous other good and substantial buildings, with all the conveniences that his business and large estate of four hundred acres demanded. A fine orchard is a part of the results of his labor. But best he is remembered for the good that he did to others. He was a member of the Christian church, and raised ten orphans, giving his time and money to fit others for the battle of life, and showing them, by a pure and upright life of faith in his Divine Master, the road also to a better and enduring substance hereafter. On March 11, 1901, Mr. Taylor was called from the scenes of life to enter upon that reward which he had wrought for himself during the long years of faithful Christian walk, and which shall be his as the gift of the Diving Master, whom he loved and served while here among his fellows. While his loved ones mourn, it is not without that comfort derived from the faith in the Savior that promises in due time to bring again the one that has gone on before. No one was more universally beloved and respected by all the community that the faithful Christian, wise father, noble man and beloved and loving husband, James Taylor. Truly it could be said of him, "He had fought a good fight, he had finished his course, he had kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give him at that day."

LOT LIVERMORE
One of the best known men in Umatilla county, having been one of the earliest pioneers, intimately connected in all the county affairs and those of the city of Pendleton also, being in public life almost continuously since the sixties, possessed of intrepidity and ability of a high order, the man whose name initiates this paragraph holds a prominence second to none in the county, while he had never lacked for the approbation of the people in their franchises whenever he would allow his name to be put forward for any political trust. An epitome of his career will be read with interest by every citizen of our county, and it is a matter of regret that space forbids more of the engaging details. Marietta, Ohio, is his native place, and August 11, 1835, the date of his birth. When but a few months of age his parents removed to Pittsfield, Illinois, being early pioneers there. Here our subject received the mental training to be had in the public schools until 1851, when his father removed with his family across the plains with ox-teams. Near the American Falls the train had a pitched battle with the Indians, who were driven off without loss to the immigrants. Arriving in the Willamette valley in September 23, 1851, Mr. Livermore settled on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres on La Creole creek in Polk county. Here our subject remained for fourteen years, assisting on the farm, and then took a position in a general merchandise store, having by industry supplemented his education during his stay in this state. After two years spent in this position he went into the wagon manufacturing business, remaining at that until 1864, and then sold out and went to Portland, again entering the general merchan- dise business. For fourteen months he continued here, and then came for his employers to Umatilla Landing to operate a branch house. In August of the next year he purchased an interest in the business and continued to operate there until 1869. In that year he came to Pendleton and opened a general store for himself, where he did a prosperous business until 1878, when he joined the fighting forces to repel the attacks of the Indians. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster at Pendleton by John A. J. Cresswell, under U. S. Grant. This position he held continuously until 1887, also acting as agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company. In 1875 this company was robbed of five thousand dollars between Umatilla and Pendleton. Aided by another man, Mr. Livermore trailed the robbers, capturing them and all their booty, and later secured their conviction for ten years in the penitentiary. He again took up a mercantile life after resigning the postoffice, which he later changed for real estate and insurance, which he had followed continuously since. In 1900 he was appointed librarian for the Commercial Association, attending to this business with his other affairs. On September 21, 1885, he was married to Mrs. Ellen Switzler, a native of Pendleton, to whom have been born three children: Lotta L., Clinton R. and Lynwood H. All of them are in school in Pendleton. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity in Lodge No. 52, of Pendleton, also with Eureka Lodge, No. 23, I. O. O. F., of this city. He has been connected with this latter society for forty years, having joined the first lodge in the state, Chemeketa, No. 1, at Salem. He had passed through all of its chairs, and several times represented the home lodge in the grand lodge. He has served three times as city councilman and two as mayor, being the first and second mayor of the city, and for one term as county treasurer. With a clean record, a life of energy and usefulness, and unimpeachable reputation for honesty and straightforwardness, which is justly bestowed as the result of his faithfulness, Mr. Livermore is esteemed and confided in by all.

HON. JOHN S. GURDANE
It is with pleasure that we incorporate in this volume an epitome of the career of the substantial citizen and worthy gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, and whose life of activity and enterprise has been so filled with interesting incident and stirring adventure that it is a matter of regret that we are unable, on account of lack of space, to more fully detail the same. Especial note should be made of the excellent record that Mr. Gurdane made during the late Civil war, making sacrifice to offer his service in defense of the country and then demeaning himself with such courage and intrepid valor that few equal and none exceed his brilliant military career. Mr. Gurdane is the son of John Sylvester and Elizabeth (Batie) Gurdane, natives of Scotland, and was born on the sea off Sandy Hook, while his parents were en route to the United States, the date being May 4, 1824. His early days were spent in New York and Canada, and while but a small child was adopted by Thomas and Elizabeth Lundy, and at the age of fifteen took up a seafaring life. Thirty years were spent in this occupation, during which time he visited every port of any consequence in the world at that time. In 1846 he enlisted in the United States navy, serving there for five years and four months. He filled all of the offices in the merchant marine, and at one time owned a half interest in a good vessel, being captain and manager of the same. In the heavy gales of 1859 the ship and all of its cargo went down, entailing upon Mr. Gurdane the entire loss of everything he possessed in the way of worldly goods. Following this disaster he borrowed from a friend, J. I. Case, sufficient money to keep his family and then repaired to Mobile, Alabama, working as captain on a lighter for $125 per month until the war broke out, leaving there on the last mail steamer that sailed for the north. After visiting his family in Racine, Wisconsin, he took service as first mate on the Sweepstakes, continuing there at a salary of $80 per month until September, 1861, at which time he resigned this position and enlisted in Company E, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, officered by Captain Waldo, Colonel Wood, Lieutenant Colonel Messmore and Major Hancock. His first fighting was skirmishing at Fort Donelson, and the first heavy battle was at Shiloh, where they suffered heavy loss, Captain Waldo being killed and the other officers wounded. Following this he participated in the siege of Corinth, then fought at Iuka, and in the fall of 1862 was two days in the battle of Corinth, and then a few weeks later did valiant service in the battle of Cold Water in the Mississippi valley. The following year he fought in the battle of Port Gibson, also in the battle of Raymond, Champion Hills and at Black River. He was in the heavy charge at Vicksburg on May 22d, when his company went in with three hundred and seventy-seven men and ten minutes later came out with a loss of one hundred and seven men, he being wounded. In November, 1863, he re-enlisted in the veteran service, taking place in the same company. After a thirty days' furlough at home, he went to Lookout Mountain, participating in all of the heavy battles to Big Shantee, being able to hear the musketry and cannonading for ninety days thereafter. On July 22, 1864, he was in the battle of Peach Creek, was on Leggitt Hill, with General Leggitt in the Seventeenth Army Corps, near where General McPherson was killed, the brigade commander being also badly wounded in that fight. Here his gun was shot out of his hands and a bullet struck his cartridge box, shocking him pretty badly, but he secured another gun and continued in the fight. Following this they marched to Eastport, and after the fall of Atlanta they proceeded to Jonesboro and fought a heavy battle, and then joined Sherman's forces to the sea, where he was put in charge of the pontoon construction, assisting to lay them all of the way. Following the fall of Fort McAllister they marched from Savannah to Raleigh, North Carolina, skirmishing much of the way, as the crossing of every stream was contested. After this they went to Alexander and prepared for the grand review at Washington. He was mustered out at Mobile, Alabama, in the fall of 1865. Returning to his family, he remained for two days, and then shipped as first mate on the William Vanderbilt, laying her up on December 5, in Buffalo. Returning home, he immediately engaged to ship wagons for Mitchell, Lewis & Company, and the following March removed to Shelby county, Missouri, and took up farming, it being his first experience in that occupation. He followed this and railroading until the spring of 1882, when he organized a company and crossed the plains to this county, landing in Pendleton on August 18, 1882, and camped where Byers' warehouse now stands. Later he settled on a place in Little Potts, using his soldier's right to gain title from the government. Here he continued for seventeen years, raising cattle and feeding stock sheep in the winter, until recently, when he sold his place and bought a residence in the Riverside addition to Pendleton, where he now resides. Mr. Gurdane has always been active in the political realm, having frequently served in the state conventions and nearly all of the county conventions, and is at the present time state central committeeman from this county, being allied with the Republican party. In 1894 he was elected to the state legislature, where he made a commendable record and so wrought for the interests of his constituency that they rewarded him by electing him as his own successor, and he was enabled to give another term of efficient and faithful service. He was married on October 15, 1856, to Miss Janette, daughter of William and Ann (Cavin) Smith, and they have been blessed with the advent of the following children: Ann Jane, Douglas C., Nettie A., John W. (deceased). On May 20, 1866, Mrs. Gurdane died. On October 9, 1867, Mr. Gurdane contracted a second marriage, the lady then becoming his wife was Miss Celia McBroom, and from this union one child has been the issue, Thomas B. Mr. Gurdane is a member of the Methodist church, South, and is especially active in the support of its interest, being an ardent advocate of the faith which he was embraced. He also affiliates with the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. Mr. Gurdane has shown himself a worthy and typical man in every relation of life, manifesting rare ability and sterling integrity throughout.

ROBERT NELSON STANFIELD
The active enterprising man, of whom this memorial is spoken, left behind the rich legacy of a record of untarnished business career successfully and wisely conducted, an unblemished reputation, and a noble character, while his life of energy, directed by keenness and foresight, could not but amass largely the goods of this world for his loved ones to enjoy, while he has gone to the more substantial rewards of a faithful Christian. He was born on his father's farm in Sangamon county, Illinois, on December 3 , 1832, and there spent the earlier years of his life. His education was very limited as regards that which was acquired from the common schools, both because of their primitiveness and on account of his father's death when he was but a small child. His entire attendance was limited to three months, but by industry and close application during spare moments he acquired learning fully equal to the high school course in many branches, while development of application and self-reliance, with good, practical business knowledge, he was far ahead of what could be gathered in any school. Later he received the commendation of being one of the best bookkeepers and keenest business man in this county. Thus much for encouragement of those who are des- pondent because they are not drilled in book lore. When but seventeen years of age he crossed the plains to California, landing in the Yreka district right in the midst of the excitement of "Forty-nine." For several years he followed the occupation of placer miner, accumulating sufficient "dust" to purchase a fine herd of cattle. He secured a farm near Yreka and embarked as a stockman, achieving good success until in inclement winter froze all of this stock and left him entirely without means. He then turned toward the north and landed in Umatilla county in 1860, where he commenced to freight. He purchased a mule train later and freighted from Umatilla Landing to Boise and other points, maintaining his residence in Umatilla. This occupied him until 1865, when in January of that year he was married to Miss Phoebe Atwood, a native of Dubuque, Iowa. After this he sold his freight train and engaged in the livery and transfer business until the spring of 1883. On November 20, 1871, his wife died after having borne him three children: Jessie, now Mrs. Perry, of Pendleton; Sidney, now a farmer and stock raiser of Crab Creek, Washington; Ralph B., a stock raiser on Butter creek. In 1883 Mr. Stanfield moved to Pendleton and commenced to operate a warehouse and do a general transfer business, which he was obliged to abandon after one and a half years on account of his health. He purchased a farm on Butter creek and raised alfalfa and fattened cattle, continuing in this enterprise until the time of this death, April 15, 1896. He was the first sheriff of this county after the county seat was moved to Pendleton. His second marriage occurred on May 6, 1873, when Miss Hattie Townsend, a native of Washington, became his wife. To them were born the following children: Carrie A., wife of Asa Thompson, representative of Morrow and Umatilla counties; Robert N.; Daisy O,; Hugh L.; Chloe A.; Emery G.; Luch J.; Kate May. All of these are at home. The family are all members of the Episcopal church of Pendleton. In 1878, when the Snake and Cayuse Indians were on the warpath, Mr. Stanfield did good service as one of the guardsmen of Umatilla. Mrs. Stanfield's parents were pioneers of 1852. Mr. Evander L. Townsend died in 1889 and his wife, Alamanda E., died on March 14, 1901, aged seventy-one years. They were natives respectively of Maine and Ohio. Their marriage occurred in Portland. Mrs. Stanfield is still carrying on successfully their large farming and stock-raising enterprises at the home place, where, with a good competence, and surrounded by her family, she is passing happily the golden years of her industrious life.

ALFRED H. RUGG
This esteemed pioneer and representative citizen of Umatilla county has been a potent factor in its development and advancement commensurate with his fine ability and excellent financeering, which have been demonstrated brilliantly during his time within its precincts, while his integrity and industry are no less manifest. He was born in Heath, Franklin county, Massachusetts, to David and Eunice Rugg, natives of the same state, on August 8, 1831. His father served in the war of 1812. In his native state our subject grew to manhood, acquiring meanwhile a good education from the common schools and assisting his father on the farm. In November, 1852, he was married to Miss Diantha H. Nims, in Charlemont, Massachusetts, who died one year and thirteen days after their nuptials. He operated his father's farm as tenant and worked for wages until three years later, and then came with him to Wisconsin. The latter settled in Winnebago county, Illinois, at Twelve Mile Grove, while the son rented a farm in Monroe county, Wisconsin, continuing there and in the lumber woods until March 29, 1864, the date of his enlistment in Company D, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He did faithful and valiant service for his country until the close of the war. He was present at the surrender of Lee, the Union soldiers being drawn up in battle array, but no fighting was done. When Lincoln was assassinated he was at Raleigh, North Carolina, with his regiment, and the officers did not divulge the news for twelve hours after the death, and they had arranged a guard to prevent the soldiers from burning the town in indignation. He participated in the grand review at Washington, and was mustered out on June 20, 1865, in time to get home to enjoy the Fourth. In 1871 he went to Kansas, Phillips county, taking up a homestead and timber culture, and continued there until 1881, when he sold out. The following year he went to Douglas county, this state, engaging for three years in lumber and timber contracting for the railroad, when he came to Umatilla county and took a half section of railroad land where his son Alby now resides. Here he devoted himself to raising sheep, being favored with excellent success until 1897, when he retired from active business and built his fine residence on Court street, in Pendleton, where he now lives. His sons have bought out his interests and carry on the business. He was married in Bloomfield, Wisconsin, on November 21, 1857, to Miss Esther S. Griggs, a native of New York, her parents having both died at Aurora, Erie county, that state. They have six children living: Alice D., wife of W. S. Southard, of Bow Creek, Kansas; Emery A., residing on Butter creek; George W., residing at the mouth of Wild Horse; Alby W., on the old home place; Earl E. and Nellie G., both at home; also Clara and Albert, deceased. He is a member of Kit Carson Post, G. A. R., of Pendleton. Mr. Rugg is quite active in political maters, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He was postmaster in Comstock, Douglas county, and resigned that position when he came to this county.