Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/159

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REPKESENTATIVE MEN OF OREGON. Ill)


■where Silvertou now stands and built a store, being the first bnildini? erect- ed in that now flourishing Httle city. There our hero soon gut his till of mer- chandising, and afterwards he was working at the case alongside of his old chum, W. B. Carter (deceased), in the " Cliristian Advocate " oflice, in Portland; at the same time, as an outside speculation, he and Carter were runing a milk-ranch near the city, furnishing the citizens of the metropolis with pure bovine fluid. We next hear of him with the " Statesman," wht-u it was moved to Salem, and he followed it, with the Legislature, to Corvallis and back to Salem. In 1869 he founded his present book and job office, and has added to it from time to time until now it is the best selected office in the State, if not the largest one. Mr. Waite has been the " keystone" of the State Agricultural Society for many years, having been the secretary of that organization continuously for eleven terms. He is now a member of the Common Council of the city, and his vote and influence always go for ad- vancing the interests of Salem. In personal appearance Mr. Waite is the counterpart of Washington Irviug's " Ichabod Crane," and if you can catch him when he is not engaged with a rush of business he is one of the most genial and companionable persons in the world, and a good story with a point to it mil "double him up" quicker than any man we ever met.


DANIEL M'KERCHER The book and stationery dealer of Portland, was born in Canada ( )ftober, 1832. He was raised there until the age of eighteen, when he removed to Clarence county, New York. He there learned the trade of carriage and wagon-makiug, and after a stay of four years he went to Freeport, Illinois. After working in that place for two years at his trade, he took the regula- tion trip across the plains, and arrived in Portland in 1856, where he re- mained until 1863. In that year he took the mining fever and sought the diggings of Idaho, but after remaining there a short time he went to La Grande, Union county, where he lived for seven years w^orking at his trade. In the year 1871 he returned to Portland, and secured a position as clerk in the employ of the O. T. Co. After retaiaing this position two years, he engaged in his present business, which is one of the best in its line in our city. Mr. McKercher has always been an enthusiastic Republican and a good party worker, and m the year 1881 he received the nomination of his party for City Treasurer, and he was elected in the face of a strong opposi- tion. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. F. and A. M.


HARRISON B. OATMAN. This gentleman came to Oregon in the pioneer days, made his home here, invested every cent of money which he possessed in our land, and ever since has had his interests identified with that of the State. Such being the case, he ever stood ready to contribute his share by word aud act toward its pros- perity, and the result has been that to-day Mr. Oatmau is one of our large land owners, and possesses multifarious interests throughout our city and State. He was born in Courtland, New York, in 1826. When a child his pa-