for the state, which resulted in the reservation of ten thousand acres. This was the first move made in the state toward a perpetual school fund.
At the legislature which convened in 1866, Governor Gibbs received the caucus nomination of his party for United States Senator. When the ballot was taken he was two votes short of election—three republicans voting against him. Before the second ballot was taken he was told of the pecuniary needs of these bolters which must be supplied in order to secure their votes and thus his election. He refused to accede to their demands or to allow other persons to do so in his behalf. The balloting continued with no election until, near the close of the session, the Governor became convinced that he could not draw the recalcitrant members to him, and that if he remained a candidate the legislature would adjourn without electing a senator. He withdrew his name in spite of protests. Subsequently he served several terms as District Prosecuting Attorney and as United States Attorney. Later he entered into a partnership with men in the State of Kansas and New York City. The business of this firm took him to England in 1884, where he remained until his death in 1886.
During his residence in London, Governor Gibbs spent his hours of leisure in studying social conditions. He was surprised at the number of Mormon missionaries and their activity, especially among the laboring classes. As he had made a study of the Mormons and their methods during all the years of their growth in Utah, he spent much time delivering lectures in the communities where these missionaries had labored, that the people might not be misled. He also lectured for temperance organizations. His business would have detained him two years longer, and his last letter home disclosed his plans for his family to join him there. In this letter he mentioned having taken a severe cold. This cold developed into pneumonia, and in two weeks he slept the sleep which knows no waking. The Oregon legislature had his body returned home, and the 9th of July following his death he was laid to rest in Riverview Cemetery, on the banks of the Willamette River. His widow and two daughters still reside in Portland. Charles, the only living son, has a home in Idaho.
ONTARIO, THEN AND NOW.
By MISS MARY LOCEY, Ironside, Or.
IN 1883 the present site of Ontario was a wind-blown, sagebrush desert, where sand piled in great heaps, and wild coyotes and black-tailed rabbits scurried unmolested. Only a pioneer could have dreamed of the resources waiting there to be developed; but the pioneer sees far into the future sometimes, and the very fact that the Oregon Short Line Railroad crossed Snake River and ran through Malheur County for twelve miles without a station was enough to arouse hopes that a station on the Oregon side might spring into a town and later grow even to a city. This dream is being realized.
The first house in Ontario was built by William Morfitt, one of the firm who located and first laid out the town. The first business house was that of T. T. Danilson, which began operations in 1884. Thanksgiving day of that year was made memorable by a grand ball celebrating the opening of the Scott Hotel. (These men would wonder could they now see the numbers of fine brick business buildings that line Main street.)
There followed quickly a drug store, a harness shop, and a blacksmith shop, while dwelling houses dotted the townsite here and there. One day Death claimed the blacksmith, and a cemetery had to be located. This silent city on the hill has grown with the
