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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1885)
60 THE WEST SHORE. MEN OF OREGON. WE present this mouth portraits of two of the most enterprising, public-spirited And successful men of Oregon, both citizens of Grunt County, and, at times, iiicumbonts of important official positions, and men whose reputation extends fur beyond the limits of the county in which thoy live. HON. l'niL METHCIIAN. Tliis gentleman was born in HesBe-Cassel, Germany, on the 21th of March, 1810. lie attended with much profit the common schools of his native land until four teen years of age, when he bid adieu to his parents, brothers, sisters and frionds, and sailed for America, to woo fortune in the New World December 27, 1854, he landed in Now York, and proceeded at once to Cincinnati, where he sorvod as an apprentice to a butcher for throe years. In the spring of 185rt he journeyed Westward, working at his trade in St Louis, Ma, and Leavenworth, Kan. The discovery of gold on the banks of Cherry Creek, where now tho bustling city of Denver stands, drew him to the mines of Colorado. From early in 1800 till the stimmor of 1H(!1 he followed his trade in Califor nia Uulch, now the famous Loadvillo, when he again headed toward the Pacific Coast After a brief sojourn in California, Victoria, li. C, and Portland, he arrived at Canyon City on the 18th of July, 1803. He essayed mining for a time, with financially disastrous results, and thou engaged in his old business, which he pursued till tho 1st of Soptombor, 18711, amassing n small fortune. At tho genoral election in Juno, 1870, Mr. Motsohan was elected Treasurer of Grant County on the Republican ticket, being one of but two successful candidates on that ticket In J uly, 1872, tho gontlemnn chosen to succood him having died, Mr. Metschun was appointed to the vacancy, his socond term expiring in July, 1874 In 1870 ho was olocted County Clerk, and fillod the jwsition most acceptably for two years. In 878 Mr. MotBchan em barked in merchandising, bringing to bear the same qual ities of integrity and business tact which hod rendered him so successful in other pursuits. He gradually built up tho business till now the house of which lie is the head is tho leading mercantile firm in Grant County. In Juno, 1882, Mr. Metschun was chosen by tho people to servo them in tho capacity of County Judgo by oho of the largest majorities ever given in the county. His term of offico oxpirod in 1884. Both the Masonic and Odd Fol lows fraternities claim him as a mombor. In the latter ho filled the position of Grand Master of tho State from 1881 to 1882, and Grand Patriarch of tho Grand Encamp ment of Oregon from 1882 to 18811. He has also boon Master of the Masonio lodge several terms. Mr. Met schan has a family consisting of a wife aud eight children. HON. P. C. RKL8. Mr. Sels was born in 1,8117, in Mcrschodo, Westphalia, (loriuany, which placo ho l-ft while yet a youth and came to America. lWnlmr 31, lNf4, h arrived in Califor m and July 1, 1802, reached Canyon City, whore he still resides and enjoys tho fruits of a lifo of honorable busing activity, lu tho summer of ls!2 he mined at ruirie Diggings, alxnit four miles northeast of Canyon City, and lu the spring of 1S03 huhhI a goneral mor chandiso store in Canyon City in partnership with Mr E J. bUMnuift . under the firm name of Sels & Sfomme, In tho fall of 1SW ho sold his interest to hi brother, Henry II buk July 2H, 180, he imichostsl tho Canyon City Urowory WJohu 1L SUhl, which was two weeks later d.troyod by tho great hro .,f August 11 lie at oiuo rebuilt, wctiutf uro-prouf buildings, cellar aud wure- house. In 1883, having been very successful, he sold the Property to John Kuhl, the present proprietor. He is oavily interested in Grant County, and intends making his homo there fur an indefinite lime, peilittps lo the uu of his days. Mr. Sels has been prominent in the political councils of the Republican party of Grant County, and has held many important and honorable positions. From 1804 to 1800 he aoted as Justice of the Peace, when he was appointed Postmaster. This position he soon re signed to accept the office of County Judge, to which he Was chosen at the June election, 18GG, being the only Republican elected. In 1808 he was chosen State Sena tor, leading John Dribblesby, the Democratic nominee, by five votes, and again being the only successful Repub lican candidate in Grant County. Mr. DribbleBby con tested the seat, and as he had also an undecided contest on hand with L. 0. Sterns from the election of 1800, the Senate seated him under the first contest, Mr. Sels thus . losing his seat In 1870 he was elected County Judge, and served two terms, till July, 1874 Since then he has never been a candidate for office, but is still looked upon as a stuunch and influential Republican. LITERARY NOTES. The intelligent and our nest, AfFnrtn of ft nnrno nf fro in a1 t -l w u vfc u wu.su X-. Ul ULMwtA writers, aided by good management in every way, have placed in tho foremost rnnka nt trnrln innmntiain tla I u m uvw J VM U..A .u HI VJ Northwestern Milkr, a weekly newspaper published at luiniiBoixm'j, iuinn., tne mining centre ot tne world. Tlie holidav 1SSU6 IB & (lonartnrfl from ta nannl nnnrua Tlliia trated profusely, containing several stories of great inter- nu f nnil a nntnlui . , ! L 1 i 1 ' 1 1 uuiuuai ui puauiH vi men i, togemer witn descriptive articles and correspondence, and sketches by humorists like Bob Burdotte and Bill Nye, the whole forms a book of over 100 pages. An interesting feature i nu exhaustive description of the milling industry of MiunottiXHis. The cost of publication is placed at $5,000. Single copies are mailed to any address for 25 cents. t Bdlnihnod is the title of a new magazine which occu pies a field as yet uncovered in literature. It is not a' story or picture book for the but a magazine filled with sound advice and practical o.iKKUBuuuB to motnors ami all who have the cliargo of little ones. Edited by Dr. Leroy M. Yale and Marian Uarland. and filled with nnimififin ;f,,i.,.(;, ,i i, results of the experiences of many thinking people, it ..u.u wmuiuouu iujhu to every one wlio is responsible for the physical and mental development of a child. 1 orentsowe it to those jdastio minds and delicate organi zations to fit themselves for the task of caring for and instructing thorn aright Subscription price, $1.50 per year. Address " Babyhood," 18 Spruce street, New York. ; CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS. January. -",:!,'.,,t':,s,rw,k,',u- - nd, i N.. i'.rk , "l" ,'f Olm!. lin- ' 1-1" r"' "'.ln"k Vf Mia Ciwu 4 Co UT. lanniliia, AwtrK ...HI. p ,
