CROOK COUNTY JOURNAL'S ANNUAL NUMBER.
15
J. H. GRAY.
Many of the early settlers who came to
Eastern Oregon when Wasco County ex
tended from Washington to California, and
the county seat, The Dalles, was 200 miles
from their settlements, came here with a
view of remaining a few years, accumulat
ing a competency with which to live cam
fortably in the city, and return. They ac
cordingly gave little attention to grade of
their stock, and their landed improvements
were such that they could abandon them any
time without material loss. They regarded
Central Oregon as a large pasture, that
could probably feed stock a few years and
fit until 1888, when he commenced the rais
ing and breeding of fine cattle. This was
the nucleus for the propagation of graded
and blooded cattle in this section of the
state. Mr. Gray now has a fine herd of 85
head of full blood registered Hereford
cows and heifers, whicn are deep in such
strains as "Assurance," "Bedford Second,"
and "The Grove." This herd was started
from some of the best strains of blood im
ported by the Indiana Blooded Stock Com
pany of Indjanapolis, and is now headed
by the famous sire "Fauntleroy," whose
sire was "Lord Fauntleroy," by "Texas
Jack," bred by Major Carlyon, of Crom
well, England. "Texas Jack" was sired by
acres of land, 60 acres of which is well set
to alfalfa, and annually produces over 250
tons of the best hay. This farm controls
the range for an average radius of five
miles, and is one of the most valuable
plants in Oregon.
As diversion from his agricultural duties,
he has dabbled somewhat in politics, serv
ing for two years as stock inspector, two
years as assessor and four years as sheriff
of Crook County, retiring in 1900.
Mr. Gray's high moral character and
spotless life has won the admiration and
confidence of his acquaintances, and he
enjoys honors in fraternal orders.
He is maried and has a fine family.
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HEREFORD CATTLE AND HAYING SCENES ON THE FARM OF J- H- GRAY-
then remain a desert waste for a decade
until nature provided another growth of
range grass. Not so, however, with Mr. J.
H. Gray. This estimable gentleman was
born in Linn County, Or., April 23rd, 1855,
and crossed the mountains into Central Ore
gon (now Crook County) in 1876, and at
once went into the business of sheep rais
ing. Mr. Gray immediately foresaw the
brilliant future and vast resources of the
county, not only for stock raising, but for
agricultural pursuits, and settled upon a
tract of land thirteen miles southeast of
where Prineville now stands, and erected
substantial and valuable improvements. He
continued in the sheep business with pro-
"Pretty Boy," owned by Lord Wilton, dam
by "Assurance," etc., so in this herd Mr.
Gray has the best blood ever imported to
America. Mr. Gray's stock has taken first
prize in all state and county fairs and
Agricultural Association meetings at which
the same have been exhibited. By his in
terest and prominence in stock raising Mr.
Gray has won for himself more than a state
reputation, and in 1896 was appointed by
Governor Lord a member of the state
board of agriculture, but, owing to the fact
that he had just been elected sheriff of
Crook County, was unable to accept the
appointment.
Mr. Gray now owns a fine farm of 880
T. S. HAMILTON.
Breeder of Fine Cattle and Sheep.
The subject of this sketch is one of our
most solid and substantial citizens. He
resides on Trout creek, where he owns
and personally superintends one of the best
stock farms in the county and on which
he has amassed a competency. His spe
cialty is fine sheep and cattle, and his con
stant aim is their improvement without
regard to cost. Mr. Hamilton has just re
tired from the office of county commis
sioner of this county, which he held for
four years with credit to himself and sat
isfaction to his constituents.