CROOK COUNTY JOURNAL'S ANNUAL NUMBER
21
made man and a credit to the Maker.
Born in Benton county, September 4th, 1864,
he came to Crook in 1882, and worked as
farm hand and cow-boy until 1897. Al
though enduring many hardships in early
life he picked up a good business education,
of which he is now making good use.
In Noveber, 1897, with the savings of
his farm labor he opened a harness and sad
dle shop in Prineville, where his integrity
and business industry soon established him
in a lucrative trade. His workmen are the
best that money can employ, and his sad
dle makers have made their trade their
life's profession. His workshop is a verit
able bee-hive of activity, and the work turn
ed out is inferior to none. His goods have
won their way to the front by hard and ac
tive competition, and all the recommenda
tion they they now require is the stamp
"J. W. Boone."
Mr. Boone's stock is complete in every
detail and the customer is almost sure to
find what he wants in the large stock of
harness and saddles, if not his orders can
be filled upon the shortest notice, and work
made to order is guaranteed to give satis
faction. He uses the famous "White River"
saddle tree, which is superior to any thing
else in the market.
Mr. Boone enjoys the respect of every one
in the range of his acquaintance and is
prominent in fraternal societies.
JOSIAH HINKLE
Is one of the best known men in Eastern
Oregon. He was born in Lea county, Io. a,
in the year 1843 and came to 0 egon with
his grandparents in 1853. From 1860 to 1870
his face was a familiar one from Northern
California to Boise, Idaho. In 1870 he lo
cated in Corvalis, where he was deputy
sheriff for seven years. He came to Crook
county in 1877 and embarked in catt!e rais
ing, which he followed successfully until
1895. In 1882 Mr. Hink'e was the demo
cratic candidate for sheriff of Wasco county,
and while he was defeated in that contest
he succeeded in cutting down the ordinary
republican majority which made his candi
dacy a high evidence of his popularity.
POPULATION.
According to census repoits. Crook
County's population is 3986, against 3244
in 1890, showing an increase of only 23 per
cent., which is misleading, from the fact
that by the formation of Wheeler County
in 1898 Crook lost at least 650 inhabitants,
which, if included in present census, would
have made our population 4636, or a gain
of 43 per cent. At the June, 1900, election
there were 1193 votes registered prior to
election, and about 100 on the day of elec
tion, or about 1300 votes to 3986 popula
tion, a ratio of a little over 3 to 1, indicat
ing a predominance of the male sex due to
the character of our leading pursuits,
stock raising and mining, and demonstrat
ing that some forlorn maidens of the East
ern states might here find fair husbands
and fairer homes.
Per Capita Wealth.
It is a well-known fact that assessments
for taxation in Oregon are placed at less
than half the real values of propetry, yet
our tax roll and census for 1900 shows a
per capita of taxable property, exclusive of
exemptions, of $426, in reality over $800.
These values are real; that is, the property
is not covered with mortgages. Our
county records will show a less per cent,
of mortgaged property than any other
county in Oregon.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NICHOLS.
The mention we have made of the citi
zens of Prineville and Crook county would
indeed be incomplete without mention of
this man. He is a native of Clay county,
Missouii, and while but a youth his ad
venturous spirit led him to Oregon in 1844.
He was the first sheriff of Polk county,
under the provisional government, and
continued as such for four years during
territorial days. Mr. Nichols also served
cs county clerk of Polk county. In 1877 he
moved to Prineville, then in Wasco county,
from whence he was sent to the state
legislature. Mr. Nichols' career has been
an eveitful o-.ie, and after years of turmoil
of politics he settled down to the practice
of law, which he followed for many years
with maikerl success. Mr. Nichols is now
seventy-five years of age, and has retired
f:om active business life.
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JOHN COMBS.
The political and social history of Crook
county since its organization would not be
complete without particular mention of
John Combs. He is well and favorably
known throughout central Oregon, and has
hosts of friends everywhere. Wherever he
is, he at once becomes a leader without
intending to be such. Mr. Combs was
born in Linn county, December 8, 1861, and
came to Crook county with his parents
thirty years ago. He was raised on a farm
but received a good common school edu
cation. He was elected sheriff of Crook
county when but twenty-six years old, on
the republican ticket, when the county was
overwhelmingly democratic. He also
served one term as sheriff from 1894 to
1896. Mr. Combs' good nature and affability
is proverbial, and among his friends and
acquaintances is generous to a fault. He
is unmarried but is entirely to blame for
this misfortune.
MILLINERY AND LADIES' FURNISHING
STORE.
One of the successful business establish
ments of Prineville is that of Mrs. Susie
Slayton. By her untiring energy and in
domitable will alone, she has built up a
nice trade. Carrying al the latest styles
in millinery newest dressing novelties, and
ladies' misses' and children's furnishings
and underwear. Bought at lowest cash
prices, she is prepared to .meet all competi
tion in those lines and invites a full share
of patronage.
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E. R. CARY.
The popular landlord of the well known
Cary House needs no introduction to
Journal subscribers. A glance at his por
trait is convincing of hi3 shrewdness and
humor, and, like all good natured men, there
remains but little between him and heaven.
Mr. Cary was born in Indiana upwards of
55 years ago, and emigrated to California
soon after the discovery of gold in that
region, where he accumulated a consider
able property and was the successful rival
of Hon. M. M. Estee for the hand of Miss
Dora M. Post, of Sacramento, to whom he
was married in 1863. He was in Placer
ville, Cal., in 1858, when Horace Greely
came to that town in a stage coach. W7hile
Mr. Cary did not court any of Greely's fame
and subsequent disappointments, he kept
his eye on the stage coach, of which he
afterwards possessed himself, and brought
it to Crook County in 1883, before the com
pletion of the O. & C. railroad. Mr. Cary
is a large land owner on the line of the
C. & E. survey, and in all railroad argu
ments never fails to convince his friends
that active construction will be resumed
on that line as soon as snow flies.