payers.
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Mr. Sewall was born way back in old Maryland, that grand old Stat* which was the cradle of religious and civil liberty, in the year -well, it don't mat- ter when, because Billy is quite a young man, any way. He went to New York at the age of ten and secured a position in a mercantile establiHhnient there, where he remained for some years. In 1853 he t«ok his way west- ward and engaged in the hardware business in Sacramento, where he re- mained twelve years. He then, in 1862, came to Oregon, and spent two years in looking after the auriferous metal in our various gold diggings. In 186i he settled in Portland, and conducted the Western and Cosmopol- itan hotels for a number of years. He then accepted the position of clerk in the service of the O. T. Co., whicii position he retained until he was elected County Clerk. Mr. Sewall was married to Miss Dink Elgin, of Salem, in 1869, and they now have five children. Although he has always been an active worker in his party, this is the first time that he has held office. He is a member of Samaritan Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F.
HON. CHARLES A. JOHNS.
Coming to Oregon when but a little over one year of age, from Missouri, where he was born June 25, 1857, Mr. Johns can be considered as mTicli an Oregonian, to all intents and purposes, as if to the "manor born." Although not yet twenty-six years of age, he has made his mark, and if "coming events cast their shadows before," Mr. Johns will be as well and favorably known in the councils of the State, as he is well-known in the "Heart of the Valley," where he has grown from childhood to man's estate. The early years of his boyhood were passed in the beautiful little city of Scio, nestled in the windings of Thomas creek. Here he conquered the rudi- ments of knowledge, preparing himself for a collegiate course in the Wil- lamette Uniyersity in Salem, which institution he entered in December, 1873, and from which he graduated an A. B. in 1878, near the head of his class. The same year he received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff of Marion county, under Sheriff J. A. Baker, which position he held until his term expired in July, 1880. Mr. Johns then commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. William H. Holmes, of Salem, now Prosecuting Attorney for the Third Judicial District of Oregon, and was admitted to priictice at the March term of the Supreme Court in 1881. Mr. Johns, after receiving the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater, the Willamette University, re- moved to Dallas, Polk county, where he now resides and where he immedi- ately stepped into a fair practice, which his talent and his energy entitled him to. Since his residence there he has, upon several occasions, been chosen orator of the day, and in every instance has left his impress as a ready and eloquent speaker. During the last political campaign Mr. Johns was clioseu as the presiding officer of the Polk County Repul^lican Convention, and was elected by that body as the Chairman of the Republican County Committee. On the first of last August he entered into a law copartnership with Hon. Warren Truitt, of Dallas, and was appointed by Governor Moody on Sep- tember 27th, as the County Judge of Polk county, being perhaps the young- est man that ever held the responsible office of chief executive of a county
