ness ever since. As a specimen of Mr. Gill's business enterprise and capa- city, we will state that at no time has he been dependent on the San Fran- cisco market for his supplies. As he has always dealt directly with East- ern firms, he has been enabled to compete with the largest firms in San Francisco, and to offer to the ji^ople of this State and Washington Terri- tory all the advantages that can be gained by his method of large pur- chases to supply the State as well as retail purchasers. Mr. Gill is a firm adherer to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has al- ways taken a prominent part in advancing the interests of that denomina- tion. In musical circles he is both " useful and ornamen tal," being a first class violinist, and always contributing his valuable services to every enter- tainment that is worthy of encourasrement. Whether in business or social circles, he is always the same— an obliging, liberal gentleman, who, whilst anxious to benefit himself, is never selfish or grasping. He was married August 17, 1866, to Miss Fanny A. Wilson, daughter of Mr. W. H. Wilson, one of the pioneers of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Gill are blessed with an interesting family, and thankf ally enjoy all the blessings of a peaceful and happy home.
HON JOHN WHITEAKER.
" Honest John Whiteaker" is the familiar title by which the first Gov- ernor of the State of Oregon is known on both sides of this continent. He was bom in Dearborn county, Indiana, May 4, 1820. His early life was passed with his parents on a farm in his native State. Wlien twenty-five years of age he went to Illinois and the following year from there to Mis- souri, where he was married, in 1847, in Putnam county, to Miss N. J. Har- grave, daughter of Judge Hargrave, a prominent man in that part of the State. In the spring of 1849, attracted by the fame of the California gold mines, he left his wife at her father's and visited the new El Dorado of the far West. Arriving at Sacramento early in the fall, he turned his attention to mining, in which avocation he shared the fortune of a great majority of delvers for the precious metals. He next dealt in live stock, and for a short time managed a hotel in Sacramento City. In the spring of 1851 he re- turned East by way of the Isthmus, and crossed the plains the second time in 1852, to Oregon, bringing his wife with him. He arrived in Portland when the present city was a comiiarative wilderness, and remained but a short time when he proceeded up the valley to Polk county, where he passed the Avinter. The following spring he went to Lane county and set- tled on a tract of land under the donation law of 1850, and he has resided in that county up to the present time. The first office to which he was elected in the then Territory was that of Probate Judge for Lane county, to which position he was elected in 1856. In 1857 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature. In the meantime the convention to frame the State Constitution convened, and, upon its adoption, Hon. John Whiteaker was nominated by the Democrats and elected the first Governor of the new State. His term extended over the eventful years from 1858 to 1862, during which time Governor Whiteaker illustrated his patriotism and statesman-
