Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/65

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than a handsome majority. Mr. McBride has, with the exception of two years spent in San Francisco, always lived in Oregon, and he always exijects to. Oregon is his home and he shows the Scotch in his blood in his love for it. Personally he is a "good fellow to meet." He is cordial, but not boisterous, dignified but never stiff. He is always well mannered and well dressed, and though having a decided tendency toward student life, is fond of society and shines in it. Some may be interested perhaps in the fact that he knows the points of a horse and is a dead shot. Mr. McBride is not and never will be robust, but he has outlived his ill hcaltli and is a pro- digious worker. He is of medium height, complexion neither decidedly dark nor fair, has blue-grey eyes, weighs about 140 pounds, and wears a full, cropped brown beard. He only lacks the appearance of perfect vigor to be strikingly handsome. He is not married.


HON. WILLIAM H. HARRIS.

Among the silent majority of the House, the majority upon whom the State can look with pride, may be mentioned with unusual praise the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a representative Oregonian, a man of few words, honest convictions and sterling integrity. Like all pio- neers on this coast who have emerged into public life, Mr. Harris under- stands himself thoroughly and dares to pursue a course consistent with his ideas of right in the face of any and all prejudice, whether it be of a polit- ical or personal character. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, in the year 1832. He received the advantages of a good common school education and is possessed of a great amount of hard, practical sense, which has al- ways enabled him to apply it to the best advantage. After residing iu Illi- nois until he was twenty years of age, Mr. Harris immigrated to Oregon in the year 18.52, since which time he has resided in the city of Portland. Mr. Harris has been twice elected a member of the Legislature of Washington Territory, and was also elected Clerk of Multnomah county in the year 1872. Having held office, as stated before, his election as a member of the House of Representatives of the present Legislative Assembly may be justly traced to his uusulUed reputation and his large circle of warm personal friends. In person Mr. Harris is a compactly-built gentleman of medium size, hav- ing a full face and a twinkling, pleasant eye. Although he is a single man, he is not at all averse to the sweet links of matrimony, and when the proper young lady comes along we expect that he may become one of the "blessed." He is at present engaged in the ice manufacturing business, being the se- nior partner in the well-known firm of Harris & Salmon. In politi« ^Fr Harris is a staunch Republican.

HON. JOHN J. WHITNEY.

It is a pleasure to write of men in high places whose public-spii-itcd gen- erosity and acknowledged manliness recommend them to our favorable con- sideration, but it would be far more preferable if we enjoyed a larger ac- quaintance with the accomplished gentleman Avhose interesting history we