Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 118.
 
JOHN W. JORY

     John W. Jory, who lives on the James Jory donation farm near Salem, Marion
county, is a representative of one of the old and substantial pioneer families
of the Willamette Valley, members of which have contributed their share to its
development and progress. Mr. Jory was born on the 15th day of December, 1850,
on the farm which he now occupies, and is a son of James and Sarah Ann (Budd)
Jory, the former born in Cornwall, England, June 9, 1820, and the latter in
Ypsilanti, Michigan, December 31, 1827. The paternal grandparents were James and
Mary (Stephens) Jory, both of whom were born in the parish of St. Clear,
Cornwall, England, he in August, 1787, and she on September 28, 1792. In 1830
with their family of seven children, they sailed from England on the ship
"Restitution" and, after a voyage of two months, arrived at New Brunswick,
Canada. In 1836 they went to New York city and from there took ship for New
Orleans, arriving in November. They then took a river boat for St. Louis,
Missouri, reaching that point December 11, 1836. Later the parents settled on a
homestead in Pike county, Illinois, where some of the sons, now grown to
manhood, also took claims and of which locality they were pioneers. There they
lived until 1847, when they all sold out and started across the plains, with ox
teams, for Oregon. On their arrival here they settled in Salem, where they lived
until early in the spring of 1849, when three of the sons, James, Thomas and
William went to California and engaged in gold mining. They were fairly
successful there and in 1850 returned to Oregon and James took a donation claim
of six hundred and forty acres, located seven miles southwest of Salem, part of
the land being timbered and part prairie. He built a log house, with a shake
roof, in which the family lived for about ten years, when it was succeeded by a
frame house, while later a substantial barn was built. Mr. Jory cleared off part
of the timber and engaged extensively in raising cattle, and later run a large
flock of sheep. He spent his remaining years on that farm, his death occurring
December 10, 1905. His wife passed away February 3, 1923. In his political views
James Jory was originally a democrat but in 1861 the Civil war issues led him
into the republican party, which he supported until 1890, when he joined the
populist movement, and still later espoused socialism. He was public spirited in
his attitude toward all local interests and held a number of minor offices, in
all of which he worked for the general good of the community. He adhered to the
Methodist Episcopal church, of which his father and mother and his wife were
members. To this worthy couple were born eleven children, namely: Phoebe A., who
was born in an ox wagon while the family was crossing the plains, and is now
deceased; Thomas C., who was born in Salem and was for ten years professor of
mathematics in Willamette University, but has passed away; John W., of this
sketch; Mary J., deceased wife of F. R. Reynolds, of Marion county; Elizabeth
C., who is the wife of Rev. J. Swayne and lives in Chehalis, Washington; Mrs.
Mattie E. Myers, who now lives on the home place with her brother; Sarah F., who
died at the age of two and a half years; Henry D., who lives in British
Columbia; Arthur B., deceased; L, May, who also makes her home on the farm with
her brother; and Percy A., who died in the Klondike, Alaska.
     John W. Tory attended the district schools and spent four years in old
Willamette University at Salem, after which he gave his attention to the
operation of the home farm, and also taught four terms of school. He cleared up
about one hundred acres of the donation claim, on which he raised large crops of
wheat, and ran a large herd of cattle. In 1879 he harvested six thousand five
hundred bushels of wheat and fifteen hundred bushels of oats. With the exception
of. a short time in eastern Oregon in 1880, he has always lived on the home
place, of which he now owns two hundred and ten acres, in partnership with his
two sisters, and is now largely engaged in the raising of grain and hay.  The
place is well improved and has a nice, bearing orchard for family use. Mr. Jory
gives his support to the socialist party and is well informed on the great
public issues of the day, on which he holds well defined opinions. Pie is well
read and is a poet of recognized ability, his poems on pioneer days being
particularly well written. He has served many years as a member or clerk of the
school board and has consistently stood for all that is best in the life of the
community. Throughout his life he has loyally adhered to the teachings of the
Methodist Episcopal church of which he is a member.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.