Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S.  "An Illustrated History of Umatilla
County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 566.
 
NATHANIEL CECIL

     Although born in the state of Illinois on January 25, 1855, the gentleman
whose name introduces this paragraph is practically a product of this county,
since he was brought to this region when but a child and here he has wrought out
the excellent success which is his to enjoy and which is the product, not of
luck as some vainly remark, but of energy and enterprise, coupled with industry
that has been directed by commendable wisdom and carried into effect with
consummate skill, which his capabilities and fine executive force has enabled
him to do.
     The parents of our subject, William and Mary E. (Robison) Cecil, left
Illinois shortly after the birth of their son and settled in Livingston county,
Missouri, until 1862, when they took up the arduous undertaking of threading the
plains, finishing that task in 1863, when they settled in Umatilla county, that
portion now embraced in Morrow county. Here our subject was educated and worked
with his father, who took up the occupation of stock raising, wherein he
achieved a gratifying success. Mr. N. Cecil now owns two hundred acres of rich
bottom land and a section on the table land, which is devoted to the uses of his
herds, of which, however, he is not handling so large a number as formerly. In
1889-90 he had one thousand head and three thoroughbred Durham bulls and was
grading up a fine herd, the best of which he still retains but has reduced the
number, finding more returns for the labor incurred by improving the quality and
decreasing the quantity.
     The marriage of Mr. Cecil and Mrs. Arzella Stratton was solemnized in 1888
and to them has been born one child, Nathan D. In the winter of 1895 Mrs. Cecil
was called from the scenes of this life to that beyond, leaving her husband and
one child to mourn her demise. She also had one child, Annie DeWitt, by her
former marriage, who survives her mother.  Mr. Cecil is a man of uprightness and
unswerving integrity and maintains a demeanor that has commanded the respect and
won the confidence of the entire community.
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.