Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 499.
 
W. B. PARTLOW

     A successful and respected Oregon pioneer of 1852, was born in Owen county,
Indiana, March 8, 1828.  His father, James Partlow, was one of the pioneers of
Kentucky, from which State he removed to Illinois, where he resided the
remainder of his life on a farm, engaged in the practice of his profession of
medicine.  His first wife bore him two children:  Richard S. and William B., and
then died, after which he went back to Kentucky, and married a second time, by
which marriage they had one child, John J. Partlow, who now lives in Danville,
Illinois.  In his sixtieth year he died, at his home in Illinois.  Richard S.
Partlow was born in Kentucky, March 8, 1825; came to Oregon in 1851, from
Illinois, and has successfully practiced medicine ever since, residing in and
around Portland and Baker City, Oregon, for the past thirty years.  He married
Miss M. E. Johns, of Danville, Illinois.
     Our subject, W. B. Partlow, was reared in Illinois, and sent to the
district schools until fourteen years of age, at which time he was made to learn
the trade of saddler, at which calling he worked for a number of years.
Finally, in 1852, he started for Oregon.  He came with a Mr. William Johnson, of
Covington, Indiana.  Their bargain was to the effect that Mr. Partlow should
contribute $75 and drive a four-horse team, and Mr. Johnson should furnish the
provisions, but Mr. Johnson expected a good deal more of our subject than was
named in the agreement.  He stood guard, milked cows, herded cattle, and did
many other things besides driving the team as agreed upon.  When they arrived at
Grande Ronde he grew tire of Mr. Johnson, so walked the remainder of the
distance, about 300 miles.  He had done more than enough to pay for his board,
even if he had contributed no money.  He crossed the mountains, coming down to
Philip Foster's farm, and then to Oregon City, and soon after his arrival he
began to work at his trade for Mr. A. K. Post, remaining with him three years as
a journeyman, one year as a partner and finally became sole owner of the
business.  In connection with his harness shop Mr. Post ran a livery business,
and as time went on Mr. Partlow closed out the former business to devote his
attention to the latter, doing a fair business for seventeen years, during which
time he had many ups and downs.  In 1869 he disposed of his livery business and
purchased 120 acres of choice land, two miles south of Oregon City, on which
property he has since resided.  His farm is now one of the most valuable in the
county.  His residence is surrounded by a beautiful yard, in which may be found
many kinds of native shrubs.
     June 28, 1856, he married Miss Frances Lucinda Chase, born in Vermont,
August 5, 1828, daughter of Mr. Sisson Chase, of Vermont.  Three children have
blessed this union, two of whom died in infancy.  the one they reared is a son,
James, born March 15, 1859, in Oregon City, where he was reared and educated.
He now makes his home with his father and owns thirty-two acres adjoining.  In
addition Mr. and Mrs. Partlow have reared a foster child, Miss Annie E. Howland,
who lost her mother and was taken by these kind people when only nine years of
age, so that they reared her as their own.  She was born August 31, 1860.  She
still resides with Mr. Partlow, and owns thirty-two acres of land adjoining, by
inheritance.  Mr. Partlow and his son are successful farmers and also devote
much attention to the raising of fine horses, of which they have a few.  Both he
and his son are intelligent and ardent Republicans.  While residing in Oregon
City Mr. Partlow was elected and served as a member of the City Council, also a
member of the fire department for ten years, in which he proved himself a valued
member.
     On the 29th day of January, 1892, the beloved wife and mother was taken
from her family by death, the immediate cause being la grippe and pneumonia.
During her life she proved herself a good and faithful wife and mother during
the thirty-six years of married life, and she was greatly mourned by her family,
as well as by the host of friends she had attached herself to during her
residence in Oregon City and on the farm, and the family had the entire sympathy
of the community in their bereavement.  Mr. Partlow enjoys the good-will and
esteem of all who know him, and is a good representative of the Oregon pioneers
of 1852.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.