"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 300.  Baker County.

WILLIAM H. COLTON

     It is with pleasure that we incorporate here a brief review of the career
of the enterprising and successful farmer and wool grower whose name forms the
caption hereof, for to him belongs the honor and respect due to those who
succeed in spite of difficulties and discouraging circumstances.  Our subject is
a native of Juneau county, Wisconsin, born near Mauston on January 1, 1855, his
parents being Dr. John and Alice (Lever) Colton, natives respectively of Ireland
and England.  He grew to early manhood in the county of his birth, receiving
there such educational discipline as the local public schools afforded.  In 1875
he came west to Red Bluff, California, where for four years he was engaged in
the lumbering business.  At the end of that period of time he came to Umatilla
county, Oregon, purchased the old Vanaernam saw mill and engaged in the
lumbering industry on his own behalf.  Later he purchased an interest also in
the Eagle saw mill.  He continued to busy himself in the manufacture of lumber,
pursuing the business with energy and success for the ensuing eight years,
eventually selling out and investing the proceeds or a portion thereof in a band
of sheep.  The scab got among them and wrought considerable havoc, and during
the first winter, which proved a very severe one, he lost quite heavily, though
owing to great care and diligence, his losses were not as heavy as those
sustained by other sheep men.  His flocks, however, were in a poor condition the
next spring and he sold out for just what he had put into the business.
     coming then to a part of Union county which has since been transferred to
the political division with which our volume is primarily concerned, he started
again in the sheep business with one hundred and eighty-two ewes.  Fortune
favored him this time and his flocks continued to increase until he had six
thousand head, of which he disposed in the spring of 1898.  At the present time
he is the owner of about four thousand head, though he expects in the near
future, to run about ten thousand sheep.  He is the owner also of about four
hundred acres of excellent hay land under the ditch, upon which he raises three
crops of alfalfa per year.  Thus it will be seen that from a very humble
beginning Mr. Colton has, by energy and faithful attention to business, acquired
a very neat fortune, and his experience should be an inspiration to all young
men who are similarly situated, showing them what steadfastness and a
progressive, thrifty disposition will accomplish.
     On November 7, 1881, our subject married Miss Caroline, a daughter of Joel
M. and Mary J. Thrasher, natives of Missouri.  They have eight children:  George
W., and Charles H., both in the sheep business in Baker county; Caroline M.,
Alice M., John J., Elizabeth, William M. and Nellie.  Mr. Colton's father was a
physician and surgeon in the Civil war.  He was with General Custer in his first
expedition from Fort Lincoln to the mouth of the Powder river.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.