"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 492. Grant County. ALVA C. DORE What thrilling days were those when the fleet and hardy steeds bore their more intrepid riders from post to post in the dispatch of important business in the never-to-be-forgotten pony express! Deeds of daring and bravery that well might stir the spirit of the reader were of frequent occurrence, and hardships were too common to dwell upon. These times are gone, the prairie schooner has been brushed aside for the chariot of steel, the harnessed lightning darts o'er the course where the hoofbeats of the flying pony express are heard no more and it is not without a tear of regret that we glance back at the past while we embrace the new. How acceptable then it is to sit and listen to one who comes as an actual participant form those daring times and relates to us the tales of interest. All hail to the opportunity to chronicle the deeds of those sturdy and noble pioneers that are all too soon passing away from us. The subject of this humble sketch is one who has passed through much of this life and has been instrumental in inaugurating civilization's reign with her aids and inventions, while he brings items of the past as it wee from a new land. Alva C. Dore was born in Penobscot county, Maine, on February 28, 1840, being the son of Serles and Lucinda Dore. He was reared on his father's farm and remained until he was nineteen years of age and then came to the new west, going at once to the Rocky mountains and engaging as a rider on the pony express line that was so famous in those early days. He rode across the mountains until the telegraph line was put up, then was express messenger for Ben Haliday until 1862 and then quit and went to San Francisco, and thence by steamer to Portland, when he made his way to Albany, and operated a sawmill for three years. At the end of this period he went to Walla Walla and operated a mill there for two years and then came to Canyon City and engaged in the same business here, in which he has constantly been occupied since adding mining also. He came to his present place in 1890. It is located twelve and one-half miles south from Canyon City, on Canyon creek, and here he owns a good mill and one half section of valuable timber and farming land. He has a good house and other improvements. In 1874 the marriage of Mr. Dore and Miss Emma, daughter of Emanuel and Sarah Mosier, of John Day, was celebrated, and to them was born one child, Alva S., now married to Bertha Voley, of John Day. In 1878 Mrs. Dore was summoned hence by death. Mr. Dore was married a second time and the lady of his choice was Mrs. Amy Westfall, who was called to pass the river of death in 1888. There were born to this second union triplets, one of whom died in infancy, one died at the age of three years, being named Amy and the other, named Helen, is still living. Mr. Dore is a charter member of the A.O.U.W. lodge in Canyon City. He takes an active part in politics and is ever working for the advancement of the interest of the county. In 1886 the people summoned him to the service of the county as sheriff, and after a term of faithful and efficient work in that capacity he was re-elected and served two years more. His public career, as his private, has been dominated by wisdom and the manifestation of ability that give him the confidence of his fellow and the respect of all. During his last term of service as sheriff he collected all the taxes of the county, an occurrence which was never duplicated before or since. ******************* 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.