Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 579. ADAM McNEMEE Among the sons of the pioneers of Portland is Adam McNemee, who for more than twenty years has been engaged in the express and transfer business. He has been identified with the coast region ever since his boyhood and has been a witness of the great changes that have taken place in the settlement of the country and the vast commerce that has grown up on the railroads, the rivers and the ocean coast, bearing the products of forest, mine and farm to the most distant markets of the world. Mr. McNemee is the son of Job McNemee, who was born in the early part of the century in the Buckeye state and spent his boyhood in Fairfield county, Ohio. At that time the country west of Ohio was largely a wilderness, although a few settlements were scattered along the Mississippi river and at favorable locations in Indiana and Illinois. The McNemee family carries pioneer blood and the Ohio lad turned his face toward the west, stopping for a time at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he engaged in farming and also on a small scale as grading contractor. In 1845 he joined a wagon train that was bound for the northwest coast of the Pacific and drove an ox team up the valley of the Platte past Independence Rock and the trading posts at Fort Laramie and Fort Hall arriving safe in the valley of the Willamette after an arduous journey of six months. The spot now occupied by the beautiful city of Portland was then a dense forest with probably one or two cabins standing on the bank of the stream. Mr. McNemee took up a donation claim of five hundred and fifty acres on the location where now stands the city of Portland but owing to litigation his claim passed to other hands. For a time he engaged in the hotel business and in 1849 he was among the excited gold hunters who sought fortune in the lands of California. A year later he returned to Portland and for four years was connected with the retail liquor business. For several years he took contracts for clearing land in the vicinity of Portland and for three years was identified with the manufacture of wooden pumps. He finally sold out his business and In 1873 was called away. Mr. McNemee married Hannah Cochran, who was a native of Indiana, and to them were born thirteen children, three of whom are now living: Adam, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Andrew Jackson now a Methodist minister of Longley Island, Washington; and Eveline, formerly the wife of Charles Shroder but now Mrs. Harry Barkenstein, of Sellwood, this state. Adam McNemee was reared at Portland and educated in the public schools. For some years after arriving at man's estate he engaged in teaming, but since 1888 he has been continuously identified with the express and transfer business in this city. Since 1875 he has been identified with Samaritan Lodge, No. 2 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Portland. In the early days he was for eighteen months an active member of the volunteer fire department, No. 4. He is identified with the Pioneer Society and is remarkably well informed concerning the early days and the trials and sufferings of the first settlers of the Willamette valley. By a life of industry and close attention to business he has gained the good-will not only of the older settlers but of newcomers who are quick to recognize worth when it is possessed by a man who is thoroughly trustworthy and who endeavors according to his ability to exemplify the principles of friendship, love and truth. Transcriber's additional notes: "History of Portland, Oregon With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens and Pioneers" D. Mason & Co., Publishers; Syracuse, N.Y.; 1890 Edited by: H. W. Scott Page 90 In March, 1846, came Mr. Job McNemee, of Ohio, who had also crossed the continent the year previous. He brought with him a family of wife and four children, three sons and a daughter, the latter of whom all Portlanders now know as Mrs. E. J. Northrup, one of our most worthy and representative women. Upon the arrival of families began those more refined ways and sprung up those interests which take the edge off of the semi-barbarism of a simple shipping station or stopping point. Dr. Ralph Wilcox of New York, a pioneer of 1845, was the first physician, and also the first school teacher. In a little frame building on Front and Taylor Streets put up by Mr. McNemee he kept a school of about a dozen scholars. Dr. Wilcox was for many years prominent before the public as a citizen of Portland, and afterwards as clerk of the State legislature at Salem, and clerk of the United States court at Portland. Page 379 The first school of any kind in Portland was opened in the fall of 1847, by Dr. Ralph Wilcox, one of the very first settlers of the city, whose connections with the pioneer days has elsewhere been referred to. His school was conducted in a house erected by Mr. McNemee at the foot of Taylor street. It had a very brief existence but several who are still living in Portland were pupils in this primitive hall of learning. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea" Author: Fred Lockley S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.; 1928; Vol. 1, Page 432 PORTLAND SCHOOLS Some years ago I interviewed Andrew Jackson McNamee who was born in Portland on March 5, 1848, on the southwest corner of Yamhill and Front streets. At present Reverend McNamee is living at Langley, Washington. His father, Job McNemee, was born near Columbus, Ohio. He took up a claim on which a part of the residence district of St. Joe, Missouri, was later built. He crossed the plains with his family in 1845. They spent the winter of 1845 at Linnton, living on boiled wheat and salmon provided by Dr. McLoughlin. In the spring of 1846 Job McNamee moved to Portland, At that time there were only three log cabins on what is now the site of Portland. Mr. McNamee built the fourth log cabin. In this log cabin was started the first school taught in Portland. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.