Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 697. HON. AUGUSTUS RIPLEY BURBANK A widely known Oregon pioneer, an eminent public man and influential citizen of La Fayette, Yam Hill county, Oregon, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, April 15, 1817. He was of English and Scotch descent, his ancestors having been early settlers of New England. His father was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, March 6, 1770, of English and Irish ancestry. He married Miss Margaret Pinchen, a native of Attica, New York State, where she was born January 4, 1774, of Scotch descent. They had eleven children, only two of whom are now living. In 1814 his parents removed to Ohio, which was then a new and unsettled country, and located on a farm near Cincinnati, where the subject of our sketch was born three years later, in 1817. The father was a miller and farmer, and was esteemed on account of his industry and enterprise. He was a distinguished Major in the war of 1812, serving in that memorable conflict with great valor. He was a worthy member of the Methodist, then the Presbyterian Church, and Masonic order, and is imbued with the principles of true goodness and greatness. From Ohio the family removed to Illinois in 1818, which was then the extreme frontier, and where the father was engaged in milling. Here the faithful wife and devoted mother died at Exeter, Illinois, on July 14, 1826, leaving a distressed family and many friends to mourn her loss. She was a member of the Methodist Church, a lady of rare intelligence and many accomplishments, who endeared herself to all by her practical Christian virtues, to which she lent the charm of a deeply loving heart. Her husband survived her six years, expiring in the family of a friend, at Meredosia, Illinois, October 27, 1832. His honorable dealings, superior business ability, progressive disposition and uniform courteousness gained for him the esteem of all, and caused him to be greatly lamented. Both the parents are buried at Exeter (Illinois) cemetery. The subject of our sketch attended the public schools, and on the death of his father, at the age of fifteen entered a store as a clerk, in which capacity he served for several years. In 1843, he, with a partner, began mercantile business in Naples, Illinois, where he continued in the same business for seven years, building up quite an extensive trade, his business increasing to such an extent that it required the attention of himself and partner and several clerks. His health at this time became impaired, and he was advised to travel, so he put a clerk in his place in the store, and in the spring of 1849 started across the plains for the gold fields of California. The change and outdoor life proved very beneficial, and he found his journey a most romantic and enjoyable one. Arriving at Sacramento, California, September 26, 1849, he became acquainted with a gentleman, with whom he joined interests in the spring of 1850, and they went to Nevada City, California, where they engaged in mining and merchandising. The were very successful, and he continued there for one year, when he sold out. After visiting many places he returned to his home in Illinois. In May, 1851, he sold out his interests at the old store, and moved to and started in business in Bloomington, Illinois, being also somewhat engaged in real-estate business at that point. On May 1, 1845, he was married, in Jacksonville, Illinois, to Miss Mary Ellen Eckles, a native of Milford, Delaware, where she was born January 14, 1827. She was a daughter of Jesse Eckles, one of the Society of Friends. In 1853 he sold his business in Illinois, and with his wife came via the Isthmus of San Juan, to Oregon, where he had intended going into business in Portland, but finding it over-done in business, he came on to La Fayette, Oregon, where he arrived June 18, 1853. Here, with a partner, he started in business, in which he continued until the Indian war of 1855-56, when he sold out and went to Portland, and in 1858 he went to and opened a store in Victoria, British Columbia, at the time of the Fraser river gold mine excitement. In the spring of 1856 he made the first effort for locating Oregon's first woolen factory at Salem, the capital, and to bring in water there from the Santiam river for water power, which was adopted by the factory company, and the water was brought in, which has ever proven of great wealth and life to the city in running her factories and mills, which value is hard to compute. But few of her people of to-day know that he was the first mover in this matter. He, in the fall of 1858, went to Monticello, Washington, where he engaged in the hotel business; was Postmaster and stage agent, in which he continued successfully for nine years, when he sold out and returned to La Fayette, Oregon, August 9, 1867, where he had a business with his brother-in-law. He purchased his partner's interest and continued in the business alone until November, 1885, when he sold out and retired. In every one of his business ventures he was successful, which can be said of but few who have spent a long life in various enterprises. He owns two farms in attractive parts of the valley; located adjoining La Fayette, on a small farm and home place, he has a large and handsome home, pleasantly situated and surrounded with ornamental trees and flowering shrubs, the whole suggestive of comfort and refinement. He has invested in property elsewhere, owning real estate in Portland, besides which he has land near there, and other lands. Mr. and Mrs. Burbank raised but one daughter, Eva L. Burbank, who attained to beautiful womanhood. She graduated at St. Helen's Academy, Portland, and was a fine musician and accomplished artist. August 15, 1880, she accompanied a bathing party to North Beach, where, venturing too far out, she was caught by the undertow, and although strenuous efforts were made to rescue her, they were all unsuccessful, and her precious remains were never recovered. In their parlor stand her organ and piano, and the parlor walls are hung with numerous charming bits of paintings, all the work of her skillful fingers and talented mind. A life-sized painting of herself also adorns the walls, a beautiful subject, exquisitely executed, where the sweet face seems brimming over with merriment, and she appears about to speak. The painting is the work of a celebrated artist, procured at a very great cost, and is the nearest representative that her parents could secure on earth of that bright spirit, which departed this life in innocence, to mingle with those radiant being, blest inhabitants of the world beyond. A prophecy made to Mr. Burbank when a boy, by an old gentleman, has often recurred to him during his public life in Oregon. When young he used to attend debating schools in his native town, and one evening somewhat distinguished himself, when an old gentleman friend called on him on the next morning, and said: "Young man, I see you have talent, which, if improved, will make you a leader among men; and, if your life is spared, remember my prophecy." He was raised a Democrat, and when the war broke out, attended the first Union meeting held on the Pacific coast, at Monticello, Washington, of which eh was chairman, and where he took a strong stand on the side of the maintenance of the Government of the United States. Upon the organization of the Republican party he joined it, as it voiced the political ideas which he held, and has since consistently adhered to it, and being a man of ability in expressing his ideas has been a leader in political affairs, and contributed materially to the progress of the party in his locality and State. In 1855 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature of Oregon. He then returned to Monticello, Washington, where for three years he served in the Territorial Council in 1859, 1860 and 1861. Later, having distinguished himself as a thorough parliamentarian, and an impartial, honorable man, he was chosen president of the council, discharging in his duties in that capacity with entire satisfaction to his fellow-men. After his return to La Fayette, Oregon, he was, in 1872, elected to the State Legislature of Oregon. He thus had much to do in organizing the great commonwealths of Washington and Oregon, and in furthering their highest and best interests, for which he has the gratitude of all sincere friends and admirers of these two colossal members of the glorious sisterhood of States. His name and deeds are indelibly engraved on the great hears of these commonwealths, and future generations will read those records and bless him. He and his faithful wife are worthy members of the Episcopal Church of Portland, but having no church of that denomination in La Fayette, they attend the other church there, to the support of which they both contribute, which is another example of their interest in all good causes. He is a prominent member of the Pioneer Society of Oregon, in which he has taken an interest for many years. Thus is every good life an aid and encouragement to others. The life just recorded has, through its own natural ability, elevated no only itself, but also all people and causes connected with it, as the oak supports the vine. His influence upon the affairs of these States is immeasurable; as a pebble dropped into a pool makes circle upon circle arise, so his words have affected for the best the affairs of a people, a nation and a world. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.