An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 412.

FINLAY McBETH, the proprietor of the Occidental hotel at Antelope, is a well
known and popular citizen in this portion of Wasco county. He is a generous,
public spirited man, always looking on the bright side of life and lending cheer
and sunshine to those about him. He was born amid Scotia's rugged hills,
Perthshire being his native heath, on February 8, 1845 and inherited from stanch
and prominent ancestors much of that stability and worth, which have made his
race noted the world over. His father, John McBeth, was born in Perthshire and
his father, the grandfather of our subject, came from north Scotland and settled
in Perthshire. John McBeth married Elizabeth McBeth, a native of the same place
but not related. They were substantial and worthy residents of Perthshire where
they remained until death called them to the world beyond. Our subject was
educated and reared in his native place and there remained until hurried by the
western fever, to the New World. He landed on American soil on May 2, 1887 and
went direct to Colorado where he engaged in sheep herding for three months. Then
he migrated to Idaho and started in the sheep business where he owned a flock
for himself. Several years later, we see him in Montana, engaged in the same
business and prosperity seemed to follow him all the way, owing to his care for
his business and the thrift with which he continued with the enterprises in
hand. Later, he journeyed west to Oregon and still prosecuted the sheep business
until his attention was called to the fact that Antelope needed a good hotel.
Then he erected the Occidental which has twenty-five well equipped sleeping
apartments, good office, dining room, parlor, kitchen and so forth and is a very
popular stopping place for the traveling public. Mr. McBeth attends to
everything that can contribute to the comfort and happiness of his guests and is
very widely known and popular. Thus far in life, Mr. McBeth has never seen fit
to take to himself a partner of his joys and successes but is content with the
quieter joys of the celibatarian.      

Fraternally, he is connected with the Elks at The Dalles, while in political
matters, he is a good strong Republican. He is frequently seen at the county
conventions where he is an influential figure and has been several years a
member of the city council. Mr. McBeth has hosts of friends and is considered
one of the substantial and leading business men of the town.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.