An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 223-224. FRANK MENEFEE, District Attorney of the Seventh Judicial District of Oregon, of the firm of Menefee & Wilson, resides at The Dalles, where he was born January 31, 1866. He is the son of William R. and Nancy J. (Benefiel) Menefee, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Indiana, who are mentioned also in this volume. William R. Menefee is from an old and, distinguished Virginia family. Jonas Menefee, one of the ancestors, was a lieutenant in the British army, under Captain John Smith, whose life was saved by the Indian maiden, Pocahontas. He married Captain Smith's sister, Hannah. The Menefees were, a majority of them, planters. At the present day the members of the later generation are prominent in judicial circles and in commercial life, throughout Virginia and elsewhere. Frank Menefee, our subject, was reared in Wasco county on his father's stock ranch. He was educated at the Wasco Independent Academy, at The Dalles, read law with E. B. Dufur, commencing in 1887, and in i889 was admitted to practice. He was elected city recorder in 1891, served two years, and then formed a law partnership with E. B. Dufur, which was continued until 1900. At that period he was elected district attorney and entered into a law partnership with Fred W. Wilson. Mr. Menefee has served two terms as mayor of The Dalles, in 1895 and 1896. Politically he is a staunch and influential member of the Republican party, has frequently been a delegate to county conventions, and was two years chairman of the McKinley Club, and two years a member of the county Republican central committee. January 6, 1903, at St. Paul, Minnesota, our subject was united in marriage to Mabel C. Cowles, born in Chardon, Ohio. Her father, Clifford S. Cowles, is general agent of the Royal Insurance Company, residing at St. Paul, Minnesota. The mother, Eliza B. (Canfield) Cowles, a native of Chardon, Ohio, is with her husband. Mrs. Menefee has one sister, Mary, wife of Harry B. Humason, assistant cashier of the American National Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Menefee is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., of which he is Past C. C., and also a member of the grand lodge; Cascade Lodge No. 303, B.P.O.E., at The Dalles; Wasco Tribe No. 16 I.O.R.M., of which he is Past Sachem, and has been Keeper of Wampum since its organization; the W.O.T.W.; the K.O.T.M. and the Rathbone Sisters. ******************* 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.