Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 501.
 
FRANCIS M. VENABLE

     pre-eminently a pioneer of Oregon, a highly respected citizen and a retired
Sherman county farmer, resides three miles south of Rufus. He was born in Pike
county, Missouri, October 25, 1825. His parents were natives of North Carolina.
John Venable, the father, was a farmer and wheelwright, a stanch Democrat and a
prominent, well-to-do and influential citizen. The mother of our subject was
Rachel (Pursley) Venable.
     Until he was fifteen years of age our subject lived with his parents in
Missouri. Then the family removed to Illinois and remained there until 1853. At
that time Mr. Venable had, for four or five years, been conducting a farm on
rented land, for himself. Then with his wife, and one child, Mary, he crossed
the plains with an ox -train to Oregon City. When near Fort Hall his wife's
sister died. She was quite ill at the time the party started. The first winter
after their arrival, Mr.Venable worked for wages. In the fall of 1854 the family
removed to Douglas county, on the Umpqua river. Remaining there one year they
went to Marion county, where our subject rented land a few years. In 1859 they
left for Walla Walla, Washington, and got as far as across the John Day, but
owing to serious reports of Indian troubles, they returned to The Dallas and
shortly went thence to Klickitat county, Washington, where they remained until
1864. Thence they returned to Marion county, Oregon, and were there until 1874.
Here our subject purchased a quarter section of land. Returning to Klickitat
county in 1874 he engaged in stock-raising, and he remained there until 1888,
and then disposed of his property and came to Sherman county. He purchased this
place—five hundred and seven acres—and the same is now conducted by his youngest
son, Perry.
     March 6, 1850, at Pleasant Hill, Illinois, Mr. Venable was united in
marriage to Jane Hubbard, the daughter of David and Hannah (Morrow) Hubbard, the
father a native of Kentucky; the mother of Missouri. The ancestors of David
Hubbard were natives of Virginia. He was a Baptist preacher, and a graduate of a
Baptist college in Missouri. He was one of the best known preachers in
Willamette valley, and highly respected by all with whom he was acquainted. He
came to Oregon in the same party as our subject, and died in Polk county,
Oregon, over eighty years of age. The mother died in Pike county, Illinois, in
1856. David Hubbard subsequently married Mary Thurman, a member of the
distinguished Thurman family. Allan Granbery Thurman was born at Lynchburg,
Virginia, November 13, 1813; died December 12, 1895. He was an American
statesman and jurist; a Democratic member of congress from Ohio from 1845 to
1847; became justice of the Ohio supreme court in 1851; was United States
Senator from 1869 to 1881, and author of the famous "Thurman Act," compelling
the Pacific railroads to fulfill their obligations, and was the unsuccessful
candidate for vice-president, on the ticket with Grover Cleveland in 1888. Other
members of the family were prominent members of the bench and bar and extensive
farmers in Illinois.
     Mr. Venable, our subject, has no brothers living; five being dead, James,
Edward, Robert, Newton and Andrew. He has two sisters, Martha, wife of Preston
Holman, of Illinois, and Nancy, wife of Joshua Zumwalt, also of Illinois. Four
sisters are dead, Jaley E., Eliza, Sarah and Mary. Mrs. Venable has two brothers
living: Goalman, near Endicott, Washington, and Gideon, in Benton county,
Oregon. Two are dead, John and Charles. She has six half-brothers and three
half-sisters living; George, Frank, Joseph; Perry, in Polk county; James and
Edward B., hop raisers in Polk county; Lydia, wife of William Ford, of Polk
county; Isephinia, wife of Samuel Tetherough; and Amanda, in Idaho.
     Our subject has the following named children; Andrew, a farmer at Columbus,
Washington; John, at Rufus, mentioned elsewhere; James, at Wasco; Perry, at
home; Mary, wife of Austin Smith, at Silverton, Oregon: Laura, single, at Wasco;
Fanny, wife of Robert Payne, in San Francisco; Addie, wife of Antone Courtway,
in Goldendale, Washington; Rose, wife of Ernest Weld, of Klickitat county,
Washington. Eva, wife of Raymond Doane, at Rufus; Goalman, a son, died at Baker
City, September 28, 1898, aged forty-one years, Walter, aged four, was killed in
a runaway accident in Klickitat county. Martha, aged six months, and eight days,
died in Silverton.
     Mrs. Venable is a member of the United Baptist church. Politically our
subject is a Democrat. He made two trips of six months each, from The Dalles to
Fort Colville, freighting government supplies, without encountering any trouble
with Indians. And in 1865 he made one trip with freight from Silverton to Canyon
City. Mr. and Mrs. Venable, considering their age and the hardships that they
have necessarily gone through in their pioneer course, are well preserved, and
enjoy good health. They have a large circle of warm friends, have labored
faithfully and have done much for the good of the country and their fellowmen.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.