"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 599.  Malheur County.

GEORGE W. BRINNON

     Is one of the real pioneers of the section where Ontario now stands, having
passed through here in 1863.  He has led a life of stirring activity and done
much toward the development of this section of the west.  His birth occurred in
Wheeling, West Virginia, on April 15, 1838, being the son of William P. and
Elizabeth (Preston) Brinnon, who removed with him, while he was still a child,
to Champaign county, Ohio, whence they went to Caldwell county, Missouri, then
to Davis county, in the same state.  George W. attended school in the log school
houses when the teachers were paid by subscriptions.  At the age of fifteen
years he started to drive a team for the government across the plains from
Missouri points to the Rockies, and during the last two years he was assistant
wagon master and received seventy-five dollars per month.  He made his last trip
from Denver to Missouri in 1861.  In 1863 he went to Madison county, Iowa, and
thence on April 5, 1863, he started across the plains to the Idaho mines, in
company with his brothers-in-law, Gardner and Ninemire.  They arrived at Boise
in the fall, the place being a little burg of two or three houses and some
tents.  He followed mining for a short time and then went to the mouth of the
Boise river and engaged in running a ferry on the old emigrant road across the
Snake.  He had to defend his property from the attacks of the hostile redskins
and in 1864 he left and went to Emmett, Idaho.  There he married Miss Nancy J.
Smith, a native of Harrison county, Missouri, and who had crossed the plains
with the same train in which he came.  The wedding occurred on October 24, 1864.
It was in 1867 that he came to Malheur City and engaged in mining in that
vicinity.  In 1871 he moved to the mouth of the Malheur river and secured four
hundred acres of land and there raised stock until 1887, when he sold out and
engaged in mining altogether, in which line of industry he has been successful.
In 1898, while Mr. Brinnon was returning from Denver, whither he had gone with
ore, he was caught in a terrible wreck at American Falls, in which ten persons
were killed outright and twenty were wounded.  He was bruised in a terrible
manner, both legs being broken, which resulted in the loss of his right leg.  He
was taken to the hospital in Salt Lake City, and by his Odd Fellow brothers he
was well cared for, but the loss of his limb has been a severe blow to him.  To
him and his estimable wife there have been born eight children:  Louisa,
deceased; Mary E., wife of Thomas Brosnan; Jonathan M., deceased; Charlotte,
wife of William Hall; George Ann, wife of Martin McEndree; Julia, wife of J. B.
Percell; Edward, married to Lulu Brison; Frederick E.  On May 15, 1887, Mr.
Brinnon was called to mourn the death of his beloved companion.
     In 1861 Mr. Brinnon enlisted in Company C of the Twelfth Missouri
Volunteers in the Confederate army and participated in many battles and
skirmishes.  He was in Price's army and fought at Wilson creek, Lexington, and
Kirksville, the first battle, and was taken prisoner in 1863 and later was
paroled.
     Fraternally Mr. Brinnon is affiliated with the I.O.O.F., Ontario Lodge. No.
90, being a charter member, and is also a member of the encampment.  He is one
of the substantial and successful men of the county and is held in high esteem
by all.
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.