Hawthorne, Julian.  "The Story of Oregon."  Vol. 2. New York: American
Historical Publishing Co., 1892.  p. 343.
 
GEORGE W. McBRIDE

     is a native Oregonian whose exceptional qualities as a business man and a
politician have won him positions of honor and trust. His fair, impartial
judgment in all matters bearing on the welfare of the State forms the bulwark of
his character. He is just to the interests of the people and to the institutions
of Oregon. In high office he never usurped the throne of his constituents'
majesty, he never betrayed the confidence reposed in him, nor did he pervert his
powers for public good into private gain. A man of this stamp must necessarily
have formed his decisions of right and wrong early in life, and strengthened and
fostered them, through succeeding years. He was born in Yamhill County, Ore.,
March 13th, 1854. The Lafayette schools shaped his mind and moulded the first
thoughts of what he believed would be his future career˜the law. When he entered
Willamette University at sixteen his preference for legal studies grew stronger,
and a later course at Christian College, in Monmouth, Ore., settled him in his
determination to become a lawyer. Although compelled to quit college work, owing
to the inroads made on his health by the continued application to books, he did
not abandon study entirely, but began the reading of Blackstone in a law office.
Three years were devoted by young McBride to this line of work, and then the
effects of hard study showed again in his health, and for months afterward he
was forced to rest from all labor, although his finished law studies justified
him in applying for admission to the Bar. When his health returned, his whole
purpose in life was changed, and he decided to enter commercial pursuits. In
1876 he started as a Columbia County merchant, and rose to special prominence in
the mercantile field. In 1878 he was chosen a member of the Republican State
Central Committee, and ever since he has taken a part in the deliberations of
that political organization. In June, 1882, he was elected to the Legislature,
and became Speaker of the House of Representatives, an honor conferred upon him
for his recognized ability in discharging high executive duties ; in particular,
the selection of committees, on which depends much in legislation, and the
responsibility, of presiding over a body of law-makers. He was but twenty-eight
years of age at the time, and the youngest member who ever sat in the Speaker's
chair. In 1886 he was elected Secretary of State, and was re-elected in 1892.
His loyalty to the commonwealth in the performance of his duties is strikingly
suggestive of his father's patriotism. Dr. James McBride was one of Oregon's
early pioneers, and her first Superintendent of Schools. President Lincoln
appointed him Minister Resident to the Hawaiian Islands during the Civil War.
When a party of English sailors took down the United States coat-of-arms in
front of the American Legation building, Dr. McBride compelled the British
offenders, among them an English lord, to replace the shield. Mr. McBride is a
highly esteemed member of his party and an honored citizen of Oregon. His
services in the interests of the State are stamped with the insignia of truth,
fidelity and progress.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.