Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 721. IRBIN FINLEY SMITH DIVEN Is one of the prominent business men of Vale, Oregon, and during the ten years of his residence in this city has gained success by reason of the honorable and upright policy which he has always maintained. He was born on the 1st of September, 1855, in Washington county, Arkansas, and is a son of Robert Macklin and Mary Jane (Killian) Diven, the former of Irish ancestry and the latter of Scotch descent. Their marriage occurred in Arkansas, May 29, 1852, and in that state the father followed general agricultural pursuits and specialized in the breeding and raising of high-grade stock. He was one of the most extensive landowners in Washington county, near Fayetteville, where the family had resided for many years. The grandfather of our subject was a slave owner but was a believer in the principles of abolition and before the Civil was had freed all his negroes. In 1860 the father of our subject sold his large interests in his native state and moved to Wise county, Texas, which was then on the frontier. He purchased land, farmed and raised cattle and horses in that section of the country until 1865, when he returned to Washington county, Arkansas, and followed the same occupations. He remained in his native state until 1870, crossing the plains to Oregon in that year. He drove teams to Nebraska City, where he sold his outfit and went on to San Francisco by rail, thence by steamer to Portland, Oregon, where he landed on the 1st of July, 1870. He bought a tract of land on Horse Heaven Ridge in Clackamas county and upon this carried on general farming for three years, disposing of his holdings in 1873 in order to remove to Baker county, in the eastern part of the state, where he located a homestead claim on Willow Creek. His land comprised one hundred and sixty acres, which he immediately began to improve and develop. He built the first rail fence in what is now Malheur county, to inclose his property and there followed stock-raising and general farming for many years, selling out finally in 1898. He moved to Vale and purchased city property, erected a home for himself and his wife and here he has since resided. He has passed his eightieth year and his wife is eighty-two years old. They are in the best of health, hale and hearty, and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them. They became the parents of ten children: John Wesley, who was born in August, 1853, and died in 1855; Irbin F. S., the subject of this review; James Josephus, who was born in 1857 and died about 1868; Ambrose Preston, whose birth occurred in 1859; William Lafayette, who was born in 1862 and died in infancy; Martha Jane, born in 1864, who died at the age of thirteen years; Elizabeth, whose natal year was 1866 and who has also passed away; Ewen Wilson, who was born in 1869 and died at the age of five years; Thomas Alfred, whose birth occurred in 1872, and who has passed away; and Mary Macklin, who died in infancy. Of these Ambrose Preston is now residing in Chico, California, where he is engaged as a fruit-raiser. The father of our subject has been identified with much of the upbuilding and settlement of the western parts of America. During the Civil war he was for three years a Texas ranger, his duties being to protect the frontier against the depredations of the Comanche Indians. He is a democrat and still actively interested in public affairs. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and is well known in the affairs of the Masonic order. He is altogether one of the representative and substantial citizens of Malheur county, well known as a pioneer and upbuilder. Irbin F. S. Diven received his first education at home, studying with his mother during the time of the Civil war. When he reached the age of thirteen he attended the public schools in Washington county, Arkansas, and pursued his education after coming to Oregon in Clackamas and Malheur counties, the latter then a part of Baker county. When he laid aside his books he located a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres on Willow Creek, which he improved and developed along modern and progressive lines, specializing in the breeding and raising of high-grade cattle and horses. He later disposed of this property and bought a farm near Vale, which he also sold after a short time. He went to Dayton, Washington, and purchased farm land in that vicinity and also town property, which proved a profitable investment. When he returned to Vale he sold his farm and located in the village, where he erected a fine stone building and engaged in the general merchandise business, about the year 1902. He continued the conduct of this enterprise and met with well deserved success until July, 1906, when, in association with several of his friends, he formed a corporation called the Malheur Forwarding Company, of which he was made manager and this position he occupies at the present time. He has an enviable record as an enterprising, honorable and upright business man and is esteemed by a large and constantly growing circle of friends. He owns a comfortable and commodious residence in Vale and has invested extensively in town property. On the 13th of February, 1879, on Willow creek, Mr. Diven was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Wisdom, a daughter of John L. Wisdom, farmer and stock-raiser of that section. Mrs. Diven is a second cousin to John W. and James T. Wisdom, representatives of one of the most prominent families in Baker county. She and her husband became the parents of eleven children, five of whom, four sons and one daughter, have passed away as follows: One who died in infancy; John Macklin, who was born August 24, 1881; Thomas, whose birth occurred October 30, 1890; a son, unnamed, whose natal day was February 9, 1895; and Wilmer, who was born February 4, 1904. The following named are those surviving. Hester, who was born August 4, 1883, married Patrick Johnson, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits near Vale. They have two daughters. James Irbin, whose birth occurred April 14, 1885, married Winnie Purcell, by whom he has one son. They reside in Vale. Lewis Vernon, whose natal day was January 18, 1887, is associated with his father in business in Vale. He was united in marriage to Jessie Blair and they have one son. Minnie, born January 3, 1889, is the wife of Frederick Ewart and they make their home in Lynn, Massachusetts. Harland is attending school and is also employed in his father's store. Ernest, who was born October 18, 1892, is employed as bookkeeper by the Malheur Forwarding Company. In his political views Mr. Diven is a consistent democrat and served for two years as assessor of Baker county, holding the office before the time when Malheur county was formed. He is well known in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having held membership in Eliam Lodge, No. 31 until it surrendered its charter. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Vale and is interested in all phases of local growth and development. His success has been won by indefatigable and unwavering promotion of worthy principles in his business life and has been attained by hard work and industry. As a man of marked ability and shrewd discrimination, combined with high standards of conscientiousness, he is representative of the qualities which in every walk of life make a man respected and esteemed more for his character than for his financial success. He has attained the latter, however, and his prosperity is constantly increasing, guided as it is by business discrimination and judgment of a high order. All the relations of his life have been equally worthy and honorable and by reason of his conscientiousness in the performance of his duties and in the results he has effected he has attained a prosperity which is a public asset. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.