Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S.  "An Illustrated History of Umatilla
County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 352.
 
HON. JAMES H. RALEY

     was born in Nebraska City, in what was then the territory of Nebraska, on
January 20, 1855, and resided with his parents. Jonathan and Rachel Raley, in
Nebraska until the spring of 1862, when the entire family emigrated to Oregon,
crossing the plains by teams and arriving in The Dalles in October of the same
year. The following winter was spent in Portland, and in the spring of 1864 the
family came to Umatilla county, locating first about one mile below the present
site of Pendleton. Mr. Raley's education was obtained from the common schools of
Umatilla county, supplemented by a brief course at the State University of
Oregon. His boyhood pursuits were chiefly stock raising and assisting his father
on the farm, during all of which time, however, he was a close student of books.
     Very soon after attaining his majority he was elected county surveyor of
Umatilla county and then was elected to a second term. This was his first advent
into politics, since which time he has filled many important offices of trust.
He was elected one of the first councilmen of the city of Pendleton, and
afterward was elected mayor of the city, both of which offices he filled with
credit to himself and great satisfaction to his constituents. He served eight
years in the state senate of Oregon and is the author of the irrigation law of
that state, which bears his name. He is also the author of the bill creating the
Eastern Oregon State Normal School and has been one of the regents of that
institution since its founding. During his legislative career he ranked as one
of the ablest members of the senate, and the legislation of the state between
the years 1888 and 1896 was entirely satisfactory to the counties represented by
him. He was a delegate to the national Democratic convention in Kansas City in
1898. He was admitted to the bar in 1895 and is one of the prominent attorneys
in the state and has been most successful in practice.
     In 1879 Mr. Raley was united in marriage with Minnie A. Pratt, and is
blessed with a most happy family of three daughters and one son. His friends are
legion.

*******************

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