Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 4. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 167. JOHN McCALEB who has been living in Monmouth since he retired from his ranch, was born July 6, 1839, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of John and Martha (Kochenour) McCaleb, who spent their lives in Cumberland, Franklin and Clinton counties and engaged in farming. John McCaleb, Sr., however, died in Santa Barbara, California. He was the father of nine children, namely: Joseph H.. deceased; Elizabeth; John: Catherine and Jennie, deceased; Francis; Albert; Anna, deceased; and William. John McCaleb, as a youth, received such meager education as was provided at that time in the common schools of Pennsylvania near his home. Realizing that opportunities for success were greater in a new territory, he came west to the coast, settling first in Sacramento, California, in 1861, the year memorable as the one in which that city suffered from a flood. For a year he worked on a race track in Sacramento and then went to Nevada, where for five years he was employed on a ranch. Leaving there, he went back to Pennsylvania and was married, April 1, 1867, in Fayette county, to Mary Elizabeth Miller, a daughter of William and Harriet Miller. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCaleb engaged in farming in Virginia for a time and afterward removed to the McCaleb homestead in Pennsylvania. For two years John McCaleb worked there before coming to Oswego, Oregon, where he was employed in the charcoal burning business for three years. He then removed to Polk county and purchased a farm of one hundred and five acres in Cooper Hollow, four miles west of Monmouth, and that was his home for the next twelve years. So successful had his various enterprises proven that he was then able to retire from active work and live comfortably in Monmouth. There Mrs. McCaleb passed away, October 10, 1909, at the age of sixty-six years, four months and twenty-three days. To Mr. and Mrs. McCaleb five children were born: Clarence Eugene, born January 24, 1868, who is living on a ranch; Ida Florence, born July 8, 1869; John Miller, whose birth occurred October 23, 1871, and who is residing with his father; Charles Newton, who was born February 16, 1873, and died February 3, 1904; and William L., who was born October 29, 1876. John McCaleb never interested himself actively in politics, realizing that his agricultural and various commercial interests required all his time and energy. Adhering to the teachings of his youth, he is a member of the Reformed Mennonite church, which his family also attends. Mr. McCaleb has reached the age of seventy-three years and his has been a well spent life, in which he has done much to further the agricultural development of the northwest, while at the same time his efforts have brought him substantial rewards. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.