Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 256.

JAMES SIMONTON

     Of Vansycle, Umatilla county, Oregon, one of the pioneers of the Coast
country, was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1831, the third of seven
children.  He was the son of Dr. Thomas and Elizabeth (Baxtor) Simonton, both
natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Joliet, Illinois, where the Doctor
practiced his profession, who went there in 1850 and died there four years
later, at the age of sixty-four years.  Mr. Simonton lived until 1872, when he
died in Minnesota, at the age of sixty-three years.
     Our subject attended the common schools of Pennsylvania, and when old
enough, studied medicine under his father, but never attended lectures at any
medical college; hence has not attempted to practice the profession, although he
has done the practicing in his own family.  Upon the death of his father our
subject had the entire care of his mother and the younger children.  He removed
with them to Minnesota, remaining there until 1862, when, having concluded to
try his fortune in the great Northwest, he, in company with other men rigged up
an ox cart, and started across the plains.  After a toilsome journey of six
months they arrived in British Columbia, and lived there four years.  In 1866 he
went to Baker City and engaged in mining, in which he was very successful as
long as he worked the placer mines; but fortune not coming fast enough to suit
him he went to quartz mining and built a mill.  the ore proved of little value
and he soon lost all he had made.
     Undismayed, he worked in the mines fourteen years, then went to Walla Walla
valley and bought a farm, which he conducted until 1881, when he came to
Umatilla county, and took up a homestead of 160 acres, to which he has since
added 160 more.  Besides raising some stock, his average annual crop of grain is
about 200 acres.
     When in crossing the plains Mr. Simonton reaches White Lake, he traded his
ox and cart for pack horses and went over the mountains that way.  Upon arriving
at the cache of Rush Tate Jones, a trapper then widely known, he turned loose
his horses, built him a canoe and floated down the Fraser river to the head of
navigation on this river, having very little trouble; indeed he never had any
trouble to speak of with the Indians, as he preferred a compromise to fighting.
In passing down the river his provisions gave out and he was brought down to one
meal of half rations per day, but did not fare as ill as a company of five,
which were belated, three of whom froze to death, and the other two subsisted on
the flesh of their dead comrades.  There were 150 in company when they started,
but had to divide up in small companies on account of food and water being
scarce, all of whom got through safe, except the part above mentioned and two
others who were drowned.
     When he arrived in Umatilla Mr. Simonton was "broken up" financially, being
$1,500 in debt.  But he succeeded so well in farming that he is out of debt, has
a good farm and is able to live at ease.  He has always lived a single life and
is inclined to continue so, declaring he is getting too old to think of
marrying.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.