Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S. "An Illustrated History of Umatilla County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 458. JAMES R. AND WILLIAM P. DANIEL To the esteemed pioneer and successful agriculturist and business man whose name is mentioned above we accord, with pleasure, a space in this volume for a brief outline of his interesting and instructive career. He was born in 1826, and early received training from his father, who was a shipbuilder and machinist of Philadelphia. Later he was sent to the United States Naval Academy, taking his degree from that institution and serving for a number of years in the navy on the North Carolina, the Washington, the Independence and the Potomac, operating in the coast survey and in regular service. After his discharge he sailed to Havre, Liverpool and the West Indies. In 1846 he enlisted in the army to do service in the Mexican war, following its fortunes throughout the entire war and was present when the American colors were raised over the old Aztec capitol. He was in the quartermaster's department and at one time had charge of a train loaded with silver dollars en route from Vera Cruz to Mexico. After the war he did business for a time in Mexico and then came to California in 1848 to operate in the mines. He was with the banished Mobile Guard of France, did service as a scout against the Stanislaus Indians in California, and in 1852 sailed to Australia, prospecting in the Samoan islands while en route. After mining in Australia for a time he returned to Oregon, continuing in the same business on the Klamath river, his partner being killed by Indians on Sucker creek. In 1858, in company with a partner, he went to Eraser river, where they discovered Hill's bar from which they took, in six months, ten thousand dollars each. Succeeding this he went to San Francisco and was appointed interpreter for the Chilean Legation, but on account of the revolution breaking out soon after their arrival he was forced to flee, being smuggled on board of a Danish ship. He came to Portland in 1859 and took a bunch of cattle to Umatilla county, where he has since lived. He has mined in British Columbia since that time, and at Oro Fino, Pierce City and Rhodes creek took out six thousand and five hundred dollars in 1861. That same winter he lost his cattle by the cold weather. The following year he opened a hotel at Lee's Encampment and later sold it to A. B. Meacham. Since 1889 he has lived in Pendleton, dividing his time between the management of his farms and other business. At the present time he is living with his son, William P. Mr. Daniel was married in 1862, and his wife died in 1878, leaving six children: Cornelius V., living in Pendleton; William P., born on October 10, 1865, married, in Pendleton on January 25, 1893, to Miss Minnie Price, a native of Albany, Oregon, and to them have been born Catherine L., and Minnie R., deceased; the next son of our subject was Charles F., born January 7, 1873, and married on October 31, 1894, in McLean county, Illinois, to Miss Caroline S. Meiners, a native of that state, and to them have been born two children, James C. and John F.; the other children of James R. Daniel are Mrs. Josephine C. Lane, of Newberg, Oregon; Mrs. Rosa Oruduff, of Laurel, Oregon; Mrs. Matilda Meiners, of Helix, Oregon. All the brothers were born on the old homestead in this county. William P. belongs to Umatilla Tent. No. 27, Knights of Maccabees, and Damon, No. 4, K. of P. Mr. Daniels owns eight hundred acres of land, which is cultivated by the sons. He is now well into the golden time of his life and enjoying the meed of affluence gained by skillful operations during a long life of faithful and unremitting toil, wherein was displayed that honor and integrity and stanch character so praiseworthy and becoming. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2012 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.