Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 587.
 
HON. JOHN WILLIAM WHALLEY

     Hon. John William Whalley arrived in the "Golden West" when the attention
of all America, and to a large extent of the entire world, was centered upon
California, owing to the discovery of gold in that state. He was then a youth of
sixteen years who had been attracted to this country by the broader business
opportunities which he believed he could secure in the United States. A brief
period spent in the mines was followed by several years' residence in California
and then he came northward into Oregon, where for many years he was closely
associated with various interests that have contributed to the upbuilding and
development of the state. The ancestral line can be traced back through many
generations in England, where those who bore the name were yeomen, owning and
cultivating the estate of Coventree, near Dent, in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
to which district earlier representatives of the family had removed from
Norfolk. The branch of the Whalley family of which John W. Whalley was a
representative was connected with the same family as Edmond Whalley, who won
distinction as a member of the army of Cromwell. The family name figures
prominently in connection with the records of the church, of the military
history of England and of the bar, the elder sons in succeeding generations
managing the estate, while the younger sons of the family entered upon
professional careers.  The Rev. Francis Whalley joined the ministry as a
clergyman of the Church of England and under appointment of the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Lands he was stationed at Annapolis, Nova
Scotia, at the time of the birth of his son, John William Whalley, on the 28th
of April, 1833. Two years later the father returned to England and was appointed
rector of Rivington parish, in Cheshire.  Later he became chaplain of Lancashire
council and afterward served in the pastorate of the churches at Churchtown,
Lancashire, New Hutton, Old Hutton, Kendal and West Moreland. His wife was of
Welsh descent and her ancestors for more than two centuries occupied, under
lease, Overton Hall, belonging to the estate of Lord Kenyon. This lease
terminated during the lifetime of William Jones, the grandfather of John W.
Whalley, who thereupon left his native land and crossed the Atlantic to Canada,
while subsequently he became a resident of New York city, there residing until
his death, his remains being interred in St. Paul's churchyard on Broadway.
     John W. Whalley was one of a family of three sons and a daughter, one of
his brothers being the Rev. Richard Whalley, who for many years was a rector of
the Church of England and always remained a resident of that land. A
contemporary writer, speaking of John W. Whalley, said: "He was reared in a home
of high moral atmosphere and superior intellectual attainments. He was a
precocious child, being able to read Caesar when only nine years of age and Ovid
at the age of ten." The salary of a rector did not permit him to enjoy the
benefits of a college education and when a lad of but thirteen he began making
his own way in the world aboard the merchantman Speed, which sailed from
Liverpool for New York city in 1847. This voyage convinced him that he had no
taste for a seafaring life and he then sought other means of self-support. He
made his way to New Jersey to visit his mother's people and there formed the
acquaintance of his uncle, William Jones, who was the author of a treatise on
bookkeeping and owner of a college and a teacher of that science. For about a
year Mr. Whalley remained in his uncle's office and in March, 1848, returned to
his native land with the expectation of taking a position in the Bank of
England. Failing in securing the coveted place and having recognized the
superiority of business openings in the new world he determined again to come to
the United States and in February, 1849, sailed for California as an apprentice
on the Antelope. The gold excitement was at its height when in July of that year
he reached the Pacific coast. He at once went to the mines, spending the winter
of 1849-50 on the south fork of the American river, a short distance below
Columbia. He next removed to the Middle Yuba and afterward was at Sacramento,
Redwood and Yreka but did not win the anticipated fortune in the gold fields and
turned his attention to other pursuits which he believed would prove more
profitable to him. He accepted the position of teacher of a school at Little
Shasta and followed the profession in California until 1864. During 1861 and
1862 he was superintendent of schools and in that connection laid the foundation
for marked educational progress in his district. He also began writing for local
papers and for the Hesperian Magazine, a San Francisco publication. He possessed
a splendid command of language, displayed a fluent and graceful style, and his
writings were characterized by beautiful imagery. He won more than local fame as
a writer of poetry, his lines being copied extensively by the press throughout
the United States.      
	It was Mr. Whalley's ambition, however, to become a member of the bar and he
utilized every opportunity to study law, his reading being first directed by
Judge Rose- borough, of Yreka. In 1861 he was admitted to practice in Siskiyou
county after passing the required examination before Judge Dangerfield. He
continued his work as a teacher until 1864, however, and then opened a law
office in Canyon City, Grant County, Oregon, thus becoming a representative of
the bar of this state. He there entered into partnership with L. O. Stern but
soon afterward removed from Canyon City to Portland, where in the same year,
1868, he formed a partnership with M. W. Fechheimer, who while a student in the
law office of Mr. Whalley had frequently told him of the advantages which
Portland offered- Under the firm style of Whalley & Fechheimer they made rapid
progress and were soon regarded as among the ablest members of the bar of the
northwest. They specialized in bankruptcy law and for several years devoted
their attention largely to practice in that department of the profession.
Moreover, with prescience they recognized the possibilities for investment and
purchased considerable property which, owing to the rapid growth of the city,
increased greatly in value, so that he gained a fortune from his operations in
real estate. The partnership was dissolved in 1883, as Mr. Whalley wished to
make an extended trip abroad and accompanied by his daughter Susan he spent
eighteen months in travel in Scotland, England, Germany, France, Switzerland,
Italy and Spain. He was an interested and discriminating observer and student of
those things which featured most largely in the historic past as well as those
elements of modern day life in Europe and returned to America with his mind
greatly enriched by the experiences of foreign travel.      
	Mr. Whalley resumed his active relationship with the Portland bar in 1884 as
senior member of the law firm of Whalley, Northup & Deady, his associates in the
firm being H. H. Northup and Paul R. Deady. They gave particular attention to
railway litigation and won an extensive clientage of this character. In 1885
they were joined by Judge E. C. Bronaugh, whose name was added to the firm under
the style of Whalley, Bronaugh, Northup & Deady, and when Mr. Deady retired soon
afterward the firm name of Whalley, Bronaugh & Northup was adopted. When his
real estate interests demanded his entire attention Mr. Whalley withdrew from
active law practice in March, 1889, but five years later became a partner of
Judges Strahn and Pipes and again practiced for two years. He then formed a
partnership with his son-in-law, W. T. Muir, which association was maintained
until the death of the senior member.  He occupied a chair in the law department
of the University of Oregon for a number of years as instructor in pleadings and
of him it was written: "He had a well ordered mind and in his forensic
encounters always had his legal forces under control. He became famed for his
logical and strategic qualities, availing himself of every means to guard
against legal surprises and overlooking no legal defense. His marked mental
activity was supplemented by a habit of thoroughness in everything he undertook
and while he gave attention to every detail he never neglected the broad
principles which make the study and practice of law one of the most useful and
uplifting pursuits of mankind."      
	It was on the 21st of July, 1861, in California, that Mr. Whalley wedded
Miss Lavinia T. Kimzey, who was born in Missouri in 1841 and was but five years
of age when brought by her parents across the plains to the Pacific coast, the
family settling in the Golden state. Mr. and Mrs. Whalley became the parents of
seven children, of whom one son and one daughter died in infancy. The others
are: Mary, who was born in California and became the wife of J. Frank Watson,
formerly president of the Merchants National Bank of Portland; Susan, who was
born in California and became the wife of General James N. Allison, U. S. A.;
Lavinia, who was born in Portland and is now the wife of H. S. Huson, prominent
construction engineer of the Northwest; Jane, the wife of W. T. Muir, mentioned
elsewhere in this work; and Charlotte, the wife of Bert Charles Ball, president
of the Willamette Iron and Steel Works of Portland. All the children were
liberally educated, being graduates of St. Helen's Hall.      
	Mr. Whalley was the first president of the Multnomah Rod & Gun Club of
Portland, a connection that indicated the nature of his recreation and interests
when not confined by the cares of business. With a few chosen friends he
controlled the shooting privileges of twelve hundred acres of the lake marsh
ground in Sauvie's island and was always greatly interested in the preservation
of game birds in the state, in which connection he urged the enactment of
beneficial game laws. He was chosen the first president of the Sportsmen's
Association of the Northwest and was reelected for a second term. He was fond of
travel and of all those interests which contribute to the cultural values of
life and he was likewise well known in fraternal circles. He long held
membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in 1870 was made a
delegate from the Grand Lodge of Oregon to the Sovereign Grand Lodge at
Baltimore, Maryland. In the old days of the Volunteer Fire Department in Oregon
he was a member of Columbia Fire Engine Company No. 3, so serving until the
establishment of a paid department. He was ever keenly interested in the welfare
and progress of the city and no cause which promised benefit to Portland failed
to receive his hearty endorsement and support. He was a devoted member of St.
Stephen's Protestant Cathedral and served as vestryman for several years, while
for three years prior to his death he was superintendent of the Sunday school.
Loyalty to any cause which he espoused was one of his strongly marked
characteristics and his devotion to his family made him an ideal husband and
father. He passed away November 10, 1900, mourned not only by the members of his
immediate household but by the many friends who had been drawn to him through
the ties of pleasant association and kindred interest. He left the impress of
his individuality for good upon the history of Portland in many ways and his
name stands high upon the roll of those who largely molded the history of the
city in the second half of the nineteenth century.    

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