Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 686.
 
LUKE D. McKERN

     Probably no man is better acquainted with the details of breeding, handling
and raising stock than L. D. McKern, one of the most prominent and successful
ranchers in Grant county. He has spent practically all his life in the west and
has the expert knowledge of his business which can only come through long and
personal experience. He was born twelve miles south of Portland, Oregon, October
9, 1860. His parents, Isaac and Mary (Barton) McKern, the former a native of
Indiana, and the latter of Iowa, were married in the latter state, and in 1852
started westward across the plains with ox teams. L. D. McKern's parents died
when he was still a child and left him, with his seven brothers and sisters, in
charge of an uncle, Luke McKern, who had lost his wife some time before and
readily took charge of the rearing and educating of his nieces and nephews in
conjunction with the up-bringing of his own six children.
     L. D. McKern was educated in the public schools of his native section and
spent his early life in the western part of Oregon. At the age of nineteen he
removed to the eastern part of the state and engaged in the handling of stock to
which he had been accustomed practically all his life. He worked in the eastern
part of the state in the employ of others until 1883. He was constantly adding
to his knowledge of ranching and stock-raising and soon became an expert
workman, in these two lines. In 1883 he came to Grant county where he was active
along similar lines until 1890. In that year he purchased his present ranch and
started in the stock-raising business for himself. His land when he first
acquired it was undeveloped. Mr. McKern has made all the improvements upon his
holdings and has carried on an extremely successful business in general ranching
and stock-raising since that time. He is now in active operation of over five
hundred acres on the home ranch and has one hundred acres
under irrigation. He raises large quantities of alfalfa and other feed and makes
a specialty of this branch of his activities. At one time Mr. McKern sold off
his stock but is at the present time getting back into the business and is one
of the enterprising and representative men of Grant county. During one period he
ran several thousand sheep but has now entirely abandoned his connection with
sheep-raising. He has a thorough sense of agricultural economics and never
allows a foot of land to be unproductive. He applies to his farming modern and
scientific methods and has never spared any expense in making his ranch a
thoroughly equipped and efficient property. He has a fine orchard and his fruit
harvests are growing more abundant every year. He lives in a beautiful and
ideally located home a half mile from Mount Vernon and his residence, set in the
midst of many large shade trees, is one of the pleasant sights in Grant county.
     In September, 1888, Mr. McKern was united in marriage to Miss Leora E.
Stone, the daughter of W. W. and Eva (Allen) Stone of Grant county, Oregon. Mr.
Stone crossed the plains with ox teams in 1853 and in the early days of his
western career ran a pack train to the mines of Canyon City. He finally located
in the John Day valley, where he was extensively engaged in stock-raising until
his death. Mr. and Mrs. McKern are the parents of six children: Gertrude, now
Mrs. W. E. Damon; Harry L., Mabel, and Myrtle, all of whom are living at home;
and Veda and Verda, twins.
     Politically Mr. McKern gives his allegiance to the Socialist party and
although intelligently interested in the affairs of his community bas never
sought public office for himself. He has served for some time with great ability
and efficiency as a member of the school board of Grant county and has been
actively interested in the educational development of that region for some time.
He is one of the prominent and successful stockholders of his district and
brings to his activities expert and scientific knowledge. Grant county is a
fertile and productive region with wealth and prosperity hidden in its acres. No
man has done more toward its development and improvement than has L. D. Mc-Kern
and his success is the just reward of his intelligent labor.


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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.