"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 493.  Grant County.

HON. MEL DUSTIN

     It is inherent in mankind to manifest approval to those who have amidst
difficulties and in the face of towering obstacles wrought out a success that is
worthy, and among the many sturdy pioneers that have been rightly placed in this
class, mention must be made of the esteemed citizen whose name initiates this
paragraph, since he has been a conspicuous example of those who by their own
efforts have carved a place in the annals of time for their names.
     He was born in Iowa, in 1842, of Dudley P. and Harriet A. (Slausen),
natives respectively of New Hampshire and Ohio.  He is a descendant of the
famous Thomas and Hannah Dustin, of Haverhill.  In 1850, he crossed the plains
with his parents and that winter he attended the first school taught in
Portland, the teacher being Mr. Outhouse.  Mr. Dustin has been a person of
energy and enterprise from the beginning to the present time.  He remained with
his parents until twelve years of age and then joined the list of trappers and
hunters that were prominent in those days and until eighteen years of age he was
assiduously following that occupation, becoming skilled in all its interesting
lore and experiencing many thrilling and intensely exciting incidents.  When he
arrived at eighteen years of age, his mind had been sufficiently satiated with
those adventures that are so acceptable to younger days of boyhood, and he began
to see the need of an education in order to do justice to the name he bore in
the battles of life.  To see the need was for young Dustin to supply the same,
and so earnestly and wisely did he set to the task of gaining educational
discipline that two years later he was the proud bearer of a state certificate
granted by Governor Pennoyer.  For one decade he gave himself to the worthy art
of teaching, but finding a desire for larger fields, he set himself to the
greater task of preparing for the practice of law.  This also he successfully
accomplished and in 1869, he was admitted to the bar in Washington and in 1875
received the same honor from the state of Oregon.  From that time he has
steadily pursued the practice, perfecting himself in every department that was
of practical service in his varied and large clientage.  In 1874 he was selected
county judge for Grant county, and in 1880 he was nominated for the state
senate, running on the Democratic ticket.  His practice in Canyon City has been
long and successful and his standing in the county and among his associates at
the bar has been and is of the highest order.
     The marriage of Mr. Dustin and Miss Emma, the daughter of Samuel and
Wealthy (Lowe) Markee, was celebrated in 1868 and to them have been born six
children as follows:  Bailey C.; Effie, wife of John Brandt, of Portland; Celia,
wife of Frank Foster, of John Day; Hiram E.; Rosa; Mel G.  With natural acumen
and acquired lore, gathered during a long and studious career of constant
experience, dominated by sagacity and probity that are the willing servants of a
powerful mind and an indomitable purpose, Mr. Dustin properly holds rank as one
of the leading attorneys of eastern Oregon.

*******************

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