Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory, and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland,
OR: Print. and Lithographing House of A.G. Walling, 1882. p. a17.  Umatilla
County.

RICHARD GINN

     Is one of the pioneer and successful farmers of that rich land in the
vicinity of Weston, Umatilla county, Oregon.  Christopher and Betty Ginn were
born in Fife, Scotland, about the year 1768.  They reared there a family of five
children, viz:  Betty, now Mrs. Thomas Spencer, of McKane county, Penn.; John,
residing in Durham, Lower Canada; Richard, the subject of this sketch; archie,
superintendent of a large lumber business in Philadelphia; Alexander, who died
while serving in the English army in Hong Kong.  Richard was born January 4,
1820, and in his boyhood attended the common schools of his native land.  At an
early age he began working at common labor, receiving a sixpence, and
occasionally a shilling for a day's work.  To better his condition, he emigrated
to Canada in 1845, taking his mother with him, his father having died two years
before.  He was employed for a year at eight dollars per month, when he
purchased 100 acres of land at six dollars per acre, from Frazer, the celebrated
mountaineer of the Hudson's Bay Co., after whom Frazer river was named.  The
farm was three acres wide and a mile and one-half long.  Mr. Ginn lived on that
farm fourteen years, sold it and purchased one of 200 acres in another township.
He was deceived in the character of the soil, and only remained there two years.
February 4, 1851, he had married Miss Caroline Algier, who died on the second
anniversary of their wedding.  March 19, 1856, he married Miss Catherine
Kinnear, born near his native town, November 6, 1835, and daughter of Moses and
Sarah Kinnear.  With his wife and two children Mr. Ginn emigrated to Minnesota
in October, 1860.  They lived there ten years, but were dissatisfied with the
cold winters and bad markets for crops, and came to Oregon, arriving in Umatilla
county November 23, 1870.  Nineteen dollars in greenbacks, two ponies, an old
wagon and his land rights as an American citizen were his capital to begin life
here.  He settled upon a claim with his wife and six children, and improved it
the best he could.  Little by little he advanced in means, until now he ownes
five quarter sections of land, a good orchard, and a fine residence, a view of
which is presented on another page.  A large and productive farm, a thriving
town near by, a railroad within a few miles, good schools and churches, are now
the lot of one who has struggled hard for his possessions during a life of
sixty-two years.  The lady who has been his companion and assistant for a
quarter of a century still lives to enjoy with their children the fruit of their
labors.  Their children are:  Robert J., born on December 15, 1857; Eliza J.,
June 18, 1859; ellen M., February 4, 1861; Annie S., December 16, 1862; Caroline
R., March 23, 1865; John A., May 23, 1868; Walter T., July 18, 1871; Maggie J.,
November 6, 1873; George C., November 27, 1875; Minnie A., March 2, 1878.

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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.