An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, p. 361. RUSSELL PEALER is a retired farmer, residing about four miles up from Hood River on the west side. He was born in Knox county, Ohio, on March 18, 1833, the son of John and Rachel (Bright) Pealer, natives of Pennsylvania and descended from Dutch ancestry. Our subject was reared and educated in his native country and there married. Three years after that event, he went to Iowa and in 1862, enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Company G, under Captain A.Z. Huggins and Colonel Benton of Council Bluffs. For two years and nine months, Mr. Pealer was on the White River expedition and was discharged on account of disability. After the war, he remained in Iowa until 1869, then went to San Francisco by rail. He took a steamer from there to Portland and later we find him at Camas Prairie, near Mt. Adams, Washington. In 1875, he came to Hood River and bought eighty acres of land where he resides. He has cleared sixty acres from timber and has made it a very valuable and beautiful farm. The place is handled by his son and produces diversified crops. On January 1, 1854, at Mt. Vernon, Knox county, Ohio. Mr. Pealer married Miss Louisa J. Nichols, who was born in the same neighborhood as her husband. They were playmates together. Her father, Amos Nichols, was a native of Virginia and came to Ohio with his parents when twelve years of age. His father was in the War of 1812 and his great grandfather was in the Revolution. They all followed farming. He married Sarah Davis, who was born at Hagerstown, Maryland and came from an old southern family. Mr. and Mrs. Pealer have one child, Milton W., who was born in Knox county, Ohio on March 10, 1855. He has been with his parents the past three years and has two children, Howard W. and Guy. The latter is in Seattle and the former is married and has one child. He is living on the old home here, which makes four generations on this farm. The men are Republicans but not active and Milton W. belongs to the A.O.U.W. Howard W. belongs to the W.W.A. In 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Pealer lost one son, Alvin R., who was eighteen years of age. Our subject and has wife have labored long and faithfully in this valley and are deserving of credit as substantial people and real builders of this part of Wasco county. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.