"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 577.  Malheur County.

THOMAS C. FLETCHER

     One of the earliest pioneers of this region of the country, a man whose
life has always been dominated by wisdom, prudence and upright principles,
having ever manifested also stanch virtues and a reliability that are becoming a
good citizen and faithful man, the subject of this article is one of the leading
men of Malheur county, and a prominent resident of Ontario.  Thomas C. was born
in Mercer county, Kentucky, on October 11, 1841, being the son of Jewett and
Elizabeth Fletcher.  When our subject was six years of age he had the misfortune
to lose his father and he was soon thereafter taken by his mother to Lee county,
Iowa, near Ft. Madison, where he was reared on a farm, attending the common
schools for his education.  In the fall of 1861, when the stirring call came for
men to defend the nation's honor and save her from the assault of treason's
bands, he promptly enlisted in Company G, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, as bugler, and
was under General Curtis.  Several Skirmishes were participated in in Missouri
and then he was transferred to Sherman's army.  Sixteenth Corps, being
immediately under A. J. Smith.  He was in siege of Vicksburg and on account of
sickness was sent home on a furlough, but after recovering was soon again in the
ranks and took part in the battles of Ripley, Meridian and Guntown besides many
skirmishes.  He continued as bugler until December, 1864, being at that time
honorably discharged, having never been wounded, although he was in the hottest
of the fight many a time.  Immediately subsequent to his discharge he went home
and remained with his mother until the spring of 1865, when he started across
the plains with a train of ox teams, having one hundred men, on account of the
hostilities of the Indians.  He drove a team to Virginia City, Montana, and then
went to ranching, having taken up a piece of land, but this he soon sold, and
turned his attention to freighting and working in a saw mill until 1869, at
which time he went to the Willamette valley.  In the spring of 1870 we find him
on Rock creek, Spokane county, Washington, in partnership with Thomas Phillico
in the stock business.  In 1874 he sold this business and went to Silver City,
Idaho, and in the following spring located in the Jordan valley.  Stock business
engaged his energies there and he was successful.  There, also, he was married
on January 13, 1884, Miss Rosa, daughter of Joseph and Martha Merrill, becoming
his wife at that time.  Mrs. Fletcher's parents came via the Panama canal to
California in 1856 and thence in 1865 to Jordan valley, engaging in raising
stock there.  Mr. Merrill was in Baker county in 1864 and he was well known all
over this country, having lived from that time for twenty years on the old sheep
ranch in Jordan valley.  In 1884 Mr. Merrill went to Sonoma county, California,
where they remain still.  Mr. Fletcher and his wife went thither also in 1884,
the hostile Indians in Jordan valley causing this move.  But one year later he
came back to Malheur county and here he has been since that time.  He at once
went at the sheep business when he returned here and until 1899, when he sold
out, he was one of the leaders in that industry.  He is at present living in a
fine eight-room house in Ontario, having ample grounds that are fitted with
orchards and gardens.  In addition Mr. Fletcher owns numerous residences, and
some business property in Ontario, which he rents, also has a fine tract of land
of forty acres near town that produces abundant returns, being well watered and
carefully tilled.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher there have been born three children, Robert E.,
Birdie E., Sylvina M.  Mr. Fletcher is a member of the G.A.R.A P. Hovey Post of
Ontario.  He is a Republican in politics and is active in the interests of good
government and improvement of educational facilities.  He and his wife are -----
member of the Methodist church and are faithful supporters of the faith.  Mr.
Fletcher was in the Indian war of 1878.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.