Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 514.
 
THOMAS R. McGINNIS

     a retired farmer, now residing at Moro, Sherman county, is a native of the
Buckeye state, having been born in Carroll county, Ohio, December 2, 1855. His
father, James McGinnis, was a native of Pennsylvania, Allegheny county; his
parents the same. His grandfather came from Scotland. James McGinnis was a
farmer, and was prominently identified with the United Presbyterian church. The
mother of our subject, Mary (Ramsey) McGinnis, was a native of Ohio; her
grandparents of Scotch and German descent.
     The subject of our sketch was reared principally in the states of Indiana
and Illinois. His parents removed west when he was an infant, subsequently,
going as far as Iowa, where he completed his education in Amity College, College
Springs, Iowa. The twelve following years he was engaged in farming for himself
in Iowa and Nebraska, where he secured land. These agricultural enterprises did
not prove successful and he decided to cast his fortunes with the comparatively
new state of Oregon, and, according, in the spring of 1895, he came to Sherman
county,  without capital, and entered the employment of the Hon. R. J. Ginn,
serving as clerk in the latter's store. At the termination of three years he
purchased a farm containing three hundred and twenty acres, later selling the
same, and still later buying more land. At present he owns four hundred and
eighty acres, all superior, arable and tillable land, and one of the best
ranches in Sherman county.
     At College Springs, Iowa, January 30, 1883, our subject was united in
marriage to Maggie Coleman, a native of Bremer county, Iowa. Her father, William
Coleman, mentioned elsewhere in this work, was a native of Pennsylvania. Her
mother, Mary (Woods) Coleman, also a native of the Keystone State, was descended
from old Pennsylvania stock, of Irish ancestry.  At present she lives with our
subject at Moro.  The latter has two brothers, John M. and William, both farmers
in Iowa, and two sisters, Anna E., wife of John George, of Carroll county, Ohio,
and Emma, wife of David McAfee, a Page county, Iowa, farmer.  Mr. and Mrs.
McGinnis have been blessed with five interesting children, who are living;
Leroy, now at home and recently graduated from the Capital Business College, of
Salem; Alice, aged sixteen; Forrest, aged fourteen; Iva B., a beautiful girl of
eleven years of age; and J. Lewis, aged eight.  Jessie, another girl, died April
21, 1901, aged sixteen, at the Lidgerwood Sanitarium, Spokane, Washington.
   Mr. McGinnis, the subject of this brief sketch, is a genial broad-minded and
progressive citizen, enjoying wide popularity and esteem throughout the
community.  He has won the confidence of all in his circle of acquaintances, and
is a man with a clean record.  He has been a stanch Republican throughout his
life, with the exception of a temporary affiliation with the People's party in
Nebraska, where he was a member of the state central committee.  In 1900, Mr.
McGinnis was nominated by the people's independent party in Sherman county for
the office of sheriff, and elected, running ahead of his ticket, by a majority
of eighty-six.  In 1902 he announced himself as an independent candidate for the
same office, was endorsed by the Democratic party, and elected by a majority of
one hundred and ten.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.