"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 345-346. Judge W.C. Hubbard. The qualities which endear man to man are dominant traits in the character of W.C. Hubbard, and so widely and favorably is he known in Salem and the surrounding country that it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his career. His residence in the state dates from 1847 and therefore the pioneer history of Oregon is as familiar to him as is the latter-day progress and development. He was born in Pike county, Ill., twelve miles from Pittsfield, November 8, 1836, and is the eldest living of the four surviving children in a family that once numbered eleven born unto Charles and Margaret (Cannon) Hubbard. The father was born in Kentucky February 14, 1800, and at an early day removed to Missouri, settling near St. Louis, while later he became a resident of Pike county, Ill., and there carried on farming. The explorations that had been made in the northwest and the reports that he had heard awakened in him a desire to become a resident of the section of the country whose resources were so glowingly described. Accordingly, in 1837, he started for Oregon accompanied by his wife and six children. They had two wagons drawn by oxen, thus traveling in the primitive manner of the times - the vanguard of civilization which was soon to transform this district from a wild region inhabited by Indians to one of the most important sections of our great land. They traveled by way of St. Joseph, Mo., crossing the river there, thence proceeding up the Platte and over the old Oregon trail. On the way the baby of the family died while they were in the Cascade mountains. They had no trouble with the Indians until they arrived at the Columbia river and even then they managed to make the red men keep their distance. They had left the main road at the foot of Blue mountain and proceeded to Whitman station, intending to spend the winter there. Dr. Whitman, at the time, was down in the valley and Mrs. Whitman urged them to proceed on their way because she believed that there would be many emigrants behind them whom they would have to assist later in the season. They arrived, therefore, in the valley October 20, and the father secured a donation claim on Clear creek, seven miles northeast of Oregon City, but remained there for only a year, when he gave up the property. He then located on the French claim, purchasing a tract of a former owner and also securing a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. With characteristic energy he began to clear, improve and cultivate his land and in course of time a splendid farm was seen as the result of his labors. He continued to engage in agricultural work until his retirement from business life. He died at the home of his son in Mission Bottom in 1884, when eighty-four years of age. A worthy Christian man, he held membership in the Baptist Church and into the minds of his children he instilled lessons of industry and integrity which have borne good fruit in their later lives. His wife, who was born in Missouri, April 19, 1811, was a daughter of James Cannon, who died in that state. Mrs. Hubbard passed away at the old homestead in 1880. Judge Hubbard spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents as they journeyed across the country to the northwest. he assisted in driving the loose cattle and walked six hundred miles of the way at one time, but at intervals he had the privilege of riding for a short distance. After reaching Oregon he remained at home with his parents until twenty-two years of age with the exception of a period of two years. In his youth, he attended school near his home and in Oregon City and at the age of nineteen years worked in the mines of California for a time. He passed through the Rogue river Indian war country, making the journey on pack horses, and at length arrived at Yreka, Cal. he was then engaged in mining at Deadwood until 1857 when he returned to his home, remaining with his parents until 1859. He then came into possession of one hundred and sixty acres of new land covered with brush, and there he beg ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.