An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 398
	
	JAMES McINROE. -- Throughout Walla Walla county, State of Washington, our
subject is well known and much respected. His parentage was Irish, but he was
born in Steuben county, New York, March 11, 1841. His father, Lawrence M.
McInroe, had come to this country from Ireland when a small boy, and here
married Anna Smith, also a native of Ireland. By trade he was a machinist, but
later in life he engaged entirely in farming, removing to Wisconsin for that
purpose, in 1855, when our subject was thirteen years of age. He died in 1871,
at the age of sixty-four years, but his wife still survives, being now
eighty-one years old.
	Our subject attended the common schools of New York, Iowa and Wisconsin, and
when he became old enough he hired out to work in the lumbering camps of the
last-named State, following this occupation for four years. In the meantime, the
opening up of the great western country along the coast had commenced, and our
young lumberman decided he would like to go thither and try his fortune with the
rest. Just at that time Judge Sharpstine, now of Walla Walla, was about starting
to cross the plains and needed some one to drive a team, and here came our
subject's great opportunity. In May, 1865, the train started, and after four
months of travel they arrived in Walla Walla county. They had had some trouble
with the Indians on the way, one of their number being killed by the savages,
and they had to exercise great precaution to keep from losing their stock.
	After reaching Walla Walla, our subject hired out to a farmer for whom he
worked six months, receiving enough to buy him a bronco and a pack horse. He
then loaded the horse and rode the pony, and thus started for the Montana mines.
He followed mining that summer, but upon not meeting with great success he
returned in the fall to Walla Walla; but the next spring, not being altogether
satisfied with his work in the mines, concluded to try in Idaho, and finding
this much more profitable he continued there until 1877, returning in the winter
to the ranch which he had purchased on Dry creek, six miles north of Walla
Walla. Here he has now 600 acres of fine land, well improved, with a fine
residence and everything to make the life of the farmer comfortable and happy.
He is now engaged in raising stock, and has taken pains to improve it, owning
some good Clydesdale horses and short-horn Durham cattle, also some fine hogs.
	In 1872 our subject concluded to pay a visit to his old home in Wisconsin,
which resulted, a year later, in his return to the coast accompanied by a wife.
He married Miss Cordelia Nelson, a native of Ohio, but after four years he was
again left alone, her death occurring May 6, 1877, when she was only twenty-one
years of age, leaving behind two little boys: Lawrence Oriel and Frank H., both
of whom are now young men and much respected, both yet at home. Our subject
again married in Wisconsin, February 15, 1882, at which time he espoused Miss
Jennie Kent, a native of Wisconsin, a daughter of Edward Kent, who was a native
of England; his wife, nee Sarah McQuinn, was a native of New York. Six months
afterward, our subject returned to his home in Washington. Four little ones have
since come into the family: Sadie, Earl K., Maud P. and Cora.
	Our subject may be termed a self-made man, as he started out in life poor
and has built his own steps as he has climbed upward. In 1892 he received the
Democratic nomination for the Legislature, and at the time of election lacked
but twelve votes of an election. He has always been respected, and is a valued
member of Enterprise Lodge, No. 2, I.O.O.F., of Walla Walla. He is now a
Director of the State Penitentiary at Walla Walla.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
* * * * 

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.