Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 932.
 
EDMUND BURKE TONGUE

     Edmund B. Tongue, who for two decades has rendered valuable service as
district attorney for Washington county, Oregon is numbered among the able and
dependable lawyers of the state and commands a large and lucrative practice.  He
was born in Hillsboro, Washington county, in 1873, and is a son of Thomas H.,
Sr., and Margarite (Eagleton) tongue, the former born in Lincolnshire, England,
June 23, 1844, while the latter was a daughter of George Eagleton, who located
in Oregon in the early  ' 60's.  His father came to Oregon in 1859 with his
parents, Anthony and Rebecca Tongue, and located west of North Plains, where the
family home was maintained as long as the grandparents lived.  Thomas H. Tongue
received a good education in the public schools and Pacific University and
engaged in the practice of law, in which he attained gratifying success.  He
became active in public affairs, was a strong republican in his political views,
served as a delegate to the national convention in 1892 and was permanent
chairman of the republican state conventions of 1890 and 1894.  In 1888 he was
elected to the state senate and served as chairman of the judiciary committee.
In 1896 he was elected to represent his district in congress, and was reelected
in 1898, 1900 and 1902, his death occurring January 11, 1903, just before
entering upon his fourth term.  He served on a number of the most important
committees and was influential in the enactment of much essential legislation.
In his home state he was greatly concerned with the raising of the standard of
livestock and set a worthy example on his own farms through his discriminating
and successful efforts in the production of pure and standard bred stock.  He
assisted in the promotion of the local fair association and in various ways
became an important factor in the prosperity of his section of the state.  He
was a Mason, an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias, as well as a member of the
Oregon State Bar Association.  To him and his wife were born eight children,
Edwin and Mrs. Edith Reames, both deceased; Edmund Burke; Mrs. Mary G. Lombard,
of Portland; Thomas H., Jr., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Bertha
Rebecca; Mrs. Elizabeth Fey, of Portland; and Mrs. Florence Munger, of Portland.
     Edmund B. Tongue received his preliminary education in the public schools
of Hillsboro, after which he studied three years at the University of Oregon and
three years at Pacific University.  He took up the study of law under his
father's preceptorship and in 1897 was admitted to the bar, since which time he
has given close attention to professional work.  While his father was in
Congress Mr. Tongue looked after his legal business and the management of his
farms.  In 1908 he was elected district attorney of the fifth judicial district
of Oregon, which at that time embraced Clatsop, Columbia, Clackamas and
Washington counties, serving as such until the district was divided, since which
time he has served continuously as district attorney of Washington county.  He
has filled this responsible position in a highly creditable manner and has
earned a wide reputation as an erudite, painstaking and reliable attorney.  He
is a member of the Washington County Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar
Association, of which he is a past vice president and of the American Bar
Association.
     In 1909 Mr. Tongue was united in marriage to Miss Maud Shannon, a native of
Pennsylvania and a daughter of James and Elizabeth Shannon, the former now
deceased, while the mother lives near Huber, Oregon.  Mr. and Mrs. Tongue have
two children, Edmund B., Jr., and Robert S.  Mr. Tongue is a stanch republican
in his political views, while fraternally he is a member of Tualatin Lodge, No.
6, A. F. & A. M.; Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N.
M. S., at Portland; Portland Lodge No. 142, B. P. O. E.; and the Knights of
Pythias at Hillsboro; and also belongs to the Portland Hunt Club and the
Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club.  He has shown a deep interest in the welfare of
his community, being an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and was for
some years vice president of the commercial Bank.  Candid and straightforward,
he has a host of warm friends throughout his home county and the entire state
and all who know him hold him in high esteem for his ability and splendid
character.


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