Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago - Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 147. MRS. ELLEN C. DARR Mrs. Ellen C. Darr has been a resident of Portland for forty-eight years. She was born in Laporte county, Indiana, January 18, 1836, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bailey) Leabo. The mother, who was born and reared in Kentucky, died in 1852. The father was a native of Virginia, born September 18, 1795, but his youthful days were spent in Kentucky and he was married in Indiana. He was a carpenter and farmer, devoting his life, as wisdom seemed to dictate, to those two pursuits. He came to Oregon in 1847 with "old Father Mitchell" over the plains and took part in the Cayuse Indian war. Again he made the journey over the plains on a return trip to Iowa with Meek and Everett, after a brief period spent on the coast but in 1852 again went to California, where he engaged in mining gold. He was accompanied by his son, who died in the mining regions, after which the father went back to Iowa in 1853. The work of progress had been carried on in a marked degree ere he returned in 1862, at which time he was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Darr, and her husband. This time he became a permanent resident of the Pacific coast country, remaining here until his death, which occurred at McMinnville, Oregon, in 1880. Few men could speak with more authority concerning travel across the plains, for he made five trips ere the building of railroads to the coast and knew all of the experiences of the long and wearisome journeys, when plodding oxen drew the heavily laden wagons over roads that were little more than a trail. He was the father of ten children but only two are now living, Mrs. Darr and her brother, Augustus C., who is located at Ritzville, Washington. Mrs. Darr attended school in Linn county, Iowa, and lived at home until she was married at the age of seventeen years to Hiram L. Darr, the wedding being celebrated at Rock Island, Illinois, on the 20th of January, 1853. They began housekeeping in Linn county and there resided until 1860, when they removed to Fremont county, Iowa, where they remained until 1862. In that year they started across the plains to Oregon, leaving their old home on the 19th of May and reaching Portland on the 30th of September. They were then parents of three children, who accompanied them on the trip. Mrs. Darr walked all the way across the plains until they reached The Dalles, doing this because the roads were so rough and the teams were compelled to go so slowly that she preferred to walk rather than to ride in the jolting wagon save when crossing a stream. On reaching Oregon the family spent the first winter about six miles south of Portland and then removed to the city, living on Hall at the comer of Fourth street. Mr. Darr was a locksmith by trade and had a shop on Washington street between Third and Fourth. Wisely investing in land, he accumulated considerable property, having real estate to the value of over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars before he died. His mind, however, failed him and because of this he lost much of his property. He was born at Darrtown, Butler county, Ohio, July 9, 1831, and was a son of Abraham F. and Eliza (Couch) Darr. He attended school at Darrtown, which was named in honor of his grandfather. In his younger days he followed farming but learned the locksmith's trade after coming to the northwest. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and gave his political support to the republican party. He died March 28, 1894, leaving six children who reached mature years, while others died in infancy. Those who lived to adult age are: Alice, the wife of William E. Beauchamp, of Washington, and the mother of two children˜Bessie, the wife of W. W. Johnson, by whom she has three children, Eleanor A., Robert W. and Wanda, and Mrs. Eva Payette, who has one child, Edward; William, living in Portland; Hena, of California; Emma H., who became the wife of George Taylor, but both are now deceased, their surviving children being George K and Irene; Edward L, of California, who marred Miss Cooper; and Oakley, who has departed this life. For seventeen years Mrs. Darr has resided on the east side of Portland and she holds membership in the Methodist church of Sunnyside. For forty-eight years she has resided upon the Pacific coast and can relate many interesting incidents of the early days when Oregon was in its formative period. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.