"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chicago:
Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 211.
 
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS CONE

     The third generation of the Cone family in Oregon is worthily represented
by Gustavus Adolphus Cone, who was born upon the farm near Hubbard upon which he
now lives, September 19, 1873. His father, also Gustavus Adolphus, one of
several brothers to emigrate to the west in the early days, was born in Rush
county, Ind., November 21, 1823, and when nine years of age removed with his
parents to LaPorte county, also in Indiana. There he learned the cooper's trade,
which he followed in Indiana. The other members of the family removed to
Illinois and thence, in 1841, to Iowa. His two brothers, Anson and Aaron, having
come to Oregon in 1846, Gustavus A. followed their example the following year,
leaving behind him a paying cooperage business in Michigan City, Ind. Seven
months were required to accomplish the journey from Indiana to Oregon. Having
arrived at his destination, he located in Oregon City and worked at his trade.
During the historic year 1849 he contracted the gold fever, which was rendering
half the inhabitants dissatisfied with existing conditions, and went to
California, where he mined with moderate success on the middle, north and south
forks of the American river. Afterward he engaged in the hotel business in
Sacramento. In the fall of 1849 lie returned to Oregon by vessel, spending
twenty-seven days on the water. Soon after reaching Portland he purchased the
title to six hundred and forty acres of land on the French prairie. Having thus
established himself permanently and satisfactorily, he was united in marriage
December 15, 1850, to Rebecca Emma Her, a native of the state of Ohio, and a
daughter of James Iler. Of the seven children born and reared of this union,
Benjamin F. lives on a ranch near Moscow. Idaho: Louise is the wife of John
Murray of Butteville, Ore. ; Lewis died at the age of twenty-one; Laura is the
wife of Fred Ernst of Jefferson, Ore. ; Heman is a resident of Portland, Ore.;
Anna is the wife of A. L. Rice of Silverton; and Gustavus Adolphus is living on
a portion of the old donation claim.
     Too much cannot be said of the admirable and useful life of Gustavus A.
Cone, who possessed all of the strong and reliable attributes with which we are
wont to invest the typical western pioneer. In the twilight of a venerable age
he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had eighteen grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren, nearly all of whom were possessed of rugged constitutions,
and who, without exception, regarded their grandparent as the embodiment of all
that was honorable and genial. Many years before his death he was the undisputed
owner of the entire six hundred and forty acres of land, and upon this he
successfully raised grain and general produce, devoting much time to the
breeding of Short-horns and other high-grade stock. His business ability found
vent in a general mercantile enterprise conducted in Butteville for several
years in partnership with his eldest son, Benjamin F., and he was instrumental
in bringing about the organization of the Farmer's Warehouse Association. A
Republican in his political affiliations, he filled many positions of trust in
the community, and he took a deep interest in the maintenance of a high standard
of education, serving for many years on the school board. He was one of the
oldest Masons in the state of Oregon, was connected with Multnomah Lodge of
Oregon City, and passed all the chairs in the Blue Lodge. His death occurred
December 26, 1898.
     The present Gustavus Adolphus Cone was reared on the home farm in Marion
county, and was educated in the public schools, the Oregon State Agricultural
College at Corvallis, Newburg College, and the Portland Business College. With
the exception of one summer spent among the mines of Idaho, he has continued to
reside upon the old donation claim, of which he now owns three hundred and
twenty acres. He is engaged successfully in general farming and stock-raising,
and has thirteen acres under hops. May 9, 1896, he was married to Alice
Ackerson, who was born in Johnson county. Neb., a daughter of Truman and Mary
Ann(Linford) Ackerson, who came to Oregon in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Cone are the
parents of three children : Earl T., Hazel M., and Letha Beryl.
     Mr. Cone is a stanch Republican, as was his father, and fraternally is
associated with the Maccabees. He has prospered in his chosen calling, and has a
justifiable ambition to make his property one of the finest and most productive
in the entire northwest. He takes an active interest in public affairs, though
not identified prominently with the political undertakings of his neighborhood,
and is ever ready to assist in these enterprises which are calculated to improve
general conditions. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him, who
regard him as a man of probity, conscientious and fair-minded in all that he
does, and with a fine regard for the rights and privileges of others.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2012 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.