Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3.  Chicago
- Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 708.
 
GEORGE WICKLIFFE McBRIDE

     The list of the leading citizens of Oregon contains the name of the Hon.
George Wickliffe McBride, one of the representative and honored residents of
Portland. To him has been entrusted important public service. His name is
indelibly inscribed upon the pages of the history of the legislative and
executive departments of the state, in which connections he has left tangible
evidence of his loyalty to and helpful support of the commonwealth.
     Ancestral records establish the fact that the McBride family is of
Scotch-Irish lineage and early representatives of the name, coming from the
north of Ireland to the new world, settled in the south. The father of our
subject was James McBride, a son of Thomas McBride and a native of Nashville,
Tennessee, where he was born February 9, 1802. He acquired his education in that
state and after his school days were over began reading medicine under a
physician in his home locality. When a young man he went to Missouri, settling
near Springfield, that state, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for a
number of years. While residing there, on the 20th of June, 1830, he married
Miss Mahala Miller, a daughter of Philip Miller. She was born September 26,
1811.
     In the year 1846 Dr. McBride started with his wife for Oregon. The previous
year he had visited Texas but believing that better opportunities were furnished
on the western coast than in the south, he turned his face toward the setting
sun and after about six months' travel across the plains with ox teams, reached
Oregon City. Already a flourishing little pioneer settlement had developed there
but Portland was as yet unknown. Dr. McBride was the missionary spirit of this
region, giving generous aid and assistance to the newcomers and enabling many to
secure homes in this section of the state. The most far-sighted did not dream of
railroad construction here, for all transportation was by means of wagon travel
or by the waterways. Dr. McBride and his wife soon left Oregon City for Yamhill
county, reaching their destination on
Mrs. McBride's birthday. The Doctor took up a donation claim, built a log house
and log barn and lived upon that place until 1863. He took an active part in
political affairs but his attention was principally given to the care of the
sick in the exercise of his professional skill. For over forty years he engaged
in preaching as a minister of the Christian church but would receive no
compensation for that work. He became quite famous both as a preacher and
physician and was, moreover, the first territorial superintendent of schools in
Oregon.  He likewise served as United States minister to the Hawaiian islands
from 1863 until 1866. After his return he engaged in merchandising at St. Helen,
Oregon, investing in the business there, although he left its active management
to others.  In 1867 he removed with his family to St. Helen and there resided
until his death, which occurred December 18, 1875, his remains being interred in
the Masonic cemetery at that .place His wife passed away on the 23d of February,
1877, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband.
     They were the parents of fourteen children. Martha, deceased, was the wife
of S. C. Adams, who has also passed away. She was born on the 12th of May, 1831,
and was called to her final rest on the 16th of December, 1882.  John R., whose
birth occurred on the 21st of August, 1832, died in August, 1904. He served as a
representative in the Oregon legislature and from 1862 until 1864 was
representative in congress. Subsequently he acted as chief justice of Idaho for
several years but resigned that position in order to take up the practice of
law. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Oregon and also a
member of the first state legislature. Alvira Josephine, born March 3, 1834,
gave her hand in marriage to Benjamin D. Butler and died on the 2d of May, 1910.
Louisa A., who was born on the 16th of March, 1835, became the wife of George L.
Woods, formerly governor of Oregon, and she still resides in Portland. Lucinda
M., who was born on the 9th of June, 1836, is the widow of Charles G. Caples and
resides at Santa Barbara, California.  Nancy E., whose birth occurred on the 9th
of September, 1837, first became the wife of W. B. Morris and after his death
wedded W. H. Dolman, of Portland, where she now resides. Mary C., born April 3,
1839, gave her hand in marriage to F. D. Holman and both are now deceased. Emily
L., who was born on the 21st of May, 1841, and died on the 7th of April, 1901,
was the wife of D. J. Yeargain. Judith, whose birth occurred on the 30th of
September, 1843, is the widow of Alanson Smith. Thomas A., born November 15,
1847, is judge of the supreme court of Oregon. James H., whose birth occurred on
the 23d of January, 1849, is a practicing physician of Pasadena, California. He
is a physician of noteworthy attainments and has held many positions of honor
and responsibility in his profession. Susan E., who was born on the 21st of
July, 1850, gave her hand in marriage to B. F. Giltner and passed away on the
11th of February, 1899. Ellen V., born on the 23d of May, 1852, died on the 5th
of August, 1866.
     The youngest member of the family is George Wickliffe McBride, who was born
on the homestead claim in Oregon, March 13, 1854 and has always lived in this
state. He attended the public schools of Yamhill county and of St. Helens
afterward spent a year in the preparatory department of the Willamette
University and also attended Christian College at Monmouth, Oregon, for two
years. His school days being over, he followed general merchandising at St.
Helens for about nine years and while in the store devoted his leisure hours to
the study of law. He was accounted one of the leading and prominent citizens of
his locality and his fellow townsmen gave expression of their appreciation of
his ability and public-spirited citizenship by electing him to the state
legislature, where he proved a capable and prominent member, acting as speaker
of the house in 1882. In 1886 he was elected secretary of state for a term of
four years and that his first term was endorsed by public opinion is indicated
in the fact that he was reelected in 1890. Five years later he was elected by a
republican legislature to the United States senate, where he served for six
years, his term ending March 4, 1901. He was appointed and served as a member of
the national commission for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis. He
received his appointment in March, 1901, and filled the office until July, 1905,
since which time he has lived retired.
     On the 24th of May, 1902, in New York city, Mr. McBride was married to Miss
Laura W. Walter, a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Porter) Walter, who had
come to Oregon in 1879. Mrs. McBride has for many years taken an active and
helpful interest in the numerous charities with which she has been identified.
     Mr. McBride belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the
thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. In his public service he has ever
placed the national welfare before partisanship and the interests of his
constituents before personal aggrandizement. He has ever commanded the respect
of the statesmen with whom he was associated at Washington and others prominent
in the public life of state and nation, while at home, where he is best known,
he inspires personal friendships of unusual strength and all who know him have
for him the highest admiration because strong intellect, lofty patriotism and a
conscientious sense of public obligation have in his life been well balanced
factors.
     The name of Thomas A. McBride, his brother, has also been indelibly
inscribed upon the pages of Oregon's history. A graduate of McMinnville College,
he has always lived in Oregon and after studying law was admitted to the bar
when twenty-one years of age. He has been practicing law for over forty years
and was first called to public office as a member of the legislature,
representing Columbia county from 1876 until 1878. He also served as district
attorney of the fifth district for about ten years, was judge of that district
for a number of years and by Governor Benson was appointed to the supreme bench,
whereon he is now serving.

*******************

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.