Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 111. JOPSEPH BORTON. One of the well known farmers of Baker county is Joseph Borton, who was born in the state of New York, March 9, 1853. His father, Arthur Borton, was born in England and the mother, Mary (Murtha) Borton, was a native of Ireland. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living. Joseph Borton started out to make his own way in the world at the unusually early age of ten years. He had had little education at that time. His first employment was with a pack train, it being his duty to ride the bell horse. At the end of a year he returned home and for a year attended school. At the age of thirteen he started overland with some freight teams, going first to Boise, Idaho, where he remained a short time, then removed to Baker county, Oregon, where he worked on a ranch five years for one man. The following two years were spent in Rye valley, where he freighted for another year and then rented a ranch for three years. Later he took up a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he still lives. At the time he settled on this farm there were only a few houses in Baker City. By industry and skill he has finely improved his farm and brought it under a high state of cultivation, so that it is now one of the best farm properties in the county. Mr. Borton was married to Miss Clara Boldock, who was also a native of the Empire state but whose parents were natives of England. Mr. And Mrs. Boldock had a family of fourteen children, six of whom are still living. Mr. And Mrs. Borton have become the parents of thirteen children, twelve of whom are still living: Arthur, who was born October 6, 1874, and died January 24, 1877; Mary, born November 13, 1875; Ada, born November 24, 1877; Edward, born January 8, 1880; Bertha, born March 27, 1882; Pearl, born May 25, 1884; Fannie, born November 21, 1`886; Charles, born March 16, 1888; James, born April 8, 1890; Frank, born April 19, 1893; Roy, born July 24, 1895; George, born October 8, 1897, and Nora, born February 12, 1900. All the children reside in Baker county except a daughter, who makes her home in Portland. Although not an old man, Joseph Borton, beginning life‚s work at an early age, hs had a long business experience and his many years of toil have been rewarded, as his is now the possessor of one of the best farms in Baker county. He is numbered among the best citizens of the community and he and his family are well and favorably known in this county. Transcriber's note: Genealogy for above individual is located at: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bakerco&id=I8070 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2008 by Dale Givens, odg -at- hiwaay dot net.