"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 610. Malheur County. JOHN DORAN The interesting career of this enterprising and capable gentleman is fraught with activities and commendable undertakings, and is well rounded by a sagacious care and energy which have made him one of the active participants in the building and developing of many places on the frontier, where he has always manifested that unswerving integrity that has held him in the path of temperance and uprightness in both public and private walk. John Doran was born in Liverpool, England, on November 5, 1840, being the son of Felix and Mary (Leonard) Doran. In 1843 he was brought with his parents to America's shores, landing in New Orleans, where the mother died soon after. He remained in New Orleans until 1851, then went to St. Louis, and in 1852, with a train of four teams, he came across the plains, assisting to drive two hundred cattle all the way, and walking the entire distance. He had the experience of being a target for Indian bullets on this occasion, and still remembers the thrilling days. In 1853 we find him working in a hotel in Marysville for twenty-five dollars per month and then he lived with Mr. Gray, and later with a Mr. Brumagin, where he worked and attended school, after which he went to Heald's College, in San Francisco. He then taught for one year in that institution, and then in partnership with one Vinsonhaler, he organized the Union Business College, which he afterwards sold. Next we see him operating a fruit farm at Fruitvale, for Governor J. B. Weller. Three years later he went to San Diego, then to Bear valley, and in one district he taught for three years, after which he had charge of the reform school for a time. Then he went to Virginia City, and engaged in mining, and there, eighteen hundred feet under ground, he was brought a paper containing an "ad," which his father had put in, in search of this son. He immediately went to New York, this being in 1875, and he found his father and brother, whom he had not seen since 1847. The following year he came to California, and in 1879 to Harney county, Oregon, where he taught again for some years, and in 1882 entered land on Indian creek, now in Malheur county. He sold this later to the Miller & Lux land company, then he turned his attention to his first love once more, instructing the young, doing service in the vicinity of Vale. He then located a ranch on Bully creek, afterwards going to Nyssa, having sold this property, and at that place opened another ranch and was one of the organizers of the Owyhee irrigating ditch. Later he sold this and, returning to Bully creek, bought his old ranch again, and in the fall of 1901 he sold out entirely and retired from business. Mr. Doran is a man of temperance, and although he has never entered the matrimonial sea is one of the affable, capable and talented gentlemen of the county, and has made a commendable record as an educator, a business man, and has had much experience as a traveler. He is the pioneer school teacher of this county. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.