Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1151.
 
JARVIS HURD

     of Athena, Umatilla county, Oregon, born in Jefferson county, New York,
April 1, 1848, a son of Aswell and Bethena (Morgan) Hurd, both natives of New
York, was reared by his grandparents, his mother having died when he was an
infant. The father of Jarvis when this sad event occurred going to Illinois,
where the son joined him, after remaining with his grandparents fourteen years,
in which time he obtained such schooling as could be had in a country district.
The lad stayed with his father but a short time. for he ran away in the fall of
1863, and enlisted in Company A, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, served throughout the
war, and was honorably discharged in July, 1865. He was sent at once to the
front, served in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in many of the memorable
battles of the war. Two companies of his regiment opened the fight, and fired
the first shot at the battle of Gettysburg.
     Returning to Illinois, our subject engaged in steamboating and rafting on
the Mississippi, following this for three years; then was employed on a farm
until 1871; at this time removed to Iowa, farming there until 1875, and then
brought his little family to Oregon, taking up a homestead claim of 160 acres
near Athena, Umatilla county, which he first improved, and then sold out. Going
to Morrow county, he took up a 160-acre tract, improved and lived upon it until
1891, and then came back to Athena. Besides, in copartnership with S. L.
Spencer, he bought a blacksmith shop, which has been conducted profitably ever
since, doing all kinds of smithing and wagomaking.  
     The father of Mr. Hurd is yet living, in Dakota, at the age of eighty-five
years. This old gentleman married a second time, and had a family of nine
children. Our subject lived with him but a short time, and that was just after
the close of the war.
     Jarvis Hurd was married in Iowa, in 1871, to Miss Henrietta Gaskill,
daughter of Thomas and Mary Gaskill, the father a minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Iowa. By this marriage there were four children, namely:
Virias M., died at the age of three; Lillia May; Thomas E.; Lorietta E., died at
the age of thirteen. Mr. Hurd was again married, in 1886, to Mrs. Catharine
Hagler, nee Taylor, who has borne him one child, Henry Harrison. She had a child
by her former husband, named Ora.
     Although Mr. Hurd started out in life very poor, and has had many trials,
he owns 160 acres of good land in Morrow county, and a half-interest in the shop
at Athena. He is a Junior Warden of the Masonic lodge; a member of the Odd
Fellows, and of the G. A. R., being Post Commander of the latter, and a member
of the Department of Oregon. In politics he is a Republican, as a neighbor is
kind, and as a citizen is public-spirited and charitable.

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

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.