An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, page 270.

JAMES M. NOLIN, a prosperous farmer living two miles up Fifteen Mile creek from
Dufur, was born in Ontario, Canada, on July 18, 1856. His father, William Nolin,
was born in the Province of Quebec and his parents in the same place. His
grandparents, the great-grandparents of our subject, came from France. William
Noun married Isabel Laird, a native of Ireland, who died here in Wasco county,
in 1896. William Nolin had come here with his wife in 1886, and since her death
he has resided with our subject. He is a man eighty-six years of age, remarkably
well preserved, both physically and mentally, one of the best for his age that
one will find in searching the state over. This indicates a wisdom and care on
the part of Mr. Nolin that are very commendable for during the long years of his
life he has so conducted himself as to preserve intact his powers.      

Our subject was raised principally in northern New York near the Canadian line
and for many years worked on the St. Lawrence river on a logging. With his
brothers, he owned also a large farm in that country. In 1877, Mr. Nolin
determined to explore the west and accordingly made his way to California where
he followed dairying for two years in Gilroy. In the fall of 1879, he came north
to Oregon and for a few years worked out in this vicinity, then rented the place
upon which he now lives, also handling the Cates farm with it for nine years.
Then he went to the Willamette valley and bought the farm which was his home for
four years. After that, he sold out and came back to Wasco county and purchased
the place where he now lives. For a few years before going to the Willamette
valley, he was in the employ of the Stayer and Walker agriculture firm of
Portland and traveled for them extensively, during this employment, then moved
to the valley and purchased the farm mentioned before. It was 1900 when he
bought the place that he now lives upon, from Mrs. Louisa E. Turner. It consists
of one hundred and sixty acres of as fine wheat land as can be found in this
part of Oregon, and averages forty bushels to the acre and last year produced
forty-seven bushels. All improvements necessary have been provided and Mr. Nolin
is considered one of the first class farmers of the county.      

On October 25, 1885, in Clackamas county, Mr. Nolin married Miss Flora E. Frost,
a native of Illinois. Her father, Elam Frost, was also born in Illinois and is
now deceased. He came to the coast with his family in 1869, settling in the
Willamette valley where he died. His father died at Hood River. Mr. Nolin has
three brothers, George E., Edward and David. His wife has one brother, Walter,
and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Stevens, Mrs. Laura Turner and Mrs. Luella Shank.
Mr. Noun has been a school director for a number of years, has filled other
offices and is active in the interests of the community and for general
improvements. He belongs in the Democratic harness and is often seen at the
conventions. Altogether, he is a man of stability, intelligence geniality and
kindness and enjoys an excellent standing in the community.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.