Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 4. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 13. JAMES P. FELLER a native of -Marion county, was born June 25, 1867. on the old William Whitney donation claim, near the present site of Donald. His parents were Francis and Rheumah (Whitney) Feller, the father a native of Lorraine, Germany, and the mother of Oregon. The mother's people were of English descent and came from Indiana to Oregon in 1842, being among, the first white settlers in the state. They crossed the plains and toiled through the mountain passes with ox teams, arriving at their journey's end to find themselves in a country of great natural resources. When sixteen years of age the father, accompanied by his parents, left Lorraine, Germany, and came to America, settling in Illinois. He remained with them for two years, and then he removed to Butteville, Oregon, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Subsequently he was employed by the month for five years, thereafter, going to Idaho, where he made quite a large sum of money in the mines. Returning to Oregon, he bought a ranch near the place where he now lives, but selling out at the end of twelve years, he purchased the William Whitney land claim and a portion of the Pettee donation land claim. The mother died in 1892. At present the father resides retired in Woodburn, where he has chosen to make his home in his advanced age. James P. Feller, of this review, was the eldest child of his parents. The others are: William F., who resides on the old home place; Alfred E., who operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Donald, Oregon; Mary E., who is the wife of C. A. Barienger, of Portland; Nellie R., the wife of A. C. Scheurer, an automobile dealer of Aurora, Oregon; Hattie, who is the wife of J. C. Barkman, of Portland; Charles E., of Donald, Oregon; Anna May, the wife of William Grover, who is in the employ of the National Cash Register Company, at Portland, Oregon; and Ida, the wife of A. H. Krause. Mr. Francis Feller was married four years after the death of his first wife to Miss Ida Garrett and two children have been born of this union: Iva, born in 1899; and Kenneth, born in 1905. At the age of twenty-one James P. Feller started out in life on his own accord, renting a farm of one hundred and forty acres which he operated for five years, after which he bought the home where he now resides. This is a part of the William and Amanda Reese donation land claim and originally consisted of two hundred and forty-five acres. He sold a part of this land, which was used as the town site of Donald, and subsequent to the sale purchased an additional tract of forty-five acres. He has laid out the Feller first and second additions to Donald, which homeseekers are now buying. The village is a thriving and growing one, and will soon be incorporated. The Oregon Electric line runs through the town and has greatly enhanced the value of Mr. Feller's farm. He has one hundred and sixty-three acres of land under a high state of cultivation and is engaged in raising stock, grain and hops, having thirty-five acres of the latter, which yielded last year over twenty-eight thousand pounds of hops, eighteen thousand pounds of which were sold at forty-one cents per pound. He has a very beautiful home, handsomely furnished, and has installed his own water system and electric lights. Mr. Feller married Miss Ellen Garrett, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Garrett and a native of Oregon, born in I869. She is one of a family of fourteen children, four of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Feller have become the parents of one child, Ernest R., born July 4, 1892, who, having completed a college course at Newberg, Oregon, lives at home on the farm and has proved himself to be an efficient assistant to his father. In politics Mr. Feller is a republican but always gives due attention to the man who is to be put in office. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Masons. He has always been greatly interested in public affairs and was instrumental in securing for Donald new roads and good schools, and he has been on the election board for a number of years. He is one of the most substantial business men of his community and is widely known and highly honored as a self-made man and one who has attained his success through honest effort and indefatigable industry. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.