Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 190.
 
J. R. MCPHERSON

     One of the highly respected fanners of Lane county is J. R. McPherson, who
lives on a fine farm of two hundred acres near Springfield and who has always
enjoyed a high reputation as a progressive and enterprising agriculturist and a
public-spirited citizen. Mr. McPherson was born in Silverton, Marion county,
Oregon, on the 5th of January, 1856, and is a son of James and Mary Ellen
(Scott) McPherson, both of whom were natives of Missouri, the latter coming to
Eugene, Oregon, with her husband in 1856. James McPherson came to Marion county,
this state in 1852, and took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres
of land.

     J. R. McPherson was reared on his father's farm and attended me district
schools during his boyhood. After assisting his father a few years, he rented a
farm in the vicinity of Eugene, which he operated a number of years, and then
moved onto his present farm, which was a part of the Edwards estate. He
originally had two hundred and eighty acres of land but has given each of his
daughters forty acres, so that his present farm comprises two hundred acres,
practically all of which is cultivated. He carries on general fanning, raising
all the crops common to this locality, and also runs seventy-five head of good
sheep. He has a fine large house, while the other improvements on the place are
of a substantial character. Through the years he has devoted his attention
closely to the management of the place, which bears the marks of intelligent and
well planned direction.

     On October 6, 1876, Mr. McPherson was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Edwards, who was born on the farm of her father, Thomas Edwards, one of the
early pioneers of this section of the county who took up a donation claim, three
miles east of Springfield, on September 25, 1857, and still lives thereon. He
first located in the Willamette Valley in 1854. On October 6, 1926, Mr. and Mrs.
McPherson celebrated the golden anniversary of their marriage, on which occasion
their children, grandchildren, relatives and friends gathered and all had a very
enjoyable time. Mr. and Mrs. McPherson are parents of two daughters. Lena, born
April 29, 1882, is the wife of Lee Davis, a farmer living near her father's home
place, and they have seven children, Etta, Charles, Sarah, Emma, Francis, Margie
and Richard, all living in this vicinity. Edna, born November 25, 1885, is the
wife of Carl Carpenter, of this locality, and they are the parents of two
children, Mildred and Margaret, both in school. Mr. McPherson is a democrat in
his political belief, is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and is a charter
member of the Grange at Springfield. He maintains a deep interest in educational
affairs and has served as a member of the school board for years. No worthy
cause appeals to him in vain and he is regarded as one of his community's most
substantial and public-spirited citizens.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.