"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1247. MATHEW ACHESON As an example of what may be accomplished by perseverance and industry, regardless of early set-backs or want of opportunity, Mathew Acheson is entitled to special mention among the prosperous farmers and developers of Linn county. Educationally, morally, and agriculturally, he takes foremost rank among the native sons of Muskingum county, Ohio, where he was born January 17, 1834, and where the early part of his life was passed. With his family he removed to the state of Iowa in 1856, and, his father dying within a year, he went, in 1857, to Monroe county, Iowa, where he engaged in educational work. There he was married, in 1860, to Lucinda Crawford, a native of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1864 he removed to Washington county, Iowa, and farmed for three or four years, and afterward engaged in mercantile business in Ainsworth, Iowa, continuing the same until 1872. Leaving Ainsworth, Iowa, Mr. Acheson came to Oregon, and in Linn county purchased the right to one hundred and sixty acres of land three and a half miles northwest of Shedds, where he lives at the present time, and where he owns two hundred and twenty acres. From the standpoint of products raised he has one of the most diversified farms in the county, fifteen acres being under orchard, of which ten acres are prunes and the balance pears, apples and cherries. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and has most complete and modern facilities for the prosecution of his many departments. A large frame building, adequate barns and out-houses, good fences and the finest of agricultural implements, complete an equipment which almost any farmer, however ambitious, might envy. A dryer of seventy bushels' capacity is taxed to its utmost during the busy season. Aside from the formality of casting his vote Mr. Acheson has never identified himself with politics. He has always taken an active interest in educational work, and he is one of the foremost promoters of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an elder for many years. George S. and Jennie B. (Acheson) Gaff, of Albany, the two oldest of the children in the Acheson home, were born in Iowa and accompanied their parents across the plains. Bertha, Dawson, Wilbur B. and Mathew H. are all graduates of Albany College ; John L. is a graduate of Princeton University, N. J.; Irvin Ray is living with his father, and two children, who died, were born in Oregon. Mr. Acheson represents the solid and substantial in work and citizenship, and the county has reason to be proud of his successful and meritorious career. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.