"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 847.
 
N. C. LILLY

     As the first to engage in a mercantile business in Gales Creek, and as
postmaster of the embryo town for more than seven years. N. C. Lilly may be said
to be one of the chief promoters of the commonwealth. At about the age of
eighteen Mr. Lilly left his native state of West Virginia, were he was born in
1859, and took up his residence in Kansas in an effort to earn his own
livelihood. He was engaged in farming, stock-raising and railroad construction
during the six years in Kansas, and while there, in Kansas City, married Lurena
Hymer, a native of that state. Of this union there have been born four children:
John D., a soldier in the regular army; Florence 0., of Kansas City; Lurena, of
Kansas City; and Frederick R., living at home.
     Mr. Lilly became identified with Oregon in 1885, settling in Gales Creek,
where he engaged in the mercantile business, in which he is still interested.
From a small beginning he has enlarged his business to meet the demand of
a growing patronage, and has succeeded so well that he is a large land owner,
having both country and town property.  His farm of two hundred acres is mostly
timber land, and his houses and land in Portland and this town are among the
most desirable to be had. Mr. Lilly is a Republican in national politics, but
aside from the postmastership has not devoted much time to political
undertakings. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons. The first wife of
Mr. Lilly died in 1890, and the present Mrs. Lilly was formerly Myrtle Iler,
born and reared in Gales Creek. One child has been born of this union, Nicholas
C., living at home.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.