Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 251.
 
O. D. EBY

     Like many successful attorneys, O. D. Eby used educational work as a
stepping stone to his legal career. For more than twenty years he has practiced
in Oregon City, becoming recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of Clackamas
county. He was born November 4, 1872, near Harrisburg, in Linn county, Oregon,
and comes of pioneer stock. His father, David Eby, was born near Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, and when a young man responded to the call of the west. In 1852 he
left Illinois and by ox team and wagon traveled to Oregon. After reaching
Portland he proceeded to Astoria and there spent the winter. He was a cooper by
trade and was engaged in making salmon barrels. The man for whom he worked was
dishonest and did not pay him his wages for the entire winter. Returning to
Portland, he found conditions unfavorable and continued down the Willamette
valley to Harrisburg. It was in that locality that he married Miss Elizabeth
Barger, a daughter of Gilford Preston and Patsy Barger, who migrated from
Missouri to Oregon in 1863 and settled near Harrisburg. In that district David
Eby entered a claim but did not prove up on the land and later moved to Lane
county, locating near Eugene, where he followed agricultural pursuits for many
years. His life was guided by the beneficent teachings of the Masonic order and
in 1916 he was called to his final rest.
     O. D. Eby obtained his rudimentary instruction in a country school near
Harrisburg. During 1887-88 he was a pupil in a school in the vicinity of Goshen,
Oregon, and afterward taught a rural school in Poverty bottom, near Chestnut
Hill. In 1891-92 he attended the University of Oregon and in 1893 journeyed to
Clackamas county. For three years he was employed in the Robbins store at
Molalla and then resumed his educational work, teaching until 1900, when he was
appointed chief deputy in the county clerk's office at Oregon City. He filled
that position for a year and on the expiration of that period began reading law.
In October, 1904, he was admitted to the bar and has since practiced in Oregon
City. His first location was in the Oregon City Bank building, in which he
remained until the fire in 1922,  when he secured his present offices in the
Andresen building. During 1921-23 he was city attorney and met every requirement
of the office. Mr. Eby is thoroughly familiar with the fundamental principles of
the law and has successfully handled many intricate cases. Important business
matters also occupy his attention and necessitate his spending two days each
week in Longview, Washington, where he conducts a real estate office in
connection with W. W. Everhart, treasurer of Clackamas county, Dr. A. H. Huycke,
of Oregon City, and M. H. Griffin, a well known realtor of Portland. Mr. Eby and
his associates are the owners of a tract of five thousand acres, situated on the
Ocean Beach highway, near Oak Point, Washington. This is logged off land, well
adapted to the production of walnuts, grains and other crops, and is being
divided and developed for home sites.
     In 1898 Mr. Eby married Miss Jenny Moore, a native of Molalla and a
daughter of Robert J. Moore, who followed the occupation of mining in Idaho and
eastern Oregon during the '60s, afterward locating in Molalla. Mrs. Eby's
mother, Jane (Kayler) Moore, was also a native of Molalla and a daughter of H.
F. Kayler, who migrated from North Carolina to Oregon and entered a donation
land claim in Clackamas county when this region was largely a wilderness. Mr.
and Mrs. Eby have two sons. Marvin R., the elder, was graduated from the
University of Oregon in 1923 and is a student and teacher in the medical school
of that institution at Portland. He married Miss Dorine Colman and they are the
parents of one child, Lois Dorine, Roland D., the younger son, also received his
higher education in the University of Oregon, which awarded him the B. A. degree
in 1927 and he is now in his second year in the University Medical school.
     A stalwart democrat, Mr. Eby takes a keen interest in local and state
politics and was the candidate of his party for various offices but met defeat
owing to the fact that Clackamas county is a republican stronghold. In religious
faith he is a Presbyterian and his wife and sons are affiliated with the same
church. He has devoted much thought and study to the subject of public highways
and in 1919 took a leading part in the organization of the Good Roads
Association of Clackamas county. Bonds were issued to the amount of one million,
seven hundred thousand dollars and a committee, known as the "twelve apostles of
good roads," was appointed by the association. Throughout the period of its
activities Mr. Eby has been a member of this committee, which in 1927 completed
its program of one hundred and fifty miles of paved roads. All of this work was
done without the assistance of the state and the public highways of Clackamas
county are now equal to the best in Oregon. An ardent champion of educational
advancement, Mr. Eby has long been a member of the Willamette Valley Chautauqua
Association and for eight years was one of the directors of the school board of
Oregon City. He became a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he
was president for two years, and is a member of its board of governors, thus
serving for many years. Along fraternal lines he is connected with the United
Artisans, the Masons and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His wife
belongs to the local chapter of the Eastern Star and also to the Woman's Club.
In the organization of the Clackamas County Bar Association he was an
influential factor and is now its secretary. For many years he has attended the
meetings of the Oregon Bar Association and in 1927 was elected a member of its
executive committee, representing the first congressional district. A
broad-gauged man of keen intelligence and proven ability and integrity, Mr. Eby
has dignified the profession of his choice and his life presents a forceful
example of what constitutes good citizenship.
 
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.