Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 522. PETER TACHELLA Time was when public opinion regarded the great northwest as a section in which profitable business could only be carried on through the utilization of the timber and mineral resources of this part of the country, but recent years have indicted the fallacy of this opinion and today the wheat fields of eastern Oregon are attracting the attention of the entire country. One of the most prominent wheat growers of this part of the state is Peter Tachella, who was born in Genoa, Italy, on the 2d of April, 1853, a son of Anthony and Catherine (Garviglio) Tachella, both of whom are natives of Italy where they have spent their entire lives, the father always following agricultural pursuits. The son was reared at home and as his parents were in humble station and had but limited financial resources his educational opportunities were somewhat limited. He was required to work on the farm and assist in the support of the family from the time he was old enough to work. He was twenty years of age when he determined to come to America, where there were opportunities for advancement and, accordingly, in 1873 he left the parental roof and started out in the world on his own account. He made his way from Italy to France, traveling through that country, and thence crossed the broad Atlantic to South America, spending two or three months in Montevideo, Uruguay, and a similar period in Buenos Aires. He afterward passed two years in Paraguay and Argentine Republic, and subsequently he came through the Magellan Straits and up the west coast of South America to Peru, where he spent three months. From that country he sailed to Panama where he arrived just prior to the beginning of the work on the Panama canal by the French government. There a month was spent and from that point he continued northward through Mexico, stopping for a brief period at several of the more important cities. On the 26th of February, 1877, Mr. Tachella landed on United States soil, arriving at San Francisco, where he spent two years. Again he started northward, traveling over the mountains by wagon and a team of horses. He was forty days on the journey northward to Walla Walla, Washington, which was his place of residence for two years. He then came to Umatilla county, Oregon, and on the 22d of March, 1882, took up his abode on a ranch on Wild Horse creek, which he rented. He bent every energy toward making a start in this new country and a year later had saved from his earnings enough to enable him to purchase his first land comprising twenty acres, at what is now Saxe Station. From that time forward he has steadily progressed toward the goal of success, wisely utilizing his time and efforts until he has reached a most creditable and gratifying position among the prominent wheat growers of eastern Oregon. In 1891 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Indians and in 1893 purchased another quarter section adjoining. A year later he bought an additional eighty acres and in 1897 he added another tract of one hundred and sixty acres. This was followed by the purchase of one hundred and fifty acres in 1899 and fifty-three acres in 1909. At different times he has bought still other tracts, making his aggregate holdings a little more than one thousand acres, most of which is valuable wheat land. He is now extensively engaged in the cultivation of that cereal and his output finds a ready sale on the market. His methods are progressive and his success is the ultimate and well earned reward of earnest, persistent labor. Mr. Tachella has been married three times. In 1882 he wedded Miss Rosa Villa, a resident of Walla Walla, Washington, but a native of Italy. They became the parents of three children of whom two are living: Ralph, who is operating his father's land; and Dora, at home. The wife and other daughter died August 22, 1891, and Mr. Tachella afterward wedded a sister of his first wife, Miss Marie Villa, and they had two children, Eleanora and William McKinley, both at home. Mrs. Marie Tachella passed away May 15, 1905, and in 1906 occurred his marriage to Miss Eugenia Bellomo, a native of Genoa, Italy. In his political views Mr. Tachella has always been a republican since becoming an American citizen, but has never been an office seeker. He and his family are members of the Catholic church. He now resides in Pendleton, where for five years he has made his home in order to give his children the school advantages of this city, and to his eldest son he has given the care and operation of his ranch. On the 6th of June, 1900, Mr. Tachella and his elder son left Pendleton on an extensive trip to Europe. Enroute they visited Washington, D. C., where they had the honor of being presented to President McKinley, and thence left for New York, from where they took steamer for France, where they attended the famous Paris exhibition of 1900. They thence made their way to Italy and visited in Turin, the old capital of the Sardinian kingdom, Milan with its famous cathedral and Venice, the pearl of the Adriatic. From there they proceeded to Florence, the famous old capital of the Medicis, thence to the Eternal City and Naples, returning from there to Genoa, once the famous rival republic of Venetia and the home of our subject, where he made a sojourn for some time and visited the surrounding villages and places of interest. Mr. Tachella naturally derived a great deal of pleasure from the trip to his native country and arrived again in Pendleton on the 10th of October, after a trip of over four months. In all his travels Mr. Tachella covered over twenty-nine thousand miles. For a long period Mr. Tachella has figured as one of the most prominent and extensive wheat growers of Umatilla county or eastern Oregon, and his splendid property of more than one thousand acres is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. His record is indeed a most creditable one, showing what may be accomplished when determination and ambition lead the way. Persistency of purpose and industry are numbered among his chief characteristics and have brought to him success. Transcriber's additional notes: Census 1880, June 18; Whitman Co, WA; No Twp. listed, p 390 Peter Tachello, 26, Italy, Italy, Italy, laborer 1900, June 16; Umatilla Co, OR; Fulton Pct, p 9 Peter Tachella, 45, April 1855, Italy, Italy, Italy, to US 1874, mar 8 yrs, farmer, owns farm free Marie, wife, 45, Nov 1854, Italy, Italy, Italy, to US 1892, mar 8 yrs, 3 children-2 living Ralph, son, 14, June 1885, OR, Italy, Italy, att. school Dora, dau, 16, Sept 1883, OR, Italy, Italy, att. school Elnora, dau, 5, Nov 1894, OR, Italy, Italy McKinley, son, 3, Feb 1897, OR, Italy, Italy Lona Ballona, servant, 29, Feb 1871, Italy, Italy, Italy, to US 1892, farm laborer 1910, April 6; Umatilla Co, OR; East Pendleton Pct, Pendleton town Wd 1, p 63; 614 E. Lewis st. Peter Tachella, 57, Italy, Italy, Italy, 2nd mar, mar 4 yrs, retired farmer, owns home free Eugenia, wife, 43, Italy, Italy, Italy, 1st mar, mar 4 yrs, 0 children Dora E, dau, 27, OR, Italy, Italy, single Elenor A, dau, 16, OR, Italy, Italy, single William M, son, 13, OR, Italy, Italy, att. school 1920, January 6; Umatilla Co, OR; Pendleton Wd 1, pct 33, p 143; 614 Lewis Peter A. Tachella, 67, Italy, Italy, Italy, married, to US 1872, Nat. 1884 Eugena, wife, 53, Italy, Italy, Italy, married, to US 1872, Nat. 1884 Eleanor, dau, 26, OR, Italy, Italy, single, telephone operator 1930, April 5; Umatilla Co, OR; Pendleton City pct 33, p 145; 121 Beauregard st. Peter Tachella, 76, Italy, Italy, Italy, 1st mar. age 29, owns home value 8000, to US 1877 Eugenia, wife, 63, Italy, Italy, Italy, 1st mar age 40, to US 1906 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.