Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. pp. 458-61. ROBERT JOHN McISAAC Robert John McIsaac, merchant, orchardist and postmaster of Parkdale, ranking with the representative business men and citizens of Hood River county, was born in the state of Illinois in 1874 and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Scott) McIsaac, who were born in Scotland and came to America in early life, being married in Illinois in 1872. When Robert J. McIsaac was eight years of age his parents removed to Iowa and there he was educated, completing his course in the Morningside College at Sioux City, from which he was graduated in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. Following his graduation the young man started out on a tour of Investigation with a view of finding a favorable location. After having covered most of the middle west and Pacific coast countries he came to the Hood River valley and realized that his search was ended, for he was most pleased with the country, its conditions and its prospects. He established his home at Parkdale, under the shadow of the snow-crowned Mount Hood, and at once secured a tract of land, taking up the business of growing strawberries. He has one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, thirty acres of which is now in apple orchard, from which he ships annually about five thousand boxes of the luscious fruit that has brought fame to the Hood River valley. No single individual has done more for this section than has R. J. McIsaac. When the county of Hood River was created in 1908 he became a member of the first board of county commissioners and has since been one of the potential builders of the county, especially in the northern section. In 1910, when a postoffice was established at Parkdale, he was made postmaster and still fills that position. At the same time he established a general mercantile business, which he yet conducts and which has grown to substantial proportions, meeting all the needs and requirements of the many orchardists and ranchers who have followed him into the Mount Hood section. Developing with the growth of the population, the McIsaac store has become one of the largest in this section of the state. In addition to his orchard and his mercantile business Mr. McIsaac has taken up the breeding of Guernsey cattle and has selected his herd with an eye to making the Mount Hood section as famous for its Guernseys as for its apples and strawberries. In 1903 Mr. McIsaac was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Gregory, a daughter of Charles Gregory, and they have four children, Harold, R. Lyle, Harriet and Malcolm. The beautiful home on the ranch is the abiding place of a very happy family. Fraternally Mr. McIsaac is a Mason who has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and has recently crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is keenly interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of his section of the state and his labors have been a potent element in promoting the development of the Hood River valley. He was the president of the Strawberry Growers' Association before its consolidation with the Apple Growers' Association and of the latter he is now a director. No history of the builders of Oregon would be complete without mention of Robert John McIsaac, who located in the wilderness and has been largely instrumental in developing it into a populous and beautiful garden spot. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.