Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1050.

R.L. Durham, a native son of Oregon and representative among the young
financiers of the State, was born at Oregon City in 1849. (For history of
ancestors see sketch of George Durham.) The boyhood of our subject was passed
with his parents, and his education was acquired at the Willamette University,
at Salem and at the Portland Academy.In July, 1870, he went to Portland and
accepted the appointment of Deputy County Clerk, under C. W. Parrish and
continued in that position until 1876, when he resigned to accept the position
of Deputy city Auditor, under W. S. Colwell, from the Common Council, being
continued in that office for five consecutive terms. In 1882 he resigned and
accepted the position of teller at the Portland Savings Bank, and shortly after
was elected cashier, which office he filled until January, 1886. At this date,
with the incorporation of the Commercial National Bank, Mr. Durham was elected
cashier of that institution, where he is still engaged.Mr. Durham was married in
Portland, in June, 1872, to Miss Hannah Gault, a native of Oregon, daughter of
Pembroke Gault, a pioneer of the early fifties. Mr. and Mrs. Durham have had
three children: Lillian, Roy Gault and Gilbert H.Mr. Durham is a member of the
I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W. He is vice-president of the City Board of Emigration,
which was begun in 1881, to disseminate knowledge of Oregon, one method being
the sending of exhibition cars through the East, containing a collection of
Oregon products, and literature discriptive [sic] of her resources. He is an
active member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is on the finance and building
committee, in the erection of the new building. He is also vice-president of the
Oregon Land Investment Company and president of the Portland Clearing House
Association. In business affairs Mr. Durham holds an active position, and his
enthusiasm is quickly enlisted in every public enterprise, which promotes the
development of his city and State.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Jennifer Dorner.
Jennifer has more information on this family and can be contacted by email:
dorner -at- comcast.net