Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 1050.
 
SILAS H. OBENCHAIN

     sheriff of Klamath county, resides at Klamath Falls. He is by birth an
Oregonian, having been born at Central point, Jackson county, September 18,
1863, the son of Bartlett and Nancy (Morse) Obenchain. The father is a native of
Virginia, the mother of Pennsylvania. Bartlett Obenchain crossed the plains in
1861, accompanied by his wife and three children. One winter they tarried at
Marysville, California, coming thence to Central Point, where he was one of the
earliest settlers. He located a homestead upon which with his wife, he is still
living, in his seventy-seventh year. His estimable wife is sixty-nine years of
age. Besides our subject they had seven children, viz: Meldoran M., of Gold Hill
Oregon; George E., of Klamath county; Mrs. Alice A. Lindsay; Mrs. Jennie Wilson;
Mrs. Sarah Pankey; Mrs. Nannie Pankey, and Mrs. Minnie Penninger.
     On the Jackson county farm our subject was reared, receiving a common
school education in the public schools of his vicinity. He came to Klamath
county in 1885, but subsequently returned to Jackson county. During the spring
of 1886 he secured a homestead in Klamath county, in the Langells valley, but
continued to work for wages, while at the same time sagaciously improving his
ranch. For seven years he was in the employment of Gerber Brothers driving beet
cattle. He also worked the same length of time for Swanston & Son, both firms
having headquarters at Sacramento, California. For them he also purchased and
sold cattle.
     June 15, 1904, Mr. Obenchain was married to Emma Grohs, a native of Placer
county, California, where she was reared and educated. Her parents were Fred P.
and. Mary L. (Brendeau) Grohs. Both of them are dead.  She has a brother, Frank
P. Grohs, of Klamath county and three sisters, Mrs. Minnie Martin and Mrs.
Lollye Foster, of San Francisco, and Mrs. Jewel Carpenter, of Sacramento.
     Sheriff Obenchain owns two hundred acres of land, with a substantial house
and all necessary improvements. He has, also, a small band of cattle and horses.
In June, 1904, he was elected sheriff of Klamath county, on the Republican
ticket, and is now serving in that official capacity. Fraternally he is a member
of the A. 0. U.W., an enterprising and progressive citizen and one highly
esteemed by his numerous friends and acquaintances.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.