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. 468.
 
WILLIAM  H. McGRATH

     a skillful mechanic, who does blacksmithing and wagon making at Grass
Valley, Oregon, is one of the leading business men of this part of Sherman
county. He handles the largest business south of Wasco and as large as any
mechanical business in the county. He was born in Mendocino county, California,
on May 19, 1875, the son of John B. and Mary (Black) McGrath, natives of
Delaware, New Jersey, and Illinois, respectively. The father's father was a
native of Ireland and came to the United States in his youth and settled in New
Jersey. John B. McGrath died at The Dalles in the fall of 1900. Our subject's
maternal grandparents were natives of Illinois, and came of German extraction.
William H. grew up in California until six years of age when the family came to
Sherman, it being then 1881. The father took a homestead in Grass Valley and
there were only six other families in this part of the country. He bought more
land but sold, so at the time of his death he owned one-half section. Our
subject was educated in the district schools and when twenty-one took a
homestead. Later, he sold this and purchased town property. He has a residence
in Grass Valley and owns a commodious blacksmith and wagon shop, besides some
vacant lots. He is doing a very extensive business, keeping constantly employed
with three mechanics and sometimes more. Mr. McGrath is a very skillful man in
mechanical lines and is able to turn out any kind of work that is needed in the
county He worked under a thoroughly competent instructor when learning the trade
and was master of it when he opened the shop here in the fall of 1903. He does
light and heavy blacksmithing and all kinds of wagon and carriage work builds
water tanks, in fact attends to any line of work needed in an agricultural
country.
     In December, 1899, Mr. McGrath married Mrs. Mamie B. McGreevv, a native of
Missouri. By her former marriage, she had two daughters, Lena and Maggie, and to
Mr. and Mrs. McGrath one child has been born, Jessie. Our subject has one
brother living, John T., at Aberdeen, Washington. One brother died when an
infant, and three sisters, Kate, Mary and Catherine, aged nine, seven and six
respectively. They all died in California.
     Mr. McGrath is a member of the A. O. U. W. In political matters he is a
Republican but not especially, active. He takes an interest in school matters
and general affairs, and is a progressive and industrious man.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.