Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1128.
 
WILLIAM O. MACK

     another one of the venerable Oregon pioneers of 1852, now a resident of
Canby, Clackamas county, dates his birth in Harpersfield, Delaware county, New
York, December 7, 1820. His ancestors originated in England.
     Joel Mack, his grandfather, was born in Tolland, Connecticut. When quite
young he enlisted in the Continental army and fought the British in the battles
of Brandywine and Monmouth. His eldest son, Abner Mack, our subject's father,
was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Miss Hulda Watrous, of Connecticut,
and they had a family of five sons and seven daughters. In 1848 he removed with
his family to McHenry county, Illinois, where he resided up to the time of his
death, which occurred in his seventy-eighth year. His wife survived him sometime
and died in her ninety-sixth year, at Crystal Lake, McHenry county, Illinois. Of
their numerous family only two sons and two daughters are now living.
     William O. was the third born in his father's family, and was reared in New
York. In 1845 he was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Louisa M. Graham, who was
born in Delaware county, New York, April 22, 1826, daughter of Orson Graham, of
Connecticut. In 1848 they removed to Illinois, where Mr. Mack rented land and
worked at the carpenters' trade. On April 19, 1852, he started with ox teams for
Oregon, bringing with him his wife and three children: Estella, now the wife of
Charles Moshberger; Oscar, married and residing in Washington; and Ledru, who
lives near his parents at Canby. After a long and tedious journey, they arrived
at the Dalles October 2. There they built a boat, and in it came down the
Columbia river to the Cascades. From the Cascades Mrs. Mack came with the
children in a steamboat to the mouth of the Sandy, while Mr. Mack drove the
stock down the trail. They came direct to Clackamas county, and took a donation
claim of 320 acres on the Molalla, five miles southeast of where Canby now is.
Here they built a log cabin in the timber, and on this property made their home,
and by honest industry prospered. Mr. Mack brought with him his carpenter tools,
and in addition to his farming did considerable building for his neighbors. Many
of the substantial buildings in this part of the county are monuments to his
industry and skill. In 1878 he retired from his farm and purchased, forty acres
of land at Canby. Here he built a commodious dwelling, in which he and his good
wife are spending the evening of their useful lives. He has dealt somewhat in
real estate and is still the owner of 300 acres of valuable land. In Oregon
eight children have been added to their family circle, all of whom are living,
namely: Arthur, Ramon, Byron, Volney, Cecil; Ola, now Mrs. Douglas Gurley;
Morley and Oramel Rosco. They also have sixteen grandchildren.
    Mr. Mack has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party,
but has never been an office-seeker. He has taken a commendable interest in the
educational affairs of the vicinity.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.