"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 612.  Malheur County.

WILLIAM QUINN

     Among the most enterprising and capable men of Malheur county stands the
gentleman of whom we now have the pleasure of speaking, being one of the men who
first penetrated this country, carrying his blankets through the  fastnesses and
wilds of the uncivilized region, and having wrought here with great success both
on account of his industry and because of his fine ability and wise methods of
procedure.  Mr. Quinn comes of good Irish stock, being born in Wicklow county,
Ireland, on December 18, 1837, and the son of Philip and Mary (Deley) Quinn.
While still a child he lost his father, and when he had arrived at the age of
twelve he came with his brother and sister to America.  They were eight weeks on
an emigrant ship, and finally landed in Philadelphia, remaining in the state
until 1853.  At that date he came to Missouri with the intention of crossing the
plains, but no opportunity presented itself until 1855, when he started out with
a train of thirty-two wagons, and it was nearly nine months later that he
arrived in Placerville, California, having encountered trouble with snow on the
Sierra Nevadas, and also some trouble with Indians.  He labored at mining in
different camps of the state until 1861, then came north to Rhodes creek, Idaho,
and then to Salmon river, and later to Granite creek, and in 1865 he landed in
the vicinity of Malheur, where he mined for twenty years, after which he
purchased a stock ranch, and now owns nearly eight hundred acres of land used
for this purpose.  This fine estate lies ten miles west from Malheur, and is
well improved and handled in a commendable manner, making lucrative returns to
the owner.  Mr. Quinn has a good residence, large barn, and handles a great
quantity of hay.
     On December 27, 1883, Mr. Quinn married Miss Nancy, daughter of William and
Isabella Kennedy, and a native of San Francisco, and to them have been born four
children, as follows:  Mary I.; Philip, deceased; William; Christopher,
deceased.  Mr. Quinn was elected to the position of assessor of the county on
the Democratic ticket, and it was with credit to himself and satisfaction to his
constituents that he discharged these responsible duties.  Mr. Quinn has gone
through the entire list of hardships, dangers, deprivations and toil incident to
a pioneer life, and he is rightly classed as one of the capable and enterprising
builders of the county, since he has both wisely planned and executed thoroughly
his business enterprises, and also has done faithfully and well the public
duties developing upon him as county officer and as citizen.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.