"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901. p. 376.
 
OLIVER W. STANDARD

     Identified for forty-six years with the Pacific coast states, and for more
than twenty-three years a resident of Whitman county, the man whose name gives
caption to this review was certainly a pioneer of the pioneers, as he was a
potent factor wherever he lived in the promotion of the general welfare, the
upbuilding of the cause of righteousness, and the development of the inherent
material resources of the country. It is therefore a pleasant task to here
accord due recognition of his many services and virtues.
     Mr. Standard was a native of the state of Illinois, born March 18, 1835.
While yet a boy he was left an orphan and became a ward of a family by the name
of Cook, who brought him to Oregon in 1850. He acquired most of his education in
the "Webfoot" state, the same being confined to the branches taught in the
public schools. When his majority was attained he inaugurated independent
action, the occupation which he chose for himself being farming. On March 4,
1865, he was mustered in as a member of Company K, First Oregon Volunteer
Infantry, and from that date until June 25, 1866, he assisted in keeping the
Indians in subjection, taking part in several engagements with them. Upon
retiring from the military service he purchased a farm in Wasco county, Oregon,
where he followed agricultural pursuits uninterruptedly until 1873, which year
is the date of his advent to Whitman county. Locating on a quarter section of
land on Spring Flats, in the vicinity of Guy, he again engaged in farming, and
that was his occupation continuously until April 20, 1896, when he passed to the
great beyond. A believer in diversified farming, he raised many of the different
products of the field, as well as some cattle and other live stock. The orchard
on his place consists of about four acres of bearing trees.
     In the state of Oregon, in 1856, our subject married Miss Mary, daughter of
John and Otilla (Philius) Berthold, and they became parents of four children :
Alonzo W., Philip M., who lives on Spring Flat; Z. G. *, who married Carrie
Chapman, and is now living in Guy; and Elizabeth E., living with her mother. Mr.
Standard was a member of the Christian church, but his widow maintains her
membership in the United Brethren denomination. Mrs. Standard still owns the old
home place, of which one of her sons is in charge, and she is also the owner of
some Guy property and an interest in the Farmers' warehouse there located. Her
father, a pioneer of the state of Oregon of 1849, was for a number of years a
very successful miner in California, but ultimately lost his life, being killed
by the Indians.
 
 
Transcriber's additional note:
 
*  Z. G. is actually John Grant Standard, married to Carrie A. Chapman.
	
*******************

Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in March 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.