man William Reynolds MENEFEE‏‎, son of John Malrey MENEFEE and Lucy Mildred PARTLOW‏.
Born ‎ Dec 5, 1823 at Rappahannock Co. VA. [ JKR says Culpeper Co.], died ‎ Jun 11, 1906 at Dufur, OR.---------------------see notes‎, 82 years
Submission Number: 2348346-0722103123049, Submission Number: 2805120-0813104164654 Notes: Available on CD-ROM Disc 13, Submission Number: 816100-0404100091713;


From same History of Central Oregon, 1905

Wm. [R] Menefee, one of the oldest settlers, in the county comprising Wasco County, and a retired farmer, resides at Dufur. He was born Dec. 5th, 1823 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, at the time of his birth known as Culpeper County. He is the son of John M. and Lucy M. [Partlow] Menefee, natives of Virginia. In 1837 John L. Partlow, the brother of Lucy M. Menefee was sheriff of Rapahannock County.

In a subscription school in Virginia Wm. R. Menefee, our subject, received his education, and in 1835 his parents removed to Henry County, Iowa. To reach this place they were obliged to travel overland with horse teams. It was in 1852 that our subject came to Oregon and located on a donation claim in Yamhill county, but it not being entirely satisfactory he secured another claim in Walla Walla County. Washington, and in 1855 started for that locality with his wife and two children. At the Dalles he learned of the horrible atrosities connected with the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitman, and decided to postpone his advent into that territory. On the repeal of the Donation Law he came this vicinity accompanied by seven other families. They concluded to build a fort and take up land on Fifteen Mile Creek.

There were in the colony the Combs, Crooks, Bolton Zachary, Flett, Walker and two other families. They ran up part of the stockade, but as there was no immediate trouble with the Indians completion of the stockade was abandoned. It is true some stock was stolen, but they were not fully convince that this was not the work of white men instead of Indians.

Until quite recently our subject has been a Republican. At present he is a Prohibitionist. For eight years he was Justice of the Peace, and has been school director, and was the first Clerk of School District No. 2 upon its organization. He has never been an office seeker, but has always taken an active interest in party politics. For many years he followed the business of farming and stock raising, but in 1885 he disposed of his land, of which he at one time had 600 acres, and removed into the town of Dufur. During one year he was in the hotel business, conducting old Fifteen Mile House, and one year he was engaged in improving his town property. In company of two partners he erected a windmill and built waterworks, draining water from the creek. These were the pioneer waterworks of Dufur. Later a company of eight was organized, including Mr. Menefee, and they enlarged the system,and of this plant he is now superintendent.

Since 1889 he has been a Notary Public. Our subjects wife owns residence lots in Dufur, and a house on Main Street. Mr. Menefee had one brother, Elijah L., who died in 1875. Four sisters are deceased: Clarinda, Lucy, Sarah and Catherine.

February 8, 1849, at Grant View {Grandview], Louisa County., Iowa, was united in marriage to Nancy Jane Benefiel. She has one brother living in Spokane, Washington. She had three sisters, Susan, widow of Robert Ireland; Louisa and Hester, deceased. Mr. Menefee has seven children living: Henry of Dufur; Frank; William R., a druggist in Gaston, Oregon; Mary, wife of F.M. Gilliam of Fossil, Oregon; Carrie, married to E.B. Dufur [first wife Frances Susan Zimmerman] of Gold Hill, Oregon; Hannah, widow of Warren Emerson and Evaline, widow of Hugh Moorehead. Both Mr. and Mrs. Menefee are members of the Christian Church.---
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- From Verna Frances Menefee Plummer Sampson:
"I remember when I was very little, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Menefee in Dufur. Often they sat at a long library table, a kerosene lamp centered between them, each reading a bible. Grandpa knew the Scriptures, chapter and verse.
They would sit on the front porch of their house in Dufur, each in a rocking chair and Nancy Jane smoking from a corncob pipe. They rocked and waited for the rents to be brought to them from their property in Dufur."
__________________________________________________________________________ ___
For 8 years he was a Justice of the Peace, and in 1865 he ran the Eight Mile house, a hotel on Fifteen Mile Creek, fifteen miles from The Dalles, Wasco Co. Oregon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
From Verna Frances Menefee Plummer Sampson:
"I remember when I was very little, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Menefee in Dufur. Often they sat at a long library table, a kerosene lamp centered between them, each reading a bible. Grandpa knew the Scriptures, chapter and verse.
They would sit on the front porch of their house in Dufur, each in a rocking chair and Nancy Jane smoking from a corncob pipe. They rocked and waited for the rents to be brought to them from their property in Dufur."

Our Great grandfather [Aunt Birdie's grandfather], E.B. Dufur, was instrumental in getting statehood for Oregon. He went to the US Congress and presented them with the reasons why Oregon should no longer be a territory. He was an attorney, studying law while watching sheep for the family as a young man, before he married.

My brother, Ed, [insert by Glenna Menefee Inglis] read a case he had either prosecuted or defended [I do not remember which; it was while he was in the service for WW II and I was too young to know the difference] in True Stories Magazine. He taught law to Nancy Benefiel Menefee and my grandfather Frank Menefee. They dissolved their partnership when Edith Dufur and he were divorced, about 1901. Aunt Verna was graduated from Reed College, which the Dufur's founded. We have their piano, the first grand piano in Oregon territory. It is an upright grand and, according to Aunt Birdie, came around the horn, as they had come across the plains and too many things were lost.

I started to tell you yesterday that when Nancy Jane Benefiel Menefee drove in the wagon train, William Reynolds Menefee, her husband, had sent money for her to secure passage on a ship around the horn [not always a safe method, either]. I guess you can see where Aunt Birdie and the rest of us have gotten our independence.

I hope you don't get inundated by family stories, but not all of it is written [I have tried my best], but after I'm gone, I want your side to know, too. Just let me know if it's too much, or if you want more info., but I thought this would be possibly be needed for the memorial.

"From same History of Central Oregon, 1905"

Wm. [R] Menefee, one of the oldest settlers, in the county comprising Wasco County, and a retired farmer, resides at Dufur. He was born Dec. 5th, 1823 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, at the time of his birth known as Culpeper County. He is the son of John M. and Lucy M. [Partlow] Menefee, natives of Virginia. In 1837 John L. Partlow, the brother of Lucy M. Menefee was sheriff of Rappahannock County.

In a subscription school in Virginia Wm. R. Menefee, our subject, received his education, and in 1835 his parents removed to Henry County, Iowa. To reach this place they were obliged to travel overland with horse teams. It was in 1852 that our subject came to Oregon and located on a donation claim in Yamhill County, but it not being entirely satisfactory he secured another claim in Walla Walla County. Washington, and in 1855 started for that locality with his wife and two children. At the Dalles he learned of the horrible atrocities connected with the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitman, and decided to postpone his advent into that territory. On the repeal of the Donation Law he came this vicinity accompanied by seven other families. They concluded to build a fort and take up land on Fifteen Mile Creek.

There were in the colony the Combs, Crooks, Bolton Zachary, Flett, Walker and two other families. They ran up part of the stockade, but as there was no immediate trouble with the Indians completion of the stockade was abandoned. It is true some stock was stolen, but they were not fully convince that this was not the work of white men instead of Indians.

Until quite recently our subject has been a Republican. At present he is a Prohibitionist. For eight years he was Justice of the Peace, and has been school director, and was the first Clerk of School District No. 2 upon its organization. He has never been an office seeker, but has always taken an active interest in party politics. For many years he followed the business of farming and stock raising, but in 1885 he disposed of his land, of which he at one time had 600 acres, and removed into the town of Dufur. During one year he was in the hotel business, conducting old Fifteen Mile House, and one year he was engaged in improving his town property. In company of two partners he erected a windmill and built water works, draining water from the creek. These were the pioneer waterworks of Dufur. Later a company of eight was organized, including Mr. Menefee, and they enlarged the system, and of this plant he is now superintendent.

Since 1889 he has been a Notary Public. Our subject's wife owns residence lots in Dufur, and a house on Main Street. Mr. Menefee had one brother, Elijah L., who died in 1875. Four sisters are deceased: Clarinda, Lucy, Sarah and Catherine."From same History of Central Oregon, 1905

Wm. [R] Menefee, one of the oldest settlers, in the county comprising Wasco County, and a retired farmer, resides at Dufur. He was born Dec. 5th, 1823 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, at the time of his birth known as Culpeper County. He is the son of John M. and Lucy M. [Partlow] Menefee, natives of Virginia. In 1837 John L. Partlow, the brother of Lucy M. Menefee was sheriff of Rapahannock County.

In a subscription school in Virginia Wm. R. Menefee, our subject, received his education, and in 1835 his parents removed to Henry County, Iowa. To reach this place they were obliged to travel overland with horse teams. It was in 1852 that our subject came to Oregon and located on a donation claim in Yamhill county, but it not being entirely satisfactory he secured another claim in Walla Walla County. Washington, and in 1855 started for that locality with his wife and two children. At the Dalles he learned of the horrible atrosities connected with the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitman, and decided to postpone his advent into that territory. On the repeal of the Donation Law he came this vicinity accompanied by seven other families. They concluded to build a fort and take up land on Fifteen Mile Creek.

There were in the colony the Combs, Crooks, Bolton Zachary, Flett, Walker and two other families. They ran up part of the stockade, but as there was no immediate trouble with the Indians completion of the stockade was abandoned. It is true some stock was stolen, but they were not fully convince that this was not the work of white men instead of Indians.

Until quite recently our subject has been a Republican. At present he is a Prohibitionist. For eight years he was Justice of the Peace, and has been school director, and was the first Clerk of School District No. 2 upon its organization. He has never been an office seeker, but has always taken an active interest in party politics. For many years he followed the business of farming and stock raising, but in 1885 he disposed of his land, of which he at one time had 600 acres, and removed into the town of Dufur. During one year he was in the hotel business, conducting old Fifteen Mile House, and one year he was engaged in improving his town property. In company of two partners he erected a windmill and built waterworks, draining water from the creek. These were the pioneer waterworks of Dufur. Later a company of eight was organized, including Mr. Menefee, and they enlarged the system,and of this plant he is now superintendent.

Since 1889 he has been a Notary Public. Our subjects wife owns residence lots in Dufur, and a house on Main Street. Mr. Menefee had one brother, Elijah L., who died in 1875. Four sisters are deceased: Clarinda, Lucy, Sarah and Catherine.

February 8, 1849, at Grant View {Grandview], Louisa County., Iowa, was united in marriage to Nancy Jane Benefiel. She has one brother living in Spokane, Washington. She had three sisters, Susan, widow of Robert Ireland; Louisa and Hester, deceased. Mr. Menefee has seven children living: Henry of Dufur; Frank; William R., a druggist in Gaston, Oregon; Mary, wife of F.M. Gilliam of Fossil, Oregon; Carrie, married to E.B. Dufur [first wife Frances Susan Zimmerman] of Gold Hill, Oregon; Hannah, widow of Warren Emerson and Evaline, widow of Hugh Moorehead. Both Mr. and Mrs. Menefee are members of the Christian Church.---
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Verna Frances Menefee Plummer Sampson:
"I remember when I was very little, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Menefee in Dufur. Often they sat at a long library table, a kerosene lamp centered between them, each reading a bible. Grandpa knew the Scriptures, chapter and verse.
They would sit on the front porch of their house in Dufur, each in a rocking chair and Nancy Jane smoking from a corncob pipe. They rocked and waited for the rents to be brought to them from their property in Dufur."
_____________________________________________________________________________
For 8 years he was a Justice of the Peace, and in 1865 he ran the Eight Mile house, a hotel on Fifteen Mile Creek, fifteen miles from The Dalles, Wasco Co. Oregon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Verna Frances Menefee Plummer Sampson:
"I remember when I was very little, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Menefee in Dufur. Often they sat at a long library table, a kerosene lamp centered between them, each reading a bible. Grandpa knew the Scriptures, chapter and verse.
They would sit on the front porch of their house in Dufur, each in a rocking chair and Nancy Jane smoking from a corncob pipe. They rocked and waited for the rents to be brought to them from their property in Dufur."

Our Great grandfather [Aunt Birdie's grandfather], E.B. Dufur, was instrumental in getting statehood for Oregon. He went to the US Congress and presented them with the reasons why Oregon should no longer be a territory. He was an attorney, studying law while watching sheep for the family as a young man, before he married.

My brother, Ed, [insert by Glenna Menefee Inglis] read a case he had either prosecuted or defended [I do not remember which; it was while he was in the service for WW II and I was too young to know the difference] in True Stories Magazine. He taught law to Nancy Benefiel Menefee and my grandfather Frank Menefee. They dissolved their partnership when Edith Dufur and he were divorced, about 1901. Aunt Verna was graduated from Reed College, which the Dufur's founded. We have their piano, the first grand piano in Oregon territory. It is an upright grand and, according to Aunt Birdie, came around the horn, as they had come across the plains and too many things were lost.

I started to tell you yesterday that when Nancy Jane Benefiel Menefee drove in the wagon train, William Reynolds Menefee, her husband, had sent money for her to secure passage on a ship around the horn [not always a safe method, either]. I guess you can see where Aunt Birdie and the rest of us have gotten our independence.

I hope you don't get inundated by family stories, but not all of it is written [I have tried my best], but after I'm gone, I want your side to know, too. Just let me know if it's too much, or if you want more info., but I thought this would be possibly be needed for the memorial.

"From same History of Central Oregon, 1905"

Wm. [R] Menefee, one of the oldest settlers, in the county comprising Wasco County, and a retired farmer, resides at Dufur. He was born Dec. 5th, 1823 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, at the time of his birth known as Culpeper County. He is the son of John M. and Lucy M. [Partlow] Menefee, natives of Virginia. In 1837 John L. Partlow, the brother of Lucy M. Menefee was sheriff of Rappahannock County.

In a subscription school in Virginia Wm. R. Menefee, our subject, received his education, and in 1835 his parents removed to Henry County, Iowa. To reach this place they were obliged to travel overland with horse teams. It was in 1852 that our subject came to Oregon and located on a donation claim in Yamhill County, but it not being entirely satisfactory he secured another claim in Walla Walla County. Washington, and in 1855 started for that locality with his wife and two children. At the Dalles he learned of the horrible atrocities connected with the massacre of Dr. Marcus Whitman, and decided to postpone his advent into that territory. On the repeal of the Donation Law he came this vicinity accompanied by seven other families. They concluded to build a fort and take up land on Fifteen Mile Creek.

There were in the colony the Combs, Crooks, Bolton Zachary, Flett, Walker and two other families. They ran up part of the stockade, but as there was no immediate trouble with the Indians completion of the stockade was abandoned. It is true some stock was stolen, but they were not fully convince that this was not the work of white men instead of Indians.

Until quite recently our subject has been a Republican. At present he is a Prohibitionist. For eight years he was Justice of the Peace, and has been school director, and was the first Clerk of School District No. 2 upon its organization. He has never been an office seeker, but has always taken an active interest in party politics. For many years he followed the business of farming and stock raising, but in 1885 he disposed of his land, of which he at one time had 600 acres, and removed into the town of Dufur. During one year he was in the hotel business, conducting old Fifteen Mile House, and one year he was engaged in improving his town property. In company of two partners he erected a windmill and built water works, draining water from the creek. These were the pioneer waterworks of Dufur. Later a company of eight was organized, including Mr. Menefee, and they enlarged the system, and of this plant he is now superintendent.

Since 1889 he has been a Notary Public. Our subject's wife owns residence lots in Dufur, and a house on Main Street. Mr. Menefee had one brother, Elijah L., who died in 1875. Four sisters are deceased: Clarinda, Lucy, Sarah and Catherine."

Married ‎ Feb 8, 1849 at Louisa Co., IA. (57 years married) to:

woman Nancy Jane BENEFIEL‏‎, daughter of Robert BENEFIEL and Mary MONTGOMERY‏.
Born ‎ Oct 30, 1831 at Indiana--, died ‎ 1907 at Dufur, OR.---------------------see notes‎, 75 or 76 years
I started to tell you yesterday that when Nancy Jane Benefiel Menefee drove a wagon in a train with her new baby and not a much older child, William Reynolds Menefee, her husband, had sent money for her to secure passage on a ship around the horn [not always a safe method, either]. I guess you can see where Aunt Birdie and the rest of us have gotten our independence.

Children:

1.
woman Martha Ann Menefee‏‎
Born ‎ Jul 12, 1850 at Dates from Benefiel Bible, died ‎ Dec 28, 1850‎, under 1 year old
2.
man Jonas Henry Menefee‏
Born ‎ Nov 30, 1851 at St. Joseph, MO., died ‎ Apr 20, 1929 at Dufur, Wasco Co., OR.‎, 77 years, buried ‎ at IOOF Dufur Cemetery Age 77
3.
woman Mary Anabell Menefee‏
Born ‎ Jul 5, 1854 at Sheridan, OR., died ‎ Oct 28, 1936 at Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon, USA‎, 82 years
4.
woman Hannah Jane Menefee‏
Born ‎ May 5, 1856 at The Dalles, OR., died ‎ Jun 1913‎, 57 years
Hannah Menefee
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1856
Age in 1870: 14
Birthplace: Oregon
Home in 1870: Fifteen Mile Precinct, Wasco, Oregon
Family and neighbors: View Results
5.
woman Lucy Mildred Menefee‏‎
Born ‎ Jun 15, 1858 at The Dalles, OR., died ‎ Mar 12, 1877 at [ 2nd d.d. 5-29-1914, York, ND. ][ Partlow Info]‎, 18 years
6.
woman Katherine Eliza Menefee‏‎
Born ‎ Jan 18, 1860 at Dufur, Wasco, Oregon, died ‎ 1863 at Fall of 1863‎, 2 or 3 years
7.
woman Carrie Ella Menefee‏
Born ‎ Aug 22, 1861 at Dufur, OR., died ‎after 1927‎, at least 66 years
8.
woman Evaline Awilda Menefee‏
Born ‎ Nov 14, 1863 at Oregon, died ‎ 1907 at Fall of 1907‎, 43 or 44 years
9.
man Frank John Franklin MENEFEE‏
Born ‎ Jan 31, 1866 at Dufur, Wasco, OR.---see notes, died ‎ Jul 16, 1926 at d. cert. rec # 133, reg # 89 WA. verifies birth, death dates‎, 60 years



Baptism: 19 MAY 2005 ARIZO

Endowment: 28 JUL 2005 NAUV2

Sealing to Parents: 06 SEP 2005 SNOWF

William Reynolds MENEFEE / Nancy Jane BENEFIEL
06 SEP 2005 SNOWF

Edith Adelia DUFUR

Oregon Republican League:

Republican League Register of Oregon, The Register Publishing Company,
1896, page 245.


MENEFEE, HON. FRANK, of The Dalles, was born in that city January 31,
1866. He is one of the leading young Republicans of the state. He was a
delegate to the last three conventions, and the State League. In 1891 he
was elected City Recorder, and again in 1892. In March, 1895, he was
appointed Mayor by the council to fill a vacancy and in the following
June was elected to the same honorable office by the people.

-Tony Larson
Transcribed by Clifford S. Cowles


From the History of Central Oregon, published 1905


Frank Menefee, District Attorney of the 7th Judicial District of Oregon, of the firm of Menefee & Wilson, resides at The Dalles, where he was born January 31, 1866. He is the son of Wm. R. and Nancy J. [Benefiel] Menefee, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Indiana, who are also mentioned in this volume.

William R. Menefee is from an old and distinguished Virginia family. Jonas Menefee, one of the ancestors, was a lieutenant in the British Army, under Captain John Smith, whose life was saved by the Indian maiden, Pocahontas. He married Capt. John Smith's sister, Hannah. [ My addition: This had to be another Menifee possibly from whom we descend, not Jonas. Jonas was born in cir 1720, died cir 1782. George was the first Menefee of record, @ 1622. The Menefees' were, the majority of them, planters. At the present day the members of the later generation are prominent in Judicial circles and in commercial life, throughout Viginia and elsewhere. [Copied verbatim]




[NOTE] The first Menefee [ Menefie, Menifye etc.] of record is GEORGE, a merchant and attorney, who arrived at Jamestown in July 1622 aboard the ship Samuell. George was from the Weston area, near Bristol. He had three wives, [1] Elizabeth, [2] Izabella, and [3] Mary. Three other Menefees were in Jamestown by 1639 - Henry, Charles and William - who were probably brothers, sons or nephews of George. A William Menefee witnessed a will in Westmoreland in 1716 and a John Menefee signed papers on record at the Spotsylvania Historical Society in about 1750. These latter no doubt derive from the 3 late comers to Jamestown. ] [The husband of George's daughter, Elizabeth, said she had a brother named George in England. He would have had a settlement made for him when his mother died; he came to the colonies after George the father died; Elizabeth inherited her father's estate and was probably a half-sister to the latter George. I do hope the 2 missing generations from George I to Jonas is someday discovered. See notes under George Menifee]


Frank Menefee, our subject, was reared in Wasco County on his father's stock ranch. He was educated at the Wasco Independent Academy, at the Dalles, read law with E.B. Dufur commencing in 1887 and in 1889 was admitted to practice. He was elected City Recorder in 1891, served two years, and then formed a law partnership with E.B. Dufur, which was continued until 1900. After that period he was elected district attorney and entered into partnership with Fred W. Wilson. Mr. Menefee has served two terms as Mayor of the Dalles, in 1895 and 1896. Politically he is a staunch and influential member of the Republican party, had frequently been a delegate to the county conventions, and was two years chairman of the Mckinley Club, and two years a member of the County Republican Central Committee.

January 6th, 1903, at St. Paul, Minnesota, our subject was united in marriage to Mabel Cowles, born in Chardon, Ohio. Her father, Clifford S. Cowles, is the general agent of the Royal Insurance Company, residing at St. Paul, Minnesota. The mother, Eliza B. [Canfield] Cowles, native of Chardon, Ohio, is with her husband. Mrs. Menefee has one sister, Mary, wife of Harry Humason, Assistant Cashier of the American National Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Menefee is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., of which he is past C.C. and also a member of the Grand Lodge; Cascade Lodge No. 303, B.P.O.E. at the Dalles; Wasco Tribe No. 16, I.O.R.M., of which he is Past Sachem, and has been Keeper of the Wampum since its organization; the W.O.T.W.; the K.O.T.M. and the Rathbone Sisters. [It sounds as if Mabel had a lot of influence with the writer. I later discovered her brother wrote it.]

[Note: Frank Menefee first married Edith Adelia Dufur at Fairview, Oregon on 6 November, 1889. Edith was the daughter of Enoch Burnham Dufur, [with whom Frank first read law] and Frances Susan Zimmerman Dufur. from the Dufur-Menefee marriage was born Glenn Dufur Menefee, 09-11-1892, and Verna Frances Menefee, born 14 January 1894. They had another boy who died at birth; I used to play with the clothing my grandmother had prepared for him, beautiful long dresses which she carefully saved and fit my doll which was about a year size. Mom says when she married dad, he had her trunk full of beautiful silk quilts which had never been used and crumbled from age when she looked at them. The Menefee- Dufur marriage ended in divorce in circa 1900 and Frank relocated in Portland before his second marriage, which was not as happy as portrayed. My dad [Glenn] did not like going to see Mabel. Frank was one of the 10 most important men in Oregon, with a full page and picture devoted to him in a volume of Oregon history, 1910. It tells of him forming a company manufacturing cash registers, of which he was the treasurer. When one of his partners absconded with funds, my grandfather went to prison because "he should have known about the fraud" since he was treasurer. My mother claims he was absolutely innocent, and she does not manufacture untruths. She liked Frank and says he was one of the kindest and gentle of men. When my grandfather came out of prison, Mabel had a "boarder", with whom she was sharing her bedroom. My grandfather lived at his home for a while, [in Portland], but lived in an apartment with his sister in Olympia, WA. when he died from acute heart failure July 14, 1926. Since dad [Glenn] never talked about his family, I always assumed he did not like his dad, but mom tells me he loved him deeply. Dad never talked about any of his family, leading to my supposition. He loved his mother deeply and purchased three cemetery plots in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, one for him, his second wife Vera, [buried in CA.] and planned to have his mother taken from the cemetery in Spokane, WA., and have her buried next to him.
10.
man William Robert Menefee‏
Born ‎ Feb 27, 1868 at Dufur, OR., died ‎ 1947 at owned drug store Chehalis WA 1930's‎, 78 or 79 years
11.
man Leroy Montgomery Menefee‏‎
Born ‎ Apr 1875 at Dufur, OR., died ‎ Apr 1875 at Three days old, Dufur, OR.‎, under 1 year old
12.
man "Frank" John Franklin MENEFEE‏
Born ‎ Jan 31, 1866 at Dufur, OR.---see notes, died ‎ Jul 16, 1926 at d. cert. rec # 133, reg # 89 WA. verifies birth, death dates‎, 60 years
Transcribed by Clifford S. Cowles


From the History of Central Oregon, published 1905


Frank Menefee, District Attorney of the 7th Judicial District of Oregon, of the firm of Menefee & Wilson, resides at The Dalles, where he was born January 31, 1866. He is the son of Wm. R. and Nancy J. [Benefiel] Menefee, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Indiana, who are also mentioned in this volume.

William R. Menefee is from an old and distinguished Virginia family. Jonas Menefee, one of the ancestors, was a lieutenant in the British Army, under Captain John Smith, whose life was saved by the Indian maiden, Pocahontas. He married Capt. John Smith's sister, Hannah. [ My addition: This had to be another Menifee possibly from whom we descend, not Jonas. Jonas was born in cir 1720, died cir 1782. George was the first Menefee of record, @ 1623. The Menefee were, the majority of them, planters. At the present day the members of the later generation are prominent in Judicial circles and in commercial life, throughout Viginia and elsewhere. [Copied verbatim]




[NOTE] The first Menefee [ Menefie, Menifye etc.] of record is GEORGE, a merchant and attorney, who arrived at Jamestown in July 1623 aboard the ship Samuell. George was from the Weston area, near Bristol. He had three wives, [1] Elizabeth, [2] Izabella, and [3] Mary. Three other Menefees were in Jamestown by1639 - Henry, Charles and William - who were probably brothers or nephews of George. A William Menefee witnessed a will in Westmoreland in 1716 and a John Menefee signed papers on record at the Spotsylvania Historical Society in about 1750. These latter no doubt derive from the 3 late comers to Jamestown. ]


Frank Menefee, our subject, was reared in Wasco County on his father's stock ranch. He was educated at the Wasco Independent Academy, at the Dalles, read law with E.B. Dufur commencing in 1887 and in 1889 was admitted to practice. He was elected City Recorder in 1891, served two years, and then formed a law partnership with E.B. Dufur, which was continued until 1900. After that period he was elected district attorney and entered into partnership with Fred W. Wilson. Mr. Menefee has served two terms as Mayor of the Dalles, in 1895 and 1896. Politically he is a staunch and influential member of the Republican party, had frequently been a delegate to the county conventions, and was two years chairman of the Mckinley Club, and two years a member of the County Republican Central Committee.

January 6th, 1903, at St. Paul, Minnesota, our subject was united in marriage to Mabel Cowles, born in Chardon, Ohio. Her father, Clifford S. Cowles, is the general agent of the Royal Insurance Company, residing at St. Paul, Minnesota. The mother, Eliza B. [Canfield] Cowles, native of Chardon, Ohio, is with her husband. Mrs. Menefee has one sister, Mary, wife of Harry Humason, Assistant Cashier of the American National Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Menefee is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 9, K. of P., of which he is past C.C. and also a member of the Grand Lodge; Cascade Lodge No. 303, B.P.O.E. at the Dalles; Wasco Tribe No. 16, I.O.R.M., of which he is Past Sachem, and has been Keeper of the Wampum since its organization; the W.O.T.W.; the K.O.T.M. and the Rathbone Sisters. [It sounds as if Mabel had a lot of influence with the writer.]

[Note: Frank Menefee first married Edith Adelia Dufur at Fairview, Oregon on 6 November, 1889. Edith was the daughter of Enoch Burnham Dufur, [with whom Frank first read law] and Frances Susan Zimmerman Dufur. from the Dufur-Menefee marriage was born Glenn Dufur Menefee, 09-11-1892, and Verna Frances Menefee, born 14 January 1894. They had another boy who died at birth; I used to play with the clothing my grandmother had prepared for him, beautiful long dresses which she carefully saved and fit my doll which was about a year size. Mom says when she married dad, he had her trunk full of beautiful silk quilts which had never been used and crumbled from age when she looked at them. The Menefee- Dufur marriage ended in divorce in circa 1900 and Frank relocated in Portland before his second marriage, which was not as happy as portrayed. My dad [Glenn] did not like going to see Mabel. Frank was one of the 10 most important men in Oregon, with a full page and picture devoted to him in a volume of Oregon history, 1910. It tells of him forming a company manufacturing cash registers, of which he was the treasurer. When one of his partners absconded with funds, my grandfather went to prison because "he should have known about the fraud" since he was treasurer. My mother claims he was absolutely innocent, and she does not manufacture untruths. She liked Frank and says he was one of the kindest and gentle of men. When my grandfather came out of prison, Mabel had a "boarder", with whom she was sharing her bedroom. My grandfather lived at his home for a while, [in Portland], but lived in an apartment in Olympia, WA. when he died from acute heart failure July 14, 1926. Since dad [Glenn] never talked about his family, I always assumed he did not like his dad, but mom tells me he loved him deeply. Dad never talked about any of his family, leading to my supposition. He loved his mother deeply and purchased three cemetery plots in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, one for him, his second wife Vera,[buried in CA.] and planned to have his mother taken from the cemetery in Spokane, WA., and have her buried next to him.