Evans Smith McComas
Sept. 9, 1911; Oregonian, p 6  (photo)
"E. S. McComas is Dead"
Wallowa, Or., Sept. 8

   Evans Smith McComas, pioneer, publisher, promoter, Democrat and for years a power in the politics, oratory and development of Eastern Oregon, died September 4, of paralysis, which resulted from an injury received on the train at Elgin five years ago.
   Evans Smith McComas was born in Adams County, Ohio, January 23, 1839.  When 5 years old his parents took him to Montgomery County, Indiana.  In 1862 he crossed the plains and settled at Auburn, where he began active mining and prospecting.  Shortly after arriving at Auburn his party was attacked by Indians.  Mr. McComas received a bullet wound in the leg and was hit by an envenomed arrow on the right hand.  He carried the scar to the day of his death.  This was his first experience in Indian warfare, but he later led a company of citizen volunteers against Chief Joseph in the Wallowa Valley, and was active in the Bannock campaign of 1878.
   Always a natural orator and writer, he soon drifted to literary pursuits and established the Mountain Sentinel at Union, the first newspaper in Eastern Oregon.  He printed his picture in the paper in all the glory of his heavy Burnside whiskers, and under it the caption "Big Injun Me."  He late assisted in the establishment of a paper at la Grande, the Grand Ronde Chronicle, which is now the Morning Star.  He wrote several poems, the best known of which are "The Indian Scare of 1878" and "The Old Pioneer, " of which Joaquin Miller said, "I never wrote anything nearly so good."
   He moved to La Grande in 1864, and was elected County Clerk in 1866 and re-elected in 1868.  He established the Mountain Sentinel and was later appointed as the first register of the United States Land Office at La Grande.  In 1890, associated W. A. Parker, he established the Grand Ronde Chronicle.  Ever active in politics, he was an ardent Democrat and the older citizens of Union County still tell of his political speeches.
   In 1867 he married Miss Harriet M. Welsh, a native of Iowa.  He is survived by his widow, an only daughter, Mrs. Jeanette Moran, and by three sisters, Mrs. Alice M. Bell, of Imnaha, Mrs. Esther E. Pursel and Mrs. Mary R. Thompson, of Union, and an adopted son, Earl, now residing near Spokane.