Robert Donnell Bushnell
Wheat and Hog Rancher of Irving

Robert Donnell Bushnell, whose energies have always been devoted to the general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, is the owner of a well cultivated and attractive ranch located one and a quarter miles south of Irving. He was born in California in 1866, and is a son of George E. and Nancy (Andrews) Bushnell, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Missouri. The parents crossed the plains with an ox team during the early years of their domestic life, settling on a donation claim, which embraced the ranch now owned and operated by our subject. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell, of whom our subject is the youngest. The eldest member of the family, Bessie, is deceased; and Belle, the next in order of birth, married S. L. Bond, of Irving, by whom she has had four children, Olivia, Frank, Samuel and Greetus.

As he was a child of only one year when his parents located in Lane county, practically the entire life of Robert Donnell Bushnell has been passed on the ranch where he is now living. He received a common-school education and was early trained in the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. Upon attaining his majority he purchased seventy acres of the home ranch from his father and has ever since assiduously applied himself to its further improvement and cultivation. During the intervening years he has brought it under high cultivation and has made extensive improvements, including the erection of substantial modern buildings and the installation of various conveniences, thus adding greatly to the appearance and value of the property. He also owns another ranch of forty acres on the Pacific Highway. In connection with the cultivation of his home place, Mr. Bushnell is operating his mother's ranch, containing one hundred and eighty-five acres, adjoining his own. His principal crop is wheat, but his specialty is the raising of thoroughbred hogs and standard bred horses. As he is a diligent man, efficient and practical in his methods and progressive in his ideas, he has met with a goodly measure of success, and is numbered among the prosperous ranchmen of that section. His homestead is located four and a half miles northwest of Eugene and a mile and a quarter south of Irving on the Eugene road, one of the populous portions of the county.

For his wife and helpmate, Mr. Bushnell chose Miss Maud E. Lyons, a daughter of T. L. and Delia J. (Edmunson) Lyons, the mother a native of Oregon and the father of California. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lyons numbered three, Mrs. Bushnell being the oldest. Her sister is Elva, who was given a common-school education and is now employed in a large real-estate office in Seatle. John H., her only brother, is engaged in the mining business at Medford, Oregon. Mrs. Bushnell was educated in the common schools of Oregon and prior to her marriage taught for one term in Crook county, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell have been born three sons, as follows: G. Edwin, whose birth occurred in 1899, attending school at Irving; Robert K. born on the 2nd of December, 1901; and Julius Blygh, whose natal day was the 13th of January, 1907.

The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally Mr. Bushnell is affiliated with the United Artisans, while his political support is given to the republican party. He has never figured prominently in the public life of the community, nevertheless he is not remiss in matters of citizenship, but gives his indorsement to every progressive movement and actively cooperates in advancing the development of the country along the various lines of human activity.

(From Lane County Historical Society, from Gaston's 'Centinnial History of Oregon)