John Tong, who crossed the plains to Oregon 70 years ago, died at the Oregon City hospital Saturday, May 6, at the age of 76
years. He was born near Knoxville, Ia. He came west to Oregon by ox team with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Tong, when he was
but 6 years of age. The family took up a donation land claim two miles east of what is now Clackamas station.

In 1868 Mr. Tong married Nancy A. Heater of Marion county, a daughter of Lorenzo Dow Heater, pioneer of 1852. In 1870 he and
his new bride took up a homestead on what is now Mount Scott. They lived there for a number of years. Since then the family
lived at Harmony, Damascus and Portland.

There are four sons and three daughters, as follows: Elmer, Earle, Marion and Nettie Tong, Mrs. Rachel Netherton and Mrs.
Mary Plasket, all of Damascus, and Fletcher Tong, who lives in Washington.