Charles Chandler headed west by wagon train from Missouri in 1862 heading toward the gold rush of California. In Idaho they heard of gold discovered in Bourne, Oregon and decided to head to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. The journey west lasted over 4 months before their arrival at the Baker Valley in September of 1862. The untouched valley had been irrigated by beavers and the grass was as high as your stirrups. George Chandler was a 16 year old youth then, and he had walked most of the way handling the oxen team. This was where the family decided to settle, however with winter fast approaching preparations had to be made. A cabin had to be built from logs in the area and hay was cut from the wild grasses in order to feed stock. Two trips were made to Umatilla Landing and Walla Walla for enough staples to last them the winter. The Chandlers decided they would rather go into the business of supplying the miners, than become miners. They started with Shorthorn cattle to supply beef to the fast growing area.
In 1889 George Chandler made a decision which would change the face of the Chandler operation. He purchased some Herefords from J. W. McKinney, and as they say, 'the rest is history'!

Many great bulls became the foundation of Chandler Herefords, not the least of which was the famous Mark Donald, 3020555, who was bred by my father Herbert Chandler, raised in Baker Oregon and shown by us all over the country. And I might say he caused quite a stir in the Hereford industry then and is now gaining popularity again as people are trying to put together as much Mark Donald breeding as possible, but of course it is diluted with other families of Herefords. Historic Mark Donald bulls and cows can be viewed here. The consistency and strength of this breeding program is hard to miss.