Jacob Kamm
Jacob Kamm (December 12, 1823 – December 16, 1912) was a prominent early transportation businessman in Oregon.
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[edit] Early life
Kamm was born on December 12, 1823 in Canton of Glarus, Switzerland.[1][2][3] His family immigrated to America when he was 8 to Illinois, St. Louis, then New Orleans.[4][3][2] He worked as a Printer's devil beginning at age 12.[5] A story repeated after Kamm's death was that a thief stole $12 from him in 1837, leading Kamm to work on a Mississippi steamer, the Ark, as a cabin boy.[4][3] Trained as an engineer on the Mississippi River, he was certified chief engineer with the St. Louis Association of Steamboat Engineers at age 25.[2] In 1849, he moved west with the California Gold Rush, piloting the Blackhawk, a steamer, on the Sacramento River.[2]
[edit] Oregon
Kamm came to Oregon in 1850 after being hired by Milwaukie founder Lot Whitcomb onto his eponymous ship, being the chief engineer on the Willamette River.[2][6][3] The Whitcomb was launched on December 25, 1850.[3] Kamm and John C. Ainsworth joined with Abernathy and Clark, merchants from Oregon City, in 1854 or 1855 to build the Jenny Clark, a sternwheeler on the Willamette.[3][6] Kamm owned half of the Jenny Clark, Ainsworth owned a quarter, and Abernathy and Clark shared the remaining quarter.[6] They then built the Carrie Ladd steamer in 1858, called the "keystone of the Oregon Steam Navigation company."[6]
He was a founder of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in 1879 and a shareholder in the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company.[2][7] He built steamboats including in 1891, the Ocean Wave and in 1900, Athlon.[7] One of the companies he owned was called the Vancouver Transportation Company.[7]
Kamm sold property to the city in approximately 1910 to construct Old Lincoln High School, currently known as Portland State University's Lincoln Hall.[8][9] His 1870s French Second Empire style home, the Jacob Kamm House was moved from its 14th and Main location in the 1950s to construct the current Lincoln High School.[2] This estate near 14th and Main contained 11 acres (45,000 m2).[2]
[edit] Personal life
Kamm married Caroline Augusta Gray on Stepember 13, 1859 during the Pig War, on the PS Eliza Anderson steamer just outside Fort Hope, Canada.[10][11][12] They had one son, Charles Tilton Kamm, 1860-1906.[11][12][13][2] Kamm was a Mason, being inducted[clarification needed] at age 21 in St. Louis.[2] In Portland, he was affiliated with the Multnomah Lodge in Oregon City, then the Willamette Lodge in Portland.[2] He was also a Knights Templar and a Shriner.[2]
Caroline Augusta Gray was born October 16, 1840 at Camp Lapwai, outside Lewiston, Idaho.[11] Her father was William H. Gray.[11] She died in 1932.[5]
[edit] Late life and death
In December 1907 Kamm was "run down by a reckless bicycle rider" in Portland.[14][15] Another report described the bicyclist as a "careless boy bicyclist"; Kamm was confined to his bed for many days.[16]
Kamm became ill on December 1, 1912, "being an invalid" since the 1907 bicycle wreck.[17][18] By December 13, The Oregonian reported he "may only live a few hours", stating his condition was "sinking rapidly".[17] The following day, he entered a coma and died.[2][19][20] He was buried at the River View Cemetery in Portland.[21][22]
At time of death, his estate was valued at approximately $4 million.[23][24][13][17] Aside from the Jacob Kamm home and property, he also owned a half-block building at Front and Pine, a quarter block at Third and Yamhill, a quarter block at First and Washington, the Vancouver Transportation Company, a "heavy stockholder" in the First National Bank of Astoria, and a "heavy stockholder" in the First National Bank of Portland. He also owned valuable property on Market Street in San Francisco.[2] At the time of his death, the Vancouver Transportation Company operated two ships: the Lurline and Undine on routes between Portland and Astoria.[2]
In 1929, E.W. Wright, a marine historian, wrote Kamm was one of "two outstanding figures whose leadership in Columbia river steamboating will never be disputed."[6]
[edit] References
- ^ National Register of Historic Places Inventory- Nomination Form: Kamm (Jacob) House. Oregon: State Historic Preservation Office.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Jacob Kamm Now in State of Coma. Veteran Portland Man's Life Slowly Ebbs out and End in Near". The Oregonian: pp. 4. 1912-12-14.
- ^ a b c d e f Deane, Early (1965-12-19). "Thief put Kamm on Map". The Oregonian: pp. F6.
- ^ a b Scott, Harvey W. (1890). History of Portland, Oregon. OCLC 4342776.
- ^ a b "Portland Youth Play in Adventure House". The Oregonian: pp. 5. 1946-08-11.
- ^ a b c d e Wright, E. W. (1929-02-10). "Credit for using river boats given Captain Ainsworth and Jacob Kamm". The Oregonian.
- ^ a b c Newell, Gordon R., ed., H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, at page 60, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966
- ^ "Rush Job Ordered. District to Build before Restrictions Are Enforced". The Oregonian: pp. 9. 1910-07-16.
- ^ Alfred Powers, Howard McKinley Corning, ed. (1937). History of Education in Portland. WPA Adult Education Project. pp. 184,241.
- ^ Sullivan, Ann (1984-11-27). "Historic house set for 3rd lease on life". The Oregonian: pp. MP2.
- ^ a b c d "Mrs. Jacob Kamm observes 90th birthday anniversary". The Oregonian: pp. 3. 1930-10-18.
- ^ a b "Copy of will is offered". The Oregonian: pp. 3. 1913-01-16.
- ^ a b "Kamm's Widow is Chief Beneficiary. Dead Transportation Man's Will Creates Trust Fund for Four Grandchildren". The Oregonian: pp. 15. 1912-12-20.
- ^ "City News in Brief". The Oregonian. 1907-12-21.
- ^ "Little Improvement Noticed". The Oregonian: pp. 7. 1907-12-23.
- ^ "Jacob Kamm Improving". The Oregonian: pp. 7. 1907-12-26.
- ^ a b c "Jacob Kamm Now Dying. Veteran Steamship Man Here May Live Few Hours". The Oregonian: pp. 1. 1912-12-13.
- ^ "Jacob Kamm Takes to Bed. Hopeful Responses Are Made to Inquiries as to His Condition". The Oregonian. 1912-12-05.
- ^ "Death Notices". The Oregonian: pp. 8. 1912-12-15.
- ^ "Veteran Steamboat Man Dies Wealthy". The Olympian (Portland, Oregon): pp. 4. 1912-12-15.
- ^ "Kamm burial is today". The Oregonian: pp. 7. 1912-12-16.
- ^ "Jacob Kamm is buried: Masons officiate at funeral of brother". The Oregonian: pp. 11. 1912-12-17.
- ^ "Kamm Estate Big. Value of $1,767,721,87 Placed on 2 Counties' Properties;". The Oregonian: pp. 16. 1913-01-28.
- ^ "Legislative Acts or Legal Proceedings". The Oregonian: pp. 7. 1913-02-07.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Sketch (with portrait)
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