Biography of Charley J. Akins, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Akins, Sanders, O'Hara

************************************************************************
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************
************************************************************************
Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
************************************************************************
An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page An Illustrated History of
Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902 by Western Historical
Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 326

Charley J. Akins

Charles J. Akins is the son of Dennis and Triphena (Sanders) Akins and was
born on October 1, 1854, in Trumbull county, Ohio, whence he was removed by
his parents, at the age of eight years to Iona county, Michigan. In 1865, they
removed to Polk county, Iowa, and three years later they crossed the plains to
Idaho Springs, Idaho. While the advantages in early life were few for Mr.
Akins to gain educational training, still he so improved what were available
and also carefully occupied his spare moments with profitable reading so that
he became a well informed citizen and in some lines he chose later in life, a
leader, thus demonstrating what perseverance and pluck can accomplish. In
1871, he left the parental roof and went to Wyoming, engaging with the Union
Pacific Company as fireman on a locomotive, where he remained until he had
mastered the intricacies of locomotive engineering. Following this, we find
him in California and Oregon operating in the mines and making himself master
of placer mining and other parts of the art as well. Then he went to Las
Vegas, New Mexico, engaging as engineer on the Santa Fe road from 1879 to
1882, then returned to Montpelier, Idaho, and took an engine on the Oregon
Short Line. After the road was completed to Huntington, he took a passenger
engine run from there, serving from 1885 until 1897. At the above date. Mr.
Atkins determined to leave the service of the company and accordingly took
charge of the works of the Huntington Placer Mining Company, which
incorporation was instituted under the laws of Nebraska. He is a practical
placer miner, having operated in many places since he came west. He is a heavy
share owner in the company. Their property is located at the mouth of Connor
creek, about eighteen miles below Huntington, and is considered one of the
finest placer propositions in the state of Oregon.

The marriage of Mr. Akins and Miss Kate O'Hara, a native of Nebraska, was
solemnized on August 29, 1879, and to them have been born seven children, four
of whom are still living: John L., a graduate of the Huntington high school,
and at the age of nineteen a graduate also of the law department of Drake
University, of Des Moines, Iowa; Charley E., who finished the high school
course at the age of fifteen years; Jessie E. and Myrtle, attending school in
Huntington. Mr. Akins affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. His father was a
veteran of the Civil war, enlisting in 1861 in Company C., of Light Artillery,
Ohio Volunteers, and participated in a number of battles, but was discharged
in 1863, on account of disability, which in 1879 caused his death while in the
state of Colorado.