Columbia-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Caples, M. D., Charles G. May 22, 1832 - April 3, 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 10, 2009, 9:02 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company CHARLES G. CAPLES, M. D. Among the pioneer families of Columbia county, none had more influence in their respective communities or performed more distinctive service for their fellowmen than the Caples family, a worthy representative of which was the late Dr. Charles G. Caples, who, as an able, devoted and successful physician and loyal and public-spirited citizen, was for a long period one of the conspicuous figures of his section of the county. The Doctor was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 22d of May, 1832, a son of Joseph and Mary (Laffer) Caples, mentioned more fully in the sketch of H. H. Caples, which appears elsewhere in this work. In the family was only one daughter, Joanna, who was married in 1859 to George W. Maxwell, and for several years they made their home in Yamhill county, Oregon, but later removed to Clark county, Washington, residing there until the late '70s. They then removed to Columbia City, Oregon, where Mrs. Maxwell died but Mr. Maxwell's death occurred at Vancouver, Washington. In their family were two children: Lawrence V. Maxwell, who married and had three children: Lawrence V., Jr., now a resident of New York city, Charles H. of Columbia City, Oregon, and Lucille, of Kelso, Washington; while Chester B. Maxwell, is a resident of Wieser, Idaho. He is married and has one daughter, Muriel. Dr. Caples lived in his native county until twelve years of age and in 1844 accompanied his parents on their journey across the plains to Oregon. He attended the public schools of Ohio and Salem, Oregon, also Tualatin Academy near Forest Grove, now known as Pacific University. In 1848, when seventeen years of age, he joined the gold rush to California, where he was engaged in mining about one year making enough money to pay the tuition and expenses of his sister and himself at Tualatin Academy. On leaving that institution he returned to Columbia City, and took a donation land claim of three hundred and twenty acres, a portion of which on the high land was heavily timbered, while the remainder was mainly rich river bottom land. He gave his attention to clearing this place, which he developed into a good farm, there spending the remainder of his life. After his marriage in 1855 he went to Portland and took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Giltner, one of the ablest physicians of that city, and in the course of time passed the examination before the board of physicians and was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1868 he was appointed state medical examiner for the insane at Monticello, Washington, in which capacity he rendered effective service for three years, after which he returned to his farm at Columbia City, where he practiced medicine for many years. He possessed high qualifications as a physician, for which profession he was naturally fitted. In those early days the practice of medicine in this sparsely settled country meant long and tiresome trips, day and night, over often almost impassable roads, in fair weather and foul, to reach those who required his services. The record of Dr. Caples was replete with faithful service, as he spared not himself that he might relieve the suffering of the sick, and he commanded the unqualified confidence, esteem and gratitude of the people of his community. After many years of practice, he retired and lived quietly on his farm until his death, which occurred April 3, 1906, when he was seventy-four years of age. On May 10, 1855, Dr. Caples married Miss Lucinda M. McBride, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of James and Mahala McBride, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. The family came to Oregon in 1846, crossing the plains with ox teams and covered wagons, and prominent among the pioneer families of this state. One of their sons, Thomas A. McBride, is now chief justice of the supreme court of Oregon. Mrs. Caples died September 4, 1916, leaving five children, as follows: Dr. Byron M., born at The Dalles, Oregon, is now a practicing physician at Waukesha, Wisconsin., and is the owner of the Waukesha Springs Sanatorium; Margaret A., is mentioned below; Willie L. is a resident of Arcadia, California; Dell M. is the wife of E. L. Houghton, of Santa Cruz, California; and Frederick C. is a mining engineer at Wedderburn, Oregon. Margaret A. Caples, who was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, attended the public schools and completed her education in old Columbia City Academy. She remained at home until her marriage in 1883 to E. M. Wharton, who was born in Princeton, Illinois, and is a son of Samuel and Mary Wharton, both now deceased. Mr. Wharton was educated in the public schools of his native state, and in 1870 went to Kansas, where he lived until 1875 and then came to Oregon. After living here for a year he returned to Kansas, where he remained until 1882, when he came back to Oregon and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land at Columbia City. The land was covered with heavy timber, a large part of which he cut into cordwood and sold to the river steamboats. In the course of time he cleared a large part of the land which he planted to fruit, developing it into a valuable ranch. In 1883 he opened a general store at Columbia City, which he conducted for four years, and was then elected treasurer of Columbia county, serving in that position for six years. In 1904 he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he successfully engaged in business for eighteen years, and then returned to Columbia City, where he and his wife are now living. They have a comfortable and attractive home on the hill just west of the highway, commanding a splendid view of the Columbia river valley and the majestic snow- clad peaks of Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton are the parents of three children, namely: Herbert M., born in Columbia City, is a member of the Masonic order and lives in California; Gertrude M. is the wife of R. O. Compton, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and they have a son, Charles C.; and Louise M. is the wife of Leroy Larson, of Oakland, California, and they have a son, Paul W. Mr. Wharton is a member of St. Helens Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., at St. Helens. Mrs. Wharton is a student of Indian lore, being able to speak the languages of several of the Indian tribes of the Columbia river country and has written and dramatized a very pretty Indian play. She and her husband are greatly interested in the welfare of their city and county, standing for all that is best in the life of their community, and to a marked degree they command the sincere regard of all who know them. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 826-827 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/bios/caplesmd747gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb