Multnomah-Statewide County OR Archives Biographies.....Klepper, Milton Reed January 11, 1883 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 9:56 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 499 - 500
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     MILTON REED KLEPPER occupies a foremost place among the able and 
influential citizens of Portland, being distinguished both for his prominence 
in the legal profession, in which he has gained marked success, and for his 
activities and effectiveness in civic and political affairs. Mr. Klepper was 
born in Jasper county, Missouri, on the 11th of January, 1883, and is a son of 
Gaines A. and Sarah Jane (Delp) Klepper, both of whom were born in Hawkins 
county, Tennessee. His father was engaged in farming for many years but later 
turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1910 he took his family to 
Pasadena, California, where he established his permanent residence, but his 
death occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, while on a visit there in 1915. He is 
survived by his widow, who is still living in Pasadena, at the age of eighty 
years.

     Milton R. Klepper attended the country schools of Jasper and Barton 
counties, Missouri, and the public school at Golden City, that state. In 1900 
he came to Oregon, locating first at La Grande, where he lived during two 
summers, being employed as a clerk in a grocery store. In the fall of 1900 he 
entered Washington State College, from which he was graduated in the 
preparatory school in 1903. In 1902 he clerked in the City Hotel in Salem, 
Oregon, for Mr. Berry, formerly superintendent of the Oregon state prison. In 
the summer of 1903 he worked in logging camps in Benton county, near Olympia, 
Washington, being employed as flunkey on a donkey engine, working long hours 
and receiving a wage of one dollar and a half per day. In 1904 he went to the 
St. Louis fair, where he worked through the summer, and in the fall went back 
to college with fifteen dollars. He was determined to secure a good education 
and worked his way through, having then entered upon the classical course of 
Washington State College. During 1905 he was at the Portland fair, working at 
whatever he could find to do; was employed as a clerk by the Oregon Mercantile 
Company, and then went to Astoria, where he worked for A. P. Stokes until 
school opened. While at the fair he had charge of the Washington State College 
exhibit. In the summer of 1906 he worked in the harvest fields in eastern 
Washington, and in the spring of 1907 was graduated from college with the 
degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the ensuing summer he visited his parents 
in Missouri, and in the fall of 1907 entered the law school of Columbia 
University in New York city. He was still paying his own way and during the 
summer of 1908 he taught in a boys' camp. In 1909 he served as a private tutor 
in New York city and also lectured at county fairs for the Tuberculosis 
Committee of the New York State Aid Association. In 1910 he was graduated from 
Columbia University, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to 
the bar of New York. In the same year he was, on motion, admitted to the bar 
of Oregon and soon afterward entered the law office of Coobert & Stapleton, 
with whom he remained one year. In 1911 he opened his present office in the 
Yeon building and has practiced alone to the present time. He specializes in 
corporation and insurance law and has gained a large and lucrative clientele. 
Well grounded in the law and a determined and resourceful practitioner, he is 
found capable and dependable at all times and has been uniformly successful.

     On September 27, 1922, in Portland, Mr. Klepper was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna Lee Miller, a daughter of Fred O. and Mary Kinney (Byerly) Miller. 
Her father, who was born in Maine, has been in business in Oregon for forty 
years, being president of the Miller Mercantile Company. Her mother was born 
in Staunton, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Klepper are the parents of two children, 
Virginia Lee, born December 2, 1923, and Mary Louise, born December 14, 1927.

     Politically Mr. Klepper is a republican and has long been actively 
interested in public affairs. He was elected to represent his district in the 
state senate in 1923, and was reelected in 1925, being still a member of that 
body, and is proud of the fact that during the last session he did not 
introduce a bill, holding to the belief that there are too many laws being 
enacted. He is now being prominently mentioned as a candidate for the 
republican nomination for governor. He is a member of the First Presbyterian 
church, the American Legion and of Imperial Lodge, No. 159, A. F. & A. M.; 
Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Portland 
Lodge, No. 142, B. P. O. E., of which he was exalted ruler in 1925, when the 
grand lodge met in this city, while in 1926 he was a representative to the 
grand lodge in Chicago; the Woodmen of the World; for two years was a director 
of the Portland Royal Rosarians and the Portland Ad Club; was for three years 
a director of the Portland Community Chest, and was the first president of the 
Aero Club of Oregon. In 1919 he was the first civilian to fly as a passenger 
from Portland to San Francisco, accompanying Governor Olcott. In recognition 
of his activities in promoting aviation, the city council named the local 
aviation field for him, but he declined the honor, insisting that it be named 
after an air service man who had sacrificed his life in action, and this was 
done. Mr. Klepper was financially interested in and a director of the Portland 
club of the Pacific Baseball League, being associated with his brother, 
William H. Klepper, who now owns the Seattle Club of that league. Mr. Klepper 
sold his interest in the Portland club, but is still a baseball fan. He owns a 
very attractive home which he built at 1245 Powhattan terrace, in Westover 
Terrace, Portland. A man of great native ability, liberal education, sterling 
integrity and high purpose, he has honored his profession by his able service 
as a lawyer, while in his private life he has exemplified the highest type of 
citizenship, so that he commands the uniform confidence and respect of his 
fellowmen.

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