Gitchell, Jackson Lee
| Birth Name |
Gitchell, Jackson Lee |
| Gender |
male |
| Age at Death |
59 years, 3 months, 27 days |
Narrative
Oregon Death Index
Name: Gitchell, Jackson L
County: Lincoln
Death Date: 17 Sep 1968
Certificate: 12899
Spouse: Georgia
Narrative
HISTORY OF OREGON
VOLUME III
CHICAGO-PORTLAND
THE PIONEER HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
1922
WALLACE FRANKLIN GITCHELL.
Wallace Franklin Gitchell took up his abode on his present ranch at The Dalles
in 1918 but had been the owner of the property for a period of ten years at that time.
He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1873. His parents were pioneer residents
of the state and were representatives of old families of New York and Pennsylvania.
The mother, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Adelia Shear, belonged to a family
that was founded in New England in early colonial days whose representatives fought
for American independence and again contested the supremacy of England in the War
of 1812.
Wallace F. Gitchell was educated in the graded schools of his native city and in
early life became a messenger in the office of the Standard Oil Company at Grand
Rapids. He won advancement rapidly and soon reached the position of accountant,
HISTORY OF OREGON 127
having mastered the profession in his leisure hours. After five years service with the
Standard Oil Company he became chief accountant of the Consolidated Street Railway
Company of Grand Rapids and upon its reorganization became the comptroller. After
five years connection with the street railway business he was tendered the position of
comptroller of the British Columbia Electric Railway, Light & Power Company and
removed to Vancouver. On his way to British Columbia he passed through The Dalles
in 1908 and at that time purchased a ranch in the southern outskirts of the city and
planted it to cherries. In 1916 he retired from the Vancouver position and removed
to Yakima, Washington, where he became cashier of a bank, remaining a resident of
that city for two years. He then came to The Dalles and settled on his ranch. He
owns a private irrigation system which is regarded by experts as the best in the vicinity
and he is most carefully and systematically developing the property, which is today one
of the valuable ranches of this section of the country. He also owns one hundred and
twenty acres at Yakima. Washington, and his landed interests are returning to him a
most gratifying annual income.
In 1907 Mr. Gitchell was united in marriage to Miss Edith Jackson, a daughter of
J. W. Jackson and a granddaughter of Captain Isaac Smith, who was born in Virginia
in 1815. At the age of twenty-eight years he headed a band of three hundred and fifty
daring spirits and started for the west. His party blazed the trail across the continent,
fighting Indians most of the way, but with all their wagons reached Oregon in the fall
of 1S43. On arriving at Wallula they secured boats from the Hudson's Bay Company
and traveled down the Columbia river to Celilo Palls. There the party disbanded, after
which Captain Smith engaged in operating boats on the Columbia from Celilo Falls to
Portland. Later he operated the first ferry across the Columbia river. He was a
member of the first territorial legislature of Oregon and in every way participated in
the pioneer development and substantial settlement of the state, contributing in large
measure to that work which constituted the foundation upon which has been built the
present day progress and prosperity of Oregon. In 1846 he wedded Miss Mary Northrop,
a daughter of John L. Northrop, the founder of the first educational institution of the
state at Cottage Grove. Their daughter, Nellie, became the wife of John W. Jackson
and moved to Vancouver, B. C, and Edith (Jackson) Gitchell was the first white child
born in that now prosperous Canadian city. Captain Smith's mother was Sarah Light-
foot Lee of the historic Lee family of Virginia. Mrs. Gitchell passed away in 1914,
leaving a son, Jackson Lee Gitchell, who is a sturdy youngster, now a pupil in The
Dalles schools. In 1916 Mr. Gitchell married Margaret Holcomb, daughter of Guy Hol-
comb, a pioneer of Hillsboro, Oregon.
Mr. Gitchell is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also belongs to the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. His activities have ever been
of a broad and varied character. He is now the sales agent of Chenowith, the scenic
suburb of The Dalles, which is beautifully located a short distance from the city on
the Columbia River highway. In all things he has been one hundred per cent American.
He was active in support of all the war work and Red Cross drives and his labors have
ever been far-reaching and effective in bringing about the upbuilding of the section in
which he has made his home.
