decamph
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
HARRY C. DECAMP is without doubt
one of the earliest pioneers and one of the best known and posted men in
Douglas county today. He has traveled all over this county and knows
its resources as well if not better than any other man living. He
has always been a close observer and is a careful weigher of facts and
figures, while he is also possessed of good judgment and keen foresight.
These qualities combined have made him the business man he is today, while
his geniality and kindness have won him hosts of friends from all quarters.
Harry C. DeCamp was born in Portsmouth, Ohio,
on February 11, 1858, the son of Joseph DeCamp, a native of Ohio, also,
and a farmer. When our subject was six years of age he was deprived
of his mother by death and five years later his father died. Thus
left an orphan at an early date he found some of the hard lessons of life
in early childhood days. However, this was not lost, for it has given
him a wider range of affairs as he grew up and thus served a useful end
finally. He received his education in Ohio and there remained until
twenty-two, working on the farms. In 1880, he was stricken with a
hard attack of the western fever, which led him to Kansas. Not being
relieved in a year there, he came on to San Francisco in 1881 and for three
years was engaged in general labors. For a goodly portion of that
time he was salesman in the large furniture establishment of Jack Hillman,
at the corner of Taylor and Market streets. Next he came to Oregon
and for one year stopped in Linn county, and thence came to Douglas county
in assisting Al N. Thompson to move hither. He soon entered the employ
of John W. Stephens, handling logs for the sawmill on Badger mountain.
He secured a homestead just northeast from Waterville and has improved
it in good shape. He soon divided his attention between farming and
handling produce for the mines in British Columbia and the Okanogan country.
Later he has been associated with O. P. Hyde in handling real estate and
has done well in this business. He is a member of the Old Settlers'
Association and is a popular man.
Mr. DeCamp has three sisters, named as follows:
Mrs. Meneaver Lobner, living in Holsey, Oregon; Mrs. Ida Wedge, in Cooleyville,
Ohio; and Sarah.
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