Oregon Republican League: Elder Photos

Oregon Republican League:Republican League Register of Oregon, The Register Publishing Company, 1896, page 152.

APPERSON, JOHN T., of Oregon City, was born in Christian County, Kentucky, December 23, 1834. The next year the family moved to Newton County, Missouri, and in 1847 crossed the plains to Oregon, the father dying on the way. Being the oldest of four boys, upon John devolved much of the responsibility of caring for and educating the family of nine children, so that his own educational opportunities were limited. In 1859 he became interested in steamboating on the Willamette, and commanded the steamer which conveyed Colonel E.D. Baker, Oregon’s first Republican senator, from Salem to Portland on his way to Washington in 1860. In 1861, when Colonel Baker called for a regiment of Oregon cavalry, young Apperson volunteered, but the death of Colonel Baker blasted the young man’s hope of serving under him. He remained in the army till the close of the war. He then resumed steamboating until 1872, and has since lived on his farm near Oregon City. In 1870 he was elected Representative from Clackamas County to the legislature. In 1874 he was elected Sheriff on that county, and served two terms. In 1878 he was elected State Senator, and became for two sessions a leading figure in that body. He was the nominee again in 1884, but party dissensions cause the defeat of the ticket. In 1884 he was a delegate to the national convention, and supported both Blaine and Logan, and was chosen a member of the national executive committee for Oregon. In 1888 he was elected to the lower house of the legislature from Clackamas County. In 1889 he was appointed Register of the United States Land Office at Oregon City, and served four years. He has been frequently a member of the county and state central committees, and a delegate to conventions. He has taken a prominent part in the councils of the Republican party from its foundation, and in founding and developing the State of Oregon.