Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 279.

CAREY W. THOMSON

     One of the most favorably known residents of Lane county is Carey W.
Thomson, to whose initiative and persistent efforts is due. the development of
the splendid establishment known as Thomson's Resort, near Vida, which is one of
the most popular vacation spots in the Willamette Valley. Mr. Thomson was born
near Corvallis, Benton county, Oregon, on the 20th of November, 1856, and is a
son of Fayette and Maria (Tewksbury) Thomson, both of whom were born in
Syracuse, New York. After their marriage, the parents moved to Wisconsin, and in
1852 the father crossed the plains to the Willamette Valley. Three years later
his wife made the long voyage around Cape Horn and up the Columbia river to
Portland. Mr. Thomson took up a donation claim near Corvallis, on which the
family lived for a few years, after which the father went to California and for
nine years engaged in mining gold. While there he sold his donation claim and on
his return to the Willamette Valley located at Philomath, where he lived two
years, when he went to Monroe, where for two years he operated a sawmill on
Muddy river. In 1870 he moved to the McKenzie river district and took up a
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he developed into a good farm,
continuing its operation until his death, which occurred in 1917. His wife
preceded him in death about six months.

     Carey W. Thomson acquired his education in the district schools and then
worked as a farm hand, as a carpenter and as a road builder, being employed on
the construction of the road to McKenzie pass. Later he took up a homestead near
Belknap Springs and in 1902 acquired his present place of one hundred and sixty
acres. Here he has developed an ideal resort, having built a hotel of twenty
rooms, a number of cabins and other buildings, and has arranged camping sites
along the river. He maintains a good garden and has a nice orchard in bearing.
He has installed a lighting and water system, the water being piped from a cold,
clear spring in the mountain back of the hotel. Hot and cold water are in every
room and every attention is paid to the comfort of the hotel guests. Big game
and trout fishing are the chief attractions for sportsmen, while for those, who
prefer a less strenuous vacation there are boats and saddle horses. To add to
the attractiveness of the place, Mr. Thomson has built a suspension foot bridge
across the river. All who have taken advantage of a stay at this resort have
been loud in their praise of its advantages and it enjoys a well merited
popularity.

     On November 5, 1884, Mr. Thomson was united in marriage to Miss Mary C.
Isham, a daughter of John A. Isham, of Vida, an early pioneer of this locality.
To this union have been born five children: Ethel is the wife of Milton Pilette,
manager for a lumber company at Madras, Oregon, and they have two sons, Milton,
Jr., and Marden; Milo M., who lives near Vida, married Miss Mabel Harris and
they have a daughter, Vivian; Dayton C., who was married to Miss Elvira Dyer, of
Eugene, is at home. York and Carey, Jr. are also at home. The three youngest
sons assist their father in the operation of the resort, serving when needed as
boatmen and guides. All of the children were educated in the public school at
Vida. and Carey took a business course at the University of Oregon. Strong and
active, due to his outdoor life, Mr. Thomson, though seventy-one years old,
looks twenty years younger. He is a noted rifle shot and is extremely popular
among those who know him, his kindly and genial manner winning him many warm
friends.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.