Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 246.
 
E. C. APPERSON

     The career of E. C. Apperson, of McMinnville for the past forty years is
largely synonymous with the history of the McMinnville National Bank, for during
all of the period of the bank's existence he has been closely and actively
identified with its affairs. He entered the institution as bookkeeper and was
successively advanced through the various positions to the office of president,
so that he is now giving his attention to administrative direction and executive
control.
     Mr. Apperson was born in Oregon City, Oregon, on the 30th day of May, 1870,
and is a son of A. J. and Eloise (Cook) Apperson. His father was a native of
Missouri and came across the plains with his parents in 1847, his father,
Beverly Apperson, dying en route. A. J. Apperson was about nine years of age
when he arrived in this state and after securing his education in the public
schools he engaged in steam-boating. Subsequently he became interested in the
milling business, which he carried on until 1884, when he located in McMinnville
and engaged in merchandising. He was appointed receiver of the land office at
Sitka, Alaska, and spent several years in that territory, after which he retired
and lived in Portland, Oregon, until his death. His widow, who still lives in
that city, at the age of eighty-four years, came to Oregon in 1860. J. T.
Apperson, a brother of A. J. Apperson, was for twenty years chairman of the
board of regents of the Oregon Agricultural College.
     In the public schools E. C. Apperson obtained his early education and later
attended McMinnville College, from which he was graduated on completing the
commercial course. For a few years he was with his father in the mercantile
business and in 1888 entered the newly established McMinnville National Bank as
bookkeeper. This bank was formed by Judge J. W. Cowls, Lee Laughlin, William
Campbell, A. J. Apperson, R. R. Laughlin and Clark Braly, all of Yamhill county,
and a few Portland capitalists, and was opened for business April 2, 1888. The
first officers of the bank were as follows: J. W. Cowls, president; Lee
Laughlin, vice-president; dark Braly, cashier; and E. C. Apperson, bookkeeper.
Judge Cowls died in 18.96 and Lee Laughlin succeeded to the presidency, which
position he held until the expiration of the bank's original charter, when
failing health caused him to offer his resignation, which was accepted on April
13, 1908. J. L. Rogers was elected vice-president on January 12, 1897, and held
that position until his death, in 1902. dark Braly, the first cashier of the
bank, resigned his position on September 1, 1889, and was succeeded by J. L-
Stratton, who resigned on April 15, 1892. F. E. Rogers was made a director of
the bank on January 13, 1903, and became vice-president on April 14, 1908. The
present officers of the McMinnville National Bank are: E. C. Apperson,
president; R. L. Bewley, vice-president; W. S. Link cashier; C. K. Knickerbocker
and W. C. Campbell, assistant cashiers; the directors are; E. C. Apperson, R. L.
Bewley, W. S. Link, J. F. Calbreath and W. C. Campbell. E. C. Apperson retained
the position of bookkeeper until April 15, 1892, when he was made cashier;
became a director May 11, 1896, vice-president January 13, 1903, and on April
14, 1908, was elected president, succeeding Lee Laughlin, and holding that
position continuously to the present time. W. S. Link entered the employ of the
bank as bookkeeper, January 1, 1893, was made assistant cashier, January 9,
1894, became a member of the board of directors, January 12, 1897, and cashier,
January 13, 1903. The bank has enjoyed a steady and substantial growth through
the years and is now regarded as one of the most important and substantial
financial institutions in this section of the valley. Its statement of June 30,
1927. showed the following: Capital, $75,000; surplus, undivided profits and
reserves, $109,969: deposits, $1,062,055; loans and discounts, $478,977; United
States and other bonds, $581,412; total resources, $1,324,725. Mr. Apperson has
devoted himself tirelessly to the interests of the bank and has always been
regarded as one of the most important factors in its splendid record.
     In 1894 Mr. Apperson was united in marriage to Miss Alves Norwood, of
Marion county, this state, and they are the parents of a son and daughter.
Norwood C.. who is married and has three children, served overseas for twenty-
eight months during the World war. He was formerly engaged in cattle ranching in
Baker county, this state, but is now operating a dairy ranch near McMinnville.
Mildred, who is a graduate of the University of Oregon, is the wife of Charles
G. Robertson, a graduate of the same university and now a medical student, and
they have one child.
     In his political views Mr. Apperson has always been a republican and has
shown marked interest in local public affairs, having served as treasurer of the
city of McMinnville for the past thirty-five years. He is chairman of the
finance and investment committee of Linfield College and has been a trustee and
treasurer of the Oregon Fire Relief Association for the past thirty years. He
was county chairman of all the Liberty Loan issues and Yamhill county made a
splendid record under his chairmanship. He is a past master of Union Lodge, No.
43, A. F. & A. M.; past high priest of Taylor Chapter, No. 16, R. A. M.; thrice
illustrious master of Hodson Council, No. 1, R. & S. M.; a member of the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, and of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks the Woodmen of the World and the McMinnville
Chamber of Commerce, and he was one of the organizers and the first president of
the McMinnville Golf and Country Club. His religious connection is with the
Presbyterian church. Mrs. Apperson is president of the Civic Improvement Club of
McMinnville; Is past vice-regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution of
Oregon, and was the organizer and is a past regent of the McMinnville chapter of
that organization. She is an active member of the Presbyterian church and has
been a leader in the club and social life of this city, being a popular member
of the circles in which she moves. She was also active in Red Cross matters
during the World war. Mr. Apperson is regarded as one of McMinnville's most
useful and progressive men of affairs, deeply interested in everything
pertaining to the advancement of the community along ail lines, and is a man
whom to know is to respect and admire.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.