Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 348.
 
JOSEPH BELL DU BOIS

     One of the most conspicuous figures in the hotel business in the Willamette
Valley was the late Joseph Bell Du Bois, whose death, on January 22, 1927, was
deeply regretted by all who knew him, for, in addition to a high type of
business ability, he possessed to a marked degree those qualities of character
which commend a man to the favor and good opinion of his fellowmen.
     Mr. Du Bois was born near The Dalles, Wasco county, Oregon, in 1861 and was
a son of Nathaniel and Clarissa (Bell) Du Bois. The father, who was of French
Huguenot descent, was born in New York city, while his mother, who was of
Scottish ancestry, was a native of Ohio. To them were born three children,
namely: Henry Koert, who was born at The Dalles and is now a conductor on the
Southern Pacific Railroad, living in El Paso, Texas; Joseph B., of this review,
and Charlotte, who died when eight years old. Nathaniel Du Bois crossed the
plains, with ox teams and covered wagons in 1852 and spent the first winter in
Salem. In the following spring he went to The Dalles, where for several years he
was engaged in the cattle business. His marriage occurred in Salem in 1835. In
1869 he went to Portland, where he was engaged in the hotel business for several
years. Returning to Salem, he and his sons took over the old Chemetka Hotel,
which they conducted for a few years. Later they went to Albany and took charge
of the St. Charles Hotel, with which they remained identified until 1889, when
the father and his son, Joseph B., went to Eugene and assumed the management of
the Hoffman House, which they ran for eight years. Selling out there, they
removed to McMinnville, where the son bought the Yamhill Hotel, of twenty-two
rooms, which he ran until his death, which occurred January 22, 1927.
     Joseph B. Du Bois had the advantage of a good public school education and
afterward assisted his father in the operation of the various hotels with which
he was connected and eventually became his partner in business, assuming entire
control after his father's death. In 1909 he enlarged the Yamhill Hotel, making
it a three-story building of forty rooms, and he also bought the lot adjoining
the hotel, which he devoted to the raising of flowers and vegetables, thus
insuring a fresh supply of both for the hotel. The Yamhill has long enjoyed a
marked popularity with the traveling public, particularly with commercial
salesmen, who as a class are discriminating in their judgment of a hotel, and
Mr. Du Bois. through his uniform courtesy and accommodation, as well as his
kindly and genial manner, gained a host of warm friends among his patrons. He
thoroughly understood even detail of the business with which he was for so many
years connected, and the splendid success which came to him was but the
legitimate result of his sound judgment and his well directed efforts.          
     In October, 1914, Mr. Du Bois was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Agnes
Mitchell, who was born in Pomeroy, Washington, and is a daughter of Johnana Mary
Elizabeth (Smith) Mitchell, both of whom were born near Paris, Edgar county,
Illinois. Mr. Mitchell crossed the plains in 1852 and followed gold-mining in
southern Oregon and northern California until 1855, when he enlisted for service
in the Rogue River Indian war under Captain Abel George.  At the end of the war
he returned to Illinois and engaged in farming until 1862, when he helped to
raise a company for service in the Civil war, his command being Company A,
Seventy-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He eventually became first
lieutenant of his company and saw active service in the southland until the
battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in which he was captured. He was confined for
seventeen months in the notorious Libby prison at Richmond and was one of the
seven men who escaped by digging a tunnel under the walls of the prison.  His
daughter, Mrs. Du Bois, possesses the knife with which the first digging was
done on this tunnel. At the close of the war he returned to Illinois, where he
lived until 1880, when he again came to the Pacific coast and located in
Garfield county, Washington, where he bought a farm. After operating that place
for several years, he sold out and retired. His death, occurred January 18,
1918, when he was eighty-seven years of age. His wife passed away November 26,
1908.  To them were born eleven children, as follows: Ida Belle, who died in
1919; William Thomas, now living in Garfield county, Washington; Margaret
Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Jackson, of Los Angeles, California; Ellen Clyde,
the deceased wife of Frank Houck; Mrs. Olive Oatman Darby, who was the mother of
a daughter, who died in infancy; Carrie Evelyn, deceased, who was the wife of
George G. Edwards; Jennie Agnes, now Mrs. Du Bois; Mary Gertrude, the wife of
Albert Birkes, of Spokane, Washington; and three children who died in infancy.
Mr. Mitchell was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and his religious
faith was that of the Christian church. He took an active interest in public
affairs up to the time of his death and, despite his years, was remarkably well
preserved, being erect and of fine soldierly bearing.
     One of Mr. Du Bois' uncles, Theodore B. Du Bois, was a captain in the
United States Navy and was in command of the clipper ship "Snooting Star" when
it entered the port of Bangkok, Siam, in 1855. It was the first ship of any
civilized nation to enter that port after it was opened to the world's commerce.
In 1862 he was lieutenant commander of the "Albatross," which was lashed to the
"Hartford," Admiral Farragut's flagship, when the fleet passed through the storm
of shot and shell at Port Hudson. He was highly commended by his superior
officers for his gallantry and his skill in seamanship.
     Mrs. Du Bois was educated in the public schools of eastern Washington and
lived in that locality until 1906, when she came to Oregon, of which she has
since been a resident. Since her husband's death she has conducted the hotel and
has proven a very capable business woman and is meeting with very gratifying
success. To Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois was born a son, Henry Koert, who died in
infancy.
     Mr. Du Bois was a charter member of the McMinnville lodge of the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks and also belonged to the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen. Unostentatious in manner and closely devoted to his individual
affairs, he was regarded as one of the community's solid and substantial
citizens, a man who could always be depended upon to contribute of his efforts
and means to the upbuilding and advancement of the city and county in which he
lived. Kindly and generous in disposition, he had a friendly greeting for all
whom he met, and no resident of this community commanded to a greater degree
than he the confidence and respect of the people with whom he mingled.

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