Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 3. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 533. J. C. TEN BROOK J. C. Ten Brook, who is rendering efficient service as mayor of Astoria, holds also a responsible government position, the duties of which have close relation to the proper maintenance of the harbor at this place and have been handled by him in a very capable manner. Mr. Ten Brook was born in Lakeview, Lake county, Oregon, in 1874, and is a son of Abram and Harriet (Moon) Ten Brook, the former born in Indiana and the latter in Pennsylvania. In both paternal and maternal lines he is of old Holland stock, both families coming to this country prior to the war of the Revolution, the Moons settling in Pennsylvania and the Ten Brooks in New York state. Abram Ten Brook joined the gold rush to California in 1849, crossing the plains with ox teams and covered wagons, and for two years he followed gold mining on the American river, meeting with very satisfactory results. He returned to his eastern home, by way of the isthmus of Panama, and there spent his fortune. In 1852 he again crossed the plains, traveling with mule teams and covered wagon, and arrived at San Francisco, California, where he boarded a sailing vessel for Oregon. Going to Jackson county, he took up a homestead on the present site of the town of Jacksonville, and also mined for gold in that locality. In the early '60s he sold his interests in Jackson county and moved to Lake county, which at that time comprised what is now Lake and Klamath counties. He there engaged in the cattle business, being one of the first settlers in that locality. Conditions in this section of that state were extremely primitive and he was compelled to freight his supplies from Ashland, Oregon, a distance of two hundred miles. He employed a six-mule team and generally also brought in supplies for his neighbors. In 1860 he made another trip east, going by way of the isthmus of Panama, and was shipwrecked in the gulf of Mexico, being compelled to wait six weeks for another vessel. In the following spring he piloted a train of emigrants across the plains to Oregon. He remained in the cattle business in Lake county to the time of his retirement, about 1890, and he died at the home of his son at Merrill, Oregon, in 1909, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife passed away in 1912, when seventy-five years old. He was a prominent and active member of the Masonic order, having been a charter member of the lodges at Jacksonville and Lakeview, in both of which he passed through the chairs. Mr. Ten Brook was married twice and to his union with Miss Moon were born four children, namely: Abram, who was the first white child born in Lake county, Oregon, and is now living at Klamath Falls; J. C.; William, of Bandon, Oregon; and Mrs. Nellie Miller, who lives near Baker City, Oregon. By a second marriage Mr. Ten Brook became the father of two children, B. C., who is now a manufacturer of candy at Oroville, California, and Mrs. Lillie M. Fisk, whose husband is an extensive sheep raiser at Lakeview. J. C. Ten Brook received his educational training in the public schools of southern Oregon, after which he clerked in a grocery store in Coos county, this state, for a few years. In 1898 he entered the employ of the United States government at Sinslow, Oregon, working on the construction of a jetty. From there he was sent to Grays Harbor, Washington, and put in charge of construction work, being later similarly engaged at Coos Bay, Oregon. In 1903 he was transferred to Astoria, where he had charge of construction of Fort Stevens and the building of the jetty and wharves. On the completion of that work he was appointed superintendent of dredging for the port of Astoria, which position he has filled to the present time. He has full charge of all dredging operations and in every respect is well qualified for the position. In 1899, at Montesana, Washington, Mr. Ten Brook was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Lawrence, who was born in Michigan and is a daughter of Stephen B. and Elizabeth Lawrence, both of whom are deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Ten Brook have two children: Mrs. Nellie Ann Rambo, was born in Montesana, Washington, and now lives in Tacoma, that state, is the mother of a daughter, Joan Katherine; and John Lawrence, who was born at Fort Stevens, Clatsop county, Oregon, is now in Los Angeles, California, where he owns and operates a speed boat, which is largely used in the motion picture work of that locality. Mr. Ten Brook has always shown a deep interest in the welfare and progress of Astoria and in 1926 was solicited to run for the office of mayor, for which he was nominated by the republican and democratic parties, and he was elected without soliciting a single vote. He is filling a four-year term and is giving an able and creditable administration of the affairs of the city. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M., in which he has passed through the chairs, as he has also in the other York rite bodies to which he belongs. He and his wife belong to the Fern Chapter, O. E. S. Mr. Ten Brook is president of the Astoria park board and is active in the work of the Chamber of Commerce. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. He is a strong advocate of good schools and improved roads and is a particularly strong booster for the Roosevelt highway. He has been conscientious in the performance of every duty laid on him, has been loyal to every obligation of citizenship and his social relations have been such as have gained for him the friendship of all who know him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.