Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 756.
 
JOHN K. SAMPSON

     Each western city can trace its earliest history to the lives of a few
intrepid men who are now living or who have lived until recently. To these
pioneers is due gratitude for their dauntless spirit and tireless energy which
led them into the wilderness, where they laid the foundation and formed the
nucleus of many a prosperous city. John K. Sampson, who at the time of his
death, in 1906, lived about ten miles west of Yamhill, stood in that relation to
some of the cities in the northwest.
     Mr. Sampson, born in Indiana, April 28, 1831, was the oldest of the six
children born to James and Nancy (Kays) Sampson. The other children were: Henry
M. and Mrs. M. J. Bunn, both deceased; Mrs. E. A. Phillips, of California;
Isaac, now residing in La Fayette, Oregon; and William, deceased. Leaving his
native state while still a child, John K. Sampson removed with his family to
Illinois, where he was reared. At the age of twenty-one years he moved farther
west, coming to Oregon and settling near La Fayette, whence he went to Seattle.
At that time there were only two log cabins there and the place gave little
promise of becoming the active city that it is today. Mr. Sampson at once
entered into the general clearing and building operations by helping in the
building of the first sawmill in Seattle.  After living here and working for
eighteen months he went to California and remained on the Feather river for six
or seven years. In this he was more than moderately successful. Coming back to
Oregon, he built a large warehouse, and for a number of years handled all of the
wheat of this part of the country. The success of his business enterprises and
various undertakings thus far encouraged him to engage into still another line
and he purchased a sash and door factory and put in a sawmill. After running his
factory for two years, he sold it and moved his mill up among the mountains
where, in connection with George Perkins, he bought six hundred and forty acres
of railroad land. The undertaking proved itself profitable and he operated the
mill for twenty-one years. Selling out in 1903, he bought one hundred and twenty
acres of land which now constitute the family home and which he farmed with the
assistance of his two sons until his death.
     After his return from California to Oregon, Mr. Sampson was married to
Clementine Robertson, the daughter of William I. and Nancy J. (Arnett)
Robertson. With her parents Mrs. Sampson crossed the plains with ox teams and
came to Oregon in 1853. The family took up a donation claim on Long Tom river,
Lane county. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson: Mrs. Sampson,
deceased; Wesley B., of McMinnville, Oregon; Thomas B., now residing in Yamhill,
Oregon; Jack, of Alaska; Mrs. Mary Sappington, deceased; Mrs. Eliza Burton, of
San Francisco, California; and William and Laura, both deceased. The marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Sampson occurred in 1873, in Yamhill county, and during their
married life they lived in La Fayette. At this place were born their three
children: Mildred and J. Arthur, who are living at home; and A. Ray of
Ridgefield, Washington, who is married and the father of one child.
     Throughout Mr. Sampson's life we see instances of his readiness to help
those in need and his devotion to those dependent upon 

Transcriber's notes:

John K. Sampson, 49, IN, KY, KY, miller
Clementine, wife, 35, MO, KY, IN
Louis Allen, step dau, 13, OR, IN, MO, att. school
Mildred, dau, 5, Or, IN, MO
Arthur, son, 2, OR, IN, MO
 
1900, June 14; Yamhill Co, OR; North Yamhill Pct, p 169 (next to Isaac Sampson
family)
John Sampson, 69, April 1831, IN, KY, KY, Wd, miller, sawmill
Milldred, son, 24, July 1875, OR, IN, MO
John A, son, 22, May 1878, OR, IN, MO, mill laborer
Raymond, son, 17, May 1883, OR, IN, MO, mill laborer

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.