Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 561
 
JACOB S. GILTNER, M. D.

     A life purposeful and resultant in its activity and beautiful in its kindly
impulses and benevolences was closed when Dr. Jacob S. Giltner passed away on
the 18th of May, 1910. His memory, however, remains as a blessed benediction to
those who knew him. Reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, he
exemplified the teachings of a sect that has always emphasized the spirit of
brotherhood and mutual kindness and helpfulness. The life span of Dr. Giltner
covered about eighty-six years and to the last he retained his mental faculties
unimpaired. He was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of
October, 1824, a son of Conrad and Rebecca (Snyder) Giltner. The ancestry of the
family is traced back in direct line to the Prince of Orange. The Doctor's
parents were farming people, well known and highly honored in that section of
the Keystone state in which they made their home. The father was a soldier of
the Revolutionary war, aiding valiantly in the cause for independence. He
inherited a large tract of land in Pennsylvania and devoted his life to general
agricultural pursuits there.
     Dr. Giltner's educational advantages in his youth were extremely limited.
He had the opportunity to attend school for only three months, but later he
embraced every chance to further his knowledge, read broadly and thought deeply.
While plowing in the fields he often had a book with him and his evenings were
devoted to study. His early life was spent upon a farm and he became familiar
with every duty that falls to the lot of the agriculturist. When sixteen years
of age he began to teach school in the winter months, and his work in this
direction further stimulated his desire for and determination to secure an
education. His mother, sympathizing with him in this ambition, upon inheriting a
little money sent him to college, although this course was in opposition to the
wishes of her relatives. It was the best thing that she could do for her son,
however, as she gave to him something which no one could take from him and which
constituted the foundation for his success and for much useful service in life.
He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania
when about twenty-one years of age, after which he returned home and was
married.
     It was in 1846 that Dr. Giltner wedded Miss Martha M. Hause, of Germantown,
Pennsylvania, and after residing near Harrisburg for a time he returned to his
home county, where he entered at once upon the practice of medicine, in which he
continued with success until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He then
offered his services to the government, took a competitive examination, and
therein won the appointment of commander and medical director of the hospital of
the Army of the Cumberland at Nashville, Tennessee, with the rank of major. He
enlisted from Milton, Pennsylvania, was mustered in at Washington, D. C., and
did splendid service for the Union soldiers in the utilization of his skill and
ability, both in field and hospital service. While at the front he gained that
experience as a surgeon which made him afterward a specialist in that branch of
the medical science.
     After the war was over, Dr. Giltner went to Pithole, Pennsylvania, where
oil had just been struck, and engaged in the practice of medicine there until
June, 1866, when he started for Oregon. Arriving at Portland, he at once began
the practice of medicine here and remained a well known member of the
profession, of this city until about seventy-eight years of age, when, in 1875,
he returned to the college in which he had long before been a student and there
pursued a post-graduate course.  He then came to Portland and resumed the active
practice of medicine and surgery. He was again a physician here for several
years and always enjoyed a large practice that gave him rank with the leading
members of the profession in the city. For several years he filled the position
of county physician, was also city physician and visiting physician to the
insane asylum before his removal to Salem. Throughout his professional career he
read the leading contributions to medical literature and kept in touch with the
progress of the times, rendering his labors of great value in this connection.
     As previously stated, Dr. Giltner was married to Miss Martha M. Hause, the
wedding being celebrated on the 9th of March, 1846. Her parents were Abraham and
Mary Hause of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Giltner was born in Chester county, near
Philadelphia, on Christmas day of 1826. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Giltner were born ten
children, of whom four died in infancy. Of those who reached adult age, Dr.
William Paris Giltner died at the age of forty-nine years. He was born in 1849
and passed away in 1898. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and
devoted his life to the practice of medicine. He was also a prominent Elk. He
married Minnie Going and unto them were born four children; James, Paris E.,
Edward B. and John R.  Emma Giltner is one of the graduates of the old Portland
Academy and also the high school of this city.
She was afterward graduated from the Women's College at Baltimore, Maryland,
where she won the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while subsequently that of Master
of Arts was conferred upon her. She became the wife of Eugene D. White and had
one son, Eugene G. Roscoe R., of Portland, the third member of the family, was
graduated from the high school of this city, afterward continued his studies
under a private tutor and later entered Yale College, from which he was
graduated. He married Fronia Wallace. He is quite prominent in politics and has
held the office of city attorney. Frank F., of Portland, after graduating from
the high school, attended Yale University. He married Louise Scheuer and is now
filling the office of deputy sheriff. Martha G., who is a graduate of the high
school, later attended a private school, preparatory to entering Wellesley
college, near Boston, Massachusetts, receiving a scholarship and Greek honors
from Athens. She is now the wife of Vincent Cook, of Portland. Horace, who was
born in 1861, died in 1896.
     In his political views, Dr. Giltner was a republican from the time of the
organization of the party until his death. In addition to the official position
which he held in the line of his profession, he was a member of the school
board, to which he was appointed about 1872, serving for several years. He was
instrumental in the establishment of the Portland high school and was also
instrumental in securing the passage of a bill allowing colored children to
attend the public schools. He was a stalwart and determined champion of the
cause of higher education as a feature of public schools, saying that he had
plenty of money to give his children advantages of that character but that the
poorer people's children would never get an education beyond that which the
public schools afforded. His labors in behalf of public instruction were
effective and far-reaching, and his work in this direction alone would entitle
him to the honor and respect of his fellowmen.
     The Doctor was a life member of the Masonic lodge of Philadelphia, which he
joined in early manhood, and also belonged to Columbia Chapter No. 91, R. A. M.
While he held to the belief of the Society of Friends, he yet became a member of
the Lutheran church and was a liberal contributor to St. James church in this
city. He died May 18, 1910, having for five years survived his wife, who passed
away on the 2d of March, 1905, and was laid to rest in Riverview cemetery. His
home relations were largely ideal. His interests centered in his family and his
own happiness seemed complete if he was contributing to the welfare and
happiness of his wife and children. He gave to his sons and daughters the best
educational advantages, knowing that therein he was bestowing on them a
priceless gift. He rejoiced in his success because of the opportunity it gave
him to surround the members of his household with the comforts and the luxuries
of life. The poor and needy found in him a generous friend, but his charity was
always most unostentatious. He followed the Bible injunction not to let the left
hand know what the right hand doeth, and from no words of his own did anyone
learn of the charity and helpful spirit of Dr. Giltner. There were times when
even the recipients of his bounty did not know who was their benefactor. He
frequently commissioned someone, ofttimes the members of his own household, to
make purchase of flour and other necessities of life, and send such to the poor.
His pastor is responsible for the statement that he gave a tenth of his income
to the support of the gospel and for the benefit of local hospitals and the
poorer classes. His great heart reached out in sympathy to all mankind and his
helping hand lifted many a one out of the slough of despondency into an
atmosphere of courage and good cheer.
     Dr. Giltner was a man of scholarly attainment, who, throughout his life
took great interest in the study of history, sociology and literature. He
possessed a remarkably retentive memory so that his opinions and his knowledge
were frequently sought to settle some disputed question. He seemed almost never
to forget a point which he had read or a character with whom he had become
acquainted in literature. During the last four years of his life he suffered
from ill health but retained the same keen perception and memory that had
characterized him in his youth. The snows of many winters whitened his hair for
he reached the age of eighty-six years, but his heart ever remained young, and
in spirit and in interest he seemed always in his prime. For forty-four years he
was a resident of Portland, and in the city it would be impossible to find one
who had aught to say against him. Thoughts of reverence and words of praise rise
to the lips of many whenever his name is mentioned. Especially was he held
in grateful remembrance by the poor whom he assisted, by the friends whose
intelligence was stimulated by his own broad knowledge, but most of all in that
household where he occupied the position of almost ideal husband and father.
What a fitting crown of life is a memory that is as revered and sacred as is
that of Dr. Jacob S. Giltner.
 
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.