Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 435.

JESSE WILLIAM CRITES

Jesse W. Crites, one of the younger group of business men coming rapidly to the
front, is president of the Hood River Abstract & Investment Company and is at
present tilling the office of city treasurer of Hood River, in which City he
formerly was principal of the high school. He is a native of Ohio, born in
Clinton county, in August, 1884, and is a son of John C. and Anna (Peelle)
Crites. His father followed the occupation of a farmer during his active life
and was a preacher in the Quaker church. Both the Crites and the Peelles are old
and widely known families throughout Ohio, where their ancestors had been living
for several generations.

Jesse W. Crites attended the schools of his native county and Wilmington
College, from which he was graduated in 1907, and later took a course at
Haverford College, Pennsylvania. On finishing his course in the latter
institution, he went to Delaware, where for two years he taught school. At the
end of that period he crossed the country to Oregon, and settled at Hood River,
where he continued his profession as teacher for seven years, gradually
advancing until he became principal of the high school of the city.

In 1917 Mr. Crites in association with a partner purchased the stock of the Hood
River Abstract & Investment Company, of which he became president, and which is
the only company of its kind doing business in Hood River county. It has
complete abstracts of the entire county, writes all branches of insurance for
standard and reliable companies, buys and sells city property, and make loans,
thus occupying a potential place in the business life of the county. In 1917 Mr.
Crites was appointed city treasurer of Hood River and in the following year was
elected to that office, which position he still holds. He acts as chairman of
the school board of Hood River, and in other directions gives of his time and
ability to further all movements calculated to advance the public welfare.

In 1909 Mr. Crites was united in marriage to Ruth Douglas Griffith, a daughter
of an Episcopalian clergyman, who at this time is chaplain of the United States
Soldiers Home at Washington. The Rev. Griffith is a native of Maryland and a
descendant of an old family in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are the parents
of three children, as follows: Marnie, Ruth Anna and Barbara. The eldest is a
grade pupil in the Hood River school. Young, active and intelligent, Mr. Crites
is a notable example of the young men who are building the state of Oregon. He
and his wife take a warm and practical part in the social and cultural
activities of Hood River and surrounding district, and their efforts are ever
directed toward the advancement of the community in which they reside.


******************* 

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.