Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 489. SAM E. VAN VACTOR Endowed by nature with a keen intellect and an analytical trend of mind, as well as an energetic disposition, Sam E. Van Vactor has become recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of The Dalles and is also a prospective fruit raiser. He was born in Lebanon, Linn county, Oregon, in 1873 and has inherited the sterling qualitites of his pioneer forbears. His parents were William and Mary Emeline (Wishard) Van Vactor, natives respectively of Frankfort, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The maternal grandparents of S. E. Van Vactor were Archibald and Melvina Wishard, who traveled to Oregon in 1852, making the long and perilous journey in a covered wagon drawn by oxen, and settling on a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres in Linn county, where they spent their remaining years. They had a large family and their surviving children are Mrs. Josephine Rickey and Mrs. Anna Cummins, residents of Portland, Oregon. Lured by the discovery of gold, William Van Vactor went to California with the pioneers of 1850, choosing the overland route, and was there engaged in mining until 1862. He then came to Oregon and for several years was the proprietor of a blacksmith shop in Lebanon. In 1875 he moved to Albany, Oregon, and was there engaged in merchandising for five years. He disposed of the business in 1880 and for two years thereafter conducted a blacksmith shop at The Dalles. On the expiration of that period he went to Klickitat county, Washington, and filed on a homestead. He proved up on the farm, which he cultivated for seven years, and during that time was called to public office, becoming sheriff of Klickitat county in 1882. Mr. Van Vactor proved fearless, conscientious and efficient in the performance of his duties and served as sheriff for two terms. In 1887 he located in Goldendale, Washington, and soon became recognized as one of its leading merchants. He successfully conducted the business until about 1917 and has since lived retired, retaining his home in Goldendale. In civic affairs he manifests a helpful interest, cooperating in well devised projects for the general good, and along fraternal lines he is connected with the Masons and Knights of Pythias. The first wife of William Van Vactor died in 1894, leaving a family of six children: Mrs. Monrovia Parshall, of Goldendale; Mrs. Anna Johnson, who lives in Portland; Sam E.; Mrs. F. D. McCulley, whose home is in Enterprise, Oregon; Mrs. H. L. Hudson, of Portland; and W. F. Van Vactor, also a resident of the Rose city. In 1896 Mr. Van Vactor married Emma Robinson, whose demise occurred in 1913. She had become the mother of three children: D. E., who is a prominent attorney of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Thelma, a public school teacher; and Mrs. Wilson, whose husband is a prosperous cattleman of Miles City, Montana. S. E. Van Vactor received his early instruction in Oregon and attended the public schools of Goldendale, Washington. There he read law in the office of C. H. Spaulding and in October, 1895, was admitted to the bar. His first experience as a legal practitioner was obtained at The Dalles and five years later he moved to Condon, this state, where he followed his profession for four years. On the expiration of that period he located in Heppner, Oregon, where he maintained an office until 1921, and then returned to The Dalles and formed a partnership with Judge Robert R. butler, also an able lawyer of broad experience, and they have since been associated under the style of Van Vactor & Butler. They occupy a suite of rooms in the First National Bank building and have successfully handled important legal interests, ranking with the leading law firms of eastern Oregon. The partners devote much time and study to the preparation of their cases and own a large and valuable law library. Mr. Van Vactor was married in 1894 to Miss Myrtle Ames, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of William and Minnie Ames. In 1890 Mr. Ames came to the Pacific coast and on reaching Oregon decided to locate on the Washington side of the Columbia river, purchasing a fruit ranch near Maryshill. Later he sold the place to Sam Hill and became the owner of a farm in western Washington. He remained on the ranch until his death in 1908 and his widow long survived him, passing away in Texas in 1926. Mr. and Mrs. Van Vactor are the parents of four children. Grace, the eldest, born in Goldendale, Washington, is the wife of E. R. Minor, of Ione, Oregon, and they have three children: Louise, Arthur and Mary. Ruth, born in Condon, is the wife of Edward Reitman, a successful farmer, specializing in the growing of wheat. Their home is situated in Ione and they have two sons, Van and David. Mary Van Vactor was born in Heppner and after her graduation from The Dalles high school completed a course in The Dalles Hospital, in which she is now employed as a nurse. Sam Van Vactor, Jr., also a native of Heppner and a graduate of The Dalles high school, is a sophomore in the University of Oregon. The father owns a desirable home in The Dalles and his hobby is farming. His well irrigated ranch of one hundred and seventy acres is situated across the river from The Dalles and he is now developing the tract, on which there is a vineyard of twenty-five acres. The cherry orchard comprises twenty acres and several acres are devoted to the growing of asparagus. An enthusiastic agriculturist, Mr. Van Vactor knows the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and is looking forward to the time when he can transfer his law practice to his son and devote all of his time to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. His Masonic connections are with the blue lodge at The Dalles, the chapter at Heppner, the commandery at Pendleton and the temple at Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Van Vactor are members of Heppner Chapter of the Eastern Star and active in fraternal affairs. He is a member of the Elks and the Kiwanis Club. In politics Mr. Van Vactor is a democrat and for one term was district attorney for Umatilla and Morrow counties, thoroughly demonstrating his ability as a public prosecutor. While a resident of Heppner he was elected mayor of the town and for nine years was a member of its school board, making an excellent record in each of these offices. He has a keen sense of life's duties and responsibilities and has erected as the guide-posts of his career those principles which constitute the basis of all honorable and desirable prosperity. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.