Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 138.

ALBERT DEAN APPLEGATE

     Albert Dean Applegate, an enterprising and successful merchant of Eugene,
where he has figured actively in business circles as proprietor of the Applegate
Furniture Company since 1912, represents a family whose history is closely
interwoven with that of the state of Oregon. His birth occurred in Scotts
Valley, Douglas county, Oregon, February 11, 1884, his parents being Albert and
Nancy Jane (Johnson) Applegate, the former of whom was one of the first white
children born in this state.
     Charles Applegate, the paternal grandfather of Albert Dean Applegate, took
up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres adjoining the present site of
the town of Yoncalla in the spring of 1850. There he continued to reside until
called to his final rest in 1879, then in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He
was a Kentuckian by birth, while his wife, Melinda (Miller) Applegate, was a
native of Tennessee. All of their fifteen children grew to manhood and
womanhood. In 1843, in association with his brothers, Jesse and Lindsay, Charles
Applegate formed the Applegate Company and with about eight hundred people
crossed the plains to the Sunset state. Jesse Applegate, one of the most
dominant characters in the pioneer settlement of western Oregon, was captain of
the company. Charles Applegate had two wagons, each drawn by four oxen, and
brought with him ten cows and one horse. Leaving his cattle at Walla Walla,
Washington, he built a boat and made the journey by water to Oregon City, later
going to Marion county, In 1844 he removed to Polk county and settled on a
donation claim of six hundred. and forty acres about four miles north of Dallas,
continuing to reside hereon until he disposed of the property in the spring of
1850. At that time he brought his family south to Douglas county, taking up a
donation claim of six hundred and forty acres adjoining the present site of the
town of Yoncalla. His brothers had already settled in the Yoncalla valley. It
was in 1851 that Charles Applegate and his brothers built the first schoolhouse
in Douglas county, installing James Applegate as teacher and conducting the
institution independent of outside aid. At the cost of one thousand dollars they
purchased from Harper's Publishing Company, of New York city, a library which
was shipped by water around Cape Horn. Charles Applegate, who passed away in
1879, was survived by his wife until 1888, the latter reaching the age of
seventy-six years. Thus the community lost two of its most highly respected and
valued pioneer settlers.
     Albert Applegate, son of Charles Applegate, and father of the subject of
this review, was born at the Old Mission near Salem, December 6, 1843. At the
age of nineteen he enlisted for service in the Civil war and served as second
lieutenant and quartermaster until mustered out at the close of the war. In
early manhood he located on the Applegate homestead in Scotts valley, which he
acquired at that time. This farm had been taken up as a donation claim by John
Scott, and comprised six hundred and forty acres. As his financial resources
increased Mr. Applegate extended the boundaries on his place until it embraced
more than a thousand acres. He devoted his attention principally to stock
raising, and in that branch of activity won a gratifying measure of success.
Though he would never accept a public office, he was actively interested in
politics, being a stanch republican, and loyally supporting the men and measures
of that party. He is remembered by all who knew him as a man of unswerving
honesty and courage. Cheerful, generous and public-spirited, he was a much
beloved and respected figure in the life of the community. His death, which
occurred in 1888, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret at the passing
of a valued and substantial citizen. His widow, Nancy Jane (Johnson) Applegate,
whose birth occurred April 26, 1850, in the vicinity of McMinnville, Yamhill
county, Oregon, afterward gave her hand in marriage to J. M. Shelley of Eugene.
She is the mother of seven children as follows: Mercy Applegate Holland, of San
Francisco, California; Nellie Applegate Pence, of San Diego. California, who
died in 1914; Jesse Grant Applegate, a retired engineer, who is now a successful
sheep grower on his ranch at Scotts valley, Oregon; Charles Fred Applegate, a
progressive and successful farmer and cattle raiser, who now owns the old home
of his father in Scotts valley, Oregon; Lulu Applegate Hartley, who makes her
home in San Diego, California; Irene Applegate, who lives with her mother in
Eugene, Oregon; and Albert Dean Applegate, whose name introduces this article.
     Albert Dean Applegate was a lad of eight years when in 1892 he accompanied
his mother to Eugene, where he acquired his early education, which was later
supplemented by attendance at the University of Oregon. After putting aside his
textbooks he made his way to Portland in 1904 as purchasing agent with the Lewis
and dark Exposition, in which capacity he served until its close.
     His initial experience in the furniture trade was gained as a traveling
representative for Portland furniture concerns, covering the northwest
territory, and it was in 1912 that he formed the Applegate Furniture Company of
Eugene, of which he is the head and owner. His business is located in one of
Eugene's newest and finest structures the Miner building on East Ninth street.
He occupies three floors, eighty by one hundred and sixty feet, and is accorded
a patronage of very extensive and gratifying proportions. His stock comprises
exceptionally high grade and up-to-date furniture; floor coverings of wide
variety, all of which is displayed in the most artistic manner. His reputation
as a merchant is a most enviable one.
     On August 9, 1926, Mr. Applegate was united in marriage to Mrs. Ruth E.
Burgoyne, a native of San Jose, California, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Heagney, who are residents of Boise, Idaho. They have a son, Albert Dean, Jr.,
born June 11, 1927, at their home at 2185 Potter street, Eugene. Mr. Applegate
is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and fraternally is affiliated with the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.