Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 730.

DEWITT C. LATOURETTE

     An eminent financier and banker of Oregon City, Oregon, is of French
ancestry, who came to American during the French Revolution, locating at Staten
Island.  His grandfather, Daniel, and his father, L. D. C. Latourette, were both
born in New York, the latter in 1825.
     Mr. L. D. C. Latourette married Miss Lucy J. Fisher, a native of Vermont,
in 1850.  In the spring of 1849 he removed from Oregon to California, where he
mined on Feather river, meeting with considerable success.  He returned in 1850
to Oregon City, Oregon, where he opened a general merchandise store.  After
being in business some time, he sold out and took a donation claim, situated
four miles east of Oregon City, building a cabin in the forest on his property,
in which he resided until his death.  He held for some time the office of County
Commissioner, and was esteemed in Clackamas county as the man of ability and
integrity.  The grandfather of our subject, on the maternal side, was Rev. Ezra
Fisher, a devoted Baptist minister, who came to Oregon in 1845, where he
organized many Baptist churches in the Willamette valley, as well as in eastern
Oregon, spending his whole life heralding the gospel of righteousness.  The
parents of our subject had two children, himself and a brother, who is now the
Rev. Willard H. Latourette, of Alameda, California.
     Our subject was born in Oregon City in 1856, and was educated at the
Pacific University, from which he graduated in 1878.  He taught school for some
time in Yam Hill county, but soon began the study of law, being admitted to the
bar in 1882, and beginning his practice in Oregon City, where he is still
located.  In 1889 he aided in organizing the Commercial Bank of Oregon City, of
which he was at that time elected president, which position he still holds.  He
is a stockholder in several business enterprises of his city, but takes no
active interest in any but law and banking.  The Commercial Bank of Oregon City
has a capital stock of $100,000, and under President Latourette's management is
yearly increasing its business.  He has constructed several of the business
buildings of his city, one of which is the bank building.
     He was married in 1882 to Miss Ella Scott, a native of the State of
Washington, and a daughter of John T. and Ruth (Eckler) Scott, and sister of H.
W. Scott, of the Oregonian.  They have two children, both born in Oregon City,
who are named Kenneth S. and Ruth L.
     He adheres to the faith of so many of his forefathers, that of the Baptist
Church, being one of the deacons of that denomination.
     Of undeviating fidelity, unimpeachable integrity and superior financial
ability, he has gained the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and all
with whom he comes in contact or does business.  Devotedly attached to the city
of his birth, he ardently espouses all interests or enterprises tending to her
advancement and welfare.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
"History of Oregon"
Author: Charles Henry Carey
Publisher: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co.
Chicago-Portland; 1922;  Vol. 1,   Page 720
Chapter 38, Education in Oregon
"The influence of Dr. Atkinson was exerted in this and other particulars which
make him a commanding figure in the chapter on education in the history of
Oregon.  He brought to the territory, for example, the first school books that
were placed on sale, and these he disposed of without profit, throught L. D. C.
Latourette of Oregon City, whose store was the first one in the territory to
have a school book department.  It is recalled by Dr. Atkinson in a review of
the advance of education in Oregon that these first text books consisted of
Sander's series of readers and speller, Thompson's arithmetic, Davies' algebra,
Smith's geography, Wilson's history, Wells' grammars and the Spencerian system
of penmanship."
 
 
"Oregon, Washington and Alaska Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1901-1902"
R. L. Polk & Co.; 1901; page 251
Advertisement:
COMMERCIAL BANK OF OREGON CITY
Capital, $100,000
Transacts A General Banking Business
Loans made.  Bills discounted.  Makes collections.  Buys and sells exchange on
all points in the United States and Europe and on Hong Kong.  Deposits received
subject to check.
Bank open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
D. C. Latourette, President
Fred J. Meyer, Cashier


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.