Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 1006.
 
FRED L. POPE

     Among the enterprising men of Klamath county, it is with pleasure that we
are privileged to mention the gentleman whose name appears above. He is a
progressive farmer and stockman, residing some three miles east of Merrill and
was born on September 15, 1861, in Hillboro, Iowa. His father, James W. Pope,
was born in Highland county, Ohio, and was an early pioneer to Henry county,
Iowa. His father, Samuel Pope, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of
Virginia and one of the earliest pioneers in Ohio. He died in Iowa at the age of
ninety-three. The mother of our subject was Eliza J. (Stephenson) Pope, a native
of Indiana. She came to Iowa where her wedding occurred. Her father, Dr. Samuel
Stephenson, was born in Ireland, came to Indiana, then moved to Iowa, where he
died at the age of eighty-four. The brothers and sisters of our subject are
mentioned as follows: Elizabeth D., Edgar B., Mrs. Fannie B. Kane and Mrs.
Margaret Thompson, twins, and Mrs. Bertie Auble, all of Modoc county,
California. Fred L. was the oldest of the family and was much associated with
his father in the various occupations in the different places where they
resided. In 1864, the parents crossed the plains with wagons, being members of a
very large train. They came direct to Yreka, California, and until 1870, the
father followed teaming and freighting. Then he came to Stone Coal valley in
Modoc county; being the first man that took a claim in that valley. A short time
thereafter he removed to Hot Springs valley, a distance of seven miles, where he
secured three hundred and twenty acres of land. Since that time, he had made
that place his home. For a while he was postmaster at Canby but his attention
has been largely given to stock raising. At this time he is about sixty-eight
years of age. Our subject's mother died in 1887. He grew up on a ranch and
worked at home for wages until he rented the Davis ranch, where he engaged in
farming and stock raising, and where he made his start in life. In November,
1898, he sought out his present place and bought it; it consists of two hundred
and sixty-five acres. In June of the following year, he moved his family here
and this has been his home place since. He has a nice eight room residence,
barn, other outbuildings, shade trees, and so forth and the place is one of the
best ones of the county.  Forty acres are bearing alfalfa and the entire estate
is good land, producing hay and grain. Mr. Pope also owns one hundred and
twenty-seven acres just east of Merrill, half of which is producing alfalfa and
the balance is used for grain and pasture. Mr. Pope makes a specialty of raising
choice Shorthorn cattle and has been favored with splendid success in the
enterprise.
     On March 27, 1892, Mr. Pope married Miss Dora 0. Ballard, a native of Modoc
county, California. Her father, James L. Ballard, was born in Illinois and came
as a pioneer to California. He was a skilled carpenter and wrought on the state
capital at Sacramento and in many other important places. As early as 1872, he
brought his family to Modoc county and there died in 1902. He was a millwright
as well as carpenter and built the first sawmill in Hot Spring valley. He
married Serilda Thornton, a native of Missouri who is now living in Modoc
county. Mrs. Pope's brothers and sisters are Simeon T., Charles A., Nora E.,
Anna H., James T., Jesse L., John R. and William. She is the third child. To our
subject and his wife five children have been born, Leslie B., I. Leland,
Marjorie D., Wanda M., and Fred L., Jr.
     When the time came for Mr. Pope to start in life, his father was not in a
position to assist him with any capital, consequently with his bare hands and a
good stout heart, he began the battle alone, and everything that he now owns is
the result of his own labors. His mother taught school a great many years and
was successful in this calling. Being the oldest of the family and much of me
time on the frontier, he had little opportunity to gain an education compared
with the youth of today, still he has made himself a well informed and well
trained man, mentally. He is enterprising and progressive, has many friends and
is considered one of the leading men of this part of the county.


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