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. 1036.
 
FRANKLIN PIERCE VAN METER

     is one of the enterprising men who have made Klamath county the prosperous
political division she is today. His residence is in Poe valley, near Bedfield
and there he owns a fine estate of two hundred and forty acres, half of which is
under cultivation. He was born in Lasalle county, Illinois, on August 9, 1854.
The father, Jacob R. VanMeter, was born in Grayson county, Kentucky and came to
Illinois in 1852. Five years later he moved to Kentucky and was a veteran of the
Mexican War. The mother of our subject was Rhoda (Hackley) VanMeter, a native of
Kentucky. She died in Redding, California in 1893, aged seventy-six. The
children of the family are named as follows: Dr. Abraham, a prominent physician
at Lamar, Barton county, Missouri and who followed his profession four years in
the Civil War; Isaac L., now deceased, who served his country four years in the
Rebellion, being corporal; James H., deceased; Dr. Miles E., one of the most
prominent and skillful physicians and surgeon in San Francisco, California,
being also a lecturer on surgery and medicine; Franklin P., who is our subject;
Marion L., a mechanic and fanner of Poe valley; George W., a machinist in Los
Gatos, California; John H., a farmer and stockman in Poe valley; diaries E, a
leading machinist of San Francisco whose skill brings him a salary of two
hundred and forty dollars per month; Mrs. Sarah E. McClure, deceased; and Mary,
deceased. Our subject grew up on a farm in Missouri and also learned the
engineer's art. His education was received from the common schools and he made
the best of his opportunities.  In 1876, he went to Colusa county, California
and engaged in engineering. Two years later, he returned to Missouri and on
August 13, 1878, there married Miss Maggie A. Carter, a native of Linn county,
Missouri. Her father, Collin T. Carter, was born in Kentucky and came to
Missouri in the early forties. In the spring of' 1862, he joined a wagon train
for Sacramento, Mrs. VanMeter being one of the children then in the family. In
1867 the family returned to Linn county via the Panama route and in all, they
made five trips across the plains. He died at Springfield, Missouri, in 1900,
aged sixty- six. He came from Irish extraction. The mother of Mrs. VanMeter was
Emily M. (Sandusky) Carter, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1872, in Linn
county, Missouri. The other children, of the family are William S., of Greene
county, Missouri; Lee D., of the same county; Mrs. Emily Adams, deceased; and
George, deceased. In the spring of 1882 Mr. VanMeter came to Colusa county,
California and engaged as a stationary engineer. For three years afterward, he
was foreman on a ranch and in the spring of 1894, he came to Poe valley and
located a homestead. He soon brought his family here and a careful invoice of
his capital showed that beside his wild land, he had only five dollars in cash
in all his holdings. He had very little else to do with, but undaunted, Mr.
VanMeter took hold with his hands and has made a splendid success financially.
His farm is well improved, having a house, barn and other accessories. He has a
good band of cattle, some horses, plenty of implements for the ranch, and
altogether he is one of the prosperous men of Klamath county. He has labored
assiduously since coming here and has shown himself a man of uprightness and
unswerving integrity. The children born to this family are Roy L., Gertie, and
Clara May. Roy L. is raising stock and farming in Poe valley. Gertie holds a
first-class certificate and has taught school throughout the county. She
possesses a fine talent in drawing and is an artist of considerable note, having
made some very excellent pictures. Her people justly take considerable pride in
her labors and give her the encouragement that she so thoroughly merits. Mr.
VanMeter has been a great traveler, having crossed the plains five times, and is
a man of wide experience and good ability. He comes from a strong family and he
and his wife are among the most substantial and progressive people in this part
of the country.


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