Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 640.
 
HORACE PRESTON BELKNAP, M. D.

    Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and
distinguished and happy is he whose lines of life are cast in harmony therewith.
Dr. Horace Preston Belknap is a member of one of Oregon's most distinguished
pioneer families, both his paternal and maternal ancestors having played an
important part in the development of this state The progenitors of the Belknap
family in this country were three brothers, Abraham, Samuel and Ebenezer, who
located in America in 1635 and settled in Massachusetts.  Abraham Belknap was
the founder of the Oregon branch of the family. The great-great-great-great-
great-grandfather of Dr. Belknap was Samuel and the great-great-great-great
grandfather was Ebenezer. In the records of the American Academy it is stated
that the family of Ebenezer was the longest-lived American family known. The
father mother and twelve children all lived to be nearly or over one hundred
years of age one of the daughters living to the age of one hundred and six. Both
the great-great-great-grandfather and the great-great-grandfather were named
Samuel, the latter of whom served in the Revolutionary war and passed away while
in camp at Bunker Hill fever causing his demise. His son, Jonas, was also a
soldier in the Revolution and although receiving many wounds survived that
historic conflict. Jesse Belknap, the grandfather was born in New York and came
to Oregon in 1846, locating at Star Point now Monroe, Benton county. Harley
Belknap, the father of Dr. Belknap, was born in Ohio and at an early day came
with his father to Oregon. When reaching manhood he settled in what was then
Wasco county but is now Crook county, and became one of the prominent and
representative citizens of the community. The descendants of the other two
progenitors of the Belknap family in this country are living honorable lives in
all sections of the United States, holding the same high place in the several
states in which they reside as does the Oregon branch of the family.  Dr.
Belknap's mother was before her marriage, Miss Thirza Inmon and she is
descended from old pre-Revolutionary southern aristocracy, her immediate
ancestors having been pioneers of Kentucky. Mrs. Belknap, because of her
attainments, is one of the best known club women in Oregon and is foremost in
club affairs.
     In the acquirement of an education Dr. Belknap attended the grade schools
of Benton county the Willamette Academy, and then deciding upon a professional
career he enrolled in the medical department of Ann Arbor University and after
attending a course at Bellevue Hospital in 1886, received his M. D. degree. In
that same year he came to Crook county, where his father was then engaged in
cattle raising, and as the Doctor naively put it: "I came home to see the folks
on my way to California where I intended setting up in practice but there was
considerable sickness in Crook county about that time and my services were
needed and since then I have been so busy I have not had time to go further
south." Dr. Belknap has built up an extensive and important practice in and
around Prineville and is recognized as one of the leading medical practitioners
in the state. Not only has he won prominence In professional life but he has
frequently been called to public office and was one of the most capable mayors
Prineville has ever had.  He was likewise a member of the state legislature
in the years from 1907 to 1911 and was county treasurer and superintendent of
schools.  Dr. Belknap is regarded by his friends as a steady, substantial
citizen, who has served Crook county and Prineville to the best of his ability
in every position to which he has been called.
     In March, 1888, occurred the marriage of Dr. Belknap and Miss Wilda
Ketchum and to their union four sons have been born: Horace P., Wilford H.,
Leland V. and Hobart D., all of whom have followed in their father's footsteps
and specialized in medicine. The elder son is a practicing surgeon of Nampa,
Idaho, and he served in the World war as a first lieutenant in the medical
corps; Wilford H who first took up the study of law and later that of medicine,
is now serving In the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland and like his brother
is a veteran of the World war; Leland V. is a practicing physician in Portland;
Hobart D. was active in the World war, having served for eighteen months in
France, returning to this country with the rank of first sergeant. He was taking
a pre-medical course in the University of Oregon, at the time of his enlistment
and while in France took a course in anatomy. He is now enrolled as student in
the medical department of the University of Oregon. In every war in which
America has been a participant, members of the Belknap family have
figured prominently since 1636. Mrs. Belknap is a woman of charming and magnetic
personality and is a prominent figure in the club and social circles of
Prineville and vicinity.
     The fraternal affiliations of Dr. Belknap are with the Masons and Odd
Fellows, and he is past master of the former order. His religious faith is that
of the Christian church and in line with his profession he holds membership in
the Tri-County Medical Society, the Oregon State Medical Society and the
American Medical Association. Dr. Belknap keeps in close touch with his work and
believes in studying each individual case. Those who know him recognize his
sterling worth as physician and citizen, and Prineville is indeed fortunate in
having him for a resident.
 
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.