Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 118.
 
JOHN H. CHAMBERS
 
   One of the most active and effective factors in the development and progress
of Cottage Grove, Lane county, has been John H. Chambers, who for over a score
of years has been engaged in the sawmill business here, meeting with large
success and gaining a place with the solid and substantial business men of this
section of the state. Mr. Chambers was born in Fairfield, Illinois, in 1864, and
is a son of John and Martha (McLaughlin) Chambers, both of whom were born and
reared in Scotland. On coming to this country, they located in Illinois, of
which state they were among the early settlers, and there the father was for
many years engaged in farming. Both parents are now deceased.
 
   John H. Chambers was reared on the home farm and secured his education in the
public schools of that locality and in the Lebanon (Ill.) Academy. When
seventeen years old he went to Nebraska and three years later was the owner of a
small country store there, which he carried on for four years. He then entered
the Plateau State Bank, at Herman, Nebraska, of which he became manager, serving
in that position ten years. In 1902 Mr. Chambers came to Oregon, locating first
at Ashland, where he built a sawmill and established a lumber business. He was
successful and in 1906, desiring a broader field of operations, sold out there
and came to Cottage Grove, where he built a large mill, with a daily capacity of
one hundred thousand feet. He operated that plant until November 26, 1923, when
he sold it and soon afterward built a new sawmill at Cottage Grove, which
contains the most improved equipment and has a capacity of one hundred thousand
feet every eight hours, employing between one hundred and two hundred men. Mr.
Chambers has seven thousand acres of Douglas fir and has built twelve miles of
railroad from the mill to the logging camps. His success has been gained
entirely through his own efforts, backed by sound judgment and an indomitable
will, which has overcome all obstacles and carried him forward to a place of
independence in the business world.
 
   In 1888 Mr. Chambers was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Van Valin, who was
born and reared in Nebraska, and they are the parents of a son, Victor, who was
graduated from the University of Oregon in 1920 and is now associated with his
father in the lumber business. He was married to Miss Lois Thomas and they have
a son, Richard Lee. He is a Mason and is high priest of Cottage Grove Chapter
No. 41, R. A. M. He also belongs to the Lions Club. Mr. Chambers gives his
political support to the republican party and has served four terms as mayor of
Cottage Grove, giving to the discharge of his official duties the same careful,
painstaking attention that he gives to his own affairs. He has attained the
Knight Templar degree in Masonry and is a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star, and also belongs
to the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce. He has taken a commendable interest in
public affairs and while a resident of Nebraska served as a member of the state
legislature in the session of 1899. He has contributed of his efforts and
influence to the upbuilding of Cottage Grove and is regarded as one of its most
substantial citizens, well worthy of the respect in which he is held throughout
the community.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2016 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.