Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 202. JACOB SIEGMUND No history of the Willamette Valley would be complete without the biographical record of Jacob Siegmund, one of its honored pioneers. He is classed with the foremost agriculturists of Marion county and for more than fifty years lived in the vicinity of Stayton, witnessing- the progress of civilization in this region. He was born November 11, 1832, in the Rhine province of Germany and his parents, Jacob and Anna (Willius) Siegmund, were natives of the same province. In that country the father followed the shoemaker's trade and in 1848 sailed for the United States. Locating in Wisconsin, he purchased forty acres of timber land and through industry and patience cleared thirty acres of the tract, which he subsequently sold. He next acquired an eighty-acre farm in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and that place, was also heavily timbered. He brought sixty acres of the farm under cultivation and the fertile land yielded rich harvests. The remainder of his life was devoted to the improvement of that property and the mother also passed away in Wisconsin. Jacob Siegmund attended the public schools of Germany until he was sixteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on the voyage to the new world, and his education was completed in Wisconsin. He remained at home until his marriage and about 1874 migrated to Oregon. For a year he resided in Portland and then came to Marion county, purchasing a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres located seven and a half miles east of Stayton. This was the old David Feebler donation claim, which had been filed on about 1852, and a log building stood on the place, which was covered with timber and brush, Mr. Siegmund cleared two-thirds of the farm, to which he later added an adjoining tract of five hundred and thirty-eight acres, and now has a fine wheat ranch of eight hundred and fifty-eight acres, five hundred of which are under cultivation, including large fields of grain and clover. He is also a successful stock breeder, keeping about three hundred sheep, seventy-five head of cattle and a number of hogs. He has seven milch cows and all of his stock is of high grade. His place is improved with good buildings and well kept fences, and modern machinery facilitates the work of the field. Being nearly ninety-five years of age, Mr. Siegmund has laid aside the arduous duties of life and the management of the ranch is entrusted to his son Frank, an experienced, capable agriculturist. In Mequon, Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, Jacob Siegmund was married January 9, 1860, to Miss Mary Margaret Klumb, a native of Germany and a daughter of Christopher and Gertrude Klumb. Her parents came to the United States in 1846 and settled on a farm near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spending the remainder of their lives in that section of the state. Mrs. Siegmund was torn in 1836 and attained the ripe age of eighty-four years, passing away May 31, 1920. She was the mother of eleven children. Edward G., the oldest, was born in Wisconsin and is living in Garibaldi, Oregon. John C. and William M., also natives of Wisconsin, are residents of Salem, Oregon. Andrew R., was born in the Badger state and is postmaster of Gervais, Oregon. Louis K. was born in Wisconsin and also makes his home in Salem. Julia M. was married to J. M. English and resides in Stayton. Caroline 0., is the wife of Charles Rossiter and lives in Marion county. Eliza the next of the family, was born in Oregon and has passed away. Henry A., also a native of Oregon, is engaged in ranching near the homestead. The others are: Frank A.; and Mrs. Matilda S. Jones, who follows the profession of teaching. Frank Siegmund was born in Oregon and attended the district school at Fern Ridge. He remained at home until his marriage but in 1912 purchased two hundred and forty-five acres of land in Linn county which he leased, later trading the property for a tract of eighty-five acres near Stayton. In 1919 he became the owner of a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres adjoining his father's property and in 1920 acquired an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He now owns five hundred and sixty-five acres of fertile land and farms over one thousand acres, leasing a large portion of his father's ranch. He has twelve horses. His grain ranch ranks with the best in the state and at the Centennial Exposition held in Portland, Oregon, in 1905, he won gold medals on both wheat and oats in competition open to the world. Keeping in close touch with the most effective methods of farming, he has advanced the standards of agriculture in the Willamette Valley and through earnest effort, guided and controlled by system and science, has converted his personal property into a public asset. On April 8, 1914, Frank Siegmund married Miss Zeila F. Grimes, a native of Grants Pass, Oregon, and a daughter of James and Pearl (Andrews) Grimes. Her father was born in Ohio and the mother is a native of Colorado. They came to Oregon in the '80s and stilt reside in the state. Mr. and Mrs. Siegmund have two children: Frances E., who was born on the homestead September 11, 1915, and is attending the public schools; and Jay, who was born November 6, 1922 in Stayton. Mr. Siegmund is an adherent of the republican party and belongs to the Stayton Lodge of Masons, also to the local chapter of the Eastern Star, with which his wife is likewise affiliated. Jacob Siegmund enlisted in the Union Army and served for a few months in the Civil war. He is a stanch republican and while a resident of Wisconsin was township clerk for a considerable period. For eight years he served as postmaster of Klumb, Oregon, and discharged his duties with efficiency and conscientiousness. Time has dealt kindly with Mr. Siegmund, who is vigorous and alert manifesting a keen interest in matters pertaining to the management of his ranch and in public affairs. His life has been well spent and his reward is the unqualified esteem of his fellowmen, a possession which he values more highly than material gain. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.