Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 917.
 
RUFUS LANGDON

     Is manager and owner of two of the most important ferries over the Umpqua
river, and in conjunction with his brother, Commodore P. Langdon, is operating a
stage and mail route.  He is bringing to these activities the same progressive
and straightforward characteristics which made him a successful farmer since he
was old enough to hold the plow and which influenced and hastened the
agricultural development of the state.  Mr. Langdon is a native son of Oregon
and was born in Kellogg precinct, Douglas county, March 31, 1879.  He is a son
of Ansel and Leonora (Maupin) Langdon, the former a native of Green Lake county,
Wisconsin, and the latter of Greene county, Illinois.  Mr. Langdon's father
crossed the plains to Oregon, making the journey from Illinois to this state
with the Dimmick family in 1852.  The mother of our subject made the trip across
the plains with her parents when she was yet a girl.  Their marriage occurred in
Douglas county, and immediately afterward Ansel Langdon took up a fractional
donation claim in the bend of the Umpqua river five miles south of Elkton, and
here operated one of the model farms of the district.  He later took up a
homestead claim and in addition to this bought sixty acres of railroad land,
making his holdings aggregated almost five hundred acres.  He was an active man
in the early years of his life but later suffered much from illness.  He was one
of the early freighters in Douglas county and hauled the first load of freight
out of Scottsburg bound for Yreka, California.  He was a veteran of the Indian
wars and a man who took an active part in every phase of pioneer development in
the section in which he located.  He died in 1892 in his sixty-second year and
the event deprived Douglas county of a thoroughly representative, honorable and
upright man.  His widow is still living and makes her home with the subject of
this sketch.
     Rufus Langdon was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his education
in the public schools of Douglas county.  He was but thirteen years of age when
his father died but he had been taught the principles of farming from his early
childhood .  When he was sixteen years of age he assumed the entire
responsibility of the operation of the extensive property which his father left
and subsequently purchased the homestead.  It comprised at that time one hundred
and eight acres, his father having disposed of all the remaining property
previous to his death.  Mr. Langdon still retains ownership of this well
improved farm and for many years made its cultivation the principal activity of
his life.  In 1906, however, he secured the contract for the operation of the
south ferry over the Umpqua river and was successful in this line for two and
one-half years.  In 1910 he added to his activities by contracting to run the
Dimmick ferry, in the operation of which he is still successful and active.  He
has recently joined with his brother, Commodore P. Langdon, and purchased the
Oakland and Elkton stage and mail route, which they are now running
successfully.
     In his political views Mr. Langdon is a republican and a progressive and
liberal thinker upon public affairs.  He has never sought office, preferring to
devote his attention to agricultural and business enterprises.  He is a member
of Elkton Lodge, No. 192, I.O.O.F., and also belongs to Elkton Camp, No. 5786,
M.W.A.  His business career had been marked by a policy of thorough integrity
and strict honor.  He carries on all his activities along broad and progressive
principles which are a heritage from his father and are contributing factors in
the development of the American northwest.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.