An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 265-266.

SAMUEL S. JOHNS, who resides at the corner of Bridge and Eighteenth streets, in
The Dalles, is one of the best known and most progressive stockmen of the state
of Oregon. He has not excelled in raising large numbers of stock, but he has
certainly excelled in bringing in and raising some of the finest horses and
cattle to be found. This, in realty, is one of the greatest works for the
upbuilding of Oregon that one could do. It is eminently a stock state and one
that makes such strides in getting good breeds into the country is bringing the
entire standard to a higher point, and the value of it can scarcely be
overestimated. Mr. Johns has, also, made a first-class success in financial
matters and has a holding in valuable property, both personal and real, that
does credit to his business ability. He owns a fine stock ranch ten miles out on
Mill creek, which is well improved and where he has a choice herd of one hundred
and fifty thorough-bred Shorthorns. A part of the herd are registered animals
and are among the choicest to be found in the west. In addition to these, Mr.
Johns owns some fine horses, among which we may mention Vespasian, a Suffolk
Punch draught stallion, registered in 1898, number 2498. He has one of the best
records of any stallion and is one of the choicest ever imported' to the United
States. He weighs two thousand and ten pounds and is making the seasons at The
Dalles. Mr. Johns also owns a three year old colt of Vespasian, which seems to
be in every point equal to his famous sire. These two animals cost three
thousand dollars. Mr. Johns is making a record of excellence in stock breeding
and is one of the most skilled men in this line in this part of the country.      

Samuel S. Johns was born in Wales, on November 14, 1863, the son of Thomas and
Bessie (Pritchard) Johns, also natives of Wales. The father comes from an old
Welsh family which has resided in the vicinity of Cardiff for many generations.
He followed stock breeding and dairying. His death occurred in The Dalles, in
July, 1902. The mother's father, Captain Pritchard, was an Englishman and was
drowned in the wreck of his vessel on the Loochoo or Liu Kiu islands, before the
birth of this daughter. She died at Spokane, in 1897, aged fifty-eight. The
family came to the United States in 1868 and settled in Kansas, two of the
father's brothers, John and Henry, coming with them. For thirty years they did
railroad work there, the father being master mechanic on the Kansas City &
Southern railroad. In 1880, the family came to Wasco county and the father
entered the employ of the O.R. & N. Six years later he engaged in the sawmill
business. While in this business he erected a flume from Mill creek to The
Dalles, a distance of sixteen miles, and later sold that flume to The Dalles. It
is utilized today for the city water supply. After a good high school education
in Ottawa, Kansas, our subject learned the machinist trade and wrought at it
five years with the O.R. & N. Then he was with his father in the mill business
until they sold the flume. He had purchased the land on Mill creek for stock
purposes and gave his attention to that exclusively as soon as released from the
mill proposition. He owns twelve hundred acres and all the improvements required
on a first-class stock farm, besides a good residence and property in The
Dalles.      

On December 22, 1887, at The Dalles, Mr. Johns married Miss Alice Walker, who
was born near St. Helens, Oregon, and died in June, 1882, at The Dalles. Her
parents, Robert and Julia (Hull) Walker, were early pioneers of Oregon. The
mother died in The Dalles, on March 5, 1902, and the father a few days before
Mrs. Johns. On November 14, 1895, at The Dalles, Mr. Johns married Mary Zable, a
native of Kansas. Her parents, Frederick and Louisa Zable, were natives of
Germany, and are now both deceased. They dwelt many years in Wisconsin and
Kansas. Mrs. Johns has the following named brothers and sisters, William,
Frederick, Ferdinand, Mrs. Christina Rabensdorf, Mrs. Dora Martin, Mrs. Louisa
Mayer, Mrs. Lena Geyer, and Mrs. Amelia Stenber. Mr. Johns has two brothers,
Walter I. and David P., and three sisters, Mrs. Mary O'Neill, Mrs. Martha
Campbell, and Bessie. Mr. Johns has two children by his first wife, Dora, aged
fifteen, and Alice, aged twelve. He is a member of the United Artisans, while he
and his wife belong to the Baptist church. He is deacon of that institution and
also superintendent of the Sunday school. He is active, in church work as also
in all lines of enterprise for upbuilding and betterment of the community and is
considered one of the best men of the community. In politics, Mr. Johns is a
strong Republican and has been city councilman for six years.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.