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Note: esboro, Pennsylvania. They resided at Lanesboro for several years, returning to the farm in Scott Township in 1876 or 1877. They remained on the farm until 1888, when they moved two and one-half miles west to Stevens Point. On February 15, 1895 the family home at Stevens Point burned, and Francis Emery Putnam again moved his family back to the farm.
He knew his grandmother, Pamelia (Sneden) Graves, who would visit their farm to assist his mother. While walking the five miles to school, he would pass by the "shingle shanty" of his grandfather, Joshua Lancaster Putnam, and would often stop and visit him.
Louis Lamont Putnam attended the rural school house down the road, southeast of the farm. He went to school four months per year through the eighth grade. Then he was sent with his brother, Herbert Elmer Putnam, and his sister, Lorinda Macy Putnam, six months each year to the high school at Starucca, Pennsylvania. There they completed the ninth and tenth grades. He later attended a school at Binghamton, New York, from which he graduated in 1896.
When not attending school, Louis Lamont Putnam worked on the farm and in his father's many enterprises. Until age 10, he did all manner of chores around the farm: milking cows, shearing sheep, and helping to build stone fence with his brother, Theodore Nelson Putnam. After age 10, he began working at the sawmill across the road from the farmhouse on Hemlock Creek. He learned to pull lathe and to run the various saws. He later claimed to have been able to do anything around the farm or mill.
He was also a stone cutter, working in the quarries with Herbert Elmer Putnam. He learned to swim in a hurry when he was thrown into the mill pond. And he appears to have been very mischievous. On one occasion, he hung a number of barrels from the barn, and caused billy goats to run into them and smash them. This mischief earned him frequent whippings from his father. Generally he and his father got along well, however; the latter saying, "He sure eats fast, but he works like he eats."
In 1888, Francis Emery Putnam leased his new steam-powered sawmill near Stevens Point to the Chadden brothers, and Louis Lamont Putnam went to work for them as the engineer of that mill. He was then 15 years old. After three months, his father called him to Stevens Point to run the three mills which he had acquired there the previous year. He became superintendent of those three mills as well as his father's kindling wood factory at Stevens Point.
He ran the mills and factory until he was 20 years old. At that time, he began quarreling with his brother, Norman Wert Putnam, who worked with him and frequently tried to change his operations. Louis worked hard and had a bad temper, and he became quite angry when anyone interfered with his work. Francis Emery Putnam became upset by the quarrel between his two sons, so Louis told him that he was leaving. He went to work for his brother, Herbert Elmer Putnam, who had started a new quarrying business.
In his early twenties, Louis Lamont Putnam became active in local fraternal organizations. On July 13, 1894, <i>The Montrose Democrat</i> wrote that "Washington camp No. 20, P.O.S, of A. elected their officers last Saturday evening as follows . . . President L.L. Putnam . . . ." On September 14, 1894, that same newspaper wrote: "Masters M.G. Bailey and L.L. Putman were elected and expect to go to Gibson Sept 5 '94, to attend the District Convention of the P.O.S. of A. of this county. We all wonder that they don't start a camp at our County seat, Montrose; there should be patriotic people in that place for a camp." In December 1894, he was initiated into the Knights of Golden Eagle lodge at Stevens Point. And in January 1895, he was elected an officer of that lodge.
In 1897 operated a stone quarry at Stevens Point. On February 25, 1897, <i>The Montrose Democrat</i> reported: "L.L. Putnam and A. Spears, of this place, have leased Mr. Francher's stone quarry for next summer. They will begin work soon."
On June 18, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, he enrolled in Company D, 13th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. His place of enrollment was Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the enrolling officer was Captain Frank Robling, Jr. Louis Lamont Putnam gave his residence at the time of enrollment as Stevens Point, so presumably he had returned home from Hartford prior to that date. He gave his occupation as "stone cutter." He was five feet nine and one-half inches in height, weighing 148 pounds, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion.
Under the headline "ANOTHER SQUAD GONE," on June 20, 1898 The Scranton Republican reported: "Captain McCausland has also been hustling and has done some remarkable work considering the disadvantages under which his detail has been working. Yesterday afternoon the following recruits enrolled by him left for Camp Alger . . . and the following nineteen members of the Hallstead band . . . L.L. Putnam . . . ."
He was sent to Camp Alger, Virginia, near Washington, DC, where he was stationed for six months. After 30-days drill of the manual of arms and field drill, he was transferred to the 13th Regiment Band. He served as a bandsman for the duration of his service.
On June 30, 1898, <i>The Montrose Democrat</i>, under the headline "CAMP ALGER NOTES. Something as to What our Soldier Boys are Doing," wrote: "Chief Musician Thomas Miles gives the band four hours' hard practice each day. He has selected a spot in the woods near the regiment. The band gives a concert each evening. The band is made up as follows . . . L.L. Putnam, Stevens Point . . . ."
While on a practice march to the Potomac River, he suffered stomach poisoning from bad meat and water. Two other soldiers died from this cause, and Lewis "was laid out between corn rows for thirty six hours between life and death." While loading freight at Camp Alger, his right foot was run over by a six-mule team with a load of freight, and he was off parade duty for seven weeks. He was off duty again from October 15-17, 1898 for treatment of malarial fever.
During this encampment near Washington, DC, he took the opportunity to visit the Capitol, including the Senate and House; the White House; and other public buildings.
He was subsequently stationed at Dunn Loring, Fairfax County, Virginia.
He was mustered out March 11, 1899 at Camp Mackenzie near Augusta, Georgia. He received an honorable discharge, and the officer signing the discharge, Colonel Henry A. Comsen, wrote: "Service honest and faithful. Character excellent."
After his release from the army, Louis Lamont Putnam went to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by a shipping firm. He is listed as a head of household in the federal census for Harmony Township enumerated June 21, 1900 as "Lewis Putnam," white, male, born in August 1873, age 27, married two years, born in Pennsylvania, both his parents born in New York, a clerk in a shipping firm. His wife, Mabel Putnam, is white, female, born in September 1881, age 18, married two years, mother of one child one living, born in Pennsylvania, both her parents born in Pennsylvania. Their child is Anna G. Putnam, daughter, white, female, born in September 1899, single, born in Pennsylvania.
He moved to Binghamton, New York in October 1900: <i>The Montrose Democrat</i>, on October 4, 1900, reported: "LL Putman is now employed by the Empire Ware House Co., at Binghamton, and will move there soon."
When he went to Hartford in 1902 his wife did not go with him. So far as is known, he never returned to her and never communicated with her or their child. Nor did he ever disclose this earlier marriage to his children, although his second wife and her family knew of it.
He remained at Hartford from the fall of 1902 through the fall of 1903. He worked there for a time in Herbert Elmer Putnam's quarry and paving business. He then took a job as superintendent of the Hartford Grain and Elevator Company. Later he ran a crew of 100 men at a Hartford typewriter manufacturing company producing Russian typewriters, for which he earned $300 per month.
His two oldest sisters, Edna Lavinda Putnam and Nellie May Putnam, had married Albert Miller Slocum and Edwin James Slocum; and they had moved west to Heppner, Oregon. In early 1903, Louis Lamont Putnam left Hartford and traveled to Oregon to visit the Slocums for one year. The typewriter company told him he could come back in one year and resume his job; but he never returned to the East.
He first met Lillian Phoebe Andrews November 30, 1903, and they were engaged in the parlor of her father's home in Heppner in 1904. They were married at J.L. Briggs' private residence in Portland the evening of July 5, 1905. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend John Bentzien, a pastor at the University Park Baptist Church in Portland. Their honeymoon of a few days was spent at Portland attending the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, in progress at that time. A local newspaper account reads:
"Louis Putnam and Miss Lillie Andrews, who were married last week in Portland, returned Monday evening, and Mr. Putnam left Tuesday for Ione, where he will prepare a home for his bride, who will join him in a few days."
When he first arrived at Heppner in 1903, Louis Lamont Putnam managed Edwin James Slocum's drug store. He later went to the neighboring town of Ione, where he was employed as a clerk in the general store of Halvorsen & Mason. He was still at Halvorsen & Mason when he was married in the summer of 1905, and he and his bride took up residence at Ione.
Their first home was a house owned by one Dobyn, for which they paid a rent of $10 per month. On September 15, 1905, they moved to the Woolery residence, where they paid a rent of $30 per month. During this period, Louis Lamont Putnam operated a general merchandising business of his own at Ione.
In March, 1906, he moved his family to North Bend, Oregon; he being employed as a contractor for a sash and door company. The following article appeared March 29, 1906 in the <i>Heppner Gazette</i>:
"Mrs. A.M. Slocum went to Ione Tuesday to visit her brother, Louis Putnam, who is soon to leave for the Coos Bay country, to reside permanently."
The Andrews family visited them there in early 1907, as evidenced by the following story in the February 21, 1907 <i>Heppner Gazette</i>:
"A. Andrews and family arrived home from Coos Bay, Tuesday, where they have been visiting their daughter Mrs. Lillie Putnam."
On April 24, 1907, the <i>Heppner Gazette</i> carried the following story:
"L.L. Putnam is called to Heppner, by the illness of his wife who is visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs. A. Andrews of that place. - Coos Bay Harbor."
On October 1, 1908, they moved to Ashland, Oregon, where he was engaged in moving buildings. Lillian Phoebe (Andrews) Putnam's parents, two brothers, a sister, and aunt and uncle Wright were then living at Ashland. On July 1, 1909, Louis Lamont Putnam went to Portland where he was employed by the Allen Louis Wholesale Grocery as a shipping clerk. In 1910, he bought several teams and became a contractor for the City of Portland developing and maintaining the public parks.
Lewis L. Putnam is listed as a head of household in the federal census for Portland enumerated April 21, 1910. He is male, white, age 37, married twice, married for five years, born in Pennsylvania, both his parents born in New York, occupation "teaming." His wife, Lillian P. Putnam, is female, white, age 29, married once, married for five years, the mother of two children two living, born in Oregon, both her parents born in Ohio, occupation "none." Their children are: Eldred L. Putnam, son, male, white, age three, single, born in Oregon; and Frances A. Putnam, son, male, white, age one, single, born in Oregon.
He subsequently went into the gravel and trucking businesses. He claimed to have lost more than $76,000 in the years he was in the gravel and trucking businesses.
His father, Francis Emery Putnam, came to Portland to visit in 1912. Louis Lamont Putnam showed him the sights in the area. But the visit was marred by Louis Lamont Putnam's dislike of his father's second wife, who accompanied him. She visited Louis Lamont Putnam's new house in Portland, and liked it so well that she asked Francis Emery Putnam to build a similar house for her in Binghamton.
Louis Lamont Putnam had a restaurant on the southeast corner of SW Third and Washington Streets in Portland in 1913. The restaurant was called the "Village Inn." It was open all day and into the evening hours. It was a family restaurant and did a terrific business. This was the first restaurant in Portland with an orchestra for evening dining. Louis Lamont Putnam ran the restaurant himself until 8:00 PM. During this time, the family lived in the Lents area of Portland. After one year of operation, he sold the restaurant.
In early 1914, he moved again to Ione, where he was employed as a clerk at Bert Mason's general store. This store sold large quantities of supplies to the local ranchers. They would come into town with their wagons and load up on supplies at the store. The <i>Heppner Gazette</i> of October 20, 1914 carried the following story:
"Lou Putnam left Sunday morning for Portland where he will visit with his family a few weeks. When he returns he will bring the family with him."
Isaac Howard, the husband of Lillian Phoebe (Andrews) Putnam's sister, Edith, owned a large ranch one mile outside Ione. The Putnams would go there each Sunday and ride to church with the Howards in their buggy.
In 1915, the Putnam family returned to Portland, where they rented a house on NE Mallory Street. They subsequently lived in several other rented houses before buying a house on the southeast corner of SE 42nd and 58th in 1922. Louis Lamont Putnam was again in the trucking business during those years. He was engaged in hauling lumber and ties for sawmill operators in the Molalla area. The portable mills would be taken into the woods, and the lumber would be hauled out on flat-bed trucks. Louis Lamont Putnam would build plank roads deep in the woods in order to reach the mill sites. He had as many as five Kleiber trucks at one time, having purchased them on contract. He was heavily in debt, as were the mills themselves in the years just after World War I.
His son, Eldred Lamont Putnam, drove a truck for his father when only 16 years of age. The whole family often would camp on the Molalla River west of the town of Molalla during the summers.
Louis Lamont Putnam kept his own books and records; but as income taxes were then insignificant, record-keeping was not very complex. He also did much of the maintenance work on his trucks, working late at night at home. He was a "jack-of-all-trades" when it came to building or repairing anything.
He registered for the World War I draft, September 12, 1917, in Portland. He is described as 45 years old, born August 22, 1873, a self-employed wood dealer. He and his wife, Lillian, are living at 961 Mallory Street. He is of medium height and medium build, with gray eyes and light hair.
Louis Lamont Putnam is listed twice in the 1920 federal census. On January 5, 1920, "Lewis L. Putnam" is listed as a head of household in Portland, renting his home. He is male, white, age 45, married, can read and write, born in Pennsylvania, his father and mother both born in the United States, can speak English, his occupation "Hauling lumber" for a "Lumber Company." His wife, Lillian P. Putnam, is female, white, age 39, married, can read and write, born in Oregon, her parents both born in Ohio, occupation "none." Their children are: Eldred L. Putnam, son, male, white, age 13, single, attended school during the previous year, can read and write, born in Oregon; Arthur F. Putnam, son, male, white, age 11, single, attended school during the previous year, can read and write, born in Oregon; Edith E. Putnam, daughter, female, white, age nine, single, attended school during the previous year, cannot read or write, born in Oregon; Delmer B. Putnam, son, male, white, age five, single, did not attend school during the previous year, cannot read and write, born in Oregon; and Gale A. Putnam, son, male, white, age 4-1/12 [four years and one month], single, born in Oregon.
On January 7, 1920, "Louis L. Putnam" is listed as a boarder in the household of Major S. Hemgate in Molalla. He is male, white, age 45, married, can read and write, born in Pennsylvania, father and mother both born in New York, can speak English, a truck driver engaged in lumber hauling. The fact that the birthplaces of his parents were stated in the Molalla enumeration but not in the Portland interview two days earlier leads to the conclusion that Louis Lamont Putnam was in Molalla on both dates, and it was Lillian Putnam who gave the information to the census taker in Portland on January 5.
His first automobile was an Oakland, purchased in 1923. He arived at home and yelled: "Mom, come and see what I bought!" and the whole family ran out to see the new car.
In 1924, he left the trucking business to engage in concrete contracting in Portland. In October 1927, the family moved to Newberg. There they purchased a property on the Yamhill Road, just past the road turning north to Chehalem Mountain. This was a five-acre parcel, with a nice two-story house and a barn. Louis Lamont Putnam did a great deal of work on this house. He cut out a large archway between the living room and dining room and papered the walls. The barn had a large loft. The family had a cow, chickens, and rabbits. They also had a large garden, which the younger sons helped maintain.
At Newberg, Louis Lamont Putnam continued in the concrete contracting business. His son, Francis Arthur Putnam, was a finisher; and his son, Eldred Lamont Putnam, also worked for him part of the time. They ran a mixer and mixed their sand and gravel on the job sites. All the equipment was maintained at the house. Later they had several other men in their crew. They did both residential and commercial work.
Louis L. Putnam is listed as a head of household in the federal census for Precinct 37, Yamhill County, enumerated May 12, 1930. He owns his home. He lives on a farm. He is male, white, age 55, married, age 28 at date of first marriage, can read and write, born in Pennsylvania, both his parents born in New York, can speak English, a contractor engaged in general contracting, a veteran of the Spanish American War. His wife, Lillian P. Putnam, is female, white, age 49, married, age 24 at date of first marriage, can read and write, born in Oregon, both her parents born in Ohio, can speak English, occupation "none." Their children are: Eldred L. Putnam, son, male, white, age 23, single, can read and write, born in Oregon, can speak English, occupation a bookkeeper for a lumber office; F. Arthur Putnam, son, male, white, age 21, single, can read and write, born in Oregon, can speak English, a finisher for cement work; Edith E. Putnam, daughter, female, white, age 19, single, can read and write, born in Oregon, can speak English, a stenographer in a law office; Delmer B. Putnam, son, male, white, age 16, single, attended school during the previous year, can read and write, born in Oregon, can speak English, occupation "none"; and Gale A. Putnam, son, male, white, age 14, single, attended school during the previous year, can read and write, born in Oregon, can speak English, occupation "none."
Louis Lamont Putnam stayed in the concrete contracting business and built several houses at Newberg until the Great Depression years of the 1930s. Then economic conditions became so bad that there was little work being done. He would wander the streets, looking for jobs. Eldred Lamont Putnam had gone to Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1931 and 1932, and Louis Lamont Putnam went there and worked in a sawmill. In the late 1930s, he did repair contracting. He was also a second cook, or "bull cook," in logging camps on two occasions before and during World War II; the first camp being near Bingen, Washington, and the second at Paradise Lodge on Mt. Ranier where the 10th Mt. Division was in training.
Louis L. Putnam is listed in two locations in the 1940 federal census. In the enumeration for Newberg, dated April 12, 1940, Louis L. Putnam is living at 208 Washington Street. He is male, white, age 65, married, born in Pennsylvania, his normal place of residence "in same place," a concrete worker in the building and construction industry, owns his home valued at $1,800, highest grade in school completed was high school 4th year, worked 28 hours in the week prior to the census, worked 16 weeks in 1939, income $320, no other sources of income, a wage or salary worker in private work. His wife, Lillian P. Putnam, was female, white, age 59, married, born in Oregon, highest grade in school completed was elementary school 8th grade. Also living in the household was their son, Gale A. Putnam, male, white, age 24, single, born in Oregon, highest grade in school completed was college 5th or subsequent year.
In the enumeration for Klamath Falls, dated April 3, 1940, Louis L. Putnam is living at 1027 Washington Street. He is as male, white, age 60, married, born in Pennsylvania, his normal place of residence Newberg, a bookkeeper in the general construction industry, renting his house for $15 per month, worked eight weeks in 1939, earned $120. Also living in the household are: Frances Putnam, son male, white, age 31, single, born in Oregon, his normal place of residence Newberg, a common laborer in a box factory, worked 40 weeks in 1939, earned $880; and Orville Parrett, lodger, male, white, age 36, married, born in Oregon, his normal place of residence Newberg, a carpenter, highest grade completed was college 4th year, worked 25 weeks in 1939, earned $410. Apparently Louis, together with his son Francis Arthur Putnam and son-in-law Orville Clifton Parrett were working part of the year in Klamath Falls.
The family was not really in need during those years, due to receipt of a $60 per month pension paid for Louis Lamont Putnam's Spanish-American War service. Their house payment was only $15 per month, and the family was able to live on the pension money. In 1932, they moved to a rented house in Newberg; buying another house a few months later in the north part of the town. Louis Lamont Putnam lived in this house until 1946, when he built his last home on Third Street across from the Friends Church.
Louis Lamont Putnam had strong political views, having voted in every election since he reached voting age. He was a Republican and always voted the straight Republican ticket, with the single exception of a minor Yamhill County official in the 1930s. He had been elected delegate to several Republican Party County Conventions at Montrose, Pennsylvania in his early years; but he took no active part in politics after coming west.
Louis Lamont Putnam was raised a Methodist and remained affiliated with that church for much of his life. He was converted at Binghamton, December 20, 1902, and was baptized at Fairview, Dutchess County, New York, January 10, 1903, by the Reverend W.V. Williams. The Putnam family attended the Rose City Methodist Church, Central Methodist Church, and Centenary-Wilbur Methodist Church at Portland. Later they were members of the Laurelwood Methodist Church until moving to Newberg.
Louis and Lillian Putnam would often take their entire family to camp meetings, some of which would last for two or three days. Many of these meetings were Methodist-sponsored, and were held at what was later the Apostolic Faith campground on SE Woodstock Street at Portland. They also attended other evangelical camp meetings and other Christian meetings on occasion. The Putnams also had family worship and bible reading in the home. Both parents were well-versed in the scriptures, and Louis Lamont Putnam's bible was self-annotated. He neither smoked nor drank alcoholic beverages of any kind throughout his life.
In later years, the Putnams became dissatisfied with the increasing liberalism of the Methodist Church. When their son, Gale Alberto Putnam, became a Nazarene minister, Lillian Putnam became a member of the Nazarene Church. She taught a Sunday School class for older adults at the Nazarene Church at Newberg for many years.
Note: Soon after Louis Lamont Putnam was born, his family moved to nearby Lan
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