Historic Hood River
George Slocum
9-25-2018
Notes
The subject of this striking W. D. Rogers portrait is George Slocum. He and his brother were orphaned when he was 5. He was sent to live with his aunt and uncle Georgiana and Ezra Smith. He has a stationery store in the Smith Building on Oak Street for many years.
We know he was a delegate to the meeting of the National Good Roads Association at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition.
nels
Interesting ring. Can you see anymore to it with a closeup Arthur?
Is the ribbon of significance or is it attached to a watch ?
Arthur
I can’t see any sign of a pocket watch. The ribbon seems to stand alone. The ring has some ornament that looks like a flower, and a single stone.
Charlott
George Slocum was the son of Charles and Eva Slocum, coming to the Smith’s from Forreston, Illinois.
I don’t know when he had his store downtown, but around the 1930 era he was a clerk for Apple Grower’s Assn.
His wife’s name was Zoloto and they had three children, Georgiana, Kelsey and Cathryn.
Longshot
The "ribbon" appears to have an adjustable buckle just like a belt, no idea what it is though.
Jeffrey W Bryant
Merchant, Slocum and Canfield Co., Hood River, Oregon
An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 236-237
GEORGE I. SLOCOM is conducting a book and stationery store, in the new brick block owned by his uncle, E.L. Smith. He is a young man and gives his attention strictly to business and is working up a fine business. He was born in Illinois, on September 19, 1878, the son of Charles and Eva (Hartman) Slocom, natives of Woodstock, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, respectively. The Slocoms came right from New York and are a very old and prominent family, John Slocom of the Civil war, being a member of that family. The mother’s people were Pennsylvania Dutch. The father died in 1884 and the mother in the same year. This occurred in Illinois and our subject was left an orphan when five years of age. His aunt brought him and his brother, Charles L., aged three, to Oregon to live. They were in the care of their uncle, E.L. Smith. Fate had given them a very excellent home and they received as kind care and treatment as though children of that family. George I. studied in the graded schools of Hood River then spent some time in Pacific university at Forest Grove. After that, he was occupied with his uncle on the fruit farm for three rears then he entered the employ of the American Steel and Wire Company of Portland. That continued for three years. At the end of that time he was appointed on the exhibit corps for the Buffalo and Charleston World’s Fairs in the department of horticulture for the state of Oregon. This occupied him for two years, then in June, 1902, he returned to Hood River. His father was a newspaper editor and our subject imbibed naturally, a liking for books and the business which he is now following appealed strongly to him, consequently he opened a shop in Hood River. He has a neat, attractive place, supplied with everything carried in this kind of a store. His genialty and deferential treatment of all have brought him a nice patronage and his business is growing rapidly.
Mr. Slocom is a member of the order of Pendo. Politically, he is a strong Republican and was secretary of the Roosevelt league. He has two brothers and one sister: L. Leroy now employed in the American Wire and Steel Company in San Francisco; James B., a school boy in Chicago; and Elinor, wife of Fred Greiner, a bookkeeper in the Illinois Terra Cotta Lumber Company of Chicago.
L.E.
The word "dapper" comes to mind. So I looked it up:
dap·per
adjective
(typically of a man) neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.
synonyms: smart, spruce, trim, debonair, neat, well dressed, well groomed, well turned out, elegant, chic, dashing;
I think that fits the photo.
George Slocum’s daughter Georgiana is featured in the doll buggy parade:
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=3
I wonder if the ribbon and pin could signify membership in an organization?
Arlen Sheldrake
agreed L.E. on the dapper description….another phrase that comes to my mind is "sunday best". both telling our age.
J.E.
A Slocum family used to have a summer cabin near the headwater of Odell Creek, not far from where the rock pit is now. Does anyone know if there is a connection?