Historic Hood River
Captain Charles A. Schetky, USN (ret.)
11-10-2014
Notes
This distinguished Hood River resident lived to 100 years of age. His hundredth birthday in 1927 garnered him national attention as the oldest living naval officer in the United States. He received personal congratulations from President Coolidge.
Captain Schetky entered the US Navy in 1863. He served through the Civil War, and after the war was involved in surveys for the proposed “Nicaraguan Canal”. He finally retired in 1889.
I’ll be using this image, along with many others, when I give a Veteran’s Day address tomorrow at Anderson’s Tribute Center on Belmont Street. Drop on by if you want to join me in honoring our veterans. We’ll be getting started at 11AM (11th hour of 11th day or 11th month).
Charlott
I have studied him for a very, very long time. He had a remarkable naval career. At one time he was the commander of Old Ironsides when it was a training vessel. During the Civil War he spent some time on the Mississippi River. The reason that he came to Hood River was because one of his daughters lived here. He had gone prior to Canada, where his wife died. However, the Old Salt was not ready to totally retire. He purchased timber land on Fir Mountain and started his mill. Don’t know for certain that he was milling out box shook, but many of those little mills were set up for that purpose. I do have a map of his property up there.
He came from a very renowned Philadelphia family. His father was very much into pipe organs, both construction and playing. One of his brothers became a painter, painting a lot of nautical scenes.
He was one featured in Cemetery Tales a few years ago after I pointed out who he was and his accomplishments.
Sue J
I thought this name looked familiar to me. There is a brass plaque on the altar at St. Mark’s Episcopal church and it reads: In Memoriam Capt. C.A. Schetky, U.S.N. So that led me to look in our register of burials and I found his entry: Capt. Charles A Schetky. Age: 100. Last residence: Sunset Way. Date of Death: August 15, 1927. Interred: Idlewild Cemetery. Burial date: Aug 20, 1927. Minister: Schuyler Pratt, Masons.
There is a plaque above his that reads "presented by Fanny S. Peironnet 1831-1931". I believe our altar is actually two pieces. Don’t know if these two folks are connected, but it’s interesting that they were both 100 yrs. old.
Jean Wells
In St. Mark’s archives there is different picture of Captain Schetky. He is not in uniform and it shows his full face with the same distinguished beard. With the picture is a biographical sketch that was written by Gordon Brown:
Captain Charles Alexander Schetky
1827-1927
Captain Schetky was a distinguished member of the early St. Mark’s parish, and a member of the Schetky family, whose extensive genealogy is recorded over a long period of time. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1827 and died in Hood River, August 11, 1927 at 100 years of age.
At age 15 he was a cabin boy on an American merchant ship, “Venice" on an around the world voyage. During the following 21 years he sailed the seven seas. At28, he attained the rank of captain. During the civil Was he was an ensign in the U.S. Navy where he served with distinction. One of his notable contributions was the making of navigation charts from surveys of the east coasts of Mexico and Central America.
Captain Schetky was a passionate lover of his country; at his death he was the oldest living Mason, and a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. His was a rugged constitution and a keen mentality throughout of long life. He retired from active service in 1889.
To the union of Captain Schetky and Mary Jane (McIntyre) was born:
1. Sarah Elizabeth Anne. She was never married. She became a medical doctor, and died in Hood River.
2. Isabelle Ellsworth. In 1910 she married Scott F. Aitken of Hood River. There were no children.
3. Caroline Brevoort. She married Thomas McLeod Hilton-Turvey.
There were no children. She was owner and editor of "The musicLover’s Magazine" and music critic of the Portland Oregonian.
nels
Arthur, when you get such a wealth of information by posting these pictures. does the info get transferred and recorded somewhere? All
the sharing just makes these pictures and our community come alive.
Charlott Jones
I have some photos of him that have probably never been published. Of him when he was younger. He was honored at one time in Philadelphia, but due to age was not able to attend. He did send a letter thanking them for the honor.
I don’t think that the daughter Sarah was in Hood River. In my research it appears that she lived in California.