Historic Hood River
Frank Davenport
12-10-2019
Notes
This portrait of Frank Davenport includes a good biography on back:
Jeremiah Frank Davenport. Born June 17 1853. Dies December 27 1931. Pioneer to Hood River in 1890. Built a saw mill in upper Hood River Valley. Also first man to bring irrigation into orchards in Hood River Valley.
Charlott
He was called Frank, but his full name was Jeremiah Franklin Davenport, a native of Salt Lake City. He was married to Helen Maria Badger Remington. They had at least 11 children and as many as 15. He was in the lumber industry in the early 1900’s, prior to moving to Portland. He eventually moved to Freewater, Oregon, probably that would be Milton-Freewater, where he died.\
Harold
Is he the namesake of Davenport Road in Mosier (next to the cemetery)?
nels
I sometimes wonder why early implementers of revolutionary advances in our valley did not have their names attached to such actions, such as names of canals or roads to remember those who brought about change. ‘Course, Billy Sunday managed to be remembered, but not an agricultural name. Davenport Canal would have been a good one.
Gladys
It should have been "Ma" Sunday who was remembered. Billy didn’t do anything here other than when he kind of whizzed through would preach a sermon at the Pine Grove Church. She was the one that kept the home fires burning and her orchard operation going.
Ira jay Davenport
My Dad was Frank Keith Davenport, I am Ira Jay, Frank would be my great, great grandfather and while I think Davenport Canal sounds pretty cool in recognition of his efforts, I’m pretty happy with the namesake he left for me, I’m curious if he had the Cheshire cat smile like my Dad? He would occasionally smile when you looked over at him, he would redouble his smile, goofiest thing until you realized it was absolutely intentional, he wasn’t just smiling at you, he was Giving you a smile.. Dad had stories of running a mule skidder, a time or two, a clidesdale yarder, and getting in trouble for throwing railroad ties loading boxcars, his first real paid job as a teenager. When I was little, they called us the bear and the cub, I nearly lived on my dad for a while, I remember waking up from my nap in his Hood to a table flipping over and chairs flying, Dad was looking for something, I said “you look over there?” He says “no, not yet.” Then stops… “There you are!!!” He forgot he had a hood on his new sheepskin coat. Wish I’d been around a while earlier to meet some of the grands.. but they left some things to admire. That’s for sure.