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Norman W. Mumford is a prominent fruit grower of Freewater, Umatilla county, having fifty acres devoted to this
interest, and he is likewise manager of the Perham Fruit Company. He is like many other prominent and successful
men of Oregon a son of the state by adoption, for his birthplace was Millville, Grant county, Wisconsin. There
his birth occurred on the 25th of August, 1870, a son of Allen H. and Robie N. (Newton) Mumford, both of whom were
born in Pennsylvania. When a young man Allen H. Mumford went to Wisconsin and there he enlisted for service in
the Civil war, becoming a member of Co. H, Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. He served for four and one half years and
participated in the battle of Gettysburg and other battles of importance. At the close of the war he returned to
Wisconsin, where he was married. Here he bought some timber land, which he cleared, improved and operated until
1878. In that year he came west, settling in Central City, Nebraska, and there took up government land. His homestead
consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and operated for five years when he sold it and removed
near Evanston, Wyoming, again taking up land. In Wyoming he engaged in the cattle business, which he successfully
conducted for a period of ten years, after which time he sold and removed to Pendleton, Oregon. There he leased
land and operated it for two years and then removed to Milton, purchasing a fruit farm of eight acres. He brought
this land to a high state of cultivation and resided thereon for eleven years. His last years were spent in Washougal,
Washington, where he continued farming until his death, which occurred when he was seventy one years of age. His
wife preceded him in death, passing away at the age of sixty nine years. Throughout his life Mr. Mumford was a
stanch supporter of the republican party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
Norman W. Mumford spent his boyhood in Wisconsin and Wyoming and after completing his education assisted his father
in farming. He continued to work on the home farm near Pendleton and for two years at Freewater, but in 1896 he
accepted the position as manager of a fruit grower's union at Freewater. In that capacity he remained for one year.
He purchased seven acres of land at one hundred dollars per acre and in 1905 sold the land for one thousand dollars
per acre. He was then offered a position with a produce company at Walla Walla and for ten years acted as manager
of this concern. In 1909 he purchased thirty acres of fruit land, which he improved, and in 1910 he went on the
road for the Fruit Grower's Union, traveling in that capacity for a period of five years. Resigning from that position
in 1915, he entered the fruit brokerage business at Butte, Montana, in which business venture he spent four successful
years. In September, 1920, he returned to Freewater and is now manager of the Perham Fruit Company there. He also
has fifty acres in fruit.
In November, 1902, Mr. Mumford was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Parkinson, a daughter of Henry and Agnes
(Kerr) Parkinson, and a native of Utah. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mumford three children have been born: Eva
M., Myra W., and Agnes.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Mumford the right of franchise he has given his political allegiance to the republican
party, in the interests of which he has always taken an active part. His fraternal connection is with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of marked enterprise and keen business sagacity, who readily discriminates between
the essential and the non essential in business affairs and he is most successful in the position which he now
occupies. He thoroughly understands every phase of the fruit growing profession and his close application, energy
and enterprise are dominant elements in winning for him his present day success.
From:
History of Oregon Illistrated
Vol. 3
BY: Charles H. Carney
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland 1922
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