Joseph S. Ruckle
Encyclopedia
Colonel Joseph S. Ruckle (or Ruckel) was a businessman who moved to Oregon
in 1855.
In Oregon, he captained Van Bergen's Oregon Steam Navigation Company
steamship named the Fashion on the Columbia River
. He then built his own boat, the Mountain Buck, and then a railroad portage. The rail portage, which was the Oregon Portage Railroad
, was around the Cascades on the Columbia, and was the first railroad in Oregon.
Ruckle was elected state senator in 1858 over Clackamas
and Wasco
counties. A Democrat, he represented District 2, but as Oregon had not yet entered the Union, there was no official session in 1858. He only served during the 1859 special session, the first meeting of the state legislature.
In 1864 and 1865, he and George Thomas
built the Thomas and Ruckle Road
over the Blue Mountains
. He also developed a quartz mine near Powder River that became known as the Virtue Mine.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in 1855.
In Oregon, he captained Van Bergen's Oregon Steam Navigation Company
Oregon Steam Navigation Company
The Oregon Steam Navigation Company was an American company incorporated in 1860 in Washington with partners J. S. Ruckle, Henry Olmstead, and J. O. Van Bergen...
steamship named the Fashion on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. He then built his own boat, the Mountain Buck, and then a railroad portage. The rail portage, which was the Oregon Portage Railroad
Oregon Portage Railroad
The Oregon Portage Railroad was the first railroad in the U.S. state of Oregon. It originally ran for with of telegraph line, and was later extended to a length of...
, was around the Cascades on the Columbia, and was the first railroad in Oregon.
Ruckle was elected state senator in 1858 over Clackamas
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
and Wasco
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
counties. A Democrat, he represented District 2, but as Oregon had not yet entered the Union, there was no official session in 1858. He only served during the 1859 special session, the first meeting of the state legislature.
In 1864 and 1865, he and George Thomas
George Thomas
George Thomas may refer to:*George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy , British Labour Party politician, Speaker of the House of Commons*George Thomas , American baseball player*George Thomas...
built the Thomas and Ruckle Road
Thomas and Ruckle Road
The Thomas and Ruckle Road, also known as Ruckles Road or Ruckels Road, was a wagon road over the Blue Mountains.George Thomas was a stagecoach driver who came west to California in 1849, before moving to Walla Walla. Colonel J. S. Ruckle arrived in Oregon in 1855 as a steam boat pilot for the...
over the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
. He also developed a quartz mine near Powder River that became known as the Virtue Mine.
External links
- History of Ruckel and the Oregon Portage at RootsWeb.com