19 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org TEXT THE LOST SURVEYOR An interesting note of history in this area that I discovered in my research ties to the murder of a prominent settler. e Langell Valley, approximately seven miles to the west in T41S R14E, is named for Arthur Langell. Nathaniel Langell, who was Arthur’s brother (or possibly son), was one of the original surveyors of portions of T41S R14 ½ E in 1875. Nathaniel and his wife, Loretta Jane (Hensley) Langell, made their home in Jacksonville, Oregon while Arthur settled in the Langell Valley. Arthur was a rancher and a prominent member of the community and the State of Oregon. At one time, Arthur owned a tract of land nearly 12 miles in length in the Langell Valley. At the time of his death he had reduced his land holdings to approximately 3,000 acres in Oregon as well as some blocks of lots in Seattle, Washington which together were estimated at a value of nearly $60,000 in 1894. (see references below) On September 10, 1894, Arthur Langell discovered his neighbor F. Swingle grazing cattle on ground that was owned “in part by Langell, in part by Beekman and another portion of it belonged to Langell and Beekman jointly. Beekman’s interest, which had been fenced by Langell, had been leased by Swingle.” (Corvallis Times, 1984). Upon discovering Swingle within the fenced area, Langell burst into a t of rage, brandishing a hatchet. Langell charged his horse at Swingle shouting, “d__n you, I will kill you”. Swingle spurred his horse in an eort to escape, but with Langell closing fast, Swingle red a single un-aimed shot which killed Langell instantly. (Corvallis Times 1984). Swingle was tried for the murder of Langell. Ironically Arthur Langell, the brother of a surveyor, lost his life in a land dispute over land that he and the murderer may have both had a legal interest in. Author’s note: Is there a side story here with a modern day surveyor and PLSO member named Kyle Hensley? Does he have a connection to Loretta Jane (Hensley) Langell? As of press time, this mystery remains unsolved. Disclaimer – I am not a genealogist and the relationships between the parties has been assembled using news reports and other data available on the internet. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~langille/news/arthurlangell1894.html http://www.foresthistory.org/ASPNET/Publications/region/6/rogue_river/history/1/part1.htm http://www.blm.gov/or/landrecords/survey/yNoteView1_2.php?R0153OR0730007340
PLSO Issue 1 2016 January February
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