13 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org Featured Article One of the most influential and respected surveyors in Jackson County in the 1900s was Mark E. Boyden (1924–2011), PLS 281. In order to learn more about Mark Boyden, I interviewed two local surveyors who knew him well: Dick Bath and Harold Center. Mark was the son of C.Z. Boyden, also a respected surveyor in Jackson County, and he learned the profession by working for his father from a young age. C.Z. taught him the fundamentals of surveying, such as correctly pulling a tape or diligently researching deeds, but the most important thing he passed on to Mark was his passion for surveying. To Mark Boyden, surveying wasn’t just a job, it was his calling. This passion, combined with his Christian faith, made him pursue surveying with an integrity and dedication that leave those following in his footsteps in awe. Two things that always stood out to me when retracing Mark Boyden’s surveys were the accuracy of his measurements, no matter what the terrain was, and the detail of his narratives. Through all his decades of surveying, Mark stayed active with his field crews, training them in person and requiring that they adhere to his standards. He insisted on being present with the field crew for all survey work, feeling that the responsibility of a surveyor was to be doing the surveying, not in the office. He was always dedicated to using best practices by leaving no traverse unclosed, measuring side shots from multiple angles, and even using the survey instrument and chain to make measurements to bearing trees. The result wasn’t just a quality survey product, but another generation of respectable surveyors mentored by him personally. Mark E. Boyden One of Jackson County’s Finest Land Surveyors By Darren Goheen, PLS Many of the quality surveyors in this area today can trace their practices in part to Mark’s influence. Mark’s maps are held in such high regard in this county that when I was a very green technician, I was told by my mentor that Mark Boyden’s maps were like gospel. Mark also had a reputation as “a walking encyclopedia” according to contemporary Dick Bath, PLS 1069. He loved to talk about surveying and was full of stories from his experiences. Part of what made him such a good leader in the surveying community was his eagerness to share those experiences and the infectious passion for surveying that flowed out of him as he spoke. Mark was also a businessman, and like many of his era he had a proprietary view of his previous survey records. This mentality allowed Mark to build up his knowledge network, especially around the Rogue Valley, which served to increase his productivity and his accuracy, as more and more of the local puzzle pieces were fit together by him. Furthermore, he served as the Jackson County Surveyor from 1956 to 1965 while also running a private survey business, giving him easy exposure to the maps of other surveyors in the area, in a time when recorded surveys weren’t available with the push of a button. During his time as county surveyor, he also reestablished many of the Donation Land Claim corners and section corners around the valley, which further built upon his land network, while also benefiting other surveyors. Much of this work was done in coordination with U.S. Forest Service surveyor Harold Center, PLS 1071, with whom Mark would develop a lifelong friendship. As I mentioned previously, Mark was a man of faith, and he is remembered by many for the Prayer Breakfasts that he initiated as a staple of the annual PLSO conferences for many years. He handled the organization and scheduling for the breakfast, and even lined up special speakers each year to give a short devotional message. Mark Boyden was a true professional land surveyor and a leader. He was passionate about his work, involved with both the state level and local organizations, and set a high standard for survey work in Jackson County. The tracks he laid continue to guide and inspire future generations of surveyors as we follow in his footsteps. Darren Goheen, licensed in 2023, is part of the Emerging Leaders program, led by Jeremy Sherer. Goheen is President-Elect of Rogue River chapter and Interim City Surveyor for the city of Medford and serves on the PLSO Outreach Committee. He wrote this to honor Mark Boyden for National Surveyors Month, which was in March. Mark Boyden was a true professional land surveyor and a leader.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=