PLSO The Oregon Surveyor Sept/Oct 2019

23 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org The Lost Surveyor “T he Sage of Silverton” of course! Tim- othy Woodbridge (T.W.) Davenport (1827–1911) may be best known for his son, Homer Davenport (1867–1912). Homer became a nationally known politi- cal cartoonist who worked for W.R. Hearst and “The Evening Mail.” He became an avid supporter of Teddy Roosevelt and is still celebrated in Silverton with the annu- al Homer Davenport Days festival. While Timothy was well known and re- spected in his own right, his identity was comingled with the famous status of his son, Homer. “The Morning Oregonian” of Saturday, April 29, 1911 which announced his death in Pasadena, California, con- tains a four-part headline with the lead being “Father of Homer Davenport Dead” which is followed by “Oregon Pioneer Suc- cumbs to Infirmities of Age at Pasadena” and “Cartoonist on Way West” and lastly “Sage of Silverton Passes after Varied Ca- reer in this State”. T.W. Davenport was born in Columbia Coun- ty New York July 30, 1826. After graduating from college, Davenport’s family moved to Missouri and, in 1851, set off on the trail to Oregon. Settling in the Waldo Hills south of Silverton in the fall of 1851, Davenport began a long career in Oregon which ulti- mately led to recognition as “The Sage of Silverton.” The Oregonian noted at the time of his death he was an active member of The Oregon Historical Society. Like many of his time, he had a wide and varied working career. After a short time teaching school, T.W. found employment T.W. Davenport, Courtesy of Silverton Country Historical Society Umatilla River Bridge by renowned Oregon State Bridge Engineer, Conde B. McCullough, near Umatilla Landing. Bridge was built in 1925 and rehabilitated in in 1950. Also known as the William Duby Bridge or Umatilla (Duby) Bridge. continues T