John F. Caples, b. 1832 Ohio to Oregon
Oregon Republican League:
Republican League Register of Oregon, The Register Publishing Company, 1896, page 188.
CAPLES, JOHN F., of Portland, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 12, 1832.He lived to manhood in Seneca County, being educated at the Wesleyan University.He read law at Bellefontaine, in the office of Hon. Benjamin Stanton, and was examined for admission to the bar in 1854 by Judge Thurman.He practiced at Findlay, Ohio, and Warsaw, Indiana.After the war, in which he took an active part in organizing regiments, he came to the Pacific coast in 1865, locating at Vancouver.The next year he removed to Portland.He at once became prominent as a practitioner and an active Republican worker.In 1872 he was elected to the legislature.In 1878 he was elected District Attorney and served six years.In 1884 he was the Republican nominee for congress, but was defeated because of party dissensions. In every general election for thirty years he has been on the stump, and has canvassed every section of the state, no man within its borders being personally better known to the Republicans of Oregon.He has always worked for and voted the straight ticket, and has a contempt for bolters.As a general practitioner, and especially as a criminal lawyer, his reputation extends throughout the entire Northwest, where he counts his friends by the thousands.As a public speaker he is forcible and sympathetic, and always inspires his audience with enthusiasm.As a debater he is skillful and eloquent; as a jury advocate he is convincing and successful; as a man he is respected and is worthy of respect.
-Tony Larson