Oscar F. Cooke family papers

Oscar F. Cooke family papers, 1856-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Cooke, Oscar F.
Title: Oscar F. Cooke family papers
Dates: 1856-1971 (inclusive)
18561971

1886-1971 (bulk)
18861971
Quantity: 8.8 cubic feet, (15 document cases, 3 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number: Coll 44
Summary: Papers and photographs of the family of Oscar F. Cooke of Portland, Oregon, including records of the West Hills Winery, records of the estates of Oscar and Ella Cooke, papers of Mary Lepper, Helen Lovin, and other relatives, and family photographs. Most of the materials, which date largely from the late 1880s to the early 1960s, are financial in nature and involve real estate holdings and estate litigation. Winery records include details on wine making operations and floor plans of the winery building.
Repository: Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions: The collection is open to the public.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for additional processing and revisions to this finding aid was provided by the OHS Wine Archives fund.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Oscar F. Cooke was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1869, the son of Herman and Matilda Cooke. He came to Portland from San Francisco with his parents, at the age of 7, but the family relocated to a land claim in Idaho and later settled near Fort Walla Walla. One of Cooke’s brothers, Hermon, became a lawyer, settling first in Tenopah, Nevada, and later in Reno. Another brother, James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke, was a farmer near Hillsdale, Oregon. Oscar Cooke returned to Portland in 1896 and started a general store at Sylvan. He became part owner of the Sylvan Brick Company, and later was a building contractor, farmer, and owner of numerous rental properties. He owned property throughout Multnomah and Washington Counties in Oregon, as well as in the City of Portland and southern Washington State. He began the West Hills Winery in the late 1930s and ran the enterprise until the early 1950s. He died in Portland in 1955.

Cooke was married in 1901 to Ella Marie Gateley (1877-1957), daughter of John Gateley (an Oregon pioneer of 1859), but the couple had no children. Ella’s sister, Mary Gateley Lepper (d. 1947), married John Lepper (d. 1915), and their daughter, Helen Lepper, married Clarence Lovin, who worked for a time for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation.

After the death of Oscar and Ella Cooke, Ella’s niece, Helen Lepper Lovin, served as the executrix of the estate with the assistance of Portland attorney John Woerndle. There were many legal issues involved, including a conflict with John Vermillion, who had worked for the Cookes in the winery and who claimed to have been promised a portion of their legacy. Due to this and other problems, the estate was not settled until the mid 1960s.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Cooke family papers consist primarily of business and real estate records, papers relating to the estates of Oscar and Ella Cooke, personal papers and family photographs, and records of the West Hills Winery. The winery records are largely financial in nature, but forms submitted to state and federal authorities provide details of the wine-making operation in the late 1930s and 1940s. Also included among the winery records are floor plans of the buildings, submitted as part of an application to install storage vats.

The papers relating to the Cooke estate document real estate holdings and transactions, primarily for properties in the city of Portland and in Washington County, Oregon. Much of the estate material was created by lawyer John Woerndle. Also included among the papers of Mary Lepper and Helen Lovin are records relating to real estate holdings in San Francisco.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation

Oscar F. Cooke family papers, Coll 44, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series A: West Hills Winery records, 1930-1957
Series B: Oscar F. Cooke papers, 1898-1966
Series C: Ella Cooke papers, 1889-1971
Series D: Other family members' papers, 1856-1946
Series E: Photographs, circa 1870-1952

Custodial History

Much of the collection was preserved by Helen Lepper Lovin in the course of litigating the estate of Oscar and Ella Cooke. The materials were eventually gathered by Mrs. Lovin's son, James Marsh, who donated them to the Oregon Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Library Accession nos. 26030, 26545, and 27301.

Processing Note

Much of the collection originally consisted of loose and unorganized papers. In processing, rough categories were created based on provenance, but some overlap remained, especially among the papers of the various estates.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series A: West Hills Winery records, 1930-1957Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Accounts ledger	1938-1946
1/2	Accounts ledger	1941-1944
1/3	Cash ledger with fragmentary accounts	1938-1940
1/4	Correspondence and documents re: Federal label approval, insurance, and inspections	1936-1948
1/5	Financial journal	1939-1947
1/6	Financial notes and correspondence	1930-1957; undated
	Invoices from letter box
Box/Folder
1/7	A-B	1944-1945
1/8	C-D	1941-1945
1/9	E-M	1937-1945
1/10	N-P	1941-1945
1/11	R-Z	1939-1945
Box/Folder
2/1	Invoices, general	1946-1948
2/2	Labels for bottles	circa 1940
16/4	Ledger	1941-1948
2/3	Ledger, receipts and disbursements	1945-1954
2/4	Privilege tax audits	1938-1948
Box
2/5	Record books	1948; undated
Box/Folder
2/6	State Highway Commission--Correspondence re: moving buildings	1947-1953
2/7	Stationary	undated
2/8	Storage tank applications	1938
Oversize Folder	Storage tank application--Blueprints and plans of winery	1936-1938
2/9	Tax statements	1943-1944
2/10	Wine approval forms, State of Oregon	1939-1948
17/1-4	Winemaker's reports to Federal Government	1937-1948

Series B: Oscar F. Cooke papers, 1898-1966Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Personal papers
Box/Folder
2/11	Address book	circa 1950
2/12	Boats and ships	1927-1933
2/13	Business correspondence	1951-1956
2/14	Contracts, general	1913-1949
2/15	Correspondence with L. B. Sandblast re: suit involving city	1930
17/6	Enders, John E.--Life insurance policy	1921
2/16	International Protective Association letter	1911 June 16
2/17	Lang Syne Society	1954-1955
2/18	Letters from J. H. Neilson, Oakland, Calif.	1953-1955
2/19	Obituary of Oscar F. Cooke	1955
2/20	O. F. Cooke General Merchandise, Sylan, Oregon--Receipts	1904; 1908
2/21	Personal correspondence	1942-1955
2/22	Time books for employees	1922; undated
	Land and real estate records
Box/Folder
12/1	Abstract, Almira, block 8, lot 2 (City of Portland)	1927
12/2	Abstract, City View Park, block 15, lot 3 (City of Portland)	1946
12/3	Abstract, Couch's Addition, block 182, lots 3 and 6 (City of Portland)	1911
12/4	Abstract, Greenway, block L, extend lot 26 (City of Portland)	1932
12/5	Abstract, Katherine, block 27, lot 3 (City of Portland)	1920
21/6	Abstract, Montgomery Park, block 3, lot 4(City of Portland)	1920
12/7	Contract of Sale and Memorandum of Payment, Peck's Addition, block 6, lot 5 (City of Portland)	1925 February 20
12/8	Abstract, Portland Heights, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (City of Portland)	1909
12/9	Abstract, Smith's Addition, block A, Lot 9(City of Portland)	1926
13/1	Abstract and Contract, Whelpley Terrace, block 2, lots 2, 3, and 4 (City of Portland)	1923; 1955
13/2	Abstract, Washington County, Hall D.L.C.	1908
13/3	Abstract, Yamhill County, Stephens D.L.C.	1923
13/4	Abstracts, Richmond District, block 74 (portion of outside land, San Francisco)	1900-1907
13/5	Contract of sale, property in Clark County, Washington	1930 February 27
3/1	Bigelow, Edith and Howard--Quit claim deed, A.T. Allen Real Estate	1950-1951
3/2	Bungalow sales materials, E.W. Stillwell & Co., Los Angeles	1909
Oversize folder	House plans, E. W. Stillwell and Company, Los Angeles	circa 1915
3/3	Collville, Washington property	1933; 1954
3/4	Correspondence and invoices, general (regarding real estate)	1908-1956
3/5	Court documents	1931-1941
3/6	Garber, Roy F. and May--Property transaction	1950
3/7	Gilliam County mortgage papers	1917
3/8	House specifications, Western Construction Co. (Portland), Laurelhurst, block 58, lot 14	undated
3/9	Karstens, Theodore--Contracts	1942-1948
3/10	Land descriptions--Skyline Boulevard, Canyon Road, and Hyde Park No. 2	undated
3/11-12	Legal documents, general Primarily documents for mortgages held by Oscar and Ella Cooke.	1909-1952
4/1	Legal documents, general Primarily documents for mortgages held by Oscar and Ella Cooke.	1909-1952
4/2	Letters from Helen Smith re: payments	1952
4/3	Memo books (4 books)--Primarily rent accounts	circa 1928-1949
4/4	Multnomah County property documents	1901-1928
4/5	Nevada property documents	1906
4/6	Notebook with accounts for rentals	circa 1923-1938
4/7	Plat maps	1924-1948; undated
Oversize folder	Plat map of "Parkside" subdivision in Portland; and plat of Washington County properties	undated
4/8	Property at 1444 Division Street, Portland--Sales agreement	1930
4/9	Real estate deed, Canyon Road property, Portland	1900
4/10	Rent records (from 3-ring binder)	1948-1949
4/11	Sylvan School property purchase	1952
4/12	Warranty deeds (envelope labeled "Mrs. Foster's old deeds to 1 ac. Wash Co.")	1922-1928
4/13	Washington County property documents	1902-1911
4/14	Washington County surveys	1955; 1957
4/15	Washington County--Wedgewood Homes	circa 1955-1962
4/16	Yamhill County survey	1908
	Financial records
Box/Folder
4/17	Account journal Includes rental accounts and produce purchases	1932-1937
4/18	Account ledger	1941-1949
	Oscar F.Cooke Estate papers
Box/Folder
5/1	Anderson, Lottie	1961
5/2	Bean, Richard O. and Gladys F.	1955-1956
5/3	Bell, Rural W. and Mary S.	1951-1955
5/4	Cairncross, Lloyd and Lottie	1956-1956
5/5	Cherry, Emmet and Mildred	1955-1958
5/6	Cole, Samuel and Verena	1954-1955
5/7	Craig, Kenneth and Elizabeth	1953-1957
5/8	Elliot, Levin J. and Hattie	1945-1958
5/9	Ernst, George C. and Catherine	1953-1956
5/10	Forsman, Ralph G. and Rose T.	1950-1955
5/11	Grace, Charles	1955-1959
5/12	Gregson, Gerald and Marjorie	1948-1956
5/13	Grigg, Parley and Florence	1947-1955
5/14	Houston, Samuel and Virgie	1952-1955
5/15	Jennings, Fay M. and Marriam N.	1950-1955
5/16	Johnson, Estes M. and Betty	1952-1955
5/17	Johnson, Lucille	1955-1959
5/18	Lamar, Benjamin L. and Jeane	1954-1955
5/19	Marcus, Irwin and Irene	1958-1962
5/20	Martinez, Jose and Elsie M.	1952-1956
5/21	Mayfield, Richard K. and Sarah	1950-1956
6/1	McClurg, Bruce and Marjorie	1945-1955
6/2	McDowell, Charles and Florence	1955-1956
6/3	McDowell, Roy, Neil and Virginia	1953-1963
6/4	McKinney, Mary	1955
6/5	Price, Floyd and Ena; Auburn, William W.	1953-1965
6/6	Rayburn, Jonas W. and Martha L.	1950-1959
6/7	Robertson, Fay and Gladys	1955-1959
6/8	Sannes, Stanley and Arletnia	1951-1956
6/9	Shine, Frank E.	1951-1955
6/10	Sleeman, Marshall A. and Phyllis K.	1955
6/11	Smith, Helen P.	1948-1956
9/12	Sweem, Jack and Lillie	1951-1965
6/13	Taraldson, Emil and Nellie	1954-1955
6/14	Union City--Wirrer, Baltaser and Elisabeth; and Woerndle, Joseph and C.	1949-1955
6/15	Weaver, Jack and Mildred	1952-1955
6/16	Woerndle, John - Cooke estate income taxes; estate planner - scout patrol planning	circa 1954-1964
6/17	Wrede, G. D. and Vivian; and John Leffelman (?)	1953; 1955
6/18	Yaeger, C.E. and Lena	1951-1952
6/19	Bank statements and cancelled checks	circa 1954-1962
6/20	Contents of safe deposit box, list of sales	1955-1956
6/21	Correspondence re: real property	1955-1959
6/22	Estate record book	1959-1964
6/23	Financial records, general	1950-1963
7/1	Payment records: Harrison, Gilroy, and Hearn	1952-1955
7/2	Portland Mortgage and Investment Company	1941-1968
7/3	Properties--Notes and tabulations	1955
7/4	State of Oregon	1954-1963
7/5	Swinton lots--Legal papers	1949-1958
7/6	U.S. Department of Internal Revenue	1956-1962
7/7	Utz Park property documents	1951-1957
7/8	Washington Investment Company, Satori Building	1948-1961
7/9	Will of Oscar F. Cooke and other legal documents	1952-1966
7/10	General file	1948-1962
8/1-4	General files (designated file #8210 by attorney's office)	1948-1964

Series C: Ella Cooke papers, 1889-1971Return to Top

Some materials in the series also pertain to Mary Lepper

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	General files
Box/Folder
8/5	Autograph album	1889-1892
9/1	Memorial program- Ella Cooke	1955
9/2	Mortgage documents	1986-1943
9/3	Multnomah County, Oregon, Taxes - paid under protest	1925-1941
9/4	Pacific Title Abstract Company--Nathan Jones DLC	1938-1941
9/5	Property deed, Shoals Ferry Road	1928-1932
9/6	Quitclaim document, Multnomah County	1927
9/7	Sierra Club--Roster	undated
	Ella Cooke Estate Papers
Box/Folder
9/8	General estate documents	1957-1958
9/9	General estate documents	1959
9/10	General estate documents	1960
9/11	General estate documents	1961
9/12	General estate documents	1962
9/13	General estate documents	1963
9/14	General estate documents	1964-1967
9/15	General estate documents, including wills	1946-1966
10/1	Estate records books	1957-1967
10/2	Inventories	1962-1964
10/3	Larson, John O. and Bonnie Jean	1955-1960
10/4	Papers found together	1955-1966
10/5	Papers found together	1955-1966
10/6	Reynolds, Hueston A. and Shirley--Deed transaction	1960
10/7	Spring Street House (2104 SW Spring Street, Portland)	1957-1961
10/8	Woerndle, John--Papers found together, re: property litigation	1966-1971
10/9	Wolf Creek Water District--Proposed sale and easement (includes photographs)	1963-1966

Series D: Other family members' papers, 1856-1946Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
11/1	James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke business and financial papers	1895-1940
11/2	James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke personal papers	1893-1933
11/3	Letters from Hermon Cooke to his mother, Matilda Cooke	1909-1912
11/4	General family papers	1898-1924; undated
11/5	John W. Lepper, Contractor and Builder (Portland and San Francisco) - account ledger Includes specifications for Kraft house, Woodlawn Heights block 2 lot 18	1892-1897
10/10	Laurelhurst (Portland) property	1945-1946
11/6	Account ledger Appears to have been used later to record household accounts and social events. Author unknown.	1877-78; 1901; 1907
11/7	Account ledger, Portland Bridge Company	1900-1903
11/8	David Gully papers	1856 September 4; 1885 August 8; 1900 July 10

Series E: Photographs, circa 1870-1952Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Cooke Family photographs
Box/Folder
14/1	Oscar Cooke	circa 1880-circa 1940
14/2	probably Oscar Cooke and Ella Gately	circa 1898
14/3	Cooke Family	circa 1900
14/4	probably Cooke Family- tintypes	circa 1870-1898
14/5	probably Herman Cooke	circa 1870-1900
14/6	Hermon Cooke and Family Includes Eulalie (Lalie) Cooke	circa 1900-1920
14/7	probably James Daniel Cooke (Dan)	1900
14/8	probably Matilda Cooke	circa 1875
14/9	Richard Cooke	1947; 1952
14/10	probably Ella and Mary Gately	circa 1890
14/11	possibly John, Mary, and Helen Lepper	1892; 1899
14/12	sent to Mary Lepper	1937
14/13	Mary Lepper family and friends	circa 1940
14/14	Helen Lepper schoolmates	circa 1927
15/1	probably Lovin family	circa 1930-1945
15/2	Lovin Family Christmas card photos	1930s
15/3	Helen Lovin	circa 1935
	Photo albums, oversize photos, and certificates
Box/Folder
18/1	Cooke Family photo album (disbound)	circa 1880-1925
16/1	Oversize portraits of Oscar Cooke, Hermon Cooke, and Hermon Cooke with his children	approx 1915-1940; circa
16/2	Confirmation certificates, Honora and Mary Gateley	1897 May 19
16/3	Cooke Family photo album (disbound)	circa 1890-1945

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Land tenure--Oregon--Portland
Land tenure--Oregon--Washington County
Real estate business--Oregon--Portland
Wine and winemaking--Oregon

Personal Names

Cooke, Oscar F.--Archives
Cooke, Ella Gateley--Archives

Family Names

Cooke family

Geographical Names

Portland (Or.)--History
Washington County (Or.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

Blueprints
Invoices
Ledgers (accounts)
Photographs

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Lepper, Mary--Archives (creator)
- Lovin, Helen--Archives (creator)
- Vermillion, John (creator)
- Woerndle, John (creator)
Corporate Names
- West Hills Winery (Portland, Or.) (creator)
Family Names
- Lepper family (creator)
- Lovin family (creator)

Archives West Finding Aid

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