Wasco County OR Archives Biographies.....Chrisman, Levi May 18, 1869 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 15, 2006, 11:41 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, 
Pages 77-78

	LEVI CHRISMAN.  No public official of Wasco county enjoys a higher 
reputation than Levi Chrisman, who has served continuously as sheriff for a 
period of twenty-two years, and represents the third generation of the family 
in Oregon.  He was born May 18, 1869, in Dufur, Wasco county, and his father, 
Campbell Ewing Chrisman, was a native of Pike county, Missouri. His natal day 
was January 4, 1835, and his parents were Joel D. and Margaret Chrisman, the 
former also born in Pike county, while the latter was a native of Ireland.  In 
1844, when their son Campbell E. was a boy of nine, they journeyed to Oregon 
in a covered wagon and located on a donation land claim of six hundred and 
forty acres, situated one and a half miles south of Dayton, in Yamhill 
county.  Margaret Chrisman there passed away in 1852 and her husband remained 
on the ranch until 1872.  He then sold the place and came to The Dalles, where 
he lived retired until his death a few years later.  He had a family of eight 
children:  Gabrile, Ann, Elinor, Elizabeth, William, Campbell E., Chelnessa 
and Izza.
	Campbell E. Chrisman was educated in the public schools of Dayton and 
remained at home until 1859, when he moved to The Dalles.  For a time he 
leased the ranch near Dufur and about 1862 purchased the property.  He 
cultivated the farm until 1870 and then sold the tract.  Returning to The 
Dalles, he became a dealer in grain and conducted a grocery and a feed store.  
Catering to both the wholesale and retail trades, he established a large 
patronage and continued the business until 1887, when he retired.  He served 
on the school board and manifested a deep interest in matters touching the 
welfare and progress of his community.  On September 10, 1863, he married Miss 
Mary Adeline Murphy, who was born June 28, 1847, in Peoria, Illinois.  Her 
parents, John E. and Frankie Murphy, were born in the east and came to Oregon 
in 1852, settling on a donation land claim near Independence, in Polk county.  
Her father was a Christian minister and one of the early circuit riders of 
Oregon, traveling on horseback to isolated districts in order to spread the 
Gospel.  He passed away early in the ‘70s and his widow survived him by ten 
years.  The demise of Campbell E. Chrisman occurred May 15, 1908, at the home 
of his daughter, Mrs. Taylor, a resident of The Dalles, and on February 20, 
1922, his widow was called to her final rest.  To their union were born seven 
children.  Lulu, the eldest, was born on the homestead near Dufur and is the 
widow of Henry Taylor.  She has two children:  Mrs. Lulu P. Hay, who is the 
mother of a daughter, Norma Jean; and Henry Clay Taylor, who is married and 
has a son, Richard Clay Taylor.  Hugh Chrisman is sheriff of Sherman county 
and has been the incumbent of the office for eight years.  Levi is the next of 
the family and his brother Frank lives in Oakland, California.  Eugene makes 
his home in Toledo, Oregon, and Fred is a resident of Bradley, California.  
Emma, the seventh in order of birth, died in infancy.
	Levi Chrisman attended the public schools at The Dalles and the old 
Wasco Academy.  For four years he was a railroad employe and in 1890 ventured 
in business for himself at The Dalles.  In partnership with his brother Frank 
he opened a meat market, which he conducted successfully for sixteen years, 
also dealing in live stock.  He was elected sheriff of Wasco county on the 
republican ticket in 1906 and his long retention in this office is an eloquent 
testimonial to the quality of his service.  In the discharge of his important 
duties he is conscientious, efficient and fearless and during his tenure of 
office the percentage of crime in the country has been appreciably lowered.  
His record is unsullied and in length of service has never been equaled by any 
other sheriff in the state.
	In 1893 Mr. Chrisman married Miss Edna C. Martin, who was born in 
Illinois, and died February 13, 1912.  She had become the mother of five 
children.  Edna, the first born, is the wife of Robert P. Johnson, of 
Portland, Oregon, and has two daughters, Margaret and Virginia.  The other 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman are:  Mrs. Neva M. Rasmussen, of Seattle, 
Washington; Robert, who was admitted to the bar in 1926 and is practicing in 
Wallowa, Oregon; Cecil, who is a junior at the University of Oregon and is 
preparing to enter the legal profession; and Elsie, who was graduated from the 
high school at The Dalles and is taking a course in a Portland business 
college.  The children are natives of The Dalles and all have received the 
benefit of a good education.
	Mr. Chrisman is a Knight Templar Mason and a Noble of Al Kader Temple 
of the Mystic Shrine at Portland.  In the local lodge of the Knights of 
Pythias he has filled all of the chairs and is also affiliated with the 
Woodmen of the World and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.  He has a 
wide acquaintance and draws his friends from all walks of life, possessing 
those qualities which inspire strong and enduring regard.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, 
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1928

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