John Frederick ‘Fred’ Loosley, 74, widely known Klamath county stockman and pioneer resident of this section, dropped dead shortly before noon Tuesday in Medford.
Mr. Loosley was shopping in a grocery store, it is understood, at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Loosley had been visiting relatives in the valley this past week.
Came in 1871
John Frederick Loosley was the son of John and Lucy Walling Loosley. The father was born in Oxford, England, and the mother in Muscatine, Iowa. The father served an apprenticeship at the miller’s trade and when 21 years of age crossed the Atlantic to New York, whence he made his way to Chicago. In 1852 he came west to the gold mines of California and followed mining near Yreka and in Jackson county. He operated the first gristmill at Albany, Oregon.
The elder Loosley married Miss Walling in Albany and went from there to Champoeg. After living for seven years in the valley, Loosley and his wife and eleven children settled in the Wood River valley, where historians say, “he made his way to Klamath Agency in 1871, secured a tract of government land and filed on his homestead, settling in the valley before the survey was made. He died November 8, 1900.”
Young Fred Loosley grew up in northern Klamath county and as a young man was interested in the growth of the community. He married Miss Mary Culbertson of Ashland and to them were born five children, Forester, Claude, Ray, Elizabeth and Merle, all of whom are living.
In 1895, Fred Loosley and members of his family established the first creamery in Wood River valley at Fort Klamath and later Mr. Loosley became the sole owner. Mr. Loosley had disposed of considerable property holdings during the past few years, and one of the finest ranches in the northern section of the county was owned by him at the time of his death. The ranch, located on Seven Mile creek is operated by a Mr. Ferguson at the present time.
Several years ago Mr. Loosley and his wife purchased a trailer house and enjoyed numerous trips throughout the country. They were interested in the civic problems of Fort Klamath and that district and were kindly and friendly neighbors.
Mr. Loosley is survived by the following brothers and sisters: Milan of Berkeley, George of Ashland; Phillip of Medford; Benjamin of Malin; Marion of Long Beach, Calif.; Bird of Klamath Falls; Mrs. John (Mary) Smart of Los Angeles; Mrs. Oscar (Fanny) Bunch of Chiloquin; Mrs. George (Rosa) Nutley of Tacoma. One sister, Nancy, is deceased. She married a soldier, Jacob Moyer, at Fort Klamath and is buried there.
Funeral arrangements for Mr. Loosley will be made later.
Source: Klamath Falls News and Herald, March 19, 1940.
Carol Ann Hilton 