Shooting of Arthur Langell - 1894
Arthur Langell Shot
Corvallis Times, (Monday) September 10, 1894, pg. 3, col.3
A dispatch to the Sunday's Oregonian narrates the shooting near his big ranch in Langell Valley last Saturday of Arthur Langell, a brother-in-law of William Knotts, of this county. The deed was committed by Frank Swingle, whose seven year old son was the only witness of the tragedy. Swingle is a neighboring cattle raiser and the dispatch says, was herding cattle on a piece of ground he had rented, but which Langell had fenced. The latter rode towards Swingle, brandishing a hatchet, and saying; "I will kill you." Langell paid no heed to Swingle's warning to stop, and the latter fired. The wound may prove fatal. Swingle gave himself up. Excitement runs high in the community, where Langell was a prominent citizen.
Shot Dead: The Klamath Tragedy Was Instantly Fatal To Arthur Langell
Corvallis Times, September 1894, Page 3
Shot Dead
Corvallis Times, September 21, 1894, pg. 2, Col. 3
The body of Arthur Langell who was recently murdered in Klamath county, was buried in the cemetery near his home , but will be removed to Corvallis shortly for interment be side his wife. Mr. Langell was one of Oregon's pioneers and was known and highly respected throughout the state. He settled in Klamath county in 1849. At the time of his death he was the owner of 3,000 acres of land and considerable property in Seattle, all valued at $60,000. In 1882 he was married to Margaret Knotts, of this county. Six years later a son was born to them, at which time the mother died. Recently the boy's father made a will, in which Wm. Knotts was named as executor and the boy as sole legatee. Mr Knotts left for Klamath Monday to assume the duties of executor of the estate.
Langell's Remains Interred
Corvallis Times, Dec. 3, 1894, p. 3, Col. 3
The remains of Arthur Langell, killed by a neighbor some time ago in Southeastern Oregon, now rest beside his wife in Newton Cemetery, this county. The remains were brought in by William Knotts, brother-in-law and executor of the last will and testament of the deceased. Mr. Knotts leaves next week for Seattle to look after property belonging to the estate, a portion or all of which will have to be sold to pay off the considerable indebtedness against the estate . The total value of the assets of the estate will not exceed $40,000, instead of the $60,000 formerly reported. On his return from Seattle, Mr. Knotts will leave again for Southern Oregon, where he expects to remain most of the time for a year or more to come.
Corvallis Gazette, Dec. 7, 1894 p. 3
The remains of Arthur Langell were brought here recently by William Knotts and interred in the Newton cemetery, be side his wife. Immediately after the holidays, Mr. Knotts , who is executor of the estate, will leave for Seattle to look after extensive property interests at that place, a portion, or all of which will be sold to liquidate indebtedness against the estate. The value of the assets, instead of $60,000 as first reported, will not exceed $40,000. On returning from the sound, Mr. Knotts will again return to Southern Oregon, where the greater portion of his time during the coming year will be employed in settling up the estate.
Klamath Falls Express
January 10, 1901, p. 1, col. 3
Probate Court
The following business was transacted this week in probate court, L. F. Willits judge:
. . . . . . .
Final account of Wm. Knotts, executor of the estate of Arthur Langell, deceased, approved and executor discharged from his trust.
Real estate involved 1981 acres valued at about $6,000, of which about 1400 acres has been sold.
Thank you to Bob Wilson for these transcriptions.
Arthur Langell
Born: June 6, 1829 Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died: September 8, 1894 Langell Valley, Klamath County, Oregon, USA
Married: November 13, 1883, Benton, Oregon, USA to:
Margaret Knotts
Born: August 11, 1847 Benton County, Oregon Territory, USA
Died: September 30, 1888 Benton County, Oregon, USA
The Deseret Weekly, Volume 49
by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Page 445
New has reached Klamath Falls, Oregon from Langell valley, in that county, that Frank Swingle shot and instantly killed Arthur Langell on the latter's ranch, during an altercation over some stock. Both men are well known pioneers of Klamath county and large stock and land owners of Langell valley.
The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912, Volume 4
by Joseph Gaston and George H. Himes
(This Arthur T. Langell is the nephew of the Arthur Langell who was killed in 1894.)
ARTHUR T. LANGELL has for twenty-six years been actively conncted with live-stock interests in Klamath county. For a considerable period, he raised stock but at the present time is buying and shipping only. His sound judgment concerning the value of horses and cattle has enabled him to make judicious investments, which have been followed by success. He was born in Jacksonville, Jackson county, Oregon, February 10, 1866, and is a son of Nathaniel and Loretta Jane (Hensley) Langell, natives of Nova Scotia and St. Joseph, Missouri, respectively. The father went to Ohio in his boyhood days and there learned the trade of shoemaking, after which he came to Oregon by way of the Isthmus route, arriving in this state about 1852. It was still a frontier district, in which the work of improvement was being slowly and steadily carried forward. He was married in Jackson county to Miss Hensley, who had previously crossed the plains with her parents. They began their domestic life in Jacksonville, where they resided for more than forty years, Mr. Langell working at his trade there. He also became interested in the live-stock business in connection with his brother Arthur Langell, and about 1869 came to what is known as Langell valley, which was so named in honor of its first settlers - the father and uncle of Arthur T. Langell, and his grandfather Joseph Langell. The uncle and grandfather both died in this valley. The parents of Arthur T. Langell are still living and now reside near Portland, Oregon, the father having retired from active business. He is now in his eighty-second year, which his wife is in her seventy-fifth year. In their family were 10 children: Eliza, the wife of Judge W.C. Hale, of Grants Pass; Mary, who married Charles Moore, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Addie and Frank, who died at the age of twenty and twenty-six years, respectively; Arthur T.,; Jessie, the wife of Harry Foster, of Medford; Fred; Harry, who makes his home with his paretns; and two who died in infancy.
Arthur T. Langell was a resident of Jacksonville during the winter seasons until seventeen years of age and spent the summer months in connection with his father's livestock interests in Klamath county. When a youth of seventeen, however, he went to Salem, where he learned the plumber's and tinner's trades, which he followed for two years. Since that time however, or for two years. Since that time, however, or for the past twenty-six years, he has been engaged in the stock business in Langell valley and in Bonanza. He has now disposed of his ranches and for the past few years has engaged only in buying and shipping. He has purchased many horses for the United States government and is an excellent judge of stock, so that success has attended his efforts and he is one of the well known stockmen of the district.
On the 5th of November, 1896, Mr. Langell was married to Miss Anna E. Chastain, a daughter of Dr. J.A. Chastain, a daughter of Dr. J.A. Chastain, who is mentioned at length on another page of this work. They now have two children: Frederick C., who was born September 1, 1897; and Claudia L., whose birth occurred February 19, 1902. Mr. Langell is a typical western man - wide-awake, alert and enterprising. The west is making its history with vast possibilities before it and, recognizing this fact. Mr. Langell has become active in the work of public progress, his labors constituting an element in the upbuilding of the community as well as in individual success.
An interesting connection to the Arthur Langell ranch:
Klamath Connection - Welch 50th Anniversary
Ralph and Isabel (Sapiens) Welch celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 19, 2010 with family and friends at their home in Langell Valley, Oregon. The celebration with lawn games, a barbecue and fireworks was put on by their children: Steve and Julie Stenkamp, Klamath Falls, Oregon; Ralph and Teresa Welch, Sweet Home, Oregon; and, Joe and Debbie Hurlbut, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Ralph was born and raised in Langell Valley, Oregon. Isabel was born in Soledad, California, her family moving to Nyssa, Oregon for a short time, and then settling in Bonanza, Oregon in 1955. Ralph and Isabel met at Bonanza School in 1955, but didn't start dating until 1958, when Ralph came home on leave from the Navy. They then married in Reno, Nevada on June 18, 1960. Ralph and Isabel still reside at the ranch in Langell Valley where Ralph was raised.
Besides taking care of their own, Ralph also took care of a neighboring ranch, which included the old Arthur Langell place, for 26 years.
Isabel worked at F.W. Bold & Son, the general store, in Bonanza, Oregon for approximately 21 years. She then worked for Ray's Food Warehouse in Klamath Falls, Oregon for 13 years until it closed. They have 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. To celebrate this special occasion further, their son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Teresa Welch, are taking them on a trip to visit Las Vegas, Nevada, the Grand Canyon, and then to Isabel's family reunion in King City, California.
Return to News & Letters Index
Return to the Langill-Langille Home Page