My Forefather the Freighter

JULY 11, 2021

My great grandfather, George LeeRoy Foltz (1880 - 1923), was certainly his father’s son! The pair of them could not be tied down to a single location for very long; the proof being in the evidence of their movements left behind in photos and written documents.

George LeeRoy Foltz, postcard to brother Walter in Kansas, 3 Oct 1912, Ft. Rock, Oregon.

Week 28: Transportation

After growing up and starting his family in Marshall County, Kansas, George filed a homestead application in Fort Rock, Lake County, Oregon with the federal government, intent on securing his own property out on the west coast of the United States.

They left behind their home in Vliets, took up residence on the new piece of land in June of 1909, and finished building a home on the property by the 16th of that month.

The Albany Citizen, “Fort Rock Country,” Albany, Oregon, 20 May 1910.

But once George got his dry farming techniques up and running at home, he was already on to his next venture – which was anything but dry! Not too far from Ft. Rock was a cavern known for its natural ice formations.

Oregon Daily Journal, “Mammoth Ice Cavern North of Ft. Rock, Or., Gives Cooling Material for Butter, Cream,” Portland, Oregon, 14 Jul 1912.

Ice became a “hot” commodity for the Lake County region, and George became a freighter for the local store, hauling ice to and from the caves. Pretty soon, his freighting business took him to much further distances, too, including 150 miles north to the city of Shaniko, Oregon. And it was later recorded that he ran a large 12-horse combine and freight line with several teams!

George LeeRoy Foltz with unknown associate in front of freight line, 1912, Oregon.

It’s not confirmed who the second freighter is in the photo with George, but according to the 1910 United States federal census, there was one other freighter working with George at the store and his name was also George!

George Harrison hailed from Wisconsin and was just a few years younger than our George and single. That same year, George LeeRoy had a son, my grandfather, and he named him Harrison. One can’t help but wonder if George’s transportation buddy was the inspiration and namesake for his newborn baby.

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