Charles Frederick Putnam, born 1824 in Lexington, Kentucky. He and his brother, Nathan, came to Oregon in 1846 with the hope of improving Nathan's health, but he passed away upon arrival. Charles had been well educated in the printer's trade in Kentucky. He taught in one of the first schools in Polk County. On December 28, 1847, he married Rozelle Applegate, the eldest daughter of Jesse Applegate. He and his wife printed the Oregon American and the Evangelical Unionist for a short time, and he set type for the Oregon Spectator. In 1849, he left for the California mines and, upon his return, took out a donation land claim at Elk Creek, near Drain, Oregon. He remained there for the rest of his life, passing away on September 25, 1903. He and Rozelle (who died in May of 1861) had eight children, seven of whom survived him.