John Herbert Carkin (November 18, 1883 – January 24, 1971) was an American politician, attorney, public service executive, and banker from the state of Oregon. He was a Republican who served nine years in the Oregon House of Representatives, where he represented a district in southern Oregon. He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives during the 1927 legislative session, elected by a unanimous vote of House members. Later, he served as chairman of the Oregon Tax Commission and was Oregon's Public Utility Commissioner before becoming president of a savings and loan association in Salem, Oregon.
Early life
Carkin was born in Bangor, Maine, on November 18, 1883, the son of Ebenezer W. L. Carkin and Ada Louise (York) Carkin. As a child, Carkin moved with his family to farm near Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he attended public schools."Death Takes Former Solon, State Official", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 25, 1971, p. 14."John Carkin Ex-Solon, Dies Here", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 25, 1971, p. 12."John H. Carkin", "Who's Who in 1923 Legislature," Oregon Voter (Volume 31), C. C. Chapman Publisher, Portland, Oregon, December 30, 1922, p. 75."Father of Carkin Called by Death", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 7, 1935, p. 9.
Carkin went on to college at the University of Minnesota. He paid for his college by doing farm labor and selling newspapers. After graduating with a degree in business, he attended law school at the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1908. He moved to southern Oregon later that year, settling in Medford."New Members Elected to State Legislature", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 4, 1913, p. 13."John H. Carkin Papers", Ax 600, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon, accessed October 18, 2020.
In 1910, Carkin married Vida May Turner in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After their marriage, Vida joined him in Medford. Over the years, they had five children together."Carkin-Turner Nuptials Today", Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, North Dakota, June 29, 1910, p. 8."Reception to Fete Carkins on Golden Anniversary", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, June 26, 1960, p. 23.
Lawyer and businessman
The state of Oregon certified Carkin as a public notary in 1908."Notaries Commissioned", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, October 13, 1909, p. 10. A year later, he was admitted to the Oregon State Bar and opened a law practice in Medford. Carkin practiced both corporate and criminal law in Medford for the next 20 years, first as a private attorney in partnership with F. J. Newman and then as Medford's city prosecutor from 1921 to 1929."Attorneys", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, July 6, 1909, p. 5. He was also a founding member of the Jackson County Bar Association, which was organized in 1914."Attorneys Plan to Organize", Ashland Tidings, Ashland, Oregon, February 2, 1914, p. 1.
In addition to his law practice, Carkin was a successful businessman. He was a founding member of the Medford Merchants Association and became the association's first secretary. He also helped create a number of new businesses in and around Medford."Merchants Unite at Medford", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, May 27, 1909, p. 1. In 1909, Carkin became a founding partner of the Southern Oregon Building and Loan Association. The association opened its office-headquarters in Medford that same year. It was capitalized with $25,000."New Corporations", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, April 1, 1909, p. 4. He was also a founding partner of the Medford and Butte Falls Telephone Company, another Medford-based start-up business. Carkin was elected secretary of the new telephone company."New Corporations", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, April 14, 1909, p. 5."Butte Falls Items", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, April 26, 1909, p. 8. Later, he became a founding partner in the Gold Hills Railroad and Lumber Company."New Articles Filed", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, February 10, 1910, p. 4.
Shortly after arriving in southern Oregon, Carkin bought a irrigated farm with an established orchard near Central Point. He paid $15,000 for the property. He later became a member of the Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Fruit Growers’ League."Transfer of real Estate", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, July 30, 1909, p. 3."John H. Carkin for Prosecuting Attorney", Ashland Tidings, Portland, Oregon, March 2, 1916, p. 8."John H. Carkin For Representative", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, November 4, 1928, p. 12.
In addition, Carkin was active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations. For example, he was a member of the Medford Lions Club and the local Elks lodge. He was also a Mason and a Shriner.
State representative
In 1912, Carkin decided to run for a District 8 seat of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing Jackson County. Carkin and John A. Westerlund of Medford filed as Republicans while G. F. Barkdull and H. L. DeArmond, both from Medford, filed as Democrats. Because there were two seats in House District 8, each party was able to nominate two candidates in the primary election. Carkin and Westerlund were nominated by Jackson County's Republicans and Barkdull and DeArmond were nominated in Democratic primary."For Representative", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, March 28, 1912, p. 1."List Closed for Election on April 19", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, April 4, 1912, p. 1."Quiet Election in Central Point", Central Point Herald, Medford, Oregon, April 25, 1912, p. 1. In the general election, Carkin and Westerlund won the two District 8 seats. While the two Democrats got more votes in Medford, Carkin and Westerlund did better in nearby Ashland and in the rural parts of Jackson County. Westerlund received the most votes, a total of 1,932; Carkin was second with 1,845 followed by Barkdull with 1,782 and DeArmond with 1,706 votes."Tou Velle is a Winner", Ashland Tidings, Ashland, Oregon, November 7, 1912, p. 1."Republicans Will Hold Legislature", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, November 9, 1912, p. 4."How Jackson County Voted", Ashland Tidings, Ashland, Oregon, November 11, 1912, p. 8.
Carkin took his seat in the Oregon House on January 13, 1913, representing District 8. He served through the 1913 regular legislative session which ended on March 5. During the session, Carkin served on the powerful ways and means committee. He was also member of the counties and mining committees."1913 Regular Session (27th): January 13 – March 5", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 19, 2020."First Time it is Ever Held", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 11, 1912, p. 7."Party Lines Wiped Away on Behalf of Southern Oregon", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, April 12, 1914, p. 10. He proved to be an effective legislator and was author of Oregon's first comprehensive budget law. He also introduced a bill to allow women to serve on all juries throughout the state."Would Make Women Serve on All Juries", Eastern Oregonian, Pendleton, Oregon, January 18, 1913, p. 6.
In early 1914, Carkin expressed an interest in running for re-election and he was favored to retain his District 8 seat. However, he never filed the paperwork needed to get on the ballot. As a result, William P. Mealey of Medford and Fred D. Wagner of Ashland won the Republican nomination and went on to win the general election, replacing Carkin and Westerlund in the two District 8 seats."Nominee Pledge Economy in State", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, May 18, 1914, p. 4.
Law and public service
Having left the legislature at the end of 1914, Carkin returned to his law practice in Medford and his various Jackson County business interests. For the next several years, he was the senior partner in Carkin and Taylor, his Medford law firm. He also served on the Medford city council's finance committee from 1917 through 1920."The 1923 House of Representatives", Oregon Statesman, Portland, Oregon, January 9, 1923, p. 11.
In 1917, Governor James Withycombe appointed Carkin to a seven-person committee to recommend options for streamlining Oregon's state government. The committee investigated opportunities for consolidating state offices, agencies, commissions, board, and committees. In 1919, the commission made 13 specific recommendations to streamline Oregon's government including establishing a lieutenant governor position, focusing the Secretary of State on the auditing function, and consolidating numerous state agencies, boards, and commissions."Committee Named for Consolidation", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, March 25, 1917, p. 14."New Bill in Legislature Expected to be Object of a Bitter Contest ", Grants Pass Daily Courier, Portland, Oregon, January 21, 1919, p. 1.
Return to the legislature
In 1922, Carkin decided to run for another two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives. He filed to run for his old seat in House District 8, representing Jackson County as a Republican. In the Republican primary, Carkin and Ralph P. Cowgill were nominated for the two District 8 seats while O. H. Johnson and J. O. Rigg were nominated in the Democratic primary. Carkin and Cowgill won the District 8 seats in the general election."Many Candidates File for Primaries", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, April 14, 1922, p. 6."Many Candidates File for Primaries", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, May 23, 1922, p. 3."Olcott’s Lead Over Hall Now Stands at 521", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, June 9, 1922, p. 2."Election Held in Towns of Oregon", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, November 9, 1922, p. 8.
Carkin took his seat in the Oregon House on January 8, 1923, representing Jackson County's District 8. He worked through the 1923 regular legislative session which ended on February 22. During the session, he was appointed chairman of the important legislation committee. He was also a member of the judiciary, road and highways, and joint rules committees."1923 Regular Session (32nd): January 8 – February 22", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 19, 2020."Two Chairmen In House from Marion", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, January 10, 1923, p. 3.
In 1924, Carkin filed for re-election in House District 8. Carkin and fellow incumbent Ralph Cowgill won the Republican nominations for the two District 8 seats. E. H. Hurd was the only Democrat to file in District 8, so he was automatically advanced to the general election. Carkin and Cowgill were re-elected to their District 8 seats in the general election. Cowgill received 5,386 votes; Carkin was second with 4,690 while Hurd finished last with 3,078 votes."More Candidates Filed Declarations with Koser", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, March 29, 1924, p. 3."Koser Certifies All Candidates", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, September 30, 1924, p. 3."Oregon’s State’s Legislature is Strongly G.O.P.", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, November 6, 1924, p. 3.
Carkin took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on January 12, 1925, representing District 8. He worked through the 1925 regular legislative session which ended on February 26. During the session, he was appointed chairman of the legislation committee and also served as a member of the judiciary, resolutions, and joint rules committees."1925 Regular Session (33rd): January 12 – February 26", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed October 19, 2020."Committee Berths are Assigned", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 12, 1925, p. 6.
Speaker of the House