OR OR - Louis C. Lakin, 37, Gresham, 6 Jan 1928

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Louis C. Lakin
Male
White / Caucasian

Date of Last Contact: January 6, 1928
Missing From: Gresham, Oregon

Missing Age: 37 Years
Current Age: 129 Years

Case Information

Demographics
Missing Age: 37 Years
Current Age: 129 Years

First Name: Louis
Middle Name: C.
Last Name: Lakin
Nickname/Alias: --

Sex: Male
Height: 5' 7" - 5' 9" (67 - 69 Inches)
Weight: 145 - 155 lbs
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact: January 6, 1928
NamUs Case Created: February 13, 2020

Last Known Location Map
Location: Gresham, Oregon
County: Multnomah County

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Louis Lakin was last known to be somewhere between the logging camps outside of Gresham, Oregon and Missoula, Montana. Louis had family in the Portland area; they reported him missing in 1928 and searched extensively for him throughout the years.

Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: --
Body Hair Description: --
Facial Hair Description: --
Left Eye Color: Blue
Right Eye Color: Blue
Eye Description: --

Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
No Information Entered

Additional Case Info
Transportation
No Information Entered

 

[alb1on]

I am not sure about the accuracy of the description of Louis. His WWI Draft Registration Card is on Ancestry. It describes him as tall and big build (stout). Given that the birthplace (Portland), occupation (logger) and dob (February 26 1891) match I think it unlikely this is anyone else. From family trees on Ancestry it seems his middle name was Clare. I attach a photo of him which was also on Ancestry and which appears to be from his military service circa 10 years before he disappeared. At least one of the family trees has him marrying in 1907, but given that his 1917 Draft Card specifically says he has no dependents (and other trees do not mention a wife) I doubt whether this is accurate. I also attach a clipping showing the efforts of the family to find him. Greta (his sister) died in 1967.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I wonder how he was traveling from one camp to another and to home? Someone would had to have seen him during his travels, maybe giving him a ride? Did a regular Greyhound bus go through this area at the time? He was obviously loved or his family wouldn't have searched so much. I wonder if any of his living decedents are still searching?

 

[Diane Redfern]

This John Doe was proposed for Marvin Clark, but this possibility was ruled out through DNA testing in 2008.
I wonder if he could be a match for Louis: The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[ProductiveOne]

I've submitted Lois C. Lakin's case, and an unidentified persons case for comparison.

"During the Spanish-American War [1898], the U.S. Navy blockaded San Juan for three months, destroying parts of the city's fortifications. When the U.S. eventually defeated Spain, it annexed several former Spanish colonies, including Puerto Rico."

Bombardment of San Juan, Puerto Rico | National Museum of the American Latino


Around the time the missing person Louis C. Lakin of Gresham, Oregon would have enlisted in the military, the US was expanding construction on the San Juan Military Post (subsequently the Fort Brooke Army Base) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. I suspect the "Caucasian/white" unidentified soldier found in Rothschild, WI had the initials "PR" and "USA" because he had been stationed in Puerto Rico.

There were trains routes Lakin could have taken at the time to take him to (or near) the places he would go, including the location UID was found. Also, note that Lakin's photo may have been taken at the time he was first enlisted which would make him about 21 years older by the time the UID was found, if he enlisted at the age of 18, therefore increasing his chance of male pattern baldness.

I'd really like to know if Louis C. Lakin was stationed in Puerto Rico. Does anyone know if that information is available?


Missing Person Louis C. Lakin (NamUs #MP65312, Agency Case Number 20-680297)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)


Rothschild, WI Unidentified (NamUs #UP131512, Agency Case Number 1930-256)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[ProductiveOne]

According to records, he was born on Feb 26th, 1891 in Portland, OR, and registered for the draft on June 5th, 1917 (World War I). He was inducted in Missoula, MT on Apr 26th, 1918. He served overseas from July 14th, 1918 to March 30th, 1919, and was honorably discharged on Apr 20th, 1919. I'm not sure he'd have been stationed in Puerto Rico, but I don't know.