Kamm moved to Oregon in 1850 after being hired by the Milwaukie, Oregon founder Lot Whitcomb onto his ship, The Lot Whitcomb, being the chief engineer on the Willamette River.[2][3][6]The Lot Whitcomb was launched on 25 December 1850.[3] Kamm and John C. Ainsworth joined with Abernathy and Clark, merchants from Oregon City, in 1854 or 1855 to build the Jenny Clark, a sternwheeler on the Willamette.[3][6] Kamm owned half of the Jenny Clark, Ainsworth owned a quarter, and Abernathy and Clark shared the remaining quarter.[6] They then built the Carrie Ladd steamer in 1858, called the "keystone of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company".[6]
He was a founder of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in 1879 and a shareholder in the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company.[2][7] He built steamboats including in 1891, the Ocean Wave and in 1900, Athlon.[7] One of the companies he owned was the Vancouver Transportation Company.[7]
Kamm married Caroline Augusta Gray on 13 September 1859 during the Pig War, on the PS Eliza Anderson steamer just outside Fort Hope, Canada.[10][11][12] They had one son, Charles Tilton Kamm (1860-1906).[2][11][12][13] Kamm was a Mason, being inducted at age 21 in St. Louis.[2][14] In Portland, he was affiliated with the Multnomah Lodge in Oregon City, then the Willamette Lodge in Portland.[2] He was also a Knights Templar and a Shriner.[2]
In December 1907, Kamm was "run down by a reckless bicycle rider" in Portland.[15][16] Another report described the bicyclist as a "careless boy bicyclist"; Kamm was confined to his bed for many days.[17]
Kamm became ill on 1 December 1912, "being an invalid" since the 1907 bicycle wreck.[18][19] By December 13, The Oregonian reported he "may only live a few hours", stating his condition was "sinking rapidly".[18] The following day, he entered a coma and died.[2][20][14] He was buried at the River View Cemetery in Portland.[21][22]
At time of death, his estate was valued at approximately $4 million.[13][18][23][24] Aside from the Jacob Kamm home and property, he also owned a half-block building at Front and Pine, a quarter block at Third and Yamhill, a quarter block at First and Washington, the Vancouver Transportation Company, was a "heavy stockholder" in the First National Bank of Astoria, and a "heavy stockholder" in the First National Bank of Portland. He also owned valuable property on Market Street in San Francisco.[2] At the time of his death, the Vancouver Transportation Company operated two ships: the Lurline and Undine on routes between Portland and Astoria.[2]
In 1929, E.W. Wright, a marine historian, wrote that Kamm was one of "two outstanding figures whose leadership in Columbia river steamboating will never be disputed".[6]
^ abcdefghijklmno"Jacob Kamm Now in State of Coma. Veteran Portland Man's Life Slowly Ebbs out and End in Near". The Oregonian. 14 December 1912. p. 4.
^ abcdefDeane, Early (19 December 1965). "Thief put Kamm on Map". The Oregonian. pp. F6.
^ abScott, Harvey W. (1890). History of Portland, Oregon. OCLC4342776.
^ ab"Portland Youth Play in Adventure House". The Oregonian. 11 August 1946. p. 5.
^ abcdeWright, E. W. (10 February 1929). "Credit for using river boats given Captain Ainsworth and Jacob Kamm". The Oregonian.
^ abcNewell, Gordon R., ed., H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest, at page 60, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA, 1966
^"Rush Job Ordered. District to Build before Restrictions Are Enforced". The Oregonian. 16 July 1910. p. 9.
^Alfred Powers, Howard McKinley Corning, ed. (1937). History of Education in Portland. WPA Adult Education Project. pp. 184, 241.
^Sullivan, Ann (27 November 1984). "Historic house set for 3rd lease on life". The Oregonian. pp. MP2.
^ abcd"Mrs. Jacob Kamm observes 90th birthday anniversary". The Oregonian. 18 October 1930. p. 3.
^ ab"Copy of will is offered". The Oregonian. 16 January 1913. p. 3.
^ ab"Kamm's Widow is Chief Beneficiary. Dead Transportation Man's Will Creates Trust Fund for Four Grandchildren". The Oregonian. 20 December 1912. p. 15.