Robert Deniston Hume (1845-1908), who founded R.D. Hume and Company, came to Oregon from California. Hume began a salmon fishing and canning operation at the mouth of the Rogue River in 1877, and during the next thirty years created a commercial empire in Curry County. Known as "King of the Rogue," he controlled fishing on the Rogue River, claiming a monopoly, and also invented canning machinery and devised a successful method of hatching salmon.
In addition, he founded the city of Wedderburn, published newspapers at Gold Beach and Wedderburn, owned and operated general stores, and invested in a timber company and a fleet of coastal shipping vessels. He also established a commission house in San Francisco and shipped salmon abroad.
From the guide to the R. D. Hume and Company records, 1877-1911, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)
