The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 1

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072

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GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY

OREGON

1811-1912

Joseph GASTON

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME IV

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

1307907

DEAN BLANCHARD

BIOGRAPHICAL

JUDGE DEAN BLANCHARD. While Judge Dean Blanchard has traveled life's journey for more than seventy-nine years he is still an active factor in the world's work, superin- tending his invested interests which are many and important. His title indicates the pro- fessional service to which he formerly gave his attention, but after long connection with the bar, in which he won distinction, he re- tired to devote his time to his landed in- terests and other business affairs in the northwest. The width of the continent sepa- rates him from his birthplace, which was Madison, Maine, his natal day being Decem- ber 20, 1832. His father, Merrill Blanchard, was born in Abington, Massachusetts, July 18, 1806, and is descended from Huguenot ancestry who settled near London after leav- ing France and in 1629 came to the new world. The grandfather of Merrill Blanchard, Captain Thomas Blanchard, born in 1720, died on the 14th of November, 1803. Merrill Blanchard conducted a hotel in early life and later devoted his energies to farming. In the early period of development in the northwest he came to Oregon but returned to the east in 1856, spending the ensuing twenty years in that part of the country. In 1876 he once more came to the northwest and here lived a retired life. In early manhood he wedded Eunice Weston, who was born in Madison, Maine, in 1804, and died in 1841. He long survived his wife, passing away May 3, 1889. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Powers) Weston. The Powers family had held landed rights in England since 1222 and the family date their residence there from the time of William the Conqueror. Benjamin Weston was a son of Judge Weston, of Lincoln, Masaschusetts, who married Eunice Farnsworth, a daughter of Aaron and Hannah (Barrows) Farnsworth and the granddaughter of Benjamin and Mary (Pres- cott) Farnsworth. In the family of Merrill Blanchard were eight children: Nathan W., living at Santa Paula, California; Dean; Ann, the widow of Henry Russell and now a resi- dent of St. Johns, New Brunswick; Sarah W., who is the widow of John Dibblee and a resident of Rainier; William E., conducting the Arlington Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts; Mary, the deceased wife of John Leary, of Seattle; and two who died in early child- hood.

Judge Dean Blanchard acquired his educa- tion in the Houlton Academy at Houlton, Maine. His identification with the northwest. dates from the days when Oregon was still under territorial rule. He served as clerk of the United States district courts and also as county auditor of Columbia county before Oregon was admitted to the Union. Follow- ing its admission he was the first county clerk of that county, serving for one term, and in 1874 was elected county judge. His service on the bench was most commendable but after he had filled that position for eight . years he refused to continue longer in office. His friends and admirers, however, would not consent to his retirement and when he was away from home nominated him again and once more he was shown to be the choice of the people at the polls so that he remained in office four years longer. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial and were based upon the law and equity in the case. He was regarded as one of the most prom- inent and able jurists of the state during the period when he sat upon the bench. For fifty-seven years he has been a resident of Oregon and Rainier since 1864. About that time he purchased an interest in an old saw- mill which he repaired and he later bought out his partner. In 1882 he tore down the old mill, erecting a new one, which he oper- ated successfully until 1907, when he sold out. From time to time he has been inter- ested in other business enterprises. When the lumber business became somewhat dull he took up contracting and building, employ- ing a tow boat, and to utilize the product of his mill took contracts to build along the river. He also operated a salmon cannery at Astoria which he sold a year later. He has built more than half of the docks along the Columbia river from its mouth to Rainier and at different times has invested in prop- erty, owning as high as one thousand acres. of timber land in Oregon. In recent years, however, he has been selling his property, the rise in realty values bringing him a good return upon his investment. At one time he was the owner of the town site of Rainier .. He still has considerable property, including lots in Portland and elsewhere. He has em- ployed many men, often having fifty or more in his service, and through his payroll he has contributed much to the development of

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

the county, distributing money which has gone for the upbuilding of this section of the state.

When Judge Blanchard came to the north- west the Indians were very numerous in this section of the country and he learned to talk the Chinook language. In politics he is a republican with independent tendencies and always keeps well informed upon the ques- tions and issues of the day. He is prominent in Masonry, having attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite, the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has held all of the offices in his lodge and throughout his life has been an exemplary representative of the craft. He has ever favored progress along various avenues of advancement and his sympathy with the churches is indicated by the fact that he has given sites for the buildings of all of the churches except the Catholic church, which was erected here after he had disposed of his lots. The town of Rainier and Columbia county are indebted to him for his active cooperation in all that has tended to promote their welfare. He en- joys the regard and confidence of his fellow- men to an unusual degree and his life record is indeed a commendable onc.

CAPTAIN JOHN C. AINSWORTH. Among the builders of the great northwest Captain John C. Ainsworth was prominent, taking active part in the development of the mate- rial resources of the country and the promo- tion of commercial and financial interests. His initiative spirit and notable ability car- ried him into important relations and the breadth and scope of his activities were such that his labors constituted an important fea- ture in the history of Portland and of the Pacific coast. For more than four decades he was identified with this section of the country, coming to the west soon after the discovery of gold in California.

He was at that time a young man of twenty-eight years, his birth having occurred at Springboro, Warren county, Ohio, on the 6th of June, 1822. He was only seven or eight years of age when he lost his father, George Ainsworth, and at an early age be- gan providing for his own support, being employed on the Mississippi river when yet in his teens. His ability and faithfulness won him rapid promotion until he became pilot and subsequently master on a passenger steamer sailing between St. Louis and up- river points. He was thus engaged at the time of the discovery of gold in California, and recognizing the possibilities for labor and capital in that state he arranged his plans to make a trip to the coast, whither he journeyed in company with William C. Ralston, who became one of the distinguished bankers and financiers of the great west. The friendship between the two men con- tinued throughout their remaining days. Mr. Ralston, however, remained in San Fran- cisco where he figured as one of the pioneer bankers of the city, while Mr. Ainsworth went to Oregon to take command of the Lot Whitcomb the first steamer that ran on

the Willamette and Columbia rivers. He re- mained for many years thereafter a center figure in marine interests in this section of the country, developing his business in pro- portion to the rapid growth and settlement of the northwest. To his thorough and prac- tical knowledge of the business in all its details was due the marvelous success achieved by the great transportation com- pany in which he was President and the leading spirit from the time of its incep- tion until the Oregon Steamship & Naviga- tion Company was merged with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company. Of the latter, Captain Ainsworth continued as presi- dent until 1881, when it was sold to the Villard Syndicate for five million dollars. Realizing that transportation facilities must ever constitute the foundation for growth and development in a new country, he was in- strumental in building the Missouri Pacific Railroad from California to the south, get- ting the first train through to Puget Sound twenty-four hours before the exploration of a valuable land subsidy. The means for this undertaking he personally furnished.

His sound business judgment was seldom if ever at fault in any transaction and his keen insight into business propositions en- abled him to look beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities of the future, so that he labored not alone for his own generation but for those who follow after. His activities touched many lines all of which profited by the stimulus of his effort and business discernment. In 1881 he erected the Ainsworth building in Portland, at the corner of Oak and Third streets and about the same time established the Central Bank of Oakland, California, of which he remained the president until his death. In 1883 he organized the Ainsworth National Bank of Portland. He financed many projects which have constituted important elements in the upbuilding of the northwest, and his activity and enterprise enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he under- took. He came to be known as a prominent figure in American finance, his ability being recognized in financial circles in the east as well as in the west. He always maintained a liberal policy with his employes, giving to them always a fair compensation for their labor, and it was one of the well known axioms of his business policy "give the boys good salaries."

Following his retirement from business life The Dalles Inland Empire said of him edi- torially: "He has been at all times a gen- tlemanly public servant and faithful cus- todian of the interests of his fellow stock- holders and a most equitable and merciful employer. In fine, he has been a good friend to friends and a semi-foe to enemies. His broad sense of justice has made him the object of an almost filial degree of affections from his employes and to his sagacity in making three volunteer reductions of freight rates without compulsion in five years time. the growth and expansion of the western empire are largely attributable.

Captain Ainsworth was a large investor in Tacoma real estate and was prominently

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

identified with the construction of the North- ern Pacific Railroad Company between the Columbia river and Puget Sound. Follow- ing his removal to California in 1880, he was largely interested in local banking and in the initiation and promotion of other business enterprises in that state. He fi- nanced the project, making Redondo Beach what it is today-one of the finest seaside resorts on the Pacific coast, expending nearly three million dollars in this undertaking and later sold it to H. E. Huntington. His plans were always wisely formulated and carefully executed and he displayed a notable mastery of detail that enabled him to use each point of the business to its best advantage.

Captain Ainsworth was married three times; his first wife died in six months after their marriage. His second wife was Jane White, a daughter of Judge S. S. White, a pioneer of 1845, who settled in Oregon City. To this marriage was born George J. Ains- worth, who is later spoken of in this work. Mrs. Ainsworth died in 1863. He was then married in San Francisco to Miss Fanny Babbitt, a daughter of General Edwin Bab- bitt of the United States Army. Unto this marriage were born six children: J. C. Ains- worth, of Portland; H. B. Ainsworth, of Los Angeles, California; Laura Ainsworth, de- ceased, the wife of John S. Baker, of Tacoma, Washington; Daisy Ainsworth, wife of Percy T. Morgan, of San Francisco, California; Maud Ainsworth of Portland; and Belle Ainsworth, wife of Ralph Jenkins, of Port- land.

The death of Captain Ainsworth occurred December 30. 1893, at his home near Oakland, California. He was for years a prominent Mason and Ainsworth Chapter of Rose Croix is named in his honor. He was the first grand master from this state and was for years captain and inspector general of the supreme council of the southern jurisdiction in the state of Oregon, the highest post of honor possible of attainment in the state. The honorary thirty-third degree was also conferred upon him. While he attained prom- inence and eminent success in business, his own advancement was never at the sacrifice of other interests and he retained, as few men have done, the friendship and good-will of his business associates and colleagues. Moreover, those who knew him socially. en- tertained for him the warmest regard. In his life he embodied the principles of upright manhood and citizenship, and his labors were ever of a character that contributed not alone to individual success but also to the general welfare and prosperity. His name is written high on the roll of the honored dead who were among the builders and promoters of the great northwest.

J. G. HOUSER. Modern agriculture re- quires for its development an efficiency and a thorough knowledge which amounts almost to a science. It is becoming recognized as an occupation in which practical methods result in a high degree of prosperity. J. G. Houser in the cultivation of forty acres of land on

the middle fork of the Coquille river, Coos county, Oregon, exemplifies the truth of this statement. He was born in North Carolina in 1871 and is the son of Evander and Sarah (Potter) Houser, both natives of Southi Caro- lina. They moved to the state in which their son was born at an early date and their mar- riage occurred there. They made North Caro- lina their place of residence until they came to Oregon in 1879, settling on the site where the village of Bridge now stands. Their origi- nal location was made on the middle fork of the Coquille river and here the father proved up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres and was successful in the cultiva- tion and improvement of the soil for six years. He later moved to Coos county, where he spent twelve years in ranching, subse- quently re-purchasing his old farm at Bridge and bringing it to a high state of cultivation before he disposed of his property. He bought the Jinkins ranch in the same vicinity and this is still his home. His wife died in 1910. The elder Mr. Houser is one of the representative and flourishing agriculturists of Coos county and carries on his farming along modern and progressive principles. He became the father of nine children: Mrs. Mary Machado, of Myrtle Point; J. G., the subject of this review; Maggie, who is de- ceased; Mrs. Florence Warner of Myrtle Creek, Oregon; Laura, the widow of Thomas Rookard of Myrtle Creek; Finas and Inez, twins, the latter of whom resides in Bridge, Oregon; Edna, who has passed away; and Josie, who lives at home.

Mr. Houser received his education in Coos county and remained at home until his mar- riage, at the age of twenty-four years. At that time he obtained employment in a log- ging camp and worked at lumbering until. 1910. During this time he invested in Coos county farm lands, buying forty acres upon the middle fork of the Coquille river near Bridge. He has now abandoned all connec- tion with the logging industry and is giv- ing his entire attention to his farm and is one of the representative and enterpris- ing agriculturists of Coos county.

Mr. Houser's marriage occurred on the 27th of April, 1895, when he wedded Miss Josie Pierce. Her father was one of the early settlers of Oregon. living practically all his life on Coos bay, where he died in 1906. He was survived by his wife until 1912, when her death occurred. They were the parents of eight children: Eva, who is married and_ lives in Portland, Oregon; Frank, now resid- ing on his father's homestead in Coos county; Emmett, who makes his home in Marsh- field, Oregon; Josie, the wife of our subject; Mrs. Edna Duckett, who lives on the north fork of the Coos river; Mrs. Bertha Parks, of California; and Katie and Clevie, deceased. Mrs. Houser is a member of the Christian church. She is the mother of six children: Harry, whose birth occurred in 1898; Edith, born in 1900; Archie, who passed away when he was four years of age; Olis, who died when he was three years old; Virgie, whose birth occurred in 1904; and Clara, who died in infancy.

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

In his political affiliations Mr. Houser is a consistent republican and always votes the party ticket. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, holding mem- bership in the lodge at Marshfield, Oregon. He was one of the organizers of the Myrtle Point Lodge of Woodmen but has trans- ferred his membership. He is one of the many farmers in Coos county who are carry- ing on agriculture along practical lines and has met with fair success.

W. H. H. MORGAN, residing in Portland and engaged in the live-stock business, was born December 8, 1840, in Ohio, a son of Ed- ward and Mary (Shirley) Morgan. The father was born in London and the mother, a native of Virginia, was of German descent. They were among the early settlers of Ohio and in his native land Edward Morgan learned and followed the shoemaker's trade. He was mar- ried in that country and with his wife and three children came to the United States when about thirty years of age. Subsequently he lost his first wife and wedded Mary Shirley. In Olio he followed the occupation of farm- ing and thus provided for his family, which numbered altogether twenty-two children, born of the two marriages.

After living in the Buckeye state Edward Morgan removed to Iowa, where he resided for two years. In 1845 he started across the plains with ox teams to the far west, travel- ing with a large wagon train which slowly wended its way toward the Pacific coast, six months elapsing before the end of the jour- ney. Mr. Morgan at length reached Linnton, Oregon, which lies just across the river from St. Johns and within a few miles of Port- land. There was only one log cabin on the present site of Portland at that time. Mr. Morgan located in the center of Sauvie's island, where he took up six hundred and forty acres of land as a donation claim. Later, however, he sold that property and in 1850 removed to the farm which is now owned by his son, W. H. H. Morgan. At that time he secured six hundred and forty acres of land. for which he paid one hundred dol- lars. This place is fourteen miles north of Portland. At that time there were compara- tively few white men in this section and most of them had squaw wives. Mr. Mor- gan built a house of hewed cottonwood logs. In the family at that time there were the parents and seven children. They had two yoke of cattle and one cow. The log cabin remained the home of the family for about eight years, after which Edward Morgan built a frame dwelling, purchasing the lumber from Mr. Wells at Wilwaukee. Later his son, whose name introduces this review, erected a fine residence upon the farm. The father died in 1872 at the ripe old age of eighty- four years, and the mother passed away in 1875 at the age of sixty-six years. In poli- tics he was a very strong abolitionist in ante bellum days and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery into the north he joined its ranks. However, he would never consent to hold office but in other ways did all he could to

promote the success of his party and secure the adoption of its principles. He was a life- long and devoted member of the Baptist church and always lived in consistent har- mony with his professions. He always fol- lowed farming after coming to Oregon but at length sold his place about fourteen miles from Portland and removed to Clackamas county, while later he became a resident of Washington county. A daughter of the fam- ily, Mrs. Julia Ann Freeman, is now living in Portland, while another daughter, Mrs. Katherine Dunn, lives on Sauvie's island and still another one, Mrs. Lucinda Boynton, is living in the Willamette valley. son, George, makes his home in Washington county and Edward in Roseburg, Oregon, while still another daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ott, is living near Fort Madison, Iowa, at the very ad- vanced age of eighty-nine years.

W. H. H. Morgan, brought to Oregon in 1845, was reared amid the wild scenes and environment of pioneer life. The river courses of the state made their way be- tween banks upon which great pine forests grew and through the forests the Indians roamed at will, far outnumbering the white settlers who had ventured into the western wilderness to plant the seeds of civilization here. The unsettled and undeveloped condi- tion of the country was such that Mr. Mor- gan had practically no school privileges. The homes of the settlers were too far distant from each other to permit of public schools being maintained and the education which Mr. Morgan has acquired has come to him through his reading, observation and broaden- ing experience. He has always followed farm- ing and stock-raising and in the fall of 1864 he purchased one-half of his father's farm and later bought the other half of his brother- in-law, so that he is now the owner of the old homestead property.

It was on the 30th of April, 1864, at Vancouver, Washington, that Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Orchard, a daughter of Jesse C. and Minerva Ann (Medford) Orchard. She was born in Texas and in 1852 came over the plains with her parents to Oregon, the journey being made with ox teams. Her father had fol- lowed farming in Texas and on reaching this state 'settled in Polk county, where he re- sided until 1862, when he came to Multnomah county. Here he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated for a time, but later sold that property and re- moved to eastern Oregon, his death occurring in that- part of the state. His wife passed away in Washington. Of their children Mrs. America Ann Thomas lives in Portland, while James A. and Jasper are residents of Wash- ing and two sons, John O. and Oscar, are in California. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan was blessed with eleven children: Charles C., who died in childhood; Elmina. the wife of David Kurtz, of Portland, and the mother of two children, Roy and Alma; Nellie B., at home; Nettie, the wife of Ver- non Jeffcott. of Portland, by whom she has one son, Morgan; Daisy. the wife of Al- bert H. Demke of Chicago; Luella. the

W. H. H. MORGAN

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

wife of W. S. Copeland, of Sauvie's island; Alba, of Portland, who married Madge Kay and has one son, William K .; Laura, the wife of Omar C. Spencer, of Portland, and the mother of two children, Helen E. and John Alfred; Newton, of Portland, who married Bessie Monroe; and two who died in infancy.

In his political views Mr. Morgan has al- ways been a republican but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He lives a busy and useful life upon the farm which he still owns and which has been in possession of the family for sixty years. At length he retired from farming in 1897 and took up his abode in Portland. Previous to this time he would spend the summer months upon the farm and the win- ter seasons in Portland in order to give his children the benefit of educational advantages here offered. In 1906 he erected a fine resi- dence on Hawthorne avenue, where he now resides. Few have longer been residents of Oregon than Mr. Morgan, who since 1845 has lived within the borders of the state, which, however, was under territorial government at the time of his coming and included the state of Washington. At that day wild beasts and birds dwelt unmolested in the forest and tlie white man had disputed with the Indian to only a slight extent concerning the owner- ship of the land. The great, vast regions of the state were unclaimed and Portland, the beautiful Rose City of the present, had then but a single house-a log cabin. Mr. Mor- gan has therefore been a witness of the en- tire development of the city and along agri- cultural lines has contributed to the up- building and progress of this section. He is indeed an honored resident of the northwest.

GRAND BANKS CALDWELL. For eighty- five years Grand Banks Caldwell has traveled life's journey and during sixty-six years of this period he has been a resident of Oregon. In appearance and interests he seems a much younger man, possessing the vigor and energy of one twenty years his junior and at all times keeping in close touch with the trend of events and with topics of general interest. His mind is stored with many interesting incidents of the early days and forms a connecting link between the primitive past, with its hardships and privations of pioneer life, and the present, with its progress and prosperity. He was born at Newcastle, Virginia, February 18, 1827, his parents being Bartley and Margaret (Fayer) Caldwell, both of whom 'were natives of Virginia, the former coming, however, of Irish parentage, while the latter was of Ger- man descent. In 1840 they removed with their family to Missouri, settling in Lafay- ette county, whence two years later they went to Jackson county, the family there living until they crossed the plains in 1846 to Jefferson, Marion county, Oregon. The long journey was made with ox teams. They left their old home on the 15th of April and on Christmas day had arrived in Polk county. A few days later they established their home in Jefferson. The father had died in Missouri in 1844 and the mother, with her eight chil-

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 1

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072