USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 78
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JOSEPH D. JOHNSON-Was born in Jackson county, Missouri, August 9, 1843. In 1850 he came with his parents across the plains to Oregon. At Ash Hollow, on the North Platt, his mother died, and two days later one of his sisters passed away. October 26, 1850, his father took as a donation claim the farm where our subject now resides. Married Miss Mary Graham, daughter of Dr. Graham of Corvallis. They have three sons.
HON. WILLIAM P. KEADY- Was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1850. When but an infant his parents moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, when his father started the Iroquois Times, and when quite young our subject entered his father's printing office, where he received the major portion of his early education. In June, 1866, being then but sixteen, he enlisted in the army and served until April, 1867, when he was discharged at Atlanta. He then returned to his home and followed his trade of printing, until the connection of the Union Pacific with the Central Pacific, when he crossed the plains on the first through train to California. In May, 1872, he came to Oregon and accepted a position in the State Printing office at Salem, afterwards becoming the business manager and city editor of the Salem Statesman. In 1879 Mr. Keady came to Corvallis, and in partnership with W. B. Carter published the Corvallis Gazette, Mr. Carter at the time being State Printer, which office he filled until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1880, when Mr. Keady was appointed State Printer, serving until the following fall. He then engaged in the real estate and collection business in Corvallis. In June, 1882, Mr. Keady was elected to represent Benton county in the State Legislature, and again in 1884, was re-elected to the same office, and at the last session held the honorable position of Speaker of the House. Mr. Keady was married in Salem, June 4, 1874, to Mrs. Julia G. Crump ; by this union they have three children, viz: William F., Fannie G. and Lynn Y.
JOHN KEESEE, deceased-Was born in White county, Tennessee, April 17, 1828. When young his parents emigrated to Indiana, thence to Illinois, and later moved to Missouri, where he resided until 1852. In the spring of that year he started across the plains to Oregon, locating in Polk county that fall. In 1864 he came to Benton county, and purchased a farm of 160 acres, four miles from Corvallis, where he lived and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the whole county until his death, which occurred March 9, 1883, leaving a family of wife, one daughter and one son, Andrew T., now an enterprising young business man of Corvallis. Mr. Keesee, at the time of his death, was a Master Mason of Corvallis lodge of A. F. and A. M.
HON. WILLIAM J. KELLY-Was born in Monroe county, Indiana, September 4, 1818, and there resided until the spring of 1840, when his family moved to Missouri and lived in that State until the spring of 1853. He then, with his sister Eliza, joined a train bound for Oregon, arriving at Foster's ranch, September 25, 1853. A few months later they came to Benton county, and took up their residence in Monroe, where he has since resided, in the full enjoyment of the confi- dence and esteem of the whole community in which he lives. Mr. Kelly twice represented Benton county in the State Legisla- ture, first in 1870 and again in 1874, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for Monroe for three terms. He is now, with his sister, engaged in the hotel business in Monroe, where he owns considerable real estate.
COL. JOHN KELSAY-In all animate life there are grades of intelligence so plainly marked that the difference is evident at a glance. Between this, gradation is so distinguishable and universal that attention has only to be called to the fact to secure its unquestioned recognition. Among the Australian bushmen, or in the court circle of kings, the genius of & few men lead while the many follow. These are but truisms, facts old as the human family; still, it is not out of place to call
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attention to them, and the additional truth that it is not infrequent for many, who follow some distance in the rear, to forget, when the smoke of battle has passed, that they were not in the van. Nature designs some men for active service, and for such to fall short of becoming an important element in the progressive operations of whatever sphere circumstances place them, would be something they could not do. It would be impossible for comprehensive minds to dwell upon that which failed to possess the charm of intricacy or magnitude, something beyond the ordinary; and those possessing such faculties move off in the advance, plan and execute, where others hesitate and fail to act. Every community has within it characters of this kind, more or less marked, who are termed the leading men or minds. West of the Cascades there are a few of this class, who stand so far in the van of progress that their names have but to be mentioned to elicit universal approval of theassertion from all except their personal enemies or the envious, whose opinions are of little value. We now referto Judge Kelsay, as there are but few names in Oregon that stand out with more prominence than the one at the head of this sketch. He was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, October 23, 1819, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and is the son of Alexander and Jane (Kelley) Kelsay. At the age of ten years in 1829, his parents moved to Cooper, subsequently Morgan county, Missouri. He lived in that country when scho- lastic education was one of the most difficult things for a youth to obtain; but his mother being a woman of rare attainments, added to a fund of comprehensive and practical sense, he gained his first knowledge of books from her. To that mother's early teachings, moulding of life's aims and character, the Judge owes much of the favorable results crowning the efforts of his after life. At the age of 21 years he began the study of law, and in July, 1845, was admitted and licensed in Missouri, where he practiced until 1853. At the age of 18 he was commissioned a Captain of Militia and two years later promoted to Major. In 1844 he was elected to the State Legislature of Missouri. December 23, 1846, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha C. Monroe, daughter of Gen. Monroe, a leading citizen of the above State, and in 1853 crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving in Benton county in September, and immediately began the practice of his profession in Corvallis. On the breaking out of the Rogue river war Col. Kelsay organized a company with which he went south, where he took an active part against the Indians, accounts of which will be found in the history of the Indian wars in this work. In 1857 he served as chairman of the Military Committee in forming the State Constitution, and in 1868 was elected Judge of the Supreme Court of the State. We have only mentioned in this brief way, the more important transactions of this man in the country, that readers might know that we have not improperly denominated him as one of those whom nature created to lead among his fellows. Judge Kelsay stands today in the front rank of Oregon's best men. He is broad and liberal in his views, strong in his convictions, and thor- oughly in earnest in whatever he undertakes. His is a mind well and richly stored with the golden cream of literature, and his library at his home in Corvallis is a marvelous collection of the choicest works of the world, besides the large law library he possesses. November 20, 1854, at her home in Corvallis, Mrs. Kelsay passed away with that dread disease, consumption. January 5, 1804, Col. Kelsay married a second time to Miss Countner, by which union they have two children, Annie and Lyman P.
COL. JEHIAL S. KENDALL .-- One among the very first to settle in Benton county is the gentleman whose name heads this short sketch. Col. Kendall was born in Rochester, Vermont, January 10, 1816, his father, Nathan N. Kendall, being a tanner and currier of that place. When our subject was twenty-one years of age he came west to Bloomington, Illinois, where he was employed for five years in driving a stage. He now moved to Linn county, Iowa, when he joined a company to fight the Indians and with which he came out to the Missouri river, where he located and resided until the great overflow of 1844, which swept away his entire possessions. In the spring of 1845 he joined a train captained by John Stewart, and came across the plains to Oregon. On reaching Yamhill county, Mr. Kendall walked to the present site of Corvallis, and the fall of that year, 1845, located the claim where he now lives. On the breaking out of the first Cayuse war he enlisted in Captain Martin's company with which he served for six months. On June 5, 1854, he was appointed by Governor Curry, Colonel of the 7th Regiment, in obedience to an election held on that day. The Colonel was married in 1853 to Mrs. Mary A. Matt, the widow of Charles Matt, by which union they have no issue.
DAVID L. KEYES-A view of whose place will be found in this work is one of Benton county's most successful and wealthy farmers. Mr. Keyes is a native of (formerly Carter) Johnson county, Tennessee, born December 19, 1822. Residing in his birth-place and engaged in farming until the fall of 1868, when he, with his family, came via New York and Panama, to Oregon, and direct to Benton county. In 1870 he purchased his present valuable farm consisting of 378 acres, three miles south-west of Corvallis. Mr. Keyes was married to Miss Susan J. Ward in his native State in 1849; she died at her home near Corvallis February 20, 1881, leaving a family of five children, viz. John W., Orena C., Jane R., James and Margaret C.
GEORGE KING-Is a native of Yorkshire, England, born March, 1844. In 1867 he emigrated to America, first settling in Michigan and afterwards in Minnesota, where he found employment in the mills. In 1871 he came to Oregon, and in the fall of that year came to Yaquina Bay, and was employed on the building of the Yaquina Head light-house, and after- wards at the Cape Foulweather light-house. For the last four years Mr. King has been in the government employ as engineer on the Yaquina Bay improvements. Mr. King has a delightful home on the south side of the bay, where he owns 100 acres of land.
JOHN KING .- The subject of this sketch was born in Yorkshire, England, August 21, 1839. He there resided and learned the trade of engineer until 1859, when he emigrated to America, first settling in Michigan. In the spring of 1876 he came to Oregon and direct to Yaquina Bay, where he purchased property and has since resided. Mr. King, together with Mr. Charles Smith, are the proprietors of the town site of Oyster City, besides some 400 acres he owns at different points on the bay. Mr. King at present is engineer at Parker's saw-mill and is as yet unmarried.
SOLOMON KING-The present efficient Sheriff of Benton county, is the son of Naham and Serepta (Norton) King, and was born in Madison county, Ohio, February 26, 1833. When a boy of eight years his parents moved to Franklin
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county, same State, and, in 1841, moved to Carroll county, Missouri. In the spring of 1845 his father concluded to move west, being induced to do so by the waters of the Missouri river overflowing their banks the previous fall and submerging his entire farm. He selected Oregon as his destination and started with his family of wife, five sons and five daughters to cross the plains. At St. Joseph they joined a train of 64 wagons under the command of Captain TeVault, but on arriving on the South Platt the train divided, Mr. King's party joining that division under the command of James McNeary. After an arduous and long trip, the incidents of which would fill a chapter of this work, they arrived at The Dalles in November, 1845. Our sub- ject's family suffered the loss of one brother (John) and his wife and three children, and one sister. At The Dalles they con- structed a raft on which they placed 13 wagons and 35 or 40 people and descended the Columbia river to the Cascades, where they took boats and proceeded to the town of Linton, finally settling near the present site of Forest Grove, where they spent the first winter. In April, 1846, Mr. King, Sr., selected the valley that now bears his name as his future home, and with the families of Roland Chambers and Lucius Norton settled in King's Valley, 20 miles north-west of Corvallis. Mr. King, how- ever, resided there but a short time, when he spent several years in Portland, and again returned to Benton county, this time locating on the farm now owned by James Robinson, and there, in 1856, our subject's father passed away. Mr. King then remained on the old homestead until 1872 when he moved to Corvallis and engaged in the livery business, which he followed until 1883 when his large livery stable was burned. In 1876 he was elected Sheriff of Benton county, a position he has been re-elected to every two years since, and is the present incumbent, and it is safe to say that no man stands higher in his official capacity in Oregon to-day than Sol. King. He owns a valuable farm of about 1200 acres, one mile west of the city of Cor- vallis, on which he has a beautiful home residence, a view of which appears in this work. Mr. King was united in marriage in Benton county, to Miss Annie Maria Allen ; by this union they have five children-Annie, Lucy, Ely, William and Abe.
JOHN A. KNIGHT-The subject of this sketch, the leading furniture manufacturer of Benton county, is a native of Germany, born July 16, 1824, where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. In 1847 he emigrated to the United States, and in 1851 came to California, residing in San Francisco until 1857, when he came to Corvallis, Benton county, and opened his present extensive furniture factory. Mr. Knight is married and has one daughter-Alma.
WILLIAM KNOTTS, deceased-Is another of those early honored pioneers who has passed over to the silent majority. Mr. Knotts crossed the plains from Iowa in the summer of 1845, and in 1849 came to Benton county and located his donation claim of 640 acres, three and a half miles north of Corvallis, where his son now resides. Here, on the porch of Mr. Knight's house, was had the first term of court ever held in Benton county, with our subject serving in the capacity of County Clerk. He there resided until his death, which event occurred October 1, 1855, leaving a family of wife (now Mrs Keesee, of Corvallis), and five children.
HON. H. C. T. LEWIS-This early pioneer of Oregon and Benton county was born in the city of New York, Jan- uary 30, 1805, of poor but honest parents. At an early age he was thrown on his own resources. At the age of 14 he went to sea, which calling he followed for five years. He then learned the trade of ship's carpenter, at which he worked in most of the principal points on the Atlantic Coast. In 1838 he moved west to Missouri where he engaged in farming until the spring of 1845, when he came with ox teams to Oregon, and driving a band of stock. On arriving at The Dalles he left his wagons and proceeded on to Benton county with his stock, and early in the fall of 1845 took up his claim, two and a half miles north of the present city of Corvallis, where he has since resided and owns a large estate. Mr. Lewis is now past 80 years of age, forty of which have been spent on his present home in Benton county. If all the events and experiences of this pioneer could be chronicled they would make interesting reading for the occupants of the happy homes that now dot the country which he found a wilderness and inhabited by little else than the savages and wild beasts. Suffice it to say that now that his labors are nearly ended, let the thronging thousands who shall enjoy this beautiful land remember that his strong arms helped to subdue this far western wilderness and prepared it for civilized man. Mr. Lewis was a member of the Constitutional Convention, and has always been a strong adherent to the democratic faith. . He was married in Missouri to Miss Moore, by whom he has a family of four daughters and three sons.
JOHN H. LEWIS-A view of whose home in Corvallis is placed among the illustrations of this work, was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, July 23, 1837. When but an infant his parents moved to the Platt Purchase, Missouri, from whence in 1852, he, with his father and brother and four sisters, crossed the plains to Oregon in a train of thirty-two wagons, of which our subject's father, Wm. P. Lewis, was captain. The first winter was spent in Dallas, Polk county, where, in 1854, his father embarked in the milling and mercantile business. In 1855 our subject enlisted in Company B, Capt. Burch, of the Oregon Volunteers, and went to the Yakama Indian war, in which he served for six months, returning home in May, 1856. In 1859 Mr. Lewis began to do for himself by purchasing a band of horses which he took to California, where he disposed of them to good advantage and again returned to Dallas, where he embarked in the livery business, which he followed until 1866, when he came to Benton county and engaged in the stock business for ten or twelve years. In 1876 he purchased his present home, and at that time engaged in the dray and transfer business in which he still continues. Mr. Lewis has held the office of Dep- uty Sheriff of Benton county for eight years, and for the same period has been a member, of the City Council of Corvallis, both offices which he still fills to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county and city in which he resides. Mr. Lewis was united in marriage April 27, 1864, to Miss Martha A. Meanes, by which union they have five children. .
ELIJAH LIGGETT .- This gentleman, one of the earliest and most respected pioneers of Benton county, is a native of the State of Arkansas, where he was born in the year 1827. When an infant he was taken to Missouri by his parents, and there our subject resided until 1845, in the month of May of which year, accompanied by his father, Alexander Liggett, his mother, five sisters and one brother, he started with ox-teams to cross the plains to Oregon. At The Dalles, where he arrived October 12, 1845, he suffered the loss of his mother. Hence, after a short delay, the party made the journey
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down the Columbia to the Cascades on rafts, and thence by boats to the mouth or the Willamette. They now proceeded up the beautiful valley, located in what is now Benton county, and Mr. Liggett, Senior, took up the tract now known as the Per- man Henderson claim, but soon after removed to a situation on Mary's river. In 1846 our subject settled on the farm now owned by S. K. Brown, and in 1849 purchased his present place comprising three hundred and seventeen acres, located about a mile south east from Philomath, where he is engaged in general farming. Married in Benton county, Miss Mary E., daugh- ter of the late James L. Mulkey, whose biography appears elsewhere, by which union they have three surviving children, viz : Louisa J. (now Mrs. James Fisk), Frances J. (now Mrs. Peterson), and Emma.
SAMUEL A. LOGAN-Was born in Putnam county, Indiana, December 16, 1840. When about six years of age his parents moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, and one year later, removed to Marion county, Iowa, where they resided until 1862, when he, with his wife and parents, crossed the plains to Oregon. In 1866 he moved to Yaquina Bay, and in February of that year, located the place of 168 acres where he now lives, on the south side of the Yaquina river between Toledo and Elk City. Mr. Logan also owns 280 acres at Oysterville and is engaged in farming. Married in Iowa, and has three children -- Clara A., Yaquina O. and Allen M.
JOHN K. McCORMIC-Was born in Dixon county, Tennessee, February 19, 1827. In 1831 his parents moved to Morgan county, Illinois. where he resided until 1851, when he crossed the plains to Oregon and followed mining in Jackson county until 1852. He then came to Benton county, and located a donation claim eight miles west of Corvallis. In 1857 he moved to the Alsea valley and purchased the farm on which he now resides of 325 acres.
WILLIAM MACKAY .- The subject of this sketch was born near Ottawa, Canada, August 18, 1842, where he lived until 1865, when he, with his wife and one child, came via Panama to Portland, Oregon. January, 1866, he moved to Yaquina Bay, locating on his present farm of 147 acres, opposite Toledo, where he is engaged in logging and farming. Mr. Mackay was appointed the first Postmaster of Toledo on the bay. He was united in marriage in Canada, April, 1863, to Miss Tressa McGrath, by which union they have eight children.
JAMES MARTIN-Was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1822. In 1847 he emigrated to America, and until 1852, resided in the Eastern States. In the above year he crossed the plains to Oregon and came direct to Benton county, and located his donation claim where he now resides, five miles north-east of Monroe, to which he has since added by .purchase until now he has an estate of 900 acres. Mr. Martin is married and has two children-Ida and John L.
PROF. EDGAR A. MILNER. - There is scarcely a resident of Benton county, who does not know E. A. Milner. Ever since grown to man's estate he has taken an active part in the affairs of the community where he lives. His is one of those aggressive, go-ahead dispositions that believe in themselves. Hope or ambition as a purely sentimental attribute does not enter into his composition, but are replaced by the sterner qualities of self-reliance and courage-both moral and physical. He is an example of the time honored adage that "God helps those who help themselves," and his whole life has bristled with instances of this belief. He is a man of strong convictions and honest prejudices, scorning the hypocrisy of policy, and dealing by his friends as his friends. In fact, he possesses one virtue above all others, in dealing with the world, everybody, whether friend or foe, knows where he may be found when wanted. His nature is positive in its character, and when he has once set- tled in his mind that he is right, nothing can swerve him from his course. Such a character must succeed. Prof. Milner was born in Benton county October 1, 1852. When nine years of age he was placed in the Sisters' College at Vancouver, where he remained until 1865, when he was transferred to the Santa Clara College, California, where he spent the following two years. He then returned to Benton county, and one year later he entered that well-known educational institution the Notre Dame University of South Bend, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1871. He then returned to his first Alma Mater at Vancouver, and was then employed for one year, as one of the faculty of the college. Then he returned to Corvallis and was appointed principal of the Public Schools of that place, a position he has held for the past thirteen years, which in itself is sufficient proof of the high esteem in which Mr. Milner is held in that city. He has held the office of County Superintendent of Schools for Benton county in 1874, 1882, and 1884.
J. P. H. MORRIS-Is the son of Charles A. F. Morris, the Chief Engineer of the Southern extention of the Oregon and California Railroad, and was born in Illinois, February 22, 1854. In 1857 his parents moved to Minnesota where he lived until 1882, when he came to Oregon and accepted the position of general time-keeper in the southern division of the O. & C. R. R., a position he held until the following year. Then after a short time spent in Seattle he came to Yaquina Bay and pur- chased Hunsacker's store at Oneatta. In the fall of 1884, he moved to Newport where he opened his present drug and milli- nery store. Married, and has one son, Edwin L.
ALBERT G. MULKEY .- In the gentleman whose name heads this sketch we have a descendant of one of the very early pioneer families to Oregon. Albert G. is the son of James L. Mulkey, and was born in Buchannan county, Missouri, October 18, 1838. In the spring of 1844 his father (his mother being dead) and eight children started across the plains to Oregon. After a long and weary journey they arrived at Walla Walla in the fall of that year. There they spent the first win- ter, and in the spring of 1845, came to North Yamhill, and in 1846, came to Benton county, and in the fall of that year located on the place where our subject now resides, a view of which appears in this work. Here for nearly forty years has Mr. Mulkey lived, and there are few names in Benton county more respected than that of A. G. Mulkey.
HON. JAMES L. MULKEY, Senior, deceased. - The subject of this sketch was born February 19, 1797, in the State of Tennessee, near Nashville, was the eldest child of John and Polly Mulkey, and had in his veins the sturdy admixture of Scotch- Irish blood. During the eighteen years that he resided upon his father's farm with his parents he acquired the rudiments of a common school education, accomplishing this only by the greatest industry and self-denial-snatching a few moments now and 67+
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