History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 81

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 81

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JOHN WILES -- One of Benton county's largest stock-raisers, was born in Surry county, North Carolina, August 18, 1822. Wher. 8 years of age his parents moved to Henry county, Indiana. In the fall of 1882 our subject started out to do for himself and came west to the Platte Purchase, Andrew county, Missouri, where he lived until May, 1847, when he came with his former friend and neighbor to Benton county, Oregon, and at that time located part of his present farm, to which he has added until he now has an estate of 2500 acres, located three miles west of Wells Station. Mr. Wiles was married in Benton county, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Joseph T. Hughard, a pioneer to Oregon in 1845; by this union they have six children, viz: Mary J. (now Mrs. W. A. Wells), Bridget A. (now Mrs. Henry Brinkley), Eliza J. (now Mrs. Thomas Kirk- patrick), Walter T., Edward L. and Lucy G.

ADAM WILHELM-Was born in Germany, on the Rhine, December 10, 1846. When two years of age his parents emigrated to the United States. On arriving in New York they came west to Wisconsin where our subject lived until 1872 ; he then paid a visit to Oregon, but returned to his home the same year. In 1873 he again came to Oregon and selected Monroe for his future home, and engaged in the general merchandise business which he still continues as head of the firm of Wilhelm & Looney. A view of Mr. Wilhelm's property is placed in this history. Our subject has ever had great confidence in the future of the Willamette Valley and kept purchasing land from time to time until he now owns an estate of nine hundred and thirteen acres of valuable land together with a large amount of property in the town of Monroe. Hospitable and generous a visit to Mr. Wilhelm's place is always one of pleasure to friend or stranger. In 1867 he was married in Wisconsin, and has a family of eight children, viz : Adam, Mathias, Louisa, Bernard, Louie, Lawrence, Agnes and George.

C. H. WILLIAMS. - This well-known merchant and postmaster of Newport, was born in Columbia county, New York, September 15, 1828, residing in that State until 1858, when he came west and followed farming for eighteen years. In 1876 he came to Oregon and direct to Yaquina Bay, where he opened a general merchandise store in connection with which he keeps the post-office, he being appointed Postmaster January 1, 1877.

BUSHROD W. WILSON .- This most popular resident and pioneer of Benton county, was born in Columbia, Wash- ington county, Maine, July 18, 1824, but in 1830, his parents moving to New Brunswick, Middlesex county, New Jersey, he accompanied them thither, to once more move, in 1833, to New York City, where our subject dwelt until June, 1840. At this period the family transferred their habitation to Kane county, Illinois, but at the end of a two years' residence there, Mr. Wil- son determined to face the world on his own account. Choosing a sea-faring life he passed the first three years in the North West seas and the coast of Alaska, and altogether was among those " who go down to the sea in ships " for the space of eight years. In the meantime gold fields had been discovered in California, and to then Mr. Wilson started in 1849, via Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco, July 3, 1850, After a season passed in the mines in October, he came to Oregon, first landing from the brig Reindeer, at the mouth of the Umpqua river. In the following month he found his way to the Willamette valley, took up a claim seven miles southwest from where the city of Corvallis now stands, being now owned by Messrs. Henkle and Arm- strong, and engaged in carpentering and contracting, occupations he followed until 1857, when he took up a domicile in Cor- vallis. Our subject now embarked in the trade of a carpenter both at home and abroad, and was the first to put a ferry boat on the Snake river, where since the town of Lewiston has grown. Upon his return to Corvallis he passed the first winter in running a keel boat between that point and Oregon City, on the Willamette ; he subsequently engaged in the warehouse and pork packing business which he followed until June, 1864, when he was elected County Clerk of Benton county, and to which office he has ever since been re-elected, an honor that has never elsewhere been experienced by any individual of any political creed. Mr. Wilson has been also actively interested in the railroad to Yaquina Bay, having held the positions of president as well as secretary, while he is also one of the original incorporators of the line. Mr. Wilson has ever identified himself with the welfare of the city of Corvallis ; has from time to time served her in a civic capacity ; while he has always strenuously maintained a strong and willing fight in the cause of education. As long ago as 1853 he was the County Superintendent of Common Schools ; indeed, in whatever walk of life Bush Wilson has trod he has left a fame that should be an example to those that follow after. No more able adviser, courteous official, genial acquaintance, or thorough friend lives than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Wilson is married and has nine children.

WILEY WINKLE .- The subject of this sketch, an old'pioneer of Benton county, was born in Madison county, Alabama, in the year 1828, and there resided until 1846, when he accompanied his parents to Missouri. In the spring of 1848 his father, mother, six sisters and a brother left for Oregon by way of the plains, arriving in November, and coming direct to 68+

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Benton county, the first mentioned took up the donation claim on which our subject resides. Here Mr. Winkle, Senior, died several years ago. The patrimony has by judicious managemen: on the part of the present occupant been increased to seven hundred and fifty acres all of which is in a good state of general cultivation. Mr. Winkle is married, and has three children, viz: Isaac N., John G. and. Percy C.

CAPT. JAMES J. WINANT .- There are few names more indelibly connected with the history of Yaquina Bay than the one that heads this sketch. Capt. Winant was born in Richmond county, New York, April 12, 1838, where he resided until 1856, when his brother, Mark, who came to California in 1849, returned to his Eastern home on a visit, and on his return to the Pacific Coast our subject accompanied him arriving in San Francisco in the fall of the above year. They began the oyster trade in San Francisco Bay and they are the real pioneers of the oyster business on the Pacific Coast ; later on they extended their operations to Shoalwater Bay, and then in 1862 or 1863 began the oyster trade on Yaquina Bay. On the completion of the Central Pacific Road they brought from the East several car loads of eastern oysters, planting one car load in the Bay of San Francisco, and the other in Yaquina Bay, from both of which the brothers reap a rich harvest. Capt. Winant several years ago sold his business, since which time he has followed a sea-faring life and is now one of the most popular Captains from Portland to San Francisco. He married in June, 1883, in Alameda county, California, to Miss Amy A. Peck ; by this union they have one child, Anita.

HON. ALFRED M. WITHAM .- The reminiscences of the early pioneers of the Pacific Coast must ever possess, a peculiar interest for the Oregonian. Green in their memory will ever remain the trials and incidents of early life in this land of golden promise. These pioneers of civilization constitute no ordinary class of adventurers. Resolute ambitions and endur- ing, looking into the great and possible future of this western slope and possessing the sagacious mind to grasp true conclusions, and the indomitable will to execute just means to attain desired ends, those heroic pioneers, by their subsequent career, have proved that they were equal to the great naission assigned them, that of carrying the real essence of American civilization from their eastern homes and planting it upon the shores of another Ocean. Among the many who have shown their fitness for the tasks assigned them hone merit this tribute more fully than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Witham was born in Union county, Indiana, September 18, 1822, and resided in his native State until the spring of 1847; he then, with one sister, started for the Far West. At St. Joseph, Missouri, he joined a large train of seventy wagons and coming via. the Southern route first arrived in Jackson county, but making no delay he pushed on to Benton county and first settled on the place now owned by S. K. Brown; later on he took up theplace now occupied by Sam. McClain, near Philomath, and, in 1849, pre-empted six hundred and forty acres where he now resides, to which he has since added by purchase until he now has one of Benton county's most valu- able farnes, consisting of one thousand one hundred and sixty acres, located three miles west of Corvallis. A view of his place will be found in this history. In 1861, Mr. Witham was elected to represent Benton county in the State Legislature and, in 1866, was elected to the State Senate, and again, in 1874, Benton and Po.k counties did themselves honor in returning him to the Senate as Joint Senator. Mr. Witham has retired from the active persuits of farming after having amassed a fortune, how- ever not gaining it by miserly conduct, nor by oppressing the poor ; not by taking advantage of the necessities of his fellow-men, but by strict observance to business principles and a careful management of his own affairs. He is married and has a family of eight children.

M. S. WOODCOCK -- The subject of this sketch is the son of Martin Woodcock and Amanda J. Woodcock, whose maiden name was Amanda J. White. The father was of German descent and the mother Scotch. M. S. Woodcock was born ' in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, near the present city of Milwaukee, on the 9th day of May, 1849, who on the 24th day of February, 1853, then not quite four years old, with his parents and accompanied by his two uncles, Horace and W. C. Wood- cock, and other friends, in an emigrant train, with ox teams laden with their all, turned their faces toward the setting sun in search of the land of promise, the then but little known Oregon. They arrived after the long and toilsome journey across the plains, on the 24th day of September in the same year. After looking over various parts of the Willamette valley for lands subject to location under the donation act, the family settled on a donation place consisting of 320 acres of wild land, about fourteen miles west of Eugene City, Lane county, Oregon. In 1859, after a new home had been built up in the wilderness and the title to the donation had been completed, the place was sold, and the family moved to Monroe, in Benton county, where the father, being a wagon-maker, engaged in the manufacture of wagons and in the general merchandise business with his brother, W. C. Woodcock, where M. S. Woodcock grew to manhood, during which time he attended school and part of the time clerked in his father and uncle's store. In the year 1865 he entered the wagon shop of his father for the purpose of learn- ing the wagon maker's trade, where he worked until January, 1869, and completed learning the trade. About this time the . father and uncle having concluded to retire from the merchandise business, sold the stock of goods to the firm of Foot & Sinsheimer, who conducted the business until the end of March, 1869, when M. S. Woodcock, then not quite twenty years old (being comparatively without financial means, having less than one thousand dollars) bought the stock of goods from them on time, agreeing to pay them for their goods in one year. From then forward he became actively engaged in the general merchandise businesss turning his exclusive time and attention to the prosecution of that work, but having little capital he . labored under such difficulties and disadvantages as all mep do who undertake to do a large and extensive credit business with- out capital. He carried such embarrassments and difficulties as would naturally arise under such circumstances, and conducted the business successfully and alone, without help, doing all of his own work until the early spring of 1872. By hard labor and con- stant attention to the store he had gained financially, when he sold a half interest in the store to his uncle, W. C. Woodcock, and former partner of his father in the same business. After this time the business was greatly enlarged, and in this manner was conducted until March, 1874, when M. S. Woodcock sold the entire business to his uncle and partner, and on July 20, 1874, he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, where he has ever since resided. While yet engaged in the merchandise business in 1870 he began the study of law and pursued those studies quite regularly, reading at night time after the day's labor in the store was over. After

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moving to Corvallis he completed the course of law, and at the July term of the Supreme Court of the State of Oregon for 1875, was admitted by that tribunal to practice law in all of the courts of the State, after which he began the practice of his profession at Corvallis. On the first of January, 1877, an opportunity offered as a financial investment in the merchandise busi- ness, and he bought the interest of J. R. Bayley in the hardware, stove and agricultural implement house with Wallace Bald- win, at Corvallis, which house has ever since been conducted under the firm name of Woodcock & Baldwin, the latter having the management of the house in detail. In April, 1881, M. S. Woodcock bought an interest in the Corvallis Gazette, which paper he has up to this time continued as its editor in chief, and practicing law when opportunity offered. On the 8th day of May, 1879, he was married to Miss Emma J. Simpson, daughter of Rev. Anthony Simpson, then of Benton county, Oregon. A view of Mr. Woodcock's residence in Corvallis appears in this work.

WILLIAM C. WOODCOCK -- Was born in Tompkins county, New York, July 17, 1831. In 1838 his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and there lived on a farm until spring of 1853, when he came to Oregon and first settled in Lane county. In 1858 he came to Benton county and engaged in the mercantile trade in Monroe, until 1877, when he pur- chased the farm where his son now resides, six miles west of Monroe. In 1883 he bought the place where he now lives in the Belknap Settlement, and has in all an estate of eight hundred and seventy-five acres. January 11, 1860, he married Miss Rachel Belknap, a daughter of Orin Belknap, a pioneer of 1847. They have five children : Norris F .. Vernon M., Homer B., Maggie M. and Addie L.

HON. ELIAS WOODWARD-Was born in Springfield, Windsor county, Vermont, October 29, 1837, where he resided until 1855, and was educated at the Chester Academy. He then, at eighteen years of age, removed to Wisconsin, located in Waukesha county, attended school and afterwards taught for four years. In the spring of 1859 he crossed the plains to California, took up his residence near Downieville, Sierra county, and engaged in mining until 1864. At this time Mr. Woodward came to Oregon, finally located in Benton county on a farm on the Salem road about six miles north of Corvallis. He subsequently was engaged in teaching school for two years on Soap creek, and afterwards was for a like time attached to the Philomath College and also for a twelve-month in Corvallis. During a great portion of these latter years he was County Superintendent of Schools. serving from 1866 to 1872. In July, 1869, he purchased a one-half inter- est in the drug store, with which he is now connected, from Mr. Souther. In 1880 Mr. Woodward was elected State Senator from Benton county, an office he filled with much credit. He owns seven hundred and fifty-six acres of good farming land in the vicinity of Philomath, where he married in June, 1869, Miss C. Allen, a native of Benton county, and a daughter of Hiram Allen, a pioneer of the State, and has one son named Downie.

FRANCIS WRITSMAN, (deceased). - This early pioneer of Benton county, was born in Rutherford county, North Carolina, February 10, 1801. Residing in the Sunny South until 1820 he, with his parents, in that year, moved west to Clay county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 1832 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Officer, and removed to North Grand River, and lived for eight years ; then moving to the Platt Purchase in Andrew county. In May, 1847, he, with his wife and family of eight children, started with ox-teams to cross the plains to Oregon, arriving in Benton county some five months later, when he purchased the donation claim of David Stump, in Soap Creek precinct, where he resided, leading a life of usefulness and in the enjoyment of the esteem of his fellow-pioneers until his death, which sad eveni occurred July 18, 1877. Mr. Writsman left a large estate of one thousand two hundred acres, a view of which will be found in this history. Mrs. Writsman, a venerable old lady, still resides with her son, John, on the old homestead.

JOHN E. WYATT-This enterprising young farmer of Benton (his native) county, was born January 26, 1846, and is the son of that well known pioneer Wm. Wyatt. John E., was educated at Philomath and resided on his father's farm until 1870, when he was united in marriage to Miss Malissa Henkle, when he embarked in farming for himself, an occupation he now follows, two miles west of Corvaillis. He has a family of four children ; Rosalie C., Milton A., Lizzie A. and Minnie M.

WILLIAM WYATT .- The subject of this sketch, one of the early pioneers of Benton county, as well as among his most prominent citizens, was born in Buckinghamshire, England, October 24, 1816, and there resided on a farm until he accompanied his parents to the United States of America in 1836. He first settled in Orange county, New York, but two years afterwards moved to Adams county, in the same State. In a short time, however, his residence was transferred to Henderson county, Illinois, where he was permanently located until April 25, 1847. At this time, accompanied by his wife and three children, Mr. Wyatt started to cross the plains to Oregon with ox teams, joining a train then on its way, at Burling- ton, Iowa, and in which were Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley, now of Benton county. Entering the territory by the Applegate route, Mr. Wyatt arrived in what is now Benton, November 1, 1847, and passed the first winter on the farm of the late Hon. Wayman St. Clair, on which since has arisen the neat little town of Philomath. Until the month of November, 1850, our subject was a simple lessor of land, but at that time he took up the donation claim on which he still resides, situated one mile to the north of the town just named, to which he has added from time to time until his landed possessions now aggregate three thousand seven hundred acres, and placed him second on the list of tax-payers in Benton county. To Mr. Wyatt is due much of the credit that the county has in Philomath College. Not only has he himself aided handsomely towards its erection but his wife, from her own purse has given a donation of five hundred dollars, while, his eldest son, is the present general agent of the institution and has been actively solicitous for its advancement from its start. In the first instance Mr. Wyatt donated to the College the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars; at another time he contributed three hundred dollars to its building fund, while he has personally given at least three hundred dollars' worth of actual labor in connection therewith. He married, in Orange county, New York, April 19, 1838, Miss Mary T. End, a native of England, by which union there have been seven children, viz: Eliza A. (now Mrs. A. J. Williams), Ezra C., Martha E. (deceased), John E., Cynthia A. (now Mrs. Jonathan G.

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Springer), M. Eva, Samuel T. and Franklin. Before closing this sketch it is but just to state that, although possessing a con- siderable share of this world's goods Mr. Wyatt feels that such is but a means towards doing good. Still active he still con- tinues that alertness in mind and body that has stood him in such good stead, while his well know generosity to the deserving and honesty to all make his old age honorable and happy. A view of Mr. Wyatt's Home will be found in this work.

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D.D. FAGAN

Wise Bell's Revised Chater

INDEX

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, OREGON Copyright 1885

Abbe, Charles 220, 226, 227 Abbey, Edwin Alden (Il1. 16) 326, 421, 422, 478, 481, 495, 505 Mrs. Edwin Alden 505

Mrs. Mirinda Penland 505

Peter M. 480, 505

Peter M. (Mrs.) 481 Clara A. (Miss) 505 Richard M. 505

Abbott, G. H. 228, 275, 276, 277 Lorenzo 326 Samuel 226 William M. 289

Abbutt, James A. 293 Abernathy, George 132, 144, 146, 148, 150, 159, 160, 164, 170, 363, 378 Abraham, Charles 287, 295 Abrams, Sherlock M. 226 William 509

Aclem, A. 397

Acock, Abraham 326

Adams, Isaac 225 Jesse 225, 290 Meses 225 Israel D. 250, 254 J. G. 290 M. 291 John G. 294 Thomas P. 326

Themas 327, 422

Mordecai 327 John Quincy 350 William 394 Addington, Joseph M. 288 Additon, Alton 5, 505

Otis R. 437, 443, 405 Mrs. Otis R. 505 Lucia H. Faxon (Mrs.) 505 Aguilar, Martin de 30, 49, 54, 77

Aiken, James E. 436

Ailsher, James 295 Ainsworth J. C. 407 Akin, James 400 John 452 J. K. 453 Alarcon, Fernando 17, 18 Alban, Jehn, 218, 226, 227 Alberding, B. 240

Albert, Kilian 226 Albon, John 291 Alcorn 254, 256, 258, 259, 260, 261, 265, 268 Miles F. 288, 294 Robert 288 Alden, B. R. 209, 215, 217, 218, 219 220, 230, 232 Willis, 292

Alderman 147 Aldrich, J. H. 397

Alevand, William 294 Alexander 243

Joseph C. 325, 378, 380, 393, 394, 396, 421, 422, 523, 505, 506, 511

J. G J. H .. 292 C. F. 439

Mrs. Joseph C. 424 T. F. 456 W. H. 489

Alford, James P. 397, 506

Alfred The Great 367

Algear 133 Alkin B. W. 288

Alkire, John D. 288

Allen 430, 431 Alfred 225, 226

Eli 290 L. F. 252, 293

R. S. 293

William 208, 288, 292

William A. 289, 290

W. 291, 292 Hiram 326, 421, 531

Jacob.326 11. Charles 326, 388 Emory 328, 432, 433 Alonzo 437 E. 437, 438

N. W. 453 B. H. 488

Annie Maria (Miss) 520 Morris 528 C (Miss) 531 Allensworth, Simon H. 289 Allison, A. J. 426, 436 H. J. 327 Levy 294

Allpin, Thomas 379 Alphen, Thomas 326 Alphin, Emma 437 Ellen 437 Alsten, B. 251 Altree E. S. 496 Alverd 197, 223, 232, 478 Ambrose 202, 203, 238, 263 Miss 202 G. H. 225

Ames 364 Ammens, Henry J. 290 Anderson, Charles 291

E. P. 289, 290 D. 290 George 296, 225, 226 George W. 294 J. C. 286 J. F. 287 J. M. 290

Joseph F. 296 J. Patton 173

Themas 289, 292 Thornton 225 W. H. 291 William 480 William H. 486

Angell, Martin 202, 215, 259 Anne, Empress 35 Antoine, B. 287

Antram, Benjamin 225 Antum, Benjamin Anza, Juan Bautista 46 Applegate 510 Charles 143 Elizabeth J. (MISS) 524 Jesse 143, 148, 195b, 196 197, 198, 199 J. K. 291 Lindsay 143, 148, 188 Samuel W. K. 292

Applewhite, J. M. 437 Armstrong 199, 260, 529 A. B. 356 Benjamin 215, 225, 287, 293 Charles 293 Pleasant 144, 219, 220 N. 356 Arnett, Thomas 292, 295 William 288 Arnold 276, 431 Arnet, Themas L. 294 Arrington 257 TasasM. 292 Arteaga, Ignacio 62

Arthur, David 143 Rob Robert 143 William 143 Ashley, William Henry 118, 119 Aster, John Jacob 94, 95, 100, 103, 106 107, 113, 118, 120, 123, 125, 153

Athey, James 143 William 143 Atkins, Gallatin 326 Atkinson, John 143, R. J. 286 Atterbury, John 327 Atwood, A. F. 327, 437 C. W. 437 Aubery, M. C. 286 T. J. 286

Auger, Isaac 225 Augur 276, 277, 279, 280, 281, 457

Avery 444 Joseph C. 324, 325, 333, 334, 344, 345, 349, 357, 365, 369, 370, 371, 379, 392, 421, 422, 423, 424, 426, 427, 432, 439, 481, 506, 522 Martha March 345 Mrs. Joseph C. Avery 371, 423, 506 H. R. 366 J. W. 438 Pun. 394, 480 Napoleon B. 438 Axtell, John 287, 295 Ayala, Juan 52

Babcock, J. L. 132, 136, 144, 145, 146 J. S. 363 J. H. 432 M. 367

Babcox, John W. 225

Baber, E. H. 291, 394, 495 Bachelor 331 Bachman, John A. 295

Backus, W. H. 326

Bacon 208 James 208

Badger, Chester 288 Baffin, William 32 Bagley 406 William 296 Bailey 254, 255, 260, 262 W. J. 131, 136, 144, 146, 185, 186 Caleb 294 James 225

Bailey H. 257 Jeseph 286 Washington 294 Thomas 294 2. 257 J. R. 413, 433 Baily, Isaac 422 Baird 370 B. H. 326 Carroll 291 John F. 291 0. 292 Baker 511 Andrew 143 G. H. 292 John G. 143 J. M. 290 Thomas 292

T. N. 292 William 143 John 344, 422 W., 486 R. N. 492 R .. F. 437

Balboa, Vasco Numez de 11, 32 Balch 171

Balda, William 144

Baldridge, William 143

Baldwin, Carrie A. (Miss) 506 James M. L. P. 488 J. R. 438 Cera G. (Miss) 506

S. P. 395

Wallace 395, 436, 437, 438,

440, 506, 531 William 289

Wallis 449

Mrs. Wallace 506

Adelaide G. Brownsen (Mrs.) 506

Lester A. 506 Arthur J. 506 Charles B. 506

Bales, Charles 336 Balis, James 144 Ball, E. B. 290 James W. May F. (Miss) 489, 506, 518

Newton 235 Nancy Kelley (Mrs.) 506 Mrs. James W. 506 Mary (Miss) 506

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History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 81

Author: David D. Fagan Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: