USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 10
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COLEMAN H. WHEELER
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1865, a son of Isaac Benjamin and Marie (St. Pierre) Wheeler, the former a native of Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Paris, France. The father removed to Canada in early life and there engaged in the lumber business throughout the greater part of his days, or until he retired.
Coleman H. Wheeler was reared to the age of sixteen years in Canada and acquired his early education in the schools of that country, while later he pursued a commercial course in Portland, recognizing the need and value of further educational opportunities. On leaving his home in Canada he went first to Michigan and there engaged in driving logs on the rivers of that state. The reports concerning the vast timher resources of the northwest caused him to make his way to this section of the country. He was first at Tacoma, Washington, and later became interested in the unsurveyed timber lands south of the lower Columbia in Oregon and established his home in Portland. From that time forward he was closely associated with the lumber industry of this state. For many years he was engaged in surveying timber lands and in locating homesteaders on the upper Nehalem river. Among the tracts that he located and purchased for east- ern capital was the Duhois timher tract, now owned by the Eccles interests of Utah. He was the original owner and promoter of the Wheeler Lumber Company of Wheeler, Oregon, a town which was named in his honor, and the estate is still a stockholder of the company. He was conducting large-scale logging operations at the time of his death. He had a sawmill and logging camps at Cochran and a timber tract of eight thousand acres which was being logged for him by contract to the firms of Whitten & Bryant and Francis Weist & Company. He not only located many tracts of fine timber for his company, but also secured valuable holdings for himself and thus at the time of his death he was able to leave his family in most comfortable financial circum- stances.
In 1896 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Bryant, a daughter of Z. and Lavina (Creighbaum) Bryant, who were natives of New York and of Virginia, respectively. They came to Oregon in 1852, crossing the plains with ox team and settling in Baker City. The father engaged in the live stock business. There he met and married his wife and their daughter, Mrs. Wheeler, was horn there. Her grand- father, Elijah Granger Bryant, came to Oregon in 1852 and took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, situated at Clatskanie. where he engaged in the lumber business. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler: Coleman H., Joe Bryant and Marguerite S.
Mr. Wheeler belonged to no fraternal orders or clubs, but devoted his leisure hours to his home and the enjoyment of the companionship of the members of his household. There is much that is stimulating in his life record. When he was twenty-two years of age he obtained a book on surveying and studied it closely. At that time no govern- ment survey had been made of the land south of the Columbia in Oregon and he sur- veyed all of that section of the country, his work being afterward accepted by the govern- ment. He was indeed a self-made man and one who deserved great credit for what he accomplished. He possessed unfaltering energy, landable ambition and indefatigable enterprise. His business vision was broad and his faith in Oregon and her future unlim- ited. He early had the prescience to discern something of what the future held in store for this great and growing western country and acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment he lived to garner in the fullness of time the fruits of his energy and ability. He was, however, but fifty-five years of age when he was called to his final rest and it seemed that a much longer period of usefulness should have heen his; but death called him and he passed on, leaving a memory that is dear to all who were his associates of the business world as well as those whom he met in the relations of friendship.
CHARLES B. WILSON.
Charles B. Wilson, the popular and efficient county clerk of Yamhill county, was born in Fairmount, Indiana, April 23, 1875, a son of Joseph and Marian (Binford) Wilson, also natives of the Hoosier state. The father there engaged in merchandising and during the period of the Civil war he served as postmaster of Fairmount. In 1887 he removed to the west, becoming a resident of California, where he remained for two years, and then came to Oregon, settling at Newberg, Yamhill county, where for many years he engaged in the grocery business. He is now living retired in that city in
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the enjoyment of a well earned rest, and his wife also survives. For fifty-five years they have traveled life's journey together and Mr. Wilson is now eighty-one years of age, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-six. They have many friends in the community where they have so long resided and are held in the highest respect and esteem hy all who know them.
Their son, Charles B. Wilson, attended the schools of Indiana, California, and New- berg, Oregon, graduating from the Pacific College at that place with the class of 1897. On completing his education he became associated with his father in the conduct of a grocery store and following the latter's retirement he assumed the entire manage- ment of the business, which he successfully conducted for a period of eight years. In 1909 he was appointed postmaster of Newherg by President William H. Taft and served in that office until 1913, when he engaged in the insurance business, in which he con- tinued active until the fall of 1914, when he was elected county clerk of Yamhill county, his excellent service in that position winning him reelection in November, 1920. He is a courteous and obliging official, thoroughly fitted for the work of the office, into which he has introduced a number of new methods which greatly facilitate the discharge of his duties and make his services very valuable to the public. In partnership with W. S. Link, Mr. Wilson owns a farm of four hundred and eighteen acres near Sheridan which they are leasing, and he is also a stockholder in the United States National Bank of Newberg.
On the 30th of June, 1897, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle E. Gardner and they have become the parents of three children, namely: Lois M., who is the wife of A. J. Allan, residing six miles east of the city of Vancouver, Washington; Wendell C., who is attending the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis; and Joseph T., a student in the McMinnville schools.
Mr. Wilson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for four years served as a member of the city council of Newberg. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World, and in religious faith he is a Friend. He is a man of high principles and standards, progressive and reliable in business, loyal in citizenship and at all times displaying devotion to the duties that devolve upon him. For thirty-two years he has resided in Oregon, and his integrity and reliability have won for him a large and ever increasing circle of friends.
WILL H. BENNETT.
Will H. Bennett, who entered financial circles in 1903 in the humble capacity of bookkeeper, has made wise use of his time, talents and opportunities and is now occupy- ing the position of vice president and cashier of the Inland Empire Bank of Pendleton. Long experience and study have given him a comprehensive knowledge of the banking business in principle and detail and he is able to speak with authority upon many questions connected with financial interests.
Mr. Bennett is a native of this state. He was born in Portland at the corner of West Park and Morrison streets, July 10, 1879, a son of Alexander W. and Jane (Mur- doch) Bennett, natives of Scotland. The father came to Portland in September, 1870, and is now living retired in that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were born five children: Frank S., who was an attorney on the municipal bench in Portland and who passed away in 1910, at which time he was a candidate for the office of county judge; Sim A., who is teller in the First National Bank of Portland; Helen, a teacher in Portland; Grace Jane, the wife of George C. Carter of Portland; and Will H., of this review. All of the children are graduates of the old Portland high school of Portland.
Following his graduation from high school Will H. Bennett attended night school, after which he entered the employ of J. P. Sharkey & Company, engaged in the whole- sale saddlery business, and for a year was connected with that firm. He then hecame an employe of W. P. Fuller & Company, with whom he remained for four years, and on the 20th of June, 1903, he entered banking circles, accepting the position of hook- keeper with the First National Bank at Heppner, Oregon. At the end of four years he resigned that position to become paying and receiving teller for the Citizens National Bank at Baker City, with which he was connected until the 1st of August, 1908. He then resigned and returned to Portland, entering the First National Bank as book- keeper. On the 14th of October, 1909, he was appointed deputy in the office of the state hank examiner and when the laws were changed in 1911 he received the appointment
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of bank examiner, from which position he resigned on Novembr 1, 1913, to become vice president of the First State and Savings Bank at Klamath Falls, Oregon. He retained that position until the 10th of January, 1916, when he resigned to accept the cashiership of the Citizens Bank at Portland. This position he filled until the 11th of February, 1918, when he was appointed superintendent of banks for the state of Oregon, taking office on the 18th of February of that year. He resigned this position on the 31st of December, 1920, to associate himself with the Inland Empire Bank of Pendle- ton, Oregon, as vice president and cashier, which offices he is now filling, J. W. Maloney being the president.
Mr. Bennett is well known as an able financier and banker of more than ordinary ability, who has promoted the success of the enterprise with which he is connected by systematic and progressive work. He is shrewd, systematic and unquestionably honest and these qualities have gained him the respect and confidence of the men who have had business with him and have consequently influenced the prosperity of the enterprise with which he is connected. The policy which he as ever followed in this connection is such as carefully safeguards the interests of depositors and at the same time promotes the success of the institution.
On the 11th of April, 1918, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Beatrice Burchill of Portland, and they have become the parents of a son, Pearson Murdoch, now in his second year. Mr. Bennett is deeply interested in all that pertains to public progress and development, and, while a resident of Klamath Falls, served as vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a life member of the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club of Portland, a member of the Golf Club of Pendleton and fraternally he is identi- fied with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masons, also belonging to the Shrine in the last named organization. With industry and determination as his dominant qualities Mr. Bennett has made steady progress in the business world, advanc- ing from a humble financial position until he ranks with the leading bankers of the state. Moreover, his business record is such as any man might be proud to possess, it being a source of inspiration and admiration to his colleagues and contemporaries. He is a man of high principles and worthy motives, who would be a decided acquisition to any community.
IRA F. POWERS.
One of the substantial business enterprises of Portland is the Ira F. Powers Furni- ture Company. Ira F. Powers, Sr., the founder of the business, was for a long period not only one of the leading manufacturers and merchants of this city but one whose high sense of honor, personal integrity and broad humanitarianism gained for him the high regard and unqualified confidence of his fellowmen. The American branch of the family was established at Littleton, Massachusetts, at an early period in the coloniza- tion of the new world and the lineage is traced back in England as far as the twelfth century. The name of Powers, or Power, is from the old Norman name le Poer and is as old in England as the time of William the Conqueror, one of whose officers at the battle of Hastings bore that name, which appears on the roll of survivors in Battle Abbey. The name was changed to the present form in 1683 and through succeeding generations representatives of the name continued to reside in New England. Walter Power, the founder of the American branch of the family, was born in 1639 and died February 22, 1708. He was married March 11, 1661, to Trial, a daughter of Deacon Ralph and Thankes Shepard, who was born February 10, 1641. A genealogical record says: "Little is known of Walter Power, but probably he had not received advantages of much early education but depended upon strong sinews and sterling good sense to establish a home for himself and family. Trial, his wife, seems to have been a woman of some education. At the time of their marriage they settled in or near Concord, now the town of Littleton. In 1694 Walter Power bought of Thomas Waban and other Indians one-fourth part of the township of Nashobe. His remains were doubtless laid in the old Powers burying ground, as were also those of his wife, who survived him many years."
Their third child, Isaac Power, was born in 1665 and was married April 14, 1701, to Mrs. Mary Winship, the widow of Samuel Winship and the daughter of John Poulter. Isaac Power seems to have been prominent among the sons of his father and to have taken the lead in affairs. He was captain of the military; a petitioner for town incor-
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poration; moderator of the first town meeting and continued to hold office for many years. He was twice elected to the great and general court and was colonial agent for conveying lands. One of the children of Captain Isaac and Mary Power was Gideon Power, the third of their family, who probably lived in Lexington, Massachusetts, as his name appears on the town rolls as a soldier in an old French war. He married Lydia Russell and they had four children, the third being Jonas Powers, who was horn December 6, 1738, and married Betsey Tower. They became residents of Vermont and had a family of nine children. Of these Asa Powers, the second in order of birth, mar- ried Rebecca Shippinwell, of Chester, Vermont. Of this marriage there were born eight children, the eldest being Levi Powers, whose birth occurred July 9, 1791. Leaving his old home in Vermont he established a branch of the family at Ballston Spa, New York. There he wedded Mary Frost, who died March 2, 1872, while his death occurred April 17, 1882.
While Levi and Mary (Frost) Powers were living at Au Sable, Clinton county, New York, a son was born to them May 5, 1831. To the boy the parents gave the name of Ira. He was carefully trained under the parental roof hut from the age of twelve years had to depend upon his own resources for a livelihood and the inferior educational advantages of the community in which he lived enabled him to make com- paratively little progress along the line of mental development save that a naturally quick and receptive mind and a retentive memory enabled him to learn many valuable lessons in the school of experience. In the course of time his continually broadening knowledge promoted him to a place where his intellectual power far exceeded that of the majority of his fellowmen with whom he came into contact, enabling him correctly to solve intricate business problems, carefully to formulate plans and to execute them with dispatch. His opportunity came with the discovery of gold in California, which drew him to the Pacific coast. The long journey around Cape Horn being completed he made his way to the mines, where he engaged in a search for the precious metal for thirteen years, meeting with considerable success, prospecting during that period in various parts of California and Idaho.
In the spring of 1865, however, Mr. Powers turned his attention to commercial pursuits, establishing a second-hand furniture business in Portland in partnership with A. Burchard. The new enterprise proved profitable and was conducted until they suffered heavy loss by fire in 1875. In the meantime Mr. Powers had extended his efforts to include the manufacture of furniture, which he began in 1872 under the firm style of Donly, Beard & Powers, their plant being located at Willsburg. In 1875 he established a factory on Front street, at the northwest corner of Jefferson street. where he was located for six years. Subsequently the business was at the foot of Montgomery, while later the plant was removed to South Portland. In 1882 the furniture store on First street was destroyed by fire with a loss of forty thousand dollars. In 1884 there occurred a fire in the factory with losses amounting to sixty-three thousand dollars, covered only by eleven thousand dollars insurance. It was after this that the plant was built on a three acre tract of land in South Portland, but here the factory was carried away by the Willamette freshet in 1891, causing a loss of one hundred thousand dollars. All of these losses occurred within a period of ten years. On the Ist of March, 1911, the company removed to its present building at the corner of Third and Yamhill streets, where a general house furnishing business is conducted. In 1893 the business was incor- porated under the firm style of the Ira F. Powers Manufacturing Company and Mr. Powers remained as president until his death. This has become one of the impor- tant productive industries of the city, its trade increasing as the result of the thorough workmanship and attractive style which is characteristic of the output.
Notwithstanding that the business was a constantly growing one Mr. Powers did not devote his entire attention to this line, his resourceful ability enabling him to accomplish substantial results in other connections. His name hecame a prominent one in banking circles and he was, moreover, actively associated with interests which hore upon the general development and prosperity of the city but had no direct effect upon his own finances. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Manufac- turers Association and he was active as one of the builders of the Morrison street bridge, while of the Madison street bridge he was a stockholder.
Throughout his life Mr. Powers was actuated by a spirit of helpfulness that was again and again manifest in his relations with individuals and also in association with organized charities and benevolences. The homeless boy appealed strongly to his heart and it is said at times he had as many as five such boys in his home, doing all he could to train them for positions of usefulness and honor in the business world. It was
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largely through his instrumentality that the Boys and Girls Society was organized in Portland. The homeless and friendless never sought his assistance in vain, his chari- table spirit reaching out to all, while his material assistance was the tangible expression of his warm heart. He was in thorough sympathy with the basic principles of those organizations which recognize the brotherhood of mankind and thus it was that after coming to Portland he cooperated in the work of the Masonic fraternity here. He became a member of Gold Run Lodge, F. & A. M., while in California, and transferred his membership to Harmony Lodge, No. 12 of Portland, of which he served as treasurer for twelve years. He also joined Portland Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M .; Oregon Com- mandery, No. 1, K. T .; and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He belonged to Pilot Peak Lodge, I. O. O. F., at one time and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while his political allegiance was ever given to the republican party.
Ira F. Powers, Sr., was twice married. In 1860 he wedded Miss Minnie Wilson, who died four years later, leaving an only son, Frederick, now of Maine. In 1870 Mr. Powers wedded Mary Sullivan, a native of New York city, who in an early day was taken to the west by her parents, D. and Jessie Sullivan, and afterward accompanied her mother from California to Oregon. By the second marriage there was but one son, Ira F., of this review.
The death of the mother, Mrs. Mary Powers, occurred in 1875. Mr. Powers survived until the 8th of September, 1902, when he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-one years, leaving not only the fruits of former toil as represented in impor- tant manufacturing interests, but also an untarnished name that had long stood in Portland as the synonym for commercial enterprise and probity.
The son, Ira F. Powers, Jr., was born in 1872 in Portland, one block from the present site of the business and in the pursuit of his education attended the public and high schools of his native city, subsequently hecoming a pupil in the Bishop Scott Academy. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty years he was in his father's store, after which he spent a year in the furniture business at La Grande, Oregon. Subsequently he became a traveling salesman but in August, 1902, resigned his position to become secretary of the Ira F. Powers Manufacturing Company and following his father's demise he succeeded to the presidency of the concern which is now known as the Ira F. Powers Furniture Company. He is ahly carrying forward the business founded by his father and is rec- ognized as one of the reliable and progressive merchants of the city. The trade has steadily grown from year to year until it has assumed extensive proportions, the ware- house occupying a floor space of one hundred and thirty thousand feet, while eighty- five people are employed in the conduct of the business which includes everything in the line of house furnishings.
In 1906 Mr. Powers was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Nichols, a resident of this city, and they have become the parents of two children, John Thompson and Elizabeth. The family home is a beautiful modern residence in the attractive suburban district of Rivera. Mr. Powers gives his political support to the republican party and his interest in the development and upbuilding of his city is indicated in his member- ship in the Chamber of Commerce, the City Plan Commission and the city industrial committee. He has membership in all of the leading clubs of Portland and is a Mason of high standing, having attained the thirty-second degree in the consistory. He is also a member of the Shrine and is likewise identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
C. J. SHEDD.
A notably successful career is that of C. J. Shedd, manager of the Davis-Shedd Company, dealers in general merchandise, and president of the Bank of Shedd, in which connection he is controlling important and extensive interests at Shedd, Linn county. Mr. Shedd is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in June, 1857, and his parents were Frank and Emily (Olin) Shedd, the former born in New Hampshire and the latter in Ohio. In 1839 the father removed to Illinois, where he engaged in farming until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, becoming captain of Company C. At the end of a year he was discharged on account of illness and in 1864 he started across the plains to Oregon as captain of a wagon train traveling with ox teams. Settling in Linn county, he purchased land now adjoining the town of Shedd, of which he hecame
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the founder and which was named in his honor. He improved and developed his farm, converting it into a valuable property and continuing its cultivation throughout his remaining years. He was most highly respected and esteemed in his community and for one term was a member of the state legislature. He passed away in 1893, having for nine years survived the mother, whose demise occurred in 1884.
C. J. Shedd was but seven years of age at the time of the removal to Oregon and in the district schools of this state he pursued his education. After completing his studies he engaged in cultivating the home farm until 1895, when he was appointed postmaster of Shedd and served in that capacity for a period of four years. In 1900 he turned his attention to general merchandising in association with J. R. Davis and in 1912 the business was incorporated as the Davis-Shedd Company, of which Mr. Shedd has since been the manager. They carry a very large stock of merchandise and under the able direction of Mr. Shedd the business has assumed extensive and substantial proportions, the progressive methods and reliability of the firm winning for them a large patronage. Being a man of resourceful business ability, Mr. Shedd has extended his efforts into various lines and in March, 1913, in association with others he organized the Bank of Shedd, of which he has since served as president, the other officers being J. B. Bell of Eugene, vice president, and J. C. Clay, cashier. The bank has a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars, its surplus amounts to five thousand dollars and its deposits have reached the sum of one hundred and seventy thousand dollars. Mr. Shedd has made a close study of the banking business and has ever made it his purpose to safeguard thoroughly the interests of depositors, so that the institution of which he is the head has ever enjoyed the full confidence of the public and has become recognized as a sound and substantial moneyed institution. He likewise is the owner of farm land which he leases and is thus continually broadening the scope of his activities, carrying forward to successful completion everything that he undertakes.
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