USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 11
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In December, 1893, Mr. Shedd was united in marriage to Miss Anna Botsford and to them have been born three children: Bertha Lucille, Frank Raymond and Harold L., all at home. In his political views Mr. Shedd is a democrat and for one term he represented his district in the state legislature, where he rendered important and valuable service, giving thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital problems which came up for settlement. For over twenty-five years he has served as justice of the peace, rendering decisions which have ever been characterized by fairness and impartiality. Mrs. Shedd attends the Methodist church and fraternally Mr. Shedd is identified with the Masons and the Woodmen of the World. A man of keen business discernment and sound judgment, Mr. Shedd has made for himself a creditable place in financial and mercantile circles of Linn county and his activities have always been of a character that have contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and he is loyal to all those interests which make for true manhood and progressive citizenship.
BARGE EDWARD LEONARD.
Barge Edward Leonard, who for twelve years has been a representative of the Portland bar, was born in Rochelle, Illinois, November 17, 1886, a son of Edward and Eliza (Young) Leonard, their marriage being celebrated in Rochelle, where the father was born in 1848. He followed farming for many years but had put aside the cares of active business life at the time of his demise, which occurred on the 8th of January, 1921. His widow is still a resident of Rochelle.
In the schools of his native city Barge E. Leonard pursued his education, followed by a year's art course in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, and the study of law at the University of Michigan. He was graduated from the latter institu- tion in 1909, with the degree of LL. B., and then came to Portland, where he at once entered upon active practice, in which he has continued. His ability in this field is pronounced and his success is attributable in no small measure to the thoroughness with which he prepares his cases. He is married and lias one daughter.
Mr. Leonard is a member of the Scottishi Rite Masons and of the Mystic Shrine, also of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Progressive Business Club, the City Club, the University Club, the Press Club, and of the Multnomah Bar Association, of which he was president in 1919. He is likewise identified with the Phi Kappa Psi,
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BARGE E. LEONARD
Vol. 11-6
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. a Greek letter fraternity, with the Friars Club and the Theta Nu Epsilon, is a Rosarian and was chosen a director of the Rose Festival for 1921. He was nominated on the republican ticket for the Oregon legislature in the spring of 1920 and elected at the general election, serving in the thirty-first legislative assembly.
Mr. Leonard belongs to the American Legion and to La Societé De Forty Hommes et Eight Chevaux. His military record is most interesting. He entered the Second Officers Training Camp at the Presidio of San Francisco, August 25, 1917, giving up his practice of law in Portland and volunteering for service in the World war. He was commissioned first lieutenant of infantry in the National Army, November 27, 1917, was assigned to duty with the Sixty-third Infantry on the same date and on the 26th of February, 1918, was selected from among officers at the Presidio, because of special knowledge, aptitude and fitness, for intelligence duty and ordered to duty with the postal censorship board in San Francisco; organized postal censorship office at the Ferry post office, San Francisco, which acted as a clearing house for all foreign mail leaving the Pacific coast during the World war; by reason of demonstrated capacity and extraordinary efficiency in the administration and organization of the postal censor- ship, upon completion of the work, was assigned to duty in the office of the department intelligence officer as executive officer, Military Intelligence Division, Western Depart- ment, San Francisco, and continued as executive officer until his discharge November 27, 1918. He was detached from the Sixty-third Infantry, July 13, 1918, and assigned to general staff in connection with work above mentioned. He was in charge of all investigations relative to enemy aliens in San Francisco and Bay cities, directing a force of twenty-four investigators in this work. In October, 1918, he was recommended for promotion to captain, recommendation, however, not acted upon because of the signing of the armistice. He was the first officer in the Western Department requesting his discharge upon closing of hostilities and after discharge was recommended for a major's commission in the Reserve Corps. Mr. Leonard's services to the army were of exceptional character and only because of the confidential nature of the work, specific details cannot be given. The same spirit of loyalty characterizes his relation to his clients and has brought him prominence among the younger representatives of the Port- land bar.
W. S. FITTS.
One of the substantial and progressive business men of Salem is W. S. Fitts, who is associated with his son, Ira J., in the conduct of a large fish and poultry market, and he is also interested in the Newport Ice & Fish Company and is a stockholder in Hotel Marion of Salem. In the conduct of his business affairs he displays sound judg- ment, energy and enterprise, and success in substantial measure has rewarded his efforts. Mr. Fitts is a native of the south. He was born in Bihb county, Alabama, November 3, 1868, a son of T. J. Fitts, who was also a native of that locality and devoted his attention to the raising of corn and cotton. He married Rhoda Conwill, also a native of Alabama, who passed away at the age of eighty years, and the father is also deceased.
In 1891 W. S. Fitts came to the west, first becoming a resident of Walla Walla, Washington. Subsequently he made his way to Oregon and for a time engaged in farming in the vicinity of Salem, after which he located in the city, where he entered business circles in 1901, establishing a fish market at No. 444 Court street. His pro- gressive and enterprising business methods, reasonable prices and courteous treatment of patrons soon gained for him a large patronage and he now has most of the private trade of Salem. His son, Ira J. Fitts, is associated with him in the conduct of the enterprise and he is a most progressive and alert young business man. They deal in fish and poultry, purchasing their fish from all over the coast and handling approx- imately fifty tons annually. Their establishment is the leading fish and poultry market in the city catering to the retail trade and they intend within a short time to install a cold storage plant, which will greatly facilitate the conduct of their business. Mr. Fitts is also interested in the Newport Ice & Fish Company in association with J. F. Meehan, Mrs. C. M. McKillop and others, and he is likewise a stockholder in Hotel Marion of Salem. His interests are thus extensive and important, showing him to be a most capable business man, energetic, farsighted and sagacious.
In Bibb county, Alabama, in 1894, Mr. Fitts was married to Miss Lula Elliott, and
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three children have been born to this union: Ira J., who married Wilda Solomon of Salem, February 6, 1921; Inez G., who is employed by Hartman Brothers, jewelers; and Clifford W., who met an accidental death, being killed by a truck on the 12th of February, 1920.
Beginning business with a capital of but forty dollars, Mr. Fitts worked untiringly to gain a start and as the years have passed he has steadily progressed, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties in his path, and he now occupies a position of prominence in commercial circles of his city. The secret of his success lies in the fact that he has never been afraid of earnest labor and that his diligence and determination have been supplemented by unquestioned integrity and reliability. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Salem and his progressiveness has been a potent element in its con- tinued development.
OTTO FRIEDLI.
Otto Friedli, president and manager of the Portland Cheese Company at Portland, is a native of Switzerland, his birth having occurred in the land of the Alps, November 30, 1875, his parents being John and Mary (Leuenberger) Friedli, who were also natives of that country. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and passed away in Switzerland, September 13, 1903, while the mother's death occurred in May, 1916.
Otto Friedli attended the common schools of his native country and when a young man of nineteen years crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Green county, Wisconsin, where he was employed in a cheese factory. He later became a shipping clerk and buyer for two of the largest wholesale cheese houses in southern Wisconsin and continued in the business for eight years. It was in 1906 that he arrived in the northwest, making his way to Seattle, Washington, where he engaged in the cheese business on his own account for a year and then sold out. In 1907 he came to Portland and here organized the Portland Cheese Company, of which he became president and manager. The company are importers, manufacturers and wholesale dealers in cheese, olive oil, macaroni, fish, etc., but they give the major part of their attention to the cheese trade and are owners of the following brands: Badger State brand cheese, Beaver brand cheese and Vertex brand olive oil. They are distributors for Martin Brothers & Company's Bluhill cheese and Martin's New York Cheddar. Their specialty, however, is the Beaver brand cheese, of which they make the fancy French size for table use. They also manufacture a Swiss cheese and employ ten people. They sell mostly to the creameries in wholesale lots. Mr. Friedli's associate officers in the company are: Charles Zuercher, Jr., vice president; and A. R. Morris, secretary and treasurer. The volume of their business now amounts annually to $400,000.
Mr. Friedli was united in marriage to Miss Frieda Fuhrer, who was born in Lon- don, England, but is of Swiss parentage. They have two children: Helen Edna and Carl Edwin. The secretary of the company, Mr. Morris, wedded Hazel Clark of Port- land, in 1914 and they are the parents of two children: Jeane Roberta and Hazel Dorothy.
Mr. Friedli is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is a member of both the Swiss Club and the Swiss Aid Society. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for in this land he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress until he has reached the goal of prosperity, being now one of the successful business men of his adopted city.
CLARE W. IRVINE.
A man of keen business discernment and sound judgment, Clare W. Irvine has made for himself a most creditable place in financial circles of the state as president of the Farmers State Bank of Independence, of which he was one of the organizers. The success of the bank is due in large measure to the enterprise and thoroughly reliable methods of Mr. Irvine, who carefully studies every phase of banking and whose close application is an important element in the continued success of the institution.
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He is a worthy representative of one of Oregon's honored pioneer families and was horn in Polk county, January 26, 1872, a son of Josephus and Sarah (Fisher) Irvine, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Iowa. In 1852 the father accompanied his parents on their removal to Oregon, being at that time a lad of ten years. The family settled in Marion county, where the grandfather took up a donation claim. It was in 1852 that the maternal grandfather crossed the plains to Oregon and also took up a claim in Marion county. Josephus Irvine resided in Marion county until after his marriage, when he removed to Polk county, and for several years engaged in cul- tivating rented land. He then engaged in draying at Independence, conducting business along that line for about eight years, when he entered mercantile circles, establishing a grocery store, and this he continued to operate throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in September, 1902, at the age of sixty, but the mother is yet living.
Their son, Clare W. Irvine, was reared in Polk county, where he attended the district schools and also the public schools of Independence, after which he pursued a course in a business college at Salem, Oregon. When eighteen years of age he entered business life as an employe of the Independence National Bank and has since been identified with financial interests. His first position was that of bookkeeper and after serving for six years in that capacity his faithful and conscientious service and excel- lent business ability won him promotion to the position of cashier, which he filled for sixteen years. In 1912, in association with J. J. Fenton, he organized the Farmers State Bank at Independence, becoming cashier. Subsequently he purchased the interest of Mr. Fenton and has since filled the office of president, with J. B. Parker as vice pres- ident and C. G. Irvine, cashier. The bank is housed in a modern building which was erected in 1918. It is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, has a surplus of seven thousand five hundred dollars and its deposits have reached the sum of four hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Irvine's comprehensive study and practical experience have acquainted him with the various phases of the banking business and thoroughly qualified him for the successful conduct of the interests under his control. The policy he has 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, which is enjoying a steady and substantial growth.
In June, 1904, Mr. Irvine was united in marriage to Miss Edna Burnett, a daughter of the Rev. Peter and Mary E. (Todd) Burnett, the latter a native of Oregon. The father came to this state at an early period in its development and has devoted his entire life to preaching the gospel as a minister of the Christian church, his religious instruction proving a tangible force for good in the various communities in which he has made his home. He is now living retired in Eugene but the mother passed away in 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine have become the parents of two children, namely: Robert C., who was born March 10, 1907; and Clare W., Jr., born May 20, 1911. Mrs. Irvine is a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Irvine is a loyal adherent of the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, being the possessor of the jeweled emblem bestowed by the latter order upon those who have for twenty-five years been connected with the lodge. He is also a Mason, holding member- ship in the Shrine, and his life has ever been guided by the beneficent teachings of' these orders. He is one of the foremost figures in the business world of Independence and through his activities has not only achieved individual success but has also con- tributed in substantial measure to the upbuilding and progress of his section of the state. He is everywhere spoken of as a citizen of worth, possessing many substantial qualities which have won for him the high regard of all who know him.
E. T. BUSSELLE.
One of the best known consulting engineers of the northwest is E. T. Busselle, who maintains offices at Salem, Oregon, and at San Francisco, California, having a large practice in the Pacific coast states. He is thoroughly familiar with the scientific prin- ciples underlying his profession and he has done much important work in connection with public utilities.
A native of Indiana, Mr. Busselle was born at Shelbyville, May 9, 1877, where he lived until the age of six, when the family took up residence at Indianapolis, Indiana. After completing the work of the high school, he entered Purdue University of Indiana,
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where he pursued a course in electrical engineering. Upon leaving the university, he entered upon a course of practical instruction in the field of electrical science and later on conducted a night school of instruction in electrical engineering in the city of Indianapolis and also, several years later, in the city of Portland, Oregon. Coming west in 1909, his first venture was in Idaho, with headquarters at Boise, where he remained about one year. He then located in Portland and later took up residence in Salem, Oregon, the latter change being made necessary by his association with the organization of the public service commission of Oregon. After serving four years with the public service commission of Oregon, he resigned the position of chief engineer, department of utilities, to enter private practice. He then engaged in business as an attorney-consulting engineer, his principal activities being the preparation of inventories, appraisals and evaluation reports upon public utility properties and the compilation of such statistical data and financial statements as are necessary to the proper presen- tation of rate cases before regulating bodies. Starting in 1916 with a five-room suite of offices on the second floor of the Masonic Temple building in Salem, he later estab- lished an office in San Francisco, California, and he enjoys a large practice throughout the Pacific coast region. Thorough preparatory study has well qualified him for the work in which he is engaged and he is regarded as an attorney-engineer of marked ability, his services being in such demand that he is obliged to spend a great portion of his time in travel. His work as consulting engineer and attorney has been largely along the line of public utility activities and he possesses an exceptional comprehensive knowledge of the needs and requirements of utilities, as well as a knowledge of the laws pertaining thereto.
Mr. Busselle was united in marriage to Miss Goldie Grace Shafer of Indianapolis, Indiana, and they have become the parents of two children: Earl T., who is a student in the University of Oregon at Eugene; and Elbert R., who is a student in the Salem high school.
Mr. Busselle is a man of enterprising spirit and of commendable ambition, whose professional labors have been an effective force in promoting the work of development, progress and upbuilding in the various sections in which he has operated. Gaining that superior ability which comes from close study and broad experience, he stands in an eminent and enviable position among the consulting engineers of the northwest.
I. H. AMOS.
Any list of twenty men who have most impressed themselves on conditions in Oregon would easily include the name of I. H. Amos. Such characters do not come by chance; they may be invariably traced to generations of high thinking and auspicious environment. Mr. Amos was born in Mt. Savage, Maryland, June 8th, 1844, of sterling Staffordshire ancestry, son of William and Rachel (Whitehouse) Amos. Through a fruitful life until his death, December 24th, 1915, he fulfilled the promise of such sub- stantial heritage.
Mr. Amos was not a college man; but beginning with a good school education he attained through a study of men and affairs, through extensive travel and the reading of good books, such a culture as colleges seldom give. No human need was too small for his earnest study; no national problem too big for the grasp of his splendid mentality.
A nailer by trade, he spent his early years in labor with his hands, like the Master whom it was his delight to serve, learning that sympathy with the wage-worker which made him so essentially a man of the people. Granted the truth of the Swedish hand- craftsman theory that no great mental development is won without hand skill, this humble occupation doubtless played its part in developing a most unusually practical thinker.
Not least among the causes contributing to his great power may be counted his family life. His marriage to Lilian Jane Sadler, daughter of John Sadler, a pioneer of Cleveland, Ohio, enriched his life with a companion who was in thorough sympathy with his highest aspirations. Into this home were born three such children as come from a rich union of heart and brain: William Frederick, a physician of rare skill; Lilian Edna, a teacher in one of Portland's high schools; and Grace Mildred, who is continuing her father's business, all deeply interested in the work their father's hands have dropped. The home life was unusually beautiful, for a spirit of comradeship prevailed. As a host Mr. Amos was unexcelled. To share the hospitality of the Amos home was an experience
I. H. AMOS
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that left a delightful memory. Here foregathered kindred spirits and under this roof were initiated many of the great movements that have brought blessing to the state.
Mr. Amos was an able and successful business man. From 1865 to 1887 he was with a large hardware firm in Cleveland-in the latter years as partner. In 1887 he accepted a position with the hardware firm of Foster & Robertson of Portland. From 1893 until his death he represented some of the largest metal lines in the United States.
Although a keen and alert man of business, Mr. Amos was best known for his humanitarian service, especially in the cause of prohibition. Associated as early as 1869 with the Ohio leaders and pioneers for national prohibition, he was, in 1872, a candidate for the General Assembly and took an active part in the constitutional cam- paign. As a prohibition party man he was ever a leader. It is noteworthy that Mr. Amos was the inspiration of the first measure passed under the Oregon Initiative. This incident we give in the words of his friend and colleague, B. Lee Paget:
"Soon after the supreme court declaration upon the constitutionality of the initiative, F. McKercher, Harry W. Stone, and myself met with Mr. Amos for lunch in Watson's restaurant. Mr. Amos suggested that local option on the liquor question be the first measure submitted under the initiative. It was agreed that we share pro rata the expense. This plan was carried out with the final result that Oregon was given her first local option law."
Mr. Amos brought to the northwest, where he became such a power for good, the thorough training of his early experience. Coming to Oregon in 1887 he reorganized the prohibition forces and became an active worker in the constitutional campaign of that year. From 1888 until his death he was a member of the Oregon State Prohibition Committee, and from 1896 to 1908, chairman of the committee. During this period he was his party's candidate for various offices: State senator, mayor of Portland, and governor of the state, in each case receiving a very large vote. As candidate for commissioner-at-large for Multnomah county, in 1914, he received a phenomenal vote (for a minority candidate) of over 12,000. No man was more loved and trust- ed in the national councils of his party than Mr. Amos. He was prominent as a candidate for vice presidential nomination in the Indianapolis convention of 1904. He labored untiringly in the Oregon prohibition campaigns of 1910 and 1914, and rejoiced in the victory of the latter campaign. The full consummation of this triumph he was never to see, for, a few days before the law went into effect, in January 1916, he was called by death. A Portland daily paper commented upon his death: "Father of Oregon Dry Party Passes." There is an especial appropriateness in these words. One might go further and say that his labors and leadership in all prohibition work of the state make him pre-eminently the "Father of Oregon Prohibition."
But I. H. Amos was not only a prohibitionist; he was a man of affairs. Indeed, much of his success in his chosen work was due to his ability to bring about the cooperation of various civic and church organizations in non-partisan campaigns. He was for many years superintendent of All Saints Episcopal Sunday school of Cleveland and later of Trinity Sunday school of Portland, serving as vestryman in both of these churches. As state secretary of the Sunday School Association of Oregon he inaugurated many for- ward movements, whose beneficent effects are still felt. Notable among his achievements was the World's Temperance Congress in connection with the World's Fair, Portland, 1905. Mr. Amos was an enthusiastic member of the Auld Lang Syne Society of Oregon, for he loved the Oregon country as the land of his heart's desire. He was for some time a member of the Board of Directors of the Y. M. C. A., also a member of the Oregon Civic League and chairman of one of its most important committees. If no account were taken of his labors in the prohibition field Mr. Amos would still be acknowledged a most important factor in Oregon's progress.
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