USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
In 1919 Holger M. Pihl was married to Miss Lena Stevens, a native of this state and a daughter of J. Stevens, who has been in the employ of the City Water Works for twenty-two years. They have one child, a daughter, Margery Ellen, who is an infant. Both of Mrs. Pihl's parents are pioneers of Oregon and are still living in this state.
Mr. Pihl deserves great credit for what he has accomplished. He borrowed one hundred dollars with which to pay his passage to the United States and thus empty handed he started out in the business world. Step by step he has advanced and his success has led him to an enviable position among the industrious and progressive young business men of his adopted city.
J. B. LABER.
J. B. Laber, whose real estate activities in Portland have been of an important character, was born in Kentucky in 1865 and came to Oregon in 1880, when a youth of fifteen years. For two years after his arrival in the northwest he taught schoel in Vancouver, Washington. Since that time his attention has been given to real estate activities and he has contributed much to the development of Portland and this section of the state. He was active in promoting the Interstate Bridge, the Union Stock Yards and the Greater Port Development, and his land holdings in the peninsular district of Portland are considerable. While he has been one of the city's most active and public-spirited men he shrinks from anything that savors of personal publicity. The Peninsular Development project, which is one of the largest in the northwest, is located at the junction of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, which he terms the Manhattan of the Pacific, for the end of the peninsula is laid out in the form of the battery of New York city and is so called in this gigantic plan of city building. Mr. Laber is content to place the judgment of his activities with the people and he finds his pleasure at his own fireside with his family.
M. J. DRISCOLL.
M. J. Driscoll, president of the Driscoll & Collier Transfer Company of Portland, was born in Connecticut, May 12, 1866. His father, Timothy Driscoll, was a native of Ireland and came to America fifty-seven years ago, after which he engaged in the cotton manufacturing business, continuing his residence in New England throughout his remaining days. He passed away at Providence, Rhode Island, about fifteen years ago. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Hanova O'Shea, was also a native of Ireland, and they were married in that country.
M. J. Driscoll obtained his education in the public schools of his native state and thirty years ago came to Oregon, settling in Portland. For nine years he was connected with the fire department of the city and then turned his attention to the livery business, which he conducted at Fifth and Pine streets until the building was sold, when he removed to Washington and Nineteenth streets. Four years later he disposed of his Vol. II-7
98
HISTORY OF OREGON
livery barn and turned his attention to the draying business with office at 27 Second street. After being located there for twelve years he removed to his present location at 284 Everett street. He carries on a general draying business and employs about twenty people, utilizing fourteen wagons and two auto trucks in the conduct of his business, which is carried on under the name of the Driscoll & Collier Transfer Company, of which he is president, while his wife is vice president.
Mr. Driscoll was first united in marriage to Miss Mary Callahan, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, and to them was born one child, Alice, who is now a teacher in the Glen Haven school. A few years after his first wife passed away he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Frainey, a native of Portland.
In politics Mr. Driscoll is a republican and for four years served as a member of the city council, exercising his official prerogatives in support of the many plans and measures for the general good. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Foresters, the Hibernians and the Woodmen of the World. He has become well known as an active and representative business man in Portland and concentrates the greater part of his time and attention upon his business affairs, yet is interested in all matters pertaining to the general welfare, and his support and coopera- tion can be counted upon to further various measures for the public good.
HON. ARCHIE J. JOHNSON.
Hon. Archie J. Johnson, president of the Benton County State Bank of Corvallis, is a man of resourceful business ability who has not only won distinction in the field of finance but is equally prominent as an agriculturist, stock-raiser, lumberman and statesman. A representative of one of the oldest families of the state, he was born in Marion county, Oregon, September 18, 1867, on the old donation land claim of his grandfather, Hiram Alvah Johnson. His parents, John Charles and Violetta (Gunsaules) Johnson, were natives of Illinois, the former born in Pike county in 1842 and the latter in Knox county, April 19, 1846. In 1847 Hiram Alvah Johnson started with his family across the plains, traveling with ox teams and wagons, his son, John C. Johnson, being at that time but five years of age. On reaching Oregon, Hiram A. Johnson took up a donation claim in Marion county, three miles north of the present site of the town of Jefferson, and it was upon this property that Archie J. Johnson was born. The grandfather at once began the arduous task of clearing and developing his claim, on which he continued to reside for several years, and subsequently he was for some time engaged in general merchandising at Jefferson. At length he removed to Salem, Oregon, where he became prominent in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace for a period of eighteen years. He passed away at Salem at the age of seventy- seven years, and his wife, surviving him for two years, died at the age of seventy-six. She also crossed the plains with her parents in 1852, making the journey with ox teams and settling near Jefferson, Oregon.
John C. Johnson, the eldest son of the family, was reared and educated in Marion county, Oregon, and after completing his studies he engaged in teaching school for two years. He then turned his attention to farming and stock raising, purchasing land near Scio in Linn county, which he improved and developed, and he was active in its operation until 1874. He then removed to Scio, where he engaged in general merchandis- ing for a number of years and subsequently became interested in the money-loaning business in that city and was thus active for some time. At a still later period, in association with his son, Archie J., he purchased the mercantile business which he had formerly owned and managed at Scio, conducting it under the firm name of J. C. Johnson & Son at that point for about four years, when he removed to Salem and there lived retired until 1913, when he took up his abode in Corvallis, where he resided up to the date of his death, December 3, 1920. The mother survives. As pioneers of this state their experiences were broad and varied, bringing them knowledge of every phase of frontier life. Great indeed have been the changes which have been wrought in the intervening period, and in the work of development and improvement they bore their full share.
Archie J. Johnson was reared and educated in Linn county, attending the public schools of Scio, and subsequently was a student in the Portland Business College, from which he was graduated at the age of eighteen. On starting out in the business world
99
HISTORY OF OREGON
he became a clerk in a general mercantile establishment, with which he was connected for a period of six years. In 1888 he went to Seattle, Washington, where he became associated with the firm of White & Company, dealers in real estate, with whom he continued for one and a half years, platting six additions to that city and selling four while there and two after leaving Seattle. In 1889 he returned to Scio and in association with his father purchased the store which the latter had formerly conducted there and this they continued to operate for about three years. In 1890, while a resident of Scio, Archie J. Johnson became one of the organizers of the Bank of Scio and thus received his initial experience in financial affairs. Two years later, or in 1892, in association with T. J. Munkers, Mr. Johnson purchased the bank, becoming its cashier. In 1895 he turned his attention to manufacturing interests, purchasing an interest in the Scio Milling Company, of which he became manager, and serving in that capacity until 1902, when he disposed of all of his business investments in the town. In 1900 he had been appointed national bank examiner, which position he filled for six and a half years, covering the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and ably discharging his duties in that connection. In 1903 he purchased a stock farm of forty- one hundred acres in the northern part of Benton county. This was the largest stock ranch in the county in a single body of land, and Mr. Johnson's brother-in-law and his brother C. V. assisted him in its operation. In 1903 he and his family removed to Corvallis. In 1906 he resigned his position as bank examiner and organized the Benton County National Bank of Corvallis, erecting the building in which the institution is now housed. On the 25th of July, 1907, the bank opened its doors for business and in 1916 it was made a state bank, through taking out a state charter. From the time of its organization Mr. Johnson has been president of the bank, which has become known as one of the strongest financial institutions of the county, the successful conduct of the enterprise being largely due to his initiative and ability. The policy of the bank has been strongly influenced by his business principles, and while he is ever progressive and aggressive, he employs that conservatism necessary to safeguard the interests of depositors as well as stockholders. Mr. Johnson also acts as manager of the bank, with J. L. Gault as vice president and cashier; his son, Elmo E. and Floyd E. Bogue, his son-in-law as assistant cashiers. The institution is capitalized for sixty thousand
dollars, has a surplus of twenty thousand dollars, resources amounting to one million and a quarter dollars, while its deposits have reached the sum of approximately one million, two hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Johnson is also president of the Willamette Valley Stock & Land Company, live stock, lumber and bond brokers. He is likewise interested in farming and stock raising, having a valuable farm near Corvallis, on which he has until recently kept his fine herd of registered Jersey cattle. He also specializes in the breeding of Hampshire-Down sheep with his associates on their fine farm of five hundred and forty acres in South Benton. His agricultural interests are extensive and important and in addition to his holdings in this state he is the owner of large ranches in Montana and Washington. During the World war he purchased some fine spruce timber land on the Siletz river in Lincoln county and erected a mill at the month of that stream, taking large government contracts for cutting spruce lumber for airplanes and continuing its operation until the close of the war. He is a man of exceptional business qualifications, who is continually broadening the scope of his activities with good results, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, for in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail.
On the 31st of January, 1888, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Linnie Young, a daughter of Nathan and Mary Young, natives of Ohio. In an early day her father moved westward, becoming a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1880 he came to Oregon and after residing at various places in the state he at length removed to Scio, where he continued to make his home from 1884 until his demise in May, 1919, at the venerable age of ninety years. The mother passed away in 1914 and they were highly respected residents of their community. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born seven children, as follows: Cleo married J. F. Porter, formerly cashier of the Benton County State Bank, but now secretary of the Willamette Valley Stock & Land Company. They reside in Corvallis and have one child, Lyle. Zeta became the wife of Floyd E. Bogue, assistant cashier of the Benton County State Bank, and passed away in January, 1919, as a victim of the influenza. Elmo E., who also acts as assistant cashier of the Benton County State Bank, married Linnie D. Durrell and they have two children, Donald and Charles. Darrell D., manager of the Willamette Valley Stock & Land Company, married Bertha McHenry and they have become the parents of a son, Dick. Orlo O. is a student in
100
HISTORY OF OREGON
the Oregon Agricultural College. Wanda L. is a high school pupil. Archie J., Jr., who is eight years of age, is attending the graded schools.
In his political views Mr. Johnson is a republican and he has taken a prominent part in the public affairs of his county and state. In 1894 he was elected state senator from Linn county, in which office he served for four years, giving earnest support to all the bills which he believed would prove beneficial to the commonwealth. He care- fully studied the problems which came up for settlement and his legislative career is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. While a resident of Scio he was for two terms a member of the town council and also served as mayor of the city for one term. Since hecoming a resident of Corvallis he has served as a member of the council for one term and for two years as mayor, in which connection he gave to the city a most businesslike and progressive administration. In 1906, while still serving in the office of mayor, he was elected state senator from Benton county, which office he filled for four years, again rendering important and valuable service to his county and state, his influence being ever on the side of advancement and im- provement. At the expiration of his term in 1910 he refused to be a candidate to succeed himself. He is much interested in the welfare and development of his city and for two years was president of the Corvallis Commercial Club, in which connection he contributed largely to the extension of its trade relations. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the latter organization he has passed through all of the chairs. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian and an active worker in the church, having since 1905 served as chairman of its board of trustees. The activities of Mr. Johnson have ever been of a constructive character and he deserves classification with the builders of the great northwest, for he has taken an active part in the development of the material resources of the country and the promotion of commercial and financial interests. His initiative spirit and notable ability have carried him into important relations and the breadth and scope of his interests have been such that his labors have constituted an important feature in the history of the state. He stands always on the side of progress and improvement, of right and reform, and he is a representative of the highest type of American manhood and citizenship.
During the World war, Mr. Johnson accepted the chairmanship of Benton County's War Council and was made chairman of all war drives, devoting practically all of his time to such work, ever putting his county over the top. His son Darrell D., was one of the first to volunteer his services in the army, going to the first training camp at the Presidio, where he was given a second lieutenant's commission. He went to France with the Ninety-first Division; was in the great Argonne Forest fight, where he was wounded on the night of September 26, 1918, and was compelled to lie in the hospital at Bordeaux for two and a half months before he could return to his home in America. He is now fully recovered however. Orlo O. volunteered as a marine but spent his time along the Atlantic coast mainly, not being priviledged to go across the waters.
SYLVESTER FARRELL.
When Sylvester Farrell passed away in 1909 death removed one who had long been a most honored and prominent factor in the business life and development of Portland. Looking at his record through the perspective of the years, one realizes how valuable was his contribution to the city. He was a man of well balanced capacities and powers who long occupied a central place on the stage of action and his labors found culmination in the development of a number of most important industries. While a most active factor in business, he never allowed personal interests or ambition to dwarf his public spirit or activities. His was the record of a strenuous life-the record of a strong individuality, sure of itself, stable in purpose, quick in perception, swift in decision, energetic and persistent in action.
Mr. Farrell was of Canadian nativity, his birth having occurred at St. Thomas, Ontario, August 2, 1833. He was the eldest of a family of three sons and a daughter and was only ten years of age when left an orphan, an uncle acting as guardian. He and his younger brothers lived upon a farm and their opportunities of acquiring an education were extremely meager. Sylvester Farrell received less than a year's instruc- tion in the schoolroom but learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and was continually promoting his knowledge by reading and observation, so that he
SYLVESTER FARRELL
103
HISTORY OF OREGON
became a man of notably sound judgment and manifested keen insight and sagacity concerning business affairs and other experiences of life. The urge of necessity prompted him to seek employment when he was still quite young, his first position being that of a clerk in a grocery store in St. Thomas, Ontario. Attracted by the opportunities of the great and growing west, he made his way to San Francisco, where he learned the miller's trade, being employed along that line for three years.
Mr. Farrell became a resident of Portland in 1867 and after working along various lines he entered into partnership with Richard Everding and purchased the business of the firm of Everding & Beebe, the senior partner of which was a brother of Richard Everding. With the change in ownership the firm style of Everding & Farrell was adopted and the business was later incorporated under that name. Mr. Farrell was continuously connected with the firm from 1867 until the time of his demise and the business is still carried on at the old location-140 Front street. They conducted a wholesale produce and commission business and their patronage steadily increased until their interests had assumed extensive proportions. After some years the firm also became identified with logging and with the salmon packing industry, owning can- neries at Pillar Rock, Washington, where their output amounted to thirty thousand cases yearly. Their logging interests are at Deep River, Washington, and the timber is sold directly to the mills. It was in connection with George T. Myers that Mr. Farrell built the first salmon cannery on Puget Sound in 1879 but afterward disposed of his interest in that enterprise to his partner. It was subsequent to this time that he developed his interests at Pillar Rock on the Columbia river and became president of the Pillar Rock Packing Company. As commission merchants in the grain trade the company built up a most extensive business, theirs being one of the first commission houses in the city, and it came to be a current phrase that "Mr. Farrell opened Front street every morning," for he was usually at his post between six and seven o'clock. Work was his pleasure and for forty years, from early morning until late in the evening, he was seldom off duty at the store of Everding & Farrell. With his firm he also became extensively interested in timber lands, in logging companies and in farm lands. What- ever he undertook seemed to prosper and yet this was not the result of any fortunate combination of circumstances but the direct outcome of business abllity that was devel- oped through years of experience and close application.
Death came to Mr. Farrell suddenly. On the morning of the 11th of January, 1909, he went as usual to his office and a few moments after entering the room was seen to stagger and fall. His nephew, standing near, caught him but almost instantly he breathed his last.
In early manhood Mr. Farrell was united in marriage to Miss Honor Miller and they became the parents of five children. Thomas George was associated with his father in business. Robert S., who was also admitted to partnership by his father, is a member of the state senate and one of the most prominent legislators of Oregon, who served for two terms in the house and for four terms has been a member of the senate. Fraternally, too, he has extensive connections. Annie, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Frederick W. Cookman. Ida is the wife of W. W. Youngson. The youngest daughter, Jessie, is at home with her mother.
A contemporary biographer has written of Mr. Farrell as follows: "While Mr. Farrell held membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the United Workmen and a number of other fraternal organizations, he seldom attended lodge, invariably spend- ing his evenings at home with his family, to whom he was most devoted. His kindly spirit was always manifest in his treatment of dumb animals and a pet dog, horse or cat was almost invariably his companion. In his office for seven years he had a large maltese cat and each Sunday and on holidays he would go to the store with milk and food for his pets. A nature that thus responds to the needs of the dumb animals is sure to have a heart warm with kindness for all humanity and the spirit of helpful- ness was manifest in all Mr. Farrell's relations with his fellowmen. He was one of the founders and for many years a trustee of the Boys and Girls Aid Society of the state of Oregon. He was never neglectful of the duties of citizenship and gave hearty and generous response when his aid was needed to further any public project that promised to be of value to city, state or nation. He figured prominently in state and county politics, for several terms represented his district in the general assembly and for six years was a member of the city council. He served upon nearly all of the city commissions and up to the time of his death was a member of the state board of pilot commissioners.
"The Oregonian of January 13, 1909, published the following tribute from the pen
104
HISTORY OF OREGON
of one who had known him long and well: 'The lives well spent, the good names well earned, are not so numerous as to be overlooked. The passing over of Sylvester Farrell deserves public recognition. Commencing his business life in this city forty years ago in a little, old, ramshackle shed of a warehouse on the river's brink, near the foot of Madison street, with nothing but willing hands and honest hearts, he and his still remaining partner built up a profitable and enduring business which defied the storms of adversity, brought them an ample fortune and placed their names at the top of the list of honest, successful and absolutely trustworthy merchants. No man ever trusted the word of Sylvester Farrell and was disappointed. His word was as good as his bond and passed current for ready cash. Not only in private life, but equally so in all his business transactions, he was a just man and loved mercy. Many is the man whose account has been carried by his firm through the stress of hard times and until the clouds had rolled by, bringing relief. Whether he was a member of any church, I know not, but in his intercourse with his fellowmen he manifested the vital principle of Christianity and never forgot the Golden Rule. As a citizen Mr. Farrell was a model man. Willing to serve wherever he could render useful service, he most efficiently served his city and state in many positions and without self-seeking in any form. Pub- lic-spirited to the extent of his ability, he rendered valuable aid in developing the re- sources of the state and building up this city. He was one of the directors of the company that proposed and constructed the Dayton, Sheridan & Dallas Railroad, which was the foundation of the second railroad system of the Willamette valley, and ren- dered great and effective support to that enterprise. He also gave great aid to the railroad development of the timber resources of the Columbia river region. And tak- ing the man in all his relations to his fellow citizens, his city and his state, he is among all the hundred thousand citizen voters of the state most worthily to be ranked the one in a thousand. Good friend, true man, hail and farewell!' The machinery of an iron constitution suddenly stopped. The light of his lamp has gone out, and Sylves- ter Farrell, the junior member of the oldest living firm in the city of Portland, has crossed the great river, there to await those who will follow."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.