History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 2

Author: Carey, Charles Henry
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 780

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On the 8th of August, 1918, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ems, of Wichita, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Bertha May. He is the owner of a good modern residence in Laurelhurst and is a firm believer in the future of this section of the country, it being his desire to induce his relatives to establish their home in the "Rose City." He is much interested in the welfare and progress of Portland and as a citizen does all in his power to expand its trade relations and promote civic development. He is yet a young man but has already accomplished much and all who know him esteem him for his energy, his aggressive- ness and his sterling integrity.

JUDGE CLAIBORNE H. STEWART.

Judge Claiborne H. Stewart, who is now serving for the second term as post- master of Albany, having been reappointed to that position by President Wilson in 1919, is discharging the duties of that office in a prompt and capable manner. He was born in Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa, December 29, 1852, and is a son of Dr. William Q. and Ann R. (Humphrey) Stewart, natives of Ohio. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent, representatives of the name emigrating to America and becoming residents of Pennsylvania. As a child the mother went with her parents to Illinois and then to Iowa at a very early period in the development of that state. This was prior to the Black Hawk war, at which time Burlington was but a trading post, the country being sparsely settled. The father was a merchant and physician and practiced his profession at Knoxville and Albia until 1865, when he crossed the plains to Oregon, spending his first winter in this state near Mount Tabor, in the vicinity of Portland. In 1866 he removed to Albany, Linn county, and purchased property

HISTORY OF OREGON

which is now owned by Claiborne H. Stewart of this review and on which he has reared his family. Owing to impaired health the father did not engage in the prac- tice of medicine in Oregon but subsequently became connected with the drug busi- ness, in which he was interested for several years. He continued a resident of Albany until his demise, which occurred on the 17th of March, 1882, when he was sixty- seven years of age, for he was born on the 5th of May, 1815. The mother, surviving him for many years, passed away In 1917 at the advanced age of ninety-six years, and both were highly esteemed and respected in the community where they resided.

Claiborne H. Stewart acquired his early education in the schools of Albia, Iowa, and completed his studies at Albany, Oregon. On the 5th of June, 1867, he entered the office of the Democrat as printer's devil and there thoroughly mastered the printer's trade, at which he worked for several years, and then purchased that publication, which he conducted until the spring of 1882, when he disposed of his holdings therein, having a short time before sold an interest in the paper to United States Senator George Chamberlain. In 1882 he was called to public office, being elected county clerk of Linn county, in which position he served for two years. In 1884 he entered mercantile circles, establishing a hardware business as a partner of E. F. Sox, under the firm style of the Stewart & Sox Hardware Company. They engaged in the sale of farm implements and sawmill machinery and through their progressive business methods and honorable dealing succeeded in building up a business of extensive pro- portions, their trade covering all of Benton and Linn counties and a portion of Lane, Marion and Polk counties. They continued in business for twenty-four years, during which period they gradually extended the scope of their trade until theirs became a most substantial and profitable enterprise. In 1904 Mr. Stewart had been honored with election to the office of county judge, in which position he proved most capable, ren- dering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. Upon leaving the bench he became associated with his son-in-law in the conduct of a store dealing in electrical appliances and was thus engaged until 1915, when he was appointed by President Wilson to the position of postmaster of Albany. He rendered such satisfactory service in that connection that he was reappointed in August, 1919, so that he is still filling that office, discharging his duties in a most capable and efficient manner. Always courteous and obliging and prompt and faithful in the care of the mail, Mr. Stewart has proved a most popular official.

On the 4th of January, 1877, Judge Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Cora J. Irvine, a daughter of the Rev. S. G. and Mary (Rainey) Irvine, the former a native of Wooster, Ohio, while the latter was born near Belfast, in the north of Ireland. Her parents emigrated to the United States when she was but two years of age and settled at Cambridge, Ohio. Rev. Mr. Irvine came to Oregon from Wooster, Ohio, as a missionary and owing to the wild state of the country at that time was obliged to travel on horseback from place to place in the performance of his duties. He was a minister of the United Presbyterian church and continued to preach the gospel at Albany and Oakville, Oregon, the remainder of his life, his work proving a potent force for good in the communities which he served.

To Judge and Mrs. Stewart were born ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who survive are: Stanley I., secretary and manager of the Lebanon Electric Light & Water Power Company; William Edgar, a practicing physician of Portland, maintainIng offices in the Selling building. He enlisted for service in the World war, in which he did most important work for his country, being engaged in the task of organizing hospitals in France. He served throughout the period of the war, being discharged as major at the close of the conflict; Charles H. was assistant deputy governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco until January 1st, 1921, at which time he was appointed one of the vice presidents of the North- western Bank of Portland. He organized the Salt Lake City branch of the bank, of which he was manager until January 1, 1920, when he was called to San Fran- cisco to assume the duties of his present position. He is very prominent in financial circles of the west, having formerly acted as bank examiner of Oregon; Mary R. is the wife of Joseph H. Ralston, who is engaged in the electrical business at Albany, Oregon; Ralph is also a veteran of the World war. He served with the artillery forces and was so fortunate as to escape injury, although he participated in many a hard-fought battle. He is now engaged in the work of estimating lands for taxa- tion purposes in Roosevelt county, Montana; Kate, who is an employe of the First National Bank of Albany, is residing at home; Robert L. also participated as a soldier in the World war, serving throughout the period of hostilities as a member

HISTORY OF OREGON

of an artillery company. He is now connected with the Mountain States Electric & Power Company.

Judge Stewart gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and he has taken a prominent part in public affairs, serving for four terms as a member of the city council, while for about twelve years he was chief of the fire department, thus rendering valuable service to the city. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Presbyterian church and for over twenty years he served as its secretary, and he has also been secretary of the Albany Commercial Club. He is a man of strict integrity, ever holding to high ideals of manhood and citizenship, and no public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed. His life has been so varied in its activities, so honorable in its purpose and so far-reaching and beneficial in its effects that it has become an integral part of the history of his section of the state and his sterling worth is attested by all with whom he has come into contact.

HENRY LEWIS PITTOCK.

With the history of progress in Oregon the name of Henry Lewis Pittock is closely associated and in his passing on the 28th of January, 1919, Portland lost one of her honored pioneers who for sixty-six years had been a resident of the city. The story of his life is one of successful achievement in the face of obstacles and difficulties which would have completely overwhelmed a man of less resolute spirit and deter- mination and his record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do. He was a dynamic force in public affairs and left the impress of his individuality for good upon many lines of the state's development and upbuilding. He had few enemies, his rigid adherence to the principles of truth and honor gaining him the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Pittock was a native of England. He was born in London, March 1, 1836, a son of Frederick and Susanna (Bonner) Pittock, both natives of Kent county. His father first came to America in 1825 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pittock, who emigrated from Dover, Kent county, and established their home in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania. Frederick Pittock later went to London, where he learned the printer's trade and was married, but returned to Pittsburgh in 1839 and spent the remainder of his life in that city, devoting his attention principally to the printing business. Henry L. Pittock was the third in a family of eight children. A brother, Robert Pittock, formerly of Portland, died in San Diego, California, about 1908, and another brother, John W. Pittock, was the founder of the Pittsburgh (Penn.) Leader.

In the public schools of Pittsburgh, Mr. Pittock received his early education and subsequently attended the preparatory school of the University of Western Pennsyl- vania. He acquired a good knowledge of the printing business while working in his father's office in Pittsburgh and in 1853, when seventeen years of age, in company with his eldest brother, Robert, he joined an emigrant party whose destination was the Pacific coast. At the Malheur river the brothers separated, Robert Pittock going to Eugene, while the subject of this review came to Portland, arriving in this city bare- footed and penniless. He attempted to secure work in the different newspaper offices of Portland without success and was finally offered a position as assistant bartender at the Columbia Hotel but refused the offer. In the latter part of October he was tendered a situation by Thomas J. Dryer, proprietor of the Weekly Oregonian, who agreed to give him his board and clothing for six months' services. In accepting this offer Mr. Pittock displayed the elemental strength of his character-a strength that constituted the foundation of his later success in all of his undertakings. Long before the expira- tion of his six month's term he had proven his worth and ability and was engaged for a year at a salary of nine hundred dollars, after which he was paid journeyman's wages. From this time forward his advancement was continuous. Frequently during the first years of his connection with the Oregonian the responsibility of getting out the paper devolved entirely upon him, as Mr. Dryer was too busy with other affairs, and thus Mr. Pittock soon assumed the business management of the enterprise. During the cam- paign of 1860 he took charge of the paper under contract with Mr. Dryer, who was engaged in making a canvass of the state as a republican candidate for presidential elector, and immediately following the election Mr. Pittock purchased the Oregonian. He at once instituted a progressive spirit in its management, and going to San Fran-

HENRY L. PITTOCK

HISTORY OF OREGON

cisco, he purchased a cylinder press and other necessary equipment, for it was his intention to convert the paper into a daily. On the 4th of February, 1861, he published the first issue of the Morning Oregonian, which now ranks as the leading paper of the state and one of the foremost publications of the entire country.

Throughout his long and busy life Mr. Pittock was actively connected with the Oregonian, and being a man of resourceful business ability, he also turned his attention to other fields, becoming identifled with some of the most important industrial, financial and manufacturing enterprises of the state. He was a pioneer in railroad, river trans- portation, banking and manufacturing industries and was especially interested in the manufacture of paper from pulp. To the energetic nature and strong mentality of such men as Mr. Pittock are due the development and ever increasing prosperity of Port- land, and many of the finest business blocks in the city stand as lasting memorials to his initiative spirit and indomitable perseverance.

On the 20th of June, 1860, Mr. Pittock was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Martin Burton, whose parents were E. M. and Rhoda Ann Burton. Mrs. Pittock's girl- hood was spent in Clark county, Missouri, and Keokuk, Iowa. Her parents crossed the plains to Oregon in 1852, settling near Milwaukie. There the father became promi- nent as a manufacturer, operating one of the first flouring mills in the state, and he was widely known and highly respected as one of the early pioneers of Oregon. His daughter, Mrs. Pittock, passed away on the 12th of June, 1918, and in less than a year afterward Mr. Pittock departed this life. He is survived by two brothers and two sis- ters: Thomas R. Pittock, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; George W. Pittock, now 'residing in Oakland, California; Mrs. Stratton, whose home is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. McFall, a resident of Portland, Oregon. The surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Pittock are five in number: Mrs. E. F. Emery, of Millsboro, Pennsylvania; and F. F. Pittock, Mrs. F. W. Leadbetter, Mrs. Lockwood Hebard and Mrs. J. E. Gantenbein, all of Portland.

Many enterprises of Portland stand today as monuments to the life work of Henry L. Pittock, but a more fitting and even more lasting tribute is the cherished memory which his friends entertain for him. His life embodied the principles of upright man- hood and citizenship, and his labors were ever of a character that contributed not only to individual success but also to the general welfare and prosperity. His name is writ- ten high on the roll of the honored dead who were among the builders and promoters of the great northwest.

THOMAS J. HAYTER.

Thomas J. Hayter passed away at the family home at Dallas, October 30, 1918, at the age of eighty-eight years, eight months and twenty-two days, and in his demise Oregon lost one of her honored pioneers, who for nearly seventy years had been prominently identified with the history of Polk county and of the state. He was a veteran of the Indian wars and there was no phase of frontier life with which he was not familiar. He was an interested witness of the marvelous develop- ment of the northwest and through his industry and enterprise contributed in sub- stantial measure to the work of reclamation and improvement, his influence being ever on the side of advancement and improvement.

Mr. Hayter was born February 8, 1830, in the old town of Franklin, Howard county, Missouri, a representative of an old and honored southern family of English and Irish ancestry. His father, James H. Hayter, was a native of Virginia who emi- grated to Missouri about 1816, settling in the village of New Franklin, then a small hamlet in the very outskirts of civilization. Here he established a sawmill and a flouring mill and also engaged in other manufacturing and agricultural pursuits, becoming one of the leading business men of his community. He married Sarah Fulkerson, a native of Lee county, Virginia, and a descendant of one of the old families of the south, and they continued to reside in New Franklin until 1856, when they became victims of the cholera epidemic which swept over Missouri and the states along the Mississippi.

Of their family of ten children, Thomas Jefferson Hayter was the last survivor. As a youth he attended the village school of New Franklin and later assisted bis father in his milling and farming operations. At the age of nineteen years, when news of the gold strike in California was sweeping the country, he joined an expe- Vol. 11-2

HISTORY OF OREGON

dition bound for the Golden state. The party left New Franklin on the 15th of April, 1849, traveling with ox teams across the plains by way of Fort Hall, Humboldt and Truckee and following closely the route chosen by the surveyors of the Central Pacific Railroad twenty years later. On arriving at Sacramento Mr. Hayter secured employment as teamster for a large concern, transporting merchandise from Sacra- mento to the various mining camps. In August, 1849, he began mining on his own account and was thus engaged until the fall of 1850, when he sailed as a passenger on the steamer Creole, bound for Oregon, and after a voyage of twenty-three days landed in Portland, then a small settlement with but a few scattered houses. Here he cut wood for a few months during that winter. He then made his way to Polk county, where he took up a donation claim, but in 1852 disposed of this and returned to Missouri by way of Panama with the intention of bringing his aged parents to Oregon. They were too frail to attempt the long journey by wagon, however, and he remained with them until 1854, when he started across the plains for the state of his adoption. On the second journey he followed the old route as far as the Raft river and then took up the Oregon trail. He arrived at the first settlement in Oregon in September, 1854, and soon afterward engaged in ranching on a farm three miles west of Dallas, specializing in the raising of fine stock.

In the fall of 1855 he volunteered for service in the campaign against the Indians and as a member of Company G, First Oregon Regiment of Cavalry, under command of Colonel James W. Nesmith, he saw several weeks of active service in the Yakima Indian war. During this period he contracted bronchitis and was re- moved to a hospital at The Dalles, Oregon, later receiving his honorable discharge. He then returned to his stock ranch in Polk county, which he sold in the following year, locating on a two hundred and sixty acre tract of land three miles east of Dallas. This he carefully tilled and developed, adding many improvements to his land and bringing it under a high state of cultivation, so that he at length became the owner of one of the best farms in the county. He resided thereon almost con- tinuously for more than a quarter of a century and then moved with his family to Dallas, where he lived retired throughout the remainder of his life, having through his industry and enterprise in former years accumulated a comfortable competence which enabled him to rest from further labor.

In May, 1856, Mr. Hayter was united in marriage to Miss Mary I. Embree, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carey D. Embree, who emigrated to Oregon from their home in Howard county, Missouri, in 1844, at which time their daughter, Mary, was but six years old. Taking up a donation claim in Polk county two miles east of Dallas, the father there engaged in farming for many years, at length removing to Dallas, where he lived retired throughout the balance of his life. He became one of the prominent citizens of his community, serving as sheriff of Polk county during territorial days and resigning that office in 1848. There was not a death in his family until one child reached the age of sixty years and Mr. Embree's demise occurred when he had attained the venerable age of ninety-five years. Mrs. Embree met an accidental death in 1881, being thrown from a wagon. To Mr. and Mrs. Hayter were born six children, namely: Eugene, who is serving as vice president of the Dallas National Bank; Mark, a prominent dentist of Dallas; J. C., a successful merchant of this city; Oscar, a leading attorney of Dallas, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Alice E., who died when five years of age; and Frank, who died at the age of six months.

Mr. Hayter became prominent in public affairs and in 1876 was elected on the democratic ticket to represent his district in the Oregon legislature, receiving a flattering majority of votes. As a member of the house of representatives he was recognized by his colleagues as an earnest and effective worker and his record was one of which the county was proud. While his own educational opportunities had been limited, he had become well informed through wide reading and observation and few men had a more comprehensive knowledge of human events and affairs. His chief interest outside of his home was centered in the establishment of an efficient school system in Oregon. He gave liberally of his means to the upbuilding of La Creole Academy, a pioneer institution of learning, and for many years served as a director of his local school district. He was interested in all those things which are of cul- tural value and which tend to uplift the individual, thus bringing a higher moral plane to the community. In every relation he was true to high and honorable principles, never faltering in the choice between right and wrong but always endeav- oring to follow the course sanctioned by conscience and good judgment. His integrity

HISTORY OF OREGON

in business affairs, his loyalty and patriotism in matters of citizenship, his fidelity in friendship and his devotion to home and family were characteristics which won for him the high and enduring regard of all with whom he was associated.

His eldest son, Engene Hayter, is an enterprising business man and influential citizen of his community and is now serving as vice president of the Dallas National Bank.

On the 21st of November, 1888, Engene Hayter was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn Schultz, a daughter of Asbury and Eliza (Seders) Schultz, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. In 1861 her parents emigrated from Illinois to Oregon, becoming residents of Dallas, where her father engaged in contracting and building. He constructed a number of buildings in the city, where he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Hayter have become the parents of two children: A daughter, Frank L., who was born April 18, 1890, and is now the wife of H. R. Patterson, Jr., a professor in the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis; and Charles Carey, who was born October 8, 1900, and is now a student in the department of mechanical engineering at the State Agricultural College.

W. H. GRABENHORST.

William H. Grabenhorst was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 14, 1859, and is the son of Henry C. and Margaret A. (Layer) Grabenhorst. The father of Mr. Graben- horst was born in the province of Brunswick, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1847. He is still living at the advanced age of ninety-two years, but the mother died on the 26th of May, 1921, at the age of eighty-two years. She was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Grabenhorst was educated in the public schools of Baltimore, Maryland, and was also a student three years at the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg. His introduc- tion into business was as a member of the United States coast and geodetic survey at Washington, D. C.

On the 22d day of September, 1881, he was married to Miss Eva Haight, of Dutchess county; New York. In 1883, accompanied by his wife, he settled in Webster county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grabenhorst: Anna A., Lillian M., George H., William H., Charles W., Eugene B., Nelle C. and Evelyn I., all of whom are now living except Anna A.

In 1902 Mr. Grabenhorst and family moved to Marion county, Oregon, and pur- chased what was known as the Frank C. Baker farm, four miles south of Salem, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty-seven acres. He farmed this tract of land for a number of years and was very successful in this line of work. Thinking it was for the best interests of himself and family, he subdivided this tract of land and sold the same in small tracts of five acres. The amount he received from these sales justified his judgment in the matter.

In 1911 Mr. Grabenhorst moved from his farm to Salem, where he engaged in the real estate and loan business. He is an enterprising business man. He has sub- divided over two thousand acres of land, which has greatly promoted the development of the city of Salem and the country adjacent thereto. His success in life has been due to his energy and attention to the business in which he has been engaged. His pride in the development of the capital city of Oregon has been one of the principal causes of adding so much to the growth and prosperity of Salem.

W. J. BISHOP.

W. J. Bishop is at the head of the firm of Bishop Brothers of Willamette Valley Transfer Company of Portland, in which he is associated with his brothers, George V. and A. C. Bishop. They were the pioneers in trucks for transportation purposes in Portland and they have ever been regarded as most progressive and enterprising business men.

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History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 2

Author: Carey, Charles Henry Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company Number of Pages: 780

Author: Carey, Charles Henry
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 780