USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 21
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discharge. In 1883 he became one of the organizers of Sumner Post, No. 12, G. A. R., and is one of the four surviving charter members of the organization. During the second year of its existence he served as senior vice commander and since has occupied the post of quartermaster, while he is now serving as adjutant, having filled the latter office for the past twenty years. He has never missed a meeting of his post except during his absence from the city and has been selected as a delegate to the national encamp- ment of the Grand Army of the Republic to be held in Indianapolis in 1921. For his military service Mr. Ogilbee is receiving a pension from the government and he has devoted much of his time to assisting other Civil war veterans in obtaining a govern- ment allowance. Since April, 1868, he has been a member of the Masonic order, whose teachings he exemplifies in his daily life, and for the past thirty-five years he has served as a notary public. He resides at No. 595 Tolman avenue, in the Sellwood district, occupying a large modern residence, and is well and favorably known in the community where he has so long resided. His has been a life of diligence and determi- nation, and success in substantial measure has come to reward his labors. He is a reliable and progressive business man, a loyal and patriotic citizen, and his many com- mendable traits of character have established him in an enviable position among his fellow townsmen.
ALBERT THEODORE PETERSON.
Albert Theodore Peterson is a progressive and enterprising merchant of Toledo, whose initiative spirit and notable ability have carried him into important relations. His business activity has ever balanced up with the principles of truth and honor and in all of his work he has never sacrificed the high standards which he has set up for himself. There is no feature of public life having to do with the welfare and progress of the community in which he is not deeply interested and his progressiveness has been a potent element in its continued development and upbuilding.
Mr. Peterson was born in Henry county, Illinois, October 23, 1859, and is a son of S. G. and Louisa (Johnson) Peterson, natives of Sweden, who emigrated to the United States in 1840, taking up their residence in Chicago when that city had a population of but eight hundred. The father subsequently went to Henry county, Illinois, where he purchased land, to the cultivation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. He passed away at the age of sixty-one years and the mother's demise also occurred in Henry county. They became the parents of eight children, of whom seven survive, one son passing away in Iowa in 1918.
Albert T. Peterson was reared in Henry county, Illinois, and in the district schools pursued his education. He remained at home until he attained his majority and then engaged in farming independently in that state until 1887, when he made his way to Oregon, settling in Albany, Linn county, where for about two years he followed the car- penter's trade. Thinking that sea air would prove beneficial to himself and wife, he removed to Toledo in 1889 and was so favorably impressed with conditions in this section of the state that he decided to make it his permanent home. He first engaged in busi- ness here as proprietor of a meat market, which he conducted for a year, and was then variously employed until 1893, when he commenced dealing in cascara bark, which he shipped to foreign and domestic ports through the agency of J. F. Ulrich of San Francisco. He conducted his operations along that line on an extensive scale, handling in one year alone two hundred tons, and he is still engaged in its sale, being the only merchant in Toledo who deals in that commodity. In 1901 he went to Chitwood, where he purchased a general store, which he later sold and in 1902 opened a hardware and plumbing establishment in Toledo, which he has since conducted with good success. His is the only hardware business in the town and his large and carefully selected stock, his progressive and reliable business methods and his courteous treatment of patrons have secured for him a large trade. He also handles sash, doors and blinds as well as all kinds of agricultural implements and tools. In 1916 he became local agent for the Ford cars and two years later erected a large garage and hotel building which is modern in every respect. He is also the owner of a large store building and in the spring of 1921 he erected a three-story structure of brick adjoining his garage, which is used for hotel purposes and also for his hardware business. He is the owner of considerable property in Toledo and Lincoln county, including one hundred and twenty building lots in the town, and he has also engaged in the cattle business to some
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extent. He is likewise well known in financial circles of his section as the president, and one the organizers and a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Toledo, located in its modern two-story bank building, the upper floor being devoted to offices, while the lower floor is utilized for banking purposes. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars. His activities are thus broad and varied, showing him to be a man of excellent administrative ability and keen business discernment, and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, for in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail.
On the 10th of March, 1885, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Eva I. Hall, a native of Galva, Illinois, and a daughter of George R. and Margaret A. (Hadsall) Hall. Her parents came to Oregon in 1889, settling in Benton county, where the father purchased a farm, which he engaged in cultivating for many years, but is now living retired at Alpine, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have two sons, W. E. and John A., who for some years were employed as telegraph operators, the latter being connected with the Western Union at Portland. They are now assisting their father in the conduct of his hardware business and are alert, wide-awake and enterprising young business men. Both are married.
In his political views Mr. Peterson is a republican and is now filling the office of commissioner of the port of Toledo, while for about five terms he has served as a member of the city council, in which capacities his work has been of great value to the municipality. He stands for all that means progress and improvement to the individual and to the community and has aided in promoting many plans and projects for the public good, being recognized as a most unselfish and public-spirited citizen. He was instrumental in securing for Toledo the new station of the Corvallis & Eastern Railroad and was one of the active promoters of the Lincoln County Court House, bringing that project through to a successful termination after it had been practically abandoned. He worked most energetically in its behalf and at the end of three months had succeeded in securing sufficient funds to cover the erection of the building. The depot, which is a substantial brick structure, was erected by the citizens of Toledo, Mr. Peterson's subscription to the fund being exceptionally large. He was also instrumental in securing for the city the government spruce mill, the municipality donating the factory site and also a twenty-five year water right. He also succeeded in inducing the Fisher-Story Company to locate here, selling them the site on which their mill is now being erected, and his services have been of great value in promoting the up- building and development of his city. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian and his fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is a patriotic and loyal American and during the World war rendered valuable service to the government, actively promoting all local drives and campaigns. The activity of Mr. Peterson in relation to the public welfare has been of wide scope and no man has done more to further the interests and upbuilding of the town. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his time, talents and opportunities and the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so worthily has it been won, so well used. His life in every relation has measured up to the highest standards and he stands as a splendid example of American manhood and chivalry.
E. A. BENNET.
One of the leading business enterprises of Salem is the Capital City Nursery Com- pany, of which E. A Bennet is president and manager. He has been identified with this business for the past sixteen years and is proving energetic, farsighted and efficient in the conduct of the extensive interests of which he is the head. Under his manage- ment the business of the company has steadily grown, its trade now covering a wide territory. Mr. Bennet is a native of Illinois. He was born in Tremont, Tazewell county, June 22, 1864, a son of Jesse E. and Lydia (Jolinson) Bennet. The father followed the occupation of farming in Illinois and in March, 1882, he removed with his family to Oregon, becoming identified with the Oregon State Agricultural Society, but for a few years preceding his death in 1906 he lived practically retired. His wife passed away in 1909. They had a family of two children: E. A., of this review; and Lulie May, who is the wife of R. V. Jones, president of a large shipbuilding company at Vancouver, Washington.
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In the pursuit of his education E. A. Bennet devoted considerable attention to the study of the classics and he also pursued a commercial course at Willamette Uni- versity. In 1887 he left the university and began teaching, his first school being at Mount Angel, after which he followed the profession successively at Newport, Sublimity and Stayton, Oregon, and at La Center, Washington. He then entered the mercantile field in which he continued active for thirteen years before forming his present asso- ciation with the Capital City Nursery Company of Salem. He has been identified with this concern for the past sixteen years and as president and manager of the company he is at the head of important and extensive business interests, their trade now reach- ing to Idaho, Montana and Nebraska. They carry a full line of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubbery and employ from fifty to seventy-five salesmen. Mr. Bennet main- tains his office in his attractive home at No. 1030 Chemeketa street and is proving most capable in directing the interests of the firm. He gives careful oversight to all phases of the business and is constantly endeavoring to extend the trade of the company to new territory, so that his services have become very valuable to the concern.
In 1882 occurred the marriage of E. A. Bennet and Miss Esther Reed of Washing- ton, and they have become the parents of three children: Lidia Theodosia is a teacher in the Jefferson high school at Portland. She married Charles B. Martin, an architect of that city, and they live in their pleasant modern home at Evergreen Station, Clack- amas county, Oregon; Dr. N. Paul Bennet is a prominent dentist of Seattle, Washington. He is associated in practice with Dr. Olsen and they maintain offices on Ballard street in that city; the youngest member of the family is Gordon, who is now twelve years of age.
Mr. Bennet's religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church of Salem, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest, serving as an elder therein. He is a reliable and progressive business man and citizen and his many commendable traits of character have established him in an enviable position among his fellow townsmen.
HORACE SEELY BUTTERFIELD.
Horace Seely Butterfield was an honored pioneer of the northwest who won promi- nence as an inventor and merchant, his activities along the latter line contributing in substantial measure to the growth of Portland, while as an inventor he made valuable contributions to the world's work. He was born in Hokah, Minnesota, August 16, 1860, a son of Hiram and Levisa Ann (Selfridge) Butterfield, the former a native of Albany, New York, while the latter was of English parentage.
Horace S. Butterfield was a youth of fifteen years when in 1875 he came to Oregon in company with his father, his mother having previously passed away in Minnesota. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native state and with his father came to the northwest, the family home being established at Eugene. The father there engaged in farming but passed away about a year after reaching Oregon. Horace S. Butterfield became an apprentice to H. N. Crane, a jeweler of Eugene, and in 1878 removed to Portland, where he entered the employ of John A. Beck, a prominent jeweler. He thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the business and in 1880 the firm of Butterfield Brothers was organized by Horace S. and A. E. Butterfield, who opened the first exclusive wholesale jewelry and optical goods store established on the Pacific coast. For twenty-five years the firm conducted business at First and Morrison streets and afterward removed to Third and Morrison, occupying space in the Mohawk building. Not only did Mr. Butterfield attain skill in jewelry manufacturing and repairing and win substantial success as a jewelry merchant, but he also made valuable contribution to the science of navigation through his inventions. In 1912 he brought forth an inven- tion known as the Butterfield azimuth chronometer, the value of which met with instant recognition. It was designed to show automatically the momentary azimuths, or bear- ings of the sun and other celestial objects under observation, continually through the day, night and year, eliminating the use of azimuth tables and all mathematical cal- culations incident to navigation, geodetic and magnetic problems. Under date of July 19, 1913, the Scientific American Supplement said: "Readers of the Scientific American Supplement this week have the privilege of examining the first published description of an invention which is remarkable for being fundamentally new, both in regard to the results secured by its use and to the mechanism involved, as it is the only thing
I.S. Butterfield
Vol. II-11
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of its kind and is capable of securing, automatically and immediately, results which have hitherto been obtained only through long and difficult mental labor. This inven- tion, or discovery, conceived by Horace S. Butterfield, of Portland, Oregon, has been embodied, with the assistance of Olof Ohlson, in a scientific instrument which is called the Butterfield azimuth chronometer. The value of the instrument will be at once apparent to navigators particularly and also to surveyors and others who have occasion to determine terrestrial positions and directions from astronomical observations, when it is realized that by its use the following determinations may be made instantly and automatically, without calculation or reference to tables and with great accuracy. The position of a ship at sea may be found or the latitude and longitude of any spot on the surface of the earth determined. The true directions may be determined independ- ent of the compass and compass errors detected and corrected. Local time may be accurately determined. These determinations may be made at any hour of the day or night when the sun or a known star is visible, even though the period of visibility is very short. Anyone who has even the most elementary knowledge of navigation, or who has ever tried to work out the position of a ship from the usual observations, or who has known the anxiety caused by the uncertainties of the magnetic compass, will understand the inestimable benefit which such an instrument, which saves the time and mental labor, and above all, eliminates the liability of error involved in these deter- minations, must be.
"The need of an instrument of some sort for simplifying the processes of applying astronomical observations correctly to the uses of navigation hecame apparent to Mr. Butterfield through information obtained on shipboard, when he became deeply im- pressed by the facts, well known to all navigators, that an immense amount of time and labor is required to take observations of the sun and stars and work out the position of the ship from these observations, and that errors are liable to occur at all stages of the calculations; that long periods of time frequently elapse in cloudy weather when observations at noon and at the other usual fixed times cannot be taken, and that brief intervals of clearing at other times, when the sun is visible for a few moments, cannot conveniently be made use of for taking observations, and above all, that mag- netic compasses are far from reliable, and that the adjustment of their errors is a tedious proceeding and one of constantly recurring necessity.
"The same need has also been given official recognition by the United States navy department. In a circular letter of February 26, 1912, from the acting secretary to all the officers of the navy, attention was called to the fact that the science of nautical astronomy has not advanced as rapidly as other sciences in recent years and that the department was desirous of developing new nautical instruments and new ways of using instruments and principles already available so as to increase the accuracy and ease of determining positions at sea from observations of heavenly bodies; and the officers were urged and encouraged to bring all available new ideas and information relating to new instruments and methods to the attention of the department.
"The methods heretofore necessary and now generally practiced for determining com- pass errors and adjusting compasses and for determining the position of the observer on the earth's surface by astronomical observations, involve a cumbersome series of observations by the aid of different instruments and complicated calculations, including the solution of a spherical triangle, with reference to numerous tables of constant and variable values. Even certain recently devised methods of simplified navigation, by which more or less close approximations of the true position at sea are obtained, in- volve a considerable amount of calculation and reference to tables. The use of the But- terfield instrument greatly simplifies the use of the observations to be taken for these purposes and wholly eliminates all calculations, securing results fully as accurate as can be obtained by the most careful observations with the best instruments correctly worked up, and much more accurate than are usually obtained by navigators.
"The salient features of the instrument are, sighting vanes mounted to rotate horizontally on ball bearings in the center of a pelorous plate (which is itself adjustable about the same axis), a timepiece furnished with the usual hands, and a transmission mechanism through which motion is imparted from the timepiece to the sighting vanes at a variable rate, corresponding at each instant to the momentary rate of change in the hearing of the sun or other heavenly body.
"The Butterfield instrument may also be incorporated with the gyroscopic com- pass, as a synchronized repeater, to give the longitude instantly by direct reading, and may be used individually with the gyro, for quick orientation at the starting of the compass. As the gyro can be depended on always to show the true meridian, longi-
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tude is determined when the azimuth chronometer is used as a gyro repeater, by direct- ing the sight vanes toward the sun by manipulation of the timepiece, when the time- piece will indicate local apparent time, which may be readily turned into longitude. It may also be used in the same way as an ordinary pelorous or azimuth instrument for taking observations on chartered objects. The same reasons which make the instru- ment useful to the navigator, make it equally useful to the surveyor and the engineer in establishing the meridian line and running a course.
"All that has been said above with regard to taking sights on the sun applies to observations on the stars, to obtain the same results at night, provided the star selected for observation has a declination not greater than the maximum declination of the sun and the timepiece is regulated for sidereal time. All declinations within that of the sun are taken care of by adjustments of the declination gear.
"The instrument is adapted to be used also as a precision sundial, but for this purpose the clock movement is not necessary. The hand-setting mechanism is retained and is used to bring the sighting vanes into bearing with the sun, thus automatically setting the clock hands to show local time. A cam designed to correct for the equa- tion of time will be used with the precision sundial to cause the clock hands to show local mean time at any instant."
In 1887 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Butterfield and Miss Genevieve New- man, a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Roddy) Newman, and to them was born a daughter, Genevieve. Thomas Newman was a native of England, while his wife was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came of Quaker ancestry. They were married in San Francisco in 1854 and in the same year removed to Salem, Oregon. Mr. Newman was a prominent figure in this state in the early days of its development and progress. He crossed the plains with the Joe Meeks party in 1852. During the plight of the Brother Jonathan, which was wrecked off the California coast, Mr. Newman was one of the few passengers to help save the vessel after it was given up by the officers. He was a prominent figure in the Indian wars of 1861 and 1882, aid- ing in fighting the Nez Perce Indians and other tribes that went upon the warpath. In the early '80s he and his family removed to Vancouver, Washington, where he remained until 1886, when he came to Portland. In 1887 his wife passed away and in later years Mr. Newman resided in California, his death occurring at Santa Cruz, that state, April 15, 1914, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. For six decades he had been a valued and exemplary representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his membership being in Good Samaritan Lodge of Portland. He made valuable contribution to the state during its pioneer era and was a man respected and honored wherever known.
Mr. Butterfield never aspired to office, yet was many times requested to become a candidate for official position. He was quiet and unassuming in manner, loved out- door life and sports and was a well known angler and hunter. He was also the owner of a fine apple orchard in the Hood River valley and there he spent his vacations, finding the development of his apple orchard next in interest to his creative labors in the field of science. Mr. Butterfield was a charter member of Company K, Oregon National Guard, which was organized in 1886 and was composed of Oregon's most prominent men, many of whom became captains of the state's most important indus- tries. He was also a Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to Oregon Consistory of Portland. He passed away April 4, 1917. Through his social and business activities he made many friends who speak highly of his sterling worth, his upright character and his many splendid qualifications. All who knew him bear tribute to his life, and his mem- ory is enshrined in the hearts of those with whom he came in contact. He was a man of great kindliness and sympathy as well as of marked ability as a merchant and inventor and he stood prominently among those who pushed forward the wheels of progress in the northwest.
HOWARD B. FREELAND.
Howard B. Freeland, one of the proprietors of the Springfield News, published at Springfield, Lane county, was born in Norfolk, Nebraska, May 17, 1894. He is a son of Henry P. and Helen M. (Buffington) Freeland, the former a native of Greene county, Indiana, while the latter was born in Le Mars, Iowa. The father went west to Nebraska and in that state worked at his trade of harness-making until 1905, when he went
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to Colorado and there resided until the spring of 1907, at which time he came to Oregon, locating at Salem, where he still resides. The mother also survives.
Howard B. Freeland was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Greeley, Colorado, and his education was acquired in the schools of that city, in Nebraska and in Salem, Oregon. After his textbooks were laid aside he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Statesman and he continued to follow that trade in various parts of the state until September 8, 1919, when he purchased an interest in the Springfield News. In November of that year he admitted Samuel H. Taylor as a partner in the enterprise and they have since conducted the News. They have built up a fine newspaper, and they are owners of a thoroughly modern printing plant, equipped with all the latest presses and machinery, including a linotype machine. They do a large job business, including considerable work for the county, and in the conduct of their business have ever followed the most pro- gressive and enterprising methods.
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