USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 30
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Adam Wilhelm was but two years of age when his parents emigrated to America in 1848 and he was reared and educated at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, remaining at home until after his marriage. He then went to St. Cloud, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the hotel business, conducting that enterprise until 1870, when he came to the Pacific coast country, going first to San Francisco, and thence hy hoat to Oregon. For four months he resided in Portland and at that time he could have purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the heart of the city for the sum of eighteen hundred dollars, but he was desirous of securing a larger farm and with that end in view made his way to Benton county, purchasing eight hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Monroe. He also bought a notion store and liquor business in the town, thereby establishing the nucleus of the present large department store of A. Wilhelm & Sons. Subsequently he purchased about four thousand acres of land, of which he is still
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the owner. In the conduct of his mercantile interests he displayed sound judgment and keen discernment and his enterprising and progressive methods, his carefully selected stock and his reasonable prices soon won for him a good patronage which has steadily grown from year to year until the business has now assumed extensive proportions. Mr. Wilhelm has admitted his sons to a partnership, the business now being conducted under the firm style of A. Wilhelm & Sons. They carry a large and attractive line of goods, including farm implements and automobiles, and are accorded a large patronage, the firm name being a synonym for reliability and enterprise. In 1896 Mr. Wilhelm turned his attention to the manufacturing field, establishing the A. Wilhelm & Sons Flour Mills, the capacity of the plant being one hundred barrels per day. He also built a large mill at Harrisburg, Oregon, which in 1919 was destroyed by fire, and he likewise erected a fine mill at Junction City, which he subsequently sold. He is the owner of a large warehouse at that point and there erected a fine modern garage, which is operated by his son, George A. Wilhelm, and he also owns another garage in the town, which he uses as a storehouse for his cars. He has two large garages at Corvallis, where he handles all the most popular types of cars, in- cluding the Overland, Stevens and Nash cars and trucks and the Cleveland tractor.
In financial circles of the state Mr. Wilhelm is equally prominent and well known. He was the organizer and is now the largest stockholder of the Monroe State Bank, which is capitalized for ten thousand dollars and has deposits amounting to two hundred thousand dollars, and he is also interested in the Benton County State Bank of Corvallis, the Corvallis State Bank, and is a stockholder in a bank at Spokane, Washington. He is thus continually broadening the scope of his activities with good results and what- ever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, for he possesses keen insight into business affairs and situations and his plans are well formulated and promptly executed.
In February, 1867, Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage in Kiel, Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth Mueller, a daughter of Mathias and Mary Mueller, natives of France. Her parents emigrated to America, and going to Wisconsin, cast in their lot with its pioneer settlers. The father engaged in farming in the vicinity of Sheboygan and was very successful in his operations, continuing a resident of that section of the state until his demise. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm were born nine children: Adam, Jr., who has charge of the business at Corvallis; George, who died at the age of three years; Mathias, who is connected with the store at Monroe; Louise, who died when fourteen years of age; Bernard, also assisting in the conduct of the business at Monroe; Sarah, at home; Louie, who died at the age of seven years; Lawrence, who is managing busi- ness interests in the state of Washington; and George A., in charge of the business at Junction City. The wife and mother passed away at Los Angeles, California, after a two days' illness, on the 23d of February, 1916, at the age of seventy years.
In his political views Mr. Wilhelm is a republican. His first presidential vote was cast for Horace Greeley and he was a stanch supporter of democratic principles and candidates until the Wilson administration, since which time he has adhered to the republican platform. In religious faith he is a Catholic and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Wilhelm has great faith in the future of this section of the country, to which his extensive investments amply testify, and he is the heaviest taxpayer in Monroe, paying sixty-five per cent of the tax of the town. He is dis- tinctively a man of affairs and one who wields a wide influence. Those forces which have contributed most to the development, improvement and benefit of the state have received impetus from his labors and his life record is a most creditable one, showing what can be accomplished through individual effort and determined purpose when guided by intelligence and sound judgment.
VIVIAN C. STAATS, B. S., M. D.
Dr. Vivian C. Staats, a successful physician and surgeon of Dallas, is a native of this state, his birth having occurred in Airlie, Polk county, April 1, 1883. He is a son of Clarence E. and Sarah E. (Tarter) Staats, also natives of this county, the former born in 1858 and the latter in 1863. The family has long been represented in this state. The paternal grandfather, Isaac W. Staats, left his home in New York, New York, and made the journey across the plains with ox teams, arriving in Oregon in 1845. Settling in Polk county, he there took up a donation claim and at once set
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about the work of clearing and developing his land, which through untiring effort and determination he at length succeeded in converting into a valuable and productive tract. He continued to cultivate and improve his land until 1888, when he met an accidental death by drowning. His wife, Orlena M. Staats, passed away in 1908 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Their son, Clarence E. Staats, was reared and educated in Polk county and on starting out in life independently he engaged in farming, purchasing a tract of land twelve miles south of Dallas, which he continued to operate until 1919, when he took up his residence in the town and is now living retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. The mother of the Doctor also survives.
Vivian C. Staats was reared in his native county and there attended school, later pursuing a course in the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis, from which he was graduated in 1904. He then entered the medical department of St. Louis University and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1908. His high scholarship won him the position of interne in a St. Louis hospital,, where he gained valuable practical knowledge. In 1909 he opened an office in Dallas, where he has since continued in practice, his successful treatment of disease winning for him a large practice. He is classed with the leading physicians of Polk county, for he has been a close and dis- criminating student of his profession, and his knowledge and ability have constantly developed. He also has invested in farm lands in the county and is the owner of a valuable prune orchard of forty-five acres.
On the 6th of September, 1906, Dr. Staats was united in marriage to Miss Letha M. Agnew, of San Antonio, Texas, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Eva Burnice, who was born September 18, 1914. In his political views the Doctor is a democrat, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Shrine and he also is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the United Artisans. His professional connections are with the medical societies of Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties, the Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has always made his professional duties his first consideration, being most thorough and conscientious in the performance of the work that devolves upon him in this connection. His life is a busy and useful one, and he is a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
ELLIOTT E. WHITE.
Elliott E. White, engaged in the hardware and implement business at Browns- ville and also serving as mayor of his city, is a man of enterprise and progressive business methods whose efforts are bringing to him substantial and well deserved success. He was born in the southern portion of Pennsylvania, near the city of Emmits- burg, Maryland, in October, 1862, a son of Elliott and Clarissa Jane (Waybright) White, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father engaged in farming in Pennsylvania and during the Civil war he enlisted for service in the north- ern army, becoming a member of the Pennsylvania Infantry, with which command he remained for ninety days. On the expiration of his term of enlistment he was honorably discharged and returned to the pursuits of civil life, his health being much impaired by the hardships and privations he had endured while in the service of his country. Going to Illinois, he resided for about six years in that state and in 1877 went to Kansas, where he purchased land, which he improved and developed, continu- ing its operation until his demise in 1900, when he was fifty-six years of age. The mother survives and is yet a resident of the Sunflower state.
Elliott E. White attended school in Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska and remained at home until he attained his majority, when he engaged in the cultivation of rented land. Having carefully saved his earnings he was subsequently able to purchase land in the vicinity of Hutchinson, Kansas, and this he continued to operate until 1906, when he came to Oregon. Turning his attention to mercantile pursuits, he engaged in the hardware and farm implement business at Brownsville and has since been active along that line. He carries a large stock of shelf and heavy hardware and also deals in farm implements, handling the Case tractors, and he is likewise agent for the Willys Overland cars. He has a well appointed establishment and his thorough relia- bility, progressive methods and reasonable prices have secured for him an extensive patronage. He is watchful of every detail of his business and of every indication
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ELLIOTT E. WHITE
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pointing to success, and his close application and unfaltering energy have been the dominant features in his advancement.
In July, 1889, Mr. White was united in marriage to Miss Clara Macklin of Kansas, and they have become the parents of three children, namely: Ina, who married V. E. Weber and resides in Portland, Oregon; Ethel B., who is a teacher of music at Tilla- mook, Oregon; and Blanche M., a teacher in the public schools of Portland.
In his political views Mr. White is a republican and he takes an active and promi- nent part in the affairs of his community, being a most progressive and public-spirited citizen. In the fall of 1918 he was elected mayor of Brownsville and in 1919 he assumed the duties of his office, which he is now capably discharging. His administration is proving most beneficial, for he has been instrumental in securing many needed munic- ipal improvements, including the grading, graveling and paving of streets, which work he finally succeeded in putting through after much opposition. He also served as a member of the city council for some time, in which connection he also rendered valuable and important service to the municipality. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and in religious faith he is a Presbyterian, actively and helpfully interested in the work of the church, in which he is now serving as one of the elders. His genuine worth, his fidelity in office, his reliability in business and his progressiveness in citi- zenship have made him highly respected, and his worth is acknowledged by all who know him.
ALBERT G. PRILL, M. D.
Dr. Albert G. Prill, who for almost a quarter of a century has engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Scio, has won an enviable position among the prominent representatives of the medical profession in Linn county. He was born in Springville, New York, May 5, 1869, a son of John and Mary (Tardell) Prill, natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1842. They settled in Erie county, New York, where the father purchased land thirty miles south of the city of Buffalo, and to its cultivation and improvement he devoted the remainder of his active life. At length, however, he retired and took up his residence in Springville, New York, where his death occurred in 1917, when he was more than ninety years of age. The mother survived him for but two years, passing away in 1919, at the venerable age of eighty- six years, and both were highly respected in the community where they made their home.
Their son, Albert G. Prill, attended the public and high schools of Springville, New York, later becoming a student at the Griffith Institute. Deciding upon the practice of medicine as a life work, in 1886 he entered the medical school of the Uni- versity of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with the class of 1890. Soon there- after he came west to Oregon and opened an office in Salem, but after six months removed to Lebanon, Oregon, where he continued in practice until 1896. That year witnessed his arrival in Scio, Linn county, and he has remained a resident of this city, his professional skill and ability winning for liim a liberal patronage. In addi- tion to his private practice he has conducted a hospital containing six beds for the past four years, two trained nurses being in attendance at the institution. He is a skilled physician and surgeon, whose professional experience has been broad and varied and whose ability has been constantly promoted, not only by experience but by wide reading and study, which have kept him abreast with the advancement that is being continually made in the methods of medical and surgical practice.
In June, 1889, Dr. Prill was united in marriage to Anna C. Satterly Bates and they became the parents of two children, both of whom died in infancy, Ariel V., pass- ing away in August, 1891, when a year old.
In his political views the Doctor is a republican and an active worker in behalf of the party. For the past twelve years he has served as city health officer and he was also mayor of Scio for three terms of one year each and is now filling that office for the second two-year term. His administration has proved most beneficial to the interests of the city and when first elected to the office of mayor he was instrumental in securing the installation of municipal lighting and water systems and during his present tenure of office he is improving the power plant by putting in sixty thousand dollars' worth of new equipment. He also was a member of the town council for a number of years and his interest in the cause of public education is indicated in the
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fact that for eighteen years he served as a director of the local school board. In fact, he is interested in everything that tends to promote the welfare and advancement of his community and was one of the organizers of the Linn County Fair Association, of which he was president for eleven years. For the past twelve years the fair has been held at Scio, but in future the meetings of the association will take place at Albany. Dr. Prill is much interested in the study of ornithology and is a recognized authority in that science. He has made some very fine collections and has donated valuable specimens to the State University at Eugene, to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C., and to the museum at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, con- stantly adding new specimens in the way of mounted birds, eggs and Indian relics to the museum of the State University. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the chapter, commandery and
shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, while his professional connections are with the American Medical Asso- ciation and the Oregon State and Central Willamette Medical Societies, and of the latter organization he served for one year as president, thus indicating his high stand- ing among his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession. The activity of Dr. Prill 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. His life has at all times measured up to the highest standards and he has ever stood as a man among men, honored and respected for his sterling worth as well as for his pronounced professional ability.
HOMER S. WOOD.
Homer S. Wood, the efficient postmaster of Independence, to which office he was appointed in 1916, is widely and favorably known in this section of Oregon, where he has spent the greater part of his life. He is a native of Oregon, his birth having occurred at Brownsville, in Linn county, December 30. 1877. His parents, John H. and Addie E. (Sperry) Wood, are natives of Missouri and of Brownsville, Oregon, respec- tively. In 1875, when a young man of twenty years, the father started across the plains with ox team and wagon for Oregon as a member of a hand of emigrants and on reaching this state settled at Brownsville. where for twelve years he followed the carpenter's trade. Since first coming to Oregon he has made two trips to the east but has always returned to his home in the northwest, having great confidence in the future of this section of the country. Following his residence in Brownsville he removed to Albany, where he remained for two years, after which he spent a short time in Portland. He then went to Hardman, Oregon, and for two years engaged in the raising of sheep, subsequently resuming work as a carpenter, following his trade at Heppner for two years. after which he went to Arlington, Oregon, and there conducted a furniture business until 1898. In that year he took up land in Gilliam county, Oregon, which he cleared and developed and to which he has since added by purchase being now the owner of over nine hundred acres of valuable and productive land, upon which in 1920 he raised a wheat crop which netted him forty thousand dollars. He has been very successful in the conduct of his business interests and is classed with the substantial and progressive agriculturists of his part of the state. He has taken an active and prominent part in political affairs and in the '90s was the democratic candidate for state representative from his district but met defeat at the polls. He is now seventy-four years of age and his wife has reached the age of sixty-five. They have a large circle of friends who entertain for them the highest regard and respect.
Their son, Homer S. Wood, was reared at Arlington and there attended the public schools, later pursuing a three years' course in the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis, but previous to this had been employed for five years in the depot at Arling- ton, where he learned telegraphy. In 1901 he took up a homestead in Gilliam county but after proving up on his claim he sold it to his father. Subsequent to his gradua- tion from college he became connected with the firm of Balfour, Guthrie & Company, acting as their wheat buyer in Oregon and Washington. He remained in the employ of that company for a period of eight years and then purchased sixteen acres of land near Vancouver, Washington. which he continued to cultivate until 1909. In that year he removed to Independence, where he began work at the carpenter's trade, which he had learned in young manhood, and was active as a contractor and huilder until
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1916, when he was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to the office of postmaster of Independence and is now serving in that capacity, his term of office expiring in 1924. He is proving most capable as a public official, discharging his duties promptly, faithfully and efficiently. He is also cultivating twenty-two acres of land adjoining the city, of which twelve acres are devoted to the growing of hops, and he likewise is engaged in raising pure bred white Leghorn chickens, his residence being within the city limits. He is leading a busy, active and useful life and his enterprise, diligence and determination have been potent factors in the attainment of the prosperity which he now enjoys.
On the 20th of July, 1902, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Miss Eva Robinson, a daughter of Asa V. and Angie (Osborn) Robinson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Oregon. The father came to this state about 1849. settling in southern Oregon, where he resided for several years and then removed to Independence. Here he engaged in the drug business and successfully conducted his store for many years, passing away in 1915, while the mother's demise occurred three years later, or in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have become the parents of three children, namely: Winona, aged seventeen, who is a student in the State Normal school at Monmouth; Dorothy, who is fourteen years of age and is a high school student; and Dale, aged twelve, now attending the public schools.
Mr. Wood gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and in religious faith is a Baptist, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, the Eastern Star, and is also a Chapter Mason. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens of the community in which he makes his home and his progressiveness has been a potent element in its continued development.
WILLIAM A. EACHTEL.
The work of improving the public highways in northwestern Oregon is ably cared for by William A. Eachtel, roadmaster of Multnomah county, to which office he was appointed in 1918. Mr. Eachtel is a native of the south. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, November 25, 1864, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Lloyd) Eachtel, the former a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Manchester, England. The father was an expert mechanic, being especially skilled in the work of constructing steam engines. In the early '70s he removed with his family to the west, taking up his residence in Los Angeles, California, where he remained for two years and then made his way to Virginia City, Nevada. There he continued to make his home for three years and then went to Bingham Canyon, Utah, where he set up the first hoisting engine in the state erected by a non-believer in the Mormon faith. Being favorably impressed with business conditions in that section of the country Mr. Eachtel there tock up his permanent residence and was joined by his family the following year, both he and his wife passing away in that state. Of their children William A. was the eldest, the others being Thomas, Charles, George, Frank and Emily.
In the common schools William A. Eachtel acquired his education and when fifteen years of age started out in life independently, securing work in the smelter at Murray, Utah, where he was employed for eight years. He then went to Pueblo, Colorado, where for eight years he was foreman of a company, subsequently returning to Salt Lake City, Utah, but remained there for only a year and then came to Oregon to take charge of the smelter at Linnton operated by the Portland Smelting & Refining Com- pany. He was thus employed for four years and then became furnaceman of the old Germania smelter at Salt Lake, where he remained for two years. His next posi- tion was that of engineer for the Linnton (Ore.) Slaughter House and after spending four years in that capacity he went to Everett, Washington, as foreman of the Everett smelter. However, he was obliged to abandon that line of work, which was proving very detrimental to his health, because of the noxious fumes from the metal which resulted in lead poisoning from which he suffered on seven different occasions. He then went to Polk county, Oregon, as engineer and acting foreman for the Pacific Cooperage Company, with which he was connected for two years. In 1904 he was first employed by Multnomah county as tool dresser and engineer and in the following year was placed in charge of the convicts who were engaged in working on the public high- ways and in the quarries. In the spring of 1906 he was transferred by the county court to the Kelly Butte quarry where he supervised the work of building the quarry
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and installing machinery, having everything in operation by the 6th of September, 1906, and he also constructed the quarry at Linnton. His excellent work in this con- nection led to his appointment to the position of superintendent of quarries in 1908 and in the following year he was made superintendent of all county machinery and prop- erties and given charge of the work of planning and supervising all county institutions. In 1918 he was appointed county roadmaster and in addition to the duties of this office is still acting in his former capacities, now having under his supervision about five hundred county employes. He thus has charge of all roads, bridges, ferries, quarries, road construction work, county machinery and properties in Multnomah county and his is a most responsible position. He is fully equal to the heavy demands made upon him in this connection and is discharging his duties in a thoroughly capable and efficient manner, his services being of great value to the county. Like his father he is an expert mechanic and is thus able intelligently to direct the labors of those under his charge, securing excellent results.
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