USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 35
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In his political views Mr. Gaines is a democrat and he is much interested in the cause of public education, having served on the school board for a number of years. Mrs. Gaines is a Baptist in religious faith and her life is guided by its teachings. Mr. Gaines has worked diligently and persistently as the years have passed, meeting the hardships and privations of pioneer life and overcoming the difficulties and obstacles that always confront one in business. Industry has been the hasic element in his success and he is now classed with the prosperous farmers and honored pioneers of his section of the state. .
WILLIAM WOLF HICKS, M. D.
Dr. William Wolf Hicks, a man of advanced scientific attainments, who since April, 1909, has been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Junction City, was born at Ligonier, Indiana, July 21, 1872, a son of William R. and Barbara E. (Wolf) Hicks, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father was brought to America by his parents when but eight years of age and in the schools of this country he pursued his education. During the Civil war he proved his loyalty and devotion to his adopted country by enlisting as a member of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he served for over four years, participating in many hotly contested battles and enduring many hardships and privations. After the close of the war he went to Indiana and there followed his trade of carpenter, builder and cabinet-maker for several years, subse- quently purchasing land which he cleared and developed, erecting thereon substantial barns and outbuildings and converting it into a valuable property, which he operated the remainder of his life. He became a man of prominence in his community and was several times called to public office. He passed away in March, 1913, at the age of seventy years, while the mother's demise occurred in September, 1902, when she was fifty-nine years of age.
William W. Hicks attended the district schools in Indiana and later pursued a preparatory course in Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, after which he en- tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Cincinnati, where he was a student for three years, completing his fourth year in the study of medicine at the State University of California at Los Angeles. Actuated by the laudable desire to obtain a good education, Dr. Hicks worked his way through college and when he arrived in Oregon on the 8th day of July, 1902, his cash capital consisted of hut twenty dollars, of which amount ten dollars was required for the state examination. After his admission to practice he went to La Fayette, Yamhill county, Oregon, and there he opened an office, but remained only for a period of four months and then
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went to Ashland, Oregon, where he practiced until 1905. For the next two years he followed his profession at St. Johns, Oregon, and then went to Silverton, there maintaining an office until 1909. In that year he went to San Francisco and com- pleted a postgraduate course of six months in the College of Physicians & Surgeons, thus promoting his proficiency in his profession. In April, 1909, he located for prac- tice in Junction City, where he has remained. His long practice and his close study have developed a high degree of efficiency that places him in the front rank among the able physicians and surgeons of his section of the state and his practice is now extensive and of a most important character. He is local surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and has ever kept in touch with the trend of modern pro- fessional thought, research and investigation through wide reading and study. Dr. Hicks has not limited his attention to his professional activities, but is a man of excellent business qualifications, identified with many of the leading mercantile interests of his section of the state, heing a stockholder in the Lane County Fruit Growers Asso- ciation, the Pacific States Fire Insurance Company and the Junction City Warehouse Company. He also has extensive property holdings, being the owner of a valuable ranch of one hundred and eighty-four acres and another comprising one hundred and eighty-six acres, both in Lane county. They are well improved farms and he is now leasing them and he is likewise the owner of city property, which he leases. He owns the building in which his office is situated and also his residence, which consists of eight rooms and is one of the finest and most modern homes in Junction City. He has great faith in the future of this state, which he has clearly demonstrated by his extensive investments in real estate, in which he has met with an unusual degree of success and has been instrumental in inducing several families from his home state to locate in this region. He is thoroughly familiar with the topography of the state and the countless opportunities here offered to the man of energy, ability and determina- tion, and has made several trips over the state, traversing the country with teams before the era of the automobile, greatly appreciating the wonderful scenic beauty of Oregon.
On the 28th of January, 1917, Dr. Hicks was united in marriage to Miss Katherine E. Swank and they have a large circle of friends in the city where they reside. The Doctor is a republican in his political views and has ever been interested in the welfare and progress of his community, serving as a member of the town council. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, and his professional connections are with the Oregon State and Central Willamette Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He is a patriotic and loyal American and while a resident of Indiana was a member of Company C, Indiana State Guard, with which he served for three years. During the recent war with Germany he became a member of the Volunteer Medical Corps, in which connection he rendered most important and valuable service to the country, and he was also active in promoting all local drives. Dr. Hicks is numbered among the self-made men who owe their advancement and prosperity directly to their own efforts, for he started out in life empty-handed and by his perseverance has gained the place which he now occupies as a distinguished mem- ber of the medical profession, a progressive and enterprising business man and a patriotic, public-spirited citizen.
JAY F. POWELL.
Modern agriculture requires for its development an efficiency and thorough knowl- edge which amounts almost to a science and it is becoming recognized as an occupation in which practical methods result in a high degree of prosperity. Jay F. Powell in the cultivation of a valuable and productive farm of one hundred acres situated two and a half miles northwest of Monmouth, exemplifies the truth of this statement. His entire life has been passed in Oregon and he is a worthy representative of one of its hest known pioneer families. He was born in Linn county, Oregon, March 2, 1869, and is a son of Franklin S. and Louisa Jane (Peeler) Powell, extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Dr. J. M. Powell.
Jay F. Powell was but five years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Polk county and in the public schools of Monmouth he pursued his education, later becoming a student in the State Normal school, from which he was graduated with
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the class of 1889. He then for a time assisted his father in the cultivation of the homestead and subsequently studied vocal music in the conservatory at Quincy, Illinois, after which he toured the country as a member of a male quartet, also doing professional singing in Portland churches and during political campaigns. On his return home he again became associated with his father in the operation of the home farm, being thus active until the latter's retirement. He now resides on the home place, having inherited forty-five acres of the estate following his father's demise, and has also purchased an additional tract of fifty-six acres, so that he is now the owner of one hundred acres of rich and productive land. He follows the most progressive methods in the cultivation of his farm, upon which he has placed many improvements, converting it into one of the attractive places of Polk county. He is also engaged in stock raising, specializing in the breeding of high grade Cotswold sheep, and his labors have ever been of a constructive nature, intelligently carried forward, resulting in the attainment of substantial success. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Monmouth and his investments are wisely and judiciously made.
On the 15th of June, 1905, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Angusta Mulkey and they became the parents of two children, namely: Morris M., born No- vember 3, 1906; and Wallace J., whose birth occurred November 27, 1907. Both are attend- ing school. The wife and mother passed away in October, 1908, after a year's illness, and her loss was deeply felt by her family and a large circle of friends, owing to her many lovable traits of character.
In his political views Mr. Powell is a republican and is much interested in educa- tional work, having served as school director and clerk for the past twenty years. Fraternally he is identified with the Yeomen, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, in the work of which he is actively interested, serving for a number of years as director of the choir. His genuine personal worth and his activity in a useful line of endeavor have combined to make him one of the enterprising and representative men of this section whose careers have been influential factors in agricultural development.
GEORGE L. PARKER.
One of the important commercial enterprises of Portland is the G. L. Parker Markets, Parker's Market, City Market, and Beaver Market, of which George L. Parker is proprietor and in this connection is at the head of large business interests, his annual sales reaching more than a half million dollars. He is also a well known turf- man, owning some of the finest bred harness stock in the country. Mr. Parker is a native of Canada. He was born in Toronto in 1864, a son of Captain George and Jane (Hoag) Parker, the former an English officer and the latter a native of Canada and of Scotch descent. Emigrating to Canada, the father became superintendent of a Toronto steamship line, retaining that position for many years. He passed away in 1920 at the age of eighty-two years, while the mother's demise occurred in 1880. In their family were six children: E. M., a resident of Toronto, Canada; George L., of this review; Arthur E., who passed away at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1919; Harry, who died in 1919 as the result of a railroad accident; Lillian, who became the wife of Major C. Smith of Toronto; and Minnie, the wife of Harry Wells, also a rest- dent of Toronto.
In the schools of Canada George L. Parker pursued his education to the age of sixteen years, when he went to Chicago, where he secured a position in a meat market and has since devoted his attention to this branch of business activity. In 1886 he left Chicago and making his way to Portland entered the employ of L. Zimmerman, who was at that time one of the leading meat packers and later became president of the board of aldermen during the administration of Mayor Williams. For a number of years Mr. Parker was identified with Mr. Zimmerman's business interests in this city opening the Franklin Market, which was the first retail market employing twenty or more meat cutters and clerks and was owned by the Union Meat Company. In 1892 he went to Tacoma, Washington, where he established and managed the Bay City Market, later becoming manager of the Pacific Packing Company's plant. He returned to Portland in 1895 and purchased the Franklin Market, continuing in this connection for three years. In 1899 he went to Butte, Montana, and in connection with the Walker & Gibbs Live Stock Company spent four years in that city and in Anaconda,
GEORGE L. PARKER
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dividing his time between the two places. On the expiration of that period he returned to Portland, where he engaged in business independently, opening a market at No. 149 First street. In order to establish this enterprise he was obliged to borrow the sum of nine hundred dollars, which amount was loaned him by William S. Ladd, one of the pioneer bankers of the city, although he had no security to offer, Mr. Ladd trusting implicitly to his integrity and honor. That he made no mistake in so doing is indi- cated in the present standing of Mr. Parker, who attributes the greater part of his success to the timely assistance given him by Mr. Ladd. For sixteen years Mr. Parker remained at his location on First street and then removed to Nos. 169-171-173 Fourth street, where he is now located, conducting Parker's Market and the City Market. He also owns and operates the Beaver Market on Yamhill street between Fourth and Fifth. He has devoted his entire life to the line of work in which he started as a young man in Chicago and has therefore become thoroughly informed regarding all phases of the meat and stock industries, so that his efforts have been rewarded with a gratifying measure of success. An indication of the extent and importance of his operations is given in the fact that he has in his employ thirty-five persons and his annual business sales aggregate more than a half million dollars. He is recognized as a man of excellent business ability and power of organization, whose transactions have ever been characterized by strict honor and integrity.
It was while a resident of Butte, Montana, that Mr. Parker met and married Miss Effie Finch, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Finch, the former a native of the state of New York while the latter was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. For many years her father followed railroading as a locomotive engineer. Two children have been born of this marriage: Janice, a sophomore at Bryn Mawr College, and Helen, attending St. Helen's Hall at Portland. The family reside in a fine home at No. 531 East Eighteenth street, North.
Mr. Parker is a prominent Mason, helonging to the Scottish Rite Consistory and to Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and his interest in the welfare and progress of his city is indicated by his membership in the Chamber of Commerce. He is also identified with the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club and acts as timekeeper for all of its official sporting events. He is likewise connected with the Portland Community Service, the International Live Stock Shows, the Auld Lang Syne Society, the Old Colony Club and is a life member of the Multnomah Club and of the Irvington Club, State Automobile Association and Harness Horse Association. He is much interested in the welfare of state and county fairs for the purpose of breeding better live stock. Mr. Parker is fond of harness racing and enters his horses at all county fairs in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia and at state fairs. He maintains his stahles at the Salem fair grounds and they are in charge of Frank Ragsdale, who has been a successful driver and trainer in this country and Canada for many world known stables.
Starting out in life with no capital except the determination to succeed, Mr. Parker has attained success and stands today as a splendid example of that peculiarly Ameri- can product-a self-made man. He has known how to make the most of his oppor- tunities and his well developed powers have brought him the preeminence that fol- lows superior ability and concentrated effort. He is a forceful factor in business circles of Portland and is accounted one of her foremost citizens.
ARGUMENTO THURLOW.
Since 1894 Argumento Thurlow has been identified with the Powers Furniture Company, being at one time a part owner in the business, while he now has charge of the basement. He has also filled many offices in the Masonic order and has been accorded the honorary thirty-third degree, ever guiding his life by the beneficent teach- ings of the organization. Mr. Thurlow is a native of Ohio. He was born January 20, 1850, in Caldwell, Noble county, a son of William and Sally Ann (Morris) Thurlow, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of West Virginia. The father followed the occupation of farming and thus provided for his family of six children, namely: Argu- mento, Sophronia, Mason, Minnie, William and Annie. The family is of English origin and has been established in America since the sixteenth century.
The youthful days of Argumento Thurlow were spent upon his father's farm and
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in the common schools he pursued his education. He remained at home until the early '70s, when he went to Kansas where he resided until 1874 and then made his way to Portland, Oregon. Here he entered the employ of the firm of Donly, Beard & Powers, which later became known as the Powers Furniture Company and he has since heen identified therewith. His conscientious service and excellent business ability soon won recognition, resulting in merited promotions and carefully saving his earnings Mr. Thurlow at length became part owner in the store. He recently sold his interest to the Powers Furniture Company. He has seen the business develop from year to year until it has hecome one of the largest enterprises of the kind in northwestern Oregon, the firm name being a synonym for reliability, integrity and enterprise. To the work of expansion and development he has contributed in large measure and is now in charge of the hasement of the store, most capahly managing the interests of his department. His long connection with the firm has given him an intimate knowledge of the business and he is thus able to supervise intelligently the work of those under his charge.
On August 25, 1888, Mr. Thurlow was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Slackpole, of Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, and they have become the parents of two children, William and Elvira, the latter a student at the University of Oregon. The son was formerly employed as a bookkeeper and during the World war enlisted in the navy, in which he served for two years as machinist's mate on a submarine chaser. He has since joined the Merchant Marine service and is serving as engineer on the U. S. S. West Naveria, now making his fourth trip to China.
Mr. Thurlow resides in a beautiful modern home at No. 134 East Fifty-fourth street and the family occupies a prominent position in social circles of the city. He is one of the most prominent Masons in the state, having joined the order in 1873 at Fort Scott, Kansas. He is now a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 12, F. & A. M., of which he has three times been master and he is also a past high priest of the chapter, a past commander of Oregon Commandery and a past potentate of Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of the Knights of Constantine and in January, 1920, was accorded the honorary thirty-third degree in recognition of valuable service rendered the order. He is also identified with Gul Reazee Grotto No. 65, M. O. V. P. E. R., and is a member of the Grange at Oswego, Oregon. For nearly a half century he has been a resident of this city and has witnessed much of its growth and development, bearing his full part in the work of advancement and improvement. Through the wise utilization of each opportunity presented he has won success in the business world and his course has been characterized by integrity and honor in every relation, commanding for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.
HON. GEORGE B. DORRIS.
Hon. George B. Dorris, who for over half a century engaged in the practice of law in Eugene, has lived retired since 1918 in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. His. birth occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, on the 7th of March, 1832, and he is a son of Samuel F. and Susanna (Pitt) Dorris, natives of North Carolina. Following his mar- riage the father went to Nashville, Tennessee, and there followed the carpenter's trade, residing in that city until his death. The mother is also deceased.
George B. Dorris, the youngest of their family of twelve children, consisting of eight sons and four daughters, was reared and educated in his native city and there learned the tinner's trade, being apprenticed when about ten years of age to Snow, Treppard and Payne, of Nashville, Tennessee, where he was engaged in the business for a number of years. In 1861, when twenty-nine years of age, he sought the oppor- tunities offered in the west and made his way to Crescent City, California, where he worked at the tinner's trade with his brother Ben, for a few years following that trade in Crescent City and during his leisure hours he studied law, for it was his desire to become a member of the bar. November 29, 1865, he came to Oregon and in the same year was admitted to practice at Eugene, passing his bar examination before Judge Riley E. Stratton, then a member of the supreme court of Oregon, and at whose request he had come to Oregon. Mr. Dorris continued in practice until the time of his retirement in 1918. He had practiced his profession continuously in Eugene for a period of fifty-four years and had the distinction of being the oldest practicing lawyer
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in the city. He was connected with a number of important law cases and the list of his clients was an extensive and representative one. He was always careful to conform his practice to a high standard of professional ethics, never seeking to lead the court astray in a matter of fact or law nor withholding from it the knowledge of any fact appearing in the records. His preparation of a case was always most thorough and comprehensive and he seemed not to lose sight of the smallest detail bearing upon his cause.
On the 15th of May, 1866, Mr. Dorris was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Hoffman, at Jacksonville, Oregon, and they became the parents of three children: Emma C., who is now the wife of C. A. Hardy, a prominent attorney of Eugene; May, who married J. E. Bronaugh of Portland, Oregon; and Stella, the wife of Dr. C. A. Macrum, a resident of Mosier, Oregon.
In politics Mr. Dorris is a democrat and he has taken a prominent part in public affairs of his community and state. For one term he served as mayor of Eugene, giving to the city a most businesslike and progressive administration, characterized by many needed reforms and improvements, and for twelve years he was a member of the city council. In 1870 he was elected to the office of representative to the state legisla- ture and as a member of that body gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital and important questions which came up for settlement, fighting earnestly for the support of bills which he believed to be of great benefit to the public at large. His fraternal connections are with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. Mr. Dorris is numbered among the oldest residents of Eugene, having taken up his abode here in 1865, and during the period that has since intervened he has watched with interest the city's growth and progress, with which he has been closely identified, doing everyting in his power to promote its advancement along material, intellectual, social, political and moral lines. His life has been an honorable and upright one and his example may well be followed by those who have regard for the things which are most worth while in life.
JACOB RANDAL DAVIS.
The entire business career of Jacob Randal Davis, who for many years was prominently identified with mercantile and financial interests of Shedd, was marked by steady progression, resulting from close application and indefatigable energy, prompted by laudable ambition. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, February 20, 1849, a son of Peter and Harriet (Cannon) Davis, natives of Kentucky. In early life the father removed to Indiana and there followed farming. Subsequently he went to Illinois, settling in Knox county, where for many years he devoted his attention to the cultivation of his land, but at length he removed to Wataga, Illinois, and there lived retired throughout his remaining years, his death occurring on the 15th of March, 1871. The mother survived him for two decades, and passed away in November, 1891.
Jacob R. Davis was reared and educated at Wataga, Illinois, and also attended the district schools of Knox county. When but fifteen years of age he responded to President Lincoln's last call for troops in the Civil war and served for three months, or until the close of the conflict. After receiving his discharge from the service he engaged in railroad work as a brakeman and thus continued until his foot was acci- dentally crushed, when he was obliged to abandon that line of activity. For several years thereafter he was employed in drug stores and in dry goods establishments and in 1878 he came to the west, settling in Linn county, Oregon, where he operated rented land until 1889. In that year he removed to Shedd, where for about two years he was employed in a store, at the end of which period be purchased a half interest in the establishment and engaged in general merchandising under the firm style of Crume & Davis. Subsequently Mr. Crume sold his interest to C. J. Shedd and the firm then became known as Davis & Shedd. From 1908 until 1912 Mr. Davis' daughter Zella was a partner in the business, which was then operated under the firm style of Davis, Shedd & Davis. In 1912 the firm was incorporated as the Davis-Shedd Company, and Mr. Davis continued active in the management of the enterprise throughout his remaining years. He was an energetic, farsighted and resourceful business man whose life was marked by constant progress, resulting from the attainment of his objective in the business world, and through his efforts the business of the company increased from
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