USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 36
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Vol. 11-18
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year to year until it assumed extensive proportions. They carry a large and carefully assorted stock of general merchandise and their enterprising methods, reasonable prices and courteous treatment of patrons have secured for them a liberal patronage. Being a man of resourceful business ability, Mr. Davis extended his efforts into other lines and was one of the stockholders of the Bank of Shedd from its inception.
On the 31st of August, 1876, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Dora Botsford, a daughter of Josiah C. and Azubah (McCloud) Botsford, the former a native of Canada, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father was a prominent and suc- cessful merchant of Wataga, Illinois, and was also active in public affairs of that locality, serving for many years as postmaster. In 1869 he removed to Missouri, pur- chasing land in Carroll county which he developed and improved, continuing its operation until his demise on the 22d of April, 1903, while the mother passed away August 18, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of a daughter, Zella May, who was born August 5, 1883, and is now a stockholder in the Davis-Shedd Company. She married Charles W. Kennedy and they make their home 'in Shedd.
Mr. Davis was a republican in his political views, and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order and the Eastern Star, with which Mrs. Davis is also connected, and through his membership in the Grand Army post at Albany, Oregon, he maintained pleasant associations with his old army comrades who bravely fol- lowed the stars and stripes on the battle fields of the south. Mr. Davis passed away on the 27th of April, 1913, at the age of sixty-four years, and in his passing the com- munity lost one of its valued citizens, his associates a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father. He was a successful business man, diligent and deter- mined in all that he undertook, and his record proves that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously. Mrs. Davis is a stockholder in the Davis-Shedd Company and also in the Bank of Shedd and is an excellent business woman, capably managing her interests. She has long been a resident of Linn county, where her fine womanly qualities have endeared her to a large circle of friends.
GEORGE F. FULLER.
George F. Fuller was a western man and in his life displayed the enterprising spirit characteristic of the development of the Pacific Coast country. He was born in Chico, California, November 17, 1860, and was graduated when seventeen years of age from the California high school. He came to Portland in 1881, the year in which he attained his majority, and later sailed on the upper Willamette, being employed as fireman on various steamboats. Still later he was on the R. R. Thompson, a steamer plying between Portland and Astoria, and for thirteen years served as its chief engineer. On the 6th of May, 1898, he was appointed United States inspector for boilers and occupied this position of responsibility for eighteen years, or until his death, which occurred December 7, 1916.
On the 10th of September, 1890, Mr. Fuller was married to Miss Eva Jerome, a daughter of the late Captain George and Nancy (Shepard) Jerome. Her father was born in Stockport, New York, in 1823, and when seventeen years of age was sailing out of Atlantic ports in the coasting trade and to the West Indies. After following this branch of marine business for several years he came to California in 1849, re- maining on the Sacramento river and in the mines until 1852, at which time he came to Oregon and began steamboating on the Canemah. Later he found employment on the Willamette until she was brought over the falls, being the only man on board when she made the perilous trip. He was next employed on the steamers, Onward, Surprise and Elk, accompanying the boiler of the latter steamer in its celebrated flight skyward at the time of the explosion. Captain Jerome was afterward in the employ of the People's Transportation Company, through nearly the whole of its corporate existence. During his forty years on the river he ran nearly all of the time on the Willamette, spending the last fourteen years of his life on the Yamhill route in the service of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. He died in Portland in Novem- ber, 1886.
In early manhood he wedded Nancy Shepard, who was born in Canton, Illinois, and came with her parents to Oregon in 1853. Both Captain and Mrs. Jerome; there
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GEORGE F. FULLER
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fore, were among the earliest settlers of this state and he was most closely associated with the development of its navigation interests.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fuller was born a daughter, Frances Evelyn, the wife of Alfred Smith of Portland, who was president of the Columbia river shipbuilding corporation during the war and president of the Smith-Watson Iron Works of Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of one child, Alfred Fuller Smith.
Mr. Fuller gave his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally was a Mason, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. He believed firmly in its principles concerning the brotherhood of man and was always ready to extend a helping hand wherever it was needed.
MRS. MARY E. LENT.
The old idea that woman's activities must be confined to the home have long been consigned to oblivion, for woman has proven herself the intellectual equal of the stronger and sterner sex and has won success in almost every avenue of business outside of those which demand purely physical strength. In the real estate field Mrs. Mary E. Lent of Portland has operated most successfully for a number of years. She was born in Cumberland county, Illinois, August 19, 1877, and there attended the public schools to the age of seventeen. When twenty years of age she was married and through association with her husband, who was an attorney, she mastered the details of the real estate business and also of the abstract business and likewise acquired a sufficient knowledge of law to encourage her to apply herself to its study, with the result that she expects soon to be admitted to the bar of Oregon.
Mrs. Lent is a daughter of Philip and Margaret (Haddock) Hosney. Her father, a native of Illinois, was a farmer and business man who died when his daughter was but three years of age. The mother was likewise born in Illinois and has also passed away. In her native state Mrs. Lent spent her girlhood and maidenhood and came to Portland in 1904. In 1906 she entered her present business, known as the hotel and apartment house leasing and brokerage business. She has dealt largely with women and has been most successful, as she feels that a woman instinctively knows another woman's wants, with but very little explanation needed. Some of her deals run as high as one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars and she employs five people, having an office in the Northwestern Bank building. She enjoys the entire confidence of her clients and has handled the business interests of one lady for sixteen years. While she has competition in her special line of business she is the acknowledged leader in that field and it is said that she practically never shows a buyer but one place, because she always knows just exactly what the purchaser desires.
Mrs. Lent makes her home at No. 126 East Thirty-fourth street, where she enjoys life with a very charming daughter, whom she has reared and educated and who in 1921 was graduated from Catlin's Private School for Girls. She is an accomplished musician, having given much time to the study of instrumental music, and she is now also taking up vocal music, possessing a rare contralto voice. Mrs. Lent is a member of the Eastern Star and is a past officer of the Rebekah lodge. Mrs. Lent is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Portland Woman's Research Club. She also belongs to the Unitarian church and along business lines is connected with the Interstate Realty Association. She has for fourteen years been successfully engaged in real estate dealing iu Portland, largely specializing in hotels and apartment houses, and there is much that is unique and original about her business. She has displayed marked initiative in developing and carrying out her plans and now has an extensive clientage that makes the undertaking a profitable one.
LOUIS H. COMPTON.
Louis H. Compton, who since February 1, 1920, has served as warden of the state penitentiary, is proving a most efficient officer, maintaining strict discipline and at the same time treating the inmates of the institution with kindness and consideration. He is a veteran of both the Spanish-American and World wars, and in the latter conflict
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rendered noteworthy service, being awarded the Croix de Guerre by Marshal Petain and also receiving five citations.
Mr. Compton was born in Odessa, Missouri, November 16, 1883, a son of G. M. and Anna (Peyton) Compton, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Ken- tucky. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, serving in the Confederate army. He removed to Idaho in 1890 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land east of Caldwell. Both parents have passed away.
In the public schools of Caldwell, Idaho, Louis H. Compton acquired his education, subsequently completing a business course. On starting out in the business world he became an employe in a wholesale house at Boise, Idaho, and then enlisted in the United States army, becoming a member of D Troop of the Fourth Cavalry, with which he was sent to the Philippines, spending twenty-two months on the islands and seeing a great deal of active service. On receiving his discharge Mr. Compton returned to Boise, resuming his position with his former employers, with whom he remained for two years. He then came to Salem, Oregon, as local secretary for the Young Men's Christian Association and was thus active from 1911 until 1916, when the trouble with Mexico arose and he went to the border as first lieutenant in the Third Oregon Infantry, winning promotion to the rank of battalion adjutant. After demobilization he resumed his secretarial duties and was thus engaged until the 25th of March, 1917, when he was again called to the service. His regiment was mobilized at Clackamas, Oregon, and was sent to Camp Greene, South Carolina, going from there to Camp Mills, Long Island. In December, 1917, they were transported to France and there was con- siderable excitement on the trip over, for just as they were entering St. Nazaire, France, their destroyers sighted the submarines. After arriving in France Mr. Comp- ton acted as provost marshal for the first few months. His regiment and division were made a replacement unit and during the entire war engaged in drilling raw troops to replace the units at the front. Seeing no chance to get to the front through ordinary methods Mr. Compton asked one of his friends, an officer in the Twenty-third In- fantry, to use his influence in getting him assigned to his regiment. This was accom- plished late in July, 1918, and Mr. Compton was assigned to Headquarters Company, Twenty-third Infantry, and given command of the Thirty-seven Millimeter and the Stokes Mortar Platoons. Discovering that the thirty-seven millimeters and the Stokes mortars were not being used effectually, he asked for a consultation with the lieutenant colonel, who was then the technical officer of the regiment. The interview was granted and Mr. Compton's plans were submitted and subsequently adopted by the regiment, the brigade and the entire Second Division. Following the St. Mihiel engagement his command was mentioned in regimental orders. The next drive in which he partici- pated was on the Champagne front, in a sector known as St. Etienne Aux Armes. Here they took over a difficult task from the French, the latter having been unable to make any headway for some time. On the morning of October 1, 1918, the attack was begun and the division continued to advance. On the afternoon of October 4th Mr. Compton was gassed by phosgene and mustard gas and was twice wounded, receiving a machine gun bullet in the left arm, and later was wounded in the left leg by a shell fragment. He refused to go to the rear after the wound in his arm, although it totally disabled that member, and he also refused to go to the rear for treatment of the leg wound until he was no longer able to walk. He was sent to a hospital for treatment and it was over a month before he recovered from his injuries. For his bravery and gallantry in action he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre by Marshal Petain and he also received five citations. He was discharged from the hospital November 11, 1918, the day on which the armistice was signed, and started back to rejoin his command, then en route to the Rhine, but did not regain his regiment, being assigned to criminal investigation work in a branch of the United States army secret service, owing to his familiarity with the French language and certain other qualifications. He continued in this line of work until his return to the United States in February, 1919, with the One Hundred and Sixty-second Oregon Regiment, and was mustered out at Camp Lewis, Washington, March 27, 1919, after two years and two days of service. His is indeed a most creditable military record and one of which he has every reason to be proud, showing him to be a man of the utmost courage and bravery, willing to sacri- fice his life if need be in defense of his country and the interests of democracy.
Mr. Compton then returned to Salem and again took up his work as secretary for the Young Men's Christian Association, but at the end of six weeks was appointed parole officer by Governor Olcott. Eight months afterward Dr. R. E. Lee Steiner, who was then warden of the state penitentiary, returned to his former position as
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superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital and Mr. Compton was appointed his suc- cessor, taking up the duties of his new office on the 1st day of February, 1920. His military experience and his criminal investigation work in connection with the French secret service have heen of great assistance to him in his present position, enabling him so to direct his energies as to produce most beneficial results. He is devoting much thought and study to the work in which he is engaged, maintaining an excel- lent system of discipline and at the same time doing everything in his power to im- prove conditions for the inmates of the institution, so that they may receive a new out- look upon life and thus become useful members of society.
On the 21st of March, 1910, Mr. Compton was united in marriage to Miss Bertha V. Sharpe, a native of Clackamas county, the ceremony being performed at Boise, Idaho, and they have become the parents of a son, David Richard, now three years of age. Fraternally Mr. Compton is connected with the Masons, belonging to Pacific Lodge, No. 50, and to Salem Lodge, No. 336, B. P. O. E. He is vice commander of the local camp of the American Legion and is also a member of the Foreign War Veterans. He stands as a high type of American manhood and chivalry and progress and patriotism may well be termed the keynote of his character, being manifest in every relation of his life. In civic office he manifests the same fidelity and devotion to duty which he showed in the military service of his country and his record is an unblemished one, command- ing for him the admiration and respect of all.
JUDGE WILLIAM S. McFADDEN.
Judge William S. McFadden, who passed away at Corvallis, April 30, 1916, was one of the most eminent and widely known jurists of the northwest. Coming to Oregon in 1873, he opened a law office in Corvallis, where he continued in practice to the time of his demise, his high professional attainments winning for him a large patronage. He was most careful to conform his practice to the highest standard of professional ethics and at all times proved himself an able minister in the temple of justice.
Judge McFadden was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1846, a son of Thomas and Alicia (Chapman) McFadden, who were also born in that part of the state, the latter being a niece of Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Christian church. The father followed farming in Pennsylvania until 1883, when he made his way to Oregon, taking up his residence in Corvallis, where he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away December 20, 1897, having long survived the mother, whose demise occurred in September, 1863.
Their son, William S. McFadden, was reared and educated in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Bethany, West Virginia. Taking up the study of law at Washing- ton, Pennsylvania, he completed his professional course and was admitted to the bar in 1872. In the following year he came to Oregon, opening an office at Corvallis, where he continuously engaged in practice until the time of his demise. He was at one time associated in practice with E. R. Bryson, now a resident of Eugene, Oregon, and in 1910 entered into partnership relations with Arthur Clarke, under the firm style of McFadden & Clarke, under which name Mr. Clarke still continues the business. Judge McFadden's pronounced ability in his profession was widely recognized and he became one of the best known attorneys of the Pacific northwest. In the early days he was called to California on legal business, making the journey of three hundred miles on horseback. This was a very hazardous undertaking at that period, fraught with many hardships and dangers, but he was successful in his mission, clearing his client, and for his services he received a fee of three hundred dollars. His broad experience and high professional standing led to his selection for public office and he served as district attorney and also sat upon the bench of the county court. He was a man of wide legal learning, seldom, if ever, at fault in the application of one of the principles of jurisprudence. His record as a judge was a most creditable one. He was strictly fair and impartial in all of his rulings and his opinions were sustained hy higher courts upon appeal. In addition to his professional activities Judge McFadden was also interested in farm properties, owning five hundred acres of valuable and pro- ductive land in the vicinity of Junction City, which is now in the possession of his widow. He was also the owner of eight residences in Corvallis, which he rented and he held sixty-six lots at College, but these he later sold. He was a man of sound judgment
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and keen discernment and was most successful in the conduct of his business affairs, his dealings ever being characterized by the strictest integrity.
On the 3d of April, 1873, Judge McFadden was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lane, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (McElroy) Lane, natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The father engaged in the livery business and also was superin- tendent of a number of mail routes, carrying the mail by stage. He passed away in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1905 and the mother's demise occurred in 1872. To Judge and Mrs. McFadden were born six children, namely: Julian, who is pro- prietor of the Julian Hotel at Corvallis; Hugh, a resident of Eugene; Burke, who is engaged in farming near Junction City; and Agnes, Alicia and Mary, all of whom are deceased. The wife and mother passed away October 27, 1888, after a long illness, and on the 25th of December, 1889, Judge McFadden wedded Miss Sallie Lane, a sister of his first wife. They became the parents of six children: Bryan, who served as captain of an Infantry company for two years in the World war and was twice wounded, was formerly associated with his father in practice at Corvallis but is now following his profession at San Gabriel, California; Julia and Helen, twins, the former a trained nurse at Portland, who for two years during the World war was engaged in profes- sional work overseas, while the latter is employed as bookkeeper with the First Na- tional Bank of Corvallis; Curran L., a druggist at Athena, Oregon, who was com- missioned a first lieutenant of Company K, Corvallis, and saw two years' service in the war with Germany, spending one year in France; Grattan, who died January 29, 1899, at the age of two and a half years; and Murius, who is a student at the Oregon Agri- cultural College and is much interested in athletics, being a member of the football team.
In his political views Judge McFadden was a stalwart democrat and a leader in the ranks of the party. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Christian church. His was a most creditable record, characterized by devotion to duty in every relation, and in his passing the state lost one of its eminent jurists, the community one of its valued citizens, his associates a faithful friend, and his family a devoted hus- band and father.
STEPHEN T. CHURCH.
In a history of Oregon, its settlement, its business development and its progress along various lines, the name of Stephen T. Church figures prominently, for at various periods he was closely associated with mercantile interests and with the development of navigation. He was born at Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, in 1831, a son of Stephen and Harriet Church. He spent his early life in the Keystone state and acquired his education in the schools there. He was ambitious, however, to try his fortune else- where and when twenty-one years of age, in company with other young men, he outfitted with ox teams and wagons and started for the west. They traveled across the entire breadth of the continent to Oregon, arriving in the fall of 1852 after many weary months of travel across the hot stretches of sand and over the high mountains until at length their vision was gladdened by a sight of the green valleys of Oregon.
From that time until his death Mr. Church remained a resident of this state and lived to witness its development from a wild and unsettled region, largely inhabited by Indians, into a populous and prosperous commonwealth having all of the advan- tages known to the older east. With his partner Mr. Church engaged in mining on Althouse creek in southern Oregon and there they operated very successfully and are still operating. Mr. Church also established a store and purchased mules and con- ducted a pack train between Oregon City and the mines, having twenty-eight pack mules. At the time of the Indian war, however, the government took over his mules and the mines. As it was no longer possible for him to continue in the business he hecame associated with Joseph Teal in a mercantile enterprise at Eugene. Later he removed to Harrisburg, where he again engaged in merchandising in association with Asa and David McCully. While thus connected with the McCully brothers he likewise engaged in the transportation business, which they conducted under the name of the Peoples Transportation Company and Mr. Church was thus identified with navigation interests to the time of his death, their boats plying between Harrisburg and Oregon City. In all that he undertook Mr. Church was actuated by a most progressive spirit.
STEPHEN T. CHURCH
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He was constantly seeking to improve conditions and the company built a breakwater at the falls at Oregon City, a part of which is still standing. He readily recognized the opportunities that lay before the new commonwealth and ever sought to con- tribute to public advancement and improvement as well as to promote his individual interests.
In 1857 Mr. Church was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth C. Lister, a daugh- ter of William and Catherine Lister who were natives of England and came to the United States in early life, afterward removing to Oregon where they settled in pioneer times. The father of Mr. Lister had previously come to the United States and purchased a ticket for Kentucky but was never heard from again. It is supposed that he died of cholera. William Lister afterward crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in Kentucky where he resided until March, 1853, and then started by ox team for Oregon, arriving there in the fall. He then secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres in the Mohawk valley.
Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Church: Harriet I., now the wife of Dr. A. J. Giesy of Portland; and Elizabeth Luella, the wife of Lewis G. Clark of the firm of Woodruff & Clark of Portland. They also had one son, Samuel W., who died in early life. The death of Mr. Church occurred in 1872 and thus passed away one who had been a valuable contributor to the pioneer development of the state. The naviga- tion company with which he was connected did what no other company ever accom- plished, raising and lowering the tariff according to its value at that time. Fra- ternally Mr. Church was both a Mason and an Odd Fellow and was most loyal to the teachings and high purposes of these organizations, exemplifying in his life the benef- icent principles upon which they are founded.
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