USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 42
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agents for the Federal trucks and Lee trailers. They are conducting an extensive business in Portland, occupying a two-story building ninety by one hundred feet at the corner of Broadway and Davis street, where they give employment to fifty people. Mr. Wright gives careful oversight to all phases of the business under his charge and is constantly seeking to increase the efficiency and promote the sales of the Portland branch, his services being thoroughly appreciated by the company.
In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wright and Miss Mary Ellen Kerr, of Michigan, and they have become the parents of two daughters, Florence and Frances. He is a member of the State Automobile Association and that he is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen is indicated by his membership in the Portland Chamber of Commerce and the Progressive Business Men's Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has won success by industry, ability and common sense and these qualities unite to make him an upright man and useful citizen.
VICTOR OLLIVER.
Victor Olliver, a prominent attorney of Albany, now serving as justice of the peace, in addition to his practice, was born in Boonville, Indiana, October 18, 1886, of the marriage of John and Elizabeth (Lockyear) Olliver, the former a native of England and the latter of Indiana. When about twenty-one years of age the father emigrated to America, and going to southern Indiana, he purchased land in the vicinity of Boon- ville, which he improved and developed, continuing its cultivation throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in October, 1894, while the mother's death occurred in February, 1901.
In the public schools of Warrick county, Indiana, Victor Olliver acquired his edu- cation. After his graduation from the high school he engaged in teaching school in different parts of the state for a period of five years and then pursued a course in the Oakland City College of Indiana, while later he became a student at the University of Indiana, from which he was graduated with the LL. B. degree in 1912. He then practiced law at Marion, Indiana, for one year and in 1913 came to Oregon, opening an office in Albany in November of that year, and here he has continued in practice, with offices in the First National Bank building. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office and in 1916 he was appointed city attorney of Albany, so serving until 1919. He was elected justice of the peace in November, 1918, and since the 1st of January, 1919, has ably filled that office. His standing in the community is indicated in the fact that he was nominated by both parties, although not a candidate for office. He is an able attorney, well informed in all branches of the law and his ability is manifest in the logic of his deductions and the clearness of his reasoning.
On the 25th of October, 1915, Mr. Olliver was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Slonaker, a daughter of A. S. and Nettie (Gray) Slonaker, natives of Indiana. The father is engaged in farming in Randolph county, Indiana, and the mother also sur- vives. Mr. and Mrs. Olliver have become the parents of a daughter, Mary Louise, whose birth occurred on the 2d of September, 1916.
In his political views Mr. Olliver is a republican and his fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Masons. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is actively interested in its work, being secre- tary of the official board. Along the line of his profession he is identified with the Linn County Bar Association. He stands high as a man and citizen and he enjoys the respect, goodwill and confidence of his associates at the bar.
JOSEPH M. NOLAN.
Joseph M. Nolan, who passed away at Corvallis in January, 1917, was long identl- fied with mercantile interests of the city and his industry and enterprise were factors in general development and improvement as well as in individual success. While he attained prominence and success in business, his own advancement was never secured
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at the sacrifice of the interests of another and he earned as few men have done, the friendship and goodwill of his business associates and competitors.
Mr. Nolan was a native of Ireland. He was born in January, 1844, and on the Emerald isle was reared and educated. In 1872, when a young man of twenty-eight years, he sought the opportunities offered in America to a man of energy, ability and determination, and locating in San Francisco, California, he there became connected with a dry goods establishment, having previously acquired a knowledge of the trade in his native land. He remained in that city until 1884, when he came to Oregon and with his savings established a small mercantile business in Corvallis, Benton county, which he continued to conduct throughout the remainder of his life. His enterprising methods, thorough reliability and reasonable prices soon gained for him a good patron- age and with the passing years his business assumed large proportions. His stock was carefully selected and tastefully and attractively arranged and he put forth every effort to please his patrons. As a business man his course was marked by steady advance- ment, for he closely studied trade conditions and the wants of the public and in con- ducting his store made it his purpose ever to be ready to meet the public needs and demands. He hecame widely known as an enterprising and substantial merchant of his city and the methods which he followed won for him the honor and respect of all with whom he was brought into contact. The business is conducted in a building seventy by one hundred feet, consisting of two stories and basement, and when his son entered business life Mr. Nolan admitted him as a partner, the firm name then becoming J. M. Nolan & Son, under which style the business is still continued.
Mr. Nolan was twice married. He first wedded Mary Callahan, whose demise oc- curred in 1890, and subsequently he was united in marriage to Kate Thompson, by whom he had two children, Gertrude and Victor, who are employed in their father's store. There were also two children of the first marriage, namely: Thomas J., who was born at Albany, Oregon, in October, 1882, and is now ably managing the interests of the firm of J. M. Nolan & Son; and Mary, who became the wife of J. C. Causland and resides at Spokane, Washington.
In his political views Mr. Nolan was a democrat and his religious faith was in- dicated by his membership in the Catholic church. He passed away at the age of seventy-three years and his life was a busy, active and useful one, crowned with success- ful achievement. He was a self-made man whose prosperity was attributable entirely to his own efforts and his was a most creditable record, characterized by integrity and enterprise in business and loyalty in citizenship. His life was ever guided by high and honorable principles and his sterling traits of character won for him the respect, honor and esteem of all with whom he came into contact.
VESTAL RAUL ABRAHAM, M. D.
Dr. Vestal Raul Abraham, a well known and successful physician residing in Hood River, is descended on both sides of the house from a long line of ancestors whose names have been prominent in American history for several generations. John Rolston, his great-great-grandfather on the maternal side, was born in Virginia in 1755, to which colony his father had immigrated with a party of English who left England to seek religious liberty abroad. John Rolston was a soldier in the war of Independence, having volunteered in 1778 as a private in the regiment of Colonel Neville and served directly under the command of Captain Wallace until the close of hostilities. After the war he removed to Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1842, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His descendants, full of the pioneer spirit of their ancestors, have drifted farther west as the country has grown, and it was in Iowa that Vestal S. Abraham, father of the subject of this sketch, was born.
Vestal Raul Abraham was also born in Iowa, the year being 1885. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Rose Iams, belonged to a family who were among the prominent early settlers of Iowa. With the pioneer spirit still dominant, the Abraham family moved to Nebraska when Vestal R. was a mere child of four years, and it was in the graded schools of Keith county that he received his early education, later attending Franklin Academy in that state. Following his graduation from that institution his parents removed to Oregon in 1906 and took up their residence at Forest Grove. While living in that place he entered the Pacific University and later
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V. R. ABRAHAM, MAJOR, M. R. C.
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took a course at the University of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1911. He then matriculated at Rush Medical College in the same city, receiving from the latter institution his M. D. degree in 1913, after which he returned to Oregon and served as an interne at the Good Samaritan Hospital at 'Portland. Feeling himself equipped to take up the practice of his profession, he opened an office at Hood River and had built up a good practice when the World war caused him to offer his services to his country. He was commissioned first lieutenant of the medical corps and in May, 1917, was sent to Fort Riley, where he served for a year as medical instructor of the officers training camp. He was promoted to captain in December, 1917, and ordered to Camp Devens late in 1918, when he was made director of the ambulance corps of the Twelfth Sanitary Train. In October, 1918, he was promoted to the rank of major and ordered to France. While Dr. Abraham was at the army sanitary camp in Langres, the armistice was signed. He was soon ordered home, arriving here, December 22, and on December 24 he was discharged, coming out of the service as major of the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States army ..
The Doctor at once returned to Hood River and resumed the practice of his pro- fession, and some few months after his return he became associated in the practice with Dr. J. W. Sifton, under the firm name of Abraham & Sifton. This mutually agreeable partnership still continues, their medical services being in much demand throughout the Hood River valley.
In 1908 Dr. Abraham was united in marriage to Miss Maverne Templeton, a daughter of John Templeton, a retired farmer of Forest Grove, this state, who was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Minnesota, where he engaged in farming. On coming to Forest Grove, Oregon, he became identified with the First National Bank. Dr. and Mrs. Abraham have three children, namely: Virginia, Glen and Kenneth, the two eldest attending the grade schools.
Dr. Abraham's practice embraces surgery but it is more of a general character. He is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association. He held the office of coroner of Hood River county for two terms, resigning during his second term to join the American army. He is at present county physician and county health officer. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Woodman of the World, and is a charter member of the American Legion, being the delegate from Oregon to the first national convention of that patriotic body.
HON. PHIL METSCHAN.
Hon. Phil Metschan, who was prominently known in the business circles of Port- land and of Oregon, came to the state in pioneer times and for a number of years prior to his death was the proprietor of the Imperial Hotel of Portland. He was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, March 24, 1840, a son of Frederick U. and Caroline C. (Schiricke) Metschan, who were also natives of Hesse-Cassel. The father was a grad- uate of Heidelberg University, which was founded in 1386 and is the oldest university of that country. He was a lawyer by profession and became an attache of the Duke of Hesse. He passed away in 1875 and after three years his widow came to America, accompanied by three of her daughters. Her last days were spent in Canyon City, Oregon, where her death occurred in 1884.
Phil Metschan, whose name introduces this review, was a youth of but fourteen years when he bade adieu to friends and native land and came to the new world, cross- ing the Atlantic on a three-masted clipper. When he arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, he had a capital of but four dollars and seventy-five cents. He had two uncles living in Cincinnati, one of whom gave him employment in his meat market, and there he learned the butcher's trade. In the spring of 1858 he removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, and became identified with the business interests of that city at the Shawnee Market, but illness compelled him to change his occupation. In the spring of 1859 he made his way across the plains to Denver, Colorado, and thence proceeded to California Gulch, now known as Leadville, at which place he opened a meat market. In the fall of 1860, however, he returned to Leavenworth, Kansas, and while there residing exercised his right of franchise for the first time in America by supporting Abraham Lincoln. In the spring of 1861 he again returned to California Gulch and his family has in its possession a most interesting letter written concerning his next trip to California and his settlement in Portland. The news of certain gold discoveries in California led him
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to the Pacific coast. He outfitted with three mules and in the companionship of a German and an American started across the country. During the first three weeks of their travel they suffered at times from a lack of water but eventually reached the post road, on which they traveled for two weeks, arriving at Salt Lake City. After a brief rest there they continued their journey, reaching Sacramento, California, Novem- ber 20, 1861, just before the memorable floods of that year. . Mr. Metschan spent the succeeding winter on the ranch of General Hutchinson, earning fifty dollars per month besides his board and lodging and feed for his mules. In the following May he sold his mules and started for the Caribou mines of British Columbia, going first to San Francisco and then by the water route to Victoria, where he heard news concerning the mines that deterred him from continuing the trip. Finding no suitable work in Victoria, he proceeded to Portland, where he arrived on the 8th of June. His descrip- tion of the town and his early business venture is most interesting and is given here- with: "The place seemed lively, and I concluded to establish a bakery in partnership with a German baker-a business which was needed here, as there were only two bakeries, which had to supply a population of four thousand, besides the many strangers who were continually returning to the mines. We rented a house for thirty-five dollars per month. The building being an old one, and very much neglected, cost us consid- erable for repairs. We had worked on the building only one week, when the river, owing to the melting snows in the mountains, rose to such a height that the oldest inhabitants, except Indians, could not remember such high water. This experience spoiled our calculations, for the lower part of the city, in which our house was located, was under water three feet. Through this experience we lost a full month, and sus- tained a loss of at least three hundred dollars. On July 15th we started the second time, and one week thereafter were ready. It stands us pretty high, as we are still five hundred dollars in debt. You may ask, 'How it is possible to become indebted so much?' It is very simple. Our oven cost three hundred dollars, then we had to have a horse and wagon to deliver the bread to our customers, costing three hundred and fifty dollars. Everything else in proportion. Business was good the first month; it is not so good at present, but one is his own master, and I earn more even now than if I were working for other people. Old residents here tell me that this is the dullest season of the year, and the farmers are harvesting, which has a depressing effect on business in the city. Oregon is a very fertile state, and by far the best fruit land in America. The apples, pears, plums, etc., are the finest I have seen in America-even Germany cannot excel them."
After a brief period spent in Portland, Mr. Metschan went to Canyon City, Grant county, Oregon, where he engaged in mining and prospecting for a time and then established a meat market and general merchandise store, which he conducted until 1890. His entire life was one of intense and well directed activity and he never hesi- tated to take a forward step when the way was open. Actuated by a laudable ambition, he steadily progressed and for many years ranked with the representative business men of Portland.
It was while residing in Canyon City that Mr. Metschan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schaum, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who passed away in Salem, Oregon, in 1895. He afterward wedded Mrs. F. D. Sweetser, who became his wife in San Rafael, California, and who was born in Canada. His children, all born of his first marriage, were as follows: Frank, night manager of the Imperial Hotel of Portland, Oregon; Anna, the wife of George H. Cattanach; Mrs. Amelia Meredith, living at Salem; Mrs. Julia Griffith; Phil, who was cashier of the Grant County Bank and later proprietor of the Palace Hotel at Heppner, Oregon, but is now manager of the Imperial Hotel of Portland and also president of the Imperial Hotel Company; Otto, assistant manager of the Imperial Hotel; Anton H., who is connected with the hotel company; Mrs. Lillian Flanders, of Portland; and Edward, who is a practicing dentist of Portland.
It was in May, 1899, that Mr. Metschan became identified with hotel interests in Portland by the purchase of the Imperial Hotel and the incorporation of the Imperial Hotel Company, of which he remained the president until his death. He conducted this popular hostelry in a most capable manner, displaying progressive methods and the spirit of the pioneer in instituting many new and valuable ideas in connection with hotel management.
Mr. Metschan was long prominently known in republican circles in Oregon and while residing in Grant county filled the office of county treasurer for a .four years' term and also served as county clerk for two years. He likewise filled the office of
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county judge for four years and was then again called to the office of county clerk, serving the second term from 1888 until 1890. In the latter year he was elected state treasurer of Oregon by a majority of sixty-seven hundred and entered upon the duties of the office in January, 1891, at which time he established his home in Salem. On the expiration of his first term in that position he was reelected by a plurality of over twenty-three thousand. He was a most faithful custodian of the public funds, carefully guarding the interests of the state in this particular, and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. He was faithful in the least things as well as in the greatest and was a most loyal defender of the financial rights and interests of the commonwealth.
Mr. Metschan was long a valued representative of the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Mason in Canyon City Lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M., and at one time served as its master. In 1896 and 1897 he was honored with the office of grand master of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. He had become a Royal Arch Mason in Blue Mountain Chap- ter, No. 7, R. A. M., of Canyon City, of which he at one time served as high priest, and for a time he was connected with Oregon Commandery, No. 1, K. T., while later he became a charter member of De Molay Commandery, No. 5, of Salem. He also be- longed to Oregon Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Portland. He was initiated into the Odd Fellows organization as a member of Hobah Lodge, No. 22, of Canyon City and at one time served as noble grand, while in 1881-2 he was the grand master of the grand lodge of Oregon. He was also in the grand encampment and is a past grand patriarch. He likewise acted as supreme representa- tive to the sovereign grand lodge in the session at Los Angeles and later in the session at Denver. He belongs to Hope Lodge, No. 1, A. O. U. W., and to the Elks Lodge, both of Portland, and when the Illehee Club of Salem was organized he was chosen its president. Mr. Metschan never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world. He crossed the Atlantic when a youth in his teens. He here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization worked his way steadily up- ward. He was always actuated by a strong and honorable purpose and his determina- tion and energy carried him over difficulties and obstacles into the field of success. He became widely known among the leading political leaders and prominent business men of the state, enjoying their confidence and high regard to an unusual degree. He passed away at his home in Portland on the 27th of March, 1920, three days after his eightieth birthday, leaving many friends and no enemies.
HARVEY A. WIGHT.
Harvey A. Wight, member of the Oregon bar, practicing at Lebanon, was born at East Wrightstown, Wisconsin, August 15, 1892, a son of Howard and Lillian (Jenkins) Wight, the former a native of Minnesota and the latter of Wisconsin. In an early day the father went to Wisconsin, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, remaining a resi- dent of that state until 1905, when he came to Oregon, locating in the foothills of Linn county. There he engaged in the stock business until 1910, when he moved to the vicinity of Lebanon and is now a resident of that locality, living practically retired, although he supervises the operation of a small prune orchard. The mother also sur- vives.
Harvey A. Wight attended the country schools of Wisconsin to the age of thirteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Oregon, completing the work of the eighth grade and also pursuing a high school course at Lebanon. He then entered the Willamette University, where he pursued a two years' course in the liberal arts department. In 1917 he was graduated from the law department of that university and on the 18th of July of that year was admitted to the bar. He then opened an office in Lebanon and continued in practice here until September, 1918, when he enlisted for service in the World war, being sent to Vancouver Barracks, Washington. He was later as- signed to the Local Board No. 4, at Portland, Oregon, where he assisted in the legal work and was then transferred to Camp Lewis, Washington, where he was mustered out in January, 1919. He then returned to Lebanon, where he has remained, and is building up a good clientage, which his diligence and solid attainments well merit. He is thorough and painstaking in the preparation of his cases, is clear and cogent in his reasonIng and logical in his deductions. He is an earnest and discriminating student, thoroughly
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familiar with the principles of jurisprudence, and is careful to conform his practice to the highest ethics of the profession.
Mr. Wight gives his political allegiance to the republican party and while attending the university served as chief deputy circuit court clerk of Marion county in 1917. His fraternal connections are with the Masonic order, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, of which he is now serving as foreman. He likewise belongs to the American Legion, his membership being in Leo Sturdevant Post No. 51, of which he is commander. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. Mr. Wight is always loyal to any cause which he espouses and faithful to every duty and he is a public-spirited and loyal citizen and a rising young attorney of the community, where he is justly held in high regard by all who know him.
CHARLES W. COTTEL.
Charles W. Cottel, meeting the responsibilities and duties of life, became a success- ful business man of Portland. He was born June 4, 1843, in Crawford, Maine, a son of Charles and Phoebe (Hascomb) Cottel. In 1857 the father removed to Illinois with his family, settling near Wilmington, Illinois, and when the Civil war broke out endeavored to enlist but was rejected on account of age and physical unfitness. Later, however, he joined the army and served for a year to the close of the war. He afterward located on a farm in Illinois, where he resided for several years and in 1890 removed to Portland, where he made his home until his death. Here he became a factor in business circles and for eighteen years was identified with the Luckel King and Cake Soap Company.
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