USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 45
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Mr. Tooze is a stanch republican in his political views and has done important work in behalf of the party, in whose ranks he is a recognized leader, as is also his distinguished father. From 1910 to 1918 he served as republican state committeeman from Polk county and in 1920 was elected state committeeman from Yamhill county. He was a member of the republican state campaign executive committee in 1914, 1916 and 1920. In 1916 he was made the head of the publicity department in the campaign for Hughes and was elected a delegate to the republican national convention held at Chicago in July, 1920, receiving a majority of seven thousand votes over his opponent. He carried sixteen of the seventeen counties comprised in his district and was pledged under the Oregon primary law to support Johnson at the convention, which pledge he faithfully carried out. He was subsequently requested by Will Hays, chairman of the national campaign committee, to report at Chicago and take part in the campaign in the east and middle west. He has acquired a reputation as a force- ful public speaker and since 1910 has been active in campaign work. Mr. Tooze has frequently been called upon for service along the line of his profession and from 1909 until 1917 was attorney for Polk county in connection with the state land board. From 1909 until 1913 he served as city attorney of Dallas, also filling that position at Falls City from 1909 until 1917 with the exception of two years, from 1911 until 1913, when he was appointed deputy district attorney under Gale S. Hill of Albany. In April, 1921, he was tendered an appointment as special assistant attorney general of the United States, but declined, owing to his desire to remain in Oregon, his native state. For eight years he served as a member of the National Guard, holding every rank up to that of captain. He is a member of the American Legion and was a dele- gate to the Minneapolis convention in 1919 and also attended the convention held at Cleveland, Ohio, in September, 1920. While residing at Dallas he became the or- ganizer of the Commercial Club in 1910, serving as its secretary for four years, and it was owing to his efforts that the armory was erected at that place. His social nature finds expression in his membership in the University Club of Tacoma and La Creole Club of Dallas and he is also identified wtih the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the United Artisans, and the Woodmen of the World, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. There is no feature of public life having to do with the welfare and progress of the community in which he is not deeply and helpfully interested. He is yet a young man but he has already accomplished much and his ambition and energy will carry him steadily for- ward. He has attained an enviable position in professional circles and in public affairs and McMinnville is fortunate in numbering him among its citizens.
V. P. FISKE.
V. P. Fiske, who since 1914 has served as postmaster of Dallas, is a representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of Oregon. He has spent his entire life in Oregon and has witnessed much of its growth and development, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. He was born in Roseburg, Douglas county, July 19, 1862, and is a son of Rufus and Charlotte (Grubbe) Fiske, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Missouri. The father was a physician and in pioneer times crossed the plains to Oregon, settling in Roseburg. Subsequently he returned to the east and served throughout the entire period of the Civil war, doing hospital work at Washington, D. C. At the close of
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hostilities he again made his way to Oregon, taking up his residence in Salem, where he continued to practice his profession throughout the remainder of his life. He was one of the pioneer physicians of the northwest and in the performance of his pro- fessional duties endured many dangers, privations and hardships. His skill and ability soon gained him prominence and he became widely known throughout the state, where his services were much in demand, his practice covering a territory of one hundred and fifty square miles, which at that time was in a wild and undeveloped state, the roads being almost impassable. He never neglected a call to duty and was greatly loved and respected by the early settlers of the state because of his heroic and unselfish work in their behalf. He became a member of the first medical faculty of Willamette University and was recognized as an eminent representative of his profession. He passed away in 1876, hut the mother is yet living.
Their son, V. P. Fiske, attended the public schools of his native state and later pursued a course of study in Willamette University at Salem. There he later learned the printer's trade, which he followed in various parts of the state for some time, be- ing for a period connected with the Oregonian at Portland. In 1882 he founded the Capital Democrat at Salem, but conducted the paper only through the political campaign. In 1883 he arrived in Dallas and purchased the Itemizer, of which he is still the owner, although he now leases the plant, which he has equipped with all the latest presses and machinery, so that it is one of the most modern in this part of the state. In 1914 he was appointed postmaster at Dallas, in which office he has since served, proving faithful, prompt and efficient in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Fiske has also invested in farm lands and is successfully cultivating a fine prune orchard. His interests and activities are thus varied in character and his life has been a busy and useful one, characterized by energy, determination and industry.
In June, 1884, Mr. Fiske was united in marriage to Miss Hester Rowell and they became the parents of five children, namely: Vivian, who died in 1913; Ruby, who is the wife of Floyd Meyers, a farmer residing in Polk county; Bnena, who is employed as a stenographer and resides at home; Roxana, also at home; and Georgiana, who is a post office employe.
In his political views Mr. Fiske is a stalwart democrat and for several terms has served as a member of the city council. Fraternally he is identified with the Eastern Star, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Artisans and the Circle, in all of which he has served as presiding officer, and is also connected with the Masons. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he has served as financial secretary for a number of years and is an earnest worker in its behalf. He is widely and favorably known in Polk county, where he has resided for a period of thirty-seven years, and is recognized as a representative business man and public-spirited citizen, loyal to the best interests of the community.
H. W. STONE.
H. W. Stone, secretary of the Portland Young Men's Christian Association, was born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, November 7, 1868. His father, David Stone, was a native of England, who came to America in the late '40s and settled in New York, but afterward removed to Ohio and still later became a resident of Aurora, Illinois. In 1870 he established his home in Nebraska and there surveyed a town site, to which his wife gave the name of Aurora, in honor of their former Illinois home. In the new Nebraska town Mr. Stone carried on general merchandising, conducting a retail business until 1876, when he moved to Omaha and opened a grocery store. Sub- sequently he sold out and placed his money at interest. He then went to Colorado, but not finding conditions as he anticipated in that state he removed to Fort Worth, Texas, where he organized a loan company, conducting that undertaking till the time of his death in 1890. He married Elizabeth Reardon, a native of Ireland, who settled in Aurora, Illinois, in an early day, and there engaged in school teaching. Following the death of her husband she made her home with her son, H. W. Stone of this re- view, until her own demise, which occurred in Portland in 1908.
H. W. Stone was educated in the Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhattan, and was there graduated in 1892. He pursued a four years' scientific course and a year prior to its completion organized the Young Men's Christian Association, at
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Fort Worth, Texas, and was the first general secretary there. His interest in this work was incited by the address of a young college student who aroused such en- thusiasm that a religious revival was held, and Mr. Stone became converted and re- signed a position with a salary of three thousand dollars a year, to take up Y. M. C. A. work at forty dollars a month. His desire to help save young men was paramount to his desire to acquire wealth and some of the young men whom he guided to the right road are leaders in the Y. M. C. A. work today. Mr. Stone went from Fort Worth to Kansas and assisted in promoting the work there. He also served as state secre- tary in Nebraska for a year and then removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where under his direction and guidance the Young Men's Christian Association was freed from debt. While there he became interested in educational work, in connection with other fea- tures of the Y. M. C. A. While in Sioux City he received a call from Portland, Oregon, to take charge of the work here. It was through W. M. Ladd that Mr. Stone was sent to Portland, as the former had asked the International Association to find a secretary who could establish the security of the organization in the northwest. Mr. Stone ar- rived on the 1st of March, 1896, and found the association in rented rooms at First and Salmon streets, doing a mission type of work. At the end of two months he closed those rooms and spent a year and a half in reorganizing the work, raising fifty thousand dollars for new quarters, which were built at Yamhill and Fourth streets. After four years they erected a four-story structure on this same site. In 1907 this was sold, as it was inadequate, and Mr. Stone raised three hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the present building. The old building was sold for one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, which amount was used in the present building, located at Sixth and Taylor streets. This property is now worth over a million dollars. The building is eight stories and basement and is the largest Y. M. C. A. west of Chicago. There are more men students attending classes here than at all of the denominational and private colleges in the state. Mr. Stone has over forty secretaries under his direc- tion and there are more than one hundred and fifty people who are giving their full time to Y. M. C. A. work in Portland. The educational department is operated under the name of the Oregon Institute of Technology. Mr. Stone is chairman of the board of governors for the United States and Canada, of the Educational Council, and there are one hundred and seventeen thousand male students in the two countries. The schools are mainly vocational and the finest electrical school on the coast is in the Association building in Portland. Salesmanship is another of their specialties and the student graduates in this with a regulation diploma. Mr. Stone believes this institu- tion will inevitably develop into a national university in the near future. Even he did not dream of the scope of the work when he undertook it, but as the years have passed it has steadily grown and developed under his guidance and his labors have been of inestimable benefit in the northwest in promoting the physical, intellectual and moral progress of young men.
·When twenty-two years of age Mr. Stone was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Johnson of Kansas and they are now parents of four children: Ruth M .; Gertrude, who is the wife of Dr. R. F. White, and the mother of one boy, David; Paul David, who is married to Winona Lambert of Portland; and Harry W., now twelve years of age, and attending school. Mr. Stone has never regretted his determination to give up a remunerative position and enter upon the work to which he has devoted his life. He has long recognized the value of character building and has made a close study of boys, their psychology, their interests and their ambitions. A sympathetic nature, ready tact and high ideals, have been the salient features in his success as an Associa- tion worker. In this connection he is known throughout the country and the Portland organization, with its wide field of influence, is the monument to his efforts and ability.
NEWTON I. MORRISON.
Actuated at all points in his career by a progressive spirit and firm determination that have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path, Newton I. Morrison is now occupying an enviable position in business circles of Scio as pro- prietor of a hardware and implement establishment. He is also conducting an undertak- ing business and in the control of his various interests is meeting with gratifying success. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, December 21, 1862, a son of John P. and Amanda O. (Carey) Morrison, the former a native of Pennsylvania Vol. II-23
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and the latter of Chautauqua county, New York. For many years the father followed farming in New York and subsequently he went to Kansas, and there resided until about 1912. In that year he came to Oregon, taking up his abode in Dallas, where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away December 25, 1914, while the mother's demise occurred in the Sunflower state about 1884.
Their son, Newton I. Morrison, was reared and educated in Chautauqua county, New York, and after his graduation from high school he became a student at the For- estville Free Academy. He remained with his parents until he had attained his ma- jority and then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for some time, when he went to Kansas and there was in charge of construction work until 1886. In that year he came to Oregon and on the 1st of May arrived in Salem, where he engaged in con- tracting, subsequently removing to Dallas, and there he followed the same line of work for a considerable period. At length he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, taking up land in Linn county, which he cleared and developed, and later purchased adjoining land until in time he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. By untiring effort and perseverance he transformed his holdings into a valuable and pro- ductive farm, which he continued to operate for a period of twenty years, and is still the owner of two hundred acres thereof. He likewise engaged in raising sheep and goats and became one of the prominent stock raisers of his section of the state, handling pure hred Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs, his operations along that line proving most successful. In 1908 Mr. Morrison removed to Scio, where for some time he conducted a planing mill and then entered his present field of activity as the proprietor of a hard- ware and implement business. He carries a large and well assorted stock and his enter- prising methods, reasonable prices and courteous treatment of customers have secured for him a large patronage. He also conducts an undertaking establishment and his efforts along this line have met with pronounced success, for he is a man of keen business discernment and sound judgment who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. Mr. Morrison owns the building in which his business is con- ducted and is a most progressive citizen.
In January, 1884, occurred the marriage of Newton I. Morrison and Miss Naomi J. Rhodes and they became the parents of a daughter, Estella, who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Morrison is an independent republican in his political views, and he is much interested in the welfare and progress of his community, serving as a mem- ber of the town council, where he rendered valuable service to the city, his influence being ever on the side of advancement and improvement. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. As a business man his course has been marked by steady advancement, for he has closely studied trade conditions and the wants of the public and in conducting his store has made it his purpose ever to be ready to meet public needs and demands. His has been a life of varied and useful activity, productive of excellent results not only in the upbuilding of his own fortunes but also in the ad- vancement of community welfare, and his sterling worth is attested by all who know him.
B. ELBERT BEDE.
B. Elbert Bede, publisher of the Cottage Grove Sentinel, has attained a prominent position in journalistic circles of Oregon, and in 1914 was president of the State Edi torial Association and for five years secretary of the Willamette Valley Editorial Asso- ciation. Mr. Bede is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Randolph, June 28, 1881. His parents, J. Adam and Flora (Tibbetts) Bede, were natives of Ohio, the father being a well known newspaper man. He engaged in journalistic work in Iowa and in an early day went to Minnesota, becoming identified with the conduct of news- papers in various parts of that state. He also became prominent in political circles of Minnesota and for three terms represented the district of Duluth in the United States congress, where he rendered important and valuable service, his record being a most creditable one. He is now engaged in Lyceum and Chautauqua work, being connected with the Redpath bureau. He has continued a resident of Minnesota, his home being at Pine City. The mother of B. Elbert Bede passed away in 1884.
B. Elbert Bede attended the schools of Duluth, St. Paul and Pine City, Minnesota. At the early age of seven years he started to learn the printer's trade and when sixteen
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was editor of the Pine Poker, issued at Pine City, while later he became editor of the Sandstone Courier, published at Sandstone, Minnesota. He was engaged in editorial work in various parts of the state until 1911, when he came to Oregon and purchased the Cottage Grove Sentinel, which he has since owned and edited. He has greatly im- proved the plant, installing the latest presses and linotype machines until its equipment is now classed with the best in Oregon. The Sentinel is not only representative of first-class typography, in which Mr. Bede is expert through his long years of experi- ence, but also excels on account of its trenchant style in setting forth the news events of the section in which it circulates. Its local columns are always full of interest, while the general news of the world is clearly and completely given. The principal policy of the paper has been to serve the public promptly and that Mr. Bede has succeeded is evident from the large circulation which his publication enjoys. In 1915 he admitted Elbert Smith as a partner and this association has been continued.
It was on the 5th of November, 1903, that Mr. Bede was united in marriage to Miss Olive L. Smith of Sunrise, Minnesota, and they have become the parents of three chil- dren, namely: Ruth C., whose birth occurred on the 8th of March, 1905; Harold E., born November 20, 1909; and Beth A., born January 14, 1913.
That Mr. Bede occupies a position of distinction in journalistic circles of Oregon is indicated in the fact that in 1914 he was president of the State Editorial Associa- tion and for five years served as secretary of the Willamette Valley Editorial Associa- tion. He is likewise prominent in the public life of the state, having filled the position of reading clerk in the legislature during the last two sessions. His interest in the welfare and progress of his city is shown in his membership in the Cottage Grove Com- mercial Club, which he has served as president and secretary and in this connection he has aided materially in promoting the substantial growth and upbuilding of his section. He is likewise a prominent Mason, being a past master of the lodge and a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Shrine. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in religious faith he is an Episcopalian. Following in the professional footsteps of his distinguished father, he has attained a high posi- tion in newspaper circles of the state, and in promoting his own prosperity he has furthered the general development of his community, his influence being ever on the side of moral uplift and intellectual growth.
RUDOLPH WILHELM.
In business circles of Portland Rudolph Wilhelm is well known as the owner and proprietor of the Wilhelm Transfer Company, one of the leading enterprises of the kind in the city, and he is also prominently known as golf champion of the state. He is one of Oregon's native sons, his birth having occurred in Sellwood, November 4, 1888. His parents, John George and Mary (Stritzinger) Wilhelm, were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, where the father continued to reside until the close of the Franco- German war, when he emigrated to the United States, being then a young man of seventeen years. Making his way to St. Louis, Missouri, he there worked for a time and in the late '70s came to Oregon, taking up his residence in Portland where he entered the employ of Henry Weinhart as foreman of a brewery, having previously learned the business in his native land. He was thus engaged until 1887 when he entered upon an independent business venture, erecting a brewery at Sellwood which he continued to operate successfully until his demise in 1904. He became one of the leading citizens of his community, serving as chief of the volunteer fire department. It was while in the employ of Henry Weinhart that Mr. Wilhelm met and married Mary Stritzinger, also a native of Alsace-Lorraine, and they became the parents of six children, namely: George, a resident of Portland; Peter, who makes his home in San Francisco, California; Rudolph of this review; Anna, who married Frank Schulz of Portland; Emma, who married C. C. Carey of Seattle, Washington; and. Jol.n, a resident of New York city.
After completing his public school education Rudolph Wilhelm began his busi- ness career in his father's brewery where he remained until his twentieth year. He then established his present business at No. 44 First street, occupying a two-story building fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions. He is an excellent business man and has built up a trade of large proportions, giving employment to ten men and utilizing several automobile trucks in addition to two teams of horses. He is thor-
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oughly reliable in all of his business transactions and the Wilhelm Transfer Com- pany is regarded as one of the leading firms of this character in Portland.
Business, however, has not been his chief interest in life, for he has also become prominent in the world of sport, winning fame on the golf links. When Mr. Wilhelm was nine years of age the old Waverly Golf Club established its headquarters in Sell- wood and as caddy for the club he acquired his first knowledge of golf, continuing in that capacity for four years. He was not again connected with the game until he reached the age of twenty-five years, when upon the organization of the Portland Golf Club he became one of its members, playing his first match game of conse- quence in San Francisco in 1915 and being the tenth man to qualify out of several hundred. He was put out the third day by H. Chandler Eagan four to three in a thirty-six hole match. In the same year he won the Oregon state championship, after only five months of playing, from Hartwell, the 1914 champion. In 1916 he lost to Russell Smith but in 1917 regained the state championship and also won the Pacific- Northwestern open championship at Spokane, Washington. In 1918, 1919 and 1920 he continued to hold the state championship and in the last named year played at Roslyn, Long Island, in the national golf tournament, being one of forty-two men who qualified.
On the 4th of November, 1910, Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage to Miss Lena Margaret Miller, whose father conducted one of the first French bakeries in Port- land, his establishment being located at the corner of Fifth and Harrison streets. He was also a native of Alsace-Lorraine, going to California with the gold seekers and subsequently becoming a pioneer of Oregon. Mrs. Wilhelm is also noted for her athletic prowess and was a member of the girls' team of the Turnverein which won prizes at the Lewis & Clark and the Seattle expositions. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm have become the parents of two sons: Rudolph Henry and Robert John, the former now seven years of age.
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