History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 51

Author: Carey, Charles Henry
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 780

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FRANK J. LONERGAN.

Frank J. Lonergan, an able representative of the Portland bar and member of the firm of Griffith, Leiter & Allen, well known attorneys of this city, has here prac- ticed his profession since 1908. A native of Illinois, he was born in Polo, Ogle county, May 27, 1882, a son of John S. and Mary (Lynch) Lonergan. His parents were born in Ireland and in the early '60s emigrated to America, their marriage occurring at Dixon, Illinois, where for many years the father engaged in railroading. He now resides at Durand, Illinois, and has reached the age of eighty-three years, but the mother passed away in 1918. They reared a family of ten children, namely: James, Edward, Anna, John, Mary E., Agnes A., George M., Charles P. A., Frank J. and Joseph M. Of these Rev. Joseph M. Lonergan is a priest of the Catholic church and is stationed at Durand, Illinois. During the World war he served as chaplain of the Eighty-sixth Division and later of the Twentieth Engineers. George Lonergan, also a veteran of the World war, received his training at Camp Devens, near Boston, Massachusetts, after which he was sent overseas with the Twenty-fifth Engineers and participated in the terrific struggle in the Argonne forest, where he was gassed.

Frank J. Lonergan, the ninth of the family, was graduated from the high school at Polo, Illinois, in 1899, as president of his class, after which he entered Notre Dame University of Indiana, graduating therefrom in 1904 with the degree of LL. B., and he was also president of his class. He then took up the profession of teaching and from 1904 until 1908 was instructor in history and economics at Columbia University. In the latter year he was admitted to the Oregon bar and has since practiced his profession in Portland, being now a member of the law firm of Griffith, Leiter & Allen, leading attorneys of this city, with offices in the Electric building. He is an able lawyer, well versed in all branches of the law, and his ability is manifest in the logic of his deductions and in the clearness of his reasoning.

On the 19th of August, 1912, Mr. Lonergan was united in marriage to Mrs. Jean James (nee Davidson) a native of Texas, who previous to her marriage had served as one of the nurses in the Good Samaritan Hospital and had also acted as office assistant for Dr. Allan W. Smith.

In religious faith Mr. Lonergan is a Catholic and is a prominent and active member of the Knights of Columbus, being a past grand knight of Portland Council, a past state deputy and at the supreme convention of that order held recently at New York city was elected supreme director for a term of three years. He is a member of the Pacific Coast Claim Agents' Association and his interest in the welfare and upbuild-

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ing of his city is indicated by his connection with the Chamber of Commerce. He was a Four-Minute speaker under the president of the United States during the World war. He is much interested in athletic sports and is a life member of the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club, playing on its football team in 1904, 1906 and 1907. He also played on the varsity team of Notre Dame and for four years was coach of the football team of Columbia University, becoming well known in the field of athletics. Other fraternal connections are with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum. He holds to high standards in professional service, has great respect for the dignity of his calling and zealously devotes his energies to his profession, in which he is making steady advancement. He is recognized as a successful attorney, a public- spirited citizen and a loyal friend and is held in high esteem by all who have come in contact with him.

H. T. CAMPBELL.

Among the leading music houses of Portland is the Bush & Lane Piano Company of which H. T. Campbell is the manager. He is proving entirely equal to the responsibil- ities which devolve upon him in this connection and his services are very valuable to the company which he represents. Mr. Campbell is a native of Michigan. He was born in Escanaba and is a son of A. A. and Mary Jane (Nugent) Campbell. The father was formerly identified with the piano business in Michigan but is now connected with the Seattle establishment of the Bush & Lane Piano Company as salesman.

After completing his high school education H. T. Campbell entered commercial circles in connection with the piano business and has since continued along this line, acquiring a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the trade. For ten years he has been identified with the Bush & Lane Piano Company, becoming manager of the Portland branch on the 1st of April, 1920. This is a very large corporation, maintain- ing ten branches in the United States, of which the Portland establishment is one of the largest, its territory comprising Oregon, Idaho and northern California. The store is centrally located at the corner of Broadway and Alder street, a very desirable sitna- tion, and utilizes three stories of the Bush & Lane building, where employment is given to thirty persons. They handle the Bush & Lane piano exclusively and also carry the Bush & Lane, Victor and Columbia phonographs. Mr. Campbell is proving energetic, resourceful and progressive in the conduct of the extensive business of which he is the head and under his management the trade of the company is growing steadily. He keeps in close touch with every detail of the business, with which his broad experience has made him thoroughly familiar and his services are proving very satisfactory to his employers.

In 1915 Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Alma Grell, of Everson, Washington, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Emily Louise. He is a republican in his political views and an earnest and active member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to the Scottish Rite Con- sistory and to Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine and he is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The fact that he has continued in the field which he first entered is one reason for his gratifying success and as the years have passed he has gained wide experience which makes him an authority in his line of work. A spirit of enterprise and progress has actuated him throughout the entire period of his connection with business affairs, bringing him to his present position of responsibility and he is regarded as a valued citizen of his community by reason of his high principles and many substantial personal qualities.

MARTIN LUTHER FORSTER.

Modern agriculture requires for its development an efficiency and a thorough knowl- edge which amount almost to a science. It has become recognized as an occupation in which practical methods result in a high degree of prosperity and in the cultivation of his fine farm adjoining the town of Tangent, Martin Luther Forster exemplifies the truth of this statement. All of the features of the model farm of the twentieth century

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are found on his place and it is one of the best equipped and most attractive farms not only in Linn county but in the entire state.

Mr. Forster was born near New Windsor, in Mercer county, Illinois, February 9, 1861, and is a son of Frederick H. and Martha J. (Harold) Forster, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Illinois. The father removed to Illinois prior to the out- break of the Civil war, in which all of his brothers participated, but owing to ill health he was not qualified for service. Purchasing land in Mercer county, Illinois, he de- voted his attention to its development and improvement until 1866, when he went to Iowa and in Lucas county purchased eight hundred acres of land, for which he paid six dollars per acre. He was engaged in the cultivation of that farm for a period of ten years, or until 1876, when he went to Kansas and took up a homestead, which he cleared and developed, residing thereon for about six years, but the drought and grasshoppers proved so disastrous to his crops that he decided to abandon his claim and returned to Iowa. There he purchased another farm and this he continued to operate throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away on the 8th of December, 1919, at the venerable age of ninety-three years, while the mother's death occurred in December, 1877, when she was forty-five years of age.

Their son, Martin L. Forster, pursued his education in the schools of Iowa and in 1876, when fifteen years of age, began working as a farm hand and later engaged in railroad work. In March, 1883, he came to Oregon, where for four years he was employed at farm labor in the employ of others. In 1887 he engaged in farming inde- pendently and in 1888 his wife inherited a portion of her father's estate, which Mr. Forster has since operated. The property adjoins the town of Tangent on the north and west and to his original holdings he added by additional purchase and also sold a portion of his land. He has made a close study of the needs of the soil and climatic conditions in relation to the production of crops here and a spirit of enterprise charac- terizes him in all of his work. His standards of farming are high and he is winning success by reason of his sound judgment, unfaltering enterprise and progressive methods. He is ever quick to adopt new ideas in the operation of his farm and his plowing is done by means of a tractor. His barns and outbuildings are among the finest to be found in the state and all are equipped with electricity, which he also uses in milking and separating the milk from the cream. His farm residence is a fine modern struc- ture, equipped with all the improvements and conveniences which are found in the best city homes. He has four silos on his farm and for the past seven years has en- gaged in buying and shipping stock. He now ships from fifty to eighty thousand dollars' worth of stock each year and his operations along that line are most extensive and profitable, ranking him with the successful and prominent stock dealers in the state. He makes a business of feeding cattle in the winter months and also raises hogs. For thirteen years Mr. Forster engaged in operating the Tangent Prune Nursery and his horticultural interests were most profitably managed, his first crop of prunes netting him one thousand dollars per acre. He gradually extended his operations along that line until his nursery contained two hundred thousand trees, but owing to the reduction in prices he has since discontinued his work in that connection. He is also the owner of a threshing outfit but does not now engage to any great extent in that branch of activity. He is a man of splendid business ability, whose connection with any undertaking ensures a prosperous outcome for the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

On the 3d of July, 1888, Mr. Forster was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Set- tlemire, a daughter of H. W. and Lydia A. (King) Settlemire, natives of Illinois. Her father crossed the plains to Oregon with his parents in 1849-a trip that was fraught with much suffering and hardship and their lives were also imperiled by that dread disease, cholera, which was prevalent at that time. In 1850 they arrived in Oregon City, Oregon, and there the family lived for some time. H. W. Settlemire was fifteen years of age at the time of his arrival in this state and he worked in the employ of others and also raised watermelons, which he sold to the miners at from two and a half to five dollars each. At length the family removed to Mount Angel, Oregon, where the father of Mr. Settlemire spent the remainder of his life. About 1854 his son arrived in Linn county, where he purchased land which is now operated by his son- in-law, Mr. Forster. He also engaged in the operation of a nursery, which he continued to conduct for more than fifty years, winning a substantial measure of success in that and his farming operations. He passed away in April, 1912, while his wife's death occurred in March, 1911. To Mr. and Mrs. Forster were born six children, namely: Grace, who married L. W. Weber of Salem, Oregon; Vera, the wife of Clarence Under-

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wood of Hood River, and the mother of one child, Florence; Frederick H., who follows farming near Harrisburg and by his marriage has become the father of one child, Mabel; A. Raymond, a farmer residing near Tangent, who is married and has one child, Irene; Zella, the wife of Z. G. Hayes, of Grays Harbor, Washington; and Everette, at home.

In his political views Mr. Forster is a republican and has taken a prominent part in public affairs of his community, serving as road supervisor for fourteen years, dur- ing which period he was instrumental in securing the building of some excellent dirt roads. His services have frequently been sought in other public connections, but he has little time for outside interests, as his extensive business affairs require his un- divided attention. However, he is a most public-spirited citizen and his aid and in- fluence are always on the side of advancement and improvement. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Knights of The Maccabees, and his wife is a member of the ladies' auxiliary of the last two named organizations. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his life has ever been guided by its teachings. Mr. Forster is one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Linn county. He is a man who would be an acquisition to any community, his irreproachable character no less than his achievements giving him a commanding position and compelling his recog- nition as one destined to lead in anything he undertakes.

CHARLES THOMAS SWEENEY, M. D.

Dr. Charles Thomas Sweeney, a successful representative of the medical profession at Medford, was born in Johnson county, Missouri, September 10, 1869, a son of William and Nancy M. (Stone) Sweeney. In the paternal line he is a representative of old colonial stock, the American branch of the family being founded in Virginia prior to the Revolutionary war. Charles Sweeney was born in Virginia in 1766 and married Frances Shackelford, whose birth also occurred in Virginia in 1776. Both represented early American families, whose names are associated with the military struggle for independence and with many events which shaped the early history of the republic. Charles and Frances Sweeney removed to Kentucky in 1802, casting in their lots with the first citizens of that state. Their son, Jefferson Sweeney, took up his abode in Missouri and became the first merchant and postmaster of Clinton and it was there that William Sweeney, father of Dr. Sweeney, was born. William Sweeney is still living in the home state, having retired after a useful life as a farmer and banker.

Dr. Sweeney was educated in the graded and high schools of Johnson county and pursued his medical course in the Kansas City Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Kansas, being graduated at the head of his class and as gold medalist in the year 1891. In 1905 he was made an honorary graduate of the University Alumni Association.

Following the completion of his medical course Dr. Sweeney entered upon active practice at Chilhowee, Missouri, and there devoted his attention to professional duties until 1899, when he removed to Great Falls, Montana, where he remained in active practice until 1910, when he came to Oregon in order to avoid the severity of the Montana winters and purchased a ranch of two hundred acres in the Rogue River valley. He practiced his profession in the valley through the succeeding seven years and during the period of his residence in Josephine county was accorded a most liberal practice that extended to the county limits. In 1916 he was nominated and elected to represent Josephine county in the twenty-ninth session of the state legislature as the democratic nominee despite the normal republican majority in that part of the state. His service in the legislature was such as to commend him to the voters of southern Oregon and, after the manner of a distinguished service medal, there came to him the nomination for senator, but the republican majority was too great to overcome.

In 1917 Dr. Sweeney took up his residence in Medford, where he continues to reside. He specializes in surgery and obstetrics and is a member of the staff of the Sacred Heart Hospital. While residing in Montana he served as county health officer and was for four years county coroner of Cascade county. He has always kept abreast with scientific researches and discoveries having to do with the practice of medicine and surgery and is recognized as a deep student of his profession and one who has

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gained prominence as a skilled surgeon. Again and again he has taken postgraduate work, believing it necessary for members of the profession at all times to acquaint themselves with modern ideas and methods of practice.

In 1893 Dr. Sweeney married Miss Mary E. Cleland, a daughter of James Cleland, a farmer and pioneer of Missouri. Their living children are: Anna Grace, the wife of R. C. Day, of Portland, Oregon; and Edith May, who is a well established artist and illustrator, maintaining a studio in Medford, though most of her sketches and drawings are executed for Portland and San Francisco newspapers and large com- mercial houses. Charles T., the only son, died in infancy. Mrs. Sweeney takes an interested and prominent part in social and club life in Medford and is a valued member of the Greater Medford Club and also the Order of the Eastern Star.

Dr. Sweeney is a Royal Arch Mason and proudly wears a jewel presented to him upon retirement as master of his lodge in Montana. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen and was head physician for the last named order in the state of Montana. Dr. Sweeney finds his recreation largely on his ranch, maintaining a fine dairy stock farm, handling pedigreed Jerseys. He is also a disciple of Izaak Walton and is accounted one of the best trout fishermen in the state. These, however, are but subsidiary interests in his life, as his efforts and attention are concentrated upon his onerous and continuously growing professional duties.

ADAM M. WILHELM, JR.

Adam M. Wilhelm, Jr., member of the firm of A. Wilhelm & Sons, of Monroe, oper- ating the largest department store in western Oregon outside of Portland, is ably managing the extensive interests of the company at Corvallis and is proving a most capable, energetic and farsighted business man. He was born in Kiel, Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, November 14, 1868, a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Mueller) Wil- helm, the former a native of Metz, Germany, and the latter of France. The father is one of the most prominent and successful merchants and financiers of the state, his activities having contributed in substantial measure to the development and prosperity of western Oregon. He became the founder of the firm of A. Wilhelm & Sons and his operations in the fields of merchandising and finance have been most extensive and important, entitling him to classification with the builders of the northwest.

His son, Adam M. Wilhelm, was but four yeas of age at the time of the arrival of the family in Oregon and in the schools of Benton county he pursued his education. After completing his.studies he assisted his father in the conduct of his mercantile interests at Monroe and later he and his brothers became partners in the business con- trolled by the father, at which time the firm style of A. Wilhelm & Sons was assumed. They operate a large department store at Monroe, carrying an extensive and attractive line of goods, and they also maintain two fine modern garages at Corvallis and one at Junction City which is of mammoth proportions, handling the Willys-Knight, Nash and White cars and trucks, the Stevens cars and the Cletrac tractor. They also con- duct a large grain and milling business and their operations in this field are equally successful. Mr. Wilhelm was active in the management of the interests of the firm at Monroe until 1917, when he established the business at Corvallis, which under his able supervision has now reached extensive and profitable proportions. He is a man of splendid executive ability and has inherited his father's powers of organization and administration. The firm also operates the Monroe State Bank, which is capitalized for ten thousand dollars and has on deposit two hundred thousand dollars, and they likewise have most extensive farming interests in the state. The · firm name of A. Wilhelm & Sons is one of the best known in western Oregon and it has ever stood as a synonym for enterprise, integrity and reliability in business.

In November, 1907, Mr. Wilhelm was united in marriage to Miss Lula F. Davison, who passed away in February, 1910, after a year's illness, leaving a little daughter, Louise Frances, who was born in September, 1908. In his political views Mr. Wilhelm is a republican and in religious faith he is a Catholic. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and is also identified with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a prominent member of the Corvallis Country Club and the Corvallis Commercial Club. While residing at Monroe he filled the office of post- master for a number of years, discharging his duties with promptness and efficiency.

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Mr. Wilhelm occupies a prominent position in business circles of his section of the state and is known to be a man whose assistance is readily given to any project or measure which has for its object the development and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. He has many admirable qualities which make for personal popu- larity and he is a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.

JAMES J. JENSEN.

One of the resourceful, enterprising and progressive business men of Linnton is James J. Jensen who has conducted his present interests since 1916, and in the inter- vening period of five years the business has enjoyed a steady and healthful growth, having now reached profitable proportions. Mr. Jensen was born in Manistee, Michigan, and is a son of H. P. and Augusta (Rasmussen) Jensen. The father was for many years engaged in the lumber business in Michigan and in 1905 removed with his family to the west, becoming associated with the Pacific Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, after which he entered the employ of the Wilson & Clarke Lumber Company at Linnton, remaining with that firm for twelve years in the capacity of superintendent. On the expiration of that period he again became identified with the Pacific Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, with which he is now connected. The two children of the family are James J., of this review, and Marie, who is now the wife of A. Silverman who is engaged in the grocery business in the state of Washington.

James J. Jensen attended the Portland high school and also became a pupil in the night school conducted by the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1916, in asso- ciation with his father, he bought out a mercantile business at Linnton which he has since developed to an enterprise of large proportions, giving employment to five persons and utilizing two delivery wagons. He carries a large and carefully selected stock of merchandise and his enterprising and progressive methods, reasonable prices and re- liability have secured for him a good patronage, his sales now amounting to one hundred thousand dollars a year.

In June, 1920, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Olga May Ott, a resident of Portland, and they are popular in social circles of the community. During the World war Mr. Jensen joined the Merchant Marine service, in which he became quarter- master and for nineteen months was connected with that branch of the navy, during which period he made several trips to Australia. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of The Maccabees with which organizations his father is also identified. He is an aggressive, energetic young business man whose many sterling qualities have gained him a high place in the respect and goodwill of all who have been brought into contact with him.

FRANK GEORGE DECKEBACH.

In thoroughness and the mastery of every detail of the duties that have devolved upon him lies the secret of the success which has brought Frank George Deckebach to the prominent position which he occupies in commercial circles of Salem as the president of the Marion Creamery & Produce Company. As the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well and at the same time his labors have been a valuable asset in the development of the resources of the northwest, through his connection with financial, transportation, journalistic and various other interests. He is a man of determined purpose, carrying through to successful completion whatever he undertakes and his connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same.

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History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 51

Author: Carey, Charles Henry Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company Number of Pages: 780

Author: Carey, Charles Henry
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago, Portland, The Pioneer historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 780