USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
Frank Loughary was reared in Polk county and here attended the district schools, later pursuing a course of study in the State Normal School at Monmouth, after which he became a student in the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis, thus liberally qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. He has always engaged in the occupation of farming and following his marriage he took charge of the old home place, which he has since operated, adding many improvements thereto and converting it into a most valuable and productive property. Since 1904 he has engaged in the rais- ing of pure bred Jersey cattle and is now the owner of one of the best herds in the state. He was one of the exhibitors at the Pacific International Stock Show held in Portland in November, 1920, where he was the winner of twenty-seven prizes. He is thoroughly conversant with all of the details connected with the breeding and care of stock, and he carries on his enterprise scientifically, thus making it a profitable branch of industry. He keeps himself abreast of the times and well informed on all
420
HISTORY OF OREGON
modern developments relating to his line of work and is regarded as an authority on scientific stock raising, doing much to raise the standards of live stock in the state. He conducts his business on an extensive scale, buying and selling pure bred cattie which he ships to all parts of the country. On the 16th of June, 1919, he paid two thousand one hundred dollars for a nine-day-old bull calf, the highest price ever paid for a calf up to that date. He brings to his occupation a true sense of agricultural economics and his efforts have met with well deserved and gratifying success. He is also interested in the Cooperative Creamery of Monmouth, of which he has served as president since its organization.
On the 16th of June, 1892, Mr. Loughary was united in marriage to Miss Jessie M. Hili, and they have become the parents of four children, of whom one died in iu- fancy. Those living are: Ivan H., Elithe and Frank A., all of whom are at home.
In his political views Mr. Loughary is a republican and an earnest supporter of the principles and candidates of the party. He is much interested in the cause of public education and since the age of twenty-three has served as school director with the exception of one year. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Woodmen of the World, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. A spirit of enterprise characterizes him in all of his work and he carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. His labors have always been constructive and intelligently carried forward and have resulted in placing him in the front rank of the progressive farmers and stock raisers of the state.
HOLLIS ALGER.
Hollis Alger, who for many years was a well known lumberman of the northwest and a leading resident of Portland, was honored and respected by all who knew him, not alone by reason of the success which he achieved but also owing to the straight- forward and progressive business policy which he ever followed. He justly won the proud American title of a self-made man, for his industry and his enterprise consti- tuted the basic elements of his success. A Canadian, he was born in Sherbrooke, in the province of Quebec, June 4, 1844, his parents being Lyman and Eliza (Dufur) Alger, both of whom were natives of the United States but had removed to Canada ere the birth of their son Hollis.
The public schools of his native country afforded the latter his early educational privileges and he later studied in the public schools of the United States, remaining under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He became a resident of Minnesota about 1865 and there started upon his business career, turning his atten- tion to the lumber trade to which he devoted the greater part of his life. He believed that better opportunities in that field could be secured upon the Pacific coast and this belief brought him to Oregon in 1870. He established his home in Portland and after looking over the field began logging operations, which within a few years made him one of the largest operators of the Columbia river country. His business affairs were always well organized and systematically directed. What he undertook he accom- plished, for he realized that when one avenue of opportunity seemed closed he could mark out other paths whereby he could reach the desired goal. In the course of years he organized the Alger Logging Company, with camps located along the principal Inland waterways and the constant development of the business made it eventually one of mammoth proportions. In fact Mr. Alger became recognized as one of the leading lumbermen of the northwest whose efforts constituted a most important element in the development of the lumber industry in this section of the country. He was also extensively interested in the logging department of the Oregon Iron & Steel Company, in the Coweman Driving & Rafting Company and in the Cowlitz and Columbia river booms. His association with the logging interests of Oregon covered nearly forty years and his labors were continued until death called him to his final rest on the 23d of March, 1908. He remained for many years the head of the extensive business which he had founded and his name was a familiar one all over the Pacific coast country where the lumber industry is known. He seems to have accomplished at any one point in his career the possibility for successful accomplishment at that point. He utilized and improved opportunities which others passed heedlessly by and neven losing sight of the goal he pushed steadily forward, crowning his labors with success and con-
HOLLIS ALGER
423
HISTORY OF OREGON
tributing through the development of his interests to the general prosperity of the north west.
At Olympia, Washington, on the 24th of September, 1873, Mr. Alger was married to Miss Mira Brooks, a daughter of Washington S. and Mahala E. (Chapman) Brooks. Her father came from Michigan to Oregon in 1870 and engaged in agricultural pur- suits, settling at Skamokawa, Washington, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1901. He is survived by his widow who on the 1st' of September, 1920, reached the notable age of ninety-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Alger were born four children, of whom three are living: Hollis E., Edgar B. and Morton D. The third son has for the past twenty years been associated with the Northwestern National Bank of Portland. The eldest and the youngest sons took up the lumber business as the successors of their father upon his death. and are still continuing to manage the industry which was built up by him. During the World war they rendered important and valuable service to the government through the building of roads into the spruce forests, thus aiding in getting out timber for the airplane industry.
Of Mr. Alger a contemporary writer has said: "He was born in a lumber country and was never happier than when in the lumber camp. He was essentially a man of large affairs. In his hands business assumed tangible form and grew and flourished and the results were seen in prosperous and happy homes. He belonged to a class of men that have the constructive faculties largely developed-the natural leaders who are absolutely essential in a new country and who prepare the way for the oncoming thou- sands. Of Mr. Alger it may be said that he was prominent not only on account of the success that he attained as a business man but for his honorable and straightfor- ward methods in all business transactions. He was a man of genial temperament and in all he did was actuated by a spirit of fidelity to principles of honor and truth." He possessed many sterling traits of character and successful as he was in business this constituted but one phase of his career. He always recognized his duties and obliga- tions to his fellowmen and met the responsibilities as well as enjoyed the privileges of citizenship. He left behind him an example which may well be followed by those who wish to attain success and an honored name simultaneously.
H. A. DRYER.
H. A. Dryer, who is engaged in the real estate business in Portland, was born in Illinois, December 5, 1884. His father, Hiram A. Dryer, was a native of Indlana and was there reared to the occupation of farming. When eighteen years of age he went to Illinois with his parents, both of whom were born in the United States. After attaining his majority Hiram A. Dryer, Sr., was married to Martha A. Thompson, who was born in Illinois, and is still living.
H. A. Dryer of this review, obtained his education in the common and high schools of Iowa, and in Humboldt College and also took a commercial course. He was engaged as a druggist in Fort Dodge, Iowa, until 1907, when he came to Portland. His youthful days had been spent in Humboldt, Iowa, where he attended school with Frank Gotch, the famous wrestler.
With his removal to the northwest, Mr. Dryer engaged in the real estate business, with offices In the Board of Trade bullding and later removed to his present office in the Lewis building. He makes a specialty of buying and selling farms and has recently disposed of one of his farm properties on the state highway, three and a half miles from Portland, for thirty thousand dollars, this price being paid for eighty acres of land. Mr. Dryer is also the owner of one of the finest farms in this section of the state, situated seven and a half miles from Portland on the Columbia river. It com- prises eighty acres of highly improved land, which is devoted largely to the production of alfalfa and potatoes and his potato crop in the present year has averaged two hun- dred sacks to the acre, while the alfalfa has yielded six tons to the acre. Mr. Dryer also grows corn which measures eighteen feet in height and has refused thirty-two thousand dollars for his farm. Since coming to Oregon he has twice returned to Iowa, once in midsummer and once in midwinter, and the results of these visits have made him firmly determined never again under any circumstances to reside in Iowa, for he much prefers the equitable climate of the northwest.
In 1912 Mr. Dryer was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Ingle, a native of Carthage, Missouri, and a daughter of Edward and Rebecca Ingle, who were also natives of that
424
HISTORY OF OREGON
place, and there the father is still engaged in business as a merchant and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Dryer have two children: Donald, aged seven; and Dorothy Irene, five years of age. Mr. Dryer took an active part in promoting war work and was numbered among the salesmen on all of the Liberty and Victory Loan drives. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, but gives the major part of his time and atten- tion to his business affairs and the growth of his clientage is indicated in the fact that he now finds it necessary to employ five people. There is no one in this section who is better informed concerning the condition and value of farm land and Mr. Dryer has negotiated many important property transfers.
THEODORE H. WELLSHER.
Theodore H. Wellsher, a well known and enterprising florist, conducting a most attractive and tastefully arranged store at No. 460 Madison street in Corvallis, is one of the native sons of Oregon, his birth having occurred In Lane county on the 20th of February, 1855. He is a son of Jacob H. and Christine A. (Rudio) Wellsher, the former born in New York and the latter in Iowa. The father was a wagon and car- riage maker by trade and in 1852 he started across the plains from Iowa with Oregon as his destination. He first became a resident of Portland, in Multnomah county, but after remaining in that city for a year removed to Lane county, where he took up land. This he cleared and developed, continuing its cultivation until 1859, when he sold his ranch, and going to Monroe, Benton county, established a wagon and car- riage factory which he continued to conduct throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1869, while the mother's demise occurred in 1904.
Their son, Theodore H. Wellsher, pursued his education in the schools of Ben- ton county, Oregon, and after completing his studies he learned the trade of wagon and carriage making, which he followed for some time in the employ of others, and when twenty-five years of age his earnings were sufficient to enable him to engage in business along that Ilne independently. He continued to engage in the manu- facture of vehicles until 1897, when he removed to Corvallis, where he turned his atten- tion to blacksmithing, which he followed for two years. He next engaged in general merchandising, which business he continued to conduct until 1907, when he sold out and took up the work of a florist, erecting the present greenhouses, which he success- fully conducted until February, 1920, when he sold his interest to his son-in-law, E. A. Cummings, and retired from active work.
In April, 1882, Mr. Wellsher was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Ingram and they have become the parents of two children, namely: Cecil, the wife of E. A. Cummings; and Vivian, who married Fred E. Butt and resides at Walla Walla, Washington.
In his political views Mr. Wellsher is a republican and fraternally he is iden- tified with the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Energy, perseverence and thrift are recognized the world over as the foun- dation of material prosperity and these three qualities are possessed by Mr. Wellsher. His business activity has ever balanced up with the principles of truth and honor and his sterling traits of character have won for him an enviable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen.
A. C. STEVENS.
Prominent among the successful automobile dealers of Portland is A. C. Stevens, who since 1911 has been a resident of this city. For many years he has been identified with the automobile business and is an expert mechanic, thoroughly familiar with every phase of the trade. A native of the south, he was born in Westminster, Mary- land, a representative of an old and prominent family whose members fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war. He is a son of J. H. and Mary E. (Lester) Stevens, the former a carpenter by trade. After completing his high school course A. C. Stevens spent two years as a student in the Western Maryland College and in 1893 first became identified with the automobile industry as a shop employe of
425
HISTORY OF OREGON
the Electric Vehicle Company at Washington, D. C. He next became connected with the F. B. Sterns Company, acting as general assemblyman at the factory, and also as road test man in the service department. Subsequently he was employed in the Stearns Agency at Philadelphia for several years and in 1908 was sent by the Winton Automobile Company to Seattle, Washington, as superintendent of the northwestern branch of their business, later being promoted to the position of assistant manager. In 1911 he was sent by the company to Portland as general manager, his successive promotions being proof of his superior ability in this line of work. He now has the state agency for the Winton car and represents the Haynes Company as agent for Oregon, Washington, and the territory lying northwest of the Columbia river. He conducts a service and repair station for these two makes of cars only and occupies a two-story building fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions. He is an aggressive, alert and enterprising business man who is proving most successful in the manage- ment of his interests, selling about thirty Winton and one hundred and fifty Haynes cars yearly.
Mr. Stevens was married in Seattle in 1912 to Miss Lillian E. Saltzman, of Phila- delphia, and they reside in an attractive home at No. 691 East Seventeenth street, North. In his political views Mr. Stevens is independent, voting for the man whom he considers best fitted for office regardless of party affiliation. He is a member of the board of directors of the Portland Automobile Dealers Association and fraternally is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while his interest in the welfare and progress of his city is indicated by his membership in the Chamber of Commerce. In the management of his business affairs he has been progressive, ener- getic and capable and his course has been characterized by integrity and honor in every relation, commanding for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.
JOHN H. SIMPSON.
John H. Simpson, now deceased, was long recognized as one of the progressive business men of his section of the state, having for twenty-five years engaged in the conduct of a hardware business, and he was also the owner of extensive and valuable farm holdings. He was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred at Phila- delphia on the 29th of August, 1855. His parents were Anthony and Helen (Crawford) Simpson, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Ireland. They came to America in their youth and located in Philadelphia, residing in that city until 1865, when they crossed the plains to Oregon. The father was a Presbyterian minister and for many years engaged in preaching the gospel, but later turned his attention to the insurance business. On coming to this state he resided for a time in Albany and later went to Corvallis, where he purchased land, upon which he resided for many years, but subsequently returned to Philadelphia and there passed the remainder of his life. The mother is also deceased.
John H. Simpson acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Corvallis and later completed his studies at the Oregon Agricultural College. Soon afterward he entered mercantile circies, engaging in the hardware business at Corvallis in asso- ciation with his brother-in-law. Later Mr. Bogue purchased Mr. Woodcock's interest and subsequently Mr. Huston purchased the interest of Mr. Bogue, the firm then becoming known as Simpson & Huston. They built up an extensive and profitable business, in which they continued for about twenty-five years, when Mr. Simpson sold his interest therein to his partner and removed to Albany, where he erected a beautiful home, in which he continued to reside the remainder of his life. He was also the owner of large farming interests, to the supervision of which he devoted his attention after taking up his residence in Albany, and through the careful management of his busi- ness affairs he won a gratifying measure of prosperity, being a man of keen discrimina- tion and sound judgment.
On the 22d of August, 1894, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Montieth, a daughter of George and Charlotte (Wells) Montieth, natives of New York. The father, who was an architect by profession, came to Oregon in 1873 and settled in Albany, where he spent his remaining years.
Mr. Simpson gave his political allegiance to the republican party and for several terms was a member of the city council, in which connection he rendered valuable serv-
426
HISTORY OF OREGON
ice to the city. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and in religious faith he was a Presbyterian. He passed away in July, 1914, at the age of fifty-nine years, and in him the community lost a substantial business man and an honored and respected citizen, whose life was ever guided by high ideals and characterized by fidelity to duty In every relation.
PERCY M. MORSE.
Percy M. Morse, county surveyor of Lane county, was born in Rochelle, Illinois, October 30, 1876, his parents being Amos A. and Ellen (Keeney) Morse, natives, re- spectively, of New Jersey and of Michigan. It was while residing in his native state that the father volunteered for service in the Civil war, but as he had not yet attained his majority and his mother was dependent upon him for support, his offer was not accepted by the government. Going to Illinois he there became connected with rail- roading, thus continuing until 1889, when he was appointed general freight agent for the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company at Portland, Oregon, discharging the duties of that position in a most capable and efficient manner until 1914, or for a period of twenty-five years. He then retired, but not being content to lead a life of inactivity, he is now with the Northwestern National Bank of Portland, having charge of the safety deposit vaults. Although seventy-six years of age he is still possessed of both mental and physical vigor and his life has been one of activity and usefulness. The mother also survives and is now seventy-two years of age.
Percy M. Morse was reared and educated in Rochelle and Rockford, Illinois, and later became a student in the high school at Portland, Oregon, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. The following year he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, becoming a member of the Second Oregon Volunteer Regi- ment, with which he went to the Philippines. In March, 1899, he received his dis- charge and subsequently became connected with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, remaining in the service of that corporation for a period of seven years. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Pacific Railroad & Navigation Company, having charge of construction work at Tillamook, Oregon, for one and a half years. From 1909 until 1916 he was city engineer at Hood River, Oregon, and then became connected with the Eugene Ice & Storage Company at Eugene, with which com- pany he remained for a year. Later he acted as deputy surveyor of Lane county for a period of two years, while for the past year he has filled the office of county sur- veyor, ably discharging the responsible duties which devolve upon him in this con- nection.
Mr. Morse was married in June, 1903, to Miss Margaret Godfrey and they have become the parents of four daughters, namely: Elizabeth, Katherine, Marion and Mag- gie Lee.
In politics Mr. Morse is a republican and he has labored earnestly for the success of the party. He is a member of the American Association of Civil Engineers and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. His labors have ever been of a constructive nature, contributing in large measure to the work of improvement and upbuilding in various sections of the state, and his sterling worth of character is recognized by all with whom he has been associated.
WILLIAM J. LESTER.
William J. Lester, who since 1919 has served as president of the Garage Men's Association of Portland, is also president of the Lester Heym Company, handling the Dodge cars and the Johns-Manville speedometers. He thoroughly understands the work in which he is engaged, for which he prepared himself by broad and comprehensive college training, and is regarded as an expert in his line. The family is an ancient and honored one in England, tracing its ancestry to the earl of Leicester, who lived dur- ing the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the sixteenth century.
William J. Lester is a native of Wisconsin. He was born on the 19th of May, 1891, a son of W. J. and Annie (Shepherd) Lester and was reared in Peorla, Illinois. After completing the work of the public and high schools he entered the University of Illinois
427
HISTORY OF OREGON
at Urbana, from which lie was graduated on the completion of a course in architecture and engineering. This he supplemented by study in the Bradley Polytechnic School and thus received thorough training along mechanical lines.
Following the completion of his studies Mr. Lester sought the opportunities offered in the west to an ambitious, energetic young man and making his way to Portland he secured employment with the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company as engineer, in which capacity he had charge of the telephone work in the Multnomah Hotel and the Journal building, thus continuing for one year. The next two years he spent as in- dustrial educator at The Dalles and subsequently was for one year assistant director of industrial education at Portland, following which he was for three years in charge of the automobile school of the Young Men's Christian Association at Portland. In 1918, in association with Earl F. Heym, he opened a garage in this city, specializing in handling the Dodge cars, and two years later purchased the interest of Mr. Heym. He has the authorized service station for repairs to the Dodge cars at Portland and also serves in that capacity for the Johns-Manville speedometers for the state of Oregon. He is an expert mechanic and is most ably conducting his interests which are constantly expanding and he is now giving employment to seven skilled mech- anicians.
In 1911 Mr. Lester was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Bradley and they have become the parents of three children: Anna Blanch, Gertrude Mary, and Wil- liam J., Jr. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce he gives hearty support to all of its well devised plans and projects for the upbuilding of the city and the expansion of its trade interests and he is also identified with the Kiwanis Club, while his fra- ternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons, in which he has become a member of the commandery. In 1919 he was elected presi- dent of the Garage Men's Association of Portland, in which capacity he is still serving and was active in perfecting the state organization, being now a member of the board of directors. His place of business is at No. 249 Sixth street, while he resides in a. modern and attractive home at No. 924 East Salmon street. He is one of the city's most energetic, progressive and farsighted business men and although but thirty years of age he has already accomplished much. Since establishing his home in Portland he has made many friends, all of whom esteem him for his industry, his aggressiveness and his sterling integrity.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.