USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 59
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Mr. Williams is a home-loving man, devoted to the welfare of his children, Bruce Wade and Barbara Jean, who find in him a kind and indulgent father. While at college he took an active and prominent part in athletics, serving at different times
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as captain of both the football and track teams. He is a member of Phi Delta Phi, a college fraternity, and was during his college course identified with the Irving Institute Literary Society, which limits its membership to fifty. Mr. Williams' faternal con- nections are with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masons, being a member of the Knights Templars and the Shrine. He has been a close student ot the questions and issues of the day as affecting the welfare of community, state and nation and his aid and influence are always on the side of advancement and improve. ment. His constant aim is to perform his duty according to the best of his ability and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. It is a well known fact that he is loyal to every principle which he espouses and to every cause which he endorses and the sterling worth of his character is attested by all who know him.
JOSIAH FAILING.
One cannot but be thrilled by the story of those whose resolution, courage and purpose carried them into new and unsettled districts, where they must face hard- ship and privation, but where opportunity is limitless. Such was the record of Josiah Failing, who in the year 1851 left the cultivation and opportunities of the Knickerbock- er state to become one of the founders and builders of the great commonwealth of Oregon. He was as well the architect and builder of his own fortunes and in both cases he builded wisely and well. He sought success, but only as a means to an end. He rejoiced that he could provide liberally for his family and was equally happy in the opportunity which his prosperity gave him to aid his fellowmen. The life story of Josiah Failing constitutes a most splendid chapter in the pioneer history of Oregon. He manifested the same spirit which brought his ancestors more than two centuries ago from the Palatinate in Germany to the new world. They were of the Protestant faith, for which they suffered persecution until about the latter part of the seventeenth or the beginning of the eighteenth century, when they sought freedom of conscience in England, together with other German refugees of the Protestant faith. Upon the recom- mendation of her board of trade Queen Anne of England granted the petition of Joshua Kockenthal and fifty-one of his co-religionists and furnished vessels to transport them to the American colonies, where they arrived in 1708, landing at New York. They had been naturalized in England. Most of them settled in the Mohawk valley and subse- quently acquired from the crown the lands upon which they settled. Others followed in 1710 to the number of three thousand.
Henry Jacob Failing, usually called Jacob Failing, was a resident of Montgomery county, New York, where in 1804 he wedded Mary Chapman, who was born in Brad- ford, Wiltshire, England. The name of Failing figured prominently in connection with the history of Montgomery county and the Mohawk valley for many years. Henry J. Failing there followed farming and maintained a trading post. He was a man of generous and kindly disposition and of progressive spirit. For two generations the Palatine settlement on the Mohawk in which he lived was almost exclusively German, the language being taught in the school, while the religious faith was that of the Lutheran church. Jacob Failing, however, realized that English was to become the language of the people of this country and he therefore allowed nothing but English to be spoken in his own household. His wife, too, was of English birth. A contem- porary writer has said of her: "No description of her is so apt or so suggestive as that contained in the word, now gone out of use, but which was in vogue during her time, 'gentlewoman'-stately and dignified, yet sympathetic and affable. Obedience to her in the household was absolute though never compelled. Compliance with her wishes on the part of her children was unhesitating and seemed a matter of course. Her influ- ence over them was such that her discipline was not only never questioned but to her children it would have seemed an unnatural thing not to obey. She was a woman of deep religious sentiment, a Baptist in creed and fashioned her life upon the teachings of Scripture. Her views she impressed deeply upon her children. She was devoted to them and being of such positive character and possessing culture much beyond her day and locality, it is not singular that a knowledge of her individuality is well pre- served among her descendants." Mrs. Failing passed away in her eighty-eighth year, having retained her physical and mental powers largely unimpaired to the last.
Josiah Failing had many of the admirable traits of his mother as well as of his
JOSIAH FAILING
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father. He was born in Canajoharie, New York, July 9, 1806, and until fifteen years of age passed his days in an atmosphere of peace and goodwill to all, direct, straight- forward behavior, scrupulous sense of moral and religious obligations, labor respected, independence and self-reliant pride, to which aid is distasteful but which delights in all that is charitable and for the elevation of man. He pursued his education in the public schools and was always a reader of good books. When in his sixteenth year he obtained his mother's consent and went to Albany where he learned the paper-stainer's trade, an art then consisting of impressing designs upon wall paper by hand with blocks. He completed his apprenticeship in New York city in 1824 and was there employed until his marriage. He afterward served for many years as city superintendent of carts. He put forth every possible effort to provide a good living for his family and to fit them for the duties and responsibilities of life. He was particularly stanch in his support of the schools and of the churches, realizing how valuable a factor are these institutions in the upbuilding of character and the promotion of the world's best ideals. As early as the '30s he became deeply interested in Oregon and was on the point of establishing a home in the far west but was deterred from carrying out this idea at that period. On the 15th of April, 1851, however, in company with his sons, Henry and John W., he sailed from New York city for the purpose of making a thorough investigation of Oregon and its possibilities. At that time Portland's population con- sisted of but three or four hundred people who were living near the river bank and on beyond the virgin forest, while the stumps of fir trees were still to be seen in the one or two streets that had already been laid out. Mr. Failing, however, recognized the strategic position of the city and believed that the future held something good in store for the little hamlet. It was the purpose of Josiah Failing and his son Henry to en- gage in merchandising and while waiting for their goods, which did not arrive until the following October, they erected a store building twenty-two by fifty feet on what is now the southwest corner of Front and Oak streets. With the establishment of the business their trade steadily grew and in 1859 they erected a brick building, removing the original wooden structure to the lot in the rear, where it long stood as a monument of pioneer times and conditions. While success eventually crowned the efforts of Mr. Failing and his son they met various disasters in the early days. In 1852 they had purchased goods which were being transported to Portland on three vessels, the barks Mendora and J. C. Merithew and the brig Vandalia, which was sunk one night on the bar in the Columbia river. Undeterred by their severe losses at that time they perse- vered and their conservative and prudent methods, combined with activity and enter- prise, led to the gradual growth of their trade and the development of their success. They founded their business upon thoroughly substantial and reliable principles, their patronage gradually increased and in the spring of 1864 Josiah Failing was able to retire from business with a comfortable competence. His attention thereafter was largely given to educational and church interests, in which he was most deeply and helpfully interested. He found the greatest happiness in thus aiding in the educational and moral progress of the community. In this connection a contemporary writer has said: "This was, perhaps, the happiest season of his long and active career, for the dominating idea of his life was to do good. While in business he was attentive to its requirements, methodical and thorough in the discharge of his duties as a merchant, but the store did not swallow him up and separate him from the world. There was never a time when he was not a leader and recognized as the spirit and inspiration of practical beneficence in Portland. The Baptist church remembers him as one of the most active builders and liberal contributors to its well-being for a quarter of a cen- tury. He was devotedly attached to his own denomination, but he entertained a broad charity for the people who disagreed with him. He was not demonstrative in his religion. His faith was rather manifested in his acts. His was the first family of Baptists that came to live in Portland and the church may be said to have grown up about him as a nucleus. He was active and earnest in securing the site of the Baptist church on the corner of Alder and Fourth streets, which was originally a gift of the town proprietors. He was a trustee of the church, which in his case was not a nom- inal office and he discharged all his duties conscientiously and as a labor of love. The cry of distress never reached his ears unheeded or found him unprepared. The immigrants of 1852 will never forget his activity in their behalf, when stricken with disease and threatened with starvation beyond the mountains he worked for their relief as earnestly and as tenderly as though they had been members of his own family. His influence was felt everywhere in the young city in shaping its affairs for the better. It is largely due to his exertions that the first school district in Portland was organized
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and a tax levied to build a school house. He was ever a firm believer in the cause of education as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties, believing that thorough instruction should be given in the ordinary branches of an English education. But he did not believe in the expenditure of public moneys in the maintenance of schools of higher education, which the children of the poor could not attend because of a necessity that would force them at an earlier age to earn their own livelihood. He felt therefore that the schools wherein science and the languages were taught were for the benefit of people who could probably afford to pay for such educational training for their children."
In early manhood Josiah Failing was united in marriage to Henrietta Legge Ellison, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Beeck) Ellison, the former a native of York, England, and the latter of New York city. Their daughter, Mrs. Failing, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and soon afterward the father died, while the widow with her babe returned to her parents' home in New York city. There she was reared and on the 15th of July, 1828, became the wife of Josiah Failing. Their married life was one of the closest and most harmonious companionship. She fully met the duties and obligations of wife and mother because her interest at all times centered in her home and at the same time she was neglectful of no duty toward society at large.
Politically Mr. Failing was a whig until the dissolution of the party and later a republican. He was elected Portland's mayor on the non-partisan ticket in 1853 and in 1864 he was a delegate to the republican national convention and later to the con- vention of his party which nominated Grant for the presidency. It was said of him: "His political views were a matter first of reason and then of faith." He sought good government but was not offensive in his partisanship and some of his warmest personal friends were those practically opposed to him in politics. He was not a man of sharp angles, however, and never aroused an antagonist needlessly. He would not insist on a point but would not yield a principle. He was so considerate and gentle that, differ from him as you might, he never seemed unkind. He had little of what is termed policy but few men ever had better self control. He found great happiness in aiding others, giving freely of his means or his advice and wise counsel as the case demanded. He was a man of dignified carriage, address and demeanor and while cordial, had that in his nature which prevented familiarity. He was a man of natural rugged intellectual power, of contemplative habits and inflexible will and at the same time he possessed a most sympathetic and kindly nature which reached out in helpfulness to all humanity.
W. J. H. CLARK.
W. J. H. Clark is well known in business circles in Portland in connection with the Northwest Automobile Company, while in fraternal relations he has attained promi- nence, being now grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias in Oregon. He was born in Cornwall, England, May 8, 1871, a son of William Henry and Elizabeth Clark. The father was also born in Cornwall and is living retired there, but the mother passed away about twelve years ago. Mr. Clark was in the government custom service for a long period.
W. J. H. Clark acquired his education in the town of his birth and also in St. Mary's College in England. He came to the United States in 1901 and engaged in the export trade at New York as representative of a European firm. It was in 1905 that he arrived in the northwest, taking up his abode at Seattle, Washington, where he engaged in the automobile business and in 1908 came to Portland, where he became associated with the Northwest Automobile Company, of which he is the secretary and treasurer. This company handles the Cole, Reo, Dort and Marmon cars. The business has been incorporated and the patronage is steadily growing, making the concern one of the profitable automobile companies of Portland. The Northwest Auto Company now employs forty-five people and has a pay-roll of from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars per month. During their last fiscal year they sold motor cars to the amount of three million dollars.
Mr. Clark is also a prominent figure in fraternal circles. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has just been appointed grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, in which capacity he must visit the various lodges of the state-seventy-nine in number- his duty being to promote interest among the members of the organization. He is
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thoroughly in sympathy with the spirit that underlies these fraternities and his labors are an element in the city growth of the lodge spirit.
In 1909 Mr. Clark was married to Miss Doris Wiedow, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and they now reside at No. 776 Ivon street, in Portland, having a wide acquaintance and many friends throughout the city.
WALLACE HAWKE.
Wallace Hawke is a well known resident of Harrisburg, having for the past sixteen years made his home in this locality, and is now acting as butcher in the meat market of C. E. Waggener, in which connection his duties are most capably performed. Mr. Hawke is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Marion county on the 11th of April, 1865. He is a son of John A. and Elizabeth A. (Marsh) Hawke, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Ohio. The father followed agricul- tural pursuits in Ohio, Missouri and Texas and in 1883 came to Oregon, purchasing land in Lane county, which he continued to operate until incapacitated for further labor in that connection, when he removed to Harrisburg and there lived retired the remainder of his life. He passed away March 6, 1912, at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother's demise occurred in May, 1917.
Wallace Hawke attended school in Ohio, Texas and Missouri and in the last named state he followed agricultural pursuits for two years. He removed to Oregon with his parents in 1883, being then a young man of eighteen years, and for some time engaged in operating rented land and also conducted a hop yard. Subsequently he was for nine years foreman on a ranch and on the expiration of that period he removed to Harrisburg, where he has resided for sixteen years, having for the past three years been engaged in cutting meat in the shop of C. E. Waggener.
On the 14th of May, 1894, Mr. Hawke was united in marriage to Miss Linda Alford and they have become the parents of five children, namely: Nora, the wife of Harry Holt, a resident of Salem, Oregon; Fred, who is married and resides in Harrisburg; and Wayne, Verenice and Donald, all yet at home.
In his political views Mr. Hawke is a republican, and his wife is a member of the Baptist church. Fraternally he is connected with the Artisans, the Rebekahs and the Odd Fellows, belonging to both the lodge and encampment of the last named organ- ization. In 1907 he purchased a good home in Harrisburg and is most comfortably situated in life, his sterling worth of character winning for him the regard and esteem of all who know him.
JOHN PEARSON.
John Pearson was born in Stockholm, Sweden, May 16, 1867. His family on both his father's and his mother's side were among the well-to-do land owners of Vermland, Sweden, some of them also being in public life, and he traces his ancestry back for several hundred years. In 1871 his father, Magnus Pearson, came to Chicago and in the fall of 1873 his mother joined the father there. The family found it hard to get a footing in Chicago and John began to help when quite young by selling newspapers. In 1877 his father took up a homestead in Wisconsin, where his mother is still living at the age of eighty-three years.
After the family's removal to Wisconsin John Pearson began working in the pine woods, that being the principal industry of that district at that time. He began sawing and felling timber but rapidly advanced to scaling logs, then to keeping time and the books of logging concerns and to estimating of timber and the necessary surveying. His chances for schooling were scarce, but while watching a dam in Wisconsin he secured books in mathematics and other studies and mastered them. Later he went to Beaver Dam Academy in Wisconsin, and studied bookkeeping and a general business course.
He explored many tracts of virgin pine land in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, blocking out logging operations and upon his judgment large tracts of timber were pur- chased and logged. As the land became logged his interest turned towards the west
Vol. 11-30
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and in Idaho he picked up and blocked out large tracts of timber which today form part of the nucleus of the Potlatch Lumber Company.
In 1904 he came to Portland, Oregon, to live. Previously he and his associates had bought some timber properties in the Kalama Valley, Washington, and he under- took to finish the blocking out of this unit. He became stockholder and manager of the Western Timber Company which now owns extensive holdings both in the Kalama valley and the Nehalem valley, Oregon. He is also interested in the Fir Tree Lumber Company and several other timber companies. Under his direction the Gales Creek and Wilson River Railroad, of which he is president, was built into the Gales Creek valley.
Mr. Pearson was married September 9, 1903, to Frances Newell Sabin. They have two sons: John Magnus Pearson, horn July 9, 1904; and Henry Finch Pearson, horn May 2, 1906.
MATHEW C. GILL.
Mathew C. Gill, now living retired at Scio, is numbered among Oregon's pioneer settlers, for he established his home within the borders of this state in 1864 and is familiar with every phase of its development and upbuilding, to which he has con- tributed in substantial measure, and his reminiscences of the early days are most inter- esting. Mr. Gill is a native of Tennessee, his birth having occurred on the 23rd of January, 1842. He is a son of Samuel and Milly (Ussery) Gill, the former born in Tennessee and the latter in Georgia. The father was a farmer hy occupation and in 1856 he removed to the west, purchasing land in Appanoose county, Iowa, which he im- proved and developed. At the end of three years he sold that property and went to Kansas, where he also bought land, upon which he resided a number of years, adding many improvements to his place and converting it into a valuable and productive farm. He subsequently removed to the southern part of the state and there resided during the remainder of his life, passing away about 1882, while the mother's demise had occurred in 1877.
Their son, Mathew C. Gill, was reared and educated in Tennessee, remaining with his parents until he attained his majority. In 1864 he started for the west, crossing the plains to Oregon with ox teams, and was six months in making the trip. Locating in Linn county, he opened a blacksmith shop in Scio, having learned the trade prior to his removal to the west. He continued to conduct his shop for about twenty-five years with good success and then turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, estab- lishing a hardware business with his son as a partner. This he operated for a number of years and then purchased a general store, with the conduct of which he was actively identified until 1909, when he sold his interest to his son and retired from active busi- ness pursuits. He has led a busy, active and useful life and his present success is the direct result of his diligence, determination and excellent business ability.
In September, 1867, Mr. Gill was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Elizabeth Howe, who was born in Marion county, Oregon, February 12, 1848, a daughter of William B. and Sally (Claypool) Howe, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Indiana. The father crossed the plains to Oregon with ox teams in 1843 and the mother arrived in this state in 1846. He settled six miles from Salem, in Marion county, taking up government land, which he cleared and developed, converting it into a valuable property, which later became known as Howe Prairie. On this farm he resided for many years and then went to California, where he spent several years, but at length returned to Oregon, taking up his ahode in Scio, having during the earlier years of his residence in the state taken up a government claim near the town. He continued to make his home in Scio until his demise, which occurred in December, 1883, and the mother passed away in May, 1889. They were numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of the state and were highly respected residents of their com- munity. To Mr. and Mrs. Gill were born ten children, namely: W. Franklin, who is a prominent and successful merchant of Scio; Lillian, who is the wife of Ross C. Hibler of Seattle, Washington; R. W., a resident of Portland, Oregon; Roy R. of Spokane, Washington; Anna Grace, married J. C. Edwards and resides at Pine, Idaho; J. G. of Lehanon, Oregon; Frances I., the wife of F. M. Arnold, president of the State Bank at Sheridan, Oregon; Archie L., who died in 1892 at the age of sixteen years; and Mary E. and Mark, both of whom died in infancy.
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Mr. Gill gives his political allegiance to the republican party and he has taken an active and prominent part in the public affairs of his community, serving as a member of the town council and as mayor, in which connections he rendered valuable service to his city, standing at all times for advancement and improvement. His fra- ternal connections are with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, in which he is serving as one of the elders. Fifty-six years have come and gone since Mr. Gill arrived in Linn county and throughout the intervening period he has witnessed the entire growth of this section of the state and has aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the com- monwealth. His has been an active life, filled with honorable purpose and accom- plishment, and his sterling worth is attested by all who know him.
J. B. V. BUTLER.
J. B. V. Butler, prominently identified with educational interests of the state as vice president of the Oregon State Normal School at Monmouth, is also well known in financial circles as vice president of the First National Bank of Monmouth. His life has been passed in this state, for he was born in Monmouth in July, 1862, and is a son of J. B. V. and Elizabeth (Ingalls) Butler, the former a native of New Hamp- shire and the latter of Ohio. The father became a resident of Illinois and in 1849 started across the plains for Oregon with ox teams but performed the greater part of the journey on foot. He was accompanied by his wife and three children and the family settled at Portland, where he followed his trade of brick mason, later engaging in general merchandising for several years in that city. Subsequently he removed to Polk county, opening a store at Eola and continuing to operate his establishment in Portland. He conducted both enterprises for a considerable period and also made extensive investments in wheat, which he stored in warehouses at various places in the state, but lost heavily in the floods of 1862. Soon after the founding of Monmouth he took up his abode in the town and it was at this time that Christian College was made the State Normal School, the institution having been established in 1872. He engaged in general merchandising at Monmouth, in addition to dealing in wheat and pork, and was active along those lines for several years, or until his retirement from business life. He was very successful in the conduct of his business interests and his energy, industry and capable management secured for him a substantial competence. He became prominent in political circles of his community and filled several town offices most creditably. He passed away in September, 1879, at the age of seventy, and his wife passed away when she had reached the age of sixty-five.
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