History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 76

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

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In 1895 Mr. Weeks became a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Willamette Lodge, No. 2, of which he was past master and at the time of his death was its secretary. He was a most worthy and faithful follower of the teachings of the craft, ever recognizing the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby imposed. He also belonged to the Episcopal church and consistently followed its pur- poses and teachings.

EDWARD STOCKER.

The life record of Edward Stocker was marked by constant progress. He was a successful man, energetic and determined, and what he undertook he accomplished. A native of Switzerland, he was born in Lucerne, June 19, 1858, and his parents were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives.

The son was reared and educated in the land of the Alps and when a young man of about twenty years crossed the ocean to the United States, making his way to Washington, where he worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Walla Walla for about eight years. About 1887 he came to Oregon, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land four miles east of Newport. This he improved and developed, continuing active in its cultivation until 1902, when he took up his residence in the town, where he established a 'meat market, which he continued to conduct until the time of his demise on the 31st of December, 1918. He was a man of excellent business ability and in the management of his interests he displayed sound judgment, energy and enter- prise. He conducted a first class establishment and his progressive methods, known reliability and reasonable prices soon won for him a large patronage. As his capital increased he made judicious investments in property, becoming the owner of four valuable farms in addition to considerable city property, and was most successful in all of his undertakings. He always followed the most honorable methods and therefore gained the respect and confidence of all who had business dealings with him.

In 1886 Mr. Stocker was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Veit, and they became the parents of five children: Edward P. is engaged in ranching and is a veteran of the World war, enlisting in the army and serving for a period of two years; Albert J. also operates a ranch in Lincoln county; Henry J. and William are

EDWARD STOCKER

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conducting the meat market established by their father. The business has grown to extensive proportions and they are now operating two establishments of that character in Newport. They own the buildings in which their business is conducted and also other property in the city and are enterprising, energetic young business men who are proving most capable in the management of their father's interests. The son, Henry J. Stocker, was married to Miss Grace L. Morris on the 4th of March, 1919; Emma became the wife of George Pye and passed away, leaving a daughter, Florence E. Mrs. Stocker survives her husband and resides in Newport, where she has a large circle of friends, who entertain for her the highest regard.

Edward Stocker was a democrat in his political views and was active in the public life of his community, serving as port commissioner at Newport for eight years, and for about twelve years he was a member of the city council, rendering efficient and valuable service in both connections. In religious faith he was a Catholic, while fraternally he was identified with the Woodmen of the World. His was a busy, active and useful life, crowned with successful achievement. Those who knew him esteemed him for his sterling worth, for they found him trustworthy in every relation. He was honorable and straightforward in business, reliable in citizenship and true to the ties of home and friendship.

PAUL BOGARDUS.

Paul Bogardus, a well known business man of Klamath Falls, was born in Sanders county, Nebraska, on the 14th of December, 1876, a son of Cornelius and Anna (Warren) Bogardus. The Bogardus family are of Holland-Dutch ancestry, their ancestors having settled in New York state when the present city of New York was New Amsterdam. On the paternal side Mr. Bogardus traced his ancestry back as far as 1638 and he laughingly says: "Some of my relatives are still suing for the Trinity church property in New York." It is a notable fact that none of the Bogardus family sought residence outside of the state of New York until the outbreak of the Civil war, when Cornelius Bogardus enlisted in the service and after four years of fighting settled in Omaha, Nebraska. There he became an employe of the Union Pacific Railroad and won more than a substantial amount of success in that connection.

The schools of Nebraska afforded Paul Bogardus his early education and in due time he entered the high school in Oklahoma, from which he was graduated after completing the required course. He then entered the service of the government in the postal de- partment and for the next twenty-five years continued in post office work. Fifteen years of that time was spent as a railway clerk, for the most time being statloned at various points in Oklahoma. He devoted every energy to the conduct of his particular line of work and capably and conscientiously performed every task assigned him. In 1910 he came to Oregon and visiting Klamath Falls was so impressed by its general air of prosperity that he at once decided to make that city his home. The immense amount of experience he had received along postal lines soon brought him the offer of a position as money order clerk in the Klamath Falls post office. He accepted that offer and for four years was active in that connection, winning the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came into contact. He resigned in 1918, however, and established a realty business on his own account, confining himself to the handling of city property and timber lands. Occasionally he takes an interest in other lines of business and was the first stock sales manager of the Klamath Mint Company, which is producing mint on two thousand, five hundred acres of reclaimed land for the manufacture of peppermint oil.

In 1907 Mr. Bogardus was united in marriage to Mrs. Celia O'Loughlin, a daughter of J. A. Daley who was a well known merchant and miner of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bogardus has two children by her former marriage: Coleman and Claudia. The son has the distinction of being the first man from Klamath county to enter France as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces. For twenty-two months he served in that country and participated in all of the major battles of the war. Mrs. Bogardus, who is a graduate nurse following this profession before her marriage, endeared her- self to the people of Klamath Falls during the devastating Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918. She was foremost in relief work during that epidemic, doing her work under the auspices of the Red Cross. At all times she is ready to give generously of her

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time to the promotion of any project which she thinks of value to the community and during the spring of 1921 she served as a captain of the Chamber of Commerce drive.

Since age conferred upon Mr. Bogardus the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. In 1920 he was elected a member of the city council and is serving to the best of his ability as chairman of the streets, water, fire and light committee. During the four months he has been a member of the council Mr. Bogardus has shown no vanity in the exhibition of power but what he thinks he ought to do he does with quiet firmness. The religious faith of both Mr. and Mrs. Bogardus is that of the Catholic church and he has no fraternal affiliations, preferring to spend his entire time in promoting his business interests. He has carried forward in a most capable manner the realty business and displays a mature judgment, spirit of initiative and marked executive ability in controlling his interests. The business has assumed extensive proportions and is one of the leading commercial enterprises in Klamath Falls.

SIDNEY J. MATCOVICH.

One of the important manufacturing enterprises of Portland is the Coast Engine & Machine Works of which Sidney J. Matcovich is the president. He is a thorough mechanic and in the management of his business affairs is proving progressive, energetic and capable, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. The story of his life is an interesting and inspiring one, showing what can be attained through individual effort when industry is guided by intelligence. Starting out in life with few of the advantages which come to the great majority of youths, he has never- theless made wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and his success is entirely attributable to his own efforts and labors.

Mr. Matcovich is one of Oregon's native sons and was born in the city where he now resides on the 22d of December, 1886, the third in a family of six children. His parents are Mathew and Christine (La Freo) Matcovich, the former born in Dalmatia, Austria, September 14, 1856, while the latter was born on board a vessel anchored in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 22, 1860. Prevlous to locating in Port- land the father was a seafaring man, having followed that calling from early youtlı in the eastern part of the Mediterranean and visiting all parts of the globe in his occu- pation as a sailor. As a cabin boy he landed at Philadelphia when but thirteen years of age. The mother is of Spanish descent, her parents being identified with the theatrical business. As members of a troupe of circus performers they traveled over Europe, Asia, South America and all parts of the world and Mrs. Matcovich converses fluently in many languages, having an inexhaustible fund of information, gained through her wide travels. One of her most valued possessions is a commendatory letter from the American minister at Rio de Janeiro, given to her as a young girl in recognition of her heroic and self-sacrificing work in nursing Americans who were stricken with yellow fever during an epidemic in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Matcovich came to Portland from South America on the same vessel, the former being one of the crew. This was his last voyage and two years later, in 1881, they were married and have since resided in Portland. They are passing the sunset of life in a com- fortable home on Terwilliger boulevard, surrounded by their children and grandchildren and enjoying the respect and esteem of all who have the honor of their acquaintance.

In the public schools of his native city their son, Sidney J. Matcovich, acquired his education, also attending night technical schools, where he pursued postgraduate courses in mathematics and mechanical engineering. When fifteen years of age he became an apprentice in the machine shop of Bell & Wildman, where he worked ten hours a day, there remaining for three years, during which period he learned the trade. When the machinery business was dull he ran a stationary engine in a paving plant and his activities from this time forward were varied and interesting. Being a young man of unusual mechanical skill and possessing thorough technical knowledge, his services were eagerly sought by large industrial concerns engaged in the manufacture of machinery. For seven years he was in the employ of the Willamette and Columbia River Towing Company and he has been at the head of the mechanical departments of some of the largest automobile and machinery equipment companies in Portland, Astoria and Hood River. The turning point in his career came when Joseph Supple, a prominent boat builder, who was acquainted with Mr. Matcovich's mechanical ability,

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offered him his run-down machine shop on a fifty-fifty basis. Although at this time Mr. Matcovich had no available funds, at the end of two years he was able to buy a half interest in the establishment and in 1918 removed the shop to its present location at the foot of East Taylor street. He then bought the remaining interest in the busi- ness, which is now incorporated under the title of the Coast Engine & Machine Works, of which he is the president. The firm manufactures and designs its own gasoline drag-saws, hydraulic oil hoists and dump bodies for automobile trucks and also designs and builds conveying machinery for unloading ships, repairs and installs boilers and engines and in fact everything in the line of heavy machinery. Under the capable management and progressive methods employed by Mr. Matcovich the business is en- joying a steady growth, its trade now extending all over the northwest and it is regarded as one of the leading industrial concerns of the city. During the World war the plant was devoted to government work, manufacturing machinery to be installed in the boats which were then being constructed in the shipyards in this locality. Mr. Matcovich is proving efficient, energetic and farsighted in the conduct of the extensive business of which he is the head and under his management it has steadily grown. He gives careful oversight to all phases of the work and is constantly reeking to increase the efficiency of his plant, to improve in any way possible the quality of the output and to extend the trade of the company to new territory.

In Portland, on the 20th day of April, 1910, Mr. Matcovich was united in marriage to Clara Olsen, a native of Denver, Colorado, and a daughter of Mrs. Bertha Hansen, whose birth occurred in Norway. The two children of this union are Helen and Berenice, aged respectively nine and five years. The family resides at No. 792 Gan- tenbein avenue, Portland.

In his political views Mr. Matcovich is independent, casting his ballot according to the dictates of his judgment and without regard to party affiliation and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the English Lutheran church. He is an inter- ested and active member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce and the State Chamber of Commerce and fraternally is identified with Portland Lodge, No. 142, B. P. O. E. Actuated at all points in his career by a progressive spirit and firm determination, he has fought life's battles unaided and has come off a victor in the strife. Honored and respected by all, he occupies an enviable position in business circles of Portland, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policy which he has ever pursued.

EDGAR TRUMAN SLAYTON.

Crook county has been slow to take up diversified farming for it has long been recognized as a typical cattle and horse country, the mountains and foothills afford- ing an abundance of range and the irrigated lands producing the native meadow and alfalfa hay for winter feeding. Edgar Truman Slayton, however, owner of the Elder- hurst Stock Farm, located a few miles from the county seat of Prineville, has been more than successful in raising beef, holding the record of topping the market price every year for that product. Elderhurst is one of the attractive places of Crook county and consists of eight hundred acres of valuable land. The residence is of simple though beautiful architecture and is surrounded by a grove of wonderful shade trees. The house and the barns contain all modern improvements and are electrically lighted. The outhouses are large and built for sanitation and the immense feed lots are models of cleanliness, being supplied with fresh water daily. In addition to securing water from the Ochoco irrigation project, Mr. Slayton has had private irrigation ditches con- structed.

Edgar Truman Slayton is a native Oregonian, his birth having occurred in Polk county in 1863. His father, Samuel R. Slayton, came to Oregon in 1852 and for some time engaged in mining, subsequently removing to Linn county, where he took up land and operated a ranch. In 1869 he removed to Wasco, now Crook county, and estab- lished the farm now conducted so successfully by his son, Edgar Truman Slayton. The mother of our subject was Eliza J. Savery, who was also a member of an honored pioneer family.

In the acquirement of an education Edgar Truman Slayton attended the schools of Crook county and later entered the Portland Business College, from which he was graduated in 1884. After working on the home place for about eleven years he pur-

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chased the homestead and with added acreage made it the Elderhurst Stock Farm of today. He breeds only high grade shorthorn cattle and in addition to the eight hundred acres of the home farm has some four thousand acres for range.

Mr. Slayton has been twice married. He was first married in November, 1894, to Miss Jessie M. Welch, who passed away in 1899. They became the parents of two charming daughters: Mildred, the eldest, is a graduate of the Oregon Agricultural College and is now engaged in teaching at Central Point; while the younger daughter, Mabel, also a graduate of the Oregon Agricultural College, is taking a postgraduate course at Pullman College, Washington. Both are talented young women. On October 21, 1903, Mr. Slayton was again wedded, taking Miss Sarah Jeanette Marks for his wife. Mrs. Slayton is a native Oregonian of pioneer stock and is a woman of much intellect and with a magnetic personality.

As the result of feeding cattle for the market and the success he has attained along that line, Mr. Slayton says that alfalfa is the cheapest and best feed for fattening. The finish is good enough to put Crook county cattle at the top of the market many times each year. Mr. Slayton grows all of his hay and though his farm is modern in every particular there is not a silo on the place, though he is not opposed to silo feeding.

In political affairs Mr. Slayton takes an active part, being an old line democrat, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is a member of the Crook County Irrigators and holds the title of Duke of Baby Beef in that live wire organization.

LOT P. W. QUIMBY.

Lot P. W. Quimby is one of the venerable residents of Portland. He has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey and is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, July 6, 1837, his parents being Daniel J. and Polly (Woodruff) Quimby, who were natives of Sandwich, New Hampshire, and were of English lineage. The grand- father was the Rev. Mr. Quimby, who erected a church in which he preached for many years, this being the first church that Lot P. W. Quimby ever attended. The educational advantages of Mr. Quimby of this review were those which could be secured through attendance at the three months' winter term of school, and the summer seasons were spent in arduous labor upon his father's farm. In fact he began work in the fields at the time of early spring planting and continued his labors until crops were gathered in the late autumn. When eighteen or nineteen years of age, however, he decided to abandon the plow and started out upon the road as a peddler, spending about two years in that way. He then determined to try his fortune in the west and journeyed toward the setting sun by way of the water route and the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco, California, in 1859. He worked in the Napa valley for two months and in 1860 made his way into the gold mines. He still has in his possession the card of D. O. Mills, who purchased his first gold dust before a mint was established in Cali- fornia. Mr. Quimby, however, followed mining for only a brief period and then re- turned to San Francisco, where he engaged in selling water, for in those days all water used was peddled through the city at so much per bucket. He thus earned his living for about six months, at the end of which time he sold the business and turned his attention to the conduct of a livery stable. In 1861 he purchased a restaurant, which he conducted until 1862, but on the 15th of February of the latter year he left the Golden Gate with Portland as his destination, arriving on the 22d of February- Washington's birthday. He was en route to the mines on the Salmon river and the boat on which he made the trip was the first up the river in six months.

After reaching Portland Mr. Quimby rigged up a pack train and in the last of February left for the mines above Lewiston. He then devoted his attention to mining until fall, when he returned to Portland and became associated with H. W. Bennett in the forwarding and livery business and also in the commission business. He bought the first four-wheeled hack that was ever run in Portland and as the years passed developed a large transfer business. He subsequently purchased the livery business of the firm of Sherlock & Bacon and conducted the stable for about a year, when he sold out to Mr. Acker. He then purchased an interest in the business of Sam Smith at Second and Morrison streets, the place being known as the Weston, while the name

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was afterward changed to the Occidental. Mr. Quimby was thus identified with hotel interests in Portland until 1866. In that year he purchased the Lincoln House, formerly owned by General Stephen Coffin, an Oregon pioneer, and renamed the hostelry the American Exchange. He conducted the hotel for about sixteen years and in 1878 fire destroyed the building. He then engaged in dealing in horses in eastern Oregon, where he continued for four years but on the expiration of that period returned to Portland, where he opened the Quimby House, which had been erected by the Wilson family. This Mr. Quimby furnished and conducted the hostelry for a period of fourteen years. It is still being carried on under the name of the Quimby Hotel. Mr. Quimby was also the first game warden of Oregon, being appointed by Governor Geer and filling the position for a period of six years or until 1910, when he retired from office.

In 1865 Mr. Quimby was married to Miss Amelia West, a daughter of Whiting G. West of the Wells Fargo Express Company, who established the first line between Portland and San Francisco, carrying express on the backs of ponies in 1858 or 1859. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Quimby, of whom four are living: Of the family Elmer W. has passed away; Daisy is the wife of L. Q. Sweatland, who is one of the proprietors of the Perkins Hotel and also of the Sweatland building of Portland; Lottie is the wife of Harry Taylor, who in the '80s was with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, being one of the early employes of that corporation; Polly W. is the wife of Frank Webster, who for seventeen years made the run by steamer between Skagway and Whitehorse, Alaska; Daniel W. is an electrician at the Bremerton navy yard; Harry W. died in infancy.

Mr. Quimby has always been keenly interested in public affairs and served for one term in the state legislature, being elected to the office in 1863, in which year he took six members of the house to Salem in a four-horse stage.

Mr. Quimby formerly belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been a lifelong republican, supporting the party since attaining his majority. He reached adult age soon after the organization of the party and has always been one of its stalwart supporters. Throughout the period of his residence in the northwest he has labored earnestly and effectively for the upbuilding and progress of this section of the country and has been identified with many projects and interests which have been directly beneficial to Oregon. His business interests have brought him a wide acquaintance and the careful management of his affairs insures to him a substantial competence. He has now advanced far on life's journey and is in the eventide of a useful and honorable career whereby he has gained many warm friends and every- where he is spoken of in terms of high regard.

BENJAMIN F. WEAVER.

Benjamin F. Weaver spent his last years in Portland and gained a wide and favorable acquaintance in that period in which he was connected with the Rose City prior to his demise. He was a native of Fredericktown, Ohio, and a son of George and Adaline (Preston) Weaver. The father's birth occurred in Winchester, West Virginia, while the mother's birth occurred in Ohio.

Benjamin F. Weaver obtained his education in the schools of his native state. He was only fifteen years of age when his father met an accidental death and he was therefore early thrown upon his own resources and was ever afterward depend- ent upon his own labors for the success he achieved. As the years passed this success became of substantial character. At an early day he engaged in the whole- sale produce and grocery business at Salem, Ohio, and subsequently went to Chicago, where he became identified with the firm of Grains & Farwell, prominent wholesale grocers of that city. A year later he was admitted to a partnership in the business and was associated therewith for eighteen years. He next went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he became a partner in the Paxton & Gallagher Company and his identifica- tion with that house continued for about seventeen years, his efforts constituting a most important element in the upbuilding and extension of its trade. He pos- sessed in large measure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense. He formed his plans readily and was prompt and accurate in their execution. After his health failed him, obliging him to retire from commercial pursuits, he made four trips to Japan and there purchased tea, shipping many carloads to Omaha. He and his wife made a tour around the world, hoping thereby to benefit

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History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 76

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