History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 77

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

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his health, but when he returned to Omaha and again entered the store it was seen that his constitution was not equal to the task imposed upon it in commercial life. He then disposed of his interests in the business and removed to Portland, hoping that the climate here would prove beneficial. He lived retired from com- mercial interests but was appointed tea inspector for the United States and oc- cupied that position for two years. He had been reappointed for another term of two years before the government learned of his death, which occurred May 21, 1916. He was regarded as the most thoroughly efficient tea inspector the government ever had. While living at Omaha, Nebraska, he had owned an interest in a large tea store at Grand Island, that state, and as a wholesale grocer he had long been familiar with and was an excellent judge of the product.

In 1876 Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Lizzie Kate Rogers of Mount Vernon, Ohio, a daughter of Timothy W. and Dorothy (Hogg) Rogers, who were natives of Ohio and of England, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver became the parents of a daughter, Cora E., the wife of C. L. Boss of Portland. Mr. Weaver was devoted to his home and family and found his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare of his wife and daughter. He was a self-made man and deserved much credit for what he accomplished. Starting out in life on his own account when a youth of fifteen years, he eagerly embraced every opportunity that meant progress and ad- vancement along the lines of legitimate business. Step by step he progressed and for many years was a leading figure in commercial circles in the middle west. Dur- ing his residence in Portland he gained many friends and the news of his demise carried a deep sense of sorrow to all with whom he had been associated both in Oregon and wherever he had previously lived. His widow survives and now lives at the Multnomah Hotel in Portland, having become a lover of the beautiful Rose City.

JOHN PORTER WHITLOCK.

John Porter Whitlock, who to the time of his death was president and manager of the Coast Bridge Company at Portland, Oregon, and acted as construction engineer in connection with the building of some of the biggest and finest bridges on the Pacific coast, was born in Taylorville, Illinois, November 16, 1873, his parents being George and Frances (White) Whitlock, who were natives of Albany, New York. The family removed to Friend, Nebraska, when John P. Whitlock was but six years of age, the father there owning and operating a large farm. The son obtained his early education in the schools of the locality but his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited. However, in the school of experience he learned many valuable lessons and was constantly broadening his knowledge through reading and observation, for he possessed a most retentive memory. After reaching adult age he took up the business of bridge building. He was early employed as a bridge foreman, which business he fol- lowed for several years, becoming an expert in that line. He did bridge work in nearly all of the middle states west of the Mississippi river and in 1896 made his way to Den- ver, where he remained for about eighteen months, that city being his headquarters, although his labors took him into different sections. On the expiration of that period he removed to Seattle, where he was located for a year, and in 1910 he came to Port- land and organized and became president and manager of the Coast Bridge Company, which position he continued to fill to the time of his death. He was a construction engineer and contractor on some of the largest and finest bridges built in the coast country. There was no phase of the work with which he was not thoroughly familiar and his efficiency was of a very high order. Thoroughness characterized every phase of his work and he was never content unless the highest possible had been attained.

In 1903 Mr. Whitlock was married to Miss Grace E. Jenks, a daughter of Riley E. and Alice (Anderson) Jenks. Her father was a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, while her mother was born in Iowa. Mr. Jenks engaged in agricultural pursuits in Iowa for forty years and there passed away on the 28th of July, 1919. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock were born three children, one of whom died in infancy, the surviving sons being Harold Edmond, now a high school pupil, and Evan Porter, who is a pupil in the grades.

Mr. Whitlock was widely known through many connections. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, having membership in the blue lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M. of Port-

JOHN P. WHITLOCK

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land, and he also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and was a mem- ber of Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belonged to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and was always loyal to any cause which he espoused. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Westminster Presbyterian church. He was a man of very high business and social standing, meriting and receiv- ing the trust and goodwill of his fellowmen in every relation of life. He died at Mrs. Whitlock's father's home in Iowa, while there on a trip for his health, May 1, 1919.

EVERETT AMES.

Everett Ames of Portland was a lawyer who retired from the practice of his profes- sion and became one of the prominent manfacturers of the Rose City. For a long period he was thus connected with the industrial and commercial development of Portland and his interests constituted an important element in the city's growth. He was a man of high purpose and unfaltering activity in business, his acts being directed at all times by a sound judgment and keen sagacity. In the last years of bis life he was particularly active in war work and no citizen of Portland labored more effectively and earnestly to uphold the interests of the government and promote the welfare of the soldiers in camp and field than did Everett Ames.

A western man by birth, training and preference, Everett Ames always displayed the spirit of enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the Pacific coast country. He was born in Half Moon Bay, California, in 1873, his parents being Josiah and Martha Ames, the former a native of England whence he came to the new world, settling in California during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state.

Everett Ames passed his early life in California and acquired his education in the public schools there and in the University of California, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He was a law student in the State University and after com- pleting his course at Berkeley opened a law office in San Francisco, where he remained in active practice for seven years, or until 1902, when he entered into active associa- tion with manufacturing interests, of which his elder brother, James P. Ames, was a partner. For a long period the house of the Ames-Harris-Neville Company has figured prominently in connection with the manufacturing interests of Portland, being engaged in the manufacture of burlap, cotton bags, twine, rope, etc. The business was estab- lished about 1860 in San Francisco, Cailfornia, by E. Detrick & Company and was conducted under that name until 1883, when J. P. Ames, of Oakland, California, became a partner in the enterprise under the firm style of Ames & Detrick. The business was carried on at San Francisco until 1884, in which year a branch house was established in Portland. Operations were continued under the name of Ames & Detrick until 1893 when the Detrick interests withdrew and the firm became Ames & Harris, E. F. Harris purchasing an interest at that time. In 1898 the firm of Ames & Harris was incor- porated and continued the conduct of the business until 1906, when they purchased the interests of Neville & Company of San Francisco and the Neville Bag Company, of Portland, one of their chief competitors. The merged interests were then incorporated under the style of the Ames-Harris-Neville Company, with J. H. James of San Fran- cisco as president and treasurer, while Everett Ames of this review, brother of J. H. Ames, became the first vice president and manager of the Portland business. The Port- land house employs about two hundred operatives in the factory and also maintains a large office force. Everett Ames continued at the head of the Portland branch until his death, which occurred March 23, 1919, and the success of the enterprise at this point was attributable in large measure to his initiative and powers of organization.

In 1901 Mr. Ames was united in marriage to Miss Louella Ober Everett, a daughter of Edward and Helen (Keating) Everett, both representatives of old New England families but early residents of California, having journeyed to the west by way of Cape Horn. To Mr. and Mrs. Ames were born two sons: Edward Everett and James Henry, both at home.

Mr. Ames was very prominent in all civic activities and took a helpful part in promoting the various patriotic enterprises and drives which resulted from the World war. He was especially active in the promotion of the several Liberty loan campaigns, in which he figured with great success as a divisional colonel and as commander of the Flying Squadron. He was unanimously chosen chairman of the Flying Squadron,

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as it was conceded that there was no other man in Portland who could equal him in rounding up the big subscriptions. He was thus called into the emergency service whenever the city campaign proved laggard. He also directed the United War Work campaign as city chairman. He took particular interest in the Soldiers & Sailors Club of Portland, being instrumental in its organization and was the vice chairman of the War Camp Community Service for Oregon. His political endorsement was given to the republican party. He belonged to the Portland Chamber of Commerce, also to the University Club, the Arlington Club, the Waverly Golf Club and was a life member of the Multnomah Club. He was warmly admired by his business associates and par- ticularly by those in his employ. He possessed a remarkable brain and comprehensive mind, being unusually keen even for slight details. He was one of those quiet, effective men who keep themselves in the background, yet constitute the moving force in many public endeavors. He never sought credit nor recognition for himself but was content to see the results accomplished. Those who read back from effect to cause, however, recognized in Everett Ames one to whom Portland owes much for her development, for her progress and her good name.

HON. W. V. FULLER.

Hon. W. V. Fuller, one of the progressive business men and substantial citizens of Dallas, is secretary of the Commercial Club and proprietor of the Fuller Pharmacy and is also extensively interested in timber lands. His activities are thus broad, varied and important and constitute a valuable element in the substantial upbuilding and progress of his section of the state. He comes of distinguished ancestry, representatives of the family in both the paternal and maternal lines having defended American interests as soldiers in the Revolutionary war.

Mr. Fuller was born in West Union, Iowa, January 10, 1861, and is a son of Lewis and Diantha (Hoyt) Fuller, natives of New England. In an early day the father came west to Iowa, taking up land in Howard county, which he cleared and developed, con- tinuing its cultivation and improvement until called to his final rest. He served for a short time as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting as a member of an Iowa regiment. He passed away in May, 1866, and the mother's demise occurred in February, 1912.

Their son, W. V. Fuller, was reared and educated in Iowa and on attaining adult age he engaged in farming in that state until 1881, when he went to northern Minnesota, where he became connected with the lumber industry. He conducted his operations on an extensive scale, becoming the owner of planing mills and several retail lumber-yards, and continued to reside in that state for a period of twenty years, or until 1901. In that year he came to Oregon, settling at Dallas, where he engaged in the real estate and lumber business, but is not active in the former line at present. For the past eleven years he has been proprietor of the Fuller Pharmacy at Dallas but does not devote his time to its operation, his attention being largely given to the conduct of his extensive timber and horticultural interests. He has timber holdings in Polk, Benton, Lincoln and Tillamook counties and also has large farming interests, specializing in the raising of cherries. During the summer months he has charge of the fire patrol in Benton and Polk counties, being secretary and manager of the Polk County Fire Patrol Association. His activities thus cover a broad field and he is active in pushing forward the wheels of progress in Polk county. He is a farsighted business man, possessing sound judg- ment and keen discrimination, and his initiative spirit and notable ability have carried him into important relations.

In October, 1880, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Stewart and they have become the parents of a daughter, Bertha, who is now the wife of Oscar Hayter, a prominent attorney of Dallas.

In his political views Mr. Fuller is a republican and he has been called upon to rep- resent his district in the state legislature, serving in the sessions of 1917 and 1919 and also during the special session of 1920. He carefully studied the problems which came up for settlement, giving his earnest support to all bills which he believed would prove beneficial to the commonwealth and his legislative record is a most creditable one. He is much interested in the welfare and progress of his community and for two terms was a member of the city council. He is president of the Polk county fair board and has served in that capacity since its organization in 1913. He belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution and is a most patriotic and public-spirited American.

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During the World war he rendered important and valuable service to the government as county food and fuel administrator, as chairman of the Council of Defense, and was also active in promoting all the local drives. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, having membership in Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Portland, and for thirty years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, loyal to the teachings of the church. The activity of Mr. Fuller in relation to the public welfare has been of wide scope and no man has done more to further the interests and upbuilding of the community. The years have chronicled his growing success and at all times his career has been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. His ideals of life are high and he utilizes every opportunity that enables him to climb to their level.

WILLIAM H. DRYER.

William H. Dryer, who for a quarter of a century was engaged in the commission business in Portland, was recognized as a forceful and resourceful business man to whom opportunities ever spelled action. He lived to the age of fifty-eight years and his life of integrity and enterprise brought to him a measure of success that enabled him to leave his family in comfortable circumstances.

Mr. Dryer was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in December, 1860, a son of Henry and Catherine (Adelehr) Dryer, who were natives of Missouri. In that state William H. Dryer was reared and, after acquiring a grammar school education, attended a business college of St. Louis. The experiences of his life were broad and varied. He went to Alaska during the gold rush, and there engaged in mining and general mer- chandising for several years, usually spending the summer in the far north and re- turning In the late fall, while in the following spring he would again make his way to the northernmost territory governed by the United States. Later he concentrated his efforts and attentions upon business affairs in Portland and for twenty-five years was engaged in the commission business as a member of Dryer & Bollam, handling all kinds of produce. The undertaking proved profitable and the patronage steadily in- creased, bringing them substantial financial returns.

It was in 1908 that Mr. Dryer was married to Miss Mary Callahan, a daughter of John and Barbara (Bassendorff) Callahan, the former a native of Ireland and the lat- ter of Pennsylvania. They were married in the Keystone state and went to California in 1855, coming to Oregon about 1880. They settled first at Scappose, where Mr. Calla- han followed farming throughout the remainder of his active life. He passed away September 5, 1920, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

The death of Mr. Dryer occurred at Kansas City, Missouri, November 13, 1918, and his remains were brought back to Portland for interment. He belonged to the Woodmen of the World, gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was a member of the Catholic church. His life brought to him many interesting and varied experiences as he traveled from one section of the country to another and to the Alaskan Peninsula, and wherever he went he won friends who received the news of his demise with deep regret.

NOLAN L. SKIFF.

Nolan L. Skiff, receiver of public moneys in the United States land office at La Grande, Union county, is a native of that town, born December 11, 1871, his parents being Willis and Mary Skiff, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Michigan. Willis Skiff came west in 1859, making the trip around Cape Horn, and located in Seattle, Washington, where he operated a freight boat up and down the coast. He later removed to Walla Walla, and then came to the Grand Ronde valley, taking up a homestead, which he improved and upon which he settled. In 1870 he was elected county surveyor and after serving several terms in this capacity he was elected county clerk and removed to Union, the county seat. For four years he held the latter office and then engaged in the lumber and fiour industries until his death, which oc- curred in 1886. Mrs. Skiff passed away in Union in 1887. Throughout his life Mr. Skiff was a stanch democrat and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He

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had a large number of intimate personal friends and was greatly esteemed by all who knew him.

The boyhood of Nolan L. Skiff was spent in Union, where he received his education and later took a course in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, School of Mines. In 1896 he went to Cornucopia, Oregon, where he followed mining and subsequently became fore- man of the Queen of the West Mining Company and later for the Union Mining Com- pany. In 1911 he removed to Halfway, where he engaged in the plumbing and hard- ware business until he received his appointment as receiver of the United States land office at La Grande, removing to that place. He received his appointment June 1, 1913, and was reappointed June 1, 1917, to serve until June 1, 1921.

In 1898 the marriage of Mr. Skiff and Miss Mary Leep, daughter of Selby and Rose (Thornton) Leep, and a native of Missouri, was celebrated. Mrs. Skiff is well known in the club and social circles of La Grande and her home is noted for its hos- pitality.

The political allegiance of Mr. Skiff is given to the democratic party, in the inter- ests of which he takes an active part and he is fraternally affiliated with the Odd Fel- lows and the Elks, and in the latter order, in 1921, he was elected exalted ruler of La Grande Lodge, No. 433. The success of Mr. Skiff has been gradual but continuous and he is now recognized as one of the foremost citizens of his native state. He has the record of one who has, by his upright life, won the confidence of all with whom he has come into contact.

NORMAN L. SMITH.

Norman L. Smith is the owner of an excellent farm property at Gresham, on which he settled in 1876. He has been a resident of Oregon for fifty-four years and throughout this period has been an interested witness of the growth and progress of the state. He has now passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Switzerland county, Indiana, on the 20th of June, 1836, his parents being Joshua and Serisa Smith. He was but ten years of age when in 1846 his parents removed with their family to Iowa, settling in Van Buren county, where Norman L. Smith was reared to manhood on a farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and gaining an experience which proved of great value to him in later life. His father died in 1855 and it was in 1866 that the mother with the members of her family crossed the plains. In the meantime, however, Norman L. Smith had responded to the country's call for aid at the time of the Civil war. On the 17th of July, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Fifth Iowa Infantry, and served with his command until mustered out at Burlington, Iowa. The regiment was sent from Iowa to Missouri and remained on duty there until 1862. The next order took the troops to Pittsburg Landing. Mr. Smith participated in the siege of Corinth and served in Tennessee and Mississippi until August, 1862, at which-time he sustained a sunstroke. He was taken to the field hospital but was later removed to the general hospital at Vernon and afterward to the hospital at Evansville, Indiana. On account of disability he received an honorable discharge from the service in Janu- ary, 1863, and returned to his home in Iowa. There he spent several months recuper- ating and in May, 1864, he reenlisted, joining Company C, of the Forty-fifth Iowa Infantry, with which he was on duty for a hundred days. In order to get back into service he had recruited twenty-five men and for that service was accepted as color sergeant. He also served one hundred days in Memphis, Tennessee, and then returned once more to Iowa. He has hanging in his home a personal card of thanks from President Lincoln for that service.

· After a brief residence in Iowa he started for the northwest in company with his mother and the other members of the family. They crossed the plains in 1866, making their way to Portland, and for a time were also residents of Astoria. It was in 1885 that Mr. Smith took up his abode at Gresham and secured a homestead claim in Clatsop county. At Gresham he purchased eighty acres of land which he at once began to clear and soon brought under a high state of cultivation. Today his place embraces ninety-five acres of excellent land, splendidly improved with good buildings. He has always followed mixed farming and his labors have brought to him substantial re- turns. He is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.

NORMAN L. SMITH

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It was in 1865 that Mr. Smith was married to Miss Clara I. Huxley, a daughter of Henry Huxley, and they have become the parents of six children: Percy, Bertrand, Victor Hugo, Harry Roscoe, Laura and Daisy.

In his political views Mr. Smith has always been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served for nine years as supervisor of his district and for three years filled the position of school director. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old military comrades, being identified with Sumner Post. He has ever been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as he was in times of war when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battle fields of the south.

ALFRED C. F. BURKHARDT.

Alfred C. F. Burkhardt, who in 1882 became identified with the business interests of Portland as a florist and so continued until his demise a third of a century later, was born near Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1858, a son of John Baptist and Maria (Mu Lebach) Burkhardt, who were also natives of the land of the Alps, whence they came to the United States in 1872, settling first in Tennessee, where they resided until 1880. In that year they came to Oregon, taking up thelr abode in Portland, where they spent their remaining days.

Alfred C. F. Burkhardt received his education in the schools of Switzerland to the age of fourteen years, and then accompanied his parents to the new world, where he resumed his studies. He started out upon his business career in 1882 as a florist, in partnership with his elder brother, Gustave, their place of business being at Twenty- third and Glisan streets, and the business association was continued until 1905 when they dissolved partnership. Mr. Burkhardt of this review then opened a florist estab- lishment of his own, where he conducted business on his own account until his death on July 28, 1915.

In 1897 Mr. Burkhardt was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wartenweiler, a daughter of David and Anna Wartenweiler who were also natives of Switzerland. Mrs. Burkhardt came to the United States in 1890, settling in the city which is still her home. By her marriage she became the mother of six children: Lillian, Rosalie, Marguerite, Hortense, Flora and Maieli.

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History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 77

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