USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. II > Part 82
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
To Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht have been horn eight children: Laura, who is the wife of George List; Maria, the wife of Walter Welch; John; Rose, the wife of Walter Prenaugh; Andreas, who volunteered for service on the Mexican border and also after- ward was with the United States Army in France for more than a year; Theodore, who was also in the service, being stationed at Vancouver; Violet; and Ernest.
The family circle was broken by the hand of death, when in 1916 Mr. Albrecht passed away. He was a member of the Lutheran church and guided his life by its teachings, always employing the most honorable principles in every business and social relation.
HON. THOMAS H. CRAWFORD.
Hon. Thomas H. Crawford, who for many years has been active in the legal circles of Union county, has the distinction of being the oldest member of the profession in the sixth judicial district, comprising all of eastern Oregon. He is still active in the practice of his profession, which is extensive and of an important character and he is distinguished among the lawyers for the wide research and provident care with which he prepares his cases.
Judge Crawford is one of Oregon's sons by adoption, for he was born in Wash- ington county, Arkansas, March 19, 1848, a son of George A. and Martha J. (Wilson) Crawford, both natives of Fayetteville, Tennessee, in which place the birth of the former occurred in 1812. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford was celebrated in the town of their birth. The boyhood of George A. Crawford was spent in Fayetteville, Ten- nessee, but in later life with his father and the rest of the family he removed to Wash- ington county, Arkansas, where he engaged in farming and in raising stock. In 1870 after the death of his father and mother, George A. Crawford removed to Clackamas county, Oregon, where he purchased a farm in the Horse Heaven district, operating three hundred and twenty acres here until 1874. His death occurred on this place at the age of seventy-two years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Crawford went with a son, J. P., to eastern Washington, near Oaksdale, where her son had bought land and was engaged in farming and wheat raising. Her death occurred while living on that place in 1880. The political allegiance of Mr. Crawford was that of the demo- cratic party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Judge Crawford spent his hoyhood days in Arkansas, where he received his educa- tion at private schools. In 1870 he came to Oregon with his parents and entering the Oregon Agricultural College graduated from that institution in 1874. He then decided to take up law as a life work, began the study of that profession with R. H. Strahan and Judge Kelsey and was admitted to the bar in 1876. In the fall of that year he went to Dayton, Washington, where he commenced practice and where he
644
HISTORY OF OREGON
remained until the spring of 1878. In 1877 he served Columbia county, Washington, as prohate judge and upon the expiration of his term, in the spring of 1878, he returned to Oregon and located at Baker City, resuming the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1878 he went to Union, Union county, and there practiced until the county seat was moved to La Grande. About 1896 he located in La Grande, which has con- tinued to be his place of residence. He has built up an extensive and lucrative prac- tice and handles much important litigation for the courts. For two years he held the office of circuit judge, being appointed to that office by Governor Chamberlain.
In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Crawford and Miss Roselia A. Smith, daugh- ter of Augustus Smith, and a native of Missouri. To them two children have been born: Clarence, who is married, and living at Los Angeles, where he is connected with an insurance business; and Maud, whose death occurred in 1918. The wife and mother has also departed this life.
Judge Crawford is a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm belief in its principles as factors in good government. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias Judge Craw- ford came to Oregon in the early pioneer days when land could be purchased from the state for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and he has seen the country grow to a highly cultivated state with land worth more than two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of all his clients and an assiduous and un- relaxing attention to all the details of his cases, have brought him an extensive busi- ness and made him very successful in its conduct. Mr. Crawford is the oldest member of his profession in the sixth judicial district, the men who started out with him having passed away. The judge finds his greatest recreation in visiting his son and his family in Los Angeles about twice a year, and playing with his grandchildren.
BEN W. OLCOTT.
Hon. Ben W. Olcott, the sixteenth governor of the state of Oregon, is a man not of words but of action, who is capably, fearlessly and honestly meeting the public demand for one who is not afraid to do things, and his service as chief executive has won him high encomiums and gained for him in large measure the confidence and respect of the people of the state. He is a man of resolute purpose and marked strength of character and his official acts have been determined by his purpose to serve the people well and actuated by a thorough knowledge of conditions and an unusual sound- ness of judgment.
Mr. Olcott is a native of Illinois. He was born at Keithsburg, Mercer county, October 15, 1872, and there acquired his education, graduating from the local high school with the class of 1890. He at once entered upon a business career, and going to Chicago, Illinois, he secured a clerical position with a large wholesale woolen house of that city, being at the time a young man of eighteen years. He continued with that firm for a year and in 1891 left for the Pacific coast, making his way to Salem, Oregon, where he entered the employ of William Brown & Company, dealers in hops and wool, with whom he remained for a year. The succeeding year was spent in hunting and prospecting in the mountains of southern Oregon and in the fall of 1893 he returned to Salem, again becoming identified with his former employers. At the end of a short time, however, he severed that connection and associated him- self with the pioneer banking house of Ladd & Bush in Salem.
The years 1897 and 1898 were devoted to prospecting and mining in the east Koo- tenai country, in British Columbia, and also on the Colville Indian Reservation in northern Washington, after which he returned to his native city and for six years served as cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Keithsburg, of which his father was president. In 1904 he heard and heeded the call of the far north, going to Nome, Alaska. In the winter of 1904 he made a thousand mile "mush" up the Yukon river to Fairbanks, the latest Alaskan El Dorado, where he entered the employ of Captain Barnette, the discoverer and locator of this famous gold field, who was president and owner of the Fairbanks Banking Company. He at first acted as paying teller, gold dust teller and buyer and afterward had charge of the bank's interests on the creeks, while subsequently he opened a branch bank for Captain Barnette at Chena, at the head of navigation on the Tanana river.
HON. BEN W. OLCOTT
647
HISTORY OF OREGON
After remaining for three years in Alaska, Mr. Olcott returned to Salem and en- tered the office of the state land agent, which position was at that time filled by Hon. Oswald West, who later succeeded to the governorship. In 1907 Mr. Olcott was chosen by Governor Chamberlain to represent the interests of the state in connection with the failure of the Title Guarantee & Trust Company of Portland, this bank being a large holder of state funds, and on the 17th of April, 1911, still higher political honors were conferred upon him in his appointment by Governor West to the office of secre- tary of state for Oregon, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frank W. Benson. So capably did he discharge the responsible duties of that office that on November 5, 1912, he was elected to succeed himself and reelected November 7, 1916, carrying every county but one in the state. Upon the death of Governor Withycombe on the 3d of March, 1919, Mr. Olcott automatically, under the constitution, succeeded to the gover- norship, taking the oath of office on the 7th of March. He retained the office of Sec- retary of State until May, 1920, when he resigned and appointed Sam A. Kozer, his chief deputy, as his successor, Mr. Kozer having received the republican nomination at the primaries.
As chief executive of the state Governor Olcott's course has at all times com- manded public confidence, for he has wisely and conscientiously used the talents with which nature endowed him, seeking ever fully to protect the rights of the people and to promote every progressive policy having for its purpose the betterment of the commonwealth. He was the first executive in the United States to participate actively in the development of aerial navigation, particularly as it applies to forest fire patrol work, in connection with which he made a number of long flights by airplane with army aviators, including a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Sacramento, Cali- fornia, and another from Blaine, Washington, at the international boundary line, to Stockton, California. Largely through his instrumentality Oregon secured from the United States army splendid assistance in forest fire patrol work, which resulted in the planes being placed in operation in Oregon during 1919 and 1920, and will probably mean that they will be a permanent feature in this state in the future.
Governor Olcott takes a keen interest in boys. This manifested itself in his deep concern for the welfare of the boys committed to the State Training School, which for many years has been woefully lacking in suitable housing facilities and equip- ment. He went before the 1921 legislature with a special message, presenting a plan for the financing of a new school by direct state appropriation and without encroach- ing upon other financial needs of the state. He told the legislature it was impossible to make good citizens out of boys when all who were committed to the school, whether old or young, good or bad, were herded together without any plan for segregation. In his special message to the legislature he said:
"Briefly I call your attention again to the fact that the congregate plan as now used in the impractical relic which we call the training school, is poor in theory and deplorable in practice.
"If you deem my idea worthy of consideration, which I sincerely trust you may, I urge that the present plant be replaced by a plant constructed along the lines of the cottage plan for caring for these young transgressors.
"Give to them the environment of the home, in which scores of them have never lived. Give them clean, wholesome, healthful surroundings, where will be implanted in their youthful breasts the seeds which will flower into strong and decent man- hood.
"Surround them there with chances for vocational training fitted to their needs, training which will make them powerfully equipped for the battles ahead of them when they enter the world. Surround them with a strong corps of teachers, with which to develop their tendencies toward better citizenship. Place them in properly segre- gated units under the discerning eyes of those who know their history and ancestry and are equipped to aid in working out their salvation in better manhood. One needs but to go among these boys, look into their faces, quiz them for a few moments, to find in the vast majority of them splendid material for the upbuilding of honest and self-reliant citizens.
"The investment which I am suggesting to you I consider but a paltry sum to put up against the immense responsibilities which are contained in the product of that institution during the future years."
The legislature granted the desired appropriation, and a new school, arranged on the cottage plan which will make possible the careful segregation of the boys, is taking the place of the antiquated institution. Governor Olcott expects this achieve-
648
HISTORY OF OREGON
ment of his administration to bear valuable fruit in the form of better citizens through- out the years to come.
When the Japanese problem began to be felt in this state Governor Olcott sent out a special investigator to gather the facts and report to him on existing conditions. He followed this with a recommendation to the legislature wherein he said:
"In my opinion steps should be taken by means of proper legislation to curb the growth of the Japanese colonies in Oregon; to preserve our lands and our re- sources for the people of our own race and nationality. I believe the ultimatum should be issued that it is the sense of the people of Oregon, speaking through their repre- sentatives, that this state is a state with a government of Americans, by Americans and for Americans and that Americanism is the predominant asset of its citizenry."
Governor Olcott secured the enactment of laws for the protection of the forests which border the state's scenic highways. He believes that Oregon's scenery, with the tourist travel which it will attract, will become one of the state's greatest assets. For that reason the legislation he obtained will grow in importance with the passing of the years and the consummation of the state's hard surfaced road building program.
Another strong feature of constructive policy secured during his administration and on his recommendation was legislative provision for new industries at the peni- tentiary for employment of convicts, so that the proceeds from sale of products of such industries not only will pay for cost of maintenance of the convicts themselves, but will permit reasonable payments to be made toward support and maintenance of wives and children of convicts who otherwise would be cared for by public charity.
Perhaps the outstanding feature of Governor Olcott's life in public office has been his zeal for and ability to inject business efficiency into public affairs. He radiates efficiency and demands efficiency from those who come under his authority. This is reflected throughout his administration.
On Christmas Day, 1912, occurred the marriage of Ben W. Olcott and Miss Lena Hutton and they have become the parents of three sons: Chester Wallace; and Richard Hutton and Gordon West, who are twins. His broad Americanism, his sympathetic understanding of the perplexing problems of human society, his abiding sense of justice and his deep insight into the vital relations of our complex civilization have won for Governor Olcott the admiration and esteem of the people of the state. His work in improving the public highways and preserving the natural beauties of the state has been of inestimable value and gives promise of splendid results in the future, and in living his own history he is leaving a most creditable impress upon the pages of Oregon's history as well.
HARVEY R. VANSLYKE.
Since March 6, 1906, Harvey R. Vanslyke has been engaged in the meat market business in Freewater. He was born in Cherokee county, Kansas, on October 8, 1876, a son of Peter M. and Leota L. (De Freize) Vanslyke.
Harvey R. Vanslyke spent his boyhood in his native state, where he received a good common school education and later started out into the world for himself. His first position was in Oklahoma, where he was employed by the Kay and Pawnee Com- pany in the butcher business. In January, 1906, he came to Umatilla county and located in Freewater, where on the 6th of March he opened a meat shop which he is still conducting. His business has grown to extensive proportions and in addition to the market in Freewater he operates one in Milton which is just as successful. Associated with Mr. Vanslyke in the conduct of the meat shops is his brother, W. L., and they also own and operate a valuable fruit ranch. Mr. Vanslyke is not only prominent in the business circles of Freewater but in the financial circles as a direc- tor in the Bank of Freewater. For four years he was mayor of Freewater and while serving in that office accomplished many works for the development and improve- ment of the community.
In 1899 Mr. Vanslyke was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Smith, daughter of John and Matilda (Fleming) Smith, and a native of Kansas. To them four chil- dren have been born: Leta, Lela, Clark and Mildred. Mrs. Vanslyke is prominent in the club and social circles of the community and their home is noted for its hospital- ity.
649
HISTORY OF OREGON
Mr. Vanslyke follows an independent course in politics, voting for the man rather than for any particular party. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a man of great ambition and throughout his community is recognized as a man of sterling integrity. He is always interested in every public enterprise and is one of the most influential, enterprising and useful citizens of his community.
R. E. CASE.
R. E. Case, who for many years was widely known in connection with the hotel interests of Portland, was born in the state of New York in 1857. His youthful days were passed there and the schools of the Empire state accorded him his educational privileges. It was in 1887, when thirty years of age, that he sought the opportunities of the new and growing west, making his way first to Aurora, Oregon, where he settled on a ranch which he occupied for a year. He then came to Portland and turned his attention to the hotel business, first conducting the Oregon Hotel for a number of years, and later the Cosmopolitan Hotel and afterward the Union House. In 1894 he leased the Quimby Hotel and was proprietor thereof until 1904. In that year he took charge of the Merchants Hotel, which he conducted during the period of the Lewis and Clarke Exposition in Portland. At a later day he became proprietor of the Palace Hotel, remained in charge thereof until 1915, and then retired from business life.
Mr. Case was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Costello, in Huron, South Dakota, in 1885, and their children are: Olive, the deceased wife of William Weher; Robert A., who is with the Equity Distributing Company, a moving picture corporation, in the interests of which he travels in Idaho, Washington and Oregon; and Marvel, who completes the family. The parents have both passed away, the father died in 1916 while the mother's death occurred in July, 1918. Mr. Case was a member of the Wood- men of the World, and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church. In politics he was a lifelong republican, always giving his political support to the party and its principles. His hotel business brought him a very wide acquaintance and he was very popular wherever he was known.
BERT CARL THOMAS.
Bert C. Thomas, prominent member of the Oregon bar, residing at Klamath Falls, was born at Mount Gilead, Morrow county, Ohio, July 30, 1881, a son of David Elder and Addie (Clements) Thomas. His great-great-great-grandfather, Owen Thomas, was a Baptist missionary to Virginia from Pennsylvania many years before the Revolution and built a number of churches in Loudoun and surrounding counties, and his ancestors took an active part in the struggle for independence. For many generations the family lived in Virginia, and the old original Thomas homestead in Loudoun county is still in possession of the family. Jesse Thomas, the grandfather of Bert C. Thomas, migrated to Ohio at an early date, and there David Elder Thomas was born. The Clements family was also prominent in the development and growth of Virginia, in which state they settled prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. They settled in Fluvanna county and were later pioneer settlers of Ohio. On both maternal and paternal sides Mr. Thomas is descended from sturdy tillers of the soil, but he has never been active in agricultural pursuits.
In the acquirement of an education Bert C. Thomas attended the public schools of Mount Gilead, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years took a business course in a school at Toledo, Ohio, and, upon the completion of his studies there took a civil service examination. As a result he was connected with the War Department with head- quarters at Washington, D. C., from 1905 to 1911. At night he studied law, attending the legal department of the George Washington University, and in 1910 he was grad- uated from that institution with the Bachelor of Law degree. The following year he came to Oregon and located at Portland, where he was special agent of the General Land Office until 1914, when he tendered his resignation and removed to Klamath Falls to commence the practice of his profession. Mr. Thomas combines a pleasing personality with a thorough knowledge of his profession and has built up a large and
650
HISTORY OF OREGON
lucrative practice. He is also United States commissioner for the district of Oregon, and in that office has rendered valuable service to the community for the past five years.
On July 26, 1913, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Helen Gladwin Plumb, daughter of Professor Charles Sumner Plumb of the Ohio State University at Columbus. Professor Plumb is a distinguished author and educator. He is head of the department of Animal Husbandry, and his works on that subject are so correct and simply written that they have become standard textbooks. Mrs. Thomas is a trained musician and a vocalist of much ability. She is the soloist at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Klamath Falls, and a woman of much personal charm. One child of the union is living: Mary Charlene.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the First Presbyterian church of Klamath Falls, and he is one of the board of trustees. He has identified his interests with those of his community and can be counted upon to do his part in furthering the public welfare. Since locating in Klamath Falls he has made many friends who esteem him highly as a man of genuine personal worth and he is readily conceded to be a representative citizen of his section of the state.
MARTIN R. SETTLEMIRE.
Martin R. Settlemire, deceased, was for many years actively and prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Oregon, having come to the state in pio- neer times. He was born in Montgomery county, Illinois, March 24, 1846, a son of George and Elizabeth (Ryan) Settlemire. The father was born October 11, 1807, and the mother on the 4th of April, 1814, and they were married August 31, 1829, becoming parents of two children. In the year 1850 the father started with his family for Oregon and the mother died in California while en route to this state. The family home was established near Mount Angel, where Mr. Settlemire took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, thereon spending his remaining days. On the 21st of May, 1854, he wedded Ann Melvin and there were four children of that marriage.
Martin R. Settlemire was but four years of age when the long journey was made to the Pacific coast. He was reared on his father's farm and when eighteen years of age began farming on his own account, it being the custom of the father to allow his children to start out for themselves at that age. His father gave him two hun- dred acres of the original donation claim adjoining Mount Angel on the west and he afterward purchased fifty acres, becoming the owner of an excellent farm prop- erty of two hundred and fifty acres, which he highly cultivated and to which he added many modern improvements. He raised various grain crops best adapted to soil and climate, having about one hundred and fifty acres thus planted, while the remainder of his land was used for pasturage. He made a specialty of hop growing and this, with his other crops, brought to him a substantial financial return. He erected a good residence, two barns and the necessary sheds and buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and for many years he was accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of his section of the state. He also made invest- ment in Portland realty, becoming as well the owner of some lots in Astoria.
On November 13, 1870, Mr. Settlemire was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Simmons, who was born on Howell Prairie in Oregon in October, 1855, a daughter of John H. and Mary Jane Simmons, the latter a native of Indiana, whence he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast in 1845 in company with his parents. His father secured a donation claim on Howell Prairie, in Marion county, becoming the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land. To Mr. and Mrs. Settlemire were born nine children, one of whom died at the age of two years. The others are: Etta M., now the wife of Frank Silliman, of Benton City, Washington; Flora A., the wife of Lincoln Ambler, living at Mount Angel, Oregon; Elmer Elsworth, a resident of Woodburn, Oregon; Minnie Esther, deceased; Eva Elizabeth, the wife of C. M. Janz, of East Portland; Mary Ann, the wife of George F. McCorkle, of Woodland, Washing- ton : Sadie P., the wife of Charles Whittlesey, of East Portland; Perry Davis, living at Woodland, Washington; and Adelpha Elderine, the wife of Roy P. Finnigan, of East Portland.
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.