History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 91

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

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In 1893 occurred the marriage of George Kohlhagen and Miss Mayetta Howell, a daughter of a pioneer lumberman of the northwest. They now have two children: Florence, who is a graduate, of the State Normal College and is following the pro- fession of teaching; and Edward G., who is a student in the University of Oregon.

While voting the republican ticket and always stanchly supporting the principles of the party, Mr. Kohlhagen is not a politician and has never had ambition to hold office, although frequently urged to become a candidate. Fraternally he is an Elk and an Odd Fellow and also has membership in the Maccabees and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and all such organizations and as a citizen never fails to interest himself in all civic projects and every organized effort and plan for the general good. His life record is of stimulating value and may well serve as a source of inspiration to those who, like himself, have been forced to start out empty-handed, hut who hy employing similar methods may reach the goal of prosperity.

JOHN OTTO ERICKSON.

Fortunate, indeed, is Astoria in having for a citizen John Otto Erickson, who is now serving his community as district attorney. He is a native son of Astoria, his birth having occurred in 1885, and is a son of John and Josephine (Lanto) Erickson. His father settled in Astoria in 1881, and for five seasons successfully engaged in the fishing industry. He then took up dairying, in which he continued until 1912, when he retired from active business life.

John Otto Erickson received his education in the grade and high schools of Astoria, and in due time entered the University of Oregon and the University of Washington. After completing his university training he decided upon law as a life work, with the result that he took a law course at the Ann Arbor University, from which he was graduated in 1910. He was admitted to practice by the supreme court of Michigan

JOHN O. ERICKSON

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in the same year and returning to Oregon took up practice at Astoria. He imme- diately assumed a prominent place at the bar of that city and in 1916 was elected dis- trict attorney of Clatsop county. In September, 1917, after he had served but six months of his four-year term, he resigned the office and enlisted in the Oregon Na- tional Guard, Coast Artillery Corps, and was sent to Fort Stevens for training. He was later sent to Camp Merritt and early in 1918 went to France. As a member of Battery B, One Hundred and Nineteenth Field Artillery, Mr. Erickson went through the hardest fighting on the front and demonstrated that the patriotism that had caused him to give up a lucrative office in the line of his profession was backed by a courage that proved the depth of his character. After many months in the fighting line he returned to America in May, 1919, receiving his discharge at Camp Lewis on the 19th of May, 1919. He then returned to Astoria and resumed his practice, which soon again reached extensive proportions. When the primaries were called in 1920 the voters, remembering the sacrifice he had made, nominated him again for the office of district attorney. At the November election he was elected by a large majority, and took over the position in January, 1921.

In January, 1921, occurred the marriage of Mr. Erickson and Miss Helma Hukan, a native of South Dakota. Fraternally Mr. Erickson is a member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, Loyal Order of Moose, U. F. K. B. & S., and the American Legion. He is a lover of the great outdoors and since his college days has been an enthusiastic football and baseball fan, and he finds much pleasure in hunting and fishing as vaca- tion pastimes. As a lawyer he has already won a gratifying amount of success, his legal learning, his analytical mind, the readiness with which he grasps the points in an argument, all combining to make of him a most capable jurist. In the office of district attorney he is sure to give entire satisfaction, for he has proven himself to be a man who can be relied upon to carry out the law of the land without fear or favor.

ELISHA E. FARRINGTON.

Elisha E. Farrington, an honored member of the Portland bar, who also figured in financial circles as the secretary of the Western Bond & Mortgage Company, passed away when but forty-eight years of age.

Mr. Farrington was born in Edford, Illinois, December 14, 1869, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Farrington, and came of New England ancestry, being a direct descendant in the ninth generation of John Alden and Priscilla Mullen, Mayflower passengers, whose romantic wooing has been delightfully told in Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish."

The youthful days of Elisha E. Farrington were spent on a farm in Illinois and Iowa, and in young manhood he took up the study of telegraphy, which he followed for some time and also acted as station agent for the railroad company at various points in Iowa, Wyoming and Washington for a number of years. It was in 1905 that Mr. Farrington came to Portland and entered on the study of law in the offices of Whitfield & Farrington, well known attorneys in this city. After thorough prelimin- ary preparation he was admitted to the bar October 5, 1906. In 1908 he entered into partnership with his brother, C. H. Farrington, and continued in the practice of law in this connection to the time of his death, which occurred February 6, 1918, when he was but forty-eight years of age. He became recognized as an able and resourceful member of the bar. He was one of the organizers of the Western Bond & Mortgage Company, of which he was secretary, and was active in the affairs of the company until his death.

On the 30th of October, 1914, Mr. Farrington was married to Miss Mildred L. Abernathy, who survives him and still makes her home in Portland. They occupied an enviable social position and Mr. Farrington's professional attainments and his sterling worth gained for him a commanding position at the bar, and when he passed away the bar association of Multnomah county referred to his life history as "The record of a life of endeavor and usefulness."

Only those who knew him best can fill in the details of his active, fruitful career, for he avoided publicity and concerned himself more with rendering efficient service than with receiving the credit therefor. To those who knew him his energy and diligence were a constant stimulation, his integrity and faithfulness a continual

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inspiration; and to them his death comes as a distinct personal loss. He was one of those men who have but one code of morals and ethics for their private relations and for their business and professional affairs; and he applied to all his dealings with client, opponent or stranger, the same strict rule of probity and fairness that he followed with his best friends and closest associates.

As a lawyer he set for himself and attained the most exacting standard of prompt and efficient service to his client, of courtesy and fairness to his opponent; as a citizen, he labored faithfully but without self-seeking for the upbuilding of his com- munity and city. He leaves a record of upright endeavor and achievement and his death is a distinct loss to the community and to the bar of the county and state.

LOUIS ELSTON IRELAND.

Louis Elston Ireland has since 1910 been a resident of the Hood River valley and in 1918 became actively identified with the purchase and shipment of apples, maintaining an extensive warehouse in the city. He is at the same time a well known orchardist, who has successfully propagated fruit on a ranch of his own. Born in Laporte, Indiana, in 1873, he is a son of A. P. and Eliza (Elston) Ireland. The ancestral line is traced back in America to the Rev. John Ireland, a minister who came to the new world in 1763. The branch of the family of which Louis E. Ireland is a representative was established in Indiana in pioneer times, arriving there in 1830.

Louis E. Ireland pursued his education in the schools of Laporte and started out in the business world in connection with the wholesale candy establishment con- ducted by his father. He remained in that line for five years and then accepted a bank position in a small town, in which bank he says he performed every sort of duty save that of president. The bank held him for three years, at the end of which time he became connected with the wholesale implement business of the well known firm of Dean & Company, remaining with that house in several capacities for thirteen years.

It was in the year 1910 that Mr. Ireland came to Oregon and purchased land on the east side of Hood river. He has been very successful as an orchardist, pro- pagating his fruit according to the most advanced scientific methods and in 1918 he built along the railroad tracks in Hood river a warehouse with a capacity of forty thousand boxes of fruit and entered the commercial end of the apple business as a buyer and shipper. He ships direct to his own agents in the east and middle west and in 1919 handled nearly two hundred thousand boxes of apples, which is an evi- dence of the rapid growth of his business and an indication of the progressive and enterprising methods which he has employed, as well as of the high esteem entertained for him by the growers of the valley, who recognize in him a thoroughly reliable and progressive business man.

In 1899 Mr. Ireland was married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Miss Annabelle Dean, a daughter of W. J. Dean of that city, and they have become the parents of six children: Elston L .; Dean L .; Rebecca; Philip A .; Arthur P .; and Corabelle. The eldest son is a student in the University of Oregon and the others are being pre- pared for college at Pasadena, California, where the family resides during a portion of the year.

Mr. Ireland is á most energetic and progressive business man, who, while never neglectful of his civic duties, takes no active part in partisan politics and has never stood for public office. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk. He has made for him- self a creditable place among the fruit shippers of Oregon and his standing as a business man is very high.

JOHN ADAIR.

John Adair had nearly attained the age of eighty years when he passed from the scene of earthly activity. He was a Harvard man who was numbered with those who were active in introducing into the west the culture and ideals of the east. The value of his influence and his labors cannot be overestimated. He was born in Ken-

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tucky, August 8, 1808, representing one of the distinguished and prominent families of the south. His parents were John and Catherine (Palmer) Adair, the former at one time governor of Kentucky. He was reared under a most refining home influence and after acquiring his early education in the schools of his native state went to Harvard University where he took up the study of law, being then admitted to the bar. In 1848 he was sent by the United States government to the west to fill the position of collector of customs for the Pacific coast, with headquarters at Astoria. He came by way of Panama, crossing the Isthmus, where he was obliged to live for six weeks, waiting for a vessel that would bring him northward. At length he reached his destination and soon afterward took up a donation claim near Astoria. This he improved and on the place spent the rest of his days. He remained in the office of collector of customs for twelve years. He contributed also to the agricultural development of the district, while his influence as a cultured man of high ideals was of marked benefit to the pioneer settlement in which he took up his abode. He passed away in 1888, while his wife survived until 1893.

John Adair married Mary Ann Dickinson of Kentucky, and they became the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom were born in Kentucky. Three of the children died in infancy and six of them came with their parents to Nebraska. Henry Rodney Adair, grandson of John Adair, was killed June 21, 1916, while serving with the United States troops in Mexico under Captain Boyd.

Mr. Adair was a democrat and was reared in the Presbyterian faith but later in life became affiliated with the Episcopal church. He was also a Mason.

HENRY LINCOLN KUCK.

For a third of a century Henry Lincoln Kuck has been identified with the busi- ness development of The Dalles and through much of this period has conducted manufacturing interests of importance. He is now senior partner in the firm of Kuck & Son, giving their attention to the manufacture of harness, saddlery and leather goods, and the enterprise he has displayed and the integrity of his business methods have constituted the basic elements of his growing success.

Mr. Kuck was born at Lansing, Iowa, in 1862, his parents being John and Mary (Meyer) Kuck, whose people have long been represented in the middle west. The father was for many years the leading harness and saddlery manufacturer of his section of Iowa. Henry L. Kuck was educated in the graded schools of his native town and afterward went to Minneapolis, where he learned the trade of saddle and harness maker, spending five years in thoroughly mastering the business. In 1886 he came west and choosing The Dalles as his place of location, here worked at his trade for three years, but was desirous of engaging in business on his own account and carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital to permit him to realize his desire. In 1889 he established his present manu- facturing enterprise, which through the intervening years has been an important factor in the commercial and industrial life of the city. He has developed it to extensive proportions, until it is one of the foremost interests of the kind in central Oregon. The firm is now operating under the name of Kuck & Son, manufacturers of all kinds of saddles, harness and leather goods, making a specialty of cowboys' goods, such as pack bags, cuffs, saddle-bags, holsters, tapaderos, chaps, etc., in endless variety. The trade covers all parts of central Oregon and extends into Washington and such is the volume of business that a large force of workmen is constantly em- ployed. The use of the automobile has in no way interfered with the trade of Kuck & Son, which was larger in 1919 than in any previous year of its history. The firm has always sustained an unassailable reputation for the high class of goods turned out and the excellent workmanship, while the integrity of its methods is an acknowl- edged factor in its prosperity. Mr. Kuck is also one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank of The Dalles, a new banking institution, and is likewise a stockholder in the Hotel Dalles Company.

In 1890 Mr. Kuck was united in marriage to Miss Minnie A. Anderson, a daugh- ter of one of the pioneer fruit growers of Wasco county. They have two sons: Harry L., who is the publisher of the Pendleton (Ore.) Tribune; and Ernest A., who is a partner in the firm of H. L. Kuck & Son. Both young men served their country in the World war as members of the American Expeditionary Forces, spending about

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two years in France. Ernest saw some particularly hard service, doing active duty at the front for a long period.

In his political views Mr. Kuck is a stalwart republican and was formerly chair- man of the republican county central committee of Wasco county. He is active in every movement that spells progress for his district. He has served as city alderman, while in 1899 and 1900 he was mayor of The Dalles. He is a past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, also a Knight of the Maccabees, a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His activities and interests have been broad and varied and for many years he has occupied a conspicuous position as a representative business man whose life record illustrates the fact that industry and perseverance constitute a safe foundation upon which to build prosperity.

RUFUS ALBERTUS LEITER.

Rufus Albertus Leiter, for twenty-one years a member of the Portland bar, practicing now as a partner in the firm of Griffith, Leiter & Allen, was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in 1875. His father, John Martin Leiter, was a native of Penn- sylvania, born in 1850, and was a son of John Leiter, whose birth occurred in Maryland. Removing to Ohio, John Martin Leiter was married in that state to Miss Margaret Katz, a native of Germany, who passed away in 1892. Following his removal to Portland in 1890 the father was engaged in the lumber business in Oregon until 1905.

At the usual age Rufus A. Leiter became a pupil in the public schools of his native city, there continuing his education until 1890, when he accompanied his parents to Portland and resumed his studies, being graduated from the Portland high school with the class of 1894. He then entered Stanford University and won his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899. Returning to Portland, he continued the study of law and in October of the same year was admitted to the bar. From that date until July, 1910, he practiced in association with Judge W. D. Fenton and in the latter year entered into partnership with F. T. Griffith, with whom he has since remained, while in May, 1912, a third partner, Harrison Allen, was admitted to the firm and the present style of Griffith, Leiter & Allen was adopted. They have long enjoyed an extensive practice and Mr. Leiter has ever been recognized as a lawyer whose devotion to his clients' interests is one of his marked characteristics, yet he never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. Aside from his work in the courts and as counselor he is assistant secretary of the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company and has become a director in many other corpora- tions.

On the 17th of April, 1905, in San Francisco, Mr. Leiter was married to Miss Christabel Rose Sobey and they have become the parents of a son and two daughters: John Arthur, Ruth Gifford and Barbara Rose.

Politically Mr. Leiter is a republican, During the World war he served on the legal advisory board and assisted in promoting the bond drives. He has member- ship with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is equally well known in club circles, being identified with the Arlington, University, Waverly, Multnomah Amateur Athletic and the Press Clubs. A resident of Portland from the age of fifteen years, and actively identified with the legal profession of the city for twenty-one years, Mr. Leiter has made himself a creditable name and position both as a lawyer and citizen, and by all who know him he is spoken of in terms of warm regard.

MICHAEL SPAHN.

In the death of Michael Spahn on the 21st of October, 1919, Portland lost one of its representative business men, his progressiveness and enterprise having won for him a place among the leading manufacturers of the city. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1862, a son of Kilian and Martha Spahn. He spent the period of his minority in his native country, pursuing his education in the public schools there, and in 1882, when twenty years of age, he sought the opportunities offered in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic he arrived in Portland the same year and here

MICHAEL SPAHN

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began work at the machinist's trade, having previously learned it in Germany. He afterward turned his attention to farming, which he followed successfully for about four years and then returned to Portland, where he purchased the plant of the Columbia Elevator Company and took up the business of manufacturing freight ele- vators and other devices. The business is still conducted and the product is sold all over the Pacific northwest. After some time Mr. Spahn admitted his sons t a partnership in the business and together they owned and operated the plant, Michael Spahn filling the position of secretary and treasurer up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 21st of October, 1919. He was very diligent and determined in all that he undertook. His enterprise constituted a forceful factor in the attainment of success, for at all times he held to the highest standards in manufacture and ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Spahn has become the president of the company, while her son, Albert John, is the secretary and treasurer and another son, Frank A., is the vice president. The business has been thoroughly organized and has been developed along progressive lines, resulting in the introduction of various improve- ments in their output.

While on the farm Mr. Spahn was a member of the school board and was ever a stalwart champion of the cause of education. He was himself a great reader and it was his desire that his own and other children should have excellent school privileges, thus qualifying them for life's practical and responsible duties. In politics he was a democrat and fraternally was connected with the Modern Woodmen of America.

In 1885 Mr. Spahn was united in marriage to Miss Sabina Kummel, a daughter of Peter and Martha Kummel, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. Spahn, who was born in 1861, came to the United States in 1881 and in the same year took up her abode in Portland, where she has since made her home save for the brief period spent on the farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Spahn were born seven children: Frank Albert; Albert John; Amelia E., the wife of William Sleightam, of Portland; Oscar Henry; Edwin R .; Rosa M .; and Clarence O. The family has long been well and favorably known in this section of the state. Mr. Spahn had reached the age of fifty-seven years when called to his final rest. He had made his life one of great activity and usefulness and as a business man had won a most creditable position in the manu- facturing circles of Portland. He was also keenly interested in affairs of public moment and gave earnest support to all those projects which he deemed of general worth.

W. A. HALLIDAY.

Wilbur A. Halliday is engaged in the insurance business at Baker, Oregon, where he is also conducting an extensive automobile business. He is actuated in all that he does by a most progressive spirit and step by step has advanced to a place of prominence in connection with the business activity and consequent development of this section of the state. He was born at Grants Pass, Oregon, in 1882, his foster parents being Thomas W. and Emma H. (Ferguson) Halliday, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They came to Oregon in pioneer times, settling at Vale and there the father followed farming for a number of years. He has been called to the home beyond, but the mother is still living.

Wilbur A. Halliday acquired a common school education at Vale, and Ontario, this state, and also pursued a partial course in the Agricultural College at Corvallis, Oregon. This was followed with a commercial course in Portland and thus liberal training well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He came to Baker in 1905 and was here employed in an insurance office for a time, while later he entered a law office and subsequently was connected with one of the banking institutions of the city. He established business on his own account in 1907 by opening a real estate and insurance office and after eleven years, or in 1918, he with- drew from the real estate business, but continued his insurance agency. About this time he turned his attention to the automobile business by securing the agency of the Overland, Oakland and Willys Knight cars and further broadened the scope of his busi- ness to include the sale of tires and accessories. He established the largest and most complete automobile repair shop in the city and today his automobile business is one of extensive and gratifying proportions. He annually sells a large number of

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cars, while his trade in accessories and tires is gratifying and the size of his repair shop is at once indicative of the large amount of business which he does in that con- nection. He also owns a farm and some real estate and has become one of the leading and prosperous citizens of Baker.

It was here in 1907 that Mr. Halliday was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Parker, a native of Baker and a daughter of Thomas and Verdie (Lewis) Parker, who were pioneer . settlers, their names being recorded on the list of the early resi- dents of the state. In pioneer times the father was manager of a hotel and after- ward filled the position of county clerk. He lived for some years at La Grande, but afterward returned to Baker and both he and his wife have departed this life. Mr. and Mrs. Halliday have two children: an adopted daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in Baker, October 2, 1916; and Wilbur, who was born in Baker, December 1, 1917.

During the World war Mr. Halliday took active part in all the various drives and had charge of the Red Cross drive, collecting in one drive over thirty-one thousand dollars, giving practically three-fourths of his time to the work. Politically he is a republican and while never ambitious to hold office has always been most loyal to those interests tending to advance the welfare of community, commonwealth and country. Fraternally he is both a Mason and an Elk. He belongs to the Commercial Club and his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. He has served as secre- tary of the Young Men's Christian Association and in 1919 was made vice president thereof in recognition of the great interest and splendid work that he has done for the society. He assisted in raising the earliest fund of five thousand dollars for the association, whereby a lot was purchased preparatory to the building of the Y. M. C. A. home and with the two drives that followed the association became the owner of a fifty thousand dollar property free of debt. This was accomplished largely by the personal solicitation of Mr. Halliday and his work in the various drives in behalf of the project. He stands for all those forces which make for honorable man- hood and for the uplift of the individual, as well as for all interests which contribute to community betterment. His life has been a busy and useful one and his records prove that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.

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History of Oregon, Vol. II, Part 91

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