USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 39
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
ALFRED EVAN REAMES.
As one reads the history of early Oregon the name of Reames will frequently appear upon its pages, for the family was among the earliest pioneers of the state and its members have done much to develop and upbuild the country. Woodford Reames, a native of Kentucky, in which state his people settled in pioneer times, came to Oregon in 1852 and for a brief period resided at St. Helens. A year later he took up a dona- tion claim in Jackson county and thus the name became identified with the progress of southern Oregon. His son, Thomas G. Reames, was a small boy when the family came to this state and after reaching manhood he turned his attention to mining, while later he became a merchant and eventually a banker. In 1886 he concentrated his attention upon banking business as a member of the firm of Beekman & Reames, who succeeded to the banking business of Beekman's Banking House. Mr. Reames held many positions of public honor and trust in Oregon and left the impress of his individ- uality and ability for good upon many lines of the state's development. He held the office of sheriff of Jackson county for several years and under the Cleveland admin- istration he served as post office inspector for the district embracing Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Alaska. He was one of the most popular residents of southern Oregon, as is evidenced by the fact that he came within but a few votes of election as secretary of the state, although the democratic candidate in a commonwealth that normally gives a strong republican majority. He married Lucinda Williams, whose parents came to Oregon in 1853. To this marriage was born on the 5th of February, 1870, at Jacksonville, Oregon, a son, Alfred Evan Reames, now residing in Medford.
Alfred Evan Reames acquired his education in the common schools of his native city and in the University of the Pacific at San Jose, California, in the University of Oregon and the Washington and Lee University of Virginia, being graduated from the last named institution in 1893. He was admitted to the bar in that state, after which he returned to Oregon and was admitted to practice in the courts here. He entered upon the active work of his profession in connection with E. R. Shipworth of Eugene, under the firm style of Shipworth & Reames, there remaining until 1894, when he removed to Portland and became associated with C. M. Idleman up to the time the latter was elected attorney general of the state. Mr. Reames then associated himself with William M. Colvig at Jacksonville, Oregon, and the partnership was maintained until 1902, when Mr. Reames was elected district attorney, in which office he continued to serve for eight years. In 1906 he became associated with his brother, Clarence L. Reames, in a partnership that was terminated with the appointment of the latter as deputy United States attorney for Oregon. After that time Alfred E. Reames practiced alone in Medford until 1921, when he admitted his younger brother, Charles W. Reames, to a partnership, the latter having recently served as deputy United States district attorney. Thus the firm has again become Reames & Reames, a style that is well known in Oregon, for they enjoy an extensive practice of an important character, the brothers ranking high as able representatives of the Oregon bar.
Alfred E. Reames was united in marriage to Miss Edith L. Tongue, a daughter
ALFRED E. REAMES
Vol. III-20
307
HISTORY OF OREGON
of Congressman Thomas L. Tongue of Hillsboro. She passed away in 1918, her death deeply deplored by many friends.
Upon the death of his father-in-law in 1903, the democratic party nominated Mr. Reames to succeed him as candidate for the office of congressman and though the republicans carried the district he succeeded greatly in reducing their usual majority. In fact his vote was so large that for a time the result was in doubt. The large vote accorded him was certainly an indication of his personal popularity and of the con- fidence and trust reposed in him.
Mr. Reames has always been active in the upbuilding of his state and has con- tributed to its development in many ways. He has been interested in mining and in timber and has been the active head of large companies which have done important development work along these lines. His native town of Jacksonville is indebted to him for its lighting plant, which he built almost alone. As a lawyer he is a member of the Southern Oregon Bar Association and of the Oregon State Bar Association. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. His status as a lawyer requires no comment, for his ability is conceded on all sides and his name is known in legal circles throughout the west as that of one of the strongest representatives of the bar in the Pacific coast country. Fraternally he is a Mason, having attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite, and he is a past high priest of his chapter and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His activities and his interests are thus broad and varied. While apprecia- tive of the social amenities of life and a valued representative of the different orders to which he belongs, it has been by reason of his connection with important business and professional interests that he has come to the front as one of the prominent resl- dents of his state. He is a man of broad vision, displaying keen insight into the opportunities of a situation and readily recognizing and utilizing opportunities which have not only resulted in the upbuilding of his individual fortunes but have constituted a splendid element of public progress and improvement.
JUDGE MICHAEL G. MUNLY.
Judge Michael G. Munly, who for many years has enjoyed an extensive law practice in Portland, his residence in the city dating from July, 1882, is widely known not only through his professional connections but also by reason of his active efforts in behalf of improvement in many conditions which closely affect the welfare of society. His efforts are at all times far-reaching and resultant and the public has benefited greatly thereby. He was yet a young man at the time of his removal to the west, his birth having occurred in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1854, his parents being Michael and Bridget (McHale) Munly. He had little opportunity to attend school, his training of that character being limited to three years of broken periods. His life, however, has been one of studious habits and his reading has covered a very extensive scope, making him a man of broad general information and of scholarly attainments, while in the line of his chosen profession he possesses comprehensive knowledge that has acquainted him not only with legal principles but with precedents in law practice as well. He early determined to become an attorney and directing his reading along that line was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania in 1882. It was the same year that he came to Portland and through the intervening period he has continued his residence in this city. He soon entered upon the practice of his profession yet did not devote his attention exclusively thereto for a number of years and from 1886 until 1890 was also editor of the Catholic Sentinel. At the same time he made steady progress in his profession from his earliest connection with the Portland bar. He made it his purpose thoroughly and systematically to prepare his cases and has never been surprised by the unexpected attack of an adversary but has always been found well fortified in every particular. He served for one year as deputy city attorney of Portland and in 1892 was appointed by Governor Pennoyer to the bench of the circuit court and for two years served as judge. Since his retirement from the bench he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the private practice of law and his clientage has constantly grown in volume and importance. Of him it has been said: "He has remarkable powers of concentration and application, and his retentive mind has often excited the surprise of his professional colleagues. In the discussion of legal matters before the court his comprehensive knowledge of the law is manifest and his application of legal principles
308
HISTORY OF OREGON
demonstrates the wide range of his professional acquirement. The utmost care char- acterizes his preparation of a case and has made him one of the most successful attor- neys in Portland." While the practice of law has been his real life work and he has won for himself an enviable position as an attorney, he has also become interested along other lines, especially in the salmon industry, and is now vice president and treasurer of the Thlinket Packing Company. Moreover, he has made a close study of Pacific salmons and has written for magazines on that subject on various occasions.
On the 21st of July, 1890, in Portland, Judge Munly was united in marriage to Miss Mary Nixon, a daughter of the late Robert Nixon, a veteran of the Civil war, who enlisted at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, and served throughout the last three years of the struggle between the north and the south. He was a native of Ireland and in his childhood days was brought to the United States by his mother. To Judge and Mrs. Munly have been born two sons and two daughters. Robert Nixon, the eldest of the family, was graduated in 1912 from the law school of the University of Oregon and is now in partnership with his father in the practice of his profession. When America entered the World war he enlisted and was on active duty throughout the period of hostilities with Germany; the younger son, Raymond M., also enlisted in the navy when war was declared but was incapacitated for duty by illness which required a severe surgical operation; the two daughters are Anna Mary and Evelyn. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Judge Munly is also identified with the Knights of Columbus. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and from 1911 until 1916 he was one of the members of the school board of Portland and acted as chairman of the board during the last two years. Dur- ing the World war he served as a member of the legal advisory board in Portland. He belongs to the Commercial Club, the Progressive Business Men's Club, the Portland Press Club and the Oregon Historical Society and he is interested in all that has to do with public progress and improvement, his aid and cooperation being always given on the side of right, justice, reform and advancement. He has long been a close student of civic problems and of the more important economic and sociological questions, and his labors have always been identified with those movements which promote the up- ward trend of civilization and which seek the amelioration of hard conditions of life for the unfortunate.
DOUGLAS W. TAYLOR.
The name of Douglas W. Taylor has been closely associated with the history of pub- lic service in Portland and Oregon and when death called him his life record should have been concluded with the words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Again and again he had been elected to positions of public honor and trust, the duties of which he discharged with marked promptness, capability and fidelity. He had become a resident of Oregon in 1854 at which time his parents removed with their family to the Pacific coast from Muscatine, Iowa, where his birth had occurred January 23, 1851. His father, Peter Taylor, was a native of Perth, Scotland, and had come to the new world in 1847. For five years he remained a resident of Iowa and then in 1852 traveled over the long stretches of hot sand and through the mountain passes to the northwest. The following year he sent for his family and they sailed' from New York, making the trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama and arriving at Portland on the 8th of January, 1854.
Douglas W. Taylor, then but three years of age, was reared to manhood in Port- land and acquired his education in the common schools of this city and in the Portland Academy. In early youth he became interested in surveying and when his school days were over took up work of that character, being employed to considerable extent in that connection by the railroad companies. By the time he had reached the age of twenty-three he had gained a most creditable reputation for efficiency in surveying and this led to his election to the office of city surveyor of Portland. No higher testimonial of his worth in office could be given than the statement that he was reelected in 1875, 1876, 1877, and again in 1881. The greater part of his life was devoted to public service, He remained almost continuously in office and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil. In June, 1886, he was elected to represent Multnomah county in the state legislature but before the general assembly convened he was appointed in July of that year to the office of United
309
HISTORY OF OREGON
States surveyor for Oregon, by President Cleveland. He then resigned his legislative position and filled the office of surveyor general until August, 1890. In June, 1891, he was elected superintendent of streets in Portland and continued to discharge the duties of that position for some time, manifesting the same capability and efficiency which had marked his former discharge of official duties.
On June 4, 1879, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Alice Carr, a native of California and to them were born three sons, Douglas W., Jr., and Richard B., both deceased; and Henry, a resident of Portland. He found his greatest happiness in pro- moting the welfare of his family and his pleasantest hours were those spent at his own fireside. He was a faithful follower of Masonic teachings and was identified with both branches of masonry. Politically he was a democrat from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He passed away December 12, 1918, leaving his widow and two sons. All who knew him, and he had a wide acquaintance, bear testimony to the sterling worth of his character, to his efficiency in public office and to his well spent life.
ANDREW JACKSON GIESY, M. D.
For thirty-five years Dr. Andrew Jackson Giesy has engaged in the general prac- tice of medicine in Portland and throughout this period has maintained a place in the front ranks of the profession. He has developed his ability in this connection to a high degree of efficiency and at all times has kept in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. He is a native son of the northwest, his birth having occurred at Fort Steilacoom, Washington, on the 19th of October, 1853. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Giesy, was a native of Switzerland and came to the United States about 1820, spending his last days in Washington. His father, Christian Giesy, was also born in the land of the Alps, his natal year being 1815. Having been brought to the new world, he was married in Missouri to Miss Emma Wagner, whose hirth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1835. The death of Mr. Giesy occurred about 1857, while his widow long survived him, passing away in 1916 in Portland, where she had taken up her abode in 1890. She had become a resident of Oregon in 1861, at which time she settled on a farm in Clackamas county and thereafter remained a resident of this state until the date of her death.
Dr. Giesy was hut eight years of age when the family home was established in Ore- gon and attended the country schools of Clackamas county, while later he became a pupil in a private school in Aurora, Oregon. His desire to become a member of the medical profession led him to enter upon a course in the medical department of Willa- mette University at Salem, from which he was graduated in 1876. He then pursued a postgraduate course in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, winning his M. D. degree there in March, 1882. He next located in Aurora, Oregon, where he practiced for five years, and following his return from Philadelphia went to Salem, where he remained for three years. He was appointed assistant physician to the Oregon State Hospital at Salem, where he continued for two years, resigning in October, 1885, at which time he located in Portland for the general practice of medicine, in which he has since engaged. His ability along this line is pronounced. He is most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his practice has been of an important character. He is the trusted family physician in many of the best homes of the city and is ever most conscientious in the performance of all professional duties.
On the 10th of November, 1886, in Salem, Oregon, Dr. Giesy was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida Harriet Church, a daughter of the late Stephen V. Church. They have become the parents of a son, Paul Church, who was born in Portland, September 29, 1887, and is a graduate of the Leland Stanford University of California. He was married in San Francisco, July 26, 1916, to Miss Edith Edminson, a native of Chicago, and they have one son, John Andrew, who was born in July, 1917. Paul C. Giesy went to the Presidio in San Francisco in 1917, entering the officers training camp, and was commissioned a captain, after which he was assigned to Camp Lewis, Washington, and there served until honorably discharged in December, 1918. He now resides in Portland.
Dr. Giesy was also a volunteer of the Medical Service Corps during the World war. He belongs to the Arlington Club, gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in Masonry has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and
310
HISTORY OF OREGON
is a member of the Mystic Shrine. His interests and activities have always been those of a broad-minded man who recognizes and meets his public duties and obligations as well as those incidental to his professional activities.
DE WITT A. PAINE, M. D.
Dr. De Witt A. Paine, a distinguished member of the medical profession, prominent financier and representative citizen, passed away at his home at No. 1059 Pearl street, Eugene, on the 27th of December, 1916, and the news of his demise brought with it a sense of personal bereavement to the many friends whom he had made during the period of his residence in this city, for he was a man whose sterling worth of charac- ter and many admirable qualities of heart and mind had endeared him to all with whom he came in contact.
Dr. Paine was born in Paine's Hollow, Herkimer county, New York, on the 18th of October, 1853, his parents being Philander O. and Sarah (Filkins) Paine, who were also natives of Herkimer county and who resided on a homestead there until 1869, when they removed to Iowa and purchased a farm in Delaware county, that state, upon which they spent their remaining years. The father passed away in 1885, and the mother survived him for only two years, her death occurring in 1887. Both had reached the age of seventy-one years at the time of their demise.
De Witt A. Paine acquired his early education in the Empire state and, following the removal of the family to Iowa when he was sixteen years of age, he began the study of medicine in Monticello. He subsequently became a student in the State Uni- versity of Iowa at Iowa City but before completing his course in that institution was obliged to return home and assume charge of the farm. He later resumed his studies at the State University and following his graduation therefrom he pursued a medical course in the Central University of Kentucky, which conferred upon him the M. D. de- gree on his graduation in 1887. Previous to this time, however, he had practiced his profession for a time in the Black Hills of South Dakota. For about a year he engaged in practice in Sandspring, Delaware county, Iowa, and in 1888 came to Eugene, Oregon, where his brother, B. D. Paine, was at that time residing. Dr. Paine bought out the practice of Dr. Prather in this city and a year later admitted Dr. J. J. McDonald as a partner, that relationship continuing for about a year. He then formed a partnership with Dr. W. H. McMurtry, which connection was maintained until the death of the latter in 1891. Subsequently he became associated with Dr. Kuykendall, thus con- tinuing until Dr. Paine's appointment as superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Salem, Oregon, in 1895. He served in that capacity for five years, at the end of which time he resumed his parntership relations with Dr. Kuykendall, with whom he con- tinued in practice until 1911, when he retired. He had been engaged in medical prac- tice in Eugene from 1888, or for a period of twenty-three years, and his wide experience and close study developed a high degree of efficiency, which gained for him the largest practice in the city. He was ever careful to conform his practice to the highest ethical standards of the profession and his scientific skill, combined with ready sympathy, made him the loved family physician in many a household in Eugene and throughout the surrounding country. In addition to his private practice he also was division surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railroad for a number of years. Dr. Paine was also connected with several business enterprises of the locality, having large farming interests and also holding city property. He was well known in financial circles of the city as one of the incorporators of the Eugene National Bank (now the United States National Bank), of which he became president, while his son filled the position of cashier, and he also was the owner of an abstract business. His activities were thus broad and varied, bringing him a knowledge of many phases of life, and he was ever actuated by a laudable ambition and progressive spirit.
On the 4th of June, 1878, Dr. Paine was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Slauson, a daughter of Nelson and Martha E. (Read) Slauson, the former of whom was born in New York and the latter in Kirkwood, Illinois. Her father was a farmer by occupation and in pioneer times he went to Iowa, purchasing land in Delaware county, which he improved and operated during the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1891 at the age of sixty-five years, and Mrs. Slauson met death in a railroad acci- dent about 1885. Dr. and Mrs. Paine became the parents of three children, namely: Leone E., who was born in June, 1879, and is now the wife of L. L. Goodrich, cashier
DR. DE WITT A. PAINE
313
HISTORY OF OREGON
of the First National Bank of Eugene; Carrie B., who was born in June, 1881, and became the wife of Dr. Frank P. Topping of San Francisco, California; and Elmer De Witt, who was born in June, 1886, and resides at home.
Dr. Paine's high standing in medical circles was indicated by the fact that he was called to the presidency of the Lane County Medical Society, and he was also a member of the National Association of Railway Surgeons. He was a Mason of high rank, hav- ing attained the thirty-second degree in that order, and was a member of Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. He was the leading figure in the organization of the Commercial Club, becoming its first president, and he devoted considerable time to promoting the interests of the city and its people. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and in religious faith he was a Unitarian. Dr. Paine built five residences in Eugene. The present home of the family was erected in 1911 and is thoroughly modern in its ap- pointments. Death called him on the 27th of December, 1916, and in his passing Eugene lost one of its most skilled physicians and prominent and representative citi- zens-one who in every relation of life exemplified the highest standards of manhood and citizenship. He was a man of whom it could be said, "the world was better for his having lived in it."
ROBERT L. GILLESPIE, M. D.
In the history of the medical profession in Oregon mention should be made of Dr. Robert L. Gillespie who for many years was a most successful physician and sur- geon of the state. Born at Lansing, Michigan, in 1855, he was a son of Robert L. and Mary Ann (Bidwell) Gillespie, the former a native of Richmond, Virginia, while the latter was born in England. They came to Oregon about 1860, crossing the plains with ox teams, at which time Robert L. Gillespie, Sr., established his home at Corvallis. He was a lawyer by profession and also became identified with the interests of the northwest as a newspaper editor and as a theatrical manager. In fact he took an active and helpful interest in many things which constituted features in the development and upbuilding of the section of the state in which he lived. Later he removed to Idaho where both he and his wife spent their remaining days.
Their son, Dr. Gillespie, acquired his early education in the schools of Boise, Idaho, and afterward came to Oregon, attending the Willamette University from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. In that year he went to Montana, opening an office at Butte for the practice of medicine and there residing until 1894. While he was a medical student in the Willamette University he filled the position of city recorder in the old city of East Portland for a period of two years. After having prac- ticed for eight years in Montana he returned to Portland where in 1894 he opened an office in the Decum building, there remaining until 1902. In the meantime he had been accorded a very large practice of an important character and had become widely known as one of the able representatives of the profession in this city. Eventually, however, he retired from the general practice of medicine to become connected with the Crystal Springs Sanitarium at Mount Tabor, his partner in the enterprise being Henry Waldo Coe, an association that was maintained for ten years or until 1912. Throughout his entire professional career Dr. Gillespie kept in close touch with the trend of scientific thought and investigation as related to medical and surgical activities. He was always quick to adopt new ideas, methods and principles which his judgment sanctioned and yet did not hastily discard the old and time-tried practices the worth of which had long been proven. His sound judgment enabled him to determine readily the value of any proposition as affecting the laws of health and he enjoyed in large measure the confidence and goodwill of his professional colleagues and contemporaries. In 1895, through appointment of Mayor Penoyer he became city physician of Portland and oc- cupied the office for two terms. He also had the professorship of the practice of medicine in the University of Oregon for four years. In 1912, upon severing his part- nership relation with Dr. Coe he resumed the private practice of medicine in which he continued to the time of his demise. He was associated with the National Hospital Association and belonged to the Multnomah County Medical Society, the Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
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.