USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 67
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
In January, 1919, Captain Wilbur returned to Hood River and resumed his law practice. He now holds the rank of captain in the Coast Artillery Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States. This was not his first experience in the military service of his country. When the Spanish-American war broke out, he volunteered as a private in Company M, Second Nebraska Volunteers, and served to the end of the war. So, although but forty-one years of age, Captain Wilbur is a veteran of two wars. He was chairman of the military committee in the senate and revised the National Guard code. He was the author of the anti-oriental land-owning bill in the senate and worked hard for its passage.
In 1903, at Wayne, Nebraska, Captain Wilbur was married to Miss Clara L. Philleo, whose father was a prominent merchant of that city. The union has been blessed with two sons, Guy Russell and Robert Goodwin Wilbur, who are attending high school. The Captain has a large and lucrative practice and is legal adviser of many large irrigation districts both in Oregon and Washington. He is secretary and general counsel of the East Fork irrigation district and is now defending the rights of the district against the power companies. Fraternally, he is a member of the Beta Theta Pi; is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk. He and his wife are prominent in all social and cultural activities in the Hood River district and ever extend their support to all projects intended to promote the public welfare.
ROBERT EVANS WILLIAMS.
Robert Evans Williams, now serving his second term as postmaster of The Dalles, is a native of Wisconsin, born in Dodgeville in 1850, and is a son of Robert E. and Jane (Roberts) Williams, who in 1852 crossed the plains to Oregon. While making the trip the father died and was buried at Well Springs, Oregon. Following this sad event, Mrs. Williams and her little family continued the journey and finally reached Portland, where they settled for a time. In 1853 they removed to Oregon City, where Robert E. Williams, Jr., received his early education. He later attended the National Business College at Portland, from which he was graduated in 1872. He spent the next two years as a clerk in a shoe store and the two following years worked in a mercantile establishment. After a year in railroad service, Mr. Williams removed to Boise, Idaho, in 1876, and there worked as a surveyor for three years, returning to Oregon City in 1879. In 1880 he removed to The Dalles, where for the next eight years he was employed in the store of E. Wyngate & Company. In 1888 he again made his home in Boise, Idaho, but during the following year returned to The Dalles, where he has since continued to reside, being one of the best known men in the business and public life of the city. In 1890 Mr. Williams became one of the owners of The Dalles Mercantile Company, continuing in that line until 1894, when he sold his interest in the business and established a clothing store, which in turn he also sold. He then engaged in farming until 1912, when he disposed of his farming interests. He was a careful and painstaking farmer and was successful in his operations.
It was in 1913 that President Wilson appointed Mr. Williams to the responsible position of postmaster of The Dalles, his services in that office proving so acceptable that he was reappointed in 1918 and is still serving, his present term expiring in 1922. In 1894 he was the candidate of the democratic party for the office of county treasurer of Wasco county but failed of election as the county was then, as now, largely repub- lican. Mr. Williams is one of the most active and zealous workers in the ranks of the democratic party in this part of the state, and he stands high in its councils, his advice and views being frequently sought at times when his party's fortunes are at stake. He is one of the best liked and popular men in Wasco county, where he is regarded on all sides as a sterling citizen. He is one of the most influential members of The Dalles Chamber of Commerce and is public-spirited to an unusual degree, as is shown by the fact that the handsome federal building at The Dalles was erected during his incumbency as postmaster.
In 1889 Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Violet Matlock, a daughter of John P. Matlock, a well known and prosperous Wasco county farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of five children, namely: Robert E., Jr., Olive V., Daisy H., Vol. 111-34
530
HISTORY OF OREGON
Georgiana M. and Mabel F. The Williams family have ever been active in all social and public movements intended to advance the best interests of the community in which they live.
CONRAD W. PAULUS.
Conrad W. Paulus is prominent in the financial circles of Pilot Rock as cashier of the First Bank of Pilot Rock. He is a native of Mason City, Iowa, born November 1, 1895, a son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Bracher) Paulus.
Conrad W. Paulus received his education in Mason City and in due time he entered Wartburg College at Clinton, Iowa, from which he was graduated, completing his courses in the required time. In 1915 he engaged in the real estate business for a short time and then entered the Farmers Exchange Bank. In 1917 he came west and settled in Portland, but removed from that city on the 1st of January, 1918, and went to Pilot Rock, where he accepted a position as assistant cashier in the Pilot Rock Bank. He soon demonstrated his ability in this line of business and on the 1st of January, 1920, was promoted to the position of cashier. The bank which he is now serving was organized in 1905 by Douglas Belts with G. G. Schlegel as first president. Louis C. Scharpf Is now the president and has been holding the position since 1920. In the position which Mr. Paulus now occupies he is constantly dealing with the public and by his kindness and exceeding good nature he has won the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he comes into contact.
Mr. Paulus gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is well known in fraternal circles as a member of the Masons and Elks.
JAMES HUNT HARRIS.
The entire business career of James Hunt Harris, who for almost three decades was numbered among the substantial and reliable merchants of Corvallis, was marked by steady progression, resulting from close application and indefatigable energy, prompted by laudable ambition. His prohity, his sincerity, his genial and kindly manner drew to him a host of friends and admirers to whom his demise on the 1st of March, 1919, was the occasion of deep and sincere regret.
Mr. Harris was born in Batesville, Mississippi, November 5, 1857, a son of Wil- liam Shepherd Harris, whose birth occurred on the 26th of June, 1824. On the 29th of September, 1850, the latter was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ferguson, who was born November 4, 1828. The parents were born and reared in Virginia and were representatives of old and honored families, coming from Revolutionary stock. In their family were three children, namely: James Hunt, of this review; Brittain Smith, who was born January 7, 1860; and Dixie Lee, born June 1, 1862. The father's demise occurred on the 11th of July, 1872, and the mother passed away September 17, 1884.
Their son, James H. Harris, spent his boyhood days on his father's plantation in Panola county, Mississippi, attending school at Batesville, the county seat, and com- pleting his education at the University of Tennessee, from which he was graduated. For several years thereafter he was employed in a store at Batesville and subsequently engaged in building and operating a sawmill and a line of steamboats on the Miss- issippi river. His brother Brittain had removed to Oregon in 1888, and in 1889, following the destruction of his mill by fire, Mr. Harris closed out his interests in Mississippi and set out to join his brother. He arrived in Corvallis on the 15th of April, 1890, and a month later established a general merchandise store, which he continued successfully to conduct until the time of his demise. He carried a large and carefully selected stock, which he displayed to the best advantage, and his reliable and progressive business methods, reasonable prices and courteous treatment of customers secured for him a large patronage and as the years passed his trade reached extensive and profitable proportions, gaining for him recognition as one of the rep- resentative and progressive merchants of his section of the state.
In July, 1891, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Margaret John- son, whose mother was a representative of the Avery family, prominent pioneer set-
-
JAMES H. HARRIS
533
HISTORY OF OREGON
tlers of Corvallis. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris, but the daughter is deceased. The sons, Earl S. and Gordon B. Harris, are ably conducting the de- partment store established by their father. They are progressive and enterprising young business men who are maintaining the high standards of the house of Harris and are proving most capable successors to their father. They handle dry goods, notions, clothing, furnishings, shoes, trunks, suit-cases and sewing machines and they also are dealers in wool, mohair and cascara bark. Theirs is one of the largest enterprises of the kind in this section of the state and the house has ever enjoyed an enviable reputation for reliability and integrity.
Mrs. Harris died May 23, 1908, and Mr. Harris passed away in San Francisco, California, on the 1st of March, 1919, at the age of sixty-two years, while en route to the city of his birth. He was deeply interested in all civic matters and was noted for his kindness, courtesy and square-dealing to all with whom he came into contact. His record was at all times a most creditable one, for his entire career was actuated by a spirit of progressiveness and dominated by strict integrity, and in every relation of life he exemplified the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
JOHN S. SIMMONS.
John S. Simmons was numbered among the Oregon pioneers of 1850, being at that time brought to Oregon by his parents, a little lad of but five years. His birth occurred in Missouri, August 31, 1845. His father, William Mortimer Simmons, was a native of Virginia, who resided for some time in Missouri and then in 1855, with his wife, Mrs. Ann Simmons, and their family, came to the northwest, settling nine miles from Vancouver on the Columbia river, where he secured his donation claim and devoted his remaining days to the occupation of farming.
John S. Simmons was reared as a farm bred boy, pursuing a public school education and aiding in the work of the fields from an early age. For many years he carried on farming on his own account, his careful cultivation of his fields bringing him sub- stantial success. In 1893, however, he rented the farm and removed to Portland, where his family has since resided.
In 1868 Mr. Simmons was married to Miss Caroline Wagenblast, a daughter of John and Christina Wagenblast. He came to Oregon from Missouri in 1855, settling six miles east of Oregon City, where the father purchased land and carried on farming for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Simmons were born three children: Charles W., living at Kelso, Washington; Herbert A., a resident of La Center, Washington; and Oscher H. of Portland.
Mr. Simmons was always a stalwart supporter of the cause of public education and served as a school director. He likewise filled the office of supervisor for several years and always gave his political allegiance to the republican party. Throughout his entire life he was a consistent member of the Methodist church and passed away in that faith, August 24, 1917, having long enjoyed the entire confidence and respect of all who knew him.
WILHO ARVID GROENLUND, M. D.
Dr. Wilho Arvid Groenlund, a well known physician of Astoria, who has likewise served as a minister and missionary, is a man of splendid education, being familiar with nine different languages, four of which he is able to speak fluently. He is of Finnish birth, born in Jammufors, Finland, in 1872, a son of Johann Albert Groenlund. The father has been for many years assistant spinning master of the largest cotton mill in Finland.
Dr. Wilho A. Groenlund received his education in the grade schools of his native country and when but thirteen years of age left school and went to work in the factory, where his father then was floor manager, earning the wage of forty-five cents a week, the week consisting of forty eight hours. Although his public school work was ended he was so desirous of securing a good education that after his work was done at the factory he read and studied far into the night, including in his studies Swedish, Russian, Latin and English languages. By the time he was eighteen years of age he began
534
HISTORY OF OREGON
to preach the gospel and when twenty-five years of age went to China as a missionary. For seven years he remained in that country and was there during the Boxer Rebellion, and escaped death twice through the intervention of divine providence. After a severe and prolonged inflammation of the throat, Dr. Groenlund lost his voice and had to give up his missionary work, so he came to America. On landing in this country he decided to take up the medical profession, with the result that he entered the Cooper Medical College at San Francisco, being a student of that school at the time of the great San Francisco earthquake. He then went to Chicago and entered the medical department of the Northwestern University and in 1909 was graduated from that insti- tution with the degree of M. D. After receiving his degree he became house surgeon at the Mercy Hospital and was there for about sixteen months. The next three years were spent in practice at Quincy and Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and he then located in Seattle, Washington, where he remained in practice for a period of six years. Dur- ing his residence in Seattle he took up the study of law and in 1917 was admitted to practice the same year by the supreme court of Washington. He has thus thoroughly mastered three branches of work which are foremost in their service to the human race-the ministry and the professions of law and medicine. In the autumn of 1917 he enlisted in the service of the United States and was appointed first lieutenant in the United States Medical Corps, being assigned to duty at Vancouver Barracks in the eye and ear department. He was demobilized in February, 1919, and after taking a postgraduate course in eye, ear, nose and throat in Chicago he returned to the coast, located in Astoria and has since remained in that city, where he is enjoying a fair practice.
In 1911 Dr. Groenlund was united in marriage to Miss Saima Johanna Riekko, a native of Finland. Mrs. Groenlund is a graduate nurse and was at one time in charge of the nurses at Sibley Hospital, Washington, D. C. One child has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Groenlund, a son, John Livingston.
Fraternally Dr. Groenlund is a Mason and has no other fraternal affiliations. In the line of his profession he holds membership in the various medical societies and he retains his membership in the King County Medical Association of Seattle. Dr. Groenlund belongs to the old school in all matters, especially along political lines and has no sympathy with radical movements of any kind. He has never regretted leaving his native land and is a citizen of whom any community would have the right to be proud.
REV. HERRIES GRANT EDGAR.
Among the prominent men of Oregon City is Rev. Herries Grant Edgar, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of that city. Rev. Mr. Edgar is a native of the state of New York, born in 1873, a son of John and Isabella (Herries) Edgar. His father was a United Presbyterian minister and was a native of South America, where his parents were temporarily living. Rev. Mr. Edgar's grandfather was at that time en- gaged in the cabinet-making business in South America.
Rev. Herries Grant Edgar received a good education, his elementary education being obtained in the grade schools of New York and later at the Union College in Pennsyl- vania. He later attended the Westminster College and was graduated therefrom with the degree of A. B., heing later engaged as professor of Latin in this college. Deciding to follow in his father's footsteps and enter the ministry, he attended the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1899. For the first two years after completing his theological course he engaged in slum work in Pittsburgh. In 1901 he received his appointment to his first charge, which was at Colfax, Washington, and there he served until 1906, when he was called to Seattle, serving the Olympic church for seven years. He then took charge of the Union Park church at Spokane, Washington, where he remained for two years, after which he removed to Seattle and took charge of the Queen Anne church. For three years he labored there and then the World war broke out. His patriotism immediately overshadowed everything else, and so, resigning his church duties he went to France as secretary of a unit of the Y. M. C. A., attached to the Three Hundred and Twelfth Engineers. In July, 1919, Rev. Mr. Edgar returned to the United States, accepted a call to the First Presbyterian church of Oregon City, and is now serving that church with ability. He has always been active in any work pertaining to the ministry and when he was serving in Seattle he was president of the Seattle Ministers' Association and also served as secretary
535
HISTORY OF OREGON
of that association for a term. He has served as moderator of the synod of Columbia and has by his energy and kindliness built up every church which he has been called upon to serve.
In 1902 Rev. Mr. Edgar was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hayes McCahon, daughter of John and Annie (Hayes) McCahon, residents of Washington county, Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Edgar is a direct descendant of John R. Rebout, who was of French Huguenot extraction and a soldier of the American Revolution, and she is an active member in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Four children have been born to Rev. and Mrs. Edgar, namely: Catharine Jean, a student in the Oregon City high school; Mary McCahon; John; and Helen Hayes.
In his civil and his ministerial life Rev. Mr. Edgar is equally active. He is ever ready to give assistance in improving the intellectual and moral status of his com- munity and is one of the most active members of the Commercial Club of Oregon City. With true Scotch tenacity he never swerves from his purpose until it is completed to his satisfaction and with his stanch devotion to his faith it is not strange that he is universally regarded as a valuable citizen.
CONRAD C. BURBACK.
Conrad C. Burback, junior partner in the law firm of Sauvie & Burback of Port- land, was born in Sutton, Nebraska, March 1, 1894, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Gabelhouse) Burback, both of whom were natives of Russia. The former was born at Norka and after reaching adult age was there married, his wife having also been a native of the same locality. Crossing the Atlantic, they established their home in Sutton, Nebraska, in 1892, and there remained for a decade, removing in 1902 to Port- land, Oregon, where the death of Mr. Burback occurred in 1905.
Conrad C. Burback was but eight years of age when the family home was estab- lished in the Rose City and here he attended the public schools, thus laying the founda- tion for his professional education at a later period. Eventually he entered the law department of the University of Oregon and won the LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1916. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and is now prac- ticing in a partnership relation under the firm style of Sauvie & Burback. He is diligent and determined and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has made steady progress.
Mr. Burback is a supporter of the republican party but not an active worker in its ranks. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and also has membership in the Press Club. On the 24th of June, 1918, he entered the army as a private of Headquarters Company, No. 166, Depot Brigade, at Camp Lewis, in Washington, where he remained until February 8, 1919, when he was honorably discharged. He then resumed the practice of law and is yet a young man for whom the future holds success if the qualities which he has displayed in the past can be regarded as an indication of what is to come.
RUSSELL WEBSTER SKALLERUD.
The Skallerud Dry Goods Company is the largest and one of the most complete establishments of its kind in Astoria. Located on Commercial street between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets it has a floor space of fourteen thousand square feet, is modern in every particular and conducted on the highest of business principles. The stock car- ried embraces dry goods, women's apparel and draperies and is in every detail a metropolitan establishment. Much of the success of this business is due to the enter- prise and keen business sagacity of Russell Webster Skallerud, proprietor and manager.
Russell W. Skallerud was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in October, 1883, a son of John Arndt and Josephine M. (Anderson) Skallerud. His father was a practicing physician and a native son of Norway, but came to the United States at an early date, settling in the Twin Cities, where he was one of the leading physicians. His death occurred in 1890 and was an occasion of deep bereavement to his host of friends and admirers. Russell W. Skallerud is indebted to the schools of Minneapolis for his edu- cation and at an early age he evinced an interest in mercantile affairs. After big
536
HISTORY OF OREGON
father's death his mother married again and his stepfather conducted a mercantile establishment, in which Russell W. Skallerud practically grew up. When about eighteen years of age he started out in life on his own account, going to Canada, where he invested in some land but this form of occupation did not appeal to him and he accepted the management of a store at Weyburn, Saskatchewan. For about a year he remained in that position, gaining valuable experience in what was to become his life's work, and in 1907 he returned to Minnesota and in that same year decided to remove to the Pacific coast. His first operations in this section of the country were at Corvallis, Oregon, where he was employed in a dry goods store for a year and then removed to Walla Walla, Washington, where he spent another year in the same occupa- tion. Not finding Walla Walla to his liking he moved to Portland, where he established and operated a dry goods store for one year and in 1913, while on a visit to Astoria, he was so impressed with its business possibilities that he purchased a small store and there decided to make his home. He developed a business on strictly modern lines, which he felt would meet with success when thoroughly understood and while the first few months it was uphill work it was soon demonstrated that Astoria had grown sufficiently to appreciate the departure from the old time country store methods. His success here has been so great that he disposed of the Portland business and enlarged his Astoria establishment to its present size. There are thirty-two people in his employ and the importance of courtesy and willingness to wait on customers has been indelibly impressed upon them. Mr. Skallerud believes that satisfied customers are the best advertisement.
In 1908 occurred the marriage of Mr. Skallerud and Miss Dorothy Booth, a daugh- ter of Samuel Kirkwood Booth, a prominent farmer of Oklahoma. Two children have been born to their union: Mary Katharine and Russell Webster, Jr.
Although Mr. Skallerud devotes the greater portion of his time to his mercantile business he also takes an active interest in civic and social affairs and was one of the founders of the Astoria Rotary Club and its first president. In fraternal circles he is prominent as a member of the Masons and he is a Knights Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was also the first president of the Astoria Shrine Club. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce he is identified with the leading civic interests of Astoria and is untiring in his support of measures he deems of value to the development and improvement of the commonwealth. Mr. Skallerud is a merchant of high ideals and constructive powers and a citizen who has always sought to measure up to his responsibilities.
JEREMIAH S. TOOMBS.
During the course of an active business life, Jeremiah S. Toombs, now deceased, was engaged in contracting and building at Portland, and built up a business of exten- sive proportions in that connection. He was born in New York in 1848, a son of Doctor Samuel Toombs. His mother's maiden name was Lewis, a daughter of a Revolutionary war veteran who was one of the founders of Salem, New York. He spent his early life in the Empire state, in the vicinity of Troy and there acquired his education in the public schools. Attracted by the opportunities of the west he came to Oregon in 1877, and through the intervening period to the time of his death, was a resident of this state. Here he established business as a contractor and builder and was thus identified with the improvement of Portland for many years, enjoying the reputation of being one of the best mechanics in the city. Many of the substantial structures still stand as memorials to the enterprise and capability of Mr. Toombs.
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.