USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 72
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At his demise Mr. Jacobs left two children: Elizabeth M., the wife of Dr. William R. Jackson of Kansas City, and Fred Alva, who while attending the University of Cali- fornia, became a member of the Students' Army Training Corps. Mrs. Jacobs retains her husband's interests in the real estate business and has important property hold- ings, for he had built up one of the prominent business enterprises of this character in the city. Mr. Jacobs was a Mason of high degree, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He belonged to a number of the prominent clubs of Portland, was a stalwart republican in his political views, and was foremost in support of everything pertaining to the upbuilding and development of the city. He was a lover of books and of art and had collected many fine paintings. In fact he was in- terested in all those things that have cultural value and which promote knowledge and interest in life. His nature rejected anything opposed to good taste, and the sterling traits of his character commanded for him the honor and respect of his fellowmen.
THOMAS W. THOMPSON.
Thomas W. Thompson was a highly respected citizen who followed farming and was also connected with flour milling in Oregon, to which state he came in pioneer times, arriving in 1857. He was born at Blairsville, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1831, a son of Joseph and Maria (Culbertson) Thompson, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania and came of Scotch ancestry. They resided near Jacksonville, Pennsylvania, where the father and mother passed away at the ages of seventy and eighty years, respectively. They had a family of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, while the other ten reached adult age. The father was a carpenter by trade and in
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later years turned his attention to farming, which pursuits he followed successfully, thus providing a good living for his family and to his children he also gave good edu- cational opportunities.
Thomas W. Thompson remained at home until he had reached the age of twenty years, working on the farm and also learning the carpenter's trade under the direction of his father. He started out to work for himself in early life and was employed for six months at four dollars per month and board. He afterward worked as a journeyman carpenter, during which time he received from twelve to fifteen dollars per month. He remained in Pennsylvania until he had attained his majority and then started for California but did not reach his destination for some time, for on reaching New York he met with some men who were bound for Melbourne, Australia, and they induced him to try his fortune there. Gold had been discovered in that country and he made his way to the mines of Australia, where he worked for some time and he also worked at his trade in that country. After six months spent in Australia he went with his brother John to Callao, Peru, in search of gold but found none. He then proceeded up the coast to Panama, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and in 1853 started by the water route to California and subsequently worked in the mines at Placerville for a short time. Again he returned to his trade as a source of livelihood and was engaged in carpentering in California until 1857, when he came to Oregon to join his brother John, who had made his way to this state from Panama. Here Mr. Thompson began working as a journeyman carpenter, receiving good wages, and he also did some contract work. He remained in Portland for a brief period and in 1858 located in Forest Grove, where in connection with C. O. Clark he did contracting for a year at both Forest Grove and Spring Valley.
In 1863, about six miles south of Forest Grove, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Avarilla Stott, a daughter of Samuel Jack and Lucy (Denney) Stott, who were pioneers of Oregon of 1851, having crossed the plains with ox teams from Jennings county, Indiana. The father located a donation claim near Beaverton, in Washington county, and later traded that property for a claim near Gaston, in the same county, whereon he made his home until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife survived him for several years and passed away at the age of seventy. Both were natives of Kentucky and were of English-Irish ex- traction. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Stott was James McGuire, who fought in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Stott cast his first presidential vote for William H. Harrison and afterward became a supporter of the republican party. He was one of the well known and honored pioneer settlers of the state and was esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.
Following his marriage Mr. Thompson removed to Portland, where he resided for two years and then took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty-five acres, which he secured in 1865. From that time forward he devoted his attention to farming until thirty-five years had been added to the cycle of the centuries. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his original claim and ultimately became the owner of three hundred and seventy-five acres of land, of which three hundred acres was under the plow. Year after year he carefully carried on general farming and stock raising with excellent success and became the possessor of a handsome competence. In 1900 he retired from active farm life and removed to Portland, taking up his abode at No. 740 East Taylor street. He was also the owner of farm lands in different places in the state and his judicious investments added materially to his income. He also to some extent engaged in the flour milling business and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion. He was always thoroughly reliable, energetic and trustworthy in all business affairs and made for himself a good name as well as a substantial competence.
In politics Mr. Thompson never allied himself with any party but supported the men whom he regarded as best qualified for office. He was never ambitious to hold political positions himself but served as a member of the school board and was keenly interested in the cause of education. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife were members of Gaston Grange, of which he served as master, while his wife was at the same time chaplain. Both were members of the Pioneer Association of Oregon. The death of Mr. Thompson occurred at his home in Portland, August 22, 1920, when he had reached the notable old age of eighty-nine years. He was one of the most venerable residents of the city, classed with the honored pioneers of Oregon. Life had brought to him many interesting and varied experiences from the time when he left the old home in Pennsylvania and started for New York, from which point he
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made his way to Australia, then to Peru, then to Pauama and later to the mines of California, eventually reaching Oregon, where he made for himself an excellent home, prospering as the years went by and at all times enjoying the confidence, goodwill and high respect of his fellowmen.
JAMES L. HOPE.
A man prominent in the law circles of Oregon is James L. Hope, who since 1913 has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Astoria. Like many of Oregon's most prominent and progressive men, he is a son of another state, his birth having occurred at Rochelle, Illinois, in 1888. His parents were William J. and Johanna (O'Rahiley) Hope, the father being of English and the mother of Irish extraction. William J. Hope was a pioneer merchant of Rochelle for many years and as a result of his untiring energy and his business ability, is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his labor of former years.
James L. Hope is indebted to the schools of Rochelle and De Kalb for his early education and in due time, deciding upon law as his life work, he entered the law department of the Notre Dame University, from which institution he graduated in 1911. The same year he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Illinois and in 1912 came to the Pacific coast. For the first year of his residence on the coast he was associated with a well established law firm in Portland, Oregon, and in 1913, seeking a place whose future promised well for a young man, he located at Astoria, Oregon, where he has since practiced, building up a large and lucrative clientage. That he has won a high place at the bar of Astoria may be gathered from the fact that he is counsel of such concerns as the Crossett Lumber Company, one of the largest lumber concerns in northern Oregon, the Lovell Automobile Company, the City Lumber and Supply Company, the Bank of Commerce and many other large corporations. In civic affairs Mr. Hope is active, being chairman of the school board of Astoria, a director of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Civic Center Commission.
In 1915 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hope and Miss Helen Conlin, a daughter of Michael Conlin, a well known railroad man of Wisconsin. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hope: Mary Louise and John Conlin.
Mr. Hope is a supporter of the republican party. Fraternally Mr. Hope is connected with the Elks and the Knights of Columbus, which latter organization he serves as treasurer and in the line of his profession holds membership with the Oregon Bar Association. During the World war Mr. Hope served on the legal examining board, besides being an active Four-Minute man and taking a leading part in all the drives. He is an earnest student and one of the best equipped attorneys in the state-a fluent speaker, clear and concise in statement and devoted to his clients' interests, and he has before him a splendid future at the Oregon bar.
ELTON WATKINS.
Elton Watkins, lawyer of Portland and one of the eleven children of M. M. and Virginia Watkins, was born and reared in Newton, Mississippi, where he received his primary education, while later he attended the famous Webb School of Bellbuckle, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Washington and Lee University of Lexington, Virginia, and his LL. B. degree from the Georgetown Law School at Washington, D. C. His Master's degree was conferred upon him by the George Wash- ington University in the national capital, after which he was employed by the depart- ment of justice for several years under the Taft administration.
Mr. Watkins came to Portland, Oregon, in 1912 and took up the private practice of law. During the World war he reentered the department of justice and was engaged in secret service work, devoting his time to espionage act violations, securing convic- tions of every case engaged upon. After the World war was over, he was appointed assistant United States district attorney for Oregon, which position he held until December, 1919, when he resigned to resume the private practice of law. Since 1914 he has been prosecutor for the Oregon State Bar Association.
In December, 1919, Mr. Watkins was elected president of the Jackson Club, the
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largest political organization in the state of Oregon. He was also the Oregon member of the notification committee informing James M. Cox of his nomination for the presi- dency by the democratic national convention and was presidential elector on the demo- cratic ticket in 1920. He is a member of the Masons, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights and Ladies of Security and is a member of the Baptist church.
On the 26th of November, 1918, Mr. Watkins was married to Miss Daniela Ruth Sturgis of Portland, Oregon. He has his own home on Portland Heights and also owns improved property on East Morrison street and at Bertha Station. He is today heavily interested in various commercial activities in the state of Oregon and in Alaska, is attorney for several corporations, is a director and secretary of two corporations and is treasurer of still another, while of, five Oregon and Alaska corporations he is a stockholder.
HILMAR MAX PAPST.
Hilmar Max Papst, general manager of the Portland Gas & Coke Company, was born in the kingdom of Saxony, Germany, in 1872, a son of Edmund Papst, who was also a native of Saxony and there spent his entire life, passing away in 1892. The son is a highly educated man, having studied in various colleges of his native country. He came to the United States in 1894, going first to Philadelphia and entering the employ of the United Gas Improvement Company as a cadet. He remained with that corporation for six years, rising to the position of expert on gas manufacture. In 1900 he went to San Francisco and was made general manager of the Equitable Gas Light Company, which was absorbed in 1903 by the San Francisco Gas & Electric Company, at which time Mr. Papst was made chief engineer of the consolidated companies. There he continued, rendering most efficient service to the corporation until 1906. In May of the latter year he arrived in Portland and became general manager of the Portland Gas Company. Through a reorganization of the business in 1910 the name was changed to the Portland Gas & Coke Company, of which Mr. Papst is now the general manager. His entire business experience on this side of the Atlantic has been along the line of gas manufacture and the operation of gas plants and his thorough and compre- hensive knowledge, his ability in management and his enterprise have brought him to a place of prominence in his chosen field.
Mr. Papst belongs to the Lutheran church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and in club circles he is well known, having membership in the Arlington Club, the Hunt Club, the State Motor Association and the Press Club. He is likewise connected with the Chamber of Commerce and gives hearty support to various plans of the organization for the city's continued growth, development and upbuilding.
WILLIAM M. BLAKLEY.
William M. Blakley, a retired stockman and farmer of Pendleton, was born in Platte county, Missouri, October 14, 1840, a son of James and Sarah (Dick) Blakley. Both parents were natives of East Tennessee in which state their marriage took place and they later removed to Platte county, Missouri, farming in that state until 1846, when they came to Oregon. The journey was made overland with ox teams, there being fourteen wagons in the train. They had several Indian scares and lost some stock. On the 9th of October, 1846, the wagon train pulled into Brownsville, one hundred miles south of Portland, and here Mr. James Blakley took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. He huilt a log house on the land, which he immediately set ahout to cultivate and here he resided until January 29, 1913, when his death oc- curred. He was born November 26, 1812, and was therefore over one hundred years old at his death. Throughout his life he had heen a stanch supporter of the demo- cratic party and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian church.
The education of William M. Blakley was received in the schools of Brownsville. In 1858 and 1859 he drove cattle for James McHargue to the Sacramento valley, Cali- fornia, and in the fall of 1860 in company with Henry Spalding, a son of H. H. Spald-
HILMAR M. PAPST
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ing, a missionary, he left for the Tusche river, north of Walla Walla, Washington, to spend the winter. In the spring Mr. Blakley and Mr. Spalding went to the Coeur d'Alene mountains, where they engaged for some time in mining gold, in the Oro Fino mines. In the fall he returned home and with Andrew Cochran, began freighting to Bannock City, Idaho. He later sold his freight outfit and spent the winter of 1863 and 1864 on Burch creek, now Pilot Rock, taking care of the cattle his father had driven here. In the spring of 1864 he again returned to his home and was married in August of that year. In 1868 he came to Umatilla county and took up his ranch and timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He huilt a farm house, log barn, improved the land, and from time to time added more acreage, until he now has eight hundred acres of fine wheat land. He also engaged in the cattle business, which he followed successfully until 1876. Soon after settling in Umatilla county Mr. Blakley became recognized as a man of progressiveness and ability and in 1898 he was elected to the office of sheriff of the county. He served four years in this capacity, heing reelected in 1900. He was also a member of the legislature for some time. In the fall of 1897 he removed to Pendleton, buying his present home, but continued to operate his farm. In 1905 he retired from active farm life, however, and is now residing in Pendleton, enjoying the rewards of a life of diligence and industry. In the financial circles of Pendleton he has taken a prominent part, being one of the organizers of the Inland Empire Bank. He is now one of the directors of this organization.
It was on the 18th of August, 1864, that Mr. Blakley was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Baird, a daughter of William C. and Margaret Baird, and a native of Lafayette, Indiana. Her parents were born in Ohio and later removed to Lafayette, Indiana, where they made their home for some years. In later life they came across the plains by ox teams to Brownsville, and there the father engaged in the blacksmith business until 1870. In the summer of 1863 Mr. Baird freighted to Boise, Idaho, and later he sold and distributed religious publications. He eventually returned to Browns- ville, where his death occurred. The mother of Mrs. Blakley is also deceased. Five children were born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blakley: May, whose death oc- curred in 1874; Farrah, who died in 1874; Lottie, whose death occurred in 1874; Fannie, the wife of S. R. Thompson; and Annie, who is now Mrs. G. M. Leser of Los Angeles, California.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Blakley the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He is con- sidered one of the representative citizens of Pendleton, where he spends the greater part of his time, although he generally winters in California.
HENRY DAVIS STORY.
Henry Davis Story, member of the Portland bar, was born August 12, 1869, in the city which is still his home. His father, George L. Story, was a native of Man- chester, Massachusetts, born April 20, 1833. He came to Portland in 1851, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of this city, which at that time was a small town containing only one or two streets along the river. He was one of the first druggists of Portland and for about forty years figured prominently in business circles in connection with insurance and real estate. He served for one term, from 1874 until 1876, as clerk of Multnomah county and for three terms represented his district in the Oregon legislature, leaving the impress of his individuality and ability upon the laws of the state. He also was at one time a member of the city council of Portland. Five years after his arrival in the west, in 1856, he was married in Portland to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Davis, a daughter of Anthony L. Davis, who came to Portland in 1850 and at one time filled the office of probate judge of Multnomah county. The death of George L. Story occurred in 1916, his wife, however, having passed away thirteen years before.
Henry D. Story was reared in Portland, attending the public schools and after- ward becoming a student in Bishop Scott's grammar school, an Episcopal institution of this city. From November, 1885, until December, 1905, or for a period of twenty years, he was connected with the First National Bank and then entered the Lumbermen's Bank of Portland, where he was employed for four years. In 1893 he was admitted to the bar but did not enter upon the practice of his profession until 1911. Since that time he has given his attention to the work of the courts and the same thoroughness and
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forcefulness which characterized his work in banking circles is manifest in the conduct of his growing law practice.
Mr. Story is pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married April 12, 1910, in Atchison, Kansas, to Clarissa Gould Briggs and they have become the parents of a daughter, Katherine. Mr. Story is a supporter of the republican party. During the war he served on the legal advisory board, also took part in the bond and Red Cross drives and was a member of the housing committee for Portland. He is well known as a representative of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and also become a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is a life member of the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club. All who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance in his native city, testify to his sterling worth and high character as well as to his business and professional ability, and in the city where he has al- ways made his home the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
SAMUEL ORAN DILLMAN.
For twenty-five years Samuel Oran Dillman has been a resident of Oregon City, and in that time by his ability and industry has risen into the foremost rank of the successful real estate men of that city. Like other prominent men of Oregon he was born in another state, and in Clay county, Illinois, in the year 1873, Mr. Dillman first saw the light of day. He is the son of Samuel and Nancy Jane (Ford) Dillman. The Dillmans were settled in America long before the Revolution and members of that family have borne arms for America in every war in which this country has entered. The grandfather of Mr. Dillman was a pioneer of Kentucky and his mother's family is an old Virginia family.
In 1875 Mr. Dillman accompanied his parents to the Pacific coast and they settled in California where Mr. Dillman received his education. Being of an ambitious nature, immediately after completing his education he started to work for the California Paper Company and remained in their service for twenty-two years. He served that organization faithfully and in 1895 was sent to Oregon City as its representative. He has remained a citizen of Oregon City since that date. Becoming interested in the real estate business he resigned from the paper company in 1912 and went into business on his own account, working in both real estate and insurance. As a real estate man he has been a decided success and has put through some of the largest deals in the country. He handled the sale of lands on which the huge Hawley Pulp and Paper Company's plant has been erected and being thoroughly posted in land values, both city and farm, has not only handled .most of the business transfers but has been instrumental in locating many of the prosperous farmers of the county. In the in- surance line he is the Clackamas county agent of the Northwestern Insurance Company and represents most of the old line fire insurance companies. Mr. Dillman is also interested in farming and on his farm, which is located near the city, he has seventeen acres in cherries and apples. He is a devoted student of horticulture and has for years valued the horticultural bulletins of the Oregon Agricultural College as his best read- ing matter.
As a business man Mr. Dillman is noted for his fearlessness and his desire to play square. This fearlessness may be well illustrated by one of the adventures of Mr. Dillman's life. When a young man he saved from drowning a young woman who had thrown herself into the Stockton channel. Without removing a vestige of his clothing, not even stopping to take off his hat, he jumped into the bay and saved her despite her protestations and abuse. In later years, however, he received her thanks and a token of gratitude in the shape of a valuable pin. This same fearlessness and determination have been large factors in his success.
In 1906 Mr. Dillman was united in marriage to Miss Ednetta Chase, a daughter of James and Sarah A. Chase, who came to Oregon in 1853. Mrs. Dillman has in every way been a fitting helpmate for her distinguished and successful husband.
Politically Mr. Dillman is a republican and takes a very active interest in the affairs of his party, although he has never sought public office. He has been a delegate to the state and county conventions of his party many times and was always among the active delegates. Mr. Dillman also appreciates the social amenities of life and is affiliated with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, which he has served as past
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chancellor. He is also one of the most active members of the Commercial Club of Oregon City. He has always met with equal earnestness the obligations of business, political, and social life. Making the most of his opportunities he has prospered from year to year and deserves the high place which he now occupies in the regard of the citizens of Oregon City.
ABRAHAM BLOSSER.
Abraham Blosser, who became a resident of Oregon in 1881 and for a long period was engaged in the sheet metal business in Portland, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, September 21, 1845, a son of Henry and Catherine (Beasinger) Blosser, the former a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, and the latter of Alsace, France. Abraham Blosser was reared in his native state and acquired his early education in the common schools of Ohio, while subsequently he attended the Kieffer College of Music, where he studied vocal culture. He then took charge of a singing school and taught for several years. Later he engaged in farming, but was in an accident causing him the loss of a leg and this forced him to take up other lines of work.
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