USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 75
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NOBLE WILEY JONES, M. D.
Dr. Noble Wiley Jones, an owner of the Portland Medical Hospital and one of the prominent physicians of the northwest, was born in Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio, June 13, 1876, a son of Philo Everett and Mary Eveline (Noble) Jones, the former a native of Talmadge, Ohio, while the latter was born in Rochester, Ohio. The father was a physician who practiced in his native state until the winter of 1878, when he removed with his family to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he continued to follow his profession until 1893. He afterward became a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he engaged in practice until he came to Portland in 1911 and he is now associated with his son, N. W. Jones, with offices in the Stephens building, but spends the winter season in California. He was married in 1869 to Mary Eveline Noble and they became the parents of seven children: Parvin, who has passed away; Everett O., who is a physician practicing in Seattle; Mary Belle, deceased; Noble W .; Winona, the wife of Austin P. Larrabee, a college professor at Yankton, South Dakota; Evelyn, a teacher of mathematics in Lincoln high school at Portland; and Philo Ernest, who is a structural engineer at Vancouver, Washington.
Dr. Jones of this review pursued his early education in the public schools of Red Wing, Minnesota, and later attended the Red Wing Seminary. He next became a student in the University of Wisconsin in 1891, there remaining for three years, after which he matriculated at Stanford University of California, and was graduated with the degree of A. B. in zoology. In 1895 Dr. Jones studied at the Hopkins Marine Biological Laboratory of Monterey, California. From the fall of that year until 1898 he was employed as a chemist at Mercer, Utah, by the Geyser-Marion Mining Company. From 1898 until 1901 he devoted his attention to the study of medicine at Rush Medical College, the medical department of the University of Chicago. From 1901 until 1903 he was house physician in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, and in the latter year located in Wilmot, South Dakota, where he engaged in practice until 1905. He spent that year and the next at the University of Vienna and the University of Berlin in graduate work in medicine. On his return to his native land he located in Portland where he has since practiced, limiting his attention to internal medicine. He is also an owner of the Portland Medical Hospital. He is recognized as an able physician, and throughout his professional career he has been a frequent contributor to the literature of his chosen field of work. In 1913 and 1914 he was again a gradu- ate student in the hospitals of Vienna and of London.
Dr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Sheldon Sturtevant of Red Wing, Minnesota, and they have become the parents of three children: Orville Noble, Thomas Sturtevant and Jeanette. Dr. and Mrs. Jones have made many friends dur- ing the fifteen years of their residence in Portland and the generous and attractive hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by those who know them.
The Doctor is a member of the Portland Academy of Medicine, the Oregon Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Association and is now serving as assistant professor of medicine at the medical department of the University of Oregon. He
DR. NOBLE W. JONES
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is a Knights Templar Mason and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. On the maternal side he traces his ancestry back to Thomas Noble, who located in Massachusetts about 1630 or 1640 and was one of the proprietors of what is now Spring- field, that state, in 1653. One of his descendants, Captain Nathan Noble, served for four years in the American Revolution. Governor Noyes, the last territorial governor of New Hampshire under King George IV, was the grandfather of the Doctor's paternal grandmother.
J. W. MALONEY.
J. W. Maloney occupies a place of prominence in the financial circles of Pendleton as president of the Inland Empire Bank which he and C. E. Wailes organized in the spring of 1919. He is a native son of Missouri, his birth having occurred on the 26th of September, 1870, in Sullivan county, a son of Samuel A. and Nancy (Merryman) Maloney. The father was born in Greene county, Tennessee, and his parents removed to Missouri in 1842, when he was twelve years of age. The father of Samuel A. Ma- loney engaged in farming throughout his life, while Samuel A. followed the carpenter's trade, in which he was quite proficient. In 1883 Samuel A, came to Umatilla county, where he followed his trade. He died in 1906 at the age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Maloney passed away in 1893, when sixty years of age. Mr. Maloney was a stanch supporter of the democratic party and he was fraternally affiliated with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. The religious faith of the family was that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. W. Maloney spent his boyhood in Athena, where he received his early education, and in due time entered the State Normal School. After putting his textbooks aside he taught school for three years and at the early age of twenty-two years became post- master at Athena, Oregon, which was formerly known as Centerville. He held this office until 1898, at which time he was elected county recorder and came to Pendleton. He served two terms in this office. During the latter term he was made cashier of the Pendleton Savings Bank, later known as the American National Bank, remaining in this connection for a period of eight years. In 1910 he was elected to the office of county judge, which position he held for four years, and during this time he also operated his large wheat ranch east of Pendleton. In the spring of 1919, in cooperation with Mr. C. E. Wailes he organized the Inland Empire Bank, with a capital stock of $250,000. Mr. Maloney was elected president, in which capacity he is still serving.
In 1893 Mr. Maloney was united in marriage to Miss Nora Zeiger, a daughter of Carl Zeiger, a native of Missouri, and to their union two children have been born: Wayne, who is deceased; and James H.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Maloney the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and the principles for which it stands. He is a thirty-second degree Mason. He became a member of the Knights of Pythias in 1891, and in 1902 he was elected grand chancellor of that order, and he held the office of grand master of exchequer continuously for many years. Mr. Maloney has ever recog- nized the fact that the bank is most worthy of support which most carefully safe- guards the interests of its depositors and his business affairs are characterized by a progressiveness and reliability that have won for him the prominence and high regard he now enjoys.
JAMES BREMNER.
James Bremner, mayor of Astoria, was born in the Dominion of Canada in Sep- tember, 1862, his parents being Andrew and Jean (Patterson) Bremner. In the paternal line James Bremner is of Scotch descent, while the Pattersons came from the north of Ireland. His father was for many years a prosperous farmer and both he and his wife were numbered among the substantial and progressive citizens of the community in which they resided.
James Bremner received his education in the province of Ontario, and in early life, starting out on his own account, came to the United States. He had inherited all of the sturdiness, willingness and ability to work, which endowed his ancestors,
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and he had no trouble in finding suitable labor. For four years he was employed in the timber and logging camps of Michigan and in 1883 he crossed the continent, coming to the Pacific coast, where he obtained like work in the woods of Oregon. The life of the woodsman is a hard one but with an unlimited source of health James Bremner overcame all of the hardships and worked himself up to the position of foreman. Nine years he spent in the logging camps, the last seven of which he served in the capacity as foreman and at the termination of this time he organized the Bremner Logging Company and was for fourteen years manager of this organization and for two years, president. Mayor Bremner is now operating the Trap Creek Log- ging Company as a partner in that business and in addition to his logging and timber interests, which are very considerable, he is prominent in the financial circles of Astoria as vice president of the Bank of Commerce. Mayor Bremner has engaged in other enterprises of moment, for a time serving as president of the Light House Canning Company and he has also engaged in farming, having operated many farms and a large hop ranch. While active in business circles and universally regarded as a sterling business man and public-spirited citizen, he had never held public office until in 1918 when the people of Astoria, on looking for a clear-headed, progressive business man for mayor of the city, drafted him for the office. Their selection was indeed wisely made and in recognition of his ability in this official position the mayor- alty was again tendered him in the election of 1920, for another term. Under his ad- ministration many needed improvements have been made, among the most important of which may be noted that of several miles of street improvements and the establish- ment of a civic center which is now in the formative stage.
In 1887, in Canada, occurred the marriage of Mayor Bremner to Miss Mary McNeil, also a native of Canada and of Scotch descent. Mayor and Mrs. Bremner have become parents of five children: Mrs. Claude Hill of Portland; Robert P., a consulting en- gineer of Kansas City; Mrs. Ruth Pastaw of Portland; Alexander, who served for two years in France as a soldier in the World war and is now at the Oregon Agri- cultural College, finishing his interrupted education; and Etta, a student of the schools of Astoria.
In the fraternal circles of Astoria Mayor Bremner also takes a prominent part, being a Mason and serving his lodge as master for three years. He has risen to the highest offices in the Knights Templars, has held the chair of high priest in the thirty- second degree, and has also crossed the sands of the desert to the Mystic Shrine. As one of the leading timbermen in the state, Mayor Bremner is a member of the Hoo Hoo's, a lumber organization. Mrs. Bremner is prominent in fraternal circles also, being past matron of the Eastern Star and in the club and social affairs of Astoria she takes an active part. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bremner are members of the Presby- terian church and during the war they took an active part in Red Cross work and the various drives.
SIEGFRIED WILHELM RETHLEFSEN.
Siegfried Wilhelm Rethlefsen, who for many years was identified with manu- facturing interests in Oregon, passed away in 1905. He was born in Langenhorn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 4, 1834, and was a son of Hans Juergen, who was a cabinet-maker and millwright. When ten years of age he began taking lessons from a cousin in Bredstedt and thus laid the foundation for future success. When twenty years of age he started upon an independent business career, going to the little island of Pellworm in the North Sea, where he began business as a contractor and huilder. The favorable reports which he heard concerning the opportunities of the new world led him to the determination to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. In 1858, therefore, he sailed for America, settling first at Mobile, Alabama, where he began work at his trade. A little later he went to Yreka, California, where he again followed his trade and also devoted some time to mining. In the fall of 1861 he came to Port- land, where he continued for a short time and then located on San Juan Island in the Puget Sound. He afterward removed to New Whatcom and later to Victoria, B. C., where he was employed at his trade on a United States fort that was being built there. In 1868 he again came to Portland where he resided until his death. For a long period, from 1874, he filled the position of draftsman with the Oregon Furniture Company, save for a period of two years, when he was with the Schindler Factory in
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Wellsboro. He was afterwards in the employ of the Ira F. Powers Manufacturing Company, which he represented as manager and superintendent. He was an expert workman in this line and was thus able to command excellent business. He was also the owner of several pieces of property, having from time to time as his financial re- sources increased, made investments in Portland real estate.
In 1870 Mr. Rethlefsen was united in marriage to Miss Lena Cathrine Harksen, who arrived in Oregon on the 29th of May of that year. They had been acquainted in Germany and their marriage was celebrated soon after she reached the Pacific coast. The children of this marriage are as follows: William, who is connected with the Oregon Mirror & Beveling Works of Portland; Henry, who is a meat cutter in the Multnomah market in Portland; Lena, Mrs. Ernest Furner; Wilhelmine, now the wife of Fred Winters, who for more than thirty years has been in the postal service; Alfred, a traveling salesman for Ryan & Company; Edwin, a machinist of Portland; Olive, the wife of George Houck, who is a plasterer of Portland; Annie, the wife of Ed. Claussen, who is engaged in the furniture business in Walla Walla, Washington; and Amelia, the wife of Joseph Schenz, a machinist of Portland.
Mr. Rethlefsen was a member of the Red Men. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party and his support could be counted upon to further any project of progressive citizenship. He was a member of the Swedenborgian church and a trustee of the People's Christian Union. His life was ever dominated by high and honorable purposes and worthy motives and his many sterling traits of character gained for him a large circle of friends.
GUSTAV JOHNSON.
Gustav Johnson, who for many years was a factor in the material and moral de- velopment of Oregon and who was called to his final rest on the 21st of November, 1919, was born near Stockholm, Sweden, in 1861. He spent his youth in his native country and acquired his education in the schools of that land. In 1881 he came to the United States and for a time was a resident of Chicago, after which he spent several years in Iowa. It was in the latter state that he met and married Miss Josephine Abrahamson, the wedding being celebrated in 1890. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Carl R. and Christine Louise Anderson, who were natives of Sweden and came to America in 1869, when their daughter, Mrs. Johnson, was but four years of age. The family home was established in Iowa, where Mr. Abrahamson engaged in farming, continuing a resident of that state throughout his remaining days. The eldest brother of Mr. Johnson is today a very prominent citizen of Stockholm.
To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born six children, five of whom are living: C. Raymond, who is an artist, with studio in Chicago and an oil painter of portraits of more than passing renown and has many exhibits both in America and Europe. He is in fact recognized as one of America's great artists both in portraiture and scenery; Ruth Mildred, who is devoting her time to teaching; Esther Louise, who is a high school teacher; Mabel Olive, who has passed away; Arthur Harold, a noted singer, who is in college; and Milford Gordon, who is in high school.
It was in the spring of 1902 that Mr. Johnson came to Oregon, settling in Portland, after which he did missionary work, covering western Oregon. On various occasions he would walk over the mountains to get to some town which was hard to reach by rail and in fact in many cases there were no railroads. He was a representative of the Baptist denomination and his work was an effective force for good in the upbuild- ing of the church. By reason of his missionary labors he became well known through- out western Oregon and was most highly esteemed by people of all denominations, who knew him as a man of high Christian character. In 1910 he took up the real estate business in Portland and was also identified with the bakery business. In 1917 he became interested in shipbuilding, in which he continued to the time of his demise. He thus led a very active, busy and useful life, which was terminated by an automo- bile accident on the 21st of November, 1919. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he at all times stood for those things which are most worth while in the life of the individual and the life of the community at large.
Mrs. Johnson has been a most active worker in the Young Woman's Christian Association, in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and in the work of the church. She was treasurer of the Baptist state work and secretary of the Columbia
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river district of the Baptist church, also has been president of the Missionary Society of Portland and vice president of the City Missionary Union of the Baptist Women's Society. Her labors have been far-reaching and resultant and her efforts have long been a potent force in the advancement of Christian teachings in this section of the country. Portland gained two valuable citizens when Mr. and Mrs. Johnson estab- lished their home in Oregon.
BYRON FRANKLIN STONE.
Byron Franklin Stone, one of the founders of the great salmon packing industry of the Pacific coast, has in this connection developed interests of great magnitude, contributing largely to the commercial development of the northwest, as well as to the upbuilding of his own interests. Moreover, he has figured prominently in connection with public affairs and was especially active during the World war in support of federal interests and of those drives which had to do with the welfare of the soldiers in camp and overseas. The breadth, scope and importance of his activities make it imperative that his life history find a place in the annals of Oregon and Astoria is proud to number him among her citizens.
Mr. Stone was born at Munnsville, New York, September 11, 1848, his birthplace being a small village situated about the center of the state, near Utica. His parents were Theron K. and Mary (Bosworth) Stone. Both the Stone and Bosworth families were residents of that section of the Empire state for an extended period and originally came from Connecticut, where members of the families had been identified with shipping interests. His grandfather cast one of the first hollow iron utensils, if not the first. Theron K. Stone was engaged in the flour milling business at Munnsville and was an active factor in the development of the business activity of that region.
In his youthful days Byron F. Stone was a pupil in the public schools of South Brooklyn, New York, and just prior to the outbreak of the Civil war the family re- moved to Syracuse, where he attended the various grades in the public schools, includ- ing the high school. For a brief period he was also a pupil in a boys' school in central New York, while his postgraduate studies have been pursued in the school of experi- ence, in which he has learned many valuable lessons.
In 1869 Mr. Stone left home and for some years was associated in business with an uncle, who was connected with the wholesale trade on Broadway, New York. While thus engaged he was married and afterward removed to South Framingham, Massa- chusetts, where he was connected with a manufacturing enterprise that necessitated daily trips to Boston, Massachusetts, at which point a branch store was opened for the disposition of their products, the firm being engaged in the manufacture of straw goods.
Immediately after Thanksgiving Day of 1875 Mr. Stone, accompanied by his wife, left New York for the Pacific coast, traveling by steamer to Colon, thence across the Isthmus by way of the Panama Railroad and by steamer to San Francisco, arriving a day or two before Christmas. Soon after the 1st of January, 1876, he left for San Bernardino, California, at which point the Arizona & New Mexico Express Company was under organization for the purpose of transacting general passenger and express business from Whitewater on the edge of the Colorado desert, crossing the Colorado river at Ehrenberg, thence to a junction termed Wickenberg; a branch operating to Prescott, Arizona, and the main line operating through Phoenix and Florence, Arizona, to Tucson. The entire line was about six hundred miles in length, crossing nearly the length of the great Colorado desert to the river bank opposite Ehrenberg, distant about one hundred and fifty miles to the north from Fort Yuma. Mr. Stone made several trips from Tucson to Wickenberg, thence to Prescott and returned to Wicken- berg, while later he went to Whitewater and by the same route returned to Tucson. Thus he gained valuable experience through contact with miners, engineers and trans- portation generally across the dreaded deserts of this country. The line was unsuc- cessful financially and was abandoned during the summer of 1876. In fact Mr. Stone left Tucson, Arizona, on the night of the 4th of July, 1876, for San Diego, a five days' trip by stage and proceeded thence by steamer to San Francisco, where he arrived without funds, so that it was necessary for him to start out again in the business world, his possessions being only courage and determination.
After various vicissitudes he was employed by Mr. Samuel Elmore, representative
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and partner of R. D. Hume, a Columbia river salmon packer who had acquired the Rogue river property on the coast of Oregon and was packing salmon at that point. Mr. Elmore was also representing Mr. George W. Hume, operating a salmon cannery in Astoria, Oregon, who organized the first cooperative salmon packing corporation, packing salmon, on the Columbia river. Within a few months after his connection with Mr. Elmore he arranged with Mr. George Hume, whose business was removed from the office of Mr. Elmore, and was connected with Mr. George W. Hume as manager for several years. Mr. George Hume was instrumental in the organization of five co- operative salmon canneries on the Columbia river, all of which have passed out of existence through amalgamation or other causes. In connection with Mr. George Hume and his interests Mr. Stone became one of the principal promoters of the great salmon packing industry of the Pacific coast.
After a few years Mr. Stone, in connection with A. B. Field, organized the commis- sion and brokerage firm of Field & Stone, probably more generally known throughout the Pacific coast and in the eastern states than any other house of the kind, inasmuch as they were the first prominent commission or brokerage firm organized for the pur- pose of handling California products. Statistics which Mr. Stone prepared in the early days of the movement of salmon and California products generally to the eastern states and to Europe, are now on file in Washington, but documents of this character which were retained in San Francisco were destroyed in the great fire. Not only was the business of Field & Stone a pioneer commission house on the coast, but in time came to be the most important and in 1896 Mr. Stone left San Francisco for New York for the purpose of establishing a branch in that market to handle California products, particularly beans. The undertaking was quite successful until through the failure of constituents the business was discontinued. Mr. Stone remained in New York for some time, connected with U. H. Dudley & Company, which at that period was the most prominent honse handling California products in eastern markets. Through his connection with that corporation Mr. Stone proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, and established the corporation of B. F. Stone Company for the purpose of handling Call- fornia products, particularly beans, used largely in the New England markets.
In 1900 Mr. Stone received a most favorable offer from the J. K. Armsby Company of Chicago, then the largest distributors of California products in existence. Accept- ing the offer he was for a time manager and afterward comptroller with the house, following his transfer to the San Francisco office and so continued until 1907, during which year he retired to a property which he had purchased in the foothills of the Santa Clara valley. It was in 1909 that Mr. Stone left California at the request of Samuel Elmore and came to Astoria for the purpose of systematizing his business and disposing of a large quantity of salmon. In the spring of 1910 however Mr. El- more met with an accident, resulting in his death and because of this Mr. Stone has continued to act as manager of the company, which is one of the most important salmon packing and shipping concerns on the coast. He continues to serve the corporation in this important capacity and is accounted one of the leading business men in the Pacific northwest. He has also acted as a director of the Astoria National Bank since June, 1920.
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