USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 78
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In 1887 Mr. Kester was united in marriage to Miss Sarah B. Laubach, a daughter of William and Mary ( Brittain) Laubach, and a native of Pennsylvania. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kester, one son, Harold J., has been born.
Mr. Kester is a stanch supporter of the republican party, although he has never held office nor cared for political preferment. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The life of Mr. Kester has been an intensely active one and wherever he is known he is held in high esteem for his industrial achievements and his personal integrity.
TERANCE HARRINGTON FOLEY.
Terance H. Foley, vice president and general manager of the Bend Water, Light & Power Company and organizer and vice president and general manager of the Deschutes Ice Company, displays in the conduct of his business enterprises qualities which show him to be thoroughly conversant with modern-day business conditions. He is always actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progressiveness that accomplishes results, and suc- cess is attending his well defined efforts.
A native of Canada, Terance H. Foley was born at Montreal in 1879, a son of John and Mary (Duke) Foley, both of whom have passed away. For many years his father was a seafaring man and his death occurred in 1900. Mrs. Foley's demise occurred in Montreal in 1918.
At the age of four years Mr. Foley removed with his parents to Boston, Massachu- setts, and there he received his primary and high school education. At an early age he showed a marked leaning toward electricity and in due time took a course in Gray's Electrical College, a technical institution in Boston. In 1903 he made his initial step into that line of business and the following year went up into the Yukon territory. In 1905 he became manager of the Northern Commercial Company, which operated the
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water, light and power plant at Fairbanks, Alaska, and he remained with that concern as manager until 1910. In that year he came to Oregon and locating in Bend, became associated with the electric company of that place. In 1912, upon the reorganization of the company as the Bend Water, Light & Power Company, he became vice president and general manager of the company and is still active in those positions. By reason of close application and thoroughness Mr. Foley has brought to his company a great degree of success. He is a firm believer in serving the public at low rates, thereby widening the field of the company, which is the largest in the northwest. His policy has proved very successful not only in winning the good will and confidence of all of its customers but in paying a good interest on the six hundred thousand dollar investment. It is said that the rate for cooking by electricity in Bend is the lowest in the surrounding country. Mr. Foley is not only interested in that company but as one of the organizers of the Deschutes Ice Company is vice president and general manager of that corporation. He has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of Bend and is ex-president of the Bend Commercial Club, of which body he is now a director; is president of the Bend Holding Company, which hody built the handsome gymnasium now occupied by the American Legion; is chairman of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A .; and is chairman of the public policy committee of the Northwest Light & Power Association. Mr. Foley was the organizer of the Bend fire department, considered the best in the state, and was its first executive.
In 1906 occurred the marriage of Mr. Foley and Miss Cecile Adams, a daughter of W. H. Adams, one of the pioneer attorneys of Portland. He was one of the earliest members of the legal profession in that city and held the office of city attorney for many years. He is also credited with being one of the three organizers of the republican party in Oregon. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Foley three children have been born: William T., a high school student; Maryellen, a grade school pupil; and Robert H. Mrs. Foley is a member of the Baptist church and is superintendent of the Sunday school. She is not only active in church work and in the social and club circles of the city, but is a model mother and an excellent housewife.
Mr. Foley's fraternal affiliations are confined to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. During the World war he was one of the most devoted workers in central Oregon. He was county chairman of the Red Cross, chairman of the Y. M. C. A., county chairman for all the various drives, and was a member of the Liberty Loan board. Mr. Foley is accounted one of the energetic, prosperous and capable business men of the town, a stanch supporter of all worthy and beneficial movements, and a general favorite among those with whom he has come into contact. While exceedingly active and capable in civic affairs, the two most noticeable characteristics of Mr. Foley are genuine modesty and a diffident geniality.
CLARENCE CASS BROWER.
Clarence Cass Brower, district attorney of Klamath county, is a man of marked force of character and of splendid ability, so exercising his powers as to produce sub- stantial and beneficial results for the community over which he has jurisdiction. Like many other prominent men of Oregon he is a son by adoption for he was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, on the 6th of January, 1857. His parents were George W. and Sarah Ann (Lowe) Brower, and his father was prominently known in business circles of that state, where for many years he was engaged as a farmer, merchant and sawmill opera- tor. Clarence C. Brower is a direct descendant of Dominie Brower, the well known Holland-Dutch minister who preached the first sermon in New Amsterdam, which city later became New York city. His mother was a member of the Cook family of Cayuga county, New York, and ancestors on both sides served gallantly in the Revolutionary war and the War of 1812.
On attaining the usual age Clarence Cass Brower entered the schools of Lenawee county, Michigan, and in due time entered Ypsilanti Seminary, where he received pre- liminary training before enrolling in the Michigan State Normal School. After com- pleting his education he came to Oregon in 1878 and for fifteen years followed that most honorable profession of teaching in the schools of this state. The first two years of that time were spent at Columbia City and the remainder in St. Helens and Astoria and vicinity. In his spare time he took up the study of law in the office of Oregon's distin- guished jurist, Judge Frank A. Moore, who served on Oregon's supreme bench for so
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many years, and as the result of close application and ability Clarence Cass Brower was admitted to practice in 1896. In that year he opened an office in Astoria, where he was already known, having served as principal of schools there for several years, and soon after locating there was appointed justice of the peace and reelected to succeed himself. In 1902 he removed to Klamath Falls, where he established a residence, and he has since resided there, one of the most prominent members of the legal profession in his section of the state. In January, 1921, he took over the office of district attorney, to which he was elected in 1920, and in this position, as a man of great strength of character, he will see that the laws of the state are enforced and that the criminals, whether of high or low station in life, receive just and vigorous prosecution, and the merely erring will receive help and encouragement to turn from the wrong course.
Mr. Brower gives his political allegiance to the republican party. For two terms he served his fellow townsmen as city recorder. His fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, in which order he has held all offices, and he is a member of the Encamp- ment, Rebekahs and Canton, and has served in the Grand lodge. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he has served on the board of trustees of that organization at various times; with others he founded the first Y. M. C. A. in Astoria, it being the third in the state.
Mr. Brower remains a close student of his profession and his services in the office of district attorney will be marked by a firmness and high sense of justice. He will do his best to curb outlawry and he can be counted upon to do his part in furthering the public welfare.
MAX ALDEN CUNNING.
One of the prominent members of the Oregon bar who is now residing in Redmond, is Max Alden Cunning. He was born in Iowa in 1889, a son of O. V. and Fannie (Mor- gan) Cunning. His ancestors on his father's side came to this country before the Amer- ican Revolution and were originally known as Cunningham. According to family tradi. tion, after the establishment of the United States as a free republic some of the member! of the family drifted westward and hecame pioneers of Ohio. Those ancestors are cred- ited with having shortened the name by dropping the "ham." Mr. Cunning's grandfather moved from Ohio to Iowa prior to the Civil war and in that state O. V. Cunning was born. He was a farmer, also a commercial trader and won prominence in the community in which he resided. The Morgans were a well known Virginia family, some of whom came west and homesteaded in Iowa about 1860.
In the acquirement of an education Max Alden Cunning attended the grade and high schools of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and then removing west with his parents he entered the University of California. He pursued a law course in that institution and was gradu- ated in 1913, with the LL. B. degree. Immediately after admission to the bar he visited friends who had moved from Iowa to Redmond, Oregon, and liking the town, he decided to make it his home. He associated with Hon. D. G. Burdick in the practice of his pro- fession, the firm being known as Burdick & Cunning, and from the beginning he was unusually prosperous in every respect. At the termination of four years the association was discontinued by the retirement of Mr. Burdick and since that time Mr. Cunning has practiced alone. He has won a position of prominence among the members of the legal profession in Oregon and the success which he has attained is due to his own efforts. He has frequently been called upon to fill public office and for several years he was city recorder and was deputy district attorney for two years.
In 1917 Mr. Cunning was united in marriage to Miss Orphia Wilson, a daughter of E. M. Wilson, a retired farmer of Cedar Falls. One daughter has been born to their union, Maxine. Mrs. Cunning is prominent in the club and social circles of Redmond. She is interested in all civic affairs and during the World war was active in all local affairs for aiding the participation of the United States in the conflict.
Mr. Cunning's only fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias and in this organization he has filled all the chairs. He is vice president of the Commercial Club, a director of the Redmond National Bank, general counsel of the First National Bank and secretary of the National Farm Loan Association. In politics he is a stanch sup- porter of the republican party. Mr. Cunning has thoroughly identified his interests with those of the community and during the World war he gave generously of his time and money. In no profession is there a career more open to talent than in that of the law,
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and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thor- ough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life, or of the underlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. His success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line and may be attributed to his perseverance and indomitable energy as well as to his keen and brilliant mind.
J. ROY ROBERTS.
Colton says: "The inheritance of a distinguished and noble name is a proud inherit- ance to him who lives worthily of it." It is then, indeed, a proud inheritance to J. Roy Roberts, a member of the firm of Lynch & Roberts, leading merchants of Redmond. Starting out into the business world at an early age, the force of his own merit made ยท his way and concentration and perseverance won him the success that he enjoys today.
A native of Iowa, J. Roy Roberts was born in Steamboat Rock in 1882, a son of Watson and Lydia (Holloway) Roberts. His father, a practicing physician, was a native of Pennsylvania and a member of a pre-Revolutionary family of Pennsylvania Quakers. One of his ancestors was Elizabeth Kilkup, who was the first white female child born of English parents in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Roberts has many of the family heirlooms, notable among which is a round silver teaspoon upon which is engraved the name of Elizabeth Kilkup; and a large platter which is several hundred years old. The Holloways are likewise an old American family and were among the early pioneers of Ohio. Mr. Roberts' mother was orphaned at birth and was reared by her uncle, Lot Holmes, a pioneer of Iowa who is noted in history as an enthusiastic abolitionist and a leader in the Underground railway of 1860. Mrs. Roberts taught the rudiments of educa- tion to a colored boy, who in manhood became principal of the colored schools of St. Louis.
In the acquirement of an education J. Roy Roberts attended the public schools of Marshalltown, Iowa, and at an early age put his textbooks aside and secured work in a law office, where he remained for a period of two years. At the termination of that time he secured a position in a wholesale mercantile establishment, one of seven plants be- longing to the same company, and his conscientious performance of every duty assigned him and his keen business ability asserted itself to such a degree that he rose rapidly from one position to another until he became cashier of the entire business. He achieved that position before he reached his majority and was highly complimented by the manager of the company on his efficient service. He then traveled for the firm and in 1907, while on a visit to Oregon, was so greatly impressed with the country that he secured a position as buyer for a Portland wholesale grocery company. He was active in that association until 1910, in which year he located in Redmond and with M. A. Lynch organized the firm of Lynch & Roberts. They are the leading merchants in Central Oregon, having built up a business of extensive and important proportions as the result of their innate business ability, initiative, and unfailing courtesy to their patrons. Mr. Roberts has not devoted his entire time to his business, however, but has always taken a prominent and active part in public affairs. He has served as mayor of Redmond and has been presi- dent of the city council. He believes in boosting his community and not only in further- ing his individual welfare but the welfare of the public at large.
On the 25th of October, 1911, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage to Miss Oda Ruth Fuller, the accomplished and charming daughter of James M. and Olive B. Fuller of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Fullers are a well known old pioneer family of Michigan. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts: Maurice F. and Ruth, both of whom share their mother's love of music. Mrs. Roberts is active in the affairs of the Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, DesChutes chapter, which was organized by her mother, who was its first regent. Mrs. Roberts is an accomplished musician and took a post- graduate course in voice culture in the Teachers' College of Columbia University. For some time she taught in the public schools of Elmhurst, Illinois, and Waterloo, Iowa, and before the high school at Redmond could afford a music instructor she offered her services along that line. She is fraternally identified with the Daughters of the Nile and is past worthy matron of the Eastern Star. She is a member of the exclusive Juniper Club, is likewise a member of the Woman's Club and is active in all social affairs.
Mr. Roberts is fraternally identified with the Masons, being a Knight Templar, a Shriner and vice president of the Central Oregon Shrine Club, and he is also an Elk and a Knight of Pythias, of which latter order he is past chancellor commander and now
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master of finance. He is president of the Redmond Commercial Club and is a member of the board of directors of the high school dormitory, a dormitory built by the business men of Redmond to house pupils attending the new high school. He has a wide acquaint- ance and is popular in all of the various organizations of which he is a member and he is recognized in business circles as a man of progressive and forceful spirit, who neglects no opportunity for legitimate advancement in the field of business in which he has em- barked.
JUNIUS V. OHMART.
During the nine years in which Junius V. Ohmart has been a representative of the Portland bar he has made steady progress and his clientage is large and of a distinctively representative character. His early life was passed in Indiana, his birth having occurred at North Manchester, Wabash county, in that state, June 3, 1879, his parents being Eli C. and Minnie E. (Dixon) Ohmart, who were married at Delphi, Indiana. The father was born in that state in 1854 and his ancestors settled in Virginia just after the American Revolution.
Junius V. Ohmart spent his early youth in his native town and was also a resident of Indianapolis before his parents removed in 1894 to New York city. The son was a pupil in the schools of Wabash county, Indiana, and also of North Manchester and Indianapolis and continued his education after becoming a resident of the eastern metropolis. During his earlier residence in New York city he was employed in different capacities in various lines of business, thus acquiring a varied business experience. After reaching the age of twenty he served for about three years as assistant to the secretary-treasurer of the T., St. L. & W. R. R. Company, at the executive and financial office of that company, 60 Wall street. Although tempted to adopt railroad work as his career he resigned and entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He had previously prepared at the New York Preparatory School and for one year was a student in the New York Law School. At the University of Michigan he spent two years pur- suing an academic course and two years completing his legal studies and was there- upon graduated from the Law Department in 1907. In the same year he was admitted to practice at the har of that state and in the federal court at Detroit and in 1908 was admitted to practice at the bar of New York. He then entered the law firm of Wells & Snedeker as an associate, remaining there for about a year, after which he became identified with the law firm of Baldwin, Wadhams, Bacon & Fisher as an asso- ciate, and eventually he spent a short time with the firm of Currie, Smith & Maxwell. In 1911 he came to Portland, where he has since been successfully practicing and now has a clientage that is most gratifying.
On the 3d of August, 1915, in Oakland, California, Mr. Ohmart was united in mar- riage to Miss Audrey Winifred Ohmert. He is affiliated with the Christian Science church and the nature of his interests is further indicated by his connection with the Progressive Business Men's Club, The Civic League, and the Public School Protective League of Oregon, the last-named organization being founded at his suggestion and for which he has since acted as counsel. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. During the World war he aided in the questionnaire work and on the hond drives and was one of the Four-Minute men, whose short, pithy and pointed addresses brought enlightenment to the general public on many of the real issues of the war and the conditions arising therefrom. He has always been characterized by a progressive citizenship, his public spirit being manifest in many tangible ways.
GEORGE ALBERT HARDING.
As a progressive builder and public-spirited man there is no more valued citizen of Clackamas county and Oregon than George A. Harding, who for more than forty years has had much to do with the growth of the state. Mr. Harding is a native of Australia, born at Sydney, in the year 1843, a son of James and Penelope (Bridges) Harding, who were of English ancestry. The father died when Mr. Harding was quite young and some time later the mother came to America with her little flock and in 1857 settled in Oregon, thus becoming a pioneer of this state.
JUNIUS V. OHMART
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Previous to coming to this country with his mother Mr. Harding, although but four- teen years old, had acquired some experience in the drug business as clerk in a drug store at Sydney, Australia, and in 1873 he became a member of the Oregon City drug firm of Ward & Harding. In 1861 he became associated with Dr. Alden H. Steel in the pioneer drug store of Oregon City. About the year 1880 he purchased the drug business of C. O. T. Williams and consolidated it with the Harding store, building on Main street a handsome brick building, in which to house the enlarged firm. Besides the drug busi- ness in which Mr. Harding has been so successful he has devoted much time to public interests. He was one of the original directors of the Oregon City Bank, the pioneer banking house of the city, and he was also one of the promoters of the Willamette Valley Southern Railroad, which road he served as its first president but is now serving as vice president. He was one of the original promoters of the Willamette Transportation and Locks Company and one of the original directors of the Willamette Electric Light Com- pany which furnished light and power to the city of Portland. This organization after- ward became the Portland General Electric Company and Mr. Harding remained on the board until after the company was merged into the Portland Railway, Light and Power Company. Mr. Harding was the first president of the Willamette Land Company, which as owner of large tracts of land in the vicinity of Canby, suhdivided the land into small tracts and laid the foundation of the now famous prune farms of the Willamette valley. These many activities stamp this grand old pioneer as a progressive builder and there has been not one enterprise of value to his state and city but could count on the help of George Harding.
In his many business enterprises Mr. Harding has always had the cooperation and encouragement of his wife, who was before her marriage Miss Margaret Jane Barlow, a daughter of J. L. Barlow and Mary E. (Miller) Barlow, and granddaughter of the famous Samuel K. Barlow, and Samuel Miller of Clackamas county. Mrs. Harding is a woman of prominence in her community and is a past regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution and past department president of the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. and Mrs. Harding have reared a family of children who are worthy representatives of the old pioneer stock of Oregon: The eldest daughter, Imogen, is the wife of Edward E. Brodie, who is editor and publisher of the Oregon City Enter- prise and one of the leading men of the state; George Lee, the eldest son, is a resident of Portland, Oregon, and a prominent man in his community. He is a con- struction engineer. He volunteered in 1898 and served in the Spanish-American war for eighteen months, most of this time being spent in the Philippine Islands; another son, Carleton B., is a civil engineer and has worked on many large projects through- out the United States; a daughter, Nieta N., is the wife of Hon. Henry M. Mckinney, ex-member of the state legislature and now one of the regents of the University of Oregon; Lloyd Ordway Harding is associated with his father in the drug business. In April, 1917, he enlisted in the service of his country and was assigned to the Motor Transport service. He saw twenty-two months of active service in France and was with the Army of Occupation in Germany stationed at Coblentz. He received the commission of first lieutenant and was demobilized in September, 1919. He is now commander of the local chapter of the American Legion; the other member of the family is Evelyn, who is at home.
Although Mr. Harding has always taken an active interest in public affairs he has never sought public office, though for nearly a quarter of a century he served on the school board and assisted in the building of the Barclay and Eastham schools and the Oregon City high school and also for four terms served in the city council. Since age conferred upon Mr. Harding the right of franchise he has stanchly sup- ported the democratic party and has represented his county at many conventions. Fraternally Mr. Harding is a Mason, an Elk, and also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which organizations he takes an active interest. Mr. Hard- ing is one hundred per cent American and gave much of his time and money during the World war. In the Civil war he fought with the Union army as a member of Company E, First Regiment, Oregon Volunteers. This company was officered by men who have contributed in large measure toward making the history of Oregon, namely: F. O. McCown, who was the captain of the company; John B. Dimmick, first lieuten- ant; J. M. Gale, second lieutenant; and George A. Harding, first sergeant, hospital steward. He has served as department commander of the G. A. R. and is a member of Mead Post, No. 2. Mr. Harding has always been generous with his time and ready to give aid in assisting the organization of some new body that would be of benefit
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