USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 84
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On December 9, 1905, Mr. Haberlach married Miss Lillie Street, daughter of C. F. Street, one of Oregon's best known floriculturists, who at one time operated large nurseries at Clackamas, but has retired and now resides in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Haberlach have two sons: Raymond Carl and Stanley William, who are attending the local schools.
During the World war Mr. Haberlach performed his full duty in all war activities. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the United Artisans. In politics he is a republican, active in his party councils, though not an office seeker. Mr. and Mrs. Haberlach are active socially in clubs and church work in Clackamas.
GEORGE EDWARD PERRINGER.
George Edward Perringer, deceased, was for many years prominent in the agri- cultural circles of Umatilla county as a successful rancher and wheat man. He was born February 17, 1867, at Ft. Scott, Kansas, a son of John W. and Caroline (Falkner) Perringer, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born near Nashville, Tennessee. John W. Perringer removed to Ft. Scott, Kansas, at an early day and there engaged in farming until 1877 when, with his family, he removed to Umatilla county, near what is now the town of Adams and there took up govern-
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ment land, during the Indian wars. This farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres and he operated it until 1889, when he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he retired and is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. The death of his wife occurred when their son, George E., was but ten years of age. Mr. Per- ringer has always taken an active interest in political affairs and he is a stanch sup- porter of the republican party.
George Edward Perringer was but ten years of age when his father removed to the vicinity of Adams and there George E. received his education. After completing his common school course he took a business course in a college at Portland, after which he returned to his home near Adams and there engaged in farming. Later he bought a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, adjoining the home place, this he improved and resided on for a period of six years. Selling this land he rented land on the Indian reservation, which he operated in connection with the old home farm. In 1896 he went to Pendleton and built a fine home on Lewis street. He did not retire from active farm life, however, but purchased land on the Indian reserva- tion which he improved and to which he added until he had three thousand five hundred acres and in addition owned valuable land in Alberta, Canada. He also had a two thousand acre ranch two miles from Pilot Rock, Umatilla county, and on all his land he had fine outbuildings equipped in an up-to-date manner. On the 21st of November, 1919, Mr. Perringer was shot while in a hotel in Portland and his death, which came as a severe shock to the community in which he had long resided, left a void which it will be hard to fill.
On the 30th of September, 1890, the marriage of Mr. Perringer and Miss Ida Ferguson, a daughter of James and Mary (Marquis) Ferguson, was celebrated. Mrs. Perringer was born in Missouri but was one of the early settlers of Umatilla county, having come here with her parents in 1878. They settled in the vicinity of Pendle- ton where the father took up government land, improved, built a fine home there and resided for four years. He then bought land near Adams, Umatilla county, which he operated until 1893, when he removed to Pendleton and bought a home. In recent years he built another home, where he resides retired, at the age of seventy- six years. Mrs. Ferguson is also living and is seventy-one years of age. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Perringer two children were born; Carl; and Muriel, now the wife of John Dolph of Pendleton. Mrs. Perringer is residing in the home in Pendle- ton and is a highly respected citizen of the community, prominent in social and club circles.
The political allegiance of Mr. Perringer was given to the republican party, in the interests of which he always took an active part, although he never sought nor desired public office. In fraternal circles he was well known as an Elk and an Odd Fellow and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Perringer was the largest wheat rancher in eastern Oregon and a shrewd business man. His business dealings were always conducted on the most honorable basis and he won the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he came into contact. In the passing of Mr. Perringer, Umatilla county lost one of her most prominent, success- ful and representative citizens.
CHARLES WESLEY ERSKINE.
Charles Wesley Erskine is well accounted one of the representative members of the legal profession in Oregon. He is now residing in Bend, where he has built up an extensive and important clientage and although not yet thirty-five years of age he has a larger acquaintance among the public men of the state than any other attorney in the county and few in Oregon are better known.
Charles Wesley Erskine is a native of another state, his birth having occurred in Iowa in October, 1887. His parents, Rev. Wesley M. and Lydia E. (Zook) Erskine came to Oregon in 1904 because of the declining health of Mrs. Erskine. The Erskine family are descendants of the famous Marr family of Scotland, which has given to the world so many famous men. The Zook family is of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction, the grandfather of Charles Wesley Erskine being one of the old-time Dunkard ministers in that state, and a most devout and well beloved man. The maternal grandmother was born in Virginia. The Rev. Wesley M. Erskine was a popular and well known
CHARLES W. ERSKINE
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minister in Iowa and Oregon where he served for many years as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Charles Wesley Erskine received his early education in Iowa and in due time entered the high school at Springfield, Oregon, to which place he had removed with his parents. After completing his high school course he matriculated at the University of Oregon and took up his law studies at the Willamette University, receiving his LL. B. degree in 1913. During the legislative session of 1913 he was clerk of the revision of laws com- mittee in the house, and in 1915 and 1917 he was calendar clerk of the house, this position gaining for him acqaintance with many of the prominent men in the state. Immediately after his admission to the bar in 1913 he located in Bend and there associated in the practice of his profession with Vernon A. Forbes. They became one of the prominent and successful law firms in the city and Mr. Erskine was active in that connection until his appointment to the office of duputy district attorney of Crook County, in which office he served during 1915 and 1916. In 1918, upon America's entrance into the World war he put aside all personal interests and volunteered his services. He was in the service nearly two years, spending the greater part of his time in the offensive branch of the Chemical Warfare Service with headquarters at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. He attained the rank of sergeant-major and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to Bend and resumed his law practice. He associated with H. H. DeArmond until 1921, since which time he has practiced alone. Mr. Erskine is a very successful lawyer, having early manifested ability in solving intricate legal problems, and he has remained a close student of the principles of jurisprudence.
On the 15th of August, 1917, occurred the marriage of Mr. Erskine to Helen Mc- Guire, the accomplished daughter of one of Oregon's most noted women. Her mother, Mrs. Alexander Thompson is an author, elocutionist, and lecturer of prominence and she has served in the state legislature for two sessions. During the World war she was a speaker in all the drives throughout the state and later was very active in the interests of the democratic party, of which she is a valued member. Mrs. Erskine has inherited much of her mother's ability. She is a graduate of Hollins College of Virginia, took a course in domestic science at the Oregon Agricultural College and later acquired a business education. Like her mother she was active in war work and was in charge of the Liberty and Victory Loans department of the First National Bank of Bend. She is a popular member of the younger social set of Bend and is a charming young matron.
Fraternally Mr. Erskine is a Mason, Elk, and Knight of Pythias. In the line of his profession he is identified with the Central Oregon Bar Association and has been its secretary for two years. He has also been secretary and manager of the Bend Com- mercial Club. He is likewise a member of the State Chamber of Commerce. As a veteran of the World war he was one of the organizers and the first commander of the Percy A. Stevens Post No. 4, of the American Legion and is always active in any movement for the promotion of the interests of that body. He is one of the members of the National executive committee and a member of the national speakers bureau of the Legion and has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of the community. Although Mr. Erskine devotes the greater part of his time to his profession he is half owner of the Magill & Erskine Drug Company and is one of the incorporators and first secretary of the Bend Juniper Products Company, one of Bend's most important industries, giving employment to one hundred people. The company manufactures slats for pencils. Devotedly attached to his profession Mr. Erskine has acquired a practice of extensive and important character. He is remarkable among lawyers for the wide research and provident care with which he prepares his cases and he has won marked precedence among the members of the Oregon bar.
JOHN O. M. HOLST.
John O. M. Holst, conducting a large tailoring establishment in Baker City, was born in Portland, Oregon, September 13, 1893, his parents being William A. and Agnes V. Holst. The father was a native of Stockholm, Sweden, while the mother was born in Portland, being numbered among the native daughters of Oregon. The father was a seaman throughout his life and served as an officer on several seacoast car- rying vessels, thus following in the business footsteps of his father. When about sixteen years of age he took up his abode in Portland and it was in that city that he was married on the 5th of October, 1892. His death occurred at Norfolk, Virginia,
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October, 31, 1919, at which time he was serving as marine steward for the govern- ment, which sent his body back to Portland, where he was buried six weeks later. He left a wife and two children and his death was deeply deplored not only by his immediate family but by a host of friends who knew him in this part of the country. Harvey A. Holst, brother of Mr. Holst of this review, was born at Portland, August 13, 1896, and is engaged in metal work. He joined the army when America entered the World war and was stationed at Angel Island, California, in the aviation corps, but owing to an attack of pneumonia he was honorably discharged and later worked for the government in the shipyards at Vancouver, Washington.
John O. M. Holst obtained a common school education in Portland, at The Dalles and in Baker City. In consequence of ill health he came to Baker City with his mother and in 1913 they established the Holst Tailor Shop opposite the post office. While they began business in a small way, they now have a complete equipment and their trade shows a satisfactory increase year by year. They secure additional help as needed and the business is now one of gratifying proportions. Mr. Holst has the agency of splendid woolen mills and is thus enabled to supply at first hand woolen clothes and knit goods for men, women and children. They specialize in hosiery and their business of that character is very extensive.
In January, 1919, at Baker City, Mr. Holst was married to Miss Nellie C. Moyer, a daughter of James A. Moyer, a native of Missouri, who came to Oregon and settled at Pendleton, where he engaged in business as an architect, contractor and builder. Mr. Holst is a highly esteemed citizen and belongs to the Methodist church. Warm regard is entertained for him by all who know him and he has gained a wide ac- quaintance during the eight years of his residence in Baker City. His sterling worth of character is attested by many and all who have had trade relations with him speak of the integrity and reliability of his business methods.
WILLIAM PHILANDER DOWNING.
Perhaps no one business enterprise or industry indicates more clearly the com- mercial and social status of a town than its hotels. The wide-awake or enterprising villages and cities must have pleasant accommodations for visitors and traveling men and the foreign public judge a community by the entertainment afforded strangers. In this regard the hotel of which William Philander Downing is proprietor is an index of the character and advantages of Bend, for the hostelry will rank favorably with those of many a larger place, and its genial proprietor neglects nothing that can add to the comfort of his guests.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in September, 1872, he is a son of Frederick and Gertrude (Schult) Downing. His father was of Scotch descent and was for many years successfully engaged in the conduct of a mercantile business.
William Philander Downing was educated in the grade and high schools of St. Louis and came to the coast to seek his fortune at the age of sixteen years. He obtained employment in the Coronado hotel at San Diego, California, and there laid the foundation of his hotel business, in which he has attained such merited success. After spending two years in San Diego he returned to St. Louis, but the call of the west proved too great and in less than a year he returned to California. Then for four years he was a resident of Minnesota and in 1902 came to Oregon. Bend at that time was not yet an incorporated town and Mr. Downing filed upon a homestead which is now Shevlin Park and remained on that property for six years. During that period he worked for Mr. Drake, who located and founded the city of Bend. Selling his homestead property he became engaged in the fuel business in Bend and followed that line until 1912, when he opened his first restaurant. As the population of the town was then less than five hundred his restaurant was small, but in less than a year his business had grown to such extensive proportions as to necessitate his removal to larger quarters. Mr. Downing looks back with pride upon the fact that his sole capital when he came to Bend was twenty-one dollars and he attributes a great measure of his success to his wife, who has been his helpmate and inspiration. His present hotel and cafe is a handsome stone and brick structure on Bond street and has a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of eighty feet. The lower floor is occupied entirely by the cafe and office, while the upper floors are devoted to bedrooms. In building his hotel Mr. Downing selected the best material possible and his establish-
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ment is modern in every respect. The hotel rooms are equipped with hot and cold running water and bath, and are tastefully furnished and kept scrupulously clean. The restaurant has in addition to its lower floor a balcony with accommodations for sixty diners. The kitchen is, however, Mr. Downing's greatest pride. It is complete in every particular and contains every modern device. It is equipped with a huge refrigerator, which has a capacity of from five to six quarters of beef and other meats and supplies. Mr. Downing holds to the belief, as do all good chefs, that it is essential to allow beef to hang several days before it is prepared for human con- sumption and therein lies one of the factors of his success. In order to keep the establishment running on a smooth and efficient basis twelve assistants are constantly employed and they are surrounded by the most pleasant working conditions. In addition to his hotel property Mr. Downing owns considerable property in Bend. His home is located on the west side of the river on Bend View, one of the com- manding residence sites of the city.
In 1901 occurred the marriage of Mr. Downing to Miss Margaret Beatrice Ham, a native of Colorado. To their union four girls have been born: Helen, Florence, Reta and Dorothy. Mrs. Downing is well known in the club and social circles of Bend and is a woman of great intellect and much personal charm.
Mr. Downing is active in all civic affairs and is a member of the Bend Com- mercial Club and other organizations whose object is the development and improve- ment of the general welfare. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and he is likewise identified with the Moose, Eagles, and Woodmen of the World. The success which Mr. Downing has achieved has been worthily won and the character of the man is clearly manifest by the credit he so cheerfully and unselfishly gives his wife for her stanch support, encouragement and unflagging devotion.
WILLIAM HENRY LUCKE.
A native son of Oregon is William Henry Lucke, and one of whom the state has a good right to be proud, for he has well demonstrated what can be accomplished hy pluck, energy and integrity. He was horn at Corvallis in 1874, a son of Charles and Ida (Druschel) Lucke. The father was for many years one of the foremost farmers in Clackamas county and operated his farm strictly and successfully upon scientific prin- ciples. He is now retired and resides in Portland, enjoying his reward after a life of diligence and industry.
The elementary education of William Henry Lucke was obtained in the grade schools and high school of Clackamas county and until he was twenty-one years of age he assisted his father on the farm. After attaining his majority he established himself as a commission merchant. His capital being small, he acted for a time as buyer of produce for a Portland firm, but filled with ambition to go into business on his own account, he soon resigned this work. He then established himself as a wholesale produce dealer, and in the few years which he has been in this business, he has built up a large trade. In fact, his business exceeds that of all the firms in that line in Clackamas county. As the result of his success in this venture he has found it necessary to build several additional warehouses. One is fifty by two hundred and twenty feet, located at Canby; two warehouses, one forty by sixty feet and another, thirty by sixty feet, are located at Oregon City; and he has a large storage warehouse at Liberal. These warehouses are modern to the last degree and are equipped with every appliance necessary for the rapid handling of produce. Sidetracks connected with all railroads, run to this warehouse, thereby insuring quick transportation. This business of Mr. Lucke's extends largely into Texas and California. He handles no dairy products, confining his business to hay, grain, potatoes and fruit.
Throughout a goodly number of the years of his life Mr. Lucke has enjoyed the cooperation and encouragement of his wife, to whom he was married in 1911. Before her marriage she was Miss Sadie Evans, a daughter of John T. Evans, a well known farmer of Oregon City.
Although the greater part of Mr. Lucke's life has been devoted to the promotion of his business interests, he has not forgotten the social amenities of life, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Odd Fellows, in which last organization he has filled all the chairs. Since age conferred upon Mr. Lucke the right of franchise he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party. While his interest in his party
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is great he has confined his public service to serving as precinct committeeman. Mr. Lucke is a member of the Evangelical church, and this connection, together with his other affiliations, indicate the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct. Mrs. Lucke is widely known and takes an active interest in community affairs. During the World war she was especially active in all Red Cross work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lucke are fond of travel and spend their vacations in touring the country, being especially familiar with the routes of travel in Washington, California, and Idaho. As a progressive citizen and a representative of one of Clackamas county's finest business interests, Mr. Lucke has won the regard and goodwill of every member of his community.
JOSEPH ALTON THOMPSON.
For many years Joseph Alton Thompson has been closely and prominently con- nected with the educational and moral interests of Bend and of Deschutes county and no history of the community would be complete without the record of his career. Beginning to teach school at an early age he has followed that profession the greater part of his life, although from time to time he has been forced to seek other employment as the result of eye-strain caused by close confinement to his work along educational lines. In 1916 he was appointed superintendent of the Deschutes county schools and having been since twice elected to succeed himself, he is still active in that capacity.
Joseph Alton Thompson was born in Corunna, Michigan, June 12, 1866, a son of Moses A. and Betsy M. (Belden) Thompson. He is descended from fine old American families, on both paternal and maternal sides. His paternal grandmother, Mary Tisdale, was a member of the Bloodgood family whose forbears came to this country on the Mayflower and his great-great-grandfather was a Morris of New Jersey, a nephew of the historic Robert Morris who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence as delegate to the Continental congress, established the Bank of North America, was superintendent of finance from 1781 to 1784, was a member of the constitutional con- vention in 1787 and United States senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-95.
When eleven months old Joseph Alton Thompson lost his mother and it was a loss severely felt when he came to years of realization of what it meant to be deprived of her love, care and companionship. Someone has said: "The loss of a mother is always severely felt, even though her health may incapacitate her from taking any active part in the care of her family, still she is a sweet rallying-point, around which affection and obedience and a thousand tender endeavors to please, concentrate; and dreary is the blank when such a point is withdrawn." He attended the grade schools of his birthplace and upon the completion of his preliminary education entered the Michigan Agricultural College. Subsequently he enrolled in the Michigan Normal College and was graduated therefrom in 1897.
Upon attaining his majority, eye strain, the result of intensive study, forced his retirement from school work and after a period of rest and treatment he accepted a position as teacher in the rural schools of Michigan. His ability along educational lines was soon manifest and he had advanced to the office of principal when in 1892 he decided to seek other employment. He removed to Detroit, where he was employed to make abstracts for the Union Trust Company and remained in that connection until 1893, when he again took up his chosen work of teaching. For the next ten years he was continuously engaged in educational work and was one of the prominent members of the County Board of Teachers Examiners. In 1907 Mr. Thompson came to Oregon and locating at Redmond, then in Crook county, became principal of a school there. He engaged in farming on the side for some time and achieved substantial success as an agriculturist. He was one of the organizers and secretary of the Farmers Creamery Association and is still a director of that body. He introduced registered Jersey stock in the Redmond district and has always taken an active interest in irrigation projects, being the first president of the Central Oregon Irrigation District. For the most part, however, Mr. Thompson has devoted his energies to educational work. He organized the Redmond high school and was for four years superintendent of Redmond schools. During that time he brought his schools to the highest state of perfection and had the satisfaction of placing them upon the University list. Four honor graduates of the University of Oregon in 1920 were his former pupils in the Redmond high school. The year 1916 witnessed his appointment to the position of superintendent of the
J ALTON THOMPSON
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Deschutes county schools and he is now active in that capacity, having been twice elected to succeed himself. The high rank attained by the schools of Deschutes county is due to the earnest work and unquestioned ability of Mr. Thompson, who as an executive and educator has won prominence throughout the state.
In 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Thompson to Miss Anna McCaughtna and to them four children have been born: Frances E., Wendall A., Mary L. and James W. Frances is following in the footsteps of her father and is teaching. She is a remark- ably bright young woman; Mary is attending the Oregon Agricultural College; Wendall, who joined the navy in 1917, serving his country for two years, is now residing in Portland and is engaged in the manufacturing business; James W. is a student in the Bend schools. Mrs. Thompson has been an educator of merit and is prominent in the literary circles of Bend. She was one of the organizers of the Juniper Club of Redmond and is identified with literary clubs of importance in Bend. She is a consistent member of the Methodist church and is chairman of the board of that organization.
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