USA > Oregon > History of Oregon, Vol. III > Part 88
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Judge Robert R. Butler of The Dalles, Wasco county, comes from a distinguished line of ancestors on both sides of the house. His father, William P. Butler, a native of Butler, Johnson county, Tennessee, held a foremost place for many years as a lead- ing physician in his native locality, where he enjoyed the esteem of a large circle of friends. The father of William P. Butler (and grandfather of Judge Butler), Col. Roderick Randon Butler, commanded a regiment in the Union army during the Civil war, and for the period of twenty years he represented his district in the United States congress. Judge Butler's mother was Rebecca C. Grayson, a daughter of Col. J. W. Grayson, who also held a command as an officer in the Union army during the trouble between the states. The Graysons were a widely known and distinguished family, whose names and records appear on the pages of the history of Tennessee.
Judge Robert R. Butler, the subject of this sketch, was born at Butler, Johnson county, Tennessee, in 1881, and that place had been the home of the Butler family for generations. Robert R. Butler was educated at Holly Springs, Dalton county, and at the Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1903, with the degree or LL. B. He was admitted to the prac- tice of law in the same year and located at Mountain City, Tennessee, where he fol- lowed his profession, gradually adding to his reputation as an expert lawyer.
At the end of three years at Mountain City, Judge Butler decided to move to Oregon, and in 1906 he came to Condon, this state, where he continued to follow his profes- sion for five years. In 1911 he took up his residence in The Dalles, and here he has made his home ever since, one of the best known and most influential lawyers in this part of the state. For two years he served as judge of the circuit court, bringing to the duties and responsibilities of that public trust a clear legal vision and an upright method of handiing the business of his court. He has twice served in the capacity of Presidential elector-at-large; in 1912 he was elected state senator on the republican ticket, being further honored by having no opponent on the democratic side. Prior to his coming to The Dalles, he served in many public offices, including that of mayor of Condon, Tennessee.
Judge Butler is a thirty-second degree Mason; a member of the Elks and of the Odd Fellows; a Knight of Pythias and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is a past master in the Masonic order and a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He has one child, a daughter, Elizabeth Annabelle Butler, who is a student at St. Mary's College, Portland, Oregon. Judge Butler stands high among his legal brethren, and is generally regarded as one of the most skillful lawyers in central Oregon, where he has few peers as a student and an orator.
JOHN HENRY ROSENBERG, M. D.
Oregon numbers among her native sons, Dr. John Henry Rosenberg, who since 1898 has engaged in the practice of his profession in Prineville. He was born in Portland in June, 1873, a son of Rev. John Henry and Clarissa (Hubbard) Rosenberg. His father was born in England, where he received his education and was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal church. In 1840 he determined to come to the United States and as a result located in Galveston, Texas, where for a number of years he served as pastor of the Episcopal church. In 1868 he came to Oregon by way of California and locating in Portland, became rector of St. Stephen Chapel, now the pro cathedral, and of St. Helen's Hall. He served in this charge until his death in 1888. Rev. Mr. Rosenberg was a man of striking personality and was beloved by many friends.
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Mrs. Rosenberg is still living and is making her home in California. She was a daughter of Judge Hiram W. Hubbard, one of the distinguished jurists of Illinois and a descendant of pre-Revolutionary stock.
Dr. Rosenberg is indebted to the public schools of Portland for his early education and after graduating from Bishop Scott's Academy with the degree of A. B., entered upon the study of medicine in the University of Oregon. In 1897 he was graduated, receiving his M. D. degree, and after eighteen months of service as interne in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, he took a position as ship's surgeon on the American-China line, spending the next year on the sea between San Francisco and the Orient. In the fall of 1898 he located in Prineville and has since practiced there, building up a patronage of importance. Dr. Rosenberg has not only gained prominence in professional circles but has gained the reputation of being one of the most active citizens of Crook county. He is president of the Prineville Commercial Club and prime minister of that famous booster organization known as the Prineville Irrigators, his title being that of Prince Chitten Bark. His latest activity in connection with the interests of that organization was a trip made by airplane from Prineville to Salem to invest Governor Olcott with the title of Duke of the Aeroplane in that live organiza- tion. In every way Dr. Rosenberg has identified his interests with those of his com- munity and no one man in Crook county has done or is doing more.
In 1900 occurred the marriage of Dr. Rosenberg and Miss Lulu Lucky, a daughter of John L. Lucky, one of Oregon's best known pioneers. Mr. Lucky came to Oregon in 1852 and settled on a donation claim on which the city of Eugene now stands. To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Rosenberg one son has been born; John Wister, who is now a junior in the University of Oregon, where he is taking a pre-medical course.
Fraternally Dr. Rosenberg is identified with the Masons and has traveled to the Mystic Shrine by both routes, being a Knights Templar and having attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is likewise a Knight of Pythias and an Elk and is president of the Oregon State Elks Association. In line with his profession he is prominent in the activities of the State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the State Medical Board. The Rosenbergs are prominent in the social circles of Prineville and have membership in the best clubs. Upon the entrance of the United States into the World war Dr. Rosenberg quickly subordinated all personal interests and volunteered his services in 1917. He received the commission of first lieutenant in the medical corps and served for four months at Fort Douglas, Utah, attached to the Forty-third Infantry. In December of that year he was sent with the First Battalion of the Forty-third to New Orleans, where he had charge of the sanitary affairs of the docks and levees. He remained in that connection until July, 1918, when he was promoted to the rank of captain and was transferred to Camp Logan, Texas, as surgeon of the Forty-fourth Machine Gun Battalion. He was serving in that capacity when he received his discharge in December, 1918. He is now captain in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States army.
AARON MEIER.
Thirty years have passed since Aaron Meier was called to the Home beyond, hut there stands today as a monument to his life of enterprise and progress the great commercial establishment of Meier & Frank, the largest department store in the north- west. Mr. Meier became one of the first merchants of Portland and throughout the intervening period to the time of his death concentrated his efforts and energies upon the development of his trade, keeping ever in view his determination to make his estab- lishment the foremost commercial house in this section of the country. This ambition he realized ere his life's labors were ended and the business has ever since remained at a point of leadership in the Pacific coast country.
Mr. Meier was born at Ellerstadt, Bavaria, Germany, May 22, 1831, his parents being Abraham and Rebecca (Levi) Meier. His father died when the son was very young, but the mother lived to be seventy-seven years of age, spending her life in Germany. Her four children, however, left the parental roof and started out to seek their fortunes, all arriving at the goal of their ambition.
In his early years Aaron Meier attended school and afterward worked in a brick- yard for his uncle. While he started out at an early age to provide for his own sup- port, he embraced every opportunity that would promote his education, for he early
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realized the value of school training as a preparation for life's practical and respon- sible duties. In 1855 he determined to come to the new world, where his two brothers, Julius and Emanuel Meier, had already taken up their abode, being then residents of Downieville, California, where Aaron Meier joined them. He continued a resident of the Golden state for two years and then came to Oregon, with Portland as his des- tination. He recognized that natural advantages should in time feature in the work of making Portland a great city and he wished to have a hand in shaping its destiny. He felt that its growth was certain and that business opportunity was here to be en- joyed. Accordingly he formed a partnership with a Mr. Mariholtz in the conduct of a small mercantile store and for seven years the firm engaged in the sale of dry goods and general merchandise, their business constantly growing with the expansion of the city.
At the end of that period Mr. Meier returned to Germany to visit his mother and while in his native land he also won his bride, Miss Jeanette Hirsch, a daughter of Moses and Fannie (Levi) Hirsch, becoming his wife. Soon after they started for the new world, making their way to San Francisco, California, and thence to Portland. From his mother he had received much of his share of his father's estate and to many at that period it seemed that he was a wealthy man, his capital totaling about fourteen thousand dollars. Upon his return to Oregon, however, he found that his partner had become involved in trouble and that the business had been sold out. He had invested much of the money received from his mother in a stock of dry goods purchased from A. T. Stewart & Company of New York. On learning of conditions Mr. Meier, without useless regret for the past, resolved to engage in business on his own account and opened an unpretentious dry goods store under his own name on Front street, between Yamhill and Taylor. He built his counters out of dry goods boxes and covered them with calico and made his shelves out of rude material. His determined spirit enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties and he thus started upon a business career which was destined in time to bring him to the front in commercial circles in the northwest. His trade steadily grew and later he occupied a store opposite his old place of business on Front street. In his trips to San Francisco to purchase stock he met Emil Frank, whom he brought to Portland to become a clerk in his store, and still later Sigmund Frank followed his brother. In due time Emil Frank was admitted to a partnership in the business and later his interest was sold to Mr. Meier and Sigmund Frank and a partnership was thus established that continued beyond the generation that instituted it.
In 1882 a disastrous fire destroyed the store and property of the Meier & Frank Company. A new building was then erected, and as the trade continued to grow a new location on First street was chosen and the business was gradually expanded until the store faced on First, Second, Yamhill and Taylor streets. Year by year, with Port- land's growth, the business of the house expanded and it later became apparent that further space was necessary and arrangements were made for a greater establish- ment on Fifth, Morrison and Alder streets, considerably beyond what was then the retail zone. Before this last establishment was erected, however, Mr. Meier, the founder of the firm that still bears his name, passed to the Home beyond, charging his suc- cessors with the duty of advancing along the same ratio of progress the business he had so ably founded. In an analyzation of his career there are many elements worthy of attention and worthy of emulation. In his business he was watchful of all details pointing to success, carefully studied the trade and the wishes of the public, made judicious purchases and ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. The integrity of his business methods was never called into question and his progressiveness was one of the salient features in his career. He kept at all times in touch with the markets of the east and constantly enlarged his stock to meet the growing demands of the trade. From the time that Mrs. Meier came as a bride to Portland she, too, manifested the keenest interest in the store. People employed in the establishment were never regarded as part of a great commercial machine but were looked upon as friends, and throughout all the intervening years Mrs. Meier has maintained a deep interest in the personnel of the house and can call many of the two thousand employes of the firm by name. She has ever manifested the keenest in- terest in their welfare and their loyalty to her is one of the strong factors in their continued devotion to the business. Mr. Meier passed away August 16, 1889, and was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery in Portland, but his spirit is still manifest in the establishment which he instituted and promoted.
To Mr. and Mrs. Meier were born four children: The eldest, Fannie, became the wife of Sigmund Frank and they have two children, M. Lloyd and Aaron; the second
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of the family, Abraham, is the president of the Meier & Frank Company and married Minnie Eising of New York, by whom he has four children: Harold, Allen, Jeanette and Frank; Hattie, the third of the family, died at the age of two and a half years; Julius, the youngest, is the present manager of the Meier & Frank Company and married Grace Mayer of Portland, their children being two in number, Jean Ellen and Elsa Frances.
The name of Aaron Meier is indelibly impressed upon the business history of Port- land, and although more than thirty years have passed since his demise, there are many residents of the city today who remember him as one of the moving spirits. He ever had firm faith in the future of the city, and acting according to the dictates of his faith and judgment, he lived to garner in the fullness of time not only the harvest of his early labors but also a glorious aftermath. His life was free from ostentation and display. He was content to work as a modest citizen nor sought public recognition of what he was accomplishing in the way of Portland's development. One of the points of interest in the life of Mr. Meier and his wife is the great amount of charity work which they have always done-an amount, however, which was known only to themselves, for they made little or no mention of their benefactions. Mrs. Meier continues this task of assisting others, yet her every charitable act is free from ostentation or display. She has lived to witness Portland's wonderful development and the fortunes of the Meier family have kept pace with the growth of the city. As a bride she lived in three small rooms which they rented soon after reaching the northwest and today she occupies a commodious and comfortable home on Twelfth street. The success of the mercantile establishment founded by her husband and the judicious investments made by the family rank her among the wealthiest residents of the northwest, but all this has never in any way spoiled the kindly spirit which has made friends of employes and which has prompted an outstretched hand to all in need of assistance. There are few women more highly esteemed or loved than Mrs. Aaron Meier.
LUCIUS K. PAGE.
In the demise of Lucius K. Page at Salem on the 6th of January, 1910, Marion county lost one of its upright, straightforward and progressive citizens, who was prom- inently identified with agricultural and financial interests in this section of the state. His business methods were characterized by integrity and reliability and success in substantial measure crowned his efforts. Mr. Page was a native of Ohio. He was born at Columbus on the 26th of August, 1844, and in his early youth removed to Cedar county, Iowa, where he acquired his education. Later he became a resident of Ida county, Iowa, and there engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of three farms, which he stocked with thoroughbred cattle and hogs. He was very successful in his farming and stockraising operations and while thus engaged maintained his residence at Ida Grove, also becoming a director in the leading bank of that place. In 1902 he disposed of his interests in Ida county and came to Oregon, arriving in Salem on the 5th of October of that year. Here he purchased a good home at No. 292 North Cottage street, in which his widow yet resides, and he also bought the John H. Albert farm on Lake Labish and the farms of John Knight and Robert Savage, all adjoining and abutting the government lands of the Salem Indian school, carrying on his farming operations on an extensive scale. His initia- tive spirit and powers of organization led him into other connections and he became one of the organizers of the United States National Bank of Salem, later disposing of his interests therein to J. P. Rogers. He possessed keen insight into business affairs and situations and his investments were judiciously placed, resulting most advan- tageously. His plans were carefully formed and promptly executed and in all of his undertakings he was most successful, winning a substantial measure of prosperity, while his business methods were such as would ever bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
In 1904 Mr. Page was united in marriage, and his widow, Mrs. Gertrude Page. survives him. Throughout the period of his residence in Salem Mr. Page took a most active and helpful part in promoting the work of public progress and improvement and his labors were ever of a character that contributed not only to individual success but also to the general welfare and prosperity. All who knew him esteemed him for
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his sterling worth, for they found him trustworthy in every relation of life. He was reliable and straightforward in business, loyal in citizenship and true to the ties of home and friendship.
Following his death Mrs. Page took up the threads of her husband's business and in 1920, after securing her license, she entered business circles of Salem, conducting her interests under the style of the Golden Rule Real Estate Dealer. She closely follows this rule in all of her business transactions and is most capably managing her affairs, handling her own property as well as that of others. She is an excellent business woman, thoroughly conversant with the value of property in this section, and has negotiated many important realty transfers. She is now at the head of a large business and occupies a prominent position in real estate circles of this section, being a member of the Interstate Realty Board and also of the Marion County Real Estate Association, and of the last named organization she is serving as treasurer. She belongs to the Eastern Star, being connected with the White Shrine at Portland. This is the woman's auxiliary of the Masonic order, with which Mr. Page was identified, his membership being in the Mystic Shrine. Mrs. Page is an exceptionally intelligent business woman and she also possesses a kindly, sympathetic nature, her many admir- able qualities endearing her to a large circle of friends.
MRS. EDITH E. HOLST.
For many years Mrs. Edith E. Holst has been identified with the hotel interests of Joseph, Union county, Oregon. A native of Nevada, she was born in White Pine county, May 17, 1874, a daughter of Anah Mathews and Mary Jane (Masters) Hall. On the paternal side Mrs. Holst is of German descent, her great-grandfather having come from Germany before the Revolutionary war and settled in Vermont, in which state her grandfather was born. Her father came from Pennsylvania to Montana in 1860 and in 1865 at Helena, that state, was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Masters. In 1873 they removed to White Pine county, Nevada, where they resided until 1883, when they drove from Nevada to Wallowa county, Oregon, and settled on Pine creek. Two years later they moved into Joseph and there they are residing, prominent and highly respected citizens of their community.
The education of Mrs. Holst was received in the public schools of Joseph, Oregon, in which place she has spent the greater part of her life. In the management of her hotel she has displayed keen business ability and the service and comforts which one receives there have made it a popular stopping place for the tourist and commercial traveler.
Mrs. Holst has been twice married, her first marriage occurring in 1891, when she became the wife of C. E. Jennings. Some time after his death she was mar- ried to C. G. Holst, this union taking place in 1901. By her first marriage, Mrs. Holst became the mother of four children: Shelba Edward, Getta Edith, who is the wife of Earl G. Smith of Portland, Oregon; Velma May, the wife of George E. Parrish of Lethbridge, Canada; and Anah Robert.
Mrs. Holst is well known in the club and social circles of Joseph. She is prom- inent in the activities of the Entre Nous Club and also in the activities of the Rebekahs and Maccabees.
EARLE REA NORRIS, M. D.
Oregon numbers among her native sons Dr. Earle Rea Norris, who is prominent in the professional circles of the state and is now residing in Bend, where he is enjoying an extensive and lucrative practice. A native of Oregon City, his birth occurred there on the 12th of September, 1878, a son of Dr. John William and Mary Elizabeth (Bailey) Norris, prominent and highly respected citizens of Oregon City. The father was born in Pekin, Tazewell county, Illinois, and received his education in that state. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he volunteered in the Union army and served throughout that conflict, receiving his honorable discharge at Vicksburg in 1865, with the rank of lieutenant. Returning to his home in Illinois, he took up the study of medicine in Rush Medical College of Chicago and was a student at that institution
DR. J. W. NORRIS G. A. R. Veteran Civil War
DR. E. REA NORRIS Spanish War Veteran
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at the time of the hig Chicago fire, which so completely devastated the city. In due time he graduated from that institution, with his M. D. degree, and after practicing in his native state for a few years, in 1873 he came to Oregon and located at Oregon City. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Bailey, and they resided in Oregon City the remainder of their lives. Dr. Norris was one of the earliest of the pioneer physicians in the community and one of its best known and most highly esteemed citizens. He was always interested in any movement for the improvement of the general welfare and is credited with being largely responsible for the installment of the splendid water system, of which Oregon City now boasts. A man of great integrity, his sterling characteristics won for him large numbers of friends and his death on the 30th of June, 1921, took from Oregon one of her most representative and progressive citizens.
Dr. Earle Rea Norris received his preliminary education in the public schools of Oregon City and in due time entered the University of Oregon, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of B. S. In the meantime he had determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and with this end in view he took up the study of medicine at the University of Oregon, the Cooper Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in 1904 with the degree of M. D. He engaged in the practice of his profession in Monmouth, Oregon, before coming to Bend in 1915, where he has built up an extensive and important practice. Dr. Norris has served on the staff of St. Mary's, St. Francis, St. Luke's and the County hospitals of San Francisco and he was in charge of the East Cantonment Hospital at the Presidio, San Francisco, during the great earthquake in that city in 1906. Although now engaged in a general practice Dr. Norris at some future date intends specializing in the diseases of children and he is devoting a great part of his time to study along that line. At the age of twenty years Dr. Norris volunteered for service in the Spanish-American war and was in active service in the Philippines from May, 1898, to August, 1899. During that time he received an injury which disabled him for active service during the World war and although he made three applications for enlistment he was rejected every time. He did, however, take an active part in all war drives and gave unselfishly of his time and money to assist the government in carrying out its policies.
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