USA > Oregon > Multnomah County > Portland > History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 59
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M ORELAND, J. C., was born in the State of Tennessee, June 10, 1844, and is the youngest of nine children of Rev. Jesse and Susan ( Robertson) Moreland. Ilis father, a well known and highly respected pioneer of Oregon, was a native of North Carolina, while his grandfather, on the maternal side, fought in the war of the Revo- lution; and two of his mother's brothers took part in the war of 1812, the elder of whom rose to the rank of a Brigadier-General under Jackson in the Creek war.
In 1848, in view of the baleful influence of slavery, his father moved to Illinois with his family. Here they remained four years, at the end of which time they started westward for Oregon. After six months of weary journeying amid the perils and dangers incident to crossing the plains with ox-teams, they reached the Wil- lamette Valley, toil worn and well nigh destitute. Settling on a donation land claim in the southern part of Clackamas County, the father began with brave heart to make a home in the then wilds of Oregon. Here the youth of our subject was passed, until the death of his motlier in 1859, when the family removed to Needy. Shortly there- after, in April, 1860, he commenced to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Oregon Farmer, at Portland. After serving three years and a half he secured a position as printer on the Oregonian. While employed at his trade in Portland lie attended, at intervals, the Portland Academy, supporting himself with the money he had earned at the case. His studies were, however, interrupted in 1864, by accepting the position of foreman under Henry L. Pittock, state printer at Salem. He nevertheless managed to devote a part of his time to acquiring an education and later on after a further term at school, graduated at the Portland Academy in July, 1865. He soon thereafter began the study of the law under the direction of David [37]
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
Logan, and part of the time in Logan's office. For some ten months, while reading law, he served as foreman on the Vancouver Register, supporting himself by this labor. In April, 1867, he was admitted to the bar in Washington Territory. He began practice in Boise City, Idaho, where, in July, of 1867, he was married to Miss Abbie B. Kline. Finding it impossible to gain a livelihood at his profession in Boise City, he secured a position at his trade on the Idaho Statesman, and was thus employed for a year .. In July, 1868, he returned to Portland and for a few months served as foreman of the Oregonian. He then formed a partnership with Hon. John F. Caples, attorney-at-law, and from that time has devoted himself to his profession acquiring as the years have gone by a constantly increasing practice, and an enviable reputation as a lawyer.
He has always been an enthusiastic Republican in politics, and from the time he took up his permanent residence in Portland has been a prominent factor in local political affairs. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Common Council, and served for three years. In 1877 he was appointed City Attorney, a position he held for five years, when he resigned. In 1885 he was appointed County Judge of Mult- nomah County, by Gov. Moody, to serve an unexpired term. In this position he served for five months, discharging the duties of the position with great fairness and to the satisfaction of both bar and people.
Mr. Moreland is quite an ardent Mason of the degree of Knight Templar, and has accepted various positions of prominence in the order, at present being Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. In 1887 he was Grand Orator, and his oration at the annual meeting received flattering notices of commendation from the correspondents of the craft all over the United States.
In all the relations of life Mr. Moreland is a true and worthy man. Under diffi- culties that would have discouraged or daunted inany, he has achieved success. He is one of the best of our citizens, and is a high type of the professional man.
SMITH, CHARLES J., Manager of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, was born in Nicholasville, Kentucky, March 13, 1854, and is the son of Charles F. and Z. A. (Jackson) Smith. His father was a merchant at Nicholasville for several years, but in 1857, removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he died in 1877. In the latter city, the subject of this sketch was educated in a private school until he reached the age of fourteen, when he entered Blackburn University at Carlinville, Illinois, from which institution he graduated in 1870. After graduation he spent one year as a clerk in a real estate office in Kansas City. In August, 1871, he began his railroad career as store-keeper in the employ of the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf railroad, now known as the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis railroad, being tlius employed for a year and a half. This service was followed by a period of clerk- ship in the office of the Master Mechanic and as chief clerk of the motor power. He then spent three years as clerk in the auditor's office of the same road and of the Leavensworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad, afterwards known as the Kansas City, Leavensworth & Southern. In 1878, he became acting or assistant auditor of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf; Kansas City, Lawrence & Southern; Atkinson & Nebraska, and Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluff railroads, holding these various positions for two years, and during this period resided in Kansas City.
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BIOGRAPIIICAL.
In July, 1880, he came to Portland when he was appointed assistant comptroller of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, and in October following, was appointed to a similar position in the Oregon Improvement Company. In July, 1881, he became comptroller of these two companies, but owing to change of man- agement in the latter company, he resigned the position in April, 1884, but retained the comptrollership in the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company until September, 1886, when he was appointed treasurer with an office in New York City. In con- nection with the duties of this position, he also assumed those of assistant secretary and treasurer of the Oregon Transcontinental and the Oregon Improvement Company, of New York.
In March, 18SS, he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and became General Land Com- missioner of the Union Pacific railroad. He remained in this position until May, 1889, when he returned to Portland and assumed his present position as joint manager of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. and of the Oregon Short Line Railway Company, lessee.
Few men of his years have had so extensive an experience in the complicated duties of railway management as Mr. Smith. His advance to his present position, where thorough and exact knowledge of innumerable details are necessary to secure success, has been of logical growth. He began in a subordinate position, worked hard to master every branch of the service, and every step forward prepared him for the next. Early in life he has attained to a position which would satisfy the ambi- tion of most men, and which already places him among the prominent railroad men of the country. He possesses the executive ability, capacity for hard and continnous work, keeu business sense and experience which admirably fit him for railroad management, and give promise of higher advancement. Personally he is pleasant and affable in manner, easily wins and holds friends, while his standing in the com- munity as an honest and upright citizen is of the highest.
Mr. Smith was married on July 15, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth McMillan, of Kansas, and to them four children have been born.
EFFERY, EDWARD JAMES, was born in Oneida county, New York, April 23, J 1835, and is of English descent, his parents having been born in England. During his infancy the family moved to Lenawee county, Michigan. Here he resided on a farm and obtained a limited education in the district school until the spring of 1852, when he started across the plains for the Pacific slope. In October following, after a journey of more than six months, he arrived at Placerville, Cali- fornia, where, until the following spring he engaged in mining. He then went to Stockton where he was employed in a brick yard for a season. In the fall he went to Tuolumne county, and worked in the mines until 1856, when lie located in Shasta county, and for two years was engaged in farming.
Upon the breaking out of the Fraser River gold excitement in 1858, he started for that region, taking passage on the Cortez on the first trip made by that vessel from San Francisco to Bellingham Bay. From the latter point he followed a trail as far as Mount Baker, but beyond that point was unable to proceed further because of the absence of any well defined trail. Returning to Bellingham Bay he then, with five companions, made a trip with a canoe up the Skagit River and all around the Sound,
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
traversing a section of country at that time containing but few inhabitants, but now dotted with several large and populous cities. He finally ascended the Fraser as far as Fort Vale, and after an unsuccessful prospecting tour, returned to Bellingham Bay in a penniless condition-the fate of most of the early miners who started to the Fraser mines in search of the "golden fleece." By working his passage on the Gold Hunter he arrived in San Francisco, and for two years thereafter was employed in farming and brick making at Stockton.
In the spring of 1862, he started for the Carriboo mines, in British Columbia, but on the way, while waiting at Victoria, news was received of a rich gold find on the Stickeen River, in the Russian Possession, near where Fort Wrangle is now located Abandoning his original purpose he then started for the new field, and during the summer prospected along the Stickeen, but it proved a fruitless task. He then returned to Fort Simpson and being without funds, hired out as a sailor on a Hudson Bay ship, and made a trip three hundred miles north of Sitka. Upon his return to Victoria, in November, he accepted anything in the way of work he could find to make a living. In the spring of 1863, he again started for the Carriboo inines. Working his way on a vessel to Fort Yale, he started from that point on foot and walked a distance of four hundred miles to the mines, a journey through a comparatively uninhabited region and fraught with many hardships. He worked in the mines during the summer and in the fall returned to Portland, but the fascination for mining was still strong within him, and the following spring he went to the Boise Basin mines, Idaho. After spending the summer iu unsuccessful prospecting, he came back to Portland and determined to abandon mining, which had proved in his case a most unprofitable pursuit. With only a few cents in his possession lie began the struggles for a fortune in a less fascinating but more sure channel.
He first secured a position in a saw mill, where the Oregon & California railroad office is now located. A short time thereafter he became superintendent of the brick yard of A. M. Eldridge and was thus employed for two years. He then, in partner- ship with George Fagg, embarked in the brick business, establishing a yard between Yamhill and Morrison streets, where Donald Macleay now resides. During this time lie married (August 8, 1867), Miss Mantilla King, daughter of Amos N. King, one of the earliest pioneers of Portland.
After his marriage Mr. Jeffery started a brick yard ou the premises where his present residence is situated, on Nineteenth and B streets. Here he continued the making of brick until 1876, when he removed his yard to the corner of Twenty-third and J streets. At the latter place he remained until the fall of 1886 when he com- menced making brick at his present location in East Portland on the Sandy road. His business in this line has grown to large proportions, and during the last two years he has averaged over five and a half million bricks annually. Besides his brick business, he has of late years been extensively engaged in city and railroad contracting. For a time he was associated with S. S. Cook, under the firm name of S. S. Cook & Co., in macadamizing and street paving. This firm was succeeded by the present firm of Bays & Jeffery. They have done a large portion of tlie macada- mizing on the streets of Portland and laid the stone block pavement on Front and First street. With S. S. Cook, under the firm name of E. J. Jeffery & Co., he built in 1882, the Grave Creek Tunnel and 1800 feet of the Cow Creek Tunnel No. 8, for the Oregon & California railroad. Late in the fall of 1883, with D. D. McBean, he
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
commenced the Siskiyou Tunnel for the same road, but the failure of Villard, after two-thirds of the work was completed, caused the work to be suspended. The last of his city contracting consisted in the construction of the Tanner Creek brick sewer extending from Washington street and emptying into the river near the Albina ferry, and the Johnson Creek sewer, commencing at the City Park and extending a mile and three-quarters to the boue yard. He is also interested in the Arlington Silver mine in the Ruby district, Washingtou Territory, being one of the organizers of the company which is now erecting a plant to reduce the ore. He was also one of the organizers and builders of the Multnomah Street Railway line.
Mr. Jeffery is a democrat and for many years has taken an active part in local aud State politics. In 1872, when there was much dissatisfaction among the mem- bers of both political parties in Multnomah County with the political leaders, Mr. Jeffery was nominated as the citizens candidate for sheriff and elected. His discharge of the duties of this office was so satisfactory, that two years later, when he was nominated as the regular democratic candidate, he was again elected. He has siuce been his party's candidate for State Senator and for Sheriff, accepting the nominations at the urgent solicitation of his friends when the republicans were largely in the majority aud there was little hope of success. During the presidential election of 1888 he was Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee and in this campaign as well as in preceding ones was an earnest worker for his party.
To Mr. Jeffery and wife seven children have been born, five daughters and two sons. Their eldest, a daughter, is the wife of Ivan Humason.
Mr. Jeffery is an active factor in Portland's prosperity and takes a lively interest in everything calculated to advance the public good. He was one of the organizers of the North Pacific Industrial Association; is a large stockholder in the enterprise, a director and its treasurer. The recent Industrial Fair held by the association was the largest and most successful exhibition ever held on the Pacific Coast, and toward the gratifying success attained Mr. Jeffery in large measure contributed. He is a man of fine business attainments and in all of his enterprises has achieved a high degree of success, while as a citizen he deservedly holds an honorable position in the community.
THOMPSON, H. Y., was born at Senecaville, Guernsey county, Ohio, Jnne +, 1845. He was favored with a liberal education in the public and high schools of his native town. With the hope of improving his health, which had become impaired, in 1862, he undertook a trip across the plains and during the winter of 1862-3 was engaged in mining in Auburn, Baker County, Oregon. In the spring of 1863 he went to Idaho City and for three years carried on his mining operations at that place. His health not improving, he determined to try the climate of the valley region of Oregou and in 1866 came to Salem. He soon after obtained a position as a teacher in a school near Silverton, Marion County, at which time he began the study of law, having made arrangements with Shaw & Holman, attorneys of Salem, for the loan of the necessary books. He continued to teach and at the same time pursned his legal studies for one year near Silverton, when he secured a position in the city school of Salem, where he taught and read law for another year. He was then admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his profession at
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
Salem in partnership with Sylvester C. Simpson. At this time, the Recorder of Salem having resigned, Mr. Thompson was appointed for the unexpired term and was afterward elected by the people for three successive terms.
Before the expiration of his last term he determined to remove to Portland for the purpose of practicing his profession. He accordingly resigned his position and came to this city in 1870. For a time he was in partnership with C. B. Bellinger, but in 1872 became associated with Geo. H. Durham, then Prosecuting Attorney for this district. He became Mr. Durham's deputy and together they transacted the business of the office. In 1874 Mr. Thompson was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the district-at that time comprising Multnomah, Washington, Columbia, Clatsop and Clackamas Counties, and for a term of two years most ably and efficiently performed the duties pertaining to the office. In 1876 W. Lair Hill became associated as partner with Mr. Thompson and Mr. Durham, and subsequently Geo. H. Williams was added to the firm. The four partners remained together until the spring of 1886 when the firm was dissolved, and since that time Mr. Thompson has pursued practice alone. He is a lawyer of conceded ability and has long held a prominent place among the most successful lawyers of Oregon. As an advocate he has made an enviable record and in some of the most notable criminal trials which have occurred in this section during recent years he has borne a conspicuous part as prosecutor or defender. As a speaker he is widely and most favorably known. He was engaged in a general practice until about a year ago and since that time he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to practice pertaining to corporations and real estate. He is attorney for the Oregon Real Estate Company, Fair Haven and Southern and New Westminster and Southern Railroad Companies, the Skagit Coal and Iron Company and the Fair Haven Land Company.
Mr. Thompson has always been an enthusiastic republican; has taken an active part in State political affairs, and has long been regarded as an able leader. He has never been a seeker after office, but whenever called upon has devoted his time and energies to the service of his party without being moved by personal interest or expectation of reward. He has delivered political addresses in different parts of the State and as an effective political speaker has few superiors. That his services in this regard as well as his conceded ability as an organizer have been potent factors in achieving party victories in Oregon is freely acknowledged.
Mr. Thompson was married in April, 1871 to Miss Anna B. Smith, daughter of the late Hon. Joseph S. Smith, an estitnable lady, who with her husband deservedly holds a high place in the social life of Portland. They have three children. Mr. Thompson is a man of refined and cultivated tastes, but unpretentious and utterly devoid of any desire for display. He is genial in manner, a popular citizen and is held in high esteem both in and out of his profession.
W TOODWARD,'JOHN HENRY, was born at Peach Orchard in the town of Tompkins
(now Hector), Schuyler County, New York, February 9, 1836, and is the eldest son of John Woodward, who, with his father's family came to America from London, England, in 1824, settling on a large farm in what was then comparatively a wilderness on the banks of Seneca Lake, New York, where members of the family still reside.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr. Woodward received his primary education at the county district school. Later on he attended an academy at Peach Orchard under the management of John A. Gillette and was finally prepared for college at the Ithaca Academy, Itliaca, New York, having as classmates Eugene Schuyler, Win. L. Bostwick, and others who have since become men of note. During his school days young Wood- ward was a leader in athletic and outdoor sports, and is still remembered by his schoolmates for his proficiency in feats requiring muscle and physicial endurance. The rugged health he still enjoys, the elasticity of movement and splendid physical condition which now belie the years he has lived may be largely ascribed to his youthful love for physical exercise.
After completing his preparations for a collegiate course he commenced the study of law in the office of Douglas Boardman, since Judge of the Supreme Court of New York State. A year later lie went to Elmira, New York, and there continned his legal studies with the firm of Diven, Hathaway & Woods, and in May, 1860, was admitted to the bar. In the following fall he opened an office at Watkins, New York, where he speedily acquired a good practice, but the progress of his professional life was soon interrupted. In the latter part of February, 1861, before the inaugura- tion of President Lincoln, in anticipation of the troubles which followed, he assisted in the organization of a company of young men who were to be ready for any emergency. This company became the nucleus of the 23d Regiment N. Y. Infantry, and was known as Company "I." The organization of the regiment in which Mr. Woodward materially assisted, both in connection with company "I" and other companies, was perfected at the time of President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 volun- teers. In company "I," as in other companies, were men who had been at the West Point Military Academy, and they were naturally selected as officers of the company and regiment. The regiment entered the service of the United States under the command of Col. H. C. Hoffman, Mr. Woodward at the time being a private in company "I." He served in that capacity until August, 1861, when he received from President Lincoln a general staff appointment with the rank of captain, and was assigned for duty at Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. On the movement of the Army of the Potom ic to the Peninsular, early in the spring of 1862, he became connected with the general staff of the Army of the Rappahannock under the com- mand of Gen. McDowell. He remained with Gen. McDowell until immediately after the battle of Yorktown when he was ordered to the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac under Gen. McClellan at Yorktown, continuing at those Headquarters and at the supply posts of the army throughout the Peninsular campaign, ending with the battle of Malvern Hill, the final retreat at Harrison Landing and the evacuation immediately before Gen. Pope's unfortunate campaign.
During this period Captain Woodward was offered staff positions by corps com- manders with increased rank, but so highly did Gen. McClellan value his services that he would not consent to the change. As proof of Gen. McClellan's estimation of his soldierly qualities it need only be stated that in his report of the Peninsular campaign, he mentions Captain Woodward by name as one of the staff who had rendered efficient and valuable service in that trying and ardnous campaign.
On the evacuation of Harrison's Landing, Captain Woodward was appointed to superintend the shipments and all details of the evacuation. He continued ou duty at the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac during the brief but disastrous cam-
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND.
paign of Gen. Pope; the hurried but thorough reorganization of the army by Gen. McClellan, rapid march and vigorous delivery of battle at South Mountain and Antietam, and until Gen. Grant assumed command of the "armies operating against Richmond." From the latter event until the close of the war he served with the general staff of that general's command. In June, 1865, he was breveted major " for faithful and meritorious services."
After the grand review of the army in Washington at the close of the war, he resigned his commission and returned to Watkins, New York, where he resumed the practice of the law. Here he continued with marked success until the spring of 1871, when he came to Portland, where he has ever since resided. He at once took a prominent place among the practitioners at the Portland bar, a position he has not only most creditably sustained, but has gained a reputation for professional ability of a high order throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In the spring of 1874 he was a candidate before the State Republican Convention for Judge of the Supreme Court and lacked only one vote of a nomination. During the same year he was nominated by the Republican Convention for County Judge of Multnomah County, and was not only elected but ran far ahead of his ticket. He held the office of County Judge for four years, his discharge of the duties of the position being eminently satisfactory to the people, and notably so in reference to the reforms he effected in the management of county finances.
He is an ardent Republican in politics and has always voted with his party, notwithstanding his objection to some particular methods. By appointment of the United States Circuit Court he is now serving as one of the Commissioners of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Oregon and Chief Supervisor of Elections for the District of Oregon. With the exceptions named he has never been a candidate for public office, and never for a position not strictly in the line of his profession. His whole time and attention have been devoted to his profession, and the high degree of success he has attained has been the result of patient, persevering work and the possession and exercise of those manly qualities which inspire con- fidence and command respect.
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