USA > Oregon > Douglas County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 77
USA > Oregon > Jackson County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 77
USA > Oregon > Josephine County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 77
USA > Oregon > Coos County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 77
USA > Oregon > Curry County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 77
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HENRY BECKLEY .- In the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch, we have one of Douglas county's most energetic, prosperous and generous business men. Mr. Beckley was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, January 4, 1833, and at the age of twenty years came to the Pacific coast, and arrived in Douglas county in 1859, and engaged in farming near the present site of Elkton. In 1864 he was married to Miss Mary M. Woodson. In connection with the management of his large farm, consisting of 1,700 acres, he is engaged in the saw and grist mill business, and also in the general merchandise trade at Elkton ; a view of his mill and store property being placed in this work. He has a family of ten children. Their names are : John W., James H., Charles L., Mary J., Susan K., Virlena, Margarette, Pitsor W., Jessie L. and Clyde P.
JOHN OWEN BOOTH, is the son of Rev. Robert Booth a well known minister of the Methodist church, is a native of Lee county, Iowa, born January 18, 1847. When John was about five years of age his parents concluded to seek a milder climate than that of Iowa and selected Oregon as their future home, leaving Iowa April 13, 1852, and with ox teams set out to cross the plains to the Pacific coast, and after an unusually severe journey of six months they arrived at The Dalles October 7, of the same year. His parents first located near the Grand Ronde reservation in Yamhill county and there our subject attended school and resided until 1864, when they changed their residence to Sheridan in the same county until 1867 when he with his parents came to Douglas county first locating near Wilbur where his father now resides. There our subject finished his education and resided until 1871. In June 1870, Mr. Booth was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of county school superinten- dent, an office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the people. October 8, 1871, he was united in marriage to his estimable wife Mrs. Ann Eliza Labrie, a native of Ill., by whom he has two daughters and one son, viz: Nettie Blanch born October 14, 1872, Annie L. born May 16, 1874, and John M. born September 17, 1876. In 1871 Mr. Booth took up his residence in Garden valley, since which time he has been engaged in general farming and fruit raising on his present well improved farm of 480 acres, on which he built in 1878 a fine residence a view of which will be found in this work.
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HON. BEMAN B. BROCKWAY .- The subiect of this sketch, a view of whose residence will be found in this work, was born in Chataqua county, New York, February 12, 1829, remaining in the place of his birth and under the parental roof until attaining the age of twenty-two years. Mr. Brockway then concluded to seek his fortune in the golden west, and consequently on April 23, 1852, he started from his home in company with his brother Burhan, and came to Naperville, Ill. At this point they secured ox teams and joining a large train there, set out to cross the plains to the Webfoot State, arriving in Josephine county some six months later. Our subject then embarked in mining in the above county and Jackson for about eight years. He then, in 1860, gave up the occupation of miner, and concluded to become a tiller of the soil, and selected Douglas county as his future home, and at that time purchased his present valuable farm consisting of 400 acres, located in the Civil Bend district, on which he has built a handsome residence and made many valuable improvements. Douglas county has twice been honored by the services of Mr. Brockway in an official capacity. First as a county commissioner, and at the June election of 1880, he was elected to the state legislature as representative of Donglas county, a position he filled with the utmost satisfaction to his constituents.
HON. HENRY G. BROWN, is a prominent farmer and stock grower, living four miles west of Elkton, and pos- sesses a valuable farm of 1,280 acres, on which he located in 1852. Mr. Brown is a native of Coos county, New Hampshire, born January 15, 1833. He left New Hampshire in the spring of 1852, to come to Oregon. On arrival in this state he came direct to Douglas county, and located on his present farm. At the Republican convention of Douglas county in 1882, Mr. Brown was nominated as candidate for the legislature, and at the subsequent election was chosen by a handsome majority to an office he filled with ability and good judgment, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Pricilla Stearns. They have five children, viz : Hattie S., Samuel. H., Ellen M., Caroline and Marthee. A view of Mr. Brown's fine residence, built in 1883, is placed in this work.
JAMES D. BURNETT, a prominent farmer and stock grower of Round Prairie, Douglas county, is a native of Blunt county, Tenn., and was born March 12, 1822. When 28 years of age he started for the Pacific coast and came to Oregon, first locating in Salem. In 1852 he came to Douglas county and settled on part of his present valuable farm, a view of which appears in this work, to which he has since added until now he owns some 1, 200 acres of land. Mr. Burnett was mar- ried in Tenn., to Miss Margaret Love, by which union they had seven children, vis: Martha, Francis, Mary, Lydia, Thomas B. and Virginia C. the latter now deceased.
JOSEPH CELLERS .- A well known and popular merchant of Drain, Douglas county, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, June 3, 1834, and there resided until eighteen years of age. He then went west and resided in lowa and Missouri, until his coming to this coast, which event occurred in 1875, and selected Douglas county as his future home. Mr. Cellers first engaged in farming, and a few years later started his present general merchandise store in Drain, but still retains his valuable farm two miles east of the latter town. An excellent view of his farm residence will be found in this work. Mr. Cellers is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, in both of which he has taken an active interest ; and is a pleasant and affable gentleman with whom it is a pleasure to meet. He was married in 1865, to Miss Mary J. Barber, and has a family of nine children.
JOHN H. CHAPMAN, a view of whose valuable farm and residence will be found in this work, is a native of Galia county, Ohio, born August 15, 1825. He was married April 23, 1850, to Miss Martha A. Eells. In 1854 crossed the plains and came direct to Douglas county and in that year located on his present farm, situated on the banks of the North Umpqua river nineteen miles east of Roseburg where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising.
ISAAC CONSTANT, born in Clark county, Ky., on the 5th of April, 1809. The family started for the state of Illinois about the year 1812, but stopped at Green county, Ohio, and in the year 1820 arrived in Illinois, and settled in San- gamon county. Here Mr. Constant lived and was raised on a farm. He crossed the plains to Oregon in 1849, and being pleased with the country returned to Ills., in 1850. In 1852 he brought his family overland to Oregon and settled on his present ranch at Central Point. He married Lucinda Merryman, on the 14, of February, 1833. Mrs. Levenia Robinson, Mrs. Elizabeth Lever, Mrs. Julia Owens and Mrs. Maria Magruder, are his children.
JUDGE S. J. DAY .- Silas J. Day, residence Jacksonville, occupation, County Judge of Jackson county, Oregon, was elected thereto in June 1876. Born in Ann Arundel county, Md., April 3, 1826; came to San Francisco, Cal., April 1849, and to Oregon in April 1851. Married in Portland, Oregon, May 22, 1871, to Mary E. McGee, who was born in Boon county, Mo., November 22, 1841. Children, Mary L., Edward M., Silas E. and Elsie C. Judge Day was elected Orderly Ser- geant in Captain Miles F. Alcorns Co. "G." 9th Regiment Oregon Militia, October 10, 1855, and mustered in pursuance of the proclamation of the Governor, to serve against the Yakima and other Indians. March 21, 1856, was promoted to First Lieut. of the Co., in place of James M. Matney resigned; was mustered out of service June 13, 1856. By an act of the legislative assem- bly of the state of Oregon, approved October 23, 1872, Judge Day was appointed one of the board of commissioners for the laying out and constructing a wagon road through Jackson, Grant, and Baker counties, (known as the Southern Oregon wagon road); he was elected chairman of the board, on its organization, and continued as such until July 1874, at which time said board dis- banded having completed the purposes for which it was formed.
PHILIP DA MOTTA. - This well known tonsorial artist of Roseburg, is a native of the Cape Verde Islands, and some seven years ago came to Roseburg and opened a Barber Shop, when after a few years of close application to business he was enabled to purchase a lot on which he erected his present business building a two story frame structure, the upper part being used by the United States Signal Service, while the lower part he has fitted up in an elegant manner as a Barber Shop and Bath rooms. Mr. DaMotta has invested in land from time to time in the vicinity of Roseburg until he owns some 1, 500 acres located on the Deer creek valley road.
B. F. DOWELL .- Benjamin F. Dowell was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, October 31, 1826. IIe was naine ? in honor of the great philosopher, Ben Franklin, who was an uncle to his grandmother. The parents of the subject of this sketch were both natives of the state in which their son was born-both having been born within a mile of each other. Mr.
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Dowell's mother, originally Miss Fannie Dalton, was a lady of culture and refinement, and was of Scottish descent, while the Dowells are traced back to English nativity. When but a child young Benjamin, with his parents, moved to Shelby county, Tenn., where he acquired a liberal education at the male academy. After having finished his academic studies, he returned to Virginia and entered the State University, where he graduated in law in 1847, before he was twenty-one years old. After com- pleting the course young Dowell went back to Tennessee, where he practiced his profession with good success until 1850, when he was imbued with the spirit, " Westward the course of empire takes its way," and accordingly followed the human tide into the gold regions of California. Having taken the cholera soon after his arrival in Sacramento, he was advised by his physician to go north. Mr. Dowell started for Portland, Oregon, in a small schooner, which after being driven back to sea from the mouth of the Columbia, finally reached its port, seriously damaged, after thirty-five days' sailing. Mr Dowell stopped in the Willamette valley a short time, and then moved, in 1852, to Southern Oregon. Here he engaged in trading and packing until 1856. In 1857 he again resumed the practice of law, settled in Jacksonville, where he still resides, and is one of the most widely known attorneys in the state. In 1861 our subject married Miss Anna Campbell. They have now a family of three children, Fannic, Annie and B. F. Jr. In 1862 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1865 he bought the Oregon Sentinel, which, under his administration, was the first Pacific slope paper to advocate the enfranchisement of the negroes, and the first to nominate General Grant for the presidency.
JAMES RUFUS DODGE, was born in Lanesboro, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 29, 1817, and is a descendant of poor but honest parents that were unable to give him the advantages of a good education, but at the tender age of nine years James was placed as an apprentice with a Mr. Butler in his native town to learn the clothiers trade. After three years of faithful work at this business he concluded to try and better his condition and young as he was he was impressed with the belief that he could do better so he conveyed his ideas to his employer but was met with a rebuff and a contemptuous "what can you do?" But on consultation of his parents and employer it was agreed to let our subject try something else. His first venture was into the hay fields where he hired with a man for one month for which he received as compensation seven dollars ; with this as his capital he started for Troy, N. Y., from whence he went to Canandagua county and worked on a farm for one year and the following summer hired for $12 per month as a driver on the Erie Canal. And in the fall went in the employ of a Dr. Wells for one year at a salary of four dollars per month. His next move was to enter the employ of a manufacturing firm to learn the carriage and coach trimming trade but on account of a weak wrist was compelled to give this up at the end of one year. He then served a term of four years at the blacksmiths trade in Leroy, N. Y., receiving as salary thirty dollars per year, and furnish his own clothes but while others slept Mr. Dodge could be found at his forge and by night work he made an average salary of sixty dollars per year. On the expiration of his time he returned to Massachusetts and was employed in a rail road blacksmith shop, he now being a first class workman received full pay and the world began to look brighter and he continued at his trust in different places among which were Rochester, Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, finally locating in Montezuma, Indiana, here he engaged in business for himself and here it was that he formed the acquaintance of the lady who afterwards became his devoted companion through lifes journey. He was married on March 7, 1840, to Helen Mary Allen, a daughter of Dr. John Allen. He resided in Indiana for twelve years, when failing health made it necessary for him to seek a milder climate, so consequently on March 17, 1852, he started, with his family, towards the setting sun and crossed the great plains with out any serious accident and arrived in Linn county, Oregon, about the first of November, of that year. Remaining in that county but a short time he moved to the forks of the Santiam river and there started a blacksmith shop. After a short stay here he was advised by his friend Morgan Keys to come to the Umpqua country and he there settled at the mouth of Green valley creek on the Calapooia in what was then Umpqua county. And now for over thirty years Mr. Dodge has been a resident of the Umpqua valley, and since his arrival has been engaged in blacksmithing, merchandizing, farming and stock raising, being extensively engaged in the latter at the present time, and is now a gentleman of large means owning some 6,000 acres of rich farming land near Oakland, Oregon, where he resides. A view of his town and country residences will be found among the illustrations of this work.
HON. CHARLES DRAIN, whose portrait, together with that of his estimable wife, very appropriately finds a place in this history, was born near Lancaster, Lancaster county, Penn., December 28, 1816, and was the second son of Charles and Esther Wilson Drain. When Charles was but five years old his parents moved to Shelby county, Indiana, with the intention of embarking in agricultural pursuits. But on entering the then almost wilderness of Indiana, little did they dream what a few short months would bring forth, for at the end of the second month in Shelby county the head of the family was taken sud- denly with a congestive chill and a few days thereafter died. And six short weeks from the death of her husband the mother of our subject passed away. Thus the home circle was broken up, and the children, three sons and one daughter, found homes among strangers, and from that time the recollections of the one living (our subject) are of a transient dwelling place, sepa- arated from each other and of an early necessity to look to their own resources for that which other children, more fortunate, instinctively seek through the affections of a mother. Charles first found a home for two years with a Mr. Mitchell and then was adopted by Mr. John Duncan, and with him went to reside in Marion county, same state, where he lived until sixteen years of age. Then, on account of his guardian not being disposed to allow him to attend school, he concluded to leave and first found employment on a farm which he followed for the three succeeding years. He then, in 1836, went to Quincy, Ill., and here learned the trade of plasterer and resided until 1838. He then returned to Shelby county, Indiana, and the scenes of his early childhood, and in February, 1839, was married, and then leased land and engaged in farming until the spring of 1842. We next find him with his family in Van Buren county, Iowa, engaged in farming. In the spring of 1850 Mr. Drain, like many hundreds of others, concluded to brave the dangers of a trip across the plains, to seek his fortune in the gold fields of California, and set out from his home in Van Buren county, Iowa, with some fifteen companions and with good outfits and an abundant supply of provisions, but being of generous disposition, qualities which he still retains, he was too free to give to the needy whom he met on the plains, and consequently, on arriving at the sink of the Humboldt our little party found their supply of provisions exhausted, and then began sufferings and privations which only those who have been placed in like situations can
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understand. Mr. Drain then followed mining at Hangtown, now Placerville, for a shout ume and then engaged in mercantile business in Nevada county, which he continued until 1851, when he returned, via. Panama, to his Iowa home. But being favorably impressed with the climate of the Pacific coast, he concluded to make his future home on her shores. April 20, 1852, found him with his wife, two daughters and one son, again on the road across the piains, this time to scek a home in one of the fertile valleys of Oregon. and arrived in Marion county, September 20, 1852, and settled on a farm some ten miles from Albany, and there followed farming for eight years. Mr. Drain, in 1854, was elected a member of the territorial council, and re-elected in 1867, and on the admission of the territory into the Union as a state, Mr. Drain was elected to the state senate for four years, he having drawn the long term. While a member of the senate Mr. Drain was elected by his colleagues to the respon sible position of president of the senate. In 1860 he leased his farm in the Willamette valley and resigned his seat in the state senate and selected Douglas county as his future home, at that time locating on his present valuable farm, then consisting of 320 acres, to which he has since added by purchase some 1,7000 more. In 1871 Mr. Drain donated sixty acres to the Oregon and Callfornia Railroad Company for depot purposes and at that time laid out the beautiful and thriving town which now bears his name. Mr. Drain has many warin personal friends throughout the state, and no man stands higher in all those principles required to mark the true man, and now, after an active life of almost three-quarters of a century, he is prepared to take the comforts of a well spent and prosperous life. Mr. Drain was united in marriage in Bartholomew county, Indiana, February 12, 1839, to Miss Nancy G. Ensley, a daughter of John and Catherine Gates Ensley, and was born in Venango county, Penn., May 20, 1817, and when eight years of age moved with her parents to Indiana, locating in the county in which she was married. By this union they have had eight children, five of whom are deceased. Those living are John C., the lead- ing merchant of Drain, and who has already been a member of the assembly for Douglas county, and while there filled the honorable position of speaker of the house, Catherine A., now Mrs. Simon R. Lane; and Charles D., also in the mercantile business with his brother. In conclusion, we would say that Mr. and Mrs. Drain have raised a family of children in a manner that reflects credit upon them as persons possessing practical sense. Each and every one of their children has been educated to look upon life, not as the idle drones upon the honey srored for them by the working bees in the hive; but as a period blocked out of time in which they are to accomplish something by their own acts that will not be a discredit to themselves and the name they bear. To Mr. Drain and men of his kind Southern Oregon owes its present prosperity and future success.
JOHN EMMITT .- This influential and wealthy farmer and carly resident of Cole's valley, is one of those who came to Douglas county with small means, but through industry, integrity, and correct business principles, he has accumulated a fortune sufficient to retire from the active pursuits of agriculture. Mr. Emmitt was born in Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania, October 12, 1827, and came to Douglas county, Oregon, in 1852, and at that time located on the farm where he now resides. The incidents that have come under Mr. Emmitt's observation, and in some of which he took a part, would not be least among the great mass that constitute the advance guard of civilization west of the Rockies. There are hundreds, yes, thonsands, of similar experiences, varying only in the kind of danger or misfortune that hovered along their trail. With ore it was sickness, and another poverty, while a third met starvation or the Indian onslaught, and a record of them in full would make another Alexandrian library. Does not a pioneer deserve all the benefits that fortune has dealt out to him, and in many cases much that the fickle goddess has withheld? A view of the premises where Mr. Emmitt resides is placed among the illustration of this work. In connection with his home farm he possesses a large tract of rich farming land, some four miles south of his residence. Mr. Emmitt was married in 1847, to Miss Caroline Thompson. By this union they had twelve children, three of whom are deceased. Those living are : Robert A., John F., Willie A., Letha E., Edward E., Rosaline M., Samuel E., Canira J. and Kittie R.
MRS. SARAH A. FARNHAM, lormerly Miss Billings, and wife of the late Allen F. Farnham, was born May 12, 1833, in Litchfield, Maine. Here she grew to womanhood, receiving a liberal education. Local facilities did not furnish the means for a thorough education, such as she resolved to possess, so she went to Charleston, Mass., and entered the Female Seminary, where she graduated in the class of 1856. Two years later Miss Billings married Allen F. Farnham, who was born in Woolwich, Maine, December 7, 1822. Her. husband had been a student in the Bowdoin college, but was turned from his purpose of taking a degree by the gold excitement in California in 1849. In May, 1850, Mr. Farnham arrived in California and finally reached Scott's bar, on Scott's river, Siskiyou county, where he anchored permanently, engaging in mining. Indus- try and enterprise, coupled with good judgment made him one among a thousand to make mining a success. The builders of the Eagle mills near Ashland borrowed money from him to complete that enterprise, which means were never withdrawn, but afterward applied on stock in the company; later, Mr. Farnham became sole proprietor of this property, which he retained and operated until his death, August : 16, 1876. Mr. Farnham went to Jackson county, Oregon, in November, 1864, and has since made several trips across the continent. Mrs. Farnham lives in her commodious residence near Ashland, an illustration of which appears in this volume. The family consists of three children, Emma Eugenia, Clarence and Walter.
JAMES L. FERREY .- In the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. we have one of Marshfield's mest enter- prising business men; and few who sojourn in Coos county but will recognize the name as that of one of the proprietors of the well known and popular hostelry, the " Blanco Hotel." Mr. Ferrey was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., February 9, 1841, and there resided until sixteen years of age. His parents then moved to Luzerne county, same state. At the age of nineteen years our subject began the carpenter's trade, at which he continued until 1862. He then, at the call of his country, enlisted in company A. 136th Pennsylvania volunteers, infantry, for the term of three years, serving some ten months with his tegiment. Mr. Ferrey was then transferred to the construction corps of the western army, and at one time had charge of building roa ls and bridges. On his return from the war, Mr. Ferrey again began to work at his trade of carpenter, in different places, until 1869, when we find him in New York city, where he was joined by his brother Joseph, who had been out to this coast, and returned east. By him our subject was induced to come to Oregon, arriving in Coos Bay March 1871. The first few years were spent in different parts of the county, and at different employments, until 1873, when he, with S. S. Bailey, (. me t> Marshfield and Icased a small building for a hotel, located on the present site of the "Blanco Ilotel." After ten years 1
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