USA > Oregon > Douglas County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 82
USA > Oregon > Jackson County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 82
USA > Oregon > Josephine County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 82
USA > Oregon > Coos County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 82
USA > Oregon > Curry County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 82
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HON. JACOB WAGNER, of Ashland, who is owner and proprietor of the Ashland Flouring Mills, was born at Dayton, Ohio, September 26, 1820. With his parents, John and Hester Wagner, he removed to Elkhart county, Indiana. From thence he came to Louisa county, Iowa; and from thence to Oregon in 1850, and settled on Wagner creek, Jackson county, in the spring of 1852. In 1862 he moved to Ashland, where he resides at this writing. He was state senator from June, 1862, to June, 1866, and was at the extra session of the legislature called together to adopt the 13th amendment to the constitution of the United States-was county commissioner in 1874-5, and has been a prominent and honored citizen from the first. In 1860 he returned to Iowa and was united in marriage to Miss Ella Hendrix. Their children are: Annettie, John M., Fred D., Mabel E., Ella T., Jessie N. and Jacob Ernest.
JOHN P. WALKER, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, and is now in his sixty-second year. In 1827 he, with his parents, moved to Illinois, and in 1839 to Iowa. There he engaged in farming until 1849, when the gold fields of California lured him across the plains to the golden state. However, he sojourned in the gold fields but a few months, when he returned to Iowa. Like most others who once enjoyed the beautiful climate of the Pacific coast, he concluded to come to Oregon, which he did in 1853, by the southern route, direct to Jackson county, where he has since lived, amassed a com- petency, and built up a reputation for truth, honesty, and integrity. Mr. Walker was married Jannary 26, 1855, to Mary A., relict of C. F. Walker, and daughter of Nathaniel Myer, late of Ashland. His family now consists of his wife and four chil- dren, viz: Mary E., Milo A:, Cassius C. and Annie T. His home -- a view of which appears in this history-is situated on, mile south of Ashland, is among the most valuable and best improved farms in Southern Oregon. Mr. Walker is ever ready, both by means and counsel, to assist in the advancement of every good cause. Thus distinguished for all the virtues that adorn the character of friend, neighbor, and citizen, he lives in his own quiet way in the enjoyment of the fruits of his own industry.
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FRAZIER WARD, was born in Warren county, Missouri, May 10, 1832. At the early age of thirteen years he was left an orphan-his father dying when Frazier was but six years old. On the death of his mother he was adopted into the family of Mr. John Wyatt, with whom he lived until twenty-one years of age. He then concluded to come to the Pacific coast, and in the spring of 1853 joined a party of emigrants to Oregon. On his arrival in this state Mr. Ward came direct to Doug- las county, first locating in the French settlement, and in the fall of that year located his present farm, consisting of 320 acres, some four miles north of Looking-glass. where he has since resided, successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. In addition to his splendid farm on which he resides, Mr. Ward owns some 900 acres north of Coles' valley, A view of his residence will be found in this work. Mr. Ward was married in the French settlement in 1857, to Mary A., the youngest daughter of H. B. Flournoy, now deceased, an early and highly respected citizen of Douglas county, and the first settler in the valley that now bears his name. They had nine children, of whom three are deceased. Those living are: Howard I .. , Lillie N., Mary V., Thomas F., Winnie O. and Maggie A. Those deceased are: Oscar A., Samuel H. and Whafie W.
COLONEL JAMES WATERS, was born February 22, 1797, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fought in the war of 1812 as a volunteer; enlisted in regular army in 1818, served five years and was discharged in 1823; fought under Colonel Taylor in Seminole war in 1836-7. In the fall of 1837 he was under the command of General Deniphan, in the fight against the Mormons in Missouri. Came to Oregon in 1843. Entered the Cayuse war as lieutenant-colonel, and at the death of Colonel Gilliam was promoted to colonel. He moved to Douglas county in 1853, and is now living on Looking-glass creek about one and three-fourth mile from Looking-glass village. He was married in 1825 to Miss Mary Wills, to whom were born six children.
JOHN W. WEAVER, a resident of Douglas county, Oregon, since 1850, was born in Blunt county Tennessee, February 28, 1832. When he was three years old his parents moved to Clay county, Kentucky, where he received a common school education, and resided until 1842. After a short stay in Van Buren county, he with his parents moved to Taney county, Missouri, and there resided until April 22, 1850, when Mr. Weaver, with his father, mother, one brother and two sisters, started with ox teams to Oregon. After a tedious trip of six months-to a day-they first entered the boundaries of Oregon. July 8, 1851, the family came to Douglas county and settled on the place now owned by Mr. Weaver, and one year later built the residence in wbich Mr. Weaver now lives, and which is supposed to be the oldest frame house in Douglas county-a view of the same will be found in this history. Here, for the past thirty-two years, Mr. Weaver has resided, and through honesty and industry has accumulated a sufficient amount of this world's goods as to allow him to enjoy the comforts of a happy home- made doubly so by the presence of his wife and family of three children-whose names are: George Walter, Lulie M. and Frank.
DANIEL WELKER, was born in Perry county, Missouri, December 3, 1828. At the age of sixteen, his father being badly hurt by a vicious horse, Daniel was sent to live with an uncle until April 1, 1852, when he, in company with Rob- ert Henkle and family, and an uncle, Wm. Fulbright, started with ox teams to cross the plains to Oregon. After and une- ventful trip of six months they arrived in Marion county, Mr. Welker locating some ten miles southeast of Salem, where he resided until June, 1855. He then came to Douglas county, and first located on land now owned by Mr. Tipton, on the north side of the North Umpqua river, remaining there until 1864, when he purchased his present place, consisting of 900 acres on the south bank of the North Umpqua river, some fifteen miles from Roseburg. Mr. Welker has a well improved farm, and is highly respected by his neighbors and the county people in general, and is considered one of Douglas county's solid men. A view of his home will be found in th's work. Mr. W. was united in marriage in June, 1855, to Miss Mary J. Tipton, a native of Tennessee. They have five children living, viz: Sarah E., now Mrs. Edward Smith; Martha A., Ida May, Lyda J. and William W.
L. L. WILLIAMS .- In all animate life there are grades of intelligence so plainly marked that the difference is evi- dent at aglance, Between men this gradation is so distinguishable and universal that attention has only to he called to the fact, to secure its unquestioned recognition. Among the Australian Bushmen or in the court circle of kings, the genius of a few men lead, while the many follow. These are but truisms, facts old as the human family; still, it is not out of place to call attention to them and the addtional truth that it is not infrequent for many, who follow some distance in the rear to forget, when the smoke of battle has passed, that they were not in the van. Nature designs some men for active service, and for such to fall short of becoming an important element in the progressive operations of whatever sphere circumstances places them, would be something they could not do. It would be impossible for comprehensive minds to dwell upon that which failed to possess the charm of intricacy or magnitude something beyond the ordinary; and those possessing such faculties move off in the advance, plan and execute where others hesitate and fail to act. Every community has within it characters of this kind more or less marked, who are termed the leading men or minds. In Southern Oregon there was one of this class who stood so far in the van of progress, that his name has but to be mentioned to elicit a universal approval of the assertion from all except his personal enemies, or the envious, whose opinions are of little value. We refer to the gentleman whose name heads this me- moir, and the reader has but to learn what his operations in this county have been, to cheerfully accord him the meed of approval. He did not derive as much personal benefit from the result of his labors as the people of the county have, and his business efforts were all of a nature, calculated to inure to the public advantage more than his private advancement. Mr. Williams was born in Vermont in 1831, and with his parents moved to Michigan in 1833, and in that state resided some sixty miles from Detroit until fifteen years of age. That region was then newly settled, and young Williams never attended school. At the age above mentioned he joined a party of trappers and hunters, and from that time he became a self-reliant frontiersman, which character he well maintained until the time of his death. lle reached California in 1850, and the following year came to Port Orford with Captain Tichenor. In 1851 he was seriously wounded in an engagement with the Indians, near the mouth of the Coquille river, from the effect of which it is doubtful if he ever fully recovered. A few years later he served as treasurer of Umpqua county for two terms, and afterwards was twice elected county clerk of the same county. After th consoli la w of Umpqua and Douglas he was three times elected and twice appointed to the office of county clerk, and was one of the most
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faithful and capable officers that county has ever had. In 1863 he became captain of a company of Oregon volunteers, and served about three years against the Indians. During the last ten years he traveled much, visiting the Black Hills, the Yel- lowstone park, and the various portions of the British possessions. While on a visit to California he was taken sick in San Francisco, and after a short illness died March 25, 1881. His remains were taken charge of by the Odd Fellows, of which society he was an exemplary member-and conveyed to Roseburg, where they were deposited in the Odd Fellows' cemetery, and by that order a beautiful monument was erected to his memory, a view of which appears among the illustrations of this work. He was a man of superior ability, a self-taught scohlar, rigidly temperate and virtuous in his habits, and scrupulously honest in his dealings with his fellow men.
REV. W. A. WILLIS .-- There are probably few men in the state of Oregon who have worked with more zeal in the vineyard of the Lord and at the same time looked after agricultural interests with more energy than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Willis was one of the very first settlers in Deer creek valley, having selected and located his present valuable farm in 1852, and in that year built his present residence-a view of which appears in this history. Mr. Willis is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Todd county, November 15, 1822, and in his early childhood was taught the strict religious principles of the M. E. church, the fruits of that teaching culminating in his becoming a minister of that denomination. In 1852 he crossed the plains to this coast, since which time he has resided on his present place, consisting of 400 acres, seven miles east of Roseburg. Mr. Willis is married, and has a family of three children.
ANTHONY H. WOODRUFF, now resides on a farm one mile north of Cleveland, Douglas county, on the border of which runs the Umpqua river. This place is counted among the most valuable in the county; contains some 900 acres; is well fenced and cultivated; has a fine new residence and a large orchard. For general appearance and adjacent scenery the reader is referred to a view of it accompanying this work. Mr. Woodruff was born in Ontario county, New York, October 12, 1815, and is now (1884), in his sixty-ninth year, but is still hale and vigorous. He is married and has raised a large family.
JOHN M. WRIGHT .- A prosperous and well to do farmer of the French Settlement, is a native of Kanawha county, West Virginia, born June 12, 1826, Residing in his birth-place until 1843 -- in the meantime learning the trade of cooper-he with his parents moved to Linn county, Missouri and there embarked in farming until the spring of 1850, when, with his brother, Louis F., he started for California. On his arrival he at once proceeded to the mines on the American river where he mined with good success until March, 1851, and then returned to his home in Missouri via. the Isthmus of Panama with the intention of bringing his family to California. April 20, 1852, found Mr. Wright again ready to brave the dangers of a trip across the plains accompanied by his wife and three children, and bis brother-in-law, John P. Bowyer. On arriving in the Black Hills they were met by Mr. H. B. Flournoy then on his way East, and by him induced, on account of the bad roads on the California route, to change their course to Oregon. After a weary trip of some six months they arrived at The Dalles, September 6, 1852. Mr. Wright first located near Corvallis, where he remained until February, 1853, and then located in Douglas county, first settling on land now owned by J. Flournoy, where he resided until 1857, when he purchased of E. M. Moore his present valuable farm consisting of 600 acres, five miles north of Looking-glass. A view of his farm residence, which will compare favorably with any in Douglas county, will be found in this work. Mr. Wright is a highly respected and influential citizen, and now after many years of toil and hardships is prepared to reap the comforts of a well spent and prosperous life. Mr. W. was united in marriage in Missouri, June 17, 1846, to Miss Emily Simmons, a daughter of Thomas Simmons, of How- ard county; they have a grown family of three sons and four daughters, as follows: William W., Roena L., now Mrs. Joseph Jones; Missouri N., now Mrs. L. T. Thompson; Alice G. V., now Mrs. Van Buren; Emily M., now Mrs. David West; Calvin W. and Lee S. Alson, and one adopted daughter, Lizzie.
JOHN B. WRISLEY .- A man whose almost entire life has been spent on the frontier, was horn in Middlebury, Vermont, August 16, 1819. During Mr. Wrisley's early life his father was proprietor of a large manufacturing establishment at Hoosac Falls, but being called upon suddenly for the payment of a large security debt he was financially broken up, and removed with his family to the Genesee valley in the state of New York. When John was only thirteen years of age his father moved to Silver, Washtinau county, Michigan, then a wild territory, settling with his family at a point from which their nearest neighbor was eighteen miles distant. Here John B. Wrisley learned blacksmithing and the rudiments of farming, and in 1840, the family scattered, he went to the territory of Wisconsin and commenced work in the lead mines at Mineral Point. On June 15, 1845, he married Eliza Jane Jacobs, by whom he has raised ten children, the eldest daughter, Mrs. Alice Goddard, being the first white child born in the Rogue river valley. In 1849, Mr. Wrisley crossed the plains alone to California, working at Auburn, Placer county, at Yankee Jim's on the North Fork of the American river, and on the Trinity, being one of the first miners on the latter stream. Returning to Auburn from Trinity, he found an extremely rich claim, but being in bad health and unable to work, he returned to his family in Wisconsin in 1850. He did not remain long, however, and yearning for the free wild life of the early days on this coast, he started across the plains with his family and a large band of cattle, arriving in Yreka with but two yoke of cattle and one cow out of the whole band. Mr. Wrisley remained but a short time in Yreka. Coming to the Rogue river valley in 1852, he located a donation claim on the north side of Rogue river where he resided for thirteen years. In 1865, Mr. Wrisley bought a farm near Central Point, which now comprises four hundred and eighty acres of rich land, and as near the frontier as he wishes to be. John is truly a pioneer if there is one, and knows the danger of pioneer life. He has voted for the state constitution of Wisconsin, California and Oregon. He has passed safely all the Indian wars of this section as a high private, never accepting military or civil office. John B. Wrisley still continues to reside on his farm near Central Point-a view of which can be found in this work-and is noted for being an honest, upright gentleman, a care- ful industrious farmer, honored by friends and beloved by his family.
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MARSHFIELD SAW MILLS AND SHIP YARD, a view of which appears in this work. This is one of the most extensive industries in Southern Oregon and will compare favorably with any other enterprise of the kind in the state. Situated in the southern part of the town of Marshfield, the main mill building being two hundred by two hundred feet, and supplied with all the latest improved machinery, it having a capacity of thirteen millions feet of lumber per year. This mill was first built by John Pershbaker in the year 1867 and run by him until 1871, then having a capacity of twenty-five thousand feet per day. It then passed into other hands until 1873, when the present firm of E. B. Dean & Co., purchased the property, this firm is composed of the following gentlemen: E. B. Dean, David Wilcox and Charles H. Merchant, the latter being the resident partner and manager and to whose business ability its present success is due. In connection with the mill they have a ship yard where two or more vessels are built per year, and many of the well known schooners plying in the coasting trade were built at this yard, At the present time they emyloy forty-five men in the mills and about one hundred in their logging camps, they owning a large tract of timber land in Coos county. The lumber sawed at these mills is fir, spruce and white cedar, the most of which is shipped to California and foreign ports. In connection with their mill and ship yard they run a large general mer . chandise store situated a short distance from the mill, and carry a stock of goods valued at thirty thousand dollars.
SEASIDE CITY .- This town, the last in Cons county to the southwest, is situated on a beautiful level plain at the mouth of the Coquille river, and having an elevation of 200 feet above the sea level. It was laid out in March, 1884, by Mr. J. P. Tupper, and at the present time consists of one hotel, the "Ocean House," kept by J. P. Tupper, a view of which will be found in this work, and one store. Seaside City promises to be a place of considerable importance in the near future, as at the present time it is considered one of the most pleasant summer resorts in Southern Oregon, having all the natural advan- tages of scenery, a beautiful beach, and a delightful climate, and in the hands of its present owner, Mr. Tupper, Seaside City is bound to become a resting place for the weary.
RANDOLPH BREWERY .- This enterprise is located at Randolph, Coos county, and first began in January, 1883, by its present proprietor, Mr. Joseph Walser, it having a capacity at that time of 300 barrels per month, to which he has since added to, until now the brewery has a capacity of over 400 barrels per month. At the present time there is not over one-half the capacity of the brewery made. The beer manufactured by Mr. Walser is pronounced to be of the finest quality.
CAPE BLANCO LIGHT HOUSE .- This is one of the most important lights on the Pacific coast, and was established in 1870, and lies in latitude 42' 50' 07", longitude 124 32' 29". The light tower itself, a massive structure, built entirely of brick and iron, and reaches a height of about eighty feet, stands on the extreme outer edge of the Cape after which it is named. Cape Blanco is the most westerly point of land in the United States, and has a light of the first order, using what is termed the white lights. The cost of the structure, together with the large brick residence for the keepers adjoining, a building 90x100 feet and two-stories high, was close to $100,000. Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Williamson superintended the building of the structures, and the first keeper appointed was H. Burnap, he having charge until 1874 ; when in that year C. W. Terry was appointed, and he in turn was relieved by C. H. Pierce, who was the custodian of the lights until Septem- ber, 1883, when its present efficient keeper, Mr. James S. Langlois, who had served as under keeper for some six years, was appointed.
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