Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Oregon > Multnomah County > Portland > Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present > Part 101

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On Christmas day of 1899 Mr. Newell was united in marriage with Bertha Dixon, daughter

Josch Hemly

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of J. H. Dixon, of Portland, and they have since made their home on the farm where he has lived since his youth. Like his father, he is a believer in Republican doctrines and is interested in the work of the Grange. The Native Sons of Ore- gon number him among their members. Scarcely a movement for the benefit of the fruit raising industry in Oregon has failed to secure his warmest sympathy and active co-operation in fur- thering its success, and he deserves recognition among the men who are working to elevate the raising of fruit into one of the important indus- tries of this flourishing commonwealth.

JOSEPH HEINEY. In viewing the finished product, no matter what its nature, a casual ob- server is apt to overlook the fact that before the results produced are accomplished much ardu- ous labor has to be undertaken, many failures and obstacles overcome, to say nothing of the heavy expense often involved in addition there- to. Perhaps this fact is nowhere more true than in the case of the pioneer who literally had to hew his way from the primeval forest before crops could be planted or results of any kind seen. Among the early settlers in Multnomah county due notice should be given to Mr. Heiney, whose farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres near Gresham is a credit to his years of work in its improvement. His birth took place June 29, 1835, near Cambridge City, Wayne county, Ind., and there his boyhood and early manhood were spent, but in 1865 he went to Jefferson county, Kans., following ranching and general farming there for the ensuing ten years.

In 1874 Mr. Heiney came to Multnomah county, purchasing from Marseilles Rodgers the one hundred and seventy-seven acres which com- prised the original tract. Only fifteen acres bore any improvements whatever, and the only build- ing on the place was a small house. The present appearance of the farm bears little resemblance to the place as he first saw it and is a credit to the owner. He now has sixty acres under culti- vation and is successfully engaged in general farming. Besides attending to his private inter- ests, Mr. Heiney has acted in a public capacity, serving as clerk of the school board and director for a great many years. Politically he is a Pro- hibitionist, and holds membership in the Baptist Church.

In 1858 Mr. Heiney was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Byerly, a native of Dublin, Wayne county, Ind. Eleven children have been born of this union, nine of whom are living, as follows : Franklyn ; Eleanor, became the wife of Will Black and they now reside near Salem ; Minnie, now Mrs. Jack Robinson, Lewiston, Idaho; Richard, of Portland, married Belle Mil-

ler ; Roscoe married Lena Gibbs and resides near Gresham; Ella became the wife of Charles Mc- Coy, now of New York City; Arthur, who lives on the home place; Albert, also at home; and Alice, who lives in Lewiston, Idaho.

JUSTIN J. LEAVITT, M. D. Back to patri- otic sires and model matrons Dr Justin J. Leavitt traces his descent, and justly cherishes a pride of birth which begets potent purpose and unfalter- ing effort to maintain, and perchance exalt an enviable ancestral record. The Leavitt fore- fathers were not only men of leading characteris- tics but they were capable of appreciating and utilizing to the full the opportunities by which they were surrounded.

According to the records of the family now in possession of the doctor, the first of the family to come to this country was Capt. Christopher Leavitt, a native of York, England, and a son of Percival Leavitt and Elizabeth Rotherforth, who was a daughter of Alexander. Captain Leavitt was a sailor and while on one of his voy- ages touched this country. He, however, never took up his residence on American soil, but Thomas Leavitt came to this country before 1629 for the purpose of making it his future home and was the first of the family to make America his place of abode. He settled in Exeter, N. H., in 1639. Later he moved to Hampton, in the sanie state, where he lived until his death on November 28, 1696. He married Isabella ( Bland) Asten, the widow of Francis Asten. As a result of this union four children were born, the second of whom was Hezron, who married Martha Taylor and to them were born seven children, one of whom was named Thomas, born May 8, 1677. He married Elizabeth Atkinson and as a result of this union five children were born, among the number being Samuel, who was born December 4, 1706. He became united in marriage with Miss Ruth Johnson, a daughter of Peter Johnson. Seven children blessed this union, the fifth child being Peter, who was born August 18, 1741. November 24. 1763, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cram, the cere- mony taking place in Deerfield, N. H. He died in 1815, while his wife passed away six years later, in 1821. They were the parents of ten children, the eighth of whom was named Jona- than, who was born February 27, 1782. In 1803 he was united in marriage with Rhoda Buckman. He lived to reach the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife passed to her final reward on November 14, 1859.

Up to this time, 1800, the Leavitt family had remained largely in the state of New Hampshire, but in the year mentioned, Jonathan moved to Eaton, Province of Quebec, Canada. He became

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the father of thirteen children, one of whom was named George, who became the father of Dr. Leavitt, the personal subject of this review.

The paternal great-grandfather, Peter Leavitt, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, enlist- ing July 7, 1775. He was also a surveyor as well as a farmer and business man, and with his son. he surveyed Coos county, N. H., into town- ships. After a life of exceptional activity and far reaching results he died in Stark county, N. H., in November, 1815. His son Jonathan, the grandfather of our subject, became a pioneer res- ident of Quebec, Canada, where he became a very wealthy farmer and business man, and took a prominent part in the political and other affairs of his adopted locality. He was broad minded and progressive and laid the foundation of the family in Quebec in a most admirable manner.

George Leavitt, the father of Justin J., was born in Eaton, Province of Quebec, January 12, 1816, and eventually became engaged in farming. In 1853 he removed to La Crosse county, Wis., where his energy was applied in a convincing manner, and resulted in the possession of nine hundred acres of land, part of which was under a high state of cultivation, making it one of the best farms in that section of the state. He erected a beautiful rural home, but in 1886 he disposed of his interests in Wisconsin that his last days might be spent with his daughter in Glenwood, Iowa, where his death occurred ten years later. His wife, who was Lovincy Whit- comb, whom he married January 1, 1842, was born October 5, 1821, a daughter of Isaac Whit- comb, a native of Vermont, who served as a minute man during the Revolutionary war. This soldier was by trade a cooper and also a farmer, and his last days were spent in Eaton, Province of Quebec, Canada. Before her marriage his wife was Sybel Call, also born in Vermont. Ten children were born to George Leavitt and his wife, of whom Justin J. is the oldest. Rev. Isaac Stephen, D. D., the second son in the family, has carved a name for himself as a clergyman and educator, is a graduate of the Wisconsin State University, was at one time president of New Orleans University, and is now a very prominent man in Nebraska; Edson Charles died in Iowa in 1898; Fidelia E. is deceased ; Mrs. William E. Hewitt is a resident of Sparta, Wis .; Hattie Ellen, Mrs. E. R. Hume, of Omaha, Neb. ; Henry, deceased, and George WV., of Nebraska.

Justin J. Leavitt was born in Eaton, Province of Quebec, Canada, December 26, 1842, and after completing his education in the public schools studied during 1863-64 at Galesville University, Wisconsin. The opportunity to serve his country was not lost upon the student mind, and August 10, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Wis- consin Regiment, and during the rest of the war

served in the hospital corps. With the restora- tion of peace he entered Rush Medical College, of Chicago, from which institution he was gradu- ated February 3, 1869. Dr. Leavitt started to practice in West Salem, Wis., and at the expira- tion of three years removed to Fenimore, the same state, where he remained for twelve years. Leav- ing a large and remunerative practice, he located in Clark, S. Dak., in 1882, and four years later came to Oregon, settling in Jefferson, Marion county, in 1887. In 1890 the doctor came to his present home in Molalla. A beautiful home rep- resents his appreciation of comfort, convenience and elegance, in addition to which he owns a highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres near the town.

The well beloved wife and helpmate of Dr. Leavitt, whose death, May 17, 1902, left her friends and family disconsolate, was formerly Ruth Crook, born in West Fairlee, Vt., December 8. 1843. When a child Mrs. Leavitt removed with her parents to La Crosse county, Wis., where she studied at Galesville University, and subsequently, for several years, became a popular and efficient educator. Her marriage with Dr. Leavitt occurred October 5, 1866, and two chil- dren were born of this union, of whom Charles Henry, the oldest, is a resident of Portland; and Mattie Ruth, a teacher. She was graduated from the Willamette University with the degree of Ph. B. in 1900, and one year later completed a course in the Washington State University with the degree of A. B.

HON. ARLIE A. BAILEY. The election of Mr. Bailey to the state legislature in 1902 brought into political prominence a leading member of the typographical and trades unions of Portland. Mr. Bailey was born in Louisville, Ky., November 7, 1866, and was the third among six children, of whom himself and one sister alone survive. His father, Rev. L. Y. Bailey, was born near Knoxville, Tenn., being a son of J. M. Bailey, a native of Pennsylvania and a large planter of Tennessee. At an early age L. Y. Bailey went to Cincinnati, where he studied law, later enter- ing into practice at Louisville. On the opening of the war he enlisted in an Indiana Federal regiment. During Morgan's raid he broke through that leader's ranks in order to notify a train load of Federal troops that they were in danger of being ditched. For this act of bravery he was offered the rank of colonel, but, not being a military man, refused the honor, being, how- ever, made a brevet-colonel. At the close of the war he resumed practice in Louisville. In 1871 lie located at Litchfield, Minn., where he was pastor of the Christian Church and for several terms superintendent of schools of Meeker

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county. About 1883 he removed to Garnett, Kans., where he officiated as minister and for two terms served as superintendent of schools of Anderson county. During 1890 he came to Ore- gon, and is now living in Monmouth retired from professional cares, but interested, as ever, in movements for the uplifting of humanity. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and in politics votes with the Republicans.

The marriage of Rev. L. Y. Bailey united him with Josephine Virginia Stark, who was born in Virginia and died in Minnesota about 1877. Her father, Thomas Stark, a Virginian, became a mer- chant of Louisville, Ky. The line of descent is traced through Thomas Stark and his father, a New Yorker, back to the latter's father, Gen. John Stark, the hero of the battle of Bennington. General Stark was born in Londonderry, N. H., August 28, 1728. In 1755 he was appointed a lieutenant in a corps of rangers, soon was elected captain, and at the opening of the Revolutionary war joined the army at Cambridge, where he was appointed colonel. At the time of his death, May 8, 1822, he was, with one exception, the last surviving general of the Revolution.

When the family settled in Minnesota, Arlie A. Bailey was five years of age, and his education was obtained in schools of that state. His first experience in the art preservative began in 1880, when he became an apprentice to Maxwell & Todd, in Minneapolis. He was next employed on the Garnett (Kans.) Plaindealer, after which he worked at his trade in different parts of the country, having worked at various times on the Kansas City Journal, Minneapolis Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Joe Gasette, Topeka Capital, Rocky Mountain News, Pueblo Chieftain, Leavenworth Times, and other papers. While in Topeka (1893-96) he took up linotype work on the first machines of the kind brought into the state. When he came to Portland in 1896 he became a linotype operator on the Oregonian, which position he has since filled, having, since coming here, purchased a home on Hawthorne avenue. While living in Leav- enworth, Kans., he married Caroline Brons- ton, who was born in Kentucky and died in Portland, leaving two children, Almont and Ber- tina. His second marriage united him with Miss Mathilda Ehlers, of Portland, a native of Oska- loosa, Iowa.

Wherever he has lived Mr. Bailey has been an active worker for Republican principles. In 1902 he was nominated for the legislature on the Re- publican ticket and received the largest majority given on that ticket, being eighteen hundred votes ahead of the highest on the opposing ticket. He was made a Mason in Mount Tabor Lodge No. 42, A. F. & A. M., in which he is senior warden. In the Knights of Pythias he is past chancellor

and a member of the Uniform Rank. Other or- ganizations that have his allegiance are the United Artisans, the Modern Woodmen of America and order of the Eastern Star. In the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club he is a leading bowler. His team won the championship of the American Cocked Hat Association in 1902, when he bowled the highest score of the team and tried for first place in the association. Since 1887 he has been a member of the International Typographical Union and is now connected with the Multnomah Typo- graphical Union No. 58, of which he was secre- tary for two terms. In the Topeka Union and the Federated Trades Assembly of Topeka he acted as president, also as delegate to the International Convention from Kansas. For four successive terms he was secretary of the Federated Trades of Portland, resigning the office on receiving the nomination as representative. The duties of the latter office he entered upon with enthusiasm and intelligence. He was one of the most active mem- bers of the legislature, doing all in his power to further the interests of his state and county.

ANTHONY TONGUE. Eight miles from Hillsdale, on the road to Mountaindale, and two miles from Glencoe, on the north Tualatin plains, is the very important stock farm of Anthony Tongue, one of the venerable and highly honored pioneers of Washington county. Mr. Tongue embodies in his general characteristics the national traits of his countrymen of Lincolnshire, England, where he was born July 4, 1824, and where several years of his life were passed. On his father's farm he received the thorough train- ing which has fitted Englishmen the world over for the serious and responsible side of life, and which has contributed to the conservative devel- opment of any place which they chanced to call home.

In his native land Mr. Tongue was united in marriage with Rebecca Lawson, who was born in England, May 1, 1824, and with whom he came to America in the fall of 1859. After land- ing in New York Mr. Tongue came at once to Oregon, with the possibilities and chances of which he had thoroughly familiarized himself. A year later, in 1860, he located on the farm which is still his home, and which comprises one hundred and sixty acres, of which ten acres had been cleared. With his wife he set up house- keeping with few possessions in a little log cabin, and proceeded to conquer the desolation of the region and to make a living from the stored fer- tility of the soil. He has devoted the greater part of his land and energies to stock raising, and some of the finest stock raised in the state of Oregon has grazed on the fertile meadows of the Tongue farm. The largest horse in the state,

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Young Glennel, browsed contentedly and grew apace to splendid proportions under the watch- ful eye of Mr. Tongue, acquiring the weight of twenty-one hundred and ten pounds. Coach horses also have been made a study of by this admirer of the horse, and high grade cattle have contributed to the neat income derived from the general farm products. Many modern and up- to-date improvements have been instituted by Mr. Tongue, who has always endeavored to keep abreast of the times in all agricultural matters, and who has been accounted one of the most pro- gressive farmers of his district. Mr. Tongue is a Republican in national politics, but has never identified himself with his party other than to cast his vote. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always taken an active interest in supporting and spread- ing the work of the denomination. Few couples have lived more contentedly or more harmon- iously than have these highly respected people, and now, when nearly eighty years of age, their aims and aspirations are akin, and they have many friends to cheer them in the evening of life.

MICHAEL OATFIELD. During all the years intervening between 1863 and the present, Mr. Oatfield has made his home upon a farm near Milwaukee, Clackamas county, and has given his attention closely to bringing the land under culti- vation, embellishing it with all the accessories that go to make up a model estate. The property comprises nearly six hundred acres, and a large portion of this is under cultivation, hay, grain and potatoes being his principal products, al- though he also gives some time and land to the business of fruit raising. When coming here the land had no improvements and it was only after the hardest effort that he was able to bring even a portion of it under cultivation, but so suc- cessful has he been in his endeavors that now, in the afternoon of his busy life, it is no longer necessary for him to labor as in the past, and hence he superintends the entire homestead, but relegates to others the manual labor connected with its improvement.

Of German birth and lineage, Mr. Oatfield was born October 23, 1837. His father, Philip Oat- field, also of German birth, died in his native land, and afterward the mother, Josephus ( Star- singer ) Oatfield, married again. Her son in 1848 came to the United States with his mother and step-father and settled in Umon county. Ill., where the family bought land and engaged in farming. The mother and step-father died in Illinois, and from there Mr. Oatfield in 1859 joined a throng of gold seekers en route to Pike's Peak, where he engaged in mining for three years. In 1862 he came to Oregon, arriving at

the present site of Baker City in September of that year, after a tedious and dangerous journey across the plains, with ox-teams, a journey made memorable by frequent skirmishes with Indians. The red men were so hostile that one man of Mr. Oatfield's party fell a victim to their attacks, and at other times the lives of all were in great danger. In crossing Green river it was necessary for them to build a boat in order to get to the other side.

After two weeks in Baker City Mr. Oatfield proceeded to Portland, and from there came to Milwaukee, Clackamas county, and secured em- ployment in a sawmill owned by Joseph Kellogg. In 1863 he rented the property where he now re- sides and four years later, having meanwhile carefully hoarded his earnings, he was able to purchase the property, which during all of the subsequent years has been his home and the scene of his activities. For many years he has been a director of schools of his district, and his work has done much to promote the standard of education here. In politics he is a Republican, in religion an Episcopalian, and he is also an interested member of the Grange. Since com- ing to Oregon he has established domestic ties and much of his success is due to the co-operation of his wife and the willing aid of his children. His wife, formerly Minerva Thessing, was born in Dayton, Ore., whither had come her father. J. H. Thessing, M. D., a German by birth and for years a well-known practicing physician of Port- land, where he died at eighty years of age. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Oatfield there are six children, namely: W. R., a farmer residing in Clackamas county ; J. R., at home : Philip V .. also at home ; Ernest M., an engineer in the Sub- urban power house: Robert E., who is employed in the car shops of the Southern Pacific Rail- road; and Amanda G., who is with her parents. Three of the sons are active members of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. and another son, John, is associated with the blue lodge of Masons.

JOSEPH SUPPLE. As a successful ship- bunder. the proprietor of the ship yard and marine ways in Portland has wielded a wide in- fluence, and in addition to supplying means of transportation on American waters, many boats turned out of his yard ply in foreign waters and visit many remote quarters of the globe. Mr. Supple was born February 26. 1854, in Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., where his early life was spent. His father, John R. Supple, was born in Ireland, which country he left when quite young, coming to New York state, where he learned the boot and shoe business. Here his death occurred when his son Joseph was only nine years old.

ADAM FISHER AND WIFE.

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In 1866 the family removed to Buffalo, N. Y., and there Joseph entered school, thus finishing his education, which had been begun in the schools of his native town. Having a predilec- tion for the boat builder's trade, at the early age of sixteen years he apprenticed himself to the celebrated boat builder, Robert J. I. Cooper, in whose yard the young apprentice spent many years gathering valuable instruction, and later years, filled with business successes, have proved beyond a doubt that these years were well spent. When only twenty-three years old he assumed business responsibilities on his own account, es- tablishing a large boat yard at the foot of Porter avenue, where were manufactured lake steamers and canal boats. Selling out in 1886, he re- moved to San Diego, Cal., where he had the dis- tinction of building the first steamboat ever con- structed in San Diego harbor. The pleasure boat, Rosevill, was also a product of his yard, and this was later used in the South American trade. For the city of San Diego he built the Utilisimo. The bursting of the real estate boom occurring about this time, his investments proved a finan- cial loss and he decided to change his location.

June, 1891, witnessed the arrival of Mr. Supple in Portland, where he at once began work at his trade. After a year spent in the yards at the sound, he again returned to Portland, and in 1892 established the ship yard at the foot of Belmont street, of which he is still the owner. Before this was possible, however, an humble start in business was necessary as a result of the financial disaster at San Diego. Under the spreading boughs of an old cottonwood tree he began build- ing row boats, but he soon outgrew these quarters and in time owned the whole block. His yard has a frontage of three hundred and fifty feet and is five hundred and fifty feet deep. Two boilers furnish the power for the plant. In connection there is a saw and planing mill, also a black- smith shop. The principal product of the yard are large boats and craft, many of which have been used in the Alaskan trade. At the time of the great boom in that country he built nine stern wheelers for the Yukon river. At the present time he is building one for the Upper Snake. The Willie Irving, which was buit in one season, cleared the owner $200,000, in fact, all boats which he built for the Alaskan trade met with more than usual success. For the Willamette trade he built the Regulator, Dalles City, Inland Flyer, Reliance and the Resolute, besides scores of others. Besides building a government tender, and most of the barges used by the government in that locality, he also built the public bath house, boats for Fort Stevens and the quarter- master's department.

Mr. Supple's marriage, which took place in Kansas City, Kans., united him with Miss Kate

Eaton, a native of England. Politically Mr. Supple is a true-blue Republican. In the Cham- ber of Commerce, of which he is a member, he is serving on the Oriental trade committee and the special fire-boat committee, and is a member of the Board of Trade and the Manufacturers' As- sociation. In addition to his many other inter- ests, Mr. Supple owns considerable real estate and stock in mining property. In the vast under- taking to be consummated in 1905, known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, he was one of the original stockholders, subscribing $500. Frater- nal organizations also claim a portion of his time and attention, among which are the Ancient Order of United Workmen; Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor commander, and also a charter member of Tem- ple No. 117, D. O. K. K. In a large degree the growth and prosperity of Portland are due to just such men as Mr. Supple, who, thoroughly believing in its possibilities, have labored unre- mittingly to surmount all obstacles in their road to complete success.

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Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 946

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 946