Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 102

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 102

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DAVID O. FISHER. Among the well-culti- vated farms in the vicinity of Portland even a casual observer will note especially Mr. Fisher's, which though not so large perhaps as some others, yet it has an air of thriftiness that instinctively calls one's attention to it. Adam Fisher, the father, was born in West Virginia and there he was reared upon a farm, growing strong in muscle and stout of heart. In 1850 he and his brother Solomon, who died April 10, 1903, started across the plains with Oregon as their goal. Ox teams furnished the motive power and it is not to be wondered at that they were six months on the journey. Travel in those days was fraught with many inconveniences and hardships besides those of slow transit. Indians were on the war path and travelers found it wise and necessary to be on the alert lest the tawny enemy overpower them. In 1850, the same year that Mr. Fisher started on his westward journey, he settled at what is known as Fisher's Landing, in Clarke county, Wash., on the banks of the Columbia river. Here he took up a claim of six hundred and forty acres of donation land, making his home upon it until he came to Oregon. Purchasing land adjacent to the river, he resided upon it until 1864, in which year he bought three hundred and sixty acres of Mr. Vickers, the same on which his son, David O., now resides. The land was covered with heavy timber at the time he purchased it, but he transformed it into a habit- able tract and added many improvements. His marriage, with Elizabeth Dort, resulted in the birth of ten children, nine of whom are living.

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Mr. Fisher died in 1895 and his wife followed him two years later. Both were members of the Methodist Church.

David O. Fisher was born on the old family homestead, June 7, 1864, and there received his early training. In the common schools he gleaned as good an education as the district afforded and added to this practical lessons learned upon his father's farm. Upon reaching years of maturity he formed family ties, being united in marriage with Miss Ollie Reynolds in 1897. Their mar- riage has been blessed by the birth of a little daughter, Hazel. In his calling Mr. Fisher has been more than usually successful, and his fine farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres near Portland repays him for the labor expended in its cultivation. Besides general farming he is also interested in dairying to a considerable ex- tent. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the material sup- port of which they are liberal contributors. Fra- ternally Mr. Fisher is identified with the Wood- men of the World.

WILLIAM B. JONES. Randolph county, Ind., was the scene of the early life of Mr. Jones, his birth occurring there in the year 1823. When he was seventeen years old, however, his father changed the family abode to Bluffton, Wells county, that state, and there William grew to sturdy manhood, dividing his time between as- siting his father with the farm work and attend- ing the common schools of the vicinity of his home. At the age of twenty the desire to be in- dependent and earn his own livelihood became paramount, and accordingly he started out on his own account, engaging as a farm hand. Not the least important even in the life of Mr. Jones was his marriage, which was solemnized in the vear 1843 and united his fortunes with those of Miss Mary J. Douglass, a native of Crawford county, Pa., born in 1822.

In the fall of 1851, with his family, Mr. Jones started on the long journey across the plains with ox-teams, but when they reached Rock Island decided to spend the winter there. Resuming the journey in the spring of 1852, the next six months were spent in reaching their destination. The first year Mr. Jones was engaged in logging on the Columbia Slough, and later, in the fall of 1853. he located upon his present farm near Gresham. Taking up three hundred and twenty acres of donation claim land from the govern- ment he at once began its improvement, clear- ing it of the heavy forest with which it was cov- ered. He subsequently built a cabin of round logs 14x16 feet in dimensions, and this is still standing, a monument to his early pioneer work. This was the family abode for a number of years,

but as he was prospered be built a more com- modious residence, the one in which he now re- sides. He has disposed of a portion of the orig- inal claim of three hundred and twenty acres, and now has only sixty acres in the tract sur- rounding the homestead. He and his wife be- came the parents of eleven children, only four of whom are living: Elizabeth, the widow of A. J. Stafford; Matilda, the wife of D. S. Dunbar, of Fairview ; Austin, who married Ella Bony ; and Amanda, who became the wife of George Shirts. In politics Mr. Jones is a stanch Republican, be- lieving thoroughly in the principles of that party. During the early days of his residence here lie rendered valuable assistance in laying out the roads and helped build the first log school house in the district, donating one acre of ground for a school site.

WILLIAM W. SMITH. One of the younger generation of business men and politicians who are rapidly coming to the front in Oregon affairs is William W. Smith, at present traveling around the state as deputy fish commissioner, with head- quarters at Parkplace. Mr. Smith was born in Adair county, Mo., August 6, 1859, a son of Gus and Martha (Ellis) Smith, natives respectively of Ohio and Vermont.

Gus Smith was a farmer in Missouri for many years, and from that state enlisted for a three years' service in the Civil war. Directly after the close of hostilities he prepared for a trip across the plains with his family, the paternal grand- father, John A., also accompanying them. On the way across the Indians were very trouble- some, the cattle strayed away or were stolen, and the whole party were stricken with grief because the mother of William W. was accidentally shot and killed while getting something out of a wagon. The grandfather, who was born in the east, and who also served in the Civil war, died in the state of Washington.

The second oldest in his father's family of four children, William W. Smith was educated in the public schools, but at the early age of fif- teen he was confronted by the necessity of earn- ing his own living. His first independent effort was as a beginner in a paper manufactory, where he worked his way up in a surprisingly short time, and soon had a complete knowledge of the business. Afterward he removed to Dayton, Columbia county .. Wash., took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, proved up on it, improved it, but disposed of the same at a profit at the end of five years. In 1894 he became identified with Parkplace, Ore., where he engaged in the paper business with considerable success. but has of late devoted all of his time to his duties as deputy fish commissioner. He was door keeper

Belesanfield

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of the senate for three terms, and has been very active in promoting the issues and principles of the Republican party. At present he also holds the position of state water bailiff.

Since living in Clackamas county Mr. Smith has married Eugenia May, a native of the state, and daughter of Harvey B. May, born in Wis- consin, and a builder and contractor by occupa- tion. Mr. May crossed the plains as early as 1843. settled in Clackamas county within five miles of Oregon City on a donation claim on Beaver creek, but later disposed of the same and settled in Oregon City, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-five years.

M. C. BANFIELD. In the pleasant surround- ings of Penzance, Cornwall county, a seaport, and the most westerly town of England, M. C. Banfield, president of the Banfield-Veysey Fuel Company, was born on February 7, 1856. His father, Henry Banfield, was a native of the same remote town, and was a manufacturer, conduct- ing a custom tin stamp mill on the river of that valley, up to the time of his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. The paternal grandfather, Richard, was also a native of Cornwall, and dur- ing his active life engaged in farming. Henry Banfield married Sarah Curnow, also born in Cornwall, whose father was a contractor and stone dresser by occupation. Mrs. Banfield, who died in Portland in 1895, was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom attained majority, and six sons of whom are living. Richard is a resi- dent of British Columbia ; Thomas is a sidewalk contractor in Portland; Jacob is a partner of Thomas; John is identified with his brother, M. C .; M. C. is president of the Banfield-Veysey Fuel Company ; and Henry is a merchant in Aus- tralia.

To M. C. Banfield the irresponsible season of youth was a short one, for at the age of seven and one-half years he began to work in his father's stamp mill, and learned the business from the bottom up. Such education as he received in his native land was acquired evenings at a private school. Thus combining work, schooling and recreation (very little of the latter), he remained in the country of his nativity until he was nineteen years of age. The same year, in No- vember, 1875, he came to the United States and located at Watseka, Ill., his available assets con- sisting of less than $5 in money and a few clothes. Nothing daunted, he began contracting for drilling artesian wells, and at the expiration of three years had accumulated a considerable sum, which he invested in cattle with which to start a stock business on the Kankakee marsh, in Kankakee county, Ill. His efforts met with more than ordinary success and when word came that

his father was seriously ill, he was caring for a large drove in addition to the cattle that he him- sehr owned. Realizing that his place was at the side of his stricken sire, in April, 1881, he dis- posed of his interests and journeyed to Eng- land. There he remained until after the death of his father, which took place in April, 1882. The following month he returned to America, the possibilities of which he so well understood, beside which those of his native land seemed small indeed.

Upon reaching this country, Mr. Banfield con- tinued on to Jasper county, Ind., where he had established a home during his first visit to the United States. Remaining here about two weeks, he decided that the chances for more rapid ad- vancement lay farther west, and accordingly he went on to Pitkin county, Colo., reaching there in June. The following season was spent in mining and prospecting in that section; he re- moved to Custer county, Idaho, where the next eleven months were spent in mining, his labors meeting with a fair degree of success. His next move was the one that brought him to Portland, where he landed in January, 1884. As in the past, he remained idle but a short time, when he purchased a dairy on Portland Heights, which he maintained for some seven years, and then sold. General contracting was the next field Mr. Banfield entered and from that time until the present day this line of business has engaged his attention, although at the present time it is more of a side line, as the greater portion of his time is devoted to other interests. In 1895 he contracted with the Inman-Poulsen Lumber Con- pany for all the fuel output of their mill, which he still handles. In 1901 he purchased the W. A. Storey & Kern slab-wood business, the J. Peter- son Northern Pacific Wood Company, and the wood department of the Portland Lumber Manu- facturing Company, and incorporated the Ban- field-Veysey Fuel Company, February 1, 1901, with a capital stock of $55,000. Of this concern Mr. Banfield is the president and manager, a position he is filling with much credit, and it is to his efforts the company is indebted for its success. The entire output of slab wood of all the mills in Portland, with the exception of the Jones mill, is handled by this company, as is also the sawdust. For the carrying on of this ex- tensive business, one hundred and twenty teams are required and about three hundred wagons are constantly on hand. Two hundred and twenty men are on the pay roll all the time, while in the busy season the force is increased to two hun- dred and seventy-five. Yards are established all over the city and it is safe to say the busi- ness is the largest of its kind on the Pacific coast. Prior to the organization of the Banfield-Veysey Fuel Company, during 1895, Mr. Banfield began

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handling ballast and in 1901 over eighty tons of the same was handled. In addition to the fuel business Mr. Banfield has found time to branch out in other lines and in 1901, when the Portland woolen mill was organized and opened, he be- came a stockholder, purchasing the first shares of stock that were issued. Aside from these interests he has many others throughout the city and is today counted one of the most progressive of the younger business men of Portland.

In England, in 1881, Mr. Banfield was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Henwood, a native of that country, and of this union there are four children : Lillie, Nellie, Josephine and Sadie.

Socially Mr. Banfield is a member of the Board of Trade, of the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Club. In 1900 the legislature ap- pointed a commission of the port of Portland, consisting of seven members, of which Mr. Ban- field was one, and on the election of officers he was chosen president of the board. This in itself is ample proof of the high regard in which he is held by the citizens of Portland. Fraternally he is a member of the Harmony Masonic Lodge, the Consistory, the Al Kader, N. M. S., the Knights of Pythias (having been trustee of the Ivanhoe Lodge for the past seven years) ; and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics Mr. Banfield is known as a Cleveland or Gold Democrat, but he has never found time to take any interest in political contests aside from his . hours of exposure to reach shore, but died in prerogative at the polls.

THOMAS A. CLONINGER, one of the suc- cessful farmers of Columbia county, was born in this county, near Scappoose, May 22, 1851, and is the oldest of the six children born to David and Susan R. (Camp) Cloninger, who were mar- ried in Tennessee, and who had three sons and three daughters.

David Cloninger was born in North Carolina, and lived and farmed in both Tennessee and Mis- souri before coming to Oregon in 1849. He crossed the plains with ox teams and wagons, and upon arriving in Columbia county left his wife here while he went down into California on a mining expedition. He was gone about a year, and after his return bought a claim comprising six hundred and forty acres, where his daughter, Mrs. William Stevens, now resides. Mr. Clonin- ger lived on this old farm until removing to Marion county in 1884. and there his death oc- curred in 1888, his wife surviving him until Oc- tober 27, 1902. at the age of seventy-one years.

The old donation claim taken up by his father continued to be the home of Thomas A. Cloninger until his twentieth year. after which he engaged in the stock business on his own behalf, and in

1870 was solemnized his marriage with Mary Wood, of which union there have been born six children, the order of their birth being as fol- lows: Thomas, William, Mollie, Pearl, Archie and Claude. A second marriage was contracted by Mr. Cloninger October 20, 1892, his first wife having died in 1891. The present Mrs. Clonin- ger was formerly Cordelia St. Clair, and she is the mother of three children: Philip. Susie and Dewey. In 1894 Mr. Cloninger moved onto his present farm, which consists of seventy acres of land, upon which he is carrying on a large dairy- ing and fruit-raising enterprise. He has a large number of Jersey cattle, and everything around his place bears evidence of excellent manage- ment, neatness and thrift. Mr. Cloninger is a Republican in political affiliation, and has taken an active part in the development of Columbia county. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order Odd Fellows of St. Helens.

JAMES J. ELLIS. As superintendent of the Adamant Company's plant Mr. Ellis is connected with one of the leading industries of Portland. He is of Norwegian birth, born in Krogro, Sep- tember 25, 1862, and was a son of Ellif and Inge- born Maria ( Peterson ) Ellis, natives of the same locality. His father, who was a ship carpenter and sailor, was wrecked off the coast of Vera Cruz, and managed after many dangers and Vera Cruz. Afterward his wife came to the west and died in Clarke county, Wash. They were the parents of five children, all but one of whom are still living. One of these, a sister, remains in Norway. The other sister, Mrs. K. E. Ericksen, lives in Clarke county, Wash., while the oldest son, P. M., makes his home in Portland. The second son, James J., received his education in the public schools of Krogro. He can scarcely recall the time when he was not interested in sail- ing. Living among sailors, it was natural that his mind should be fired by tales of the sea. At the age of thirteen he shipped on the schooner Alladin to Belgium. On his return he secured employment as one of the crew of the brig Dorris, to Hull and return. A later trip was on the King Oscar, with which he sailed many seas and visited Canada, United States and West Indies. On his retirement, after twenty-six months with that ship, he held the position of able seaman. Next he sailed on the Pussidon from Havre, France, to New York, returning via England. After fifteen months on this vessel he landed in New York, and thence proceeded to Chicago, where he ar- rived February 29, 1880. For five years he sailed on the lakes out from that city.

The first visit of Mr. Ellis to Portland was made in 1885, when he engaged as an engineer

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with N. J. Blagen. During the thirteen years he continued with the same employer, he was for a portion of the time retained as foreman and su- perintendent. Still in the employ of the same gentleman, in 1896 lie went to Boston to aid in filling a contract for the building of waterworks. Two years were spent there and in Marlborough, Mass., where he had charge of the contract for the water works. On the completion of this plant he went to New Bedford, still with the same em- ployer, and there superintended the construction of the water pipe line. On his return to Portland in1 1898, he secured employment with the Bentley Construction Company, to take charge of the hoisting machinery and derricks used in the con- struction of the new federal building. He con- tinued in this responsible position until the build- ing was completed. On the establishment of the works of the Adamant Company, in January of 1901, he took charge of the plant and has since acted as superintendent of the factory, where adamant wall plaster is manufactured. Though not active in politics, since becoming a citizen of our country he has voted the Republican ticket and maintained an interest in public affairs. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Maccabees and in religious connections is a member of Forbes Presbyterian Church of Portland, in which he is an elder. His residence stands at No. 544 Rod- ney avenue, and in addition to it, he is the owner of the adjoining house. Since coming to Port- land he has established domestic ties through his marriage to Catherine Park, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of William Park, a native of Orkney, Scotland, and a member of an old Norse family.

OMAR J. BRYANT. Many of the little towns of Columbia and other counties in Ore- gon have sprung into existence upon the busy farm of some ambitious pioneer, who, wiser than lis fellows, has foreseen advantages of loca- tion, and proceeded to interest others in his new project. These founders of municipalities are entitled to special mention among the upbuilders of this state, and such an one was Elihu G. Bryant, the father of Omar J., and upon whose well tilled acres the hamlet of Bryantville, now Clatskanie, has been built.

Omar J. Bryant, one of the prominent farmers of Columbia county, was born near Crawfords- ville, Montgomery county, Ind., October 19, 1828, and is the oldest son born to Elihu G. and Nancy ( Crane) Bryant, the other children being as fol- lows: Mary C., the wife of Reuben Lockwood : Zepaniah, a resident of Clatskanie; Hannah, the wife of E. \V. Conyers; Elvira, deceased; and Elihu S., living at Clatskanie. Elihu G. Bryant was born in New Jersey, and farmed for many

years in Montgomery county, Ind. In 1852 he started across the plains with his family, the time honored ox-teams furnishing the means of loco- motion, and the journey covering the greater part of six months. The first winter on the coast was spent in Portland, and in February of 1853, Elihu took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon a portion of which Bryantville, now Clatskanie, was built. Upon this farm Mr. Bryant spent by far the best and most useful years of his life, and on his well tilled acres he passed away in 1893, he having been born in 1804, and was therefore eighty-nine years of age. He was a farmer, stock-raiser, dairyman and lumberman, and in all of these departments of activity displayed rare business judgment and foresight. He was a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office. His wife died at the age of fifty-three years.

After coming to Oregon with his father in 1852, Omar J. Bryant lived on the old farm of his sire until 1861, in which year he went to eastern Oregon and engaged in mining and pros- pecting. He was quite successful in this line of activity, and was one of the discoverers of the famous Powder River mines at Baker City. After three years as a miner Mr. Bryant came back to Clatskanie, and May 28, 1872, married Mrs. Margaret J. Rice, widow of James Rice, and daughter of Cyrus and Faraba Polson, na- tives of Virginia. By her former husband Mrs. Bryant had three children, of whom Dan lives near the home farm: Sarah E. is the widow of James Fiske: and James lives near Clatskanie. To Mr. and Mrs Bryant were born two sons, Ulysses and Omar, both of whom are deceased. After his marriage Mr. Bryant moved to the farm which he had purchased in 1866, and which still continues to be his home. While living on this farm he engaged in the saw-mill business with his brother for more than twenty years, and the brothers worked up a very large trade with Portland, Astoria and other towns. Besides owning their own saw-mill they found it neces- sary to buy a steamer for transporting their lum- ber to market, and this craft, known as the Ga- zelle, plied the Columbia and Willamette for many years, burdened with its heavy loads of forest products. The lumber business necessi- tated the employment of from twenty to twenty- five men, and after getting a fair start the broth- ers netted themselves handsome incomes.

The Bryant farm consists of one hundred and ninety acres of land, a large portion of which is under cultivation. Besides raising general farmi products, he has some of the land planted to fruit, and also raises stock to some extent. Also Mr. Bryant is interested in other farm lands, being the owner of several town lots in Clatskanie. Mr. Bryant claims the distinction of being the oldest

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living resident of Clatskanie, which was named after the Clatskanie Indians and was originally spelled Clatskani. The last chief of the tribe was for many years a warm friend of Mr. Bryant, who often gave him employment on his farms. Politically he is a Republican, but has never de- sired to hold office. He is popular and highly thought of in his locality, and is accounted one of the public spirited and thoroughly reliable mem- bers of the community.

JOSEPH HOWELL. Even since the spring of 1851 Joseph Howell has been a resident of Sauvie's Island. At that time he was twenty- one years of age, and alive to all the advantages by which he was surrounded, possessing that enthusiasm and enterprise which have been such important factors in the development of the great northwest. A native of Berwick, Colum- bia county, Pa., he was born in 1830, and when ten years of age removed with his parents to Mis- souri, where he was reared and educated, and which continued to be the home of the family until 1850.

The time honored ox teams constituted the method of locomotion adopted by the Howell family on their trip across the plains in 1850, two wagons being required to transport the goods and chattels with which they intended to begin housekeeping in Oregon. At the ex- piration of six months the long and dangerous journey was at an end, and for a year the trav- elers located and farmed in Washington county. 1851 found them on Sauvie's Island, where they rented land for a couple of years, and afterward took a claim of two hundred and forty acres known as the Postoffice Bar. Joseph Howell lived with his parents until 1862, assisting to clear the land and prepare the way for future harvests. He then associated himself with his brother, John, in the purchase of the place which he now owns, and which contains three hun- dred and twenty acres. By later purchase Mr. Howell added to his possessions two hundred and sixty acres in another part of the county, and this, with his original property, is prin- cipally utilized for hay and stock-raising. Dur- ing 1853-54 Mr. Howell engaged in mining and prospecting in the southern part of Oregon, and he also spent a couple of years in Idaho en- gaged in the same occupations.

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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 102

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