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 109
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No better proof can be furnished of the op- portunities offered by the west than the success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Haseltine in the commercial activities of Portland. and he is one of many who have reason to be grateful that fate brought them to this prosperous region of the northwest.
FRANK DEKUM. The Dekum building in Portland, erected in 1892, stands as a monument to the enterprise and progressive spirit of its projector and builder. Frank Dekum. The structure, said by many to be the finest busi- ness block in Portland, is eight stories high, built of brick and stone, with the first three floors of granite. All of the material used in the construction of the block came from Ore- gon; the stone and granite were quarried in this state, the lumber sawed from native tim- ber and the brick made of native clay. The total cost, $300,000, might have been reduced had the owner consented to use other material. but he was so loyal to Oregon and so desirous
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of promoting the state's resources that he would not consent to ordering material elsewhere.
A native of Deidersfeld, Rheinfalz, Bavaria, Germany, Frank Dekum was one in a family of two sons and four daughters, who accompanied their parents to America in 1837 and settled on a farm near Belleville, St. Clair county, Ill., later going to St. Louis, Mo., where the parents died. In the latter city he was apprenticed to the trade of confectioner. In 1851, with a com- rade, Fred Bickel, he came via Panama to San Francisco and for a year worked in the mines. During the Colville excitement of 1852 he pro- ceeded via Portland to Idaho, but soon returned to Portland, where he started the first bakery and confectionery shop in the town. Soon he was joined by Mr. Bickel, and the two formed the firm of Dekum & Bickel, continuing to- gether for many years. Their first location was on Front street near Stark in an old building that still stands. Later they built between Stark and Oak streets. On selling out to his partner, Mr. Dekum started a banking business on First and Ash streets and soon afterward incorpo- rated the Portland Savings Bank, of which he was president. During the panic of 1893 the bank was forced to close its doors, but soon re- lief came, business was resumed and there was afterward no further catastrophe from financial depression. Shortly after his death the bank was honorably liquidated and the business dis- continued.
Many of the early buildings of Portland owed their inception to the energy and perseverance of Mr. Dekum. He entertained the most loyal faith in the city's future and championed all movements for its progress. Under his over- sight was erected the first brick structure of any size on Front street. In 1871 he built the Gadsby block on First and Washington streets and later constructed the old Council building on Third and Washington. A subsequent en- terprise was the erection of the Commercial block on Second and Washington. He was an organizer of the Commercial National Bank and served as its president until it was sold to the Wells-Fargo Company. As executor of the Waldo property, he had charge of the building of the Waldo building on Second and Wash- ington. It is a noteworthy fact that he was in- terested in and contributed to the erection of every building (in whole or in part) between First and Third on Washington, which is con- clusive proof of his activity as a promoter of building interests. As president or vice-presi- dent he was connected with a number of banks in Oregon and Washington, also acted as presi- dent of the old Vancouver Railroad until it was sold to the Portland Railway Company. As president of the Portland Exposition Company
he superintended the erection of the Exposition building, on Washington and Eighteenth streets. Not a public enterprise was proposed that failed to receive his support when once he was convinced of its merits. Not a measure was presented for the benefit of the people that lacked his sympathy and help. Banks, business blocks, railroads and other meritorious move- ments owed much to his encouragement. At the time of the building of the Hotel Portland he was one of the original stockholders. An in- teresting enterprise which he fostered was the introduction of German song birds into Oregon. As president of the German Song Bird So- ciety he contributed one-half of the money necessary to secure a shipment of birds from the old country. The first shipment made did not arrive in good condition and another was ordered, for which he built a large aviary. Among the birds imported were goldfinches, thrushes, starlings and green finches and night- ingales. For years he was president of the Ger- man Aid Society of Portland. While he was a pronounced Republican, his party could never prevail upon him to accept office of any kind. A man of large philanthropy, no worthy charity or destitute family ever failed to secure relief from him, yet so quietly were his benefactions made that few save the recipient knew of them.
The homestead of Mr. Dekum covered the entire block bounded by Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Morrison and Yamhill streets, and is now oc- cupied by his son, Adolph. His wife, as well as himself, was of German birth, and died in Portland, where his death occurred October 19, 1894. She bore the maiden name of Fannie Reinig and was a sister of Michael Reinig, a prominent business man of Helena. Mont .; also of Charles Reinig, of the same city; and Leon- ard Reinig, for years a successful business man of Seattle, but now a large rancher near Sno- qualmie Falls, Wash. Of the eight children born to her marriage, Edward is interested in the Commercial Advertising Company in Hono- lulu ; Mrs. John Gill resides in Portland; Otto C. is with the General Electric Company ; Adolph A. is engaged in the hardware business in Portland; George P. is secretary of the Port- land Soap and Chemical Company; Frank, an actor, makes New York his headquarters ; Rosina is the wife of T. T. Strain of Portland ; Clara is the wife of J. R. Meyers, a sugar planter of Hamoa, Hawaiian Islands.
CYRUS ADAMS REED. During the years which Cyrus Adams Reed has spent in Portland, since January 1, 1850, he has combined the wel- fare of the infant city with his business interests, proving well his loyalty to the pioneer cause.
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In the same year which named him a citizen of this community he gave himself heartily to the work of collecting funds for the purpose of or- ganizing a library where there were but two hundred and fifty white people and a thousand Indians, and he was successful to the amount of $1,000, a large sum for settlers who had more land than gold at that time; this money was sent to New York City by Mr. Abrams, of Portland, and he turned it over to Harper Broth- ers, who made a selection of twelve hundred volumes and shipped them to this city by way of the Horn. The mental attainments of Mr. Reed were such that the citizens of Portland readily recognized his ability and he was called upon to act as librarian, which position he held for a time and only withdrew from the work on account of the multifold duties which called him elsewhere. Mr. Reed has not been a citi- zen of Portland throughout his entire residence in the west, but has been identified with many of the business enterprises of Salem, to the suc- cessful termination of which he has devoted years of effort, able and practical, and in the evening of his days he can view with satisfaction the work which he has accomplished.
The father of Mr. Reed, Samuel, was the son of Moses Reed, the American representative of English ancestry, who was captain of a com- pany which took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Samuel Reed was born in Massachusetts and died in New Hampshire, at the age of seventy-six years. By occupation he was a vet- erinary surgeon, and married Mary Potter, of Scottish and English ancestry, the founder of the latter family in America being Roger Will- iams. She died at Grafton, N. H., at the age of fifty years, besides Mr. Reed of this review, being the mother of the following children : Sarah, who died in Grafton; Anna W., who mar- ried George H. Jones of Salem, and died there at the age of fifty years, having come west in 1855; Mary, who died at Independence, Iowa ; and George P., now an inventor and patentee of watch improvements, living at Melrose, Mass. Cyrus Adams Reed was next to the youngest child, and was born in Grafton county, N. H., June 14, 1825. He received his education in the common school in the district in which the family lived, and when fourteen years old, with the proviso that he should again be allowed to attend school, he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carriage maker and painter. When seventeen he left Union Academy and began teaching in a district school, which occupation was continued at different periods for five years, his primary reason being to earn money to edu- cate himself in medicine. This project, how- ever, was given up and he began to work for the man with whom he had learned his trade,
having a natural bent for the paint brush, which .though used at first on carriages and artistic signs, was destined to bring him more than a passing fame. He worked at Manchester, com- bining this with his labors as a pedagogue, but February 2, 1849, he left for the gold fields of California. He came by way of the Isthmus, seven months being required to make the trip, as he was compelled, through lack of a ship, to spend three months on the Isthmus. He landed at Monterey and traveled northward to the mini- ing regions, where he remained for only two months before locating as a sign painter in San Francisco, where he received handsome wages for his work. While so engaged he was taken ill and spent his last dollar before recovering his health.
While still in San Francisco Mr. Reed met an old friend, Mr. Abrams, and together the two came to Portland, then an almost unbroken for- est, and the latter invested his money in building a steam saw-mill, being the first north of San Francisco. This was located at the foot of Jef- ferson and Madison streets, and here Mr. Reed began to work at the excavation for the founda- tion, and later assisted in building and putting in the machinery, though not an engineer, being skillful with tools. Soon after the mill was ready for occupancy Mr. Abrams settled up with his men and Mr. Reed received $8 per day for his work. He then returned to his former work. engaging as a teacher in Portland, conducting the second term ever held in this city. The average attendance was sixty-six pupils at $10 per quarter, and while engaged in this work he also kept a set of books for Stephen Coffin, who conducted a general merchandise store and was then the moneyed man of the town. In fact it was his money that erected the saw-mill with which Mr. Reed was connected. Mr. Reed made out the conveyances of sale for the lots of the city, and was so entirely trusted by his employer that he had the greater part of the manage- ment of the business on his hands. July 7, 1850. he married Mr. Coffin's daughter, Lucinda, who was born in Indiana in 1836 and came with her father to Oregon City, in 1848, and later set- tled in Portland.
In 1851 Mr. Reed purchased a one-fifth inter- est in the milling business, which was then known as the firm of Coffin & Abrams, and acted as salesman and bookkeeper until July, 1852, when he sold out and removed to Salem, Ore. Besides his interest in the mill, he owned several blocks and scattered lots in the city. He purchased a farm of six hundred and forty acres, stocked and partially improved, and locating thereon, operated it for four years, also engag- ing in the mercantile business in Salem. He was one of the directors and builders of the
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Willamette Woolen Mills, and later, in partner- ship with two others, erected a manufacturing plant for the manufacture of building materials and certain furniture, with thirty-two labor-sav- ing devices. He was interested in the latter busi- ness for six years. As he had previously gained an insight into the drug and mercantile business, he now opened a store combining these two lines of business. During his thirty-four years' resi- dence there he was always interested in the ad- vancement of the city's welfare, especially car- rying out his philanthropic ideas in reference to those who worked under him. One of his pub- lic ventures was the building of the opera house in Salem in 1869, having just previously parted with his manufacturing interests.
Through his strong Republican activities Mr. Reed was appointed by Governor Gibbs as the first adjutant-general of the state of Oregon, and served in the legislature in 1862, when he drafted a bill which became the militia law of the state and is in force today. Altogether he served four terms in the legislature, in 1874 drawing up the bill that framed the appropria- tion for the erection of the capitol at Salem. To the position of adjutant-general he was re- appointed by Governor Woods and held the office until 1870, having maintained the position for eight years. He experienced a great many trials in getting the military department of the state in order, but his executive ability and keen judgment helped him to bring his affairs to a desirable standing. During the Indian uprising he assisted General Alvord, commander of the army stationed at Vancouver, in organizing troops.
Through business failure in 1870 Mr. Reed lost the greater part of the fortune which he had accumulated, and was once more compelled to begin at the bottom round of the ladder, tak- ing up the work of a painter and later engaging in the insurance business. For twelve years he found this lucrative employment, engaging with the best companies on the Pacific coast and hav- ing the banner agency in this section of the country. He retrieved his fallen fortunes and purchased the other interest in the opera house at Salem, which, however, did not prove to be a good investment. In 1885 he located in Portland and has since made this his home, engaging in the real-estate business, and has also devoted much attention to his early and always prized talent of painting. In 1873 he painted a panorama of the northwest, which was exhibited in Philadel- phia in 1876, and also in France and Germany, and has made many fine paintings from nature, which show the true touch of the artist.
The children born to Mr. Reed and his first wife, the latter of whom died in Columbia coun- ty, were seven in number, six of whom are now
living. They are as follows: George, a painter by trade, but who follows mining, owning an interest in a mine in Idaho, and makes his home in Portland; Fred, the poundmaster of Portland ; Stephen, part owner of a mine in Idaho, and makes his home in this city; Albert F., a sur- veyor in government employ, living in Portland ; Anna, the wife of Edward Barlow, of Idaho; May E., the wife of E. W. Paget, surveyor and civil engineer, making their home in Portland with their four children; and Charles Edward, who died when two years of age. Mr. Reed was married the second time, in 1876, to the widow of Joseph Purdom, and they have had six children, two of whom died in infancy, those living being as follows: Bertha Q., a teacher in the Highland district public school; Leo Wil- lis, timekeeper and assistant cashier in the Elec- tric Construction Company, of Seattle, Wash .; and the twins, Eloise and Genevieve, who live in Seattle. The children have all been educated in the best schools of the state.
In 1890 Mr. Reed was appointed as govern- ment agent of the manufactories, a deputy of the census enumerator, and later was appointed in- spector of the mortgaged and encumbered homes of Multnomah county. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, belonging to the lodge at Salem, and religiously is a Spiritualist, in which faith he has continued for fifty years. In memory of the time when he first came to the wilderness lands of the state he is a member of the Pioneers Society of Oregon.
HON. SENECA C. BEACH. In tracing the genealogical record of the Beach family we find that it was founded in America by three brothers of the name who came from England and settled in Connecticut. Two of them served with honor in the Continental army during the Revolution. The son of one of these, named Seneca, was born in Connecticut, married there, and subsequently removed with his family to Trumbull county. Ohio, settling on a farm among the pioneers of that state. Next in line of descent was Sen- eca Beach, Jr., a native of Hartford, Conn., who removed in young manhood to Ohio. Soon after he joined the pioneer movement to Washington county, Iowa, where he became a man of con- siderable influence. In 1837 he was elected jus- tice of the peace, an office of no little prominence in those days. During the Black Hawk war he enlisted in the government troops and proved himself a worthy descendant of Revolution- ary forefathers. The same patriotic spirit de- scended to his son, Morgan H. Beach, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. For several years he was a practicing physician in Washington coun- ty, Iowa, later conducting his professional labors
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at New Sharon, Mahaska county, that state. L'pon the opening of the Civil war he offered his services to the government, but owing to the slightly crippled condition of his foot was re- jected at the time. Later on he was accepted. however, and served as a private in an Iowa regiment. In 1881 he removed to Oregon, set- tling in Klamath county, and later making his residence in Lake county, in both of which he practiced his profession. His death occurred in Lakeview in 1888. He married Sarah Wals- worth, a native of Ohio, who now makes her home in Ashland, Ore. She is a daughter of Elijah Walsworth, who was reared in Ohio and there married, afterward settling with his fam- ily in Washington county, Iowa. He also now resides in Ashland.
The family of Morgan H. Beach and his wife consisted of five sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living. Of these, Frank W. is county recorder of Lake county, Cal. Sen- eca C. Beach is the eldest. He was born in Washington county, Iowa, October 23. 1860. When but eleven years of age he began the so- lution of the problem of self-support by go- ing to work upon a farm. His identification with the printing and newspaper craft, to which the better part of his life has been devoted, began when he was thirteen years of age, when he en- tered the office of the Keota (Iowa) Eagle, for the purpose of learning the trade. Two years later he secured employment on the New Sharon (Iowa) Star. At the age of seventeen he went to Washington, Iowa, and followed his trade in the offices of the Washington Gasette and the Washington Press. In 1878 he became a com- positor in the office of the York (Neb.) Republi- can. In January of the following year he went to Chicago, where he was employed on the Christian Instructor and the Youth's Evangelist. During the fall of the same year he returned to Nebraska and established the Waco Star, but after a three months' trial abandoned that field and located in Stromsburg, Polk County, Neb .. where he founded the Stromsburg Republican. This newspaper he conducted with considerable success for four years. In the meantime he took an active part in local and state politics, and though seeking no office himself, was sent as a delegate to the state convention of the Republi- can party in Nebraska.
There is no doubt that Mr. Beach would have become an important factor in public affairs in Nebraska had he not heen compelled to dispose of his interests in that state on account of ill health and seek a home in a more salubrious cli- mate. It was his intention to retire permanenth from the newspaper business, but as soon as he had regained his health the oldl fascination for the work returned with renewed force, and in
July, 1885, he purchased the Lake County Ex- aminer, which he enlarged and improved. This paper he conducted with constantly increasing success for a period of six years. When he set- tled in Lake county it was a Democratic strong- hold. He at once showed a lively interest in the local political situation, and the Republicans of that county, recognizing in him a man experi- enced in political leadership, elected him to the chairmanship of their first county convention held after his arrival in the field. Largely through his stirring campaign work the party succeeded in electing two of their number to county offices and one to the state legislature that year, and for the first time in several years felt that they had a guiding hand upon whom dependence might be placed.
In 1891 Mr. Beach sold out his Lakeview in- terests and removed to Portland, where he pur- chased a printing plant and soon built up an extensive and successful business, conducting the same until the plant was destroyed by fire in July, 1894. In the meantime he had continued to take an active interest in politics. In 1892 he served as a member of the county central committee. Under Mayor Frank he held the office of superintendent of the street cleaning department, and for two years served as license collector under Mayors Mason and Storey. His popularity and worth were further recognized by his election to the state legislature in June. 1894. by the largest majority received that year by any candidate on the ticket. During the ses- sion of 1895 he labored earnestly, though in vain. for the re-election of United States Senator Dolph. In this session he was also chairman of the committee on elections. In 1896 he refused to be a candidate for renomination : but in 1898 he was again nominated and elected, serving in the special session of 1898, and in the regular session following. His appointment to the chair- manship of the committee on ways and means. the most important committee of the house, gave him great power and wide influence. Upon the expiration of his second term he returned to private life: but his manifest fitness for public office caused his fellow-citizens to elect him again to a position of prominence. this time the office being that of county recorder, to which he was chosen in 1900 by a majority of three thousand votes, and for a terni of two years. He retired from the office July 7. 1902. and December 1 fol- lowing he engaged in the printing business, as president of and principal stockholder in the corporation of Mann & Beach. printers, suc- cessors to Mann & Abbott.
In Stromsburg. Neb .. in 1883. Mr. Beach mar- ried Kate Bailey, a native of Illinois. They are the parents of three children, Donna. Josephine and Carll. Among the local organizations with
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which Mr. Beach is identified are the Commercial Club, the Red Men, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Degree of Honor, and the Re- bekahs. While residing in Lakeview he was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which he is Past Noble Grand. He is now connected with Peninsula Lodge, No. 128. In the Order of Muscovites he ranks as Past Czar. He is also a member of the Oregon His- torical Society.
While Mr. Beach is influential in political af- fairs and has always taken an active interest in the work of his party wherever he has made his home, yet a narrow partisan spirit has never been observed in his course. On the other hand it has invariably been characterized by broad views and an unselfish devotion to his party, his home interests and the welfare of the public generally. So generous is the expression of good will to- ward him on the part of those who know him best and have followed his political career. that it is safe to say that further preferment for public honors is dependent almost solely upon his own desires in the matter.
PROF. WILLIAM NELSON FERRIN, A. MI .. LL. D. The life which this narrative sketches began in Barton, Vt., October 11. 1854. in the home of Rev. Clark E. Ferrin. A. M .. D. D., and Sophronia ( Boynton ) Ferrin, natives respectively of New Hampshire and Derby. Vt. The first representative of the Ferrin family in America came from Ireland and settled in Con- necticut. Micah, the son of this immigrant, was born in Connecticut and became a pioneer of New Hampshire, thence removing to Holland, \'t., where he died. Next in line of descent was Clark E. Ferrin, who in 1845 was graduated from the University of Vermont with the degree of A. B., later receiving that of A. M. from the same institution. The degree of D. D. was con- ferred upon him by Middlebury College. Mid- dlebury, Vt. Entering the ministry of the Con- gregational denomination, he was for twenty- one years pastor of the church at Hinesburg, \'t., where he labored with the greatest devotion and self-sacrifice in the interests of Christianity. All of his active life was given to ministerial work, with the exception of two terms of serv- ice in the Vermont state legislature. At the time of his death he was sixty-four years of age. His wife was the daughter of John Boynton, a member of an old Massachusetts family. Her death occurred in Vermont in .1885. Of their marriage were born three sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Mrs. Emma F. Cowan, of South- ampton, Mass .; Ella L., a teacher in the Normal School at Randolph, Vt .: William N., dean and acting president of Tualatin Academy and
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