Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 121

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 121

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One of the most substantial results of the en- (leavors of Colonel Dunne in the business world is the establishment in Portland of the large plant of the Portland Linseed Oil Company, a number of years ago. This is to-day one of the most im- portant industries of the state, and has been the means of disbursing thousands of dollars throughout the agricultural districts tributary to the city. The district originally presided over by Colonel Dunne as collector of internal revenue embraced all of Oregon, Washington and the territory of Alaska until the year 1903, when it was divided so that his present district includes Oregon alone. The report from the treasury department under date of November, 1899, is authority for the statement that "The cash and stamps of the office of internal collector of reve- nue are all accounted for, the records are all writ- ten up to date, they show signs of having been neatly kept, the office force is both competent and attentive to duty and that the collector himself gives his personal management to the business." In a recent interview the Hon. N. B. Scott, now United States senator from West Virginia and lately commissioner of internal revenue, stated that "One of the most efficient collectors in the country is Mr. Dunne. of Portland, whose busi- ness accounts always came into the head office at Washington in perfect shape." An earnest Re- publican where questions of national importance are concerned, the colonel has taken an active part in the welfare of the party. It was largely due to his efforts that the present armory of the Oregon National Guard was built in Portland. He was one of the presidential electors from Ore- gon in 1892, when Mr. Harrison was elected. He filled the position of commissioner general during

the administration of Governor Lord, and served on the staff of Gov. T. T. Geer, with the rank of colonel.

Colonel Dunne is married and occupies a hand- some home in one of the best residence districts of Portland. He is well and favorably known throughout the state as an honorable, active and influential business man, faithful to his duties and public-spirited to a high degree, and ever giving his hearty support to any enterprise in- tended for the general welfare and the upbuild- ing of the city.

F. W. CADY is one of the foremost citizens of Beaverton, and has been a resident of the town since 1893. Born in Omro, Wis., September 4. 1861, he is a son of A. B. Cady, a native of Elmira, N. Y., and born May 23, 1823. The elder Cady learned the shoemaker's trade in early youth, and followed the same in New York state for many years. His business was materially en- larged after removal to Wisconsin, where he built up a large boot and shoe trade, manufactur- ing a first-class article, and doing a more than local business. He left Wisconsin in 1869 and settled on a farm in one of the most fertile parts of Kansas, removing from there in 1891 to Port- land, where he is now living a retired life. He has been prominent in general affairs in Wash- ington county, and as a Republican has stanchily upheld the principles and issues of his party.

His four years' service as county treasurer but served to strengthen the confidence in which he is held by all who know him, for during that time he faithfully attended to the best interests of the county. A meritorious war record is one of the creditable undertakings which have ren- dered his life broad in scope and worth while, and during the service he became captain in the Forty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

His wife died in 1885.

Until his marriage with Mamie Hills in 1890, F. W. Cady remained at home with his father, and during that time had superior educational advantages in the public schools of Portland, and at the business college of that town. For several years he was associated with his father in the boot and shoe business, and in 1893 re- moved to Beaverton, where he engaged in a general merchandise business until April, 1902. At the present time he is acting in the capacity of village postmaster, agent of the Southern Pacific Company, and as a general broker. He deals largely in Oregon Burbank potatoes and yellow Danver onions, selling in car load lots in all parts of the state. For two terms he served as village treasurer. A Republican in politics, he has held several other offices of trust and responsibility. Mr. Cady is fraternally associated with the United

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Artisans, and the Masonic order of Beaverton. His family consists of his wife and two children, Ruth H. and Willis L. Mr. Cady enjoys to an exceptional degree the good will of his fellow townsmen, and his business sagacity and excel- lent judgment regarding general town affairs have resulted in great good to the community.

BENJAMIN ANDERSON, whose well tilled farm, three miles southeast of Hillsboro, is one of the desirable properties in Washington county, is a native son of Sweden, born September 17, 1837, and was one in a large family of children. Like the average youth of European countries, he was obliged to strike out for him- self at the age of fourteen, and as a common leck hand he shipped from his native land. For four years he was employed mostly in European waters, but he then came to America and fol- lowed the water from this side of the hemisphere, sailing out of New York and other eastern ports. From New York he boarded a vessel bound for San Francisco by way of the Horn, and under- took that long and dangerous journey to his de- sired destination. After three years spent as a sailor in western waters, along the coast, and on the inland rivers, he engaged in mining in Cali- fornia, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, for about fifteen years, and in 1876 came to Washington county, Ore., settling on the farm which has since been his home. In the meantime he has spent five years in Hillsboro and Portland. Mr. Anderson is a large land owner and most success- ful farmer, having in all two hundred and fifty- eight acres of land, one hundred of which are under cultivation.

In 1876 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Kate Smith, who died January 13, 1899. after many years of helpfulness to her husband. family and friends. Mr. Anderson is a liberal minded and well informed man. attends strictly to his farming interests, and aside from the formality of casting his vote has never identified himself with political matters. He is independent in politics.

ELIAS C. SMITH, a veteran of the Civil war, now living in Forest Grove, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, October 22, 1831. His father, Ebenezer Smith, was a native of New York and died in Ohio. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Breckenridge and they be- came the parents of five sons, two of whom were soldiers of the Civil war, Samuel enlisting for service in the Second Illinois Cavalry.

Elias C. Smith was left an orphan at the early age of nine years and has since been dependent

upon his own resources. He was reared and ed- ucated in his native state, becoming familiar with farm work in his youth, and in 1858, when twenty-seven years of age, he removed from Ohio to Illinois, settling in Tazewell county near Pe- oria. There he again carried on farming and when the Civil war broke out he became deeply interested in the struggle, and in April, 1862, put aside all business and personal considerations in order that he might aid in the preservation of the Union. He became one of the boys in blue of Company H, Sixty-second Illinois Infantry, and with his command proceeded to the front. At the battle of Holly Springs he was taken pris- oner and was later paroled. On the expiration of his first term of enlistment he veteranized and as the regiment had been greatly depleted through the ravages of war. the different companies were consolidated and Mr. Smtih became a member of Company A, of the Sixty-second Illinois I11- fantry, of which he was a corporal, thus serving until the close of the war. After the cessation of hostilities concerning the preservation of the Union the regiment was sent to the Cherokee nation in Indian Territory and was there on duty until mustered out in March, 1866.

With the most creditable military record MIr. Smith returned to his home and again resumed farming, for a time locating near Elpaso, Wood- ford county, Ill., and later removing to Tazewell county, remaining until 1871. In that year he settled in Forest Grove, Washington county, Ore., and secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Yamhill county. This he improved, residing thereon for three years, but his health failed and in consequence he gave up farming and located in Forest Grove, since which time he has engaged in the hotel business. For two years he was proprietor of the Western House and then became proprietor of the Michi- gan House, which he has improved, building up an excellent business.

On the 17th of June, 1856, in Franklin county, Ohio. Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Andrews, who was born in Pickaway county, that state. a daughter of Thomas and Deborah ( Norton) Andrews, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was a blacksmith who carried on business in Pickaway county and afterward in Franklin county and subsequently he removed to Iowa, where his death occurred. His wife, however, departed this life in the Buck- eve state. In their family were six children, of whom Mrs. Smith was the eldest. She had one brother, John, who was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in the Eighty-fourth Ohio Infan- try, and while in the service he died in the south.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been horn two sons : J. D., born in Franklin county, Ohio, now resides in Dayton, Columbia county. Wash .. and

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is serving as county sheriff ; and W. D., who was born in Tazewell county, Ill., in April, 1860, is now an attorney of Baker City, Ore.

Mr. Smith is a valued member of J. B. Mathews Post No. 6, G. A. R., of Forest Grove, in which he has twice served as post commander, and through his connection with this organiza- tion he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades who wore the blue. His wife is a charter member of the Woman's Relief Corps and both are loyal and faithful members of the Christian Church. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party which has preserved the Union in the dark hour of our country's history and which has ever been found as the champion of progress, reform and improvement.

C. W. McNAMER was born in Washington county, Ore., five miles from Forest Grove, No- vember 29, 1876. His father, N. McNamer, was born in the east and in the '50s crossed the plains to Oregon, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred about twenty-five years ago. His wife, Nancy B. Kiets, was born in Pennsylvania and in 1852 came with her parents to Oregon. She is now living in Forest Grove. She was married a second time and of her eight children all are yet living. The eldest brother, Theodore C., is a partner of our subject and is now superintending their mining interests in Alaska. He had been engaged in farming and butchering before his removal to the north.

Upon the home farm C. W. McNamer spent his youthful days and after acquiring his ele- mentary aducation in the district schools he en- tered Tualatin Academy. In 1890 his brother Theodore established a butchering business and Mr. McNamer of this review joined him and they have since been in partnership. In 1897 they went to the Klondike, proceeding over Chil- coot pass and down the Yukon river, after which they engaged in mining near Dawson and se- sured claims of their own on Bonanza creek. In 1898 they went to Atlin, British Columbia, where they were successfully engaged in gulch mining, and in 1899 they returned to Dawson, where they were engaged in the butchering business, but they found it impossible to collect the money due them and therefore had to direct their ener- gies into other channels. In 1900 they proceeded to Kuyokuk, Alaska. They left a pack-train of sixteen head of horses and an outfit down the Yukon river across from Dall river and thirty miles down, and began packing, but did not en- gage in prospecting. They were the first to dis- cover and secure paying ground in their new lo- cality, discovering Emma creek, which is the best creek of the Kuyokuk district. In the win-

ter of 1900-01 all of their horses died for lack of food.

Mr. McNamer mined during the summer of 1900 and in the fall of that vear returned to Portland, making his way down the Kuvokuk and Yukon rivers by boat to St. Michaels and proceeding thence to Oregon. In January, 1901, the brothers started back to Skagway overland with dog teams, going by way of the Skagway pass and down the Yukon eight hundred miles to Fort Yukon on the ice, then crossed the di- vide to Kuyokuk, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, with dog teams, arriving at their destination on the ist of March, having made the eleven hundred miles in forty-five days, thus covering more than twenty-four and a half miles per day. They reopened their mines, worked all summer and in the fall returned down the Kuyokuk and Yukon rivers to St. Michaels and back to Oregon. In January, 1902, Theodore McNamer again started for the mines, which he is now operating. He and our subject are the pioneers of the Kuyokuk region and have a splendid claim, extending three quarters of a mile along Emma creek.

In April, 1902, C. W. McNamer again en- gaged in the butchering business in Forest Grove and is now successfully conducting his store. While in the north he was in the employ of the Alaska Caurier for six months and visited every mining camp in Alaska and the Northwest ter- ritory, going to one camp eighty miles north of the Arctic circle and a hundred and fifty miles from Point Barrow, the extreme northern point of Alaska. He has had many interesting ex- periences in connection with his mining opera- tions in Alaska and in partnership with his bro- ther is now the owner of valuable placer mines, the largest nugget taken therefrom being worth $800.

ALBERT DANIEL GRIBBLE, one of the most ambitious and painstaking farmers of Clackamas county, was born on the farm which is now his home. September 28, 1857. His grandfather, John. was born in North Carolina, in which state he had settled at a very early day ; and his father, Andrew E., was also born in North Carolina, November 4, 1822. While yet the settlers were few and far between in Mis- souri, John Gribble removed there with his wife and children, and as early as 1846 crossed the plains with ox teams, spending the first winter in Oregon in Clackamas. The following year he made an unusual deal with a man who had a six hundred and forty acre claim to dispose of, giving in payment for the same a gun and pony. This land continued to be his home for the re- mainder of his life, and he cleared some of it,

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and in time graduated from a primitive log house into a more modern place of residence. The father's death occurred April 19, 1879. The mother of A. D. Gribble, Nancy A. ( Riggs) Gribble, who was born in Missouri, is still living, residing on the old homestead. She came across the plains with her parents in 1847, settling near Portland on land which constitutes the present site of Albina, Ore. Thereafter the Riggs fam- ily lived in different parts of the state, eventually locating on six hundred and forty acres near Macksburg. this county. Of the four children born to Andrew E. Gribble and his wife, Ellen is the wife of R. A. Irvin, of Pomeroy, Wash. ; Sarah is now Mrs. John S. Jesse, whose husband is owner of part of the original donation claim ; Albert Daniel; and William is a farmer of Grant county, Ore.

Fortunately for Albert Daniel Gribble he was enabled to start in life where inany farmers leave off, for at the age of twenty-one years, imme- diately after the death of his father, he inherited his share of the paternal estate, which was one hundred and forty-two acres. While tilling his land he has profited not only by a thorough early agricultural training, but has kept abreast of the times through the medium of journals and other ways known to enterprising farmers. He him- self has cleared sixty-seven acres, and of the entire amount cleared ninety are under cultiva- tion. General farming is engaged in, but Mr. Gribble makes a specialty of potatoes, of which he at present has thirty acres. He intends in the near future to devote the greater part of his land to its cultivation. Mr. Gribble possesses twelve of the finest Jersey cows to be found in the county, and with the aid of a separator he is de- riving a considerable revenue from the sale of cream.

At New Era. Clackamas county, in 1885, Mr. Gribble was united in marriage with Maggie Jesse, a native of Missouri, and of this union there have been born nine children, eight sons and one daughter : Ralph, Allen T., Ensley W., Charles, Lena A., Andrew, Samuel, Frank J., and an infant, unnamed. The children are all living at home, and it is the intention of their parents to give them as superior educational and other advantages as lies in their power. Mr. Gribble is progressive and enterprising, and is in touch with the times on all matters of local and other importance.

H A. LEWIS. More than passing notice is due Mr. Lewis, whose fine property near the vil- lage of Russellville, in Multnomah county. has gained more than local fame. Since 1889 his in- terests have been centered in the Russellville Nur- sery, for such is the name of his ranch of forty

acres on which he resides. Born April 2, 1862, in Crawford county, Ill., near Robinson, he was a lad of ten years when his parents brought the family to Oregon. They took up their abode near Montavilla, and there Herman grew to manhood. In his boyhood he received a common school education, the best the locality afforded, and to this he added practical knowledge gained by years of experience on the home farm. He remained at home assisting his father until 1889, in which year he purchased the farm on which he resides, near Russellville. His first purchase comprised twenty acres, all of which was heavily timbered, but this he has entirely cleared, besides making other improvements. Each year he has been enabled to add a little more ground to his place and his nursery now embraces forty acres. After his first purchase in 1889 he started to raise berries, but deciding that a nursery would be more remunerative he set out one acre to trees to which he has since added Thoroughly familiar with the business in all its details, Mr. Lewis deserves the success that has come to him.

In 1889 Mr. Lewis married Miss Mary J. Brown, a daughter of Alvin Brown, of Forest Grove, Ore., and they have been blessed by the birth of two sons : Clayton B. and D. Alvin. In addition to attending to his private affairs Mr. Lewis has been able to be of service to his com- munity in the capacity of school clerk, which office he held for ten years. In political affairs his vote is cast in favor of the Republican party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Baptist Church. to which they give substantial support.

B. F. BAKER. The sudden and altogether unexpected death of B. F. Baker at his home near Stafford, December 28, 1901, awakened in the minds of those who had passed his way during life a train of agreeable memories, born of his sincerity of purpose, resourcefulness, success, and high moral character. Born in Grayson county. Va., October 13. 1848, he was a son of Ira N. and Theresa ( Ramsey) Baker, natives respective- ly of Ashe county, N. C., and Virginia, and the former born in 1828.

Ira N. Baker is worthy of more than passing mention, and in his life time directed his en- ergies into worthy channels, and influenced for progress and good all with whom he came in contact. From Grayson county, to which he had removed from Ashe county, N. C., he came to Oregon in 1875. settling in Lane county with his son, B. F., in partnership with whom he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land. for which he paid $5,000. This property was finally sold for $25.600 to the Willamette Falls Electric Railway, now a branch of the Portland

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Electric Railway Company. Hence the town of Willamette Falls occupies the land formerly owned by this enterprising pioneer. In 1861 Ira N. Baker enlisted in the Confederate army under General Marshall and served in the Kentucky campaign two years, afterward going over to the federal ranks, and becoming a soldier in the West Virginia State Guards. While fighting in the Union army he began an association which per- ceptibly brightened his entire remaining life, and which proved a source of wonderful consolation and human companionship. The object of his long friendship was none other than H. Blanken- ship, between whom and himself sprang up a lik- ing and sympathy destined to outlive the changes of forty years. This feeling was strengthened through the marriage of his daughter, Martha, and Mr. Blankenship, the latter of whom fought again during the war under General Garfield during the Kentucky campaign. At the home of his friend and son-in-law at Willamette Falls, Ore., Mr. Baker passed his last days, dying August 31, 1902, a noble and beautiful friendship of forty years duration thus being indefinitely postponed.

With very few exceptions B. F. Baker remained with his father until they sold their place at Willamette Falls, and he then went to Forest Grove, Washington county. In 1892 he returned to Clackamas county and bought the Campbell farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added by subsequent purchase, so that at the time of his death he owned five hundred and thirty-nine acres. A large portion of this land was improved by Mr. Baker, and he built a beau- tiful residence and modern barn and outhouses. He was very progressive, and participated in whatever of growth and devolopment was inau- gurated in the community. At the age of seven- teen Mr. Baker enlisted in the Civil war, during which momentous struggle he started out in the Confederate army, but went over to the other side with his father. He was a Democrat in po- litical affiliation, and in religion was a member of the Christian Church.

The splendid property bought and developed and left to his heirs is managed by the widow of Mr. Baker, who is administratrix of his estate, and who has shown rare skill in continuing the progressive policy of her husband. Mrs. Baker was formerly M. A. Webb, daughter of Hanley Webb, and was born in Davis county, Mo., De- cember 22, 1853. Her father was born in Vir- ginia, March 29, 1824, and died August 7, 1888. He also was a courageous soldier in the Civil war, and served for three years and nine months in Company E, Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Webb came to Oregon on a visit to his daughter, and died here at the age of sixty- three years. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in

West Virginia, and of the six children in the family, Mrs. Baker is the oldest. She was edu- cated in the public schools, and her life was prac- tically uneventful up to the time of her marriage, October 4, 1874. Her children are: Charles I., living at home; Elizabeth, the wife of W. T. Hoffman, of Monmouth, Ore .; Robert, living at home, and a graduate of the state normal; B. F., Belle, Laura, Fred and Gladys.

HON. HENRY WAGNER. Among the courteous and capable members of the bar in Portland may be mentioned Hon. Henry Wagner, well known because of his professional associ- ation with the large Weinhard interests, and be- cause of his meritorious service in the state legis- lature.

A native son of Portland, Mr. Wagner was born September 5, 1864, and comes of German ancestors long known in the province of Hes- sen. His father, John, was born in that part of the kingdom in 1836, and in 1851 removed to New York, locating later in New Orleans. He became a resident of San Francisco in 1858, and of Portland in 1862, and has since been identified with business interests in the latter city. Mr. Wagner has been foremost in promoting numerous German societies, musical and other- wise, in many of which he has served as the honored and helpful president. In his young manhood in his native country he married Char- lotte Hergenroeder. Her death occurred in Portland. Two sous were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wagner, Henry and Alexander, the latter being a trusted employe of the First National Bank in Portland.

At a very early age Henry Wagner evinced studious traits, and completed his education at the Independent German school at the remark- able age of thirteen. His first business experi- ence was acquired as a clerk in the dry goods house of Louis & Strauss, with whom he re- mained for about four years. He then read law under Ellis G. Hughes, and was admitted to practice at the bar of Oregon in 1886, his profes- sional practice beginning the following year. Since 1897 he has supplanted a general practice with attending to the Weinhard interests. In the meantime Mr. Wagner had shown himself a stanch defender of Republican principles and issues, and in 1896 his fitness for office was rec- ognized by his election to the state legislature. Mr. Wagner married Louise Weinhard in Port- land, and one son, Henry Weinhard Wagner, has blessed this union. Mr. Wagner emulates his father in possessing an eminently social dis- position, and he finds relaxation from the wor- ries of his profession in membership with vari- ous clubs in the city.

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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 121

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