Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 124

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

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previously met Mr. Curry in St. Louis, and March 14, 1848, she was united in marriage with him at Hazelglade Homestead. The chil- dren born to them are as follows: Mary Flor- ence, born December 11, 1848, and now the wife of Morris Case Webster, of Sunnyside; Ratlif Boone, born at Hazelglade, Clackamas county, Ore., December 7, 1850, and now living in Se- attle Wash .; Norwood Litton, born January 23, 1853, and residing on Thirty-fourth street, East Portland; Willie Lane, born May 20, 1855, and now residing in Republic, Wash .; Ethel Annette, who was born April 24, 1859, and who died August 3, 1866; and George Law, Jr., born in Portland, June 29, 1861, and who now makes his home in this city.

CHARLES CARROLL STRATTON, A. M., D. D., was born in Tioga county, Pa., of New England ancestry, his mother, Lavinia Fitch, being from Vermont, and his father, Curtis P. Stratton, from Hartford county, Conn. Through his paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Hannah Adams, he was related to the Con- necticut branch of the Adams family. His father's ancestors run back in New England to the first half of the seventeenth century, and thence to London, where the family emerges into recorded recognition as early as 1520.

In 1837 Curtis P. and Lavinia Stratton, with their young children, removed from Pennsyl- vania to Jefferson county, Ind., and settled a short distance back of Madison, on the Ohio river. About the same time also Myron Strat- ton, a younger brother, came west from Pennsyl- vania and settled in Jeffersonville, Ind. This was the father of Winfield Scott Stratton, well known as the owner of the Independence mine, but to be known hereafter much better and longer as the munificent founder of the Myron Stratton Home in Colorado Springs, for the aged and infirm. In 1852 the father and oldest brother, Riley E. Stratton, afterwards of the Oregon bar and bench, came to the Pacific coast around Cape Horn. After stopping for a time in Cali- fornia they came on to Oregon, for which they had originally started, and after looking over the country for a time wrote for the remaining mem- bers of the family to sell their belongings in Indiana and meet them in Oregon. This was effected and the journey across the plains with ox teams was accomplished with the usual priva- tions, hardships and dangers, but without any serious disaster. The family at this time con- sisted of the father and mother, then fifty-four and fifty-one years of age, respectively, and ten children-five sons and five daughters. The parents were truthful, honest, plain people of good antecedents and blood, who desired to give

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their children the best education in their power, and train them to habits of truthfulness, industry and thrift.

The eldest son, Riley Evans Stratton, was then thirty-two years of age, a classical graduate of Farmers' College (Ohio), a junior member of the Madison ( Indiana ) bar, and married to Sarah M. Dearborn, of an old family in that city, a woman of many attractions of mind and per- son. After the death of Judge Stratton she mar- ried Smith Kearney, a well known Portland capitalist.

Soon after settling in southern Oregon Mr. Stratton was elected prosecuting attorney and on the admission of Oregon into the Union as a state he was elected to the bench of his circuit and became e.r officio a justice of the Supreme Court of the state. He was an easy, graceful and lucid public speaker and upright judge, and his early death at the age of forty-four years cut short a promising career. The next sur- viving member of the family was Delia C., then the wife of James I. Patton, who, with their young family, were among the early settlers of the Umpqua valley. Following her was Sarah Victoria, afterwards wife and widow of Harvey Gordon, editor and proprietor of the Oregon Statesman, after A. Bush, and his successor as state printer, a man of brilliant gifts and great promise, whose career was terminated by a premature death when but little over thirty years of age. The next of the family in order of age was Charles Carroll, the subject of this sketch, the leading incidents of whose life will follow later. After him came Horace Fitch, at one time a member of the lower house of the Oregon legislature and later a member and pres- ident of the council in the Washington legis- lature. Milton Adams, the first of the family born in Indiana, was well known in business circles in Salem, Oregon City and Portland. He served a term as mayor in Oregon City and was president of the First National Bank of East Portland at the time of his death, in 1895. All of the remaining members of the family were born in Indiana. Lura Melvina married Archibald Simmons and lived and died in Springfield, near Eugene, where her children and grandchildren still reside. Augusta Josephine married Dr. Samuel Whittemore, at the time assistant sur- geon in the navy, and later in the United States army. He died in 1898 and his family reside in Washington. Judge Julius Augustin has chosen Seattle for his home. He began life as a printer in Salem, Ore. This enabled him to make his way through the classical course of Willamette University. By the same means he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Salem. After several years of successful practice there, during which time he was reporter for the Supreme

Court, he removed to Seattle, where he ac- quired a large and lucrative practice, was for a term on the bench of the Superior Court, and now lives in comfortable retirement. Irene Has- seltine is the youngest daughter and child. She married Parrish L. Willis, a well known and wealthy attorney of Portland, Ore. He has rep- resented his district as a member of the state senate and been an efficient promoter of many local enterprises by which the welfare of the city has been advanced.

Of this large family of twelve children-for two sleep in Indiana-Charles Carroll was the sixth. Stimulated by the example of his older brother, reinforced by his own tastes, he resolved early in life to become a scholar, as that term was then understood, and moved by his moral convictions to become a minister. His plans were postponed and somewhat marred by the unwillingness of his mother to go to the Pacific coast without him, as money which he had begun to lay aside was spent in the journey to the Pa- cific and he had to make the best of the imperfect educational advantages of the young state. His first season was spent with his brothers Horace and Milton in aiding his father on the new farm in the Umpqua valley where the family first settled. Then he joined a surveying party in the mountains for several months. The net proceeds of this service were less than $200, but with this he started for Salem, the seat of the newly chartered Willamette University, at that time the most promising of the two or three in- stitutions, of large name and hope but slender facilities, within reach. Being an expert penman he was able to supplement his inadequate means by writing one-half of each day in the adjutant- general's office and by this means remained in school. This continued until the sophomore year, in 1858. His classmates at this time were J. A. Odell, T. L. Davidson, Roswell L. Lamson and James Carey. For different reasons these young men had to leave the institution and he, being left alone, was advised by President F. S. Hoyt to leave the school for the present, enter the Oregon conference for which he was pre- paring, bring up his studies as he best could, and graduate later. This advice he pursued, and took his final examinations and received the de- gree of A. B. from the university in 1869, at thirty-six years of age. Meantime he had been pastor in Dallas, Roseburg, Jacksonville, Oregon City, Olympia and Portland and was at that time pastor in Salem.

In 1860, while pastor in Roseburg, he had married Julia Elenor Waller, daughter of Rev. A. F. Waller, one of the carly missionaries sent out to evangelize the Indians of Oregon. Those who knew the sterling qualities of Father Waller during his lifetime, and the equally sterling qual-

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ities of Elepha Waller, his wife, will not need to be assured that Dr. Stratton found in his wife a worthy helpmate. To them have been born two children, Mary Elepha and Harvey Gordon, who are still with them.

The year following his graduation Dr. Strat- ton was elected to the chair of natural science in his alma mater, but was dissuaded by Bishop Ames from accepting, and received the appoint- ment of presiding elder of the Portland district. Up to this time he had been for six years secre- tary of the conference, but this appointment for- bade his re-election. In the fall of 1871 he was selected by his conference to represent them in the general conference, which met in Brooklyn in 1872. This was the first general conference wherein lay delegates were admitted, and as the episcopate was to be strengthened and it was finally decided to elect eight additional bishops, the session was of more than ordinary interest. He has been a member of two general confer- ences since, in 1880 and 1892, but thinks this one altogether the most interesting in his experience.

On the way to and from the general confer- ence Dr. Stratton stopped off at Salt Lake City, and soon after returning to Salem, where he now lived, a telegram was received from Bishop Fos- ter appointing him to the First Methodist Episco- pal Church in that place. The three years which followed were years of great activity and de- voted especially to completing the building of the First Church there and setting forward its religious interests. This was the third pronti- nent church enterprise with which he had been identified, viz., the First Church of Portland, still the hive of Methodism there; the First Church, Salem, toward which he had secured over $20,000 on subscription, laid the corner- stone and begun the superstructure, and now the Salt Lake City Church. At the end of his pas- torate there he transferred to the California con- ference and was appointed to the pastorate of the First Church in San Jose. Here were spent two quiet and useful years. Before the end of the second year he was elected president of the University of the Pacific, many of the students and most of the faculty of which had been his parishioners during the two years of his pas- torate there. The next ten years were full of responsibility and services, with some degree of success, as well. The year following his election to the presidency of the university lie was re- quested to organize and lead the Chautauqua movement on the Pacific coast. On the death- bed of Bishop E. O. Haven he designated Dr. Stratton as his literary executor, to edit and com- plete an autobiography, at that time about half clone, and to publish, if the demand should justify. selections from his sermons and university lec- tures. The autobiography was completed and

published at once ; the sermons and lectures await a more encouraging market. Meantime the uni- versity and the Chautauqua associations made steady progress; and the university buildings, catalogues and financial statements of that period bear testimony to its substantial improvement.

At this time Dr. Stratton's excessive overwork began to tell upon his health and symptoms of paralysis led him to listen to the advice of his physician, Dr. Wythe, to resign both as presi- dent of the university and as leader of the Chau- tauqua movement. Every reasonable induce- ment was held out for him to remain, especially in the university, and these inducements were renewed after the retirement of Dr. Hirst, his successor there, and after his own return to Oregon, but considerations on the other side overbalanced them and he persisted in his resolution. During this period of educational work Dr. Stratton was especially remembered by fellow educators, the degree of D. D. hav- ing been conferred by the Willamette, Ohio Wes- leyan and North Western Universities. He is also a life director of the National Educational Association. Soon after this overtures began coming from his friends in Oregon, and espe- cially from President Van Scoy of Willamette University, looking to his return to his early field as chancellor of that institution. All of these letters contained information that a plan was on foot which had taken definite shape at the last session of the Oregon conference, by the appointment of a large committee of influential members to confer with a similar committee to be designated by the trustees of the university as to the selection of a more suitable point and site for the institution. In this correspondence Portland was the point generally favored, espe- cially by Dr. Van Scoy. All of this preceded Dr. Stratton's return to Oregon and was in- tended to pave the way therefor. His selection as head of Willamette University; his return to Oregon ; the action of the joint committee above referred to in selecting Portland as the point for the building of what was intended to be a great university ; the ratification of this action by an overwhelming majority of the Oregon confer- ence and the refusal of the trustees of Wil- lamette to accept the report of their own com- mittee are matters of history.

It was not in contemplation that Willamette University should cease to be an educational center or that its property should be interfered with, but that its grade should be changed, that it should be affiliated with the larger and better located central institutions, in common with other institutions to be located in different parts of the state and northwest was proposed.

The organization of Portland University, the selection of trustees to represent the business lay

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element of the northwest, the alumni of the in- stitution, and the Oregon, Puget Sound, Cohim- bia river and Idaho conferences, the election of H. W. Scott as president of the board, and, not- withstanding his many engagements, his accept- ance of the trust with his accustomed public spirit, the election of Dr. Stratton as president of the institution, the selection of the site at University Park, the purchase of the land, the organization of the Portland Guarantee Com- pany to endorse the bonds by which the lands were to be paid for, the early promise of the school, the failure of its finances under the collapse of 1894-5 and 6 are known to all. But it is not so well known that the sales of University Park property during the years 1892-3 and 4 were sufficient to provide for the interest on the total indebtedness, the redemption of the bonds at maturity and leave a large sur- plus in land for permanent endowment. The lands were sold on contracts and were to be paid for in one, two and three years. On account of the pressure of the times and the decline of prices, payments on these purchases defaulted in shoals. After a time this general defaulting of purchasers of property resulted in the stop- page of interest payments on bonds. Then fol- lowed legal complications and the property finally passed into the hands of one of the religious orders of the Catholic Church. The influences which operated against the payments for the lands sold at University Park tended to stop the collection of subscriptions toward the Uni- versity building fund. Many thousands of dollars in pledges which had been depended on to meet payments on contracts with build- ers defaulted. In order to protect the credit of the University, President Stratton drew on private funds while they lasted and then used his credit until it became necessary for him to retire from the University and look after the wel- fare of his family. All of these matters have been dwelt upon with so much detail because they were so intimately related to the life of our subject. The fate of Portland University he sometimes speaks of as his crucifixion. It has in a measure turned him aside from his chosen call- ing and shadowed the closing years of his life.

Dr. Stratton's family still reside at University Park, while most of his time is spent in Chicago, until he can complete his plans and retire to the rest befitting his years and to the home circle for which he longs.

DAVID POWELL. Several years hefore the emigrants crossed the plains to California in search of gold there were various trains of settlers who penetrated into the northwest and reclaimed this region for the uses of the white

races and the purposes of civilization. It re- quired great personal courage and determina- tion to do this, but they were brave men and true who came, and they have left as their last- ing monument the great state of Oregon. Among the number who were early settlers was David Powell, and his name should be endur- ingly inscribed on the pages of Oregon's his- tory. He died April 8, 1887, but the character of his life and work is seen today in the advanced civilization of this region. He was born in Pike county, Ky., March 15, 1814, and was the eldest in a family of four sons, the others being James, Jackson and John. All emigrated to Oregon in 1847 and all are now deceased.

David Powell was educated in the common schools of Kentucky. His father died when the son was but a small boy, and being left without means of support he had to earn his own liveli- hood, depending entirely upon his own efforts for all that he possessed and enjoyed. In 1837 he removed to Missouri, accompanied by his wife. He had been married in Kentucky and by that union had five children: Leonard J., the eldest, died in Seattle, Wash., leaving a fam- ily; Mrs. Susan F. Webb, a widow, is living in California and has a family; Sarah A. is the widow of H. C. Hill, of East Portland, and has one son; John Wesley died in Oregon in 1862; and William died on the plains. The wife and mother died soon after the completion of the six months' trip to Oregon. In 1852 David Powell was again married, his second union being with Miss Ann E. Greer, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 4, 1834, and with her parents she came across the plains from Missouri in 1852. She was a daughter of James Greer, who was a farmer. and settled in Kings valley, in Polk county, locating a claim there. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-two years, and his wife was eighty-eight years at the time of her death. Of their family three daughters and a son are yet living: Ann E., who is the widow of David Powell, and resides in Palo Alto, Cal .; George, a farmer and min- ister of the Unitarian Church, residing in Dun- dee, Ore. : Rebecca J. Howe, of Dallas, Ore .. and Mrs. Fanny G. Rosebrook, of Palo Alto, Cal. All were reared in Polk county and the family is noted for longevity. Mr. Greer became well to do and spent the latter part of his life in comfortable circumstances, being not only supplied with the necessities, but also with many of the luxuries of life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

When Mr. Powell came to Oregon he secured a half section of land on 'the Columbia river. The tract was in its natural state, being entirely destitute of improvements, but he at once began

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its development and further cultivation, carry- ing on general farming and dairying. His first home was a small log cabin, but soon afterward an addition was added and in 1875 a good, sub- stantial frame residence was erected, very mod- ern for that time. He added to his land from time to time, and at his death was the owner of four hundred acres. He was a good manager, was active and enterprising, and his home was noted for its warm-hearted hospitality.

Unto the second marriage of David Powell five children were born: Nettie is the wife of G. W. King, of Palo Alto, Cal., and has one son, George; James M. died at the age of nine years; Ardella died at the age of three years; David Colvin is mentioned later in this connec- tion, and Edward L., of Portland, correspondent for the Associated Press, is married and has a daughter, Eleanor. The children attended the district schools and Edward L. is a graduate of the State University of Eugene, Ore.

In his political views Mr. Powell was a Re- publican and served as state senator for eight years, proving a prominent member of the upper house of the general assembly. He was a recog- nized leader in the ranks of his party, and his opinions carried weight into the councils of his party. He never sought office for the salary it might pay, but that he might advocate the prin- ciples he believed, and labored for the public benefit. He was deeply interested in everything pertaining to the general good, assisted in build- ing the churches of his locality, was always a friend of the public schools and served as a school director for a number of years. He fre- quently served as a delegate to county and state conventions of the Republican party, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He died at the old home place, April 8, 1887, and thus passed away one whose labors had ever been on the side of progress and of the expansion of the best interests of the commonwealth.

David Colvin Powell, to whom we are in- debted for the facts concerning his honored father, was born June 4, 1859, attended the dis- trict schools, and later continued his studies in Albany College and Willamette University. He was married in 1886, to Ida Ames, who was born in Iowa, and on coming to the west located first in California, whence she removed to Oregon. They have two children : Margaret and Blanche, both born on the old farm.

D. C. Powell rented his father's farm and carried on general farming and dairying. He remained there after the death of his father until 1901. His mother went to Dallas, remain- ing with her people until they died, since which time she has lived with her daughter in Cali- fornia. D. C. Powell purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home place, save the

portion belonging to his mother, which she still owns. This is all valuable land and it returns to Mr. Powell a good income. In 1901 he removed to Portland in order to provide his daughters with better educational privileges. Purchasing a lot at East Eighteenth and Burnside streets, he erected a modern home, in which he is now living happily with his family. He has served as school director and has ever been a warm friend to the cause of education. Like his father, he believes in progress and improvement, and his labors have ever been directed for the public good as well as his individual benefit.

GEORGE A. RIDINGS. Among agricul- turists in Clackamas county the name of George A. Ridings stands for all that is progressive, practical and thoroughly reliable. Of old Vir- ginia stock, Mr. Ridings was born in north- western Missouri, May 31, 1844, and from worthy ancestors inherits the mechanical and business ability which has brought about his success. His father, Peter Franklin, a natural mechanic, occupied a unique position after his removal to Missouri, where he owned a farm within six- teen miles of Macon City. He has qualified as a blacksmith in his native state, and on the Mis- souri farm built a shop in the early days, and there attended not only to his trade, but became the general repairer of his neighbor. At that time the spinning wheel was an important item in household management, and Mr. Ridings not only made many of these picturesque early reminders, but repaired those not in working order. He also manufactured furniture and coffins. Thus was passed his very useful and interesting life, and his death occurred on his farm in 1865, at the age of forty-nine years. He married Mary Larick, who was born in Vir- ginia, and died in Missouri in 1849, leaving three sons and one daughter, of whom George A. is the third oldest.

From his father George A. Ridings learned much in a mechanical way, and before attaining his majority was a practical carpenter and me- chanic. In 1866, at the age of twenty-one, he came to Oregon, via the isthmus, and after a couple of weeks in San Francisco, lived for two years in Portland, where he worked at carpen- tering. In 1868 he bought a farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres near Marquam, which at that time was under brush and timber, and had never been broken by plow, or utilized for the latter-day purposes of man. He has developed his place from a log house to the most modern of residences and barns, and in addition to gen- eral farming raises considerable fruit in a bear- ing orchard of five acres.

Through his marriage with Mary Elizabeth

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Milster, a native of the vicinity of Silverton, Ore., Mr. Ridings became identified with a prominent Marion county family, first repre- sented in the state in 1852. Robert L. Milster, the father of Mrs. Ridings, was born in Mis- souri, and after crossing the plains in '52 with an ox team, settled on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Silverton, Ma- rion county, where the most ambitious and use- ful years of his life were spent. At the time of his death, at the age of sixty, he was living in Silverton, the happy possessor of eight hundred acres of land, and with a fortune estimated at $40,000. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ridings, of whom Nettie is now Mrs. Custer, of Silverton; Lock is in Washington ; Hugh is a farmer in Marion county, and Ellis, Pearl and Harris are living at home. Mr. Rid- ings is a Democrat in politics. He has served as supervisor for one term, or two years, and has been school director and clerk for a great many years. Fraternally he is associated with the Grange and the Good Templars. With his wife and children he is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

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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 124

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