Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 125

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 125

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WALTER F. BURRELL. Through his constant and intimate association with social and commercial activities in Portland, .Walter F. Burrell has gained a wide acquaintanceship and an assured standing, due not alone to the honor accorded to the bearer of the well-known pioneer name of Burrell, but given him on account of his personal worth and force of character. A lifelong resident of Portland, he was born in the city where he still resides, February 13, 1863, and received a fair education in its grammar and high schools. On leaving school he was taken into the business house of which his father was the head, and there he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details connected with the handling of agricultural implements as a jobber. On the death of his father, the latter's interest in the agricultural implement business was sold, and the son took charge of the estate and the development of the property and farm land belonging thereto. Much of this country property was accessible to railroads and therefore open for settlement and cultivation. To its improvement he gave considerable atten- tion, and with good results that the value of the land was considerably enhanced. Special atten- tion was given to the estate in Whitman county, Washı., a famous produce country, where the family now own over twelve thousand acres, all under cultivation. On this vast estate a specialty is made of wheat-raising, which is conducted so systematically that Mr. Burrell finds no diffi- culty in maintaining a close personal oversight

of the entire work. In addition he is interested in the North Pacific Lumber Company, which is engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and was also one of the organizers of the Portland Wool- en Mills, with plant at Sellwood.

The residence owned and occupied by Mr. Burrell is a commodious house on Hawthorne avenue. His wife, Constance, is a daughter of J. B. Montgomery, an old settler of Portland, where she was born and educated. The three children comprising the family are Alden Frazar, Louise and Douglas Montgomery Burrell. In religious views Mr. Burrell is a Unitarian, while in politics he believes in Republican principles, and socially is connected with the Arlington Club. For a year he held office as a member of the board of public works, but at the expiration of that time resigned in order that he might de- vote his attention wholly to commercial activities.

HERMAN BETHKE. An instance of the success which awaits the enterprising German- American citizen in Oregon may be found in the life of Herman Bethke, who is numbered among the energetic and resourceful citizens of Ore- gon City. A native of Kreis Schubing, Posen, Germany, he is a son of Carl and Wilhelmina Bethke, both deceased. In the family of two sons and three daughters, one son and two daugli- ters are now living. Herman was born April 17, 1852, and received such advantages as the schools of Germany afforded. With this knowledge to aid him in starting out for himself. he took up the active duties and responsibilities of life. While still a mere boy he had learned the butcher's trade under his father, and for some years he traveled as a journeyman butcher through dif- ferent parts of Germany. When twenty-three years of age he opened a market of his own in Posen, where he continued in business for five years.

With a desire to seek the wider opportunities offered by America, Herman Bethke crossed the Atlantic in 1880 and settled in Auburn, N. Y., where for four months he was employed in a reaper factory. In the fall of the same year he removed to St. Peter, where he worked at the butcher's trade. After two years he bought out his employer and then continued the business for himself, carrying it on for four years. His next location was in Minneapolis, where he started a butcher shop. In 1890 he came to Port- land and opened a shop on the east side, which he conducted for two years. A later location was in Oswego, where he engaged in the butcher business. In 1899 he came to Oregon City and bought out a meat business, which he has since conducted, although he has since removed to a new shop on Main, corner of Seventh street.

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To aid him in his business he erected a slaughter house one and one-half miles out of town. In his shop he uses electrical power for the grind- ing of sausage and other meats, and has other improvements of the most modern kind. Be- sides his business property, he is the owner of an orchard of seventeen acres.

Before leaving Germany Mr. Bethke married Bertha Meabs, who was born in Posen. They have four children, namely : Lucy, of Spokane ; Carl, who assists his father in the shop; Hadie and Otto. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Bethke has voted the Republi- can ticket. Fraternally he is connected with Os- wego Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Improved Order of Red Men and Independent Order of Foresters.

HENRY WEINHARD. In enumerating the names of those men who have contributed to the progress of Portland through their wise over- sight of private business interests, their assist- ance in bringing about the erection of substantial business blocks, and their aid in matters affecting the welfare of the people, mention belongs to the proprietor of the City brewery, who is not only one of the pioneer residents of this city, but one of the most progressive and influential as well. Of German parentage, he passed the years of his youth in Lindenbronn, Wurtemberg, Germany, where in 1830 his birth had occurred. On leav- ing school he was apprenticed to the brewer's business. On arriving at manhood and carefully weighing the arguments, pro and con, in relation to immigration to America, he decided to cast in his lot with the people across the ocean, where he believed a poor man had a better chance to rise than in Germany. In 1852 he came to the United States, and at once secured employment at the brewer's trade in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent several years. Reports concerning bright openings on the Pacific coast led him, in 1856, to make the long voyage, via the isthmus, to the far west, where for six months he followed his trade in Vancouver, Wash.

From the latter city Mr. Weinhard came to Portland in 1857, and in partnership with George Bottler established a brewery on C and Front streets. The beginning of the enterprise was sınall, and as the weeks passed by the growth was not sufficient to satisfy Mr. Weinhard, who there- upon disposed of his interest in the plant and returned to Vancouver. In 1862 he came back to Portland, of which he has since been a resident. On his return he bought out Henry Saxton's brewery, First, near Davis street, but in 1863 re- moved to his present site, where he bought a tract of two blocks and the few small buildings of

George Bottler's small brewing plant, all being very crude. The encouragement which met his business efforts induced him to enlarge from time to time, and he erected new buildings adequate to his needs at that time. However, so rapid was the growth of the business that other measures were necessary in order to secure desirable facili- ties for the rapidly growing business, and finally he erected a brick building covering the entire block, establishing therein the plant of the City brewery, which is the most modern, up-to-date brewery in the northwest. The bottling depart- ment is located in large, adequate buildings oppo- site the brewery on Couch street, while the com- modious stables were located on Thirteenth street. Every modern improvement was introduced which Mr. Weinhard's experience proved to him was necessary for the production of a first-class prod- uct. During the years that have since elapsed he has continued at the head of the brewery. its sole proprietor, and the impelling force rendering pos- sible its constant and gratifying financial success. It is a matter of pride with him that the output of his brewery is of the highest grade of excellence. Everywhere along the coast Weinhard's beer is recognized as unsurpassed by any other native product of its kind. In his opinion the secret of his financial success is to be attributed to the fact that he maintains a high grade of excellence, never permitting any inferior article to be manu- factured or sold in the markets. Doubtless an- other reason for his prosperity is to be found in the fact that he has adhered to high principles of honor in all of his business transactions.

Those who know Mr. Weinhard personally recognize the fact that the management of his brewery does not represent the limit of his ener- gies. Many other avennes have been found for his activities. He is a man of great enterprise, always active and busy, finding in his various in- terests of an outside nature a needed relaxation from the details of the brewery business. Per- haps in no direction has he been more helpful to the welfare of Portland than in his building in- terests. A number of buildings have been erected by him during the period of his residence in Portland, the latest of these (completed in 1903) being a substantial and large business block. In the fall of 1890 he erected the Grand Central Hotel, which covers 95x100 feet on Third street. corner of Flanders street, five stories in height besides a basement, the whole heated by steam, lighted by electricity and furnished appropriately and with modern improvements.

After coming to the west, in 1859, Mr. Wein- hard married Louise Wagenblast, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. They are the parents of two daughters. Annie C. and Louise H., the for- mer of whom is the wife of Paul Wessinger, and the latter is the wife of the Hon. Henry Wagner.

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While maintaining a deep interest in municipal and national issues, Mr. Weinhard has never al- lied himself with any political party, but main- tains independence of thought and views concern- ing candidates and measures before the people. Mr. Weinhard was made a Mason in Willamette Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Portland, and is a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, and the Manufacturers' Association. In 1888 he made a trip to Germany, visiting the scenes of his early home, besides visiting other parts of the continent.

REUBEN GOUCHER, M. D., an eminent medical and surgical practitioner of Mulino, and a resident of Oregon since 1880, was born in Ripley county, Ind., April 14, 1832. His father, Samuel, was born in New Jersey, as was also his mother, Jane Elizabeth (Van Zile) Goucher. The father was a wagon manufacturer by trade, and in young manhood emigrated to Indiana, settling near Versailles, where for sixty-one years he plied his trade of wagon-making with considerable success. He was one of the best known characters in his neighborhood, and his work was as reliable as his character and word. He married his wife in Essex county, N. J., and to them were born seven sons and one daughter, of whom there remains but two sons, David and Reuben, the latter of whom is the second young- est in the family.

Left an orphan when a mere child, Dr. Goucher was fortunate in securing a good common school education, and being surrounded by refining and uplifting influences. Having finished his train- ing at the high school, he entered the Eclectic Medical College of Louisville, Ky., where, after taking two courses, he went to the Eclectic Med- ical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating therefrom June 10, 1854. He immediately re- turned to the scenes of his boyhood days in Ripley county, Ind., where he engaged in prac- tice for three years, and was very successful. In the meantime he had developed a pioneering spirit which strengthened with the passing of time, and in 1857 removed to Iowa, where he re- mained for two years. Iowa did not meet his expectations as a field for practice, and in 1859 he decided to push on further west, locating in Genoa, Neb., where he combined practice with a general merchandise business. 1865 found him in Wright county, Iowa. From there he re- moved to Jackson county and in 1866 he lo- cated at Elk, Marion county, Kans., which con- tinued to be his home until 1878, in which year he located at Fredonia, Elk county, Kans.

Dr. Goucher became identified with Oregon in 1880, his means of transportation being by mules and wagons, and his family accompanying

him to the new Eldorado. He bought sixty-three acres of land adjoining the town of Mulino, which has since been his home, and upon which he has combined farming with medical practice. He also owns eighty-five acres of land in what is called Eldorado, Ore., as well as eighty acres near Canby, making in all three farms, the greater portion of which are under cultivation. With him on his trip across the plains came the wife of Dr. Goucher, who was Katherine, daughter of Joseph Setzer, natives respectively of Sandusky county, Ohio, and the state of Pennsylvania. Mr. Setzer was a blacksmith by trade, and fol- lowed the same for his entire active life, his life being spent in Ohio, Kansas, and again in Ohio, where his death occurred at an advanced age. One child has been morn to Dr. and Mrs. Goucher, Jennie, who is a dressmaker in Oregon City. Dr. Goucher has held several important political positions within the gift of his fellow townsmen, his Republican constituents having elected him school director for three terms, cor- oner of Clackamas county for one term, and road supervisor for onc term. He is fraternally as- sociated with the Blue Lodge of Masons, and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

COL. CHARLES PAULSON HOLLO- WAY. Few more strenuous lives are represent- ed in Oregon than that of Col. C. P. Holloway. whose very youthful ears were attuned to the crash of musketry, the din of battle and the hardship of the march in the Civil war, and who thereafter stepped directly into his chief life oc- cupation, scarcely less dangerous and exciting than war, with the government mail service in the west. A contradiction is presented between the adventurous life of this scion of his house and his Quaker ancestry, invariably associated with the peace and harmony of life. He was born in Richmond, Ind., October 10, 1849, his family having been established in this country by his paternal great-grandfather, who came from England with his Quaker simplicity and faith and located in North Carolina. His son, David, the paternal grandfather, was born in North Carolina, and was not only one of the pioneer farmers of the vicinity of Zanesville, but also cultivated a wilderness farm in Wayne county, Ind., where he died at an advanced age.

Hon. David P. Holloway was born in Zanes- ville, Ohio, and by virtue of superior intellect- ual endowments was destined to fill a substan- tial place in his home environment. A college man, and a printer by trade, he became editor of the Richmond Paladium, and while thus em- ployed represented his district in the legislature, being elected to congress in 1878. For some time he was registrar of the United States land

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office, and in 1860 was appointed commissioner of patents, a position maintained until his resig- nation at the time of Johnson's inauguration, and brought about through his want of sympathy with that administration. Afterward Mr. Holloway engaged in the practice of law in Washington until his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. Fraternally he was a Mason, and like his father found his religious home among the Society of Friends. Jane Ann (Paulson) Holloway, the mother of Col. Charles, was born in Newport, Ind., a daughter of Charles Paulson, a native of England, and for many years a farmer near New- port, Ind. Mrs. Holloway, who died in Rich- mond in 1864, was the mother of eight children, of whom two only are living. It is to be regret- ted that this devoted mother died ignorant of the extent of the warlike achievements of her sons, or of their subsequent honorable and accomplish- ful undertakings as civilians.

In common with his brother, Colonel Holloway, William R. Holloway is worthy of mention as a man of leading characteristics, and is at present consul-general to Russia, with headquarters at St. Petersburg. During the Civil war Mr. Hol- loway was assistant adjutant general with Gen. Thomas Wood, and was several times wounded during the service, notably at Shiloh. After con- valescing he rejoined the service, and served for the rest of the war as a member of the sanitary commission of Indiana. Locating in Indianapolis, Mr. Holloway became the editor of the Daily Journal of that city, and for twelve years played a prominent part in moulding pub- lic opinion. At the same time he filled the posi- tion of postmaster of Indianapolis, resigning therefrom because of a change of administration. Subsequently he assisted in the organization of a colony that bought ten thousand acres of land in Fitzgerald, Ga., whither he repaired as editor of the Daily Evening News. His journalistic la- bors were terminated because of his appointment to St. Petersburg, in which city he has since lived. He is a member of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army of the Republic.

When not quite thirteen years of age Colonel Holloway ran away from parental opposition in Richmond, and enlisted in Company C, Seven- teenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered in as a drummer boy February 22, 1862. He drummed inspiration into the regiment at the battle of Greenriver, Ky., but at Shiloh threw away his drum and seized the gun of a fallen comrade. Thenceforth he was a soldier in the true sense of the word, and as a little fellow, brimful of enthusiasm participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chatta- nooga, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, and to the relief of Knoxville. In the Georgia campaign he was present at Dallas, Dalton, Resaca, Peach

Tree Creek, Pumpkin Corners, Buzzard Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Lovejoy and Jonesville; was in the Atlanta campaign and the battle of the Wilderness, and eventually turned over their mounts to Kilpatrick, and were sent to Jonesville for fresh mounts. Accomplishing their mission, they returned for the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and as part of Wilson's Cavalry, attempted the capture of Forest and Wheeler, taking part in the battles of Ebenezer Church, April 1, Selma, Ala., April 2, at the capture of Macon receiving their first intimation of the close of the war. The regi- ment was then ordered out after Jeff Davis, and having accomplished the capture of the noble rebel leader, were returned to Indianapolis, Ind., in August, 1865, and were mustered out August 15, 1865. Thus a boy less than thirteen started in on what was to be a memorable military ex- perience, terminating before he had attained to sixteen. From a drummer boy he moved on to be quartermaster sergeant of his regiment, and once discharged for promotion, an honor denied him by Governor Morton.

Following the war Mr. Holloway lived in Indiana until November, 1865, when realizing the limitations by which he was surrounded, he embarked at New York for the west, reaching San Francisco in February, 1866, by way of Nicaragua. Almost immediately an opening was found with the Wells-Fargo Overland Stage Company, with which he began at the bottom, and finally attained to the dignity of stage driver. His course lay over the precarious route of California, Oregon and Idaho, and he was with the company until the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company ran their line between Baker and Huntington. Few not familiar with the country can realize the danger connected with this kind of life in the west, nor the thrill- ing possibilities of disaster lurking in a stage coach drive from the head of the San Fernando valley to Idaho, with a number of passengers and a valuable cargo. In 1884 Mr. Holloway joined the railway mail service, and his association with this organization was prolific of most thrilling adventure and hairbreadth escapes. Up to 1898 he had been in no less than eleven wrecks, in all of which his cars were totally disabled, but in not one of which he suffered bodily injury. This immunity found an exception at La Grande, where he was injured in putting out a fire, on which occasion his car took a roll of forty feet.

The exceptionally successful mail service of Mr. Holloway received substantial recognition in 1898, when he was appointed superintendent of mails of the Portland postoffice, a position since maintained with such credit as would be possible only with his extended experience. While connected with the stage and railway serv- ice Mr. Holloway was active in Grand Army

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affairs, and assisted in the organization of about eleven different posts in different parts of the west. He organized, among others, the U. S. Grant Post No. 17, of Huntington, and was commander for four years ; and he is now identi- fied with the Sumner Post No. 12, of East Port- land. He was department commander of Ore- gon during 1898-99, and has been junior vice department commander, serving also for two years as chief recruiting officer of Oregon. In political affiliation Mr. Holloway is true blue Re- publican, and since the beginning of his voting days has stanchly upheld the best tenets of his party. His family consists of his wife, formerly Bessie Herren, whom he married in Hailey, Ida- ho, and who was born in Sligo county, Ireland ; and one child, Mamie.

CHARLES SMITH. The New Grand Central Hotel has been ably conducted by Charles Smith since November, 1902, at which time it was newly furnished throughout. The hotel is advantageously located on the corner of Third and Flanders streets, is 100x100 feet ground dimensions, and is five stories high, with basement. Mr. Smith was born at Auburn, De Kalb county, Ind., July 18, 1852, his parents having but two other children, of whom George W., a hardware merchant of Lebanon, Albany and Salem, successively, died in the latter town. His father, Job C., was born in Jersey City, N. J., in which state his grandfather, Job Cooley, was also born, six generations being traced to different sections of New Jersey. The father, a millwright by trade, was a very early settler of DeKalb county, Ind., and he built a mill near Auburn, which he ran for many years, and which was one of the pioneers of its kind in that section. While in Indiana he enlisted for the Civil war in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, as first lieutenant, and after a long and meritorious service engaged in the drug business in Auburn. In 1868 he disposed of his drug stock and came to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama, and was so well satisfied with the prospects for business and residence purposes that he returned the following year for his fam- ily, going the same way as he came. In 1869 he outfitted for the more tedious return to the west by way of the plains, mules and horses taking the place of the old time ox teams. In Portland he purchased seven acres of timber between Twelfth and Sixteenth streets on east Oak street, cleared his land and settled down to the raising of strawberries. As the city built up around his property he found his quarters too small, and removed to Mount Tabor, where he purchased fifteen acres, and devoted the remainder of his life to raising all kinds of small fruits. His

death occurred June 14, 1897, and he left to his heirs the heritage of a good name, the example of a life well spent, and quite a comfortable little property. A Republican in politics, he was never actively before the public as an officeseeker, but chose rather the quiet life of an horticulturist. As a soldier he was identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. Phoebe ( Wilson) Smith, the wife whom he married in his young man- hood, was born in Michigan, and died in Indi- ana.

Charles Smith was a young man when the family crossed the plains, and after settling on the little ranch in Portland he assisted his father in clearing his land, and at the same time made up for a limited education received in the public schools of Indiana. He finished at the Portland high school, and studied at Professor Pratt's private school for a year, and then apprenticed to a tinner and plumber by the name of Gordon, in East Portland. Having

com- pleted his trade, he went to Sacramento, Cal., for seven months, and from there went to Hollister, Cal., and engaged in the hardware business. While there he married Bertha M. Harris, a native of Massachusetts, and daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Gallup) Harris, na- tives of Rhode Island, the former born in Prov- idence. The father of Henry Harris, Capt. John Harris, a native of England, was a sea captain and was lost at sea when his son was nine years of age. Henry Harris was a comb manufacturer in Leominster, Mass., and came to California in 1873, engaging in the hotel business at Hollis- ter. At the present time he lives in Portland, and though eighty-nine years of age is hale and hearty. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts, but was not pressed into the service. Mrs. Harris came from a fine New England family, was married in 1838, and is now seventy-nine years of age, just ten years younger than her husband. She is the mother of four children, three of whom are liv- ing. Mrs. Smith is prominent socially and fra- ternally, being associated with the Eastern Star, of which she is past worthy matron; the Woman's Relief Corps, of which she is past of- ficer ; and the Woman's Club, of which she is a charter member. Formerly Mrs. Smith was connected with the Ladies of the Maccabees. . She is the mother of four children, of whom George J. is secretary of and holds a half interest in the Columbia Ice Company ; Pearl is the wife of John R. Dodson of Circle City, Alaska; Daisy C. is a stenographer, and Raymond is a ma- chinist with the Columbia Engineer Works.

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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 125

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