Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 30

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 30

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a large mill at Brechin, Scotland ; James, mana- ger of a large clothing establishment at his home place : William, foreman in a brass foundry at Plainfield, N. J. ; Agnes, now married and mak- ing her home in Paterson, N. J. ; and Elizabeth, who lives in Scotland. All received an educa- tion in the public schools of the town in which they lived, but the parents being in straitened circumstances the children were compelled at a youthful age to become self-supporting. On leaving school at the age of twelve years, John A. Anderson became a laborer in the mills, where he remained for three years, in the mean- while attending the night school of the town. When fifteen he apprenticed himself to Alex- ander Gordon for a term of four years, intending to learn the carpenter's trade. After a period of two and a half years Mr. Gordon died, and the indenture ceased. Mr. Anderson then went to Dundee, where he worked in a shop for about a year, when he conceived the idea of going to sea, engaging as carpenter on the whaler Arc- tic, under the command of Captain Adams, and sailing in 1873 for the waters about Newfound- land. Their first voyage lasted for three months, being a search for seals, and with bountiful re- turns for the time spent the ship returned to Dundee. In October of the same year he made another trip to St. David's straits after whales and this was also a financial success, and in Feb- ruary he was once more in Dundee, disembark- ing from the one to enter upon a cruise on a small bark called the Mary Low, which made a trip to the west coast and returned to Antwerp with a cargo of nitrate. A fourth and last trip was made to Cardiff, where a general cargo was loaded for San Francisco, and after a passage of two hundred and twenty-eight days that port was safely reached. Desiring then to terminate his relations with the ship's company, Mr. Ander- son was paid for his services, and coming ashore, he at once sought and found employment as pattern-maker in the Union Iron Works of that city, where he remained for a year.

Coming to Portland at the close of that time, in October, 1876, Mr. Anderson secured work in Vancouver barracks, as carpenter in the quar- termaster's department, remaining for four years on a comfortable salary, when he came into the city of Portland and found employment with the Oregon Furniture Company and re- mained with them uninterruptedly until 1895. holding various positions in the factory. In that year he entered upon his present business, which is that of a shipwright, and though estab- lished on a small scale it has been the work of only a few years to bring it to the present remu- nerative proportions. He now employs from thirty to forty men in season and plies his trade on the Willamette river sailing vessels, his loca-

tion having been since his entrance into the busi- ness at No. 246 Ash street.

In 1882 Mr. Anderson married Miss Mary Jane Williams, a native of Iowa, and the daugh- ter of Robert Williams, who came from Iowa to Oregon and served in the quartermaster's de- partment for years, now living in retirement at Vancouver. The daughter crossed the plains with her parents in 1867. Mr. Anderson erected a modern and handsome home at No. 397 Twelfth street in 1901, and there he and his wife enjoy their domestic life. In August, 1892, Mr. Anderson made a trip to the old country, where he spent about a month among the scenes of his boyhood. His business has the merit of being interesting as well as remunerative, as he comes in contact with people from all parts of the world, his own keen, broad mind responding to this means of growth as it has always done, this having really been the means of his early education, combined with a wide and well- directed reading which has made him a well informed man, in touch with the events of the day and alive to the interest which they excite. In politics Mr. Anderson is a Republican, and though importuned many times to accept office he has always declined, though giving his best efforts to the upbuilding of the local govern- ment. Fraternally he is a charter member of Web Foot Camp, No. 65, W. O. W., and also belongs to the British Benevolent Society. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years he has been an active worker in Hall Street Church, there officiating as steward. In church and charitable work he has always been a liberal sup- porter, and in all public movements giving both time and money to the advancement of those he deems worthy of his advocacy.

HERMANN H. BOGE. A résumé of the developers of Washington county would be in- complete without due mention of the worth- while agricultural efforts of Hermann H. Boge, who has a well improved farm six miles south of Hillsboro. Mr. Boge inherits a liking for farming, his grandparents and parents having spent their active lives following this occupation. His father was born in Germany and came to America about 1849, his wife joining him in the new location the following year. The parents settled in Illinois, near Quincy, where Hermann H. Boge was born June 3, 1858, he being the oldest of the four children in the family.

In his youth H. H. Boge was reared to farm- ing, and received his education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-four he started in at independent farming upon the old place, which he rented four years, and of which he

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made a great success. He then came to Oregon and bought the farm of eighty acres south of Hillsboro, where he lived for nine years, and then sold. Thereafter he settled upon his pres- ent farm, six miles south of Hillsboro, and has in the meantime made many fine improvements, including a commodious residence and modern barn. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and in addition conducts a thresher, bailer and chopper.

Mr. Boge is independent in politics, and inva- riably votes for the best man for the office, rather than party. For four terms he has served as school clerk, and during that time materially ad- vanced the cause of education in his neighbor- hood. October 17, 1889, Mr. Boge was united in marriage with Anna Weiler, who was born in Hancock county, Ill. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boge are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

FRED BENFIELD. The life of Fred Ben- field, one of the successful agriculturists of Mult- nomnah county, has been a varied one, and it has been his privilege to circle the earth three times, and to associate with the people of many climes. Like so many who breathe the salt laden air of the Shetland Islands, and who have before them an early example of seafaring existence, he started out upon a life before the mast at the early age of eleven. Born in these far northern isles, February 13, 1843, his first years were passed in his native surroundings and at Sea Beach, and his first venture upon the seas was as a cabin boy. His watery fortunes led him to New York the winter after embarking upon his first trip, and he then came west to San Fran- cisco, from where he started away on a sailing vessel for China. After diverse happenings in different ports and seas he found himself in Chicago, Ill., in 1861, and for the following ten years exerted his nautical knowledge and extend- ed experience upon the Great Lakes.

After coming to Oregon in 1875 Mr. Benfield located in Portland, and after two years and a half of different kinds of employment home- stcaded forty acres of land near Latourell Falls. To reach this property he came up the river on a scow to Rooster Rock, and with his family oc- cupied the new and uncultivated land for about ten years. He then purchased a right and home- steaded his present place of forty acres, upon which he has made extended and modern im- provements, and carried on general farming on a large scale. An important factor in his success has been the help and encouragement of his wife, who was formerly Charlota Wilkie, and who be- came the mother of eight children, two of whom are deceased. In the order of their birth the

other children are as follows: Robert, David, James, Ida, Lewis and Annie. Alice and Jessie both died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Benfield has variously served his county as an office holder, and has creditably filled the posi- tions of road supervisor and school director. He is independent in political affiliation, invar- iably taking the part of the organization which he thinks best represents the interests of the peo- ple. He is a member of the Grange, of which he has been treasurer for three years.

JAMES S. BACON has earned his own living since nine years of age, and his suc- cess as a farmer and merchant in Columbia county is due solely to the practical experi- ence gained in the hard school of self tu- ition. He was born in Hillsdale, Mich., Decem- ber 28, 1843, and in 1846 removed with his par- ents to Morris, Ill., where he lived with the other members of the family until 1852. The father was a man of considerable ambition and discern- ment, and in the spring of 1852 started overland with his family and possessions, the trip consum- ing about six months. The family remained at St. Helens, and the father took himself down into the mines of California, where he remained for some time. However, his children saw him for a short time in 1853, a year after his depart- ure, when he returned to bury his wife, who did not long survive the change of climate and sur- roundings.

On a farm in Columbia county, and at Deer Island, James S. Bacon received the greater part of his early training, and at the age of nine be- gan to earn his own living as a farm hand. After five years of this kind of work he also went to California, but after a year in the mines became disillusionized as far as mining was concerned. and resolved to turn his attention henceforth to other parts of the country. In Columbia county, Ore., Mr. Bacon farmed for about five years before going to the mines in Idaho in 1863, and after two years in the latter state, returned to Columbia county, where in 1865 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth McNulty. Of this union nine children were born, as follows : Jennie L., Mrs. Miller, of Portland: Mary E., wife of Capt. J. E. Copeland, of Portland : Ida N., Mrs. Edward Collins, of Portland; Annie M., Mrs. Charles Hart, of Hood River. Ore .; James A .. a resident of Columbia county ; Ella and Jesse W., both of whom reside in Portland, and Walter S. and Ethel, the two latter still at home with their parents.

After his marriage Mr. Bacon located on a farm of one hundred acres near Warren, and managed the same with considerable success until starting a mercantile business in Warren in 1891.

Jeda Bancroft

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At the same time he has attended to the affairs of the government, and in the management of the postoffice has given general satisfaction. He has also held the offices of school director and road supervisor, and in the latter capacity has made many improvements on the public highways. Though not a party man, yet his general fitness for official service has made him the choice of both political parties. Fraternally Mr. Bacon is identified with Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., of St. Helens, and as past master he represented his lodge at the grand lodge. A broad minded and enterprising man, Mr. Bacon exerts a wide in- fluence in all matters of general interest in his community.

HON. FRED A. BANCROFT, postmaster of Portland, ex-state senator, and until Feb- ruary 28, 1903, freight agent for the Southern Pacific Company in Portland, is descended from Puritan ancestry, the family having been established in Massachusetts bay col- ony during the first half of the seventeenth century, not long after the landing of the May- flower. Many members of the family have be- come conspicuous in the various walks of life, not only in New England, but in other sections of the country. His paternal great-grandfather held a lieutenant's commission in a Massachusetts regiment in the Continental army during the Rev- olutionary war, and died at an advanced age in his native state. A son of the latter, Azariah Bancroft, a native of Granville, Mass., became the founder of the family in Licking county, Ohio, in which locality he was a very early pio- ncer farmer. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. His son, William W. Bancroft, father of the subject of this brief memoir, was like- wise a native of Granville, Mass., and a man of rare intellectual attainments. He was grad- nated from the Cincinnati Medical College and from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. While still a comparatively young man he became identified with Granville, Ohio, where he enjoyed a very successful practice for many years without interruption ; and there he died, among the friends he had made by reason of his numer- ous fine personal attributes and profound profes- sional knowledge. His wife, formerly Anna Wright, was born in Granville, Mass., a daughter of Spencer Wright, a lieutenant in the war of 1812 and a pioneer farmer and tanner of Gran- ville, Ohio. She also came of Revolutionary stock, her paternal grandfather having held a commission as lieutenant in the Continental army, in which he served with distinction. The first American ancestors of the Wright family were Puritans, and were intimately connected by blood with the historic Cooley family. Of the

eight childern born to William W. and Anna (Wright) Bancroft but two are living, and of these a sister, Mrs. Stella Suksdorf, resides in San Diego, Cal. The eldest son, W. W. Ban- croft, served for six years as clerk in the United States district court at Walla Walla, Wash. His death occurred in San Francisco in 1889.

Hon. Fred A. Bancroft was born in Granville, Ohio, December 7, 1849. After completing his studies at the Granville high school, he entered the academy at Claverack, N. Y., where he com- pleted his preparatory course. He subsequently took the freshman and sophomore courses at Den- nison University at Granville, Ohio, leaving that institution in 1869 to go to San Francisco, via the Isthmus of Panama. In San Francisco he was first engaged to work for his cousin, Hubert Howe Bancroft, well known in later years at the historian of the Pacific coast, in whose book and stationery store he had charge of the school books and supplies. In 1871 he traveled in Europe for about six months. Upon his return to San Fran- cisco he assumed his old position, where he re- mained until 1872. In the latter year he came to Portland, where he established a book and sta- tionery store; but after eighteen months of in- creasing prosperity he sold out the business to Gill & Steele. In 1874 he became a clerk in the local office of the Oregon & California Railroad in East Portland, filling the position for about eighteen months. In 1876 he was appointed freight and ticket agent for the same company in East Portland. When the Portland station was established in 1880 he was transferred to this agency, and has occupied the post since that time continuously. While in 1876 but eight men were employed in this department, he had the su- pervision of about one hundred men at the time of his retirement March 1, 1903.

In politics Mr. Bancroft has always been iden- tified with the Republican party, to whose inter- ests, national, state and local, he has been ardently devoted. For one term he served in the city council of East Portland. In 1892 he was elected to the state senate, serving during two sessions. During his incumbency of the office he was instru- mental in securing the enactment of the bill mak- ing an appropriation for the maintenance of the Oregon National Guard, an institution which, up to that time, had been sadly neglected by the state ; and of the bill making a substantial ap- propriation for the Oregon State University. He was also the author of the bill providing for ten per cent. installment payment of assessments for street improvement and sewer construction in Portland. On January 8, 1903, President Roose- velt transmitted to the United States senate the nomination of Mr. Bancroft to the office of post- master of Portland, to succeed Allen B. Croasman. The nomination was confirmed January 13, and

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Mr. Bancroft assumed the duties of the office March I following. This appointment was made after a prolonged controversy, during which the partisans of the rival candidates, one of them the incumbent of the office at the time, were very active, one faction bringing every possible in- fluence to bear upon the president to secure the retention of the official then in office. Mr. Ban- croft's petition was signed by thirteen hundred and sixty-seven voters of Portland, and his can- didacy was warmly supported by United States Senator Mitchell and Representatives Tongue and Williamson.

Fraternally Mr. Bancroft is identified with Willamette Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., and with the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Commercial Club. He was married June 1, 1876, to Anna, daughter of A. G. Cunningham, of St. Louis, Mo., where she was born. Her father, a native of North Carolina, was for sev- eral years secretary of the Atlantic & Mississippi Steamship Company. In 1871 he removed to Portland, where he became secretary of the Ore- gon & California Railroad Company during the period when the construction of the road was in progress, but resigned his post after its com- pletion. He then originated the present Bull Run waterworks of Portland, had the survey for the system made, began its construction with his own private capital, but eventually disposed of it to the city. During the Civil war Mr. Cunning- ham was for a time in command of a Federal transport upon the Mississippi river. Four sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft : Arthur, deputy clerk of Multnomah county ; George, employed in the United States custom house in Portland; Harold and Alan.

In conclusion it is but just to make a record of the fact that Mr. Bancroft has frequently given abundant evidence of the possession of a high public spirit, and a desire to contribute of his influence and his means toward the success of all worthy movements calculated to advance the material interests of Portland and the state of Oregon. His career should be an inspiration to the ambitious young men of the present genera- tion whose sole capital in their first steps toward the solution of the problems of life is their energy. industry and such native capabilities as nature may have bestowed upon them. For it was with these resources alone that Mr. Bancroft embarked upon his business career, and the position he has attained in this country of boundless resources is the result of his own unaided efforts in that direction.

C. B. BUNNELL. As a farmer and stock- raiser C. B. Bunnell has maintained the agricul- tural prestige of Clackamas county, and has

come to the front in promoting any enterprise calculated to elevate the general tone of the con- munity. He is one of the many sons of Ohio who have brought their conservative eastern training to leaven western enthusiasm and chaos, and in so doing has won an enviable reputation for desirable personal characteristics. A native of Portage county, Ohio, he was born August II, 1832, his father, Charles, being a native of Ontario county, N. Y.

Charles Bunnell was reared on his father's farm in Ontario county, N. Y., and after the latter's death he continued to live with his mother until his marriage. With his newly wedded wife he removed to Ohio in 1831, bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Portage county, which constituted a portion of the western re- serve. In 1848 he took up land in Winnebago county, Ill., near Rockford, and lived thereon until removing to De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, in 1856. Near De Witt he bought two hundred acres of land upon which he lived and farmed until 1865, in which year he sold his farm and broke up housekeeping. In 1871 he came to Ore- gon, for a part of the time living with his son, C. B. He married Margaret Barlow, who was born in Massachusetts, a daughter of Nathan Barlow, who also was born in Massachusetts and who was a distiller of herbs by occupation, his death occurring in his native state at the age of about fifty-five years. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell, six sons and six daughters, of whom C. B. is the oldest.

During his youth C. B. Bunnell followed the fortunes of his family, lived in Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa, and was one of the large train that wound its way across the plains in 1853. On this memorable occasion there were thirty-six wagons, representing twenty-five families, Mr. Bunnell being accompanied by his brother, Albie M. The band of emigrants experienced many of the deprivations and dangers incident to land travel in those days, and the Indians gave many demonstrations of hostility and ill-will. Mr. Bunnell settled in Clackamas county in 1856, and the same year married Louise Jane Crow, a native of Missouri, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1847. Her father, George Crow. was born in Germany, settled in Missouri, and in Clackamas county bought a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, where he lived until his death in 1852, when hetween sixty and sev- enty years of age. He was a farmer all his active life, and managed to accumulate quite a property. On his farm Mr. Bunnell is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and makes a special- ty of gardening. When he purchased the tract of forty acres it was all wild land, but he now has thirty-five acres under cultivation, while the remainder is used for grazing. He also owns

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one hundred and thirty acres in Washington county, near Tigardville, which is mostly im- proved, and which is rented to tenants. Mr. Bunnell has filled many positions of trust in the community, and as a Democrat has served his county as road supervisor for two terms in this, and one term in Washington county, and he has also promoted the cause of education as a school director in both Clackamas and Washington counties. He is a member of the Grange, and is variously identified with social and business af- fairs in his neighborhood.

The first wife of Mr. Bunnell died in Clacka- mas county at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving six children, the order of whose birth is as follows: Orrila, now Mrs. Taylor, of Port- land; John Frederick, a farmer and stock-raiser of Klickitat county, Wash .; James and Frank, also farmers in Washington; George, also residing in the same state; and Amanda, Mrs. Goetz, of New Mexico. The present wife of Mr. Bunnell was formerly Lucinda Jane Hicklin, a native of Washington county, Ore .. and daughter of William, born in Indiana, and who came across the plains in 1847. Mr. Hicklin settled on the Tualatin river in Washington county, Ore., improved his claim, sold it, and returned to Kansas, where his death occurred. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bunnell, of whom Ralph is deceased ; Elmer W. lives with his father: Irene and Alvin B. are deceased ; Bertha V. is at home, as is also Lydia J.

CHARLES L. BROWN. A man of marked ability in musical circles is the present director and manager of Brown's Military Band and Or- chestra of Portland, which has gained a wide- spread and well deserved reputation through a uniform excellence in the rendition of an un- usually brilliant repertoire. Charles L. Brown, who has been a resident of Portland since Janu- ary 27, 1889, with the exception of a few years in the intervening time, was born in Livermore, Androscoggin county, Me., July 3, 1853, a son of Reuben P. Brown, who was a farmer and died at his home in 1866. Mr. Brown was educated in the public schools of his native state until he was fifteen years of age, an apt pupil in his studies. He inherited a musical talent and at an early age he began to show the possibilities which lay before him in musical fields, learning when quite young to play the violin and cornet with remarkable proficiency. When fifteen years old the plan of older heads was to educate him in some useful trade and thus fit him for his part in the problems of the day. Obediently he went to Boston and entered upon an apprenticeship as a mechanic, remaining so engaged for two years, though he never completed the work. During

this time he had kept up his musical education, and being now older and more competent to de- cide for himself as to his life's vocation he came to the conclusion that his talent would be more remunerative than an uncongenial employment at a trade.

For several years following this decision Mr. Brown traveled with various musical and the- atrical companies, always as a leader of orches- tra, in this way acquiring an education not found in any book. In 1879 his travels had taken him to Colorado, where, around Leadville, mining had just opened and business was in a flourish- ing condition, and there he decided to locate, with a partner establishing a store dealing en- tirely in musical merchandise. He continued so engaged for three years, meeting with prosper- ous returns, but at the close of that period he sold to his partner and again entered the musical fields, in which he remained actively engaged until January, 1889, when he came to Portland and secured the leadership in the principal the- ater of the city, conducting the same for about a year. At this time the Marquam Grand had just been completed, and Mr. Brown was en- gaged by Manager Hayman to furnish the or- chestra for the new theater. This position he ably maintained for four years, when he spent one year in San Francisco, and there joined a mining company and went with them to Peru, remain- ing in South America for two years. At the close of that period he returned to his chosen profession, locating in Portland. He has always been looked upon as a leader in various move- ments in his calling and in 1898 he was the founder and organizer of the Portland Sym- phony Orchestra, and for three yearse acted as the conductor of the same. By combining his business ability and musical talent he has suc- cessfully carried through many difficult enter- prises that have reflected credit upon himself and those associated with him. In all the movements toward the organization of bands he has taken a leading part as well as maintaining them, and today Brown's Military Band and Orchestra is the leading musical organization of the city. His idea has always been to give the people the best talent that could be obtained and his band has given indisputable evidence of this in their pro- ductions.

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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 30

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