Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 43

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 43

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petent to judge he is said to be unrivaled in his knowledge of military tactics. Many trib- utes of praise and admiration have come to him from army officers whose opinions have the especial value of experience and thorough knowledge.

The intimate association of Major McDonell with military matters does not prevent him from maintaining an interest in fraternal or- ganizations, and we find him identified with Hawthorne Lodge No. 111, A. F. & A. M., also a member of the Uniform Rank, K. of P., in which he was at one time a lieutenant ; a char- ter member of the Independent Order of Lions, in which he has been supreme chaplain ; a mem- ber of the Portland Rowing Club, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For nine years he was a member of the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club football team and during that time was its captain for four years. In 1895 the latter club presented him with an honorary membership in apprecia- tion of services he rendered the club. An active member of Portland Lodge, B. P. O. E., the lodge that he drilled was awarded the first prize at Tacoma in 1901, and in recognition of his efficient leadership presented him with a watch charm-an elk's tooth, set with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Largely through his efforts an organization was effected known as Hampton Camp No. 202, Spanish-American War Veter- ans, and of this he served as commander for two years. At this writing he is inspector-gen- eral on the staff of the department commander of Oregon. While he is a believer in the plat- form of the Republican party and supports the same in all national elections, in local matters lie is guided by the needs of the community and the fitness of the candidates rather than by their views concerning protection and currency. In all of his work, whether official, military or commercial, he has proved himself to be a capa- ble and progressive citizen.

WILLIAM W. MYERS. Like many who have turned to the more peaceful occupation of farming after a strenuous business career, Mr. Myers finds his latter day interests con- genial, healthful and profitable. The owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land five and a half miles cast of Oregon City, a part of which was improved at the time of purchase, he has brought his property to a thoroughly desirable state, has eighty acres cultivated, eighty acres in pasture, and the balance in wild land.

A native of Howard county, Mo., Mr. Myers was born August 23, 1849, his father, Robert M., having been a native of Kentucky. The

elder Myers removed to Missouri with his parents when he was twelve years of age, and his memories in connection with the first years of residence in that state are intermingled with all manner of adventure, dne mostly to the presence of Indians in large numbers, who were likely to invade their farm at any time. Mr. Myers has just cause to feel the cruelty which was a part of the make-up of the Red men, for his grandfather was killed by the savages in a fight near Kirksville, Mo. Rob- ert M. Myers died near Macon, Mo., at the age of seventy-two years. Through his mar- riage he became identified with a fine old Vir- ginia family, the father of Mrs. Myers having been a soldier in the Colonial army under Washington. The father was a pensioner of the war, and eventually settled near Macon City, Mo., where his death occurred. Of the five sons and three daughters born of the first union of Mr. Myers, John, the oldest, now deceased, was formerly United States marshal in Portland; Clay lives in Baker City, Ore. ; and Joseph D. is a farmer in Coos county.

Aluch of the education of William W. Myers was due to his own efforts, for he earned the money with which to pay for books and gen- eral necessities, at the same time contributing his share towards the maintenance of the fam- ily. At the age of sixteen he struck out for himself, and with wagon and ox teams started across the plains April 15, 1866, arriving at his destination in Clackamas county, October 5. 1866. His first choice proved an altogether desirable one. and this county has since been the field of his various endeavors. For fifteen years he engaged in a general merchandise business in Oregon City, the many responsi- bilities of which eventually undermined his health, and tempted to an occupation which permitted outdoor exercise and more varied duties. Thereupon he purchased his present farm, a departure which has proved most grat- ifying personally, and most helpful from a community standpoint.

In Oregon City, Mr. Myers married Frances MeCarver, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of T. J. McCarver, the latter a son of Gen. M. M. McCarver, who gained his title in the Cayuse war. This distinguished Indian fighter came across the plains with his family in 1847. locating in Oregon City. In the early days he was very prominent in the west, and among other undertakings attributed to him is the partial founding of Tacoma, Wash., in which city his death occurred. T. J. McCarver died in Oregon City, having lived a very active life, in which much that was really worthy had been accomplished. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Lottie,

Thos Row

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who is now the wife of Frank Aldridge ; Thomas J .; and W. E. The sons are living at home. Born and reared a Democrat, Mr. Myers has developed into a Socialist, and has for many years taken an active part in the political undertakings of his locality. All his life Mr. Myers has been active in promoting labor organizations, assisting materially in or- ganizing the Farmers' Alliance and Knights of Labor, being secretary of the former two years. At the time of the anti-Chinese agita- tion, Mr. Myers was very active and it was largely through his influence they were ex- pelled from Oregon City. At one time Mr. Myers ran for sheriff, and later for state sen- ator and state treasurer, on all occasions run- ning ahead of his ticket. At one time he was councilman of Oregon City. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is very progressive, resourceful and popular, and his residence in Clackamas county has been prolific of all around good fellowship and large results.

HON. THOMAS ROE has been a resident of Forest Grove since 1871, and during that time has taken a prominent part in its general upbuild- ing. He was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., August 21. 1827, and lived in his native region until removing with his parents to Ohio at the age of five years. His father, Thomas. was born in North Hamptonshire, England: his grand- father, another Thomas, being a native of the same locality. With his wife and six children the father came to America in 1822, settling near Auburn, N. Y., but removing to Ohio in 1832. In the latter state he settled on a farm six miles south of Norwalk, Huron county, where his death occurred, as did also that of his wife, Anna ( Barnett ) Roe, who was born in Bedfordshire, England. Of the eight children born into the family two only survive, Hon. Thomas being the second youngest of all.

Hon. Thomas Roe distinctly recalls graduating from the district school house in Huron county, Ohio, and the grief which invaded his young heart at the death of his parents when he was between fourteen and sixteen years old. There- after he lived in Ohio with his brothers until 1847, and that year he removed to St. Joseph county. Mich., where he worked on a peppermint farm for a year. For a couple of years he en- gaged in saw milling in Lenawee county, sawing principally three by four scantlings for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. These scantlings were covered by a strap of iron and were the only rails known at that day. In 1850 Mr. Roe shared the common impulse of the time to seek a fortune in the golden west. and after

driving a team of horses from Michigan to Council Bluffs, Iowa, outfitted in that town and started over the plains by way of the Platte, May 16. On August 6 of the same year he was dig- ·ging gold at Placerville, and had no fault to find with the gold, but a diet of bacon, tough as buck- skin, was not calculated to inspire one with. optimistic views of life. Nor did his system thrive upon such questionable viands, and he was advised by a medical authority to seek a part of the country where vegetables grew and were available for consumption. Accordingly he boarded the brig Veto, bound for Portland, and in 1850 settled on a donation land claim near Monticello in Cowlitz county, Wash, and this vicinity continued to be his home for twenty vears. 'In 1856 he journeyed back to the familiar surroundings in Ohio and Michigan, returning via Panama after a delightful summer with old friends.

After coming to Forest Grove in 1871 Mr. Roe varied his town existence with the manage- ment of a four hundred and eighty acre farm near the city, although he had felt justified in getting all the enjoyment possible out of life after his many years of hard work. Since cast- ing his first presidential vote Mr. Roe has identi- fied himself with the Democratic party, and was very prominent during his residence in Washing- ton, repeating his success after coming to Ore- gon. He was in political office during nearly all his residence in Washington, served in the terri- torial legislature for one term, 1855-56, and was also county commissioner and county assessor. At the time of removal to Forest Grove he was obliged to resign from the office of county judge. On the People's ticket he was elected to the Oregon legislature in 1874, and during the ses- sion admirably served the best interests of the people who had honored him with their support. The most conspicuous feature of his legislation was accomplished with Mr. Jackson of Washing- ton county, and had reference to the completion of the state house. Although about $100,000 had already been expended upon this proposed structure the basement was still uncompleted, and its prospect of continuing to remain a basement was not questioned by any one. This reproach to western enterprise had come to be known as Grover's Elephant, and until the two gentlemen above mentioned determined to redeem its fallen reputation, the elephant basked camplacently in the sun of summer and shivered in the cold of several winters. Against the advice of his con- stituents Mr. Roe put his shoulder to the wheel and determined to do all that he could toward the completion of the building. With Mr. Jackson and others he devised means for raising addi- tional funds, with the result that Grover's Ele- phant took on dignified proportions, and was

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enabled to house the various businesses of state. quainted with the Rev. Harvey Clark and the Rev. Mr. Allen, both independent Congrega- tional missionaries. Rev. Mr. Clark and Rev. Mr. Renshaw accompanied Dr. Geiger and Mr. It is doubtful if the initiative had not been taken by these two enterprising and resourceful legis- lators if the present substantial state house had been completed up to the present time, for there . Benson to the Kaw mission, expecting to go was a bitter feeling on the part of the tax-payers across the plains, but the party's guide, John Gray, a quarter Iroquois Indian, insisted that it was too dangerous to attempt the journey with so few in the train and the party therefore re- turned to Westport. of the state and a sentiment strongly opposed to the expenditure of any further moneys in this direction. The events of later years have afford- ed ample justification for the stand taken by Mr. Roe and his co-laborers, and the spirit of op- position on the part of the less thoughtful among his constituency, against which he was forced to contend in the early years, has since given place to a universal feeling that in this important un- dertaking, as in all others, he was actuated solely by motives of an unselfish and public-spir- ited nature. Mr. Roe is a Free Soiler and Free Trader.

In Cowlitz, Wash., in 1857. Mr. Roe was united in marriage with Mary Ann Ostrander, who was born in Missouri, and whose father, Dr. Nathaniel Ostrander, a practicing physician, came to Washington in 1852. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roe, of whom Barnett Y., a graduate of the Pacific University, is a farmer ten miles south of Forest Grove; Charles Ostrander is engaged in the furniture business in Forest Grove ; and Anna is a musi- cian, both vocal and instrumental.

DR. WILLIAM GEIGER, JR. Few men were more familiar with the history of the set- tlement and improvement of the Pacific coast than Dr. William Geiger, Jr. He was born in Angelica, Allegany county, N. Y., September 15, 1816, and was a son of William Geiger, a farmer by occupation. In his native town he was reared and attended a private academy. When he was about seventeen years of age he removed with his parents to Oakville, Monroe county, Mich., where he remained from 1833 until 1837, when he started for Quincy, Ill., proceeding by steamer to Cleveland, Ohio, thence by canal boat to Portsmouth, on the Ohio river, by steamer to St. Louis, and by a small boat to Quincy, arriving at his destination after four weeks of travel. About five miles from Quincy was the Mission Institute and therein Dr. Geiger became a student, and in 1838 he made plans to cross the plains to the Pacific coast, accompanied by a schoolmate by the name of Benson. After two weeks spent in St. Louis. they proceeded by steamer to Westport, Mo., where they purchased their outfits and started to the mission on the Kaw river, hoping to catch the American Fur Company's outfit before it left there, but in this they were disappointed. While there, however, Dr. Geiger became ac-

Dr. Geiger then taught school in that locality through the winter, receiving $3 per quarter for each pupil and having from fifty to seventy-five pupils. The schoolhouse was built after he was employed and was constructed of logs, with an immense fireplace in one end of the room. In the spring of 1838 Dr. Geiger met the Rev. J. S. Griffin and they went to Independence to see Rev. Mr. Clark, who arranged to go to Cali- fornia the following spring with a colony, while Dr. Geiger was to go through and meet the party, having in the meantime decided upon a good location for the colony. In the spring of 1839 he made the long journey across the plains and had no trouble with the Indians, reaching the present site of Hubbard, Ore., September 13. Two or three days later he proceeded with his companions across the prairie to the mission on the river bank. With two companions he rode down to where Oregon City now stands and took a skiff for Vancouver.

Dr. Geiger tauglit the Indian children at the Methodist mission during the winter of 1839-40 and then started to California on a sailing vessel in the spring, stopping at the Russian settlement on Bodego bay, but the Russians would not allow any one to leave by land from that place unless they started northward. Dr. Geiger con- tinued on to San Francisco but the authorities refused to allow him to land because he had no passport. He then went to Honolulu, where he taught school for about eight months, re- ceiving $30 per month. In February, 1841, hav- ing procured a passport, he left Honolulu on the American ship Lausanne for Monterey, and later went in a coaster to San Francisco, which was then a small place. The Hudson Bay Com- pany had a double log house there, and there was a combined saloon and billiard hall and a partly finished hotel, containing about one hun- dred people, fully half of whom were transients.

After a short time at San Francisco, Dr. Geiger went across the bay to a point opposite the embryo city and securing some cattle took them up the river to Sutter's Fort, where he remained until the spring of 1842, and in the mien itime surve, ed Captain Sutter's claim for hin: d had charge of the fort while the cap- tain It to Monterey for supplies. He gave to Dr. ( 'ger for his services land three miles

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square, situated in the forks of the Yuba and Feather rivers, but in the spring of 1842 he traded everything he had to Captain Sutter for horses and mules and started for the states. The party with which he was traveling deter- mined to go by the northern route and as he wished to go by the southern route he left the party at Bear river and proceeded to the head of Salt Lake and then to Fort Hall, but danger from Indians and lack of food caused him to turn back. In August, 1842, Dr. Geiger went down the valley. He sold many of his horses and mules to the emigrants, but took the re- mainder down the Willamette valley and for a while he lived with Alvin T. Smith, near Forest Grove. In October of that year, in compliance with a letter from Dr. Whitman, he started to take charge of his mission, remaining there dur- ing a part of 1842-43, or until Dr. Whitman's return in the fall of 1843. Before this he had secured a donation claim where the town of Salem now stands, but gave it up later because it was wanted by a Methodist mission. He next secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres south of what is now Cornelius. He was married in this state in 1847, and then engaged in farming, also further continuing, under Dr. W. N. Griswold, the study of medi- cine, which he had first taken up some years before under the direction of Dr. Whitman. He began the practice of homeopathy in Forest Grove in 1864, and was undoubtedly the pioneer homeopathic physician of the Pacific coast.

Dr. Geiger served as clerk of Washington county while Oregon was still a territory, and was afterward county surveyor for several years, 'having excellent ability in that line. He sur- veyed and laid out Forest Grove and the Bux- ton cemetery, and from the time of his arrival in the northwest took an active part in its de- velopment. He was an honored member of the State Medical Society of Oregon, in which he served as president.

Dr. Geiger was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Cornwall, a native of the south, and a sister of Rev. J. A. Cornwall, a Presbyterian minister located at Sodaville, Linn county, Ore. The father, a preacher in the same denomina- tion, resided in Arkansas for many years and brought his family to this state in 1846, travel- ing by way of the southern, or Applegate route, as one of a large party, by ox-teams. In the fall of 1847 he came to Forest Grove, taught school that winter, and in the following sprin removed to Yamhill county. He was .. panied by his wife and five children, and 'heir supply of food becoming exhausted, they u, ter- went intense suffering. The party separated at Fort Hall, Idaho, some of the families going

through to California, and the remainder ac- companying the Cornwall . family through Ne- vada and southeastern Oregon, traversing the Humboldt valley for some distance. They spent the winter in the Umpqua valley, stopped for a time in the Chehalem valley and in the spring of 1847 Mr. Cornwall secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres four miles south of McMinnville, on South Yamhill river. Mr. Cornwall afterward went to California and spent his last days near Ventura, where he died at the age of eighty-one years. He married Nancy Hardin, who was born in Davisonville, Ark. Her father came from Kentucky and served as sheriff of his county, while her grand- father was a hero of the Revolutionary war and died at the advanced age of ninety years. Mrs. Cornwall died in Eugene, Ore. In her family were nine children: Elizabeth; Joseph, a min- ister at Sodaville; Narcissa, of Walla Walla, Wash .; George, of Idaho; Laura, of Walla WValla ; Angelica, wife of A. C. Shim, of Seat- tle, who was the first white child born at Forest Grove; Adamson and William, who are in Ari- zona ; and Neal, a resident of Berkeley, Cal.

Mrs. Geiger was only seventeen years of age when with her parents she crossed the plains. They were on the way for more than six months and spent the winter in the Umpqua valley, where they were without bread, but there was plenty of wild game and they had forty-nine deer. During part of the winter, however, they were without salt. The father built a small cabin on Applegate creek and they remained there until spring, when in May they proceeded to the Willamette valley. Indians would visit them and pry around the house and on one ocea- sion the father showed them a trunk filled with books, and they did not then molest the other trunks, thinking, probably. that they were also filled with books, for which they had no use. On the 5th of October, 1847, Elizabeth Corn- wall gave her hand in marriage to William Geiger and unto them were born nine children : William Cornwall, who was born August 5, 1848, and now resides in Heppner, Ore .; Sarah Elizabeth, born May 1, 1850, and now the wife of Capt. James Magee, of Coos Bay; Charles Edwin, who was born March 20, 1853, and is a practicing physician of Forest Grove ; Millard Fillmore, who was born April 14, 1857, and died August 23, 1881: Fremont Lincoln, who was born May 27. 1860, and resides in Cornelius, Ore .; Wolcott Webster, born September 23. 1862; Ella, born June 28, 1865, the wife of .S. B. Huston, of Hillsboro, Ore. ; Laura Belle, born September 18, 1869, now the widow of William Wells of Forest Grove; and Hubert Hahnemann, who was born August 9, 1875, and is a graduate of a dental college of Chicago,

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Ill., and now a practitioner of his profession in Montague, Cal.

Dr. Geiger and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding, having traveled life's journey for a half century, in 1897. Almost four years passed before they were separated by death and then Dr. Geiger was called to his final rest, June 16, 1901. He was a con- sistent Christian who held membership with the Presbyterian Church and in many ways he aided his fellow men, so that the world is better for his having lived. His wife holds membership with the Methodist Church, and no record of the pioneer women of Oregon would be com- plete without mention of Mrs. Geiger.

GEORGE V. ADAMS. The three hundred and twenty acre farm of George .V. Adams in Clackamas county has no superiors in its immediate neighborhood, or in fact anywhere in the county. When it is known that of the original claim two hundred and twenty acres are under cultivation, one may arrive at an idea of the patience and industry of this very popular and successful farmer. The value of the land is materially augmented by a rural residence of more than ordinary appearance and comfort, and by barns and outhouses con- structed after the most modern and up-to-date designs. Everything about the farm suggests order, neatness and wise management, an im- pression intensified by the abundant harvests and all around general farming success.

A native of the vicinity of Oneida, Knox county, Ill., Mr. Adams was born March 2, 1861, a son of W. D. Adams, a complete record of whose life may be found in another part of this work. The mother of George V., a daugh- ter of Michael Loveridge, was born in Eng- land, and when quite young came to Illinois with her parents. Her father was a veterinary surgeon by profession, and his entire active life was devoted to this humane occupation. Mr. Loveridge spent his last days on a farm near Molalla, Clackamas county, Ore., where he died at the age of eighty-two years. George 1. is the second oldest in a family of eight children, and he was educated in the common schools. At the age of sixteen he was appren- ticed to a carpenter under his father, and was thus employed until assuming his present farming responsibilities in 1885.

The wife of Mr. Adams is Kate, daughter of Oliver Robbins, the latter of whom is a very prominent farmer of Clackamas county, and owns a splendid farm of seven hundred and sixty acres. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Adams, Bertha. Edna and Ofa, all of whom are living at home. Mr.

Adams is a member and past steward of the Grange, and is at present serving as a school director, having been elected on the Demo- cratic ticket. He is one of the popular and in- fluential men of this county, and lends a moral, agricultural and social support to all of its undertakings.

PROF. H. L. McCANN, one of the well known educators of Oregon, and whose home is in Parkplace, Clackamas county, was born near Wabash, Wabash county, Ind., July 3, 1860. The family of which he is a member was established in America by the paternal grandfather, Alexander, who was born in the North of Ireland, and with his older brothers settled in North Carolina, where he engaged in farming for many years. At a later period he removed to Union county, Ind., where his death occurred at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Joseph Mc- Cann, the father of Prof. H. L., was born in Union county, Ind., and was a farmer during his entire active life. In 1879 he removed to within twenty-five miles of Wichita, Butler county. Kans., where he improved a farm of six hundred and forty acres, and upon which he died in 1892, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Fannie Brown, born in Indiana, and whose father, a farmer, died when she was quite young. In the family were four sons and two (laughters. of whom one daughter died when young.

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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 43

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