Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 49

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 49

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by his wife, and he made all needful and modern improvements on his really desirable and valuable property.

Margaret Elizabeth Shaver, wife of Alfred H. Shaver, was born in northeastern Missouri. June 3, 1842, a daughter of Franklin and Mary Jane (Larrick) Ridings, natives respectively of Eng- land and Virginia. Franklin Ridings came to America from England with his parents, his father, Joseph, settling in the Shenandoah valley. Va., where he practiced medicine up to the time of his death. He had thirteen children in his fam- ily, twelve sons and one daughter. After his mar- riage, Franklin Ridings started for Missouri with wagons. settled in the northeastern part of the state near Macon City, and there lived on government land, carrying on his trade of car- pentering at the same time. For many years also he engaged in a general merchandise busi- ness, and during the latter part of his life became very much interested in church and Sunday school work. This was especially true after the death of his wife, who influenced him towards such a course, and who practically turned him from a hitherto worldly and self-centered exist- ence. The vicissitudes of the Civil war proved his undoing, and he died at the early age of forty- seven years, in the prime of his usefulness and greatest activity. Four children were born to himself and wife : three sons and one daughter.

Mrs. Shaver was educated in the public schools, and married at the age of twenty-three. She is the mother of six children: William, of Molalla, a farmer and stock-raiser ; Mamie, Mrs. Thomas of Clackamas county; Mrs. Lulu Scott of Woodburn. Ore .; Wava, living at home : Ed- gar is also living at home ; and Zoe Blanch. Mrs. Shaver is a member of the Grange, and is socially popular and well liked by her many friends and :. ssociates.

HENRY A. DEDMAN. M. D. The sole rep- resentative of the medical profession in Canby is 1 ot indebted to the absence of competition for his popularity or continually growing practice, but rather to a profound grasp of an interesting sci- (nce. and tact, kindliness and humanitarianism. Dr. Dedinan comes of a family represented in Oregon since 1878. and from forefathers long identified with the state of Virginia. His pater- nal grandfather. John, was born in the Old Do- minion. where he was a large land owner and planter, and from there removed to Kentucky, continuing his agricultural enterprises. His last years were spent with his children in Missouri, where his death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-three.

Elijah C. Dedinan, the father of Henry A., was born in Indiana, and was a practicing phy-

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sician during the early part of his life, his latter days being spent in retirement near Oregon City, where he died June 28, 1895, at the age of sev- enty-eight years. Dr. Dedman came to Oregon in 1878, settling on a farm of eighty acres near Clackamas Station, and there engaged in general farming and fruit raising, having twenty-five acres devoted to the latter industry. In 1900 the government located a hatchery on Dr. Dedman's farm, selecting this site on account of its fine spring, which is exceptionally clear and always about the same temperature. The farm is now occupied by the doctor's widow, formerly Sarah E. Paddock, a native of Galesburg, Ill. The father of Mrs. Dedman, Jonathan Paddock, was born in Kentucky, and with his family took up land near Galesburg, Ill., where he lived for many years. He subsequently made his home in Missouri, but finally, in 1881, came to Oregon, making settlement near Oregon City. Here he continued to reside up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1885.

Henry A. Dedman was born in Clark county, Mo., December 17, 1864, and is the eldest of the three children born to his parents. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Oregon City, grad- uating from the high school, and in 1890 entered upon a business career as a general merchant in Portland. At the expiration of three years. he entered the medical department of the University of Oregon, from which he was duly graduated in the class of 1896. The following year he came to Canby, and has since engaged in a general medical and surgical practice, his patients com- ing from all the country round about. In 1901 he evinced his determination to keep abreast of the profession by taking a course at the Chicago Polyclinic, from which he received a certificate of attendance.

Since coming to Canby Dr. Dedman has mar- ried Anna B. Armstrong, who was born near Los Angeles, Cal .. a daughter of Charles B. Armstrong, who was born in Cape Vincent, N. Y. He later made his home in California and Oregon, his death occurring near Canby at the age of fifty-seven years. Two children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Dedman, Charles Creig and Mildred Ellen, who are living at home with their parents. Fraternally the doctor is identi- fied with the Ancient Order of United Work- men, in which he has attained to the degree of honor ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and the Rebekahs. In political affiliation he is a Republican.

THOMAS ALEXANDER WOOD. An im- portant factor in the growth and upbuilding of the city of Portland and the interests generally of the state of Oregon, is Thomas Alexander

Wood, who has been connected with western ad- vancement for more than a half century, giving of an intensely practical, earnest and enthusiastic nature in the time of a country's need.

It is impossible to pass lightly over such effective service, such devotion to the state of one's adoption, the result of which is still beyond the limit of calculation, for Oregon has by no means risen to the greatest height which she may attain in the progress of the years, and to such men as Mr. Wood is evidenced the esteem and confidence which actions like his have inspired. Possibly the greatest good which Mr. Wood has accomplished here has been through his interest in the real-estate business, having the reputation of handling more property than any other man in the city, himself purchas- ing land and laying it out into city lots and also disposing of land on a commission basis. It was he who opened the first suburb to the pub- lic, the most valuable one which he put upon the market being Sellwood. For twenty years his home was at the corner of Park and Jackson streets, and then in later years he removed to the east side, which, in the early days, was a mass of dense timber, as was also the west side. That he has been the most potent factor in this work is evidenced from the fact that he was the first man in the city to engage regularly in real-es- tate, the faith of a broad-minded, far-sighted nature leading him to see a future where many could not look beyond present desolation.

Mr. Wood boasts the lineage of a family which have kept records of their ancestry for eleven hundred years. The father, William Wood, a native farmer of South Carolina, married Re- becca McWilliams, who was the representative of the Kirkpatrick family of Scotch renown, men- tioned in the Scottish Chiefs, and from which line the ancestry is traced. The elder Mr. Wood removed to Montgomery county, Ill., in the year in which the territory became a state, locating on a timber tract and engaging in speculating. He died in that county at the age of sixty-seven years, his ancestry being of English birth. The mother, who died in 1858, was sixty years old, and the mother of twelve children, of whom four daughters and one son are still living. Be- sides Thomas A., of this review, they are as fol- lows : Mrs. Nancy J. Nelson, a resident of Baker City, Ore., who came west in 1852 from the state of Illinois; Mrs. Julia E. Opdyck, a resident of Portland: Mrs. Emily C. Helm, of Washington, who came west in 1890; and Mrs. Lenora M. Chapman, of Sellwood. A daughter by the second marriage of the father is Mrs. Mary Berry, of Chicago, Ill. They all have grown and interesting families.

The third oldest of this family was Thomas Alexander Wood, who was born in Montgomery

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county, Ill., March 1, 1837. Residing on his father's farm until fifteen years of age, he re- ceived his education in subscription schools in the state of his birth, and later attended the same class of schools in the northwest. On ac- count of failing health he came across the plains in 1852 with ox-teams and three wagons, six months being occupied in the journey. They crossed the Missouri river at St. Joe and at the close of the trip they arrived at Portland, having seen no houses since leaving the former city ex- cept traders' huts, and finding this a little town of three hundred inhabitants. The houses were small box affairs and only one boasted any plas- ter on its walls. The principal sign of life in the town was the advent, once a month, of the steamer which plied between here and San Fran- cisco. The chief industry of the times was stock- raising, the farmers having large tracts of land but with very little under cultivation. About three years later, in 1855. extensive orchards were set out and the fruit was shipped to California, bringing high prices, as fruit in those days was quite a luxury. Mr. Wood had come west with his brother-in-law, who opened a tin shop here and took up a claim near Mount Tabor.

Finding his health benefited by the change of climate Mr. Wood decided to remain here, his first business venture being the borrowing of $50, which he invested in six bushels of apples. the product of the plains, and retailed them for twenty-five cents a piece. This was certainly a judicious investment and showed the business instinct which was inherent in his nature. He soon entered the employ of Mr. Ladd as a clerk in a grocery store and worked for some time. after which he found employment in a hotel in that location. In 1856 he took up the study of law, using the books of Logan & Farrah, but two years later he gave this up and became a student of theology, returning east in December to enter Delaware College in Ohio, which, after an attendance of one year, he was compelled to leave, his health again failing. He was then licensed as an exhorter in Illinois, and in 1861. at the breaking out of the Civil war. he was dele- gated to speak at various meetings in Montgom- ery and Bond counties in the effort to win over the secessionists. He was appointed by John C. Fremont as chaplain of his bodyguard, consist- ing of two battalions commanded by Majors Hol- man and Sagonia, but after the deposition of General Fremont in the same year his services were not required. He then returned to Mont- gomery county and there married, in March. 1862, Rhoda Caroline Snell, who was born in Stanton. Ill .. the daughter of Hosea Snell, of German extraction. He was a farmer and mer- chant and died in Illinois at the age of seventy- five years. Besides Mrs. Wood, his children were

R. N., of Dayton, Ore., who came to this state in 1874. Augusta, the wife of H. E. Morehouse, of Portland, and others residing in the east.

The second trip to Oregon was made soon after Mr. Wood's marriage, his outfit this time consisting of five horses and a light, strong spring-wagon which he had made for the pur- pose. This could only carry a month's provis- ions, as they trusted to the variously located traders for supplies. He averaged forty miles per day with this outfit, but was detained at several places by high water. The Indians were hostile and were encountered at several different times. There were only nine persons in the train besides Mr. Wood, and by a little strategy he managed to avert a massacre near old Fort Hall. and then made a run of twenty-five miles into the fort. The Indians were again met at Fort Lemhi, and in addition to this trouble they had also the misfortune of the continued ill health of Mr. Wood, who was thus forced to stop sev- eral times for rest, and they did not reach Oregon until the fall of 1862. Mr. Wood then engaged in the nursery business, supplying apple trees to the emigrants, but in the following year he started a turpentine factory and met with con- siderable profit in this work, as this product was much in demand during the war. Just before the close of the war he sold out and in 1865 he took machinery for a grist mill to La Grande, Grande Ronde valley, and erected a steam grist mill, which he continued to operate for one year. when he disposed of his interests for $10,000. In August, 1867. he entered the ministry once more. taking charge of the Roseburg pastorate, and later was located at Salem, Vancouver, Dayton and Lafayette, spending about eight years in the work of the Methodist Church. Upon the fail- ure of his health and his voice he withdrew from that work, engaging then in the employment which has since occupied his time and energies and to which so much credit is due for the per- sistence and courage which have made Portland the city which Oregon is proud to claim.

Of the children which have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wood. William Hosea resides in Portland, is married and has a son and daugh- ter ; Virginia A. is the wife of E. A. Austin. and has five children living; Charles E. resides in Portland and has three sons; Emily R. is the wife of Joseph Ruckart. of Portland, and has two children : Mary is the wife of John Webb. of Portland, and has one child: John K. is still unmarried ; Nellie is the wife of Edward Moni- cal: and the youngest child died in infancy. These children were all educated in the public schools of the country and the eldest graduated from the high school. The first school at Mount Tabor was taught by Mr. Wood, for a term of nine months. In politics Mr. Wood is a Repub-

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lican but never aspired to political recognition, aiming only to give the help and interest of an intelligent and conscientious citizen. He has served as grand commander of the Indian War Veterans of Washington and Oregon for ten con- secutive years, a recognition of his own services in the time of need. In 1855 Mr. Wood joined first a company commanded by Backintosh, but they could not get arms and the governor refused to receive them for service, and he then joined the company commanded by L. J. Powell. Prior to this service he was captured in the Deschutes valley, but knowing the superstitious dread the Indians had for a crazy man, Mr. Wood pre- tended to be insane and was allowed to go his way. The Indian War Veteran Association has been organized for twenty-five years, and it was chiefly through his influence that a bill was passed, June 27, 1892, granting a pension to the survivors and widows of the Indian war, who served from 1847 to 1856, inclusive. He also organized the first board of emigration having any capital behind it, and was one of the directors of the same, and as a member of the Portland City Hospital board he was instrumental in re- ducing the debt of $112,000 to $35,000, but was afterward compelled to see the church lose the building through mismanagement when the finan- cial standing was so nearly secure. One of Mr. Wood's early ventures in the business affairs of the city of Portland was his entrance into the book store of S. J. McCormick, conducting the business successfully for three years, being then but nineteen years old. After he became a citizen of influence and power in this city he spent $40,000 to advertise the state of Oregon and the city of Portland in the eastern states, carrying out this long planned ambition in 1891. Into the suburb which was almost entirely of his own plans and management he built a railroad con- necting it with this city, bringing the fare to that of an ordinary street car service.

Fraternally Mr. Wood is a member of the Ma- sonic order, and religiously is a member of the Taylor Street Methodist Episcopal Church. It was against the odds of limited advantages in pioneer days and failing health that Mr. Wood has attained the position which is today recog- nized as one of exceptional honor even among the men who have contributed to the growth and upbuilding of the state. He has been a great student, gaining his wide knowledge through constant and tireless application, and that his efforts are appreciated is shown in the esteem and confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens.

A. S. HUNT. Since his arrival in Clackamas county in 1895. A. S. Hunt has impressed his worth upon the development of the community

of Willamette Falls, where he has creditably maintained a mercantile business, now discontin- ued, and where in 1900 he also served the inter- ests of Uncle Sam as postmaster. In addition to his town interests, this enthusiastic appreci- ator of western opportunities has purchased five acres of land adjoining the town, where he is building a home and barn, although for the greater part of the year his residence will be in Willamette Falls. The descendant of an old eastern family, Mr. Hunt was born in St. Peter, Nicollet county, Minn., August 8, 1865, and is the oldest of the nine children born to Joseph R. and Laura E. ( Bacon) Hunt, natives respect- ively of Indiana and New York state.

Joseph R. Hunt, a dentist by profession, qual- ified for his chosen calling under the efficient in- struction of L. B. Chamberlin. of Chicago, Ill. While in Illinois he enlisted for a three and a half years' service in the Civil war, and was a non-commissioned officer in Company B, Nine- teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. During the service he saw much of the terrible and grew- some side of warfare, and among the things that caused him to favor peace at all costs was in- carceration in Libby prison for a period of three months. In this historic nightmare his health became greatly undermined, and after his dis- charge in 1864 it was many weeks, and even months, before he fully recovered his health and spirits. After the war Dr. Hunt located in St. Peter, Nicollet county, Minn., where he practiced dentistry, and from where he removed to Willa- mette Falls in 1896, and is here still practicing his profession. He married Laura E. Bacon, who was born in New York, and who has proved a helpmate and true sympathizer in all his efforts for advancement.

The youth of A. S. Hunt was passed princi- pally in Minnesota, where he was educated in the public schools, and where he was appren- ticed. at the age of twenty-three, to a photog- rapher. For five years following he conducted an independent business of his own, experienc- ing considerable success as an artist and pho- tographer. In 1893 he changed his place of business to South Dakota, and was sufficiently successful to warrant opening two places of bus- iness, one at Blunt and one at Onida. In 1895 he located in Willamette Falls, Ore., where he engaged in a general merchandise business, and in 1900 managed in connection therewith the additional responsibility of the postmastership. At present he has disposed of both interests, and will devote his time to looking after his city prop- erty and to the development of his little ranch.

In Minnesota Mr. Hunt was united in mar- riage with Lois P. Perry, a native of Iowa, and whose father, Thomas Perry, a farmer, died in Montana after his retirement. Three children

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have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, Orville B .. Hazel and Gladys. Mr. Hunt is a Republican in politics, and is fraternally connected with the Maccabees and the Artisans. He is one of the broad minded, enterprising and public spirited men of his community, and enjoys the respect and good will of all who know him.

HARRY ANTONISEN. Since 1878 Mr. Antonisen has been identified with the upbuild- ing of Multnomah county, but prior to settling here he had a rather eventful life. His birth occurred in Norway October 5, 1852, and until fourteen years of age he made his home in the town of Laurvig. At this early age he was seized with an uncontrollable desire to try his fortunes on the sea, and shipped before the mast, follow- ing this life for eiglit years In 1874 he landed on the shores of America, but even yet his taste for a seafaring life was not satiated and he made several trips to sea out of New York. In 1875 he went to San Francisco by the Panama route, and the same year came to Portland For about twelve years he engaged in salmon fishing during the summer seasons, finding this a re- munerative occupation. In the meantime, in 1878, he purchased his present property in Multnomah county. near Palestine. When he bought the land it was heavily timbered and no improvements whatever had been made. By un- ceasing efforts he has cleared the entire tract. and now has thirteen acres planted to fruits, berries of all kinds, cherries, plums and pears, be- sides large quantities of potatoes.

In 1884 Mr. Antonisen married Miss Johanna Johnson, also a native of Norway. Seven chil- dren were born of this marriage, two of whom (lied in infancy. Those living are named as fol- lows: Adolph, Ella. Edward, Roy and Lillian. For six years Mr. Antonisen has been school di- rector in his district. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and fraternally is connected by member- ship with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grange.

JOHN HARMS. A résumé of the prominent German-American farmers of Clackamas county were incomplete without due mention of John Harms, who was born in the principality of Old- enburg, northwestern Germany, October 17. 1846. This same portion of the empire had been the home of his ancestors for many generations, his father, Herman, being born there in 1804, and thereafter engaging in seafaring between Germany and New York. His mother, Gretchen ( Malstead ) Harms, was born in Oldenburg, and lied in her native land in 1860.

As was the custom for all the boys of the Fatherland, John Harms was expected to earn his living from fourteen years on, and he put into execution a long cherished desire to follow the uncertain fortunes of the sea. As a cabin boy he soon found his way to Alexandria, Egypt, and thereafter made several trips to the West Indies and China, sailing before the mast for about ten years. At the age of twenty-four he took his last voyage upon the high seas on the Hertha, which landed in Portland with a Chinese emigrant cargo of three hundred and nine souls. He lived in Portland a short time and then found employment on a farm near Au- rora, Ore., and after eight months began to work on the locks at Oregon City. At the ex- piration of a year hie rented a farm for ten months, and in 1874 bought the homestead of eighty acres which has since been his home. Forty acres of this land are under cultivation at the present time, and Mr. Harms is success- fully engaging in a general farming and stock- raising business. The thrift and enterprise for which his countrymen are famed are recogniz- able in every department of his farm, neatness and order being the key note most apparent to the visitor.

In 1872 Mr. Harms was united in marriage with Gezenna Harms, of which union there were born five children : Hermann ; Mary, de- ceased ; George. deceased: Hannah; and Ded- rick. Mr. Harms is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has served as road super- visor for two years; and as school director and clerk for four years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Macksburg.

JAMES W. SMITH. Since 1897 the gen- eral merchandise store of James W. Smith has been an integral part of the business world of Macksburg. This thoroughly capable and enter- prising citizen was born in Scotland county, Mo., August 21, 1862, his father. Washington G. Smith, having been born in Kentucky. The father became identified with Scotland county. Alo .. in 1849, and from there crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, eventually spending a vear at mining with but indifferent success. Returning to Missouri via the Horn, he re- mained there until the time of the Pike's Peak excitement. where he again tried his hand at mining, with about the same results as before. Missouri thereafter continued to be his home until 1875, when he came to Oregon and located near Liberal, where he engaged in farming for two years, and then bought a farm near Macks- burg, where he lived until his death. The chil- dren born into his family are as follows: Mar- tha, now Mrs. Klingler of Macksburg; Sarah,

Schrift

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Mrs. Baty of Canby; Henry, of Canby; and James W.

The youngest in his father's family, Jantes W. Smith remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he bought a portion of the old homestead and engaged in in- dependent farming. From this peaceful life he graduated into mercantile affairs, and has since butt partially managed his farm. He married, in May, 1885, Josephine Klingler, a native of Clackamas county, who has borne him three children : Ida L., Chester H. and Lela B. Mr. Smith is independent in politics, and though never seeking or caring much for public office, has acceptably served the community as school di- rector and clerk, and as supervisor for five years. He is fraternally identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Aurora, Ore .; the Knights of the Maccabees of Macksburg; and the Grange of Molalla.

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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 49

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