Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 50

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 50

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SAMUEL SWIFT. As in the heyday of youth men long for the giant possibilities within the borders of cities, so in after life, with faculties matured and illusions vanished, they again gravi- tate towards those ceaseless activities which whet their interests, and tune their hearts and minds to a more than bountiful present. Such an one is Samuel Swift, strong in mind and character. brave and resourceful in emergency, and since

August 27, 1850, a resident of the great state of Oregon. Cherishing a pride of birth scarcely exceeded by any of his friends in Portland, and which is hardly understood outside the confines of New England, Mr. Swift is descended from paternal ancestors who pursued their various occupations in the snug and picturesque country of Wales, while on the maternal side he inherits the wit and resource of the children of Ireland. Born in Middlebury. Vt., August 21, 1821, he is a son of Samuel Swift, born in Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., and who died in Mid- dlebury, Vt., at the age of ninety-three years.

Samuel Swift the elder was a father of whom any son might be proud, and whose life gave out encouragement and hope to all with whom he was associated. The son of a Congregational clergyman, he came honestly by his love of knowledge and his desire to ennoble his manhood by more than ordinary exertion. A graduate of Dartmouth College, and the oldest one living at the time of his death, he strove to advance the cause of education, not only as a member of the board of trustees of his alma mater, but as a promoter of the public school system of Middle- bury, to which he removed as a young man. He became prominent in Vermont politics, was county judge for many years, and served as clerk of Addison county for thirty-three years.

During the war of 1812 he was secretary to the governor of Vermont. He led a very active and in many ways rare life, as became a thoughtful, conservative and cultured member of Ameri- can aristocracy. Through his marriage with Mary Young, who was born in Connecticut in 1800, and who died in 1842, ten children were born, of whom Samuel and Edward only are living, the latter being an attorney and business man of Detroit, Mich. Of the other children in the family George S., who was judge of the recorder's court of Detroit for twenty-seven years, died in that city at the age of seventy-four. A man of more than ordinary ability, and one of the most prominent and representative citizens of Detroit, his death was mourned by all with whom he had come in contact. The papers of the city in an editorial way praised him highly, and it is conceded by all that no one was more sincere in the performance of duty than was he. At his death the bar of the city adopted resolu- tions of respect. For three years he had been an invalid and by special legislation he was given an assistant to carry on the work of the office. Frederick was a soldier in the Civil war and died of fever during the service at Harrison's Land- ing; Charlotte married Matthew Gordon and lived to an advanced age.

Equipped with a common school education, Samuel Swift, Jr., left home in 1837, taking with him to Illinois a robust constitution, and deeply seated ideas of riglit and wrong. After a short stop in Alton he went to work for a man who conducted a general merchandise store in Macou- pin county, and eight months later went to live with an uncle who had recently located in Knox county. While thus employed on an average sized middle west farm he became interested in the developments in the far west, and April 23. 1850, set out on a journey of seventy-five days to California. Departing from prescribed cus- tom he availed himself of horse rather than ox- teams, and owing to feeding and caring for his faithful friends, was enabled to make an average of forty miles a day. Going by way of Salt Lake City he was personally introduced to Brig- ham Young, but otherwise his westward way was uneventful nor hindered by Indian attacks or severe illness. After a month spent in the mines of California he came to Portland in a sailer that was twenty days between ports, and after a short time in Portland he went to Oregon City and worked at whatever presented itself in the way of a livelihood. Soon afterward the warehouses of Hedges & Barlow were completed in the town, the first to be erected above the falls. Mr. Swift became interested in this venture, was a partner until disposing of his stock in 1854. and at the same time was local agent for the first line of boats to run above the falls and on the upper

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river. Retiring from the agency and warehouse he located a claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Harrisburg, Linn county, improved the place, and engaged in a large stock business for many years. When the grass had been eaten off the ranges he turned up the ground with a plow and put in grain in large quantities, this be- ing his principal source of reventie as long as he remained there, which was until 1860. Mr. Swift next improved a place near Junction City, and later on improved a farm not far away, remaining on the same until 1878. The same year Mr. Swift moved to Eugene and purchased an inter- est in the Eugene Flour & Milling Company, aided in the management of the same until sell- ing out in 1892, in which year he purchased his present home in Portland. Though since living retired, he is ceaselessly interested in the moving panorama around him, intelligently noting the municipal, political. industrial and educational growth, and never for an instant regretting the good fortune which directed his ambitious young steps to the northwest.

Like the majority of the pioneers of the west, Mr. Swift has not proceeded towards success single handed, but owes much to the practical as- sistance and unfailing good fellowship of a de- voted wife. He married three years after com- ing here, in 1853, Sarah Carson, who was born in Indiana, and died in Portland in 1894, at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Swift came to Oregon with her parents in 1853, having received a common school education in her native state. She became the mother of two children, of whom George C., born in Linn county. December 16, 1854, died in that county in 1891. He was a farmer and stock-raiser, and left a son, Samuel, who is living with his mother in Astoria. Fran- ces is the wife of Dr. E. G. Clark of Portland, and has two children, Dorris and Gordon. In national affairs a Republican, Mr. Swift has never desired or worked for office, although he was elected justice of the peace in Knox county, Ill., when twenty-one years of age. He is a member of the Third Presbyterian Church, and of the Oregon Pioneer Association.

SAMUEL WOLFER. Numbered among the Oregon pioneers of 1863 and among the present progressive farmers of Clackamas county is Samuel Wolfer, who was born in Harrison county, Ind., February 16, 1839, being a son of Rudolph and Katherine ( Vocht ) Wolfer, natives respectively of Ohio and Wurtemberg, Germany. His father, who was a printer during the early part of his life, eventually turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. For a time he made his home in Pennsylvania and from there moved to Indiana. but nine years later settled in Bethel,

Shelby county, Mo. In 1863 he crossed the plains to Oregon, driving a mule team, while his sons drove the oxen. For some years he has made his home in Aurora, this state, where he is now living retired from active pursuits. His wife came to the United States with her parents and settled in Pittsburg, Pa., where she met Mr. Wolfer. Her death occurred in Oregon in 1881. In her family there were seven sons and four daughters, of whom Samuel was next to the oldest. He received meagre educational ad- vantages and from an early age was dependent upon his own efforts for a livelihood. At the age of twenty-five years he began to manufac- ture shoes, combining that trade with farm pur- suits, and having his home first in Bethel, Mo .. and later in Needy, Ore. The property of which he is now the owner comprises seventy-five and one-half acres, of which thirty acres are under cultivation, the balance being utilized for the pasturage of stock. With the exception of four acres in hops and four acres in potatoes, all of the tillable land is under general farm products.

The marriage of Mr. Wolfer was solemnized in Aurora, Ore., and united him with Margaret Vogt, who was born in Palmyra, Mo. Her father. Andrew Vogt, a native of Switzerland, came to the United States with his family and settled in Palmyra, Mo., later removing to Bethel, same state, where his daughter met the gentleman whom she later married in Oregon. During 1866 the Vogt family crossed the plains to Oregon and settled at Aurora, Marion county, where Mr. Vogt continued to follow the wagon- maker's trade in which he had previously en- gaged. His death occurred in Aurora about 1888. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wolfer there are four children. Phrona is the wife of Grant B. Dimick of Oregon City, this state; Katherine is the wife of Colman Marks, a farmer living near Needy; Henry A. is employed in a hardware store at Aurora; and Charles remains with his parents.

The Republican party has in Mr. Wolfer a stanch exponent of its platform. At various times his fellow-workers in the party have en- deavored to secure his consent to run for local offices, but to all he returns the same answer, declining to take his time and thought from home cares to indulge in the, to him, unsatis- factory field of public life. However, he is public-spirited, enthusiastic in all movements for the benefit of Clackamas county, a contributor to such projects, and in every respect a progress- ive citizen. During the Civil war he was a men- ber of the Missouri State Militia. but had been honorably discharged, although subject to call, some time prior to leaving that state for Oregon. On July 24. 1862, he joined Militia Company F. Seventieth Regiment. Later in the same year

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he was ordered out, his company being assigned to post duty in the fort at Shelbyville, Mo .. where it remained about ninety days. Mr. Wolfer's attention is given closely to the im- provement of his place, and it is a matter of pride to him that he is the possessor of a sub- stantial and commodious residence, of modern construction. His barns, too, are of a substan- tial character, his granaries are large, and his dryer is excellently adapted to his hop industry, in which, like many of his neighbors, he is to some extent interested. Mr. Wolfer was for- merly a member of Hubbard Post No. 59, G. A. R., but has transferred to Needy Post, which has since disbanded. At one time Mr. Wolfer served as commander of the post.

FRANCIS HARVEY MONTGOMERY. To an altogether creditable life Francis H. Montgomery added the distinction of a long war service during the Rebellion, and many years of educational work and farming. He was born in Gentry county, Mo., July 19, 1842, his father and mother being natives of the same state. With their family of six boys the parents came to Oregon in 1864, located on a farm, and were quite successful as farmers and stock-raisers.

In the common schools of Edinburg, Mo., Francis H. Montgomery received his prelimin- ary education, and having qualified as a teacher he engaged in educational work for a number of years in Missouri. This worthy occupation was interrupted by the more urgent demand for his services in the Civil war, and in September, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-third Mis- souri Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was promoted in due time to the rank of orderly ser- geant. Mr. Montgomery participated in many of the grewsome battles of the war, and also took part in the Grand Review on Pennsylvania ave- nue in Washington. He was mustered out in July, 1865, and upon returning to Missouri again took up his occupation of teaching. March 26, 1868, Mr. Montgomery married Sarah E. Black- wood, a native of Kentucky, but reared in Mis- souri, and after his marriage engaged in farming near Pattonsburg, Mo., continuing there until 1877.

From Pattonsburg. Mo., Mr. Montgomery came to Oregon, locating at Mountaindale, where he purchased a farm upon which his death oc- curred in 1880, leaving four children : Drusilla, living with her mother: Marcus, a telegraph op- erator ; Musetta E., living in Condon, Ore. ; and Myrtle, residing at Cornelius. After the death of her husband Mrs. Montgomery managed the farm for a couple of years, and soon after re- moving to Cornelius was appointed postmistress of the place, serving for five years. She was re-

appointed by President Mckinley, and is at pres- ent in charge of the affairs of Uncle Sam as rep- resented in her adopted town. Mr. Montgomery was a man of sterling characteristics, and made many friends during his residence in Oregon.

JACOB MUNDORFF. A recently erected and thoroughly modern rural residence marks a stage in the successful career of Jacob Mun- dorff, one of the popular and enterprising farm- ers of Clackamas county. Mr. Mundorff has in- herited from Teutonic ancestors the most reliable traits of his countrymen, traits which have played a remarkable part in the development of this great state. He was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt May 24, 1843, and is the second youngest of the six sons and two daughters born to Peter and Anna Catherine Mundorff, the latter of whom was born in Germany, and died at the age of eighty-five, and whose father, Peter, was a farmer, and died at the age of seventy-seven. Peter Mundorff was born in Germany in 1800, and in time owned forty-five acres of land, quite a good sized farm considering the part of Ger- many in which he lived. He died in 1877.

Jacob Mundorff had an uneventful childhood, and while assisting with the care of the paternal farm attended the public schools. He early evinced thrifty and industrious tendencies, and ambition induced him to come to America in 1867. He located in Albany, N. Y., and found employment in a coopering establishment, after- wards working in a brewery in Newark, N. J., for a couple of years. In Akron, Ohio, he en- gaged in the brewing business, and in 1871 was able to purchase a farm in Clark county, Ill .. consisting of eighty acres. However, he did not live on the farm at that time, but rather went to Evansville, Ind., where he conducted a brewery, and later to Quincy, III., where he worked as a cooper during the fall and winter. During that summer he returned to his farm, and for five years devoted himself to its cultivation. Hoping to profit by a change of location, Mr. Mundorff removed to Lyon county, Kans., near Americus, and thirteen miles north of Emporia, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and engaged in general farming. Four years in Kansas convinced him that it was not the place he was looking for, and in 1881 he came to Ore- gon, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land near Canby. As fine a farm has de- veloped under the energy of this model farmer as is to be found in any part of the county, and in addition to general farming he raises considerable fruit, six acres being under prunes and two acres under apples and pears. The balance of the land is devoted to hay and grain.

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In Illinois, in 1872, Mr. Mundorff married Pauline Heller, who was born in Ohio, and who is the mother of three children : Annie K., the wife of M. C. Mace of Portland; Lizzie, the wife of W. E. Camera of La Grande; and John, living with his parents. Mr. Mundorff is a Republican in politics, and has been school clerk and trustee. With his family he is a member of the Evangeli- cal German Church.

JAMES A. HANNAGEN. At present a res- ident of Liberal and one of the progressive and capable business men of Clackamas county, Mr. Hannagen was born in New Brunswick, April 13, 1861. His father, William, likewise a native of that province, born on the St. Johns river, became a ship carpenter, and for forty years fol- lowed that occupation with scarcely an interrup- tion. During 1875 he came to the Pacific coast, where his first location was in Humboldt county, Cal., and there he engaged in the building of dams and flumes, as well as in other work with which his long experience in the ship building business had made him familiar. Removing to Carson City, Nev .. he worked in the timber regions for a short period. After three years in the far west he returned to his old home in New Brunswick, and there engaged in farming. At the present time, though about seventy-eight years of age. he is still active and hearty, and personally superintends his business interests, making his home at St. Stephens, New Bruns- wick. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Doon, was born in New Brunswick and is still living. They are the parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are liv- ing, James A. being fourth in order of birth. His education was very limited; indeed, he had few advantages in his youth, and the knowledge which he has since acquired is the result of self- culture, observation and habits of reading.

When sixteen years of age Mr. Hannagen went to the Kennebec region of Maine, and worked in a sawmill on the river. After five months he proceeded to Minnesota and engaged in the lumber business in Minneapolis, as an em- plove of others. Four years later he started for the far west, arriving in Nevada in the fall of 1882 and stopping for a time at Carson City, that state. A later location was in Humboldt county, Cal., where he was employed at logging for seven years. From there he went to Butte county, Cal .. and found employment at logging. The year 1889 found him in Oregon, where his first employment was at logging. In 1897 he es- tablished his home at Liberal, where he bought out a general merchandise store and began in business for himself. During 1891 he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres

on the Columbia river, and this land is still in his possession. Politically he has never allied himself with any party, but is independent in his views, while in religion he is a Catholic and fraternally is connected with the Maccabees. His marriage was solemnized in Portland and united him with Etta L. Morey, who was born in Cat- taraugus county, N. Y., and by whom he has two children, Clyde J. and Nellie Elizabeth. Mrs. Hannagen is a daughter of Levi Morey, who was born in New York and still makes his home in that state. After a lifetime devoted to agricultural pursuits he is now in retirement and makes his home at East Randolph. Mrs. Hannagen is a capable business woman and is filling with ability the office of postmaster of Liberal, to which, May 4, 1898, she received the appointment under President Mckinley.

JOHN LEONARD. The quiet little island of Sauvie's does not boast many ranches or farms more productive or prosperous than that owned and conducted by Mr. Leonard, who for more than forty years has been identified with the up- building of this part of Multnomah county. He was born October 8, 1829, in Lafayette, Ind., and there until he was nineteen years of age he was reared upon his father's farm, dutifully as- sisting in the chores and attending the district school as opportunity was afforded him. Before he was twenty years old, however, he felt it his duty to assume the responsibility of his own maintenance, and with that idea in mind he went to McLean county, Ill., working out on a farm until 1849, in which year he went farther west, going to Ottumwa, Iowa. Buying a ranch there he settled upon it and gave his attention to its improvement and cultivation until 1852. The latter year marked the beginning of the era of his identification with Oregon's upbuilding. With a friend he equipped himself with four yoke of cattle and started to cross the plains, but before they crossed the Rocky mountains Mr. Leonard was left in solitude. his friend hav- ing died. After four months of weary, lonely traveling he finally reached Portland. At once he was impressed with the desire to locate, and taking up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Powell's valley, made his home upon it until he sold it three years later. Com- ing to Sauvie's Island about that time he pre- empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in the center of the island, and for fifteen years, or until coming to his present farm, gave it his care and attention. Besides engaging ex- tensively in the dairy business and stock-raising he devotes considerable of his land to grazing purposes. That he thoroughly understands his calling and is successful in the management of

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his large farm of one thousand acres, one needs to look but once to be convinced.

In the year 1854 was celebrated the marriage of John Leonard and Miss America Stump, and of the children born to them the following are living: Annie, the wife of Edwin Gilleham ; John P. and George, both of whom reside on the island ; Matilda D., the wife of Preston Walker ; and Andrew, who is at home with his parents. In political affairs Mr. Leonard gives the weight of his sympathies to the Democratic party. He has held the office of justice of the peace and has also been of great assistance on the school board, holding a number of important positions. About thirty years ago Mr. Leonard was nominated for the state legislature, his failure of election being caused by the fact that a large percentage of the Republicans voted in favor of high tariff.

JOHN WRIGHT SHUTE. The career of John Wright Shute, banker and land owner of Hillsboro, Washington county, has been char- acterized by extreme caution and conservatism and consequent steady growth. It may be said that the thrift begotten of industry, the positive purpose born of moral motive and the vigorous mentality that is nurtured and strengthened by upright living are the enviable heritages from Dutch ancestors who early settled in the valleys of the Hudson and the Mohawk, in New York state. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Shute fought as a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, Lewis P. Shute, was born in New York state, and there engaged in farming until remov- ing to Decorah, Iowa, six months before his death. His wife, formerly Eliza Jane Wright. was born in Schenectady, N. Y., a daughter of John Y. Wright, and of Scotch descent. Mrs. Shute, whose death occurred in New York, was the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are still living. John W. being the fourth oldest in the family. Two of the sons served in the Civil war in a New York regiment, and Alex- ander, whose period of service extended through- out the entire time, was wounded several times, and for some time was an inmate of Libby prison.

A native of Montgomery county, N. Y., J. W. Shute was born February 17, 1840, and was reared on the home farm. The limited resources of the family necessitated his assumption of early responsibility, and his arduous home duties pre- vented him from obtaining any further education in the neighborhood schools after he had reached his ninth year. In 1857 he removed to Kankakee. Ill., and in the fall of the same year started for Oregon, coming by way of New York City, Pan- ama. San Francisco and Portland. Arriving in Oregon in January, 1858, he began to work on a

farm in Washington county. Subsequently he rented land for a couple of years, and at Walla Walla valley, Ore., engaged in farming as a farm hand for one year. Returning to Multno- mah county he conducted a mercantile business and warehouse in company with C. B. Comstock and Lafayette Scoggin, their location being Springville, where they met with gratifying suc- cess. At the expiration of a year he sold out his business and located on a farm of eighty acres near the place where he now resides, and which land he still owns. To this he had added from time to time until at one time he possessed eight hundred acres, nearly all of which was well improved.

In 1888 Mr. Shute located in Hillsboro and incorporated the First National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, became its president, and remained at its head until the bank was liquidated and closed out in 1897. While he held the posi- tion of president, in 1893, many banks of the country were closing their doors, and conse- quently many of the depositors of this bank were watching with much anxiety. On July 29, of that year, one large bank of Portland and the bank at Forest Grove closed their doors. The next day being Sunday much anxiety prevailed among the depositors of the First National Bank of Hillsboro, and early Monday morning many of the depositors gathered at the bank. Five minutes before the time to open the doors for business the president opened the doors and invited all depositors who wished their money to come in. He himself then took the cashier's window and paid out the cash to the anxious depositors until half past twelve o'clock. There being plenty of cash still in sight the remainder of the depositors withdrew. satisfied that their money was in the bank and therefore did not want to draw it. That ended the run and the day wound up with more profit for the day than for any other during its time. The year follow- ing he had an exciting experience with burglars who attempted to rob the bank. While passing through a small skirt of timber a little before sundown, on his way from the bank to his home which lay about three miles distant, he was ac- costed by a band of men, at least eight in number, who tied his hands and marched him to the creek bank, and there prepared to strangle him if he did not give them the combination to the bank vault and safe. The safe having a time lock they could not get it open, and about two o'clock they desisted in their efforts and released the brave president.

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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 50

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