Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 52

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 52

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After his marriage, October 5. 1858, Mr. Jones continued to live in Linn county until 1869, and during that year took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Scott's Mills. where he made great improvements, and which continued to be his home for fifteen years. At the present time his son, Frank, occupies this place. Mr. Jones then purchased one hundred and forty-eight acres of land two miles east of Marquam. eighty acres being under cultivation at the present time. He is engaged in general farming. and has thirty head of cattle. While living on his Linn county farm Mr. Jones took a trip into the Salmon river mining district in 1862, and was fairly successful as a miner. Two years later, in 1864, he went down into Yuba county, Cal., lived there a couple of years, leav- ing his farm in the north in care of his family. In 1870 he struck a coal mine on Butte Creek, which he still owns, and he is also interested in an asphaltum mine. Mr. Jones is a Democrat in politics, and has been road supervisor and school director. He is a member of the Grange of Marquam, and of the Sons of Temperance. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born three sons and six daughters: Mrs. Lillian Webb, living near Mount Angel ; Mrs. Minnie Thomas, a resi- cent of Marquam ; Frank, living in Scott's Mills ; Cyrus ; Mrs. Mary Albright, living in Marquam ; Mrs. Alice Quinn, of Marquam; Mrs. Nettie Albright of Marquam : Gertie ; and Joseph.

THOMAS M. CROSS. Old time farming methods find no recognition on the splendid rural property of Thomas M. Cross, unquestion- ably one of the most progressive and successful

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farmers of Clackamas county. Mr. Cross pur- chased two hundred and ninety acres of land in the bush near Molalla in 1895, and though a comparatively recent comer to this part of the state, he has already succeeded in placing under cultivation fifty acres. The balance of the land is utilized for pasture, and upon the same browse a fine grade of cattle and horses, which repre- sent but one department of a general farming enterprise, as extensive as it is remunerative. In fact the highest possibilities of farming, its most scientific development, and its innumerable resources for an ambitious and enterprising man, have been satisfactorily demonstrated in the career of this esteemed and honored agriculturist. During 1903 he completed a residence of two stories which, taken in connection with modern and convenient barns and onthouses, constitutes a fitting complement to a model rural enterprise.

A native of Oregon, Mr. Cross was born September 5, 1858, in Canby, Clackamas county, and is the fourth oldest of the ten children born to Dow and Dorcas Cross, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in one of the eastern states. Dow Cross, who was a carpenter by trade in Pennsylvania, crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1852, settling on a do- nation claim of three hundred and twenty acres in Clackamas county. In later years Mr. Cross became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which organization he exerted a wide influence for good. His death occurred in Ore- gon City at the age of fifty years. His wife lives in Gladstone, Ore., a suburb of Oregon City.

Thomas M. Cross was educated in the public schools of Oregon City, and in his youth enjoyed the refining influences of a cultivated home. At the age of twenty he married, in Oregon City, Mary Willits, who was born in Oregon, and whose father, John, was a native of Iowa. Mr. Willits crossed the plains between the east and west two or three times, and his death occurred in Damascus, Ore., at the age of seventy. After his marriage, Mr. Cross engaged in teaming in Oregon City, and at the same time managed a rented farm near the town. In 1891 he embarked on a general merchandise venture in Gladstone. and at the expiration of four years bought the farm to the improvement of which he has since devoted his energies. Mr. Cross is a Republican in politics. but has never found time or inclina- tion to fill political positions. Two children have been born to himself and wife, Myrtle and John, both of whom are living at home.

J. P. HARTMANN belongs to that class of German-American citizens that has done so much for this country. Retiring in disposition, he has

never been a seeker after publicity, but has de- voted his whole time and attention to his own bus- iness interests. Recognized by all as one of the most expert machinists on the coast, Mr. Hart- mann is at the head of one of the important indus- tries of Portland. In the mechanical world he has done much and to him is due the credit for many useful inventions. He also claims the distinction of having made the first automobile in the United States that was run on the public streets. A native of Ahlbach, Province of Nassau, Germany, Mr. Hartmann was born March 24, 1846, son of Prof. Wilhelm Hartmann, a native of Haugen, who for forty-five years was a leading educator of Germany. He passed away at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. By marriage he was united with Margaret Hilp, also a native of Nassau, who died at the age of seventy-one years. Ten children were born of this union, eight of whom are living, two of whom are resi- dents of this country, those being our subject and George.

To the public schools of Hadamar, a town of Hesse-Nassau, located on the Elbe, five miles northwest of Limburg, J. P. Hartmann is in- debted for his schooling. After he had completed the course in classics he was apprenticed to a machinist of Limburg for three years. At the expiration of this time he traveled quite exten- sively, and in 1864 entered the employ of the great Krupp gun works. Here he remained for a time, but having heard of the greater chances for advancement in America, he determined to seek a home in the newer world, and in 1865 he bade good bye to home and country and after a pleasant voyage landed in New York. Soon a position was secured and for six years he was in the employ of the Brown & Mensing Company. Of an economical nature, he saved from his earn- ings and in 1871 he opened a small machine shop of his own in Brooklyn, N. Y. Three years later he disposed of his interest in the eastern city and in the same year opened a shop in Portland. From the first he met with suc- cess and as time passed he has been obliged to add to his original shop until today he has one of the most complete machine shops in the north- west. In 1893 he branched out and began the manufacture of gasoline engines of various de- signs, but more especially one after the designs he made himself, and which is made from two horse power up. Various kinds of machinery are also manufactured, as well as machinery for other manufacturers. About seventeen years ago he built an automobile, which he ran on the streets of Portland, but was stopped by the ant- thorities. For a time the matter was dropped, but later was taken up by the oldest son of Mr. Hartmann. W. G. Hartmann, and completed, and at the present time the Hartmann automobile

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is one of the finest on the Pacific coast, has two seats and runs with wonderful smoothness and lack of friction.

Mr. Hartmann has been a busy man and has had no time to delve into public affairs. His efforts have been well rewarded and his shop is one of the busiest centers in the city. While not a public man, Mr. Hartmann has, nevertheless, kept himself posted and never forgets to per- form the duties of good citizenship.

In New York City Mr. Hartmann was united in marriage with Amia Schnitzler, a native of Coblenz, on the Rhine. Of this union there were born eight children, three of whom are living: Wilhelm G., who is in business with his father ; Theodore M., also interested in the business; and Christine, now the wife of Mr. Niedemeyer of Portland.

In 1900 the name of the business was changed and incorporated under the name of J. P. Hart- mann & Sons, and is called the Centennial Iron & Steel Works. In political affiliations Mr. Hart- mann supports the men and measures of the Re- publican party. He is liberal and progressive and is considered one of the substantial and re- liable citizens of Portland. Much credit is due Mr. Hartmann for the success he has achieved. He came to this country without wealth and the position he has gained has been reached by his own unaided efforts. It is true that much of his success is due to his wonderful mechanical abil- ity, but at the same time this without persever- ance and industry would mean little. He has applied his knowledge to practical things and has succeeded. He is respected and when he is called to the other world he will be missed by many, for to know him is to be his friend.

VETAL CIMINO. One and a half miles southwest of Tualatin is the one hundred and one acre farm of Vetal Cimino, a very successful general farmer and stock-raiser. Mr. Cimino was born at St. Genevieve, Mo., January 31, 1830, and was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools. In his youth the usual num- ber of diversions and duties came his way, and he continued to live under the paternal roof until attaining his twenty-second year. He then started to cross the plains with a large party of other searchers after fortunes and new homes, and with his three yoke of oxen made the jour- ney in just four months and ten days, his desti- nation being Eldorado county, Cal.

For about nine years Mr. Cimino engaged in mining and prospecting in California, and there- after spent a similar number of years in Idaho, where he had about the same success in mining. With eighteen years to his credit among the mining camps of two states, he came to Washing-

ton county, Ore., bought the farm upon which he now lives, and has since lived the peaceful, diversified and prosperous life of the enterpris- ing and up-to-date farmer. Sixty-five or seventy acres of the land have been cleared, and diversi- fied farming is engaged in, also stock-raising. Mr. Cimino has made the best possible improve- ments on his property, and he keeps abreast of all inventions and aids to scientific land culti- vation.

Since coming to Oregon Mr. Cimino bas mar- ried Semora Boone, who was born in Oregon, a daughter of Jesse V. Boone, the starter of Boone's Ferry, and who took up a claim known as the Boone's Ferry homestead in 1846. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cimino, the order of their birth being as follows: Wil- liam V., John B., Adolph, and Joseph. Mr. Cimino is a Democrat in politics, and has served both as school director and supervisor for several terms. He is one of the popular and influential members of the community, and may be counted on to support any effort towards the general im- provement of his locality.

EZEKIEL BEERS. Although at present the occupant of a comparatively small farm at Cot- trell, where he is employing the evening of his life in a quiet way and remote from business ac- tivity, Ezekiel Beers has been extensively engaged in farming during the greater part of his busy career, and has managed to save a competence with which to enjoy a retired life. A southerner by early training and natural bent, he was born in Bourbon county, Ky., March 17, 1832, and removed from his native place to Miami county, Ohio, when nine years of age.

Alexander Beers, the father of Ezekiel, was born in Philadelphia county, Pa., and was a blacksmith by trade. His wife, Margaret Sar- geant, was also born in Kentucky, and her mother, formerly a Miss Galoway, came into that part of Kentucky with Daniel Boone. Two of her uncles, James and Joseph Gal- oway, served in the battle of New Orleans. Ezekiel was ten years of age when his mother died, and his father went back to Pennsylvania, leaving him in Ohio in the 'care of an uncle. When twelve years of age he started out to earn his own living as a boy on a tow boat near Cin- cinnati, and while thus employed managed to learn the brick maker's trade, which he applied after removing to Springfield. After seven years he tried his luck in Iowa, and then in Missouri. in which latter state he married, in 1857. Drusilla Jane Underwood, with whom he removed in 1860 to Kansas, having started out with a herd of cattle intending to reach Colorado. He settled instead in Davis county, Kans., where he bought eighty

Jaures Adkins

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acres of land and farmed until 1877. Upon starting for the west he came by way of San Francisco, and from there to Portland, and after working for a year in the country, bought eighty acres of land near Gresham, which had belonged to the railroad, and upon which he lived until 1901, when he purchased eight acres of land from his son, and has since resided thereon.

Although volunteering in the Second Iowa Infantry during the Civil war, Mr. Beers was rejected on account of a stiff knee, but he or- ganized a company for home protection, of which he was elected captain in 1863. He served in the Fourth Kansas militia until 1865, and was one of those most active in helping to drive Price out of the country. Mr. Beers has been a Re- publican from the time of casting his first vote, and he is a stanch supporter of the principles and issues of that party. Mrs. Beers died in 1894, leaving ten children.

JAMES ADKINS. An enterprise worthy of the resourcefulness of Clackamas county is the saw milling business of James Adkins at Canby, than which there is none more complete of its kind anywhere in the west. This concern was inaugurated by its present owner in 1893, and has since uninterruptedly been about its noisy tasks, infusing into its neighborhood enterprise and a working spirit. The mill is fitted with up- to-date machinery, has a donkey engine used for getting out the timber, and has in all a capacity of twenty thousand feet per day. A department of the work of which Mr. Adkins is extremely proud, and which argues well for both his pride and humanity, are the horses necessary for the successful conduct of the mill and which are splendid in appearance, and strong in build. No better groomed and well cared for animals grace any enterprise in Clackamas county, and these same four footed friends of man are typical of the general air of order, progress and thorough- ness observable to all visitors. The output of the mill is claimed mostly by the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company, and with this stable and reliable market the business of the Adkins mill is destined to prosper exceedingly and indefi- nitely.

A native of Kentucky Mr. Adkins was born October 22, 1855, his father, Jesse, and mother, Dabney, being natives of the same state. From Kentucky the father removed with his family to Appanoose county, lowa, where he engaged in farming, and from there removed to Oregon with ox-teams in 1866. After crossing the plains he settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres three miles east of Canby, where he lived for many years, or until removing to his present home of forty acres near Liberal, Ore. Of his

nine children James is the oldest, the others be- ing William; Silas; Lee; Lorenzo; Oran; Amanda, now Mrs. George Waldron; Sarah, now Mrs. John Aikens, of Liberal ; and Ola, the wife of William Fisher, who is in the employ of Mr. Adkins.

James Adkins' milling experience began when he was twenty years old, when he became a saw- ver in the mill at Albina, Ore., and thereafter became associated with several different mills throughout the Willamette valley. In Coos Bay. Ore., he worked for some time as a filler, and in 1893 started up his present very successful busi- ness in Canby. Mr. Adkins was married in Clackamas county to Annie Stone, who was born in Oregon and died in Canby in 1896. Mr. Ad- kins is a Democrat in political affiliations, and has served for one term as road supervisor, dur- ing which the two and a half mile of plank road which runs from his mill to the main section line road was partially built. There are two hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber in the road and every plank was sawed at the mill and given to the county free of all cost. Mr. Adkins is an up-to-date and enterprising man and is to be con- gratulated upon the success which he has made of his life.

SAMUEL O. GRIBBLE. Though at present retired from active life Samuel O. Gribble has contributed his share towards the development of Clackamas county, of which he became a res- ident in 1846. He was born in Haywood county, N. C., March 17, 1832, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Ensley) Gribble, the latter of whom was born in North Carolina, and died in Clackamas county in 1881. She was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom at- tained maturity.

John G. Gribble, the father of Samuel O., was born on the line between North and South Caro- lina in 1799, the cabin in which his people lived being half in one state, and half in the other. He was a farmer and wagon maker in the south, and removed from his native states to Missouri in 1833. In Johnson county he engaged in gen- eral farming and worked at his trade until 1846. and in the meantime had worked up a great deal of enthusiasm over the west. Accordingly he made preparations to cross the plains with ox- teams, his departure from Missouri taking place in May, and he arrived in Oregon October 12 of the same year. He spent the winter on Eagle creek, east of Oregon City, and in 1847 took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Macksburg, where he lived un- til his death, June 3, 1869. He was well and very favorably known in his neighborhood, and conducted his farm in such manner as to win

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a competence for himself and family. He was buried in Gribble cemetery, named for him in honor of his admirable pioneer services.

Such education as the busy youth of Samuel O. Gribble permitted was acquired at the district schools of his native part of the country, and he accompanied the rest of the family across the plains in 1846. In Oregon he took up a dona- tion claim of three hundred and twenty acres three miles south of his father's place, and lived thereon for five years. This property was traded for one hundred and fifty acres of the land owned by his sire, and which has been his home ever since. Ninety-five acres are under cultivation, general farming is maintained, and forty head of cattle are the average number pastured on the farm. For the past five years Mr. Gribble has left to others the management of his farm, and is enjoying the leisure so richly merited by his unceasing industry of years. He is a Democrat in politics, was road supervisor for seven years. and school director for a number of years. In 1882 he married Emma Reasoner, who died January 24, 1884.

HENRY HOLTGREIVE. In viewing the well-cultivated farm of Mr. Holtgreive one sees the result of unremitting energy and determina- tion to succeed, notwithstanding the fact that many obstacles had to be surmounted before suc- cess was finally his. Born in Hanover, Germany, March 18, 1828, he came to this country with his parents in 1842, making the voyage in a sailing vessel. After eight weeks and three days on the briny deep they dropped anchor at New Orleans, and later went up the Mississippi river and landed at St. Louis. In Franklin county, Mo., the father purchased forty acres of land, and here the son Henry remained until 1850, when he determined to cross the plains. As he was without means he hired out to a party as driver and in this way was able to realize his great de- sire to see this western county. Wagons were drawn by ox-teams, and it is not surprising that they were six months in reaching their destina- tion. After looking about the country a while Mr. Holtgreive finally located on the Columbia river bottom in Multnomah county, and was first employed by Mr. Bozarth and later was in the employ of Gideon Miller for about two years. By close economy he had saved enough of his earnings to enable him to take up a donation claim of two hundred and seventy-five acres in that vicinity, and this property is still in his pos- session. When he took up the land as a donation it was covered with heavy timber, but he cleared it and erected a log cabin, and here he made his home in solitude for three years. When it was necessary to go to town the trip had to be

made in a boat, as it was not possible to use a team.

Mr. Holtgreive's trip across the plains was not without its romances, as it was at that time that he first saw the future partner of his joys and sorrows. In 1855 he married Miss Elizabeth Shepherd, who was born in Henry county, Iowa, a daughter of Henry Shepherd. The latter with two daughters came to Oregon in 1852, reaching their destination after seven months' weary traveling. The ceremony uniting the destinies of the young couple was performed in Skamania county, Wash., where the town of Stevenson now is. In 1886 Mr. Holtgreive came to the farm where he now lives, which comprises one hundred and fifty acres, and here he is success- fully engaged in general farming and dairying. Besides this he owns two hundred and seventy- five acres in a homestead claim, one hundred and fifty acres in Yamhill county, one hundred and twenty acres in Clackamas county, twenty- nine acres in Stevenson, one hundred and sixty acres in Clarke county, Wash., and some valu- able property in the incorporation of Portland, all of which has come into his possession as a result of careful financiering.

Mr. and Mrs. Holtgreive became the parents of eight children, and of them we make the fol- lowing mention : Emma L. became the wife of Zachariah Fitzgerald; Ocania married Alfred Baker and they reside near Troutdale: Charles E. resides on his father's old home farm; Mary is deceased ; John S. makes his home near Van- conver ; Arie is deceased ; Benjamin is at home ; and Henrietta became the wife of A. L. Miller. Mr. Holtgreive has been school director of his district, and is a member of the Pioneers and the Historical Society of Multnomah county, and fraternally is a member of Columbia Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M. at Mount Tabor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holtgreive are members of the Lutheran Church.

THOMAS J. BOHNA. One of the most successful dairymen of the vicinity of Damascus is Thomas J. Bohna, who owns one hundred and sixty-seven acres of the old Peter Morgan dona- tion claim, eighty acres of which have been im- proved. Mr. Bohna is milking seventeen cows for the supply of his dairying business, and upon his splendidly improved property is carrying on extensive farming enterprises.

\ native of Galveston, Tex., where he was born March 14, 1840, Mr. Bohna is one of the large family of children born to Christian Bohna and his first wife, who died in the cast. Mr. Bohna was born in Germany in 1805. and was a blacksmith by trade. In 1833 he came to Amer- ica and after a time spent in New York and

P. J. Hennemann

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Ohio, located in Galveston, Tex. In 1843 he married for a second wife a Miss Green, and of this union were born seven children, the mother also dying before the journey was made into the newer lands of the west, her husband at the time being in California. April 5, 1853, Mr. Bohna started from Arkansas and with a team of four yoke of oxen crossed over the plains. He met with the usual adventures and escaped the usual dangers from Indians, inclement weather, swollen streams and shortage of pro- visions. Upon locating in San Diego county, Cal., he worked on a canal for about four months, after which he removed to San Francisco, where he outfitted for an extended mining experience. For three years he experienced the ups and downs of the average rather than the exceptional miner, and in 1856 returned to Arkansas, via the Isth- mus of Panama. As is the case with the most who have visited the west, Mr. Bohna soon tired of his middle west life, and in 1859 returned to the coast overland with seven yoke of oxen, ac- companied by his children. Mr. Bohna and his oldest son took up claims on the Kern river, Cal., where Bakersfield is now located. In 1862 the party came to eastern Oregon and mined at Canyon City for about a year, and then wintered at La Grande, and in the spring of 1863 located in Idaho for a couple of years. They then sep- arated, Thomas J. Bohna going to Helena. Mont., where he mined several years with fair suc- cess, coming to Clackamas county, Ore., in 1866. The father came down into Clackamas county in 1865, and near Kelso took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, but did not make that his home. In 1867 he located with a daughter in California, where he lived until his cleath.

The year before the removal of his father to the state of California, Thomas J. Bohna had purchased the farm upon which he has since lived, and where he has been able to realize to an unusual extent his western expectations. An im- portant factor in the building up of his success in Oregon has been the help and sympathy of his wife, whom he married in 1868, and who was formerly Luvena Osburn. Mrs. Bohna has not only materially assisted her husband with her economy and good management but of her eleven children has reared seven to years of usefulness, as follows : Nettie Bohna, Minnie Elliott, Fannie Elliott, Irena Lovelace, Albert, Walter, and Ernest. Four are deceased. Melvin, Floyd, Elsie and Daisy. A Democrat in political preference, Mr. Bohna has variously served the interests of his neighborhood, and among other positions of trust has occupied that of school director for nine years, and road supervisor and constable for two years. Himself and wife are members

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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 52

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