Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 55

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 55

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Mr. Langer became identified with Oregon in 1878. and for two years worked at his trade in Portland. In 1880 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land to which he later added, so that at present he has two hundred and ten acres,

b. E. Deichman

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seventy-five of which are under cultivation. In addition to general farming and stock-raising he derived a substantial income from a threshing machine, a business which he has increased to large proportions, and which he conducts under the firm name of Langer & Son. In this capacity Mr. Langer gets a large share of the work in Washington county, and himself and machine are in great demand when the grain is stacked high in the fields.

The family of Mr. Langer consists of his wife, who was formerly Theresa Meibus, a native of Austria, whom he married while living in Wisconsin, and the following children: Ferdi- nand, living at home; Justina, a resident of Port- land ; Anna, living with her parents ; and Agnes, also living at home; Frank and Florence are deceased. Mr. Langer is a broad minded poli- tician, and believes in voting for the man best qualified to serve the public interests. He has held a number of local offices, including that of supervisor, and he has been a member of the school board for fifteen years. He is a distinct credit to the community which holds him an honored citizen, and his relations with his neigh- bors and fellow townsmen are of a most cordial and friendly nature.

CHARLES EDWARD DEICHMAN. Illi- nois has contributed to Oregon many of her best citizens, but she has contributed none more worthy of respect than the gentleman whose name is here represented, and who is secretary and manager of the Beaverton Milling Company. Mr. Deichman was born in St. Clair county, Jan- uary 18, 1863, and is a son of Leonard Deichman, whose birth occurred in Germany August 5, 1835. With his parents Leonard Deichman came to the new world when eight years of age, the family locating in southern Illinois, where the grandfather devoted his attention to farming. The son remained at home until his marriage, and then started out upon an independent busi- ness career. After his marriage, which united him with Miss Sarah J. Hemphill, a native of Ire- land, he began farming in St. Clair county, Ill., and until 1865 that was the family home. The year last mentioned, however, witnessed the re- moval of the family to Effingham county, that state, which is still the home of the parents. Of their large family only four are now living : William H., of Dallas, Tex. ; Charles Edward, of this review: Peter, of Chicago, Ill .; and Jennie, at home. Throughout his active business career Mr. Deichman carried on agricultural pursuits, and is still capably managing his affairs. His indefatigable industry brought to him the com- fortable competence which now enables him to live retired.

The boyhood days of Charles E. Deichman were quietly passed unmarked by any event of special importance. When he had attained his majority he left home and came to the northwest, hoping to find good business opportunities in this great and growing section of the country. After teaching school for four years he was united in marriage, February 5, 1889, with Miss Leonie Helen Victor, a native of Washington county, Ore.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Deichman began housekeeping upon a farm near Hillsboro, there making their home for about eighteen months. In 1890 Mr. Deichman was elected county assessor, which office he capably filled for four years. During that time he removed to Hillsboro, where he embarked in general mer- chandising, successfully conducting his enter- prise for three years. For a similar period he oc- cupied the position of deputy sheriff in Wash- ington county. In 1900 he embarked in the grain trade in Beaverton in connection with the Beaver- ton Milling Company, of which he is secretary and manager. This business has grown to ex- tensive proportions, and includes not only the purchase and sale of grain, but also the conduct of a flouring mill, and in both of its departments it is proving a profitable venture, returning to the stockholders a good income from their invest- ment.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Deichman has been blessed with three children: Jennie May, Mary Grace, and Charles Leonard. Dr. Deichman be- longs to the Masonic Lodge of Hillsboro and both himself and wife are connected with the Eastern Star. His membership relations are also extend- ed to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Mrs. Deichman is connected with the Re- bekah degree of that fraternity and with the Degree of Honor, which is the ladies' department of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, to which Mr. Deichman also belongs. He is like- wise a member of the United Artisans, and in his political affiliations he is a Republican.

LAWRENCE S. McCONNELL. The pres- ent postmaster of Sherwood is also one of the town's most enterprising citizens and merchants. Mr. McConnell was born in Clackamas county, this state, March 13, 1868, and is the son of J. E. McConnell, one of the prominent pioneers of Washington county. The latter was born in Illinois, November 9, 1838, and was reared to hard work on his father's farm, and to such edu- cation as his slight leisure permitted. In 1852 he came across the plains with his parents, on the way encountering the usual experiences which fell to emigrants who sought the coast with ox- teams and crude methods of locomotion. The

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family settled for a time in Oregon City, Clacka- mas county, and a short time after the father took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres on the west line of Clackamas county, which was afterward purchased by his son, J. E. The latter married in 1862, Jane Gregg, a native of Iowa, and with his wife con- tinued to live on the old farm until their respect- ive deaths, the former at the age of sixty-two vears. J. E. McConnell had the sturdy and re- liable characteristics which are invariably associ- ated with the early builders of the state, and his general ability was recognized by the bestowal of many positions of honor and responsibility. Among the many political offices maintained by him with distinct credit may be mentioned that of justice of the peace, an office held for many years. To himself and wife were born nine children, the order of their birth being as fol- lows: Rosa, deceased ; Charles, deceased ; Mary, living on the old homestead ; Lawrence S. ; Susan, deceased; Orin, on the home place; Stella, also living on the old farm; Lillie and Dollie, de- ceased.

Until his twenty-second year Lawrence S. Mc- Connell lived with his parents, and then removed into Sherwood, where he started the mercantile business which has since claimed his attention. Under the firm name of McConnell & Hall he has worked up a large and gratifying trade with the town and surrounding country, and he is pleased to note a continuous increase in the de- mand for his excellent commodities. In 1894 he married Mary Sears, a native of Wayne county. Ore., in which county she was reared and educated. Mr. McConnell has been postmaster of Sherwood for some years, and in this capacity has faithfully discharged the duties of his im- portant office. His Republican friends also elected him town treasurer, than which no better proof were forthcoming of his reputation for un- questioned integrity.

CHARLES BURNHAM was born July 27, 1835, in Rutlandshire, England, and was sixteen years of age when he left his native land for the new world. It was in February, 1851, that he took up his abode in Ohio, whence he afterward removed to Illinois and later resided for a time in Colorado. From the last-named state he came to Oregon in the fall of 1869, and is now engaged in farming here. While in Colorado he followed mining, and on his removal to the northwest he took up agricultural pursuits, living on the Tua- latin river for about nine years. He to-day owns forty-five acres of rich and arable land not far from Tigardville. This was all wild land when it came into his possession, but with character- istic energy he began its cultivation and develop-

ment and is now devoting his energies to the rais- ing of vegetables of all kinds, and also follows stock-raising to some extent. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, and his farm indicates his careful supervision.

Mr. Burnham was united in marriage in 1858 to Miss Mary E. Higley, a native of Illinois, and their union was blessed with eleven children, but Henry and Sarah are now deceased. Georgic, Eddie and Lillie have also passed away, and three others died in infancy. Those who still survive are: Albert and Lily, residents of Port- land ; and Mary L., who is living in Dilley. For a second wife Mr. Burnham married Sibina (Higley) Taylor. In his political views Mr. Burnham is a Democrat and has firm faith in the principles of the party, but has never been an aspirant for office. He belongs to the Church of England and his life has ever been an honorable and upright one, commending him to the confi- cence and respect of his fellow-citizens.

SAMUEL MILLER. The Miller family is well represented in Clackamas county, for the Isaac Wheeldon donation land claim purchased by William Miller, is now occupied by his son and manager, Samuel, and his three daughters, Mollie, Lizzie and Louise. Another son, Edward, occupies an adjoining farm, and George, the fourth son, is telegraph operator for the South- ern Pacific at Aurora. One daughter. Clara, is the wife of Henry Zeigler, who is the manager of a large flouring mill, resides in MeCracken, Kans. Another daughter, Katie S., is the wife of David H. Wolfer, who resides on a portion of the Miller homestead.

William Miller was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man joined what was known as the Kiles Colony, near Bethel, Shelby county, Mo. Representatives from this colony emigrated to Oregon in 1877. via San Francisco and Port- land, and among them was Mr. Miller, who had in the meantime married and reared a family, and who settled with the colonists at Aurora, Ore. The organization disbanded the following year, or in 1878, and Mr. Miller thereupon dis- posed of his share of land for $1,400. He then bought a section of land near Needy, Ore , upon which he lived and farmed until his death in April, 1892, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, who survived him until August, 1892. was formerly Katie Beckley, who was born in Pennsylvania, and whose parents died after re- moving with their children to Hannibal, Mo.

Samuel Miller, manager of the property left by his father, was born in Bethel, Shelby county, Mo., April 21, 1863, and is the youngest son of the four sons and six daughters in his father's family. Since the death of the latter he has

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had charge of the farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and with his sisters has a pleasant home in a large, rambling and old-fashioned house, which for comfort and convenience has few equals in the county. This house has been improved by the present owner, modern barns and out houses have added to the general effect of a progressive and up-to-date property, and about seventy acres of the original land have been placed under cultivation. Mr. Miller is a bach- elor, and devotes all of his time to his farm, his sisters, and to politics. In the latter capacity he is allied with the Republican party, in which he has taken great interest since long before his voting days. Mr. Miller is engaged in general farming, and has five acres under potatoes, and about nine acres under hops. He is a practical and thorough farmer, and the many evidences of thrift and neatness to be found around his place indicate a continuation of his present good standing among the representative farmers of Clackamas county.

JOHN M. DEARDORFF. There are very few residents in Oregon whose arrival in the state antedates that of Mr. Deardorff, who landed here October 20, 1850. Much of his life was passed in the midst of stirring western scenes, and he could truly say, in reviewing the history of Oregon, "All of which I saw and part of which I was." He was born in Putnam county, Ind., October 10, 1824, and was the oldest in a family of six children who attained mature years. His father, Christian, a Virginian by birth and a farmer by occupation, removed to Indiana in an early day and settled among the pioneers of Putnam county, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1840 he removed to Henry county, Iowa, where he leased a farm for six years. Dur- ing 1846 he settled in Nauvoo, Ill., which was at that time in a state of excitement through Mormon disturbances. From there Joseph Smith, the Mormon leader, had been taken to Carthage, and was shot at the county jail in that town.

Four years after going to Nauvoo, Mr. Dear- dorff decided to cast in his fortunes with the people of the far west. Accordingly he made preparations for the long journey. Equipped with two wagons and four yoke of oxen and four voke of cows he crossed the plains. At the Des Moines river he fell in with a train of about thirty wagons, with whom he proceeded on the journey through a hostile Indian country. The savages had torn down the bridge at Shell creek and would not permit the white men to cut timber with which to construct a passage way across the creek, but, notwithstanding their interference,

the emigrant train wound on its slow way in safety, and on the 20th of October arrived in Oregon, having during the entire journey lost only one man, the victim of cholera. Christian Deardorff settled on a donation claim of six hundred and forty aeres in Clackamas county, which he proved up on and acquired as a home- stead. There his death occurred December 14, 1884. His wife, who was Matilda Landers, a Virginian, was born August 31, 1802, and died April 30, 1891.

During 1849 J. M. Deardorff went to the pine regions of Wisconsin, traveling on a boat up the Mississippi river. During the voyage many passengers died of the cholera. He was told that brandy was an excellent preventive of the disease, and accordingly fortified himself with some, this being the first time he had ever patronized a saloon. In crossing the Mississippi he stepped into an air hole and almost lost his life. At other times he was in great peril. One time, during the early winter, he was anxious to cross the river and so walked over on the ice, which, being not yet hard, proved a dangerous expedi- tion. When crossing the plains he and a com- rade had charge of a team, and with this they started out hunting. They succeeded in getting some shots at buffalo, but almost perished for want of water before they got back to the train. On another occasion a wolf broke into camp and frightened the emigrants. While in the Green river country they were obliged to drive at night, in order to save their cattle from the prostrating effects of the summer sun. Near Fort Hall an Indian rode into the camp one morning on a fine horse and as he started to leave one of the men fired a shot at him; the others were frightened. fearing revenge on the part of other Indians, but nothing further came of the incident. The effects of the journey became so serious for the cattle that at Fort Boise a wagon was discarded and other effects not thought to be necessary, after which they made more satis- factory speed. Toward the last of the trip their stock of provisions became exhausted and they bought afterward from the Indians, who in those parts proved to be more or less friendly. At the start they had thirteen head of stock, but when they reached their destination the number was reduced to five. The wagons being left on ac- count of horses giving out, the mother and two sisters were given accommodations in a pack train. In the spring of the next year father and son re- turned for the wagons, but the Indians had con- fiscated them, as well as the feather beds and other articles that had been left in them. All that was left was a Bible and a medicine chest, which the family still have in their possession. The mother and sisters were found in Milwaukee, so the family soon became united.

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In search of employment Mr. Deardorff went to Salem, from there walked to Milwaukee, and thence to Oregon City, where a hotel man kindly gave him lodging until he could get a start. Almost his first work was in splitting rails, which occupation he followed at Milwaukee during the winter. In October, 1851, he took up the claim where he now lives, the same consisting of three hundred and twenty acres near Sunnyside, Clack- amas county. The first house built on the place has been added to by subsequent improvements, and is a substantial and comfortable home. Here he kept "bachelor's hall" for three years, but, not finding it satisfactory to live alone, he de- cided to establish domestic ties. His marriage, January 5. 1854, united him with Rachel Ingram. a native of Illinois, and a daughter of James Ingram, who was born in Tennessee, spent some years in Illinois, thence removed to lowa, and in 1852 crossed the plains to Oregon, settling on a donation claim in Clackamas county. This place he subsequently traded for a farm a short distance west of Portland, and there he spent his last years. Mrs. Deardorff died July 28, 1901, at the age of sixty-four years. Of her children, James Henry, of Santa Ana, Cal., is engaged in raising oranges, soft shell walnuts and apricots : William Albert is also living at Santa Ana ; John Bennett continues on the home farm, of which he has charge; the only daughter, Anna, died at the age of eighteen months.

In early life Mr. Deardorff voted with the Democrats, but when that party wanted to make Oregon a slave state he transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, adhering to it the rest of his life. In religion he was connected with the Christian Church. To those who inquired of him concerning the early days of Oregon he was an exceedingly entertaining conversationalist and companion. His memory of pioneer events was fresh, and his narration of the same forceful and vivid. He told how, in 1856, flour was sold at such high prices that it was practically beyond the reach of the moneyless farmers, who were obliged to adopt such substitutes as were available. By working for a week it was possible for him to earn a fifty-pound sack of shorts, which the fam- ily used to take the place of flour and which would last a year. The first wagon he owned was bought second-hand for $30 and was in a very lilapidated condition, but by careful repairing he was able to use it for a few years. For a team he used a yoke of oxen which he brought from Towa across the plains. For his first horses he paid $75 each, and from these he raised a team that he sold for $500. His first horse bought lived to a great age and was the mother of many fine animals, representing in their selling price at least $1,000, and enabling Mr. Deardorff by their sale to gain the needed money with which to im-

prove his place. In 1896 he turned the control of the land over to his son, and three years later rented it to Charles Mull. In addition to this pro- perty he owned seven and one-half acres near Portland, for which he paid $1,000 and which he sold for $9.000. He also had a house and lot on Ankeney street, East Portland, a lot in the Villa, two and one-half acres in the suburbs of Portland, a tract of six acres and another of five acres in Lentz, Multnomah county, forty acres of unimproved land on the hill near his home, and forty acres of unimproved property in the forks of Deep creek, the whole representing an important money value, and proving Mr. Dear- dorff to have been a man of wise judgment in his investments. After a lingering illness Mr. Dear- dorff passed away December 7, 1902.

TRUMAN C. ACKERSON. Ever since coming to his present farm in Clackamas county, in 1888, Mr. Ackerson has devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. The one hun- dred and fifteen acres which he bought had been partly improved, and his has been the task of clearing and cultivating the remainder. The land is devoted to general farm products, in addition to which he has five acres in hops, and a hop drier and storage house where the hops are kept until sent to the market. The buildings on the place are substantial, but it is Mr. Ackerson's intention to replace the present small house with one more commodious and more adapted to the needs of his family.

Mr. Ackerson was born in Peoria. Il1., April II. 1848. a son of Garret and Annie (Cody) Ackerson, natives respectively of Ohio and Michi- gan. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Acker- son, a native of Pennsylvania, became a farmer in Ohio, from which state he removed to Illi- nois, later going to Wisconsin, but finally return- ing to Illinois, where he died at the age of ninety- eight years in the city of Peoria. The maternal grandfather, Darius Cody, was of eastern birth, and engaged in farming successfully in Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin, but finally went to Ne- braska. and there died at seventy-five years of age. During his early life Garret Ackerson was a farmer in Illinois, but when his son, Truman C., was five years of age he removed to Wis- consin, and eleven years later established the family home in Nebraska, settling on a farm in Johnson county, ten miles west of Tecumseh. There he died in the fall of 1901 when eighty- six years of age. The farm which he cultivated comprised two hundred acres and under his over- sight was brought to a high degree of cultivation.

In a family of five sons and two daughters, Truman C. Ackerson was next to the oldest, and his education was received mainly in Wis-

Dean Blanchard

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consin, but was very limited. owing to the fact that he had to be self-supporting from an early age. When he was twenty-one he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and there began independent farming. The place was proved up on and continued to be his home for fourteen years. When he disposed of the property, in 1876, he came to Oregon and settled at Oswego, where he was employed as a laborer for three years. During 1879 he removed to French Prairie in Marion county, where he rented a farm of two hundred acres. Two years later he removed to another farm, still continuing as a renter, and in addition he operated a hop yard for seven years. The savings of these years were carefully hoarded and enabled him, in 1888, to purchase the home which he now enjoys. Since coming to this locality he has acted as a school director, and in previous years had filled a similar position in another part of Oregon. In politics he votes with the Republi- cans. He is an active member of the Congrega- tional Church and has officiated as a member of its board of deacons. During his residence in Nebraska he married Mary Ann Linford, who was born near Terre Haute, Ind. She is a daughter of George Linford, a native of Eng- land, who accompanied his parents to the United States and settled on a farm near Terre Haute, Ind. From there he moved to Nebraska and settled near Tecumseh, which continued to be his home up to the time of his death during the spring of 1903. In the family of Mr. Ackerson there are five sons and five daughters, namely : Hattie, who is the wife of Adolph Myers; Mrs. Alice Cone: Emma, wife of Joseph Burhart ; George, who is living near Dayton, Wash. ; Ralph. also in Washington; David, May and Mabel (twins), Charles and Garret, all of whom are on the home farm in Clackamas county.

JUDGE DEAN BLANCHARD. In fash- ioning his meritorious career Judge Dean Blan- chard has builded substantially and well, and among his other western undertakings has asso- ciated his name irrevocably with the upbuilding of the town of Rainier. As a boy Judge Blan- chard breathed the inspiring air of far off Maine, in which state he was born at Madison, Decem- ber 20, 1832. His first impressions of life and work were gained on the paternal farm, where early hours and plenty of muscular exertion contributed to health of mind and body. At the age of ten he removed with his parents to Wood- stock, N. B., where he lived for three years, go- ing then to Houlton, Me., where the father en- gaged in the hotel business.

When the family fortunes were shifted to the Pacific coast in 1853, the journey being accom-

plished by boat, via the Nicaragua route to San Francisco, Judge Blanchard spent six weeks in Portland, and then accepted a clerkship with Captain Knighton of St. Helens, in a general merchandise store. 1855 found him participating in the Indian outbreak on the Snake river, during which rebellion he drove a six mule team for the government, and had plenty of opportunity to study Indian methods of warfare. In the fall of 1855.he entered into partnership with his father in putting in a hundred acres of wheat in Santa Clara Valley, Cal., this venture, however, proving disastrous owing to a devastating drought. Thereafter the son was glad to accept another clerkship in St. Helens, after which he clerked in the Indian department at Vancouver for a few months. Returning to St. Helens he again clerked for Captain Knighton, and in 1859 went to Fort Colvill, and as a carpenter assisted in the construction of the fort at that place. In an effort to get to Walla Walla, Wash., with four ordinary, two saddle, and two pack horses, he had the misfortune to lose his four footed friends one night, and was at the mercy of what is known as shank's express. However, he hap- pened to fall in with good samaritans who saw him safely to the end of his journey, and, having nothing else to do, he returned whence he came.

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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 55

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