Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 62

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 62

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The wife of Mr. Ellis was formerly Frances Gilligan, a farmer's daughter of Olean, N. Y., and of this union there have been born seven

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children, the order of their birth being as follows : Joseph T., an engine inspector for the Southern Pacific Railroad ; Frank E., in the railroad shops at Portland ; Victor : Frances ; William J. ; Horace C .; and Catherine. As a Republican Mr. Ellis has taken his place among the broad-minded and helpful politicians of his county, which he has represented in county and state conventions, and which he has served with credit as super- visor. For two terms he was a member of the grand jury, and has filled several minor offices. Fraternally he is well known among the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encamp- ment, and he is a member of the Grange. Much credit is due Mr. Ellis for his hearty co-operation in securing the free mail route through the coun- try, which, without the help of his enthusiasm and recognition of its necessity and convenience, had been much longer in materializing. Mr. Ellis is one of the live, virile and working forces of Mult- nomah county, and his efforts in behalf of good government and all around improvement cannot be overestimated.

Mr. Ellis is a poet of more than local reputa- tion and one of his productions is given herewith :

Oregon, the golden, The land we love the best The fairest in the Union And in the distant west. Thy springtime sun is bracing, But night holds balmy rest And when the day is waning We dream upon thy breast.

Uplifted sight shows hillsides And mountains we adore. While waves of lake and river Break brightly on the shore.

The hidden springs send streamlets Adown the shadowed woods.

Which grow in might and power And break in thundering floods. The great Willamette valley In beauty blooms below

The towering peaks of mountains Encrowned with gleaming snow.

The wealth of gold and silver, And fisheries so great Makes up the most beloved. Wave-washed Pacific state.

PHILIPP BUCKLEIN. No country has af- forded greater opportunities to the ambitious young man than our own. Here an industrious, frugal man has an opportunity to accumulate wealth even though handicapped by foreign birth and lack of abundant wealth. The foregoing

may with truth be said of Mr. Bucklein, who, when a young man of nineteen, left home and friends in the Fatherland and started out to seek his fortune in America, and that he has been suc- cessful in his endeavors needs but a glance at his modern machine-shop in Oregon City to deter- mine. There are to be found all the latest appli- ances and most modern machinery for the manu- facture and repairing of all kinds of engines. A natural genius and thorough mechanic. Mr. Bucklein has made many improvements and labor-saving devices which are in use in his shop, all of which redound to his good workmanship and thorough adaptation to his calling.

In Bucksville, Germany, Mr. Bucklein's birth occurred in 1864. His early training and educa- tion were received in his birthplace, but when nineteen years of age, in 1883, he was among the immigrants who landed on our welcome shores. He first made settlement on Puget Sound. but later going to Seattle, Wash., there learned the machinist's trade. To became thoroughly pro- ficient in his trade he worked for wages for a few years there and then went to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he followed his trade for four years. Coming to Oregon City in 1890, for two years he was in the employ of the Crown Paper company, but about this time decided to engage in business for himself, and forthwith established himself in his present calling. In this decision he displayed his usual wise foresight, for to-day his machine-shop is not exceeded in Oregon City, either in capacity for turning out work or qual- ity of finished product.

The last day of the year 1895 is a day made memorable to Mr. Bucklein and his wife. for- merly Miss Clara Charais, as on that day was celebrated their marriage. One child has been born to them, to whom they have given the name of Frank. Public-spirited in every sense of the word, Mr. Bucklein is interested in every measure which tends toward the uplifting and upbuilding of his community and gives liberally of his time and means for the furthering of all wholesome measures. In fraternal matters he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

JOHN P. HOFFMAN. One of the principal industries of Multnomah county is the dairying business, and this has proved for Mr. Hoffman a profitable enterprise and congenial occupation. His experience in the business began when he was only nineteen years of age and has continued to the present, so that he has had years of train- ing and active participation in the occupation, thereby gaining the broad and thorough knowl- edge so necessary to success in any specialty. In 1885 he settled upon the farm near Hillsdale where he has since made his home. Until 1896

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he was actively engaged in dairying and mean- time kept from one hundred and forty to one hundred and sixty cows, having one of the largest dairies in the county. However, in 1896 he rented the farm and dairy, and has since had more leisure for the enjoyment of the comforts his previous labors rendered possible. Besides his home place he is the owner of seventy-four acres in Washington and one hundred and twenty-three acres near New Era, Clackamas county.

Mr. Hoffman was born in Portland, Ore., Jan- uary 30, 1861, and is a son of Frank A. Hoff- man, one of the pioneers of the northwest. Born on the Rhine in Germany, he came to America at twenty-four years of age and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he followed the baker's trade. During 1852 he joined an emigrant train that made the journey across the plains with ox- teams. Arriving at Portland, he started one of the first bakeries in the town. A few years later he embarked in the dairy business near Portland and continued in the same until 1879, when he retired from business pursuits, and is now living at New Era. By his marriage to Mary B. Birch he had three sons and three daughters, of whom John P. Hoffman was third in order of birth. Educated in the schools of Portland, reared in this city, watching its progress and development, and gaining his first knowledge of business af- fairs in its stores, it is natural that he should feel a loyal devotion to its welfare. His home has always been in Multnomah county, and few are more familiar with the character of its soil than he, nor have many gained a more thorough knowledge of dairying. In 1889 he married Miss Henrietta Batt, by whom he has a son, Frank A., Jr. Politically he has voted with the Republicans ever since attaining his majority and on the ticket of his party he was elected to the office of road supervisor, which he now holds.

JOHN KAMNA is one of the many re- liable and enterprising sons of the Father- land who have materially profited by the opportunities afforded in Washington county, and to whom is due a vast amount of credit for his share in the development of this section. He was born in Germany December 21, 1861, and is one of the four sons and three daughters born to Henry and Rebecca Kamna, typical German parents, and practical rearers of their little family.

The Kamna family lived on a farm in their native land, and the children were taught to re- gard this method of livelihood as at once digni- fied, congenial and profitable. John was no ex- ception, and when quite a little fellow used to help around the farm, and perform his share to-

wards the family maintenance. When less than twenty-three years old, in 1884, he came to America, and after a short residence in Portland came to Cornelius, where he worked for James Roche for four months, also worked for other farmers, J. Smith, Colonel Cornelius and Rob- ert Amberrich. After that he was employed in a sash and door factory in Portland for about two years. About this time the old folks also desired to come to America, so the son John took up the farm upon which he now lives, renting the same for six years, and gave his parents a home in the west. When the six years had expired he was in a position to purchase the farm, which he now owns in its entirety, and which consists of three hundred and sixty-five acres. Two hundred and fifty acres of this land are under cultivation, and Mr. Kamna has spent about $2.700 in reducing it to a condition for crops. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and in addi- tion carries on a model dairy, milking twenty COWS.

The interests of Mr. Kamna have been by no means self centered, for he takes a vital interest in the general affairs of his neighborhood, and has assisted in promoting some of the most im- portant. The Farmington Creamery, which has proved of such aid to the farmers in this locality, has received the substantial support of Mr. Kam- na, who is one of the organizers, and who was president thereof for four years. He is still a large stockholder in the creamery. The family of Mr. Kamna consists of his wife. Mattie, and three children, Rebecca, Lena and William J.

JOHN L. BANKS. A successful and in- creasing general farming, dairying and Angora goat raising industry is being conducted in Wash- ington county by John L. Banks, one of the men whose self-made careers have redounded to the credit and upbuilding of the Willamette Valley. Mr. Banks comes from Westmoreland county, Pa., where he was born October 1, 1840, and where he lived until his twelfth year. For some years his family lived on different farms in Iowa. settling first in Louisa county, and in June of the same year going to within four miles east of Wapello. Here they owned sixty acres of land, and later on, in Jasper county. farmed from 1860 until 1867. After selling this farm the family fortunes were shifted to Washington county, Iowa, where also they owned a farm, and where John L. lived and worked until 1882.

From Washington county Mr Banks came to Oregon in the latter part of 1882, and when he arrived in Portland found the city so crowded he could not rent a room to live in. This dubious condition did not dampen his ardor, however, nor slake his thirst for a share of the good things

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of the northwest. He was not long in finding some kind of employment, and in the fall settled on a farm near Mount Tabor, where he worked' for a time and managed to save some money. In the course of time he was enabled to take up three hundred acres of land in Yamhill county, which was partially improved, and upon which he lived until 1895. That year he bought an interest in the Climax flour mill at Hillsboro, and was in the milling business until locating on the farm of eighty acres which has since been his home. This place was also partially cleared, and at present little remains that is not under cultivation. The greater part of the modern improvements have been made by the present owner, who has broad and liberal ideas of farming as well as of other things, and believes in availing himself of the best known facilities for carrying on his chosen occupation. A large dairy business is one of the chief sources of revenue on this model property, and many Angora goats browse contentedly in the pastures, and yield in return for good care and board, fine crops of fleecy wool.

Through his marriage with Nancy O. Beard five children have been born into the family of Mr. Banks, the order of their birth being as fol- lows : Charles, in Idaho ; Robert. living near the home farm in Washington county ; Carl. of Sau- vie's island: Edward, of Astoria : and Myrtle. wife of Austin Purdin. Mr. Banks has served his district as a member of the school board, but is not what might be called an office-seeker. With his wife he is a member of the Congregational Church, and contributes generously towards the maintenance of the same. Mr. Banks is held in high esteem by his friends and associates, and his success is a matter of pride with all who appre- ciate honest and capable citizenship.

FELIX R. NEALE. Numbering loyalty and patriotism among its distinguishing characteris- tics, it is not surprising that the Neale family should be represented in the greatest wars this country has known, and that it should vigorously participate in leading affairs ever since the first emigrant broadened his horizon by coming from Ireland in 1659. Felix R. Neale. the maintainer of a broad minded and liberal citizenship in Port- land since severing his long period of service in the regular army in 1869, was born in the Blue Grass region near Georgetown, Ky., January 28. 1838, a son of Daniel and Melissa Neale. natives of Fayette county, Ky., and the former born in 1804. Daniel Neale fulfilled popular ex- pectations of those familiar with his antecedents, and caused his name to be associated with honor- able and progressive undertakings in the south. The possessor of a large plantation, he was kindly disposed. towards the large number of

slaves who carried out his designs, and who en- abled him to obtain a considerable fortune through the sale of hemp and other southern commodi- ties. During the Mexican war he organized a company of volunteers, drilled them, and fought bravely for the cause of American supremacy. Prominent politically. he served as sheriff of Scott county, holding also many other offices of a local nature. His wife died after the birth of Felix R., the second son in his family. He continued to manufacture hemp for a number of years, and finally, owing to impaired health, started for either California or Oregon, his death occurring on the way, near Laramie Peak. His oldest son, Lewis A., who was one of Morgan's men during the Civil war, gave up his life for the cause in Alabama in 1862.

After living with his grandparents in Kentucky for a number of years, Felix R. Neale accompa- nied his father to Missouri, but was afterward sent back to Kentucky to finish his education. For a short time he attended the Western Mili- tary Institution, afterward traveling around con- siderably through Missouri, and as far north as Portage, Wis. Having the keenest admiration for military tacties, for camp, field and barracks, he went to St. Louis in 1858, and February 8 of the same year enlisted in the regular United States army. Assigned to the Seventh Infantry, he was transferred to the First Dragoons at Santa Fe, and in 1859 came to Oregon as an escort. The breaking out of the Civil war found him on the Texas frontier, where, with two com- panies, he crossed overland and joined the rest of the command. At the re-organization of the regular army his regiment became known as the First Cavalry, of which he had attained the rank of first sergeant at the time of his dis- charge in Portland, June 13, 1869. Mr. Neale saw every phase of life represented in the army during his long service, and, having keen powers of observation and an accurate memory. fortified himself with interesting and moment- ous data bearing upon his association with mili- tary life. During the Civil war he participated in all of the principal battles, including that of Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, Mine River, the Wilderness, Richmond, Cold Harbor, Winchester and Cedar Creek. While guarding the railroad in Virginia he was wounded in the breast, and while at Five Forks his shoulder was broken, necessitating a retention of some weeks in the hospital.

After coming to Portland Mr. Neale found employment as a laborer and carpenter, and as- sisted in building the first twenty miles of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He became inter- ested in Republican political undertakings. and was elected eity marshal in 1874, serving two years. As weigher and gauger he was identified

BENEDICT BIRCHLER.

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with the custom house for some years, and was inspector of customs for six years. Returning to his trade, he worked as journeyman carpenter for a number of years, and about this time served as deputy United States marshal and deputy keeper. Soon after coming here he purchased a house on the east side, and in 1867 was united in marriage with Mrs. Catherine Bratch, nee Dapp, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1863, when she was fourteen years old. Mrs. Neale was reared in Pennsyl- vania, and there met and married her first hus- band, who died at Graytown in 1866. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Neale, Felix G., the oldest son, an engineer, born at Fort Lap- way, July 10, 1868, was killed in a railroad acci- dent near Salem, November 12, 1890, at the age of twenty-two years and four months ; Mary L., born June 10, 1876, is the wife of Fred H. Bock of La Grande, and has one son, Frederick ; Mattie F., born September 8, 1879, is single and lives at La Grande ; and Sadie, born May 19. 1884, is living with her parents. By her first marriage Mrs. Neale had one son. Charles F., born August 21, 1866, in Carlisle, Pa.

For many years Mr. Neale has been a familiar figure at state and county conventions, and he is equally at home in fraternal circles, being a member and one of the organizers of the Phalanx Lodge, No. 14, K. of P., of the Uniform Rank and the Endowment rank and is also a member of Sumner Post, No. 12, G. A. R. He has always taken a keen interest in education, and was one of the foremost in securing the central schools, and in building the first school in the Holiday addition. Mrs. Neale is a member of Sumner Lodge No. 21, W. R. C., and of the Aroma Tem- ple No. 20, Rathbone Sisters.

BENEDICT BIRCHLER. In picturesque Switzerland Benedict Birchler was born April 30, 1827, and there laid the foundation for the successful nursery business which he now con- ducts in Multnomah county. His parents were farmers and hotel keepers, from which environ- ment he went when a comparatively small boy to learn the occupation of landscape gardener. In his native land he became thoroughly conversant with his delightful and ever widening art, his experience being augmented in Troy, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Pa., after his emigration to America in a sailing vessel in 1853. the journey taking sixty-three days upon the ocean.

From the Quaker city in 1863 Mr. Birchler removed to Minneapolis, where he became par- ticularly active in beautifying various parts of the city, and where he remained for three years. After removing to Portland he found employment at his trade for S. G. Reed, and laid out the

grounds connected with the beautiful home of that prominent citizen, remaining with him for a period of seven years and eleven months. Later he superintended the landscape work of Mr. Reed's place at Mill and Market streets. Besides the beautiful grounds at Eleventh and Jefferson streets which he laid out, he also laid out the grounds at the corner of Seventeenth and Everett streets, formerly owned by R. B. Knapp. His present ten acres of land was purchased for $375, and at the time was covered with heavy timber, which had to be cleared before aught could be accomplished. This property is located in Mount Tabor, and the improvements have been made with special reference to the production of fruits, ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. Mr. Birch- ler has a most complete and comprehensive col- lection of the best known varieties of trees and plants, and his efforts to attain unto the best in his line have been prolific of public appreciation and gratifying financial returns.

Through the union of Fredericka Homul and Mr. Birchler two children have been born, Emma and Henry. In politics a Republican, Mr. Birch- ler has been identified with political affairs only so far as the formality of casting his vote. for office holding and political strife seem remote from his absorbing and successful business.

GEORGE W. STITT. One of the extensive raisers of onions and small fruits in the vicinity of Beaverton is George W. Stitt, owner of seventy acres of finely improved land, and the manager of a paying and agreeable industry. He was one of the first in this section to grow onions, and at that time the demand was so meagre that a wagon-load filled all requirements. Needless to say so small an amount would not go very far at the present time, and that the onions from this model farm are of so superior a kind that they constitute a very remarkable commodity.

Mr. Stitt was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., March 22. 1841, and in early life became accus- tomed to the responsible and arduous side of life. His father. John, and his mother, Cather- ine (Oaks) Stitt, were born in Ireland, and the former was a millwright by trade, an occupa- tion to which he devoted many years of his life. The father removed to Watertown, N. Y., in 1838, and after a short time moved to Ogdens- burg, and from there to. Ottawa, Ontario. This latter city continued to be his home for twelve years, and there he worked at his trade, and achieved a fair measure of success. His death occurred in Ottawa, and soon after this sorrow- ful event, the family removed to Green Bay, Wis. The family maintenance fell to a large ex- tent upon the shoulders of the son, George W.,

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and he remained at home until his marriage, September 8, 1872, with Mary Roady, of Ger- man descent. Thereafter he lived in Oconto county, Wis., until 1878, removing the same year to Portland, where he engaged in the hotel busi- ness for a couple of years. Not entirely content with that city he removed to Clarke county, Wash., and engaged in farming for a year, there- after settling on his present farm, advantageous- ly located near Beaverton.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stitt, of whom William J. is living at home ; Matilda is a resident of Portland; Katie lives in Seattle; Lillie lives in Beaverton; and Val- lev is at home. Mr. Stitt is a Republican, and has taken a prominent part in promoting the inter- ests of his party. For several years he served as county committeeman, and was at one time a candidate for county representative. He is fraternally associated with the Masons, the An- cient Order of United Workmen, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. With his fan- ily he is identified with the Congregational Church, towards the support of which he is a liberal contributor. He is a man of sterling in- tegrity and unquestioned devotion to the well- being of his community, and his business success reflects great credit upon the agricultural pres- tige of Washington county.

HENRY NACHAND. No more interesting narrator of events in the early history of this state can be found in Clackamas county than Henry Nachand. Since his fifth year his facul- - ties have expanded under the favorable conditions of this promising part of the northwest, and his observations and experiences have been of so profound a nature as to fully justify his position as one of the most erudite members of the His- torical Society.

Of stanch Teutonic ancestry, Mr. Nachand was born in Peoria, Ill., November 7. 1842, but owing to the early age at which he emigrated to the west has but faint recollection of his middle western home. His father, John Nachand, was born among the peasantry of Bavaria, Germany, and when a young man, in 1836, emigrated to America, where for several years he roved around working at his trade as mechanic. John Nachand was the only member of his father's family who came to America at that time, but later on he had a brother, Phillip, who also located in Peoria, 111., where he engaged with John in the wagon manufacturing business. After many wander- ings, and some success as a wagon manufacturer in Peoria, John Nachand started for Oregon in the spring of 1847, and upon arriving in Oregon City bought a piece of land which he operated in connection with his trade. About 1855 he

began to raise vegetables on a small scale, but finally the demand for his commodities induced him to branch out into a very large enterprise, sufficient to supply a large portion of the Port- land market. He was thus engaged up to the time of his death in 1885, at the age of seventy- four years. His wife, Catherine ( Shaffer) Nach- and, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, and came to the United States with her sisters, settling on the prairie near South Bend, Ind. Mrs. Nacli- and, who died in 1887, at the age of eighty years, was the mother of two children, one son and one daughter, of whom the former is the oldest. The latter, Mary, now the wife of Theodore Himmler, lives in Parkplace, Ore.

At the public and private schools of Clackamas county Henry Nachand received his preliminary education, and remained home with his parents until their death. As the assistant of his father in raising vegetables for the market he learned all there was to be known about this interesting occupation, and at the same time he worked in the wagon shop built on the homestead, and operated by his father for many years. During the winter seasons the wagon building progressed rapidly, but during the summer time the little shop was practically deserted for the more ex- hilarating and healthful work in the fields. He married in Parkplace, Ore .. in 1871, Mrs. Lu- cinda Kendall, the widow of Frank Kendall, who died about 1869, and the daughter of Lorenzo Perkins. Mrs. Nachand, who was a native of Oregon, died July 4. 1880, leaving three children, two sons and one daughter. It was the fate of the daughter, the youngest in the family, to die on the same day as her mother, and within three hours of her death, at the age of fourteen months. Henry Edward, the oklest son, is married and liv- ing with his father ; while Ralph W .. the second son, started away to the Philippine Islands, and has never been heard of since. Mr. Nachand is independent in politics, and believes in voting for the man best qualified to hold office. He is a typi- cal pioneer, a broad minded gentleman, and a most honored member of the community of Clack- amas county.

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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 62

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