Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 63

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 63

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CHARLES C. MOLSON, the popular and successful merchant of Needy, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, then a part of Denmark, December 8. 1858, and comes of a family iden- tified with the internal wars which have more or less disintegrated plucky little Denmark. A soldier of daring was Frederick Molson. the father of Charles C., who left his coopering es- tablishment to participate in the wars of '48. '58. '64-'66, and who, because of invaluable ser- vices, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. For many years he worked as a cooper, and his

E. L. Comer

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death occurred in his native land in 1884, at the age of sixty years. He is survived by his wife, Doris F. Peterson, who was born in Glucksburg, Denmark, and is at present living in San Fran- cisco. She became the mother of the following children: Mary; Kate, living in Alaska; Mrs. Lena Griffith, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Anna Tem- ple, of Tacoma ; Charles C., of Needy ; and Fred, deceased.

In Denmark Charles C. Molson learned the cooper's trade of his father, and imbibed many useful lessons from the elder man's noble and courageous life. Armed with a trade and a fair common-school education, he embarked for America in 1873, and from New York took a steamer for Panama, and from there sailed to San Francisco. For two years he lived in the northern California city, and thereafter engaged throughout the state in the coopering business for some time. He next turned his atention to quartz mining in different parts of the west, and was one of the first men in Kootenai, Brit- ish Columbia, where he was local manager for the Lilloett, Frazer River & Caribou Gold Fields Company in Kootenai, for two years, or from 1894 until 1896. After a year's residence in San Francisco he located at Needy in August, 1898, and soon bought out the mercantile business of V. E. Cook, which he has successfully conducted up to the present time. Mr. Molson has a mod- ern little store and a stock calculated to meet all demands of the citizens of Needy, and his cour- tesy and affability have materially assisted in maintaining his large number of customers.

In 1897 Mr. Molson was united in marriage with Lola Price, and of this union there have been born three children, Arvil, May, and Peter, all of whom are living with their parents. Aside from his standing as a merchant, Mr. Molson is entitled due credit as an Indian fighter, hav- ing given heroic service in the lake counties as a volunteer in a large band of men. This war occurred in 1878-79, and was replete with ad- ventures and hair breadth escapes on the part of the white men. Mr. Molson is a Republican in political affiliation, and has served for several years as a school director. He is fraternally as- sociated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of British Columbia, and with the Woodmen of the World of Needy.

EDWIN L. CORNER. In a comfortable little home overlooking the Willamette river lives in comparative retirement Edwin L. Corner, pio- neer, furniture dealer, merchant, sawmill manipu- lator, miner, tanner and farmer. So varied an assortment of occupations as those credited to Mr. Corner necessarily indicate versatility, and that his efforts have passed the experimental

stage argues also business ability of a high order. He was born in Washington county, Ohio, De- cember 22, 1827, and comes of an ancestry for the most part identified with the agricultural under- takings of the British Isles.

George Corner, the father of Edwin L., was born in Cheshire, or Chester county, a district of England bordering on the North sea, and noted for its grazing and dairies, December 12, 1783. About 1795 he came to the United States with his father, William, the latter of whom died while crossing the Allegheny mountains to Ohio. The youthful George apprenticed to a surveyor in Ohio, who was none other than Gen. Rufus Putnam, and afterward settled down to farming and stock-raising in the Buckeye state, where he rose to prominence in general affairs, and where he died December 29, 1844. He married Susan Burlingame, born in Rutland, Worcester county, Mass., and a grand-daughter of Rufus Putnam of Revolutionary fame. Christopher Burlingame, the father of Mrs. Corner, was born in New England, and after going to Ohio engaged in the manufacture of hats. Of the twelve children born to George Corner and his wife, five sons and seven daughters, all grew to maturity, and at the present time two daughters, a son, and Edwin L., are still living, he being the tenth oldest.

In Cornerville, named after his family, and located in Washington county, Ohio, Edwin L. Corner was educated in the public schools, event- ually attending the Academy at McConnelsville. the same state. At the age of seventeen he en- gaged in the carpenter's trade, an occupation which he followed for several years. In 1851 he crossed the plains to Oregon, the trip taking four months, and upon his arrival in the state settled in Salem, where he engaged in carpenter work and which continued to be his home for six years. During a portion of that time, at the time of the Indian wars of 1852 and 1853 he en- gaged in mining and other occupations in Cali- fornia. In 1856 he returned to Ohio, where he conducted a sawmill for a year, and after dis- posing of his mill moved to Iowa and engaged in the furniture business for three years. Later he became interested in the grocery business, and still later in running a tannery, but like so many others who have once felt the possibilities of the west, he again longed to be a participator in its chances and upbuilding. He therefore drove across the plains with a team in 1864, remained over two winters in Boise City, Idaho, and May 21, 1866, again arrived in Salem, Ore. Here he engaged in a grocery business until disposing of his store in 1872, when he bought a farm of sixty-four acres in Yamhill county. A later lo- cation was at Sellwood, Multnomah county, where he became practically the father of the infant town, bought the first lot there and built

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the first house. For some time he was busy at getting wood out of the timbers, but he soon started up a grocery business and continued the same until selling out in 1893. To Mr. Corner is due the credit of establishing the postoffice at Sellwood, as he circulated the petition praying for an office. He was the first postmaster of the town, and carefully looked after the affairs of Uncle Sam for ten years. An item of interest in connection with his pioneer undertakings is that he brought the first organ across the plains, and which was the first introduced in the state of Oregon. He was also a member of the first city council of Sellwood.

In Granville, Ohio. Mr. Corner was united in marriage with Mary Ann Wood. September 6, 1858, Mrs. Corner being a daughter of Charles Wood, born in England and a hatter by trade. Mr. Wood emigrated to New York July 4, 1830, settled in U'tica, N. Y., and later removed to New Jersey, where he engaged at his trade. In 1838 he removed to Delaware, Chio, and in 1839 to Granville, Ohio, where he was engaged in busi- ness until his death at the age of eighty-six years. Mrs. Corner is a member of the Episcopal Church, while her husband was reared in the Congregational Church. Mr. Corner is a Repub- lican in politics, is a member of Sellwood Fire Company No. I, and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both himself and wife are members of the Ohio Society of Oregon.

WILLIAM H. MORTON. The name of William H. Morton stands at the head of mer- cantile and general affairs in Beaverton, of which town he has long been regarded as an integral part of development and substantiality. A far- reaching merchandise business has been estab- lished by this honored citizen, from which busy center has radiated a practical interest in all that pertains to the well-being of the town. Such an enterprise, as is well known, places the owner in closer touch with affairs than does any other kind of occupation. besides which, from the standpoint of adaptiveness to public needs, the store is unequaled in any town in Washington county. Straightforward business methods, atten- tiveness to the tastes and requirements of his many customers, and a tactful knowledge of hu- man nature, may be mentioned among the charac- teristics possessed by Mr. Morton in common with all successful and popular merchants all over the country. At the present time he is serving as justice of the peace, to which he was elected by his Republican constituents, and other political honors have come his way, as a result of the con- fidence of his fellow-townsmen.

The representative of a family long associ-

ated with Pennsylvania, Mr. Morton was born in Beaver county, Pa., December 18, 1842, his father. William, having been born in the same county in 1819. The elder Morton was a mill- wright by occupation, which he followed for sey- eral years in his native state, after which he en- gaged in running a canal boat from Pittsburg to Lake Erie. He married Rebecca Hazen, also born in the same state. He was fairly successful in life and died at the early age of twenty-nine years. After his death his son, William H., went to live with his paternal grandfather, but at the age of eleven was bound out to other parties, re- ceiving nothing for his services but food and clothes up to his sixteenth year. He then started out to carve his own future, and at the age of eighteen left what he had to do for the more in- portant call from his country at the breaking out of the Civil war.

As a private in Company D, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Morton was mustered in at Doylestown, Pa., was first sent to Washington, and afterward partici- pated in many of the important battles of the war. including Williamsburg, with General Mcclellan ; the Peninsular Campaign; Fair Oaks; and sev- eral battles in South Carolina. He was stationed on Morris Island for eight months and a half, and on James' Island and John's Island. South Carolina, for one month. Out of the regiment that took part in the battle of Fair Oaks but sev- enty-five could be gathered together for muster. and thus the grim spectre of bloodshed hovered over the brave little band which so hopefully started out to defend the cause of the Union. Mr. Morton was in time promoted to corporal and ser- geant, and after three years of arduous service was mustered out at Philadelphia. Personally he suffered many of the deprivations and calamities of war, for a wound in the leg necessitated re- tention in a regimental hospital for some time, and he also was laid low with fever.

After the war Mr. Morton engaged in the pho- tograph business in Beaver county, Pa., in which he was fairly successful, and in which he en- gaged for about three years. The year after the war, in 1866, he was united in marriage with Mary Helwick, a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1869 removed to Mercer county, Ill., where he engaged in coal mining for four years. Follow- ing this experience he located in Kansas, which state continued to be his home for twelve years. and where he engaged in a merchandise business during the greater part of that time. After com- ing to Oregon in 1885 he lived four years in Portland, and then removed to Beaverton, where he has since been engaged in business. He also has built up an extensive seed business, and main- tains the only hothouse of any note in Washing- ton county. Seven children have been born to

Lindley Meeker

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himself and wife: Emmet; Florence; Alice ; Harry, living at home; Venoni, living near Beaverton ; Bertha, a resident of Portland ; and Edward. Mr. Morton is identified with the United Artisans, and the Lions, and with the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is offi- cer of the day. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Portland.

LINDLEY MEEKER. Although Mr. Meeker has retired from the active cares of agricultural life, he is still remembered as one of the sub- stantial upbuilders of Columbia county, his former home. In 1889 he purchased a portion of the farm taken up by his mother-in-law. Mrs. Frantz, upon which he conducted large general farming and stock-raising operations until selling his property, since which time he has made his home with his daughter. Mrs. Brazee, in Port- land. Under his ownership the farm was well improved, and rendered modern by the latest agricultural devices and modern residence and buildings. A considerable portion of the land had been devoted to fruit culture, an enterprise greatly facilitated by a fruit dryer, one of the later additions to the general equipment of the farm. Mr. Meeker owns three hundred acres of land on Sauvie's Island, in the Columbia river, a portion of which is improved.

Of sturdy and industrious stock, Mr. Meeker was born near Goshen, Clermont county, Ohio, January 25, 1829. His parents were born in New Jersey, thence moving to Ohio about 1822. The father, Enoch, a blacksmith by trade, re- moved his enterprise from Ohio to Racine, Wis., in 1836, his family joining him in the new loca- tion the following year. About 1842 he went to Cedar county, Iowa, and in 1852, accompanied by his sons, William, Lindley and Enoch. his daughter Eliza, and his wife. he came overland with ox teams, and spent the first winter in Oregon at Scappoose. In the spring of 1853 the father took up a donation claim of three hun- dred and twenty acres near Rocky Point, now in Multnomah county, where he died in 1869, at the age of seventy-five, and where his wife died at the age of seventy-eight.

Soon after coming to Oregon Lindley Meeker became interested in saw milling, and in 1861 he removed to Clarke county, Wash., where he homesteaded a claim, and afterward cleared one hundred acres of timber. He engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising there until 1882, and the following year bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near Ridgefield, Wash., and this continued to be his home until settling upon his farm in Columbia county. A Republican in politics, Mr. Meeker held school offices for many years, and was commissioner of Clarke county,

Wash., from 1876 to 1882. Fraternally he is a member of the Grange. Mary Frantz, whom Mr. Meeker married December 1, 1860, died in November, 1902, leaving no family.

JOHN F. KOEHLER. As a worthy repre- sentative of the intelligence, the integrity and the moral worth of the citizens of Canby Mr. Koehler occupies no ordinary position. He is widely and favorably known in this locality and the fact that he is well spoken of by high and low, rich and poor, is sufficient indication of his character. By a course of industry and good management he has become well-to-do financially, and his fine estate of eighty acres, located adjacent to Canby, bears evidence to his thrift and perseverance. He is now living retired, having turned the manage- ment of the farm over to his son George. In Canby he owns the house and lot where he re- sides and also owns another house and lot oppo- site.

Frederick Koehler, the father of John F., was born in Pomerania, Germany, where he was a sheep herder and where he died when seventy years of age. By his first marriage there were born five children, of whom John F. was the youngest, his birth occurring in Pomerania, Ger- many, February 1, 1838. By the father's second marriage there were five children also. The boyhood of John F. was spent in his native land, attending school and assisting in the home duties in so far as his strength would allow. When sixteen years of age he began to assist in his own support, engaging as a herder of sheep, and this occupation he continued to follow until he came to the United States about 1863. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel, and anchor was dropped at Quebec, Canada. He at once proceed- ed to the interior, and settled in Hallowell town- ship, Jefferson county, Wis. Notwithstanding the fact that he had but recently arrived in this country, he was alive to her best interests, and when in 1864 a call was made for able bodied men he joined the First Wisconsin Cavalry as a member of Company B, and served as guard at division headquarters. During his service he had been under the command of Generals Sher- man and Thomas, receiving his honorable dis- charge at Nashville, Tenn., in July. 1865. After liis discharge he returned to Wisconsin, but his stay was of short duration, as the next month he went to Sumner, Bremer county, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of prairie land and five acres of timber. This was the field of his en- deavors until the year 1878, but in March of that year he came to Oregon, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land. He later sold eighty acres of that tract, and now has forty acres of the remainder all cleared and under

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cultivation, and in addition owns another forty acre tract which he purchased five years ago. For the last three or four years he has been ex- empt from active duties, having resigned the management of affairs into younger hands, and in his son George he has an able successor.

While a resident of Sumner, Iowa, Mr. Koeh- ler was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Hoag, a native of Wittenberg, Germany, born June 22, 1845. In 1867 she came to the United States alone, and at once proceeded to Wiscon- sin, where she had relatives. Later she removed to Iowa, where her marriage was solemnized. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Koehler, as follows: George, of whom men- tion has already been made: Mary, Mrs. E. M. Price, who resides in Washington ; and John and William, the . latter of whom lives in Portland. The record of the life of Mr. Koehler shows that he has ever been kind, gen- erous and whole-souled in word and deed, and his neighbors feel that they can call upon him for sympathy and help in hours of need. As a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church of Canby he takes an active interest in all its undertakings and has filled the office of trustee in that organization. For over twenty years he has been actively inter- ested in Sunday school work and is now in- structor of the oldest bible class in Canby. Polit- ically he is a Republican, taking an interested part in the affairs of the party.

CHARLES T. HOWARD. For more than half a century Charles T. Howard has given the weight of a strong character, of sound business judgment, adaptiveness and resourcefulness to the upbuilding of Clackamas county, and is today representative of all that is fine in the industrial, agricultural, moral, educational and social com- munity of Mulino and vicinity. He was born in Shelby county, near Shelbyville, Ill., July 28. 1841, his family having been established in America by an English ancestor who settled in Maryland long before the Revolutionary war. The prominence which rewarded the efforts of this emigrant in the Colonies may be estimated when it is known that Howard county, Md., was named in his honor. In Howard county was born the paternal grandfather, William, a black- smith, storekeeper and farmer, who left his va- ried interests to shoulder a musket on the great battlefields of the Revolution.

Richard R. Howard, the father of Charles T., was born in Cecil county, Md., November 18, 1797. and in his native state served an apprentice- ship as miller and millwright. He removed to Ohio in 1818 and to Illinois in 1821. in the latter state settling ten miles frem Shelbyville. In this comparatively wikl region he built the first flour-

ing mill in 1832, and conducted the same in con- nection with farming until his emigration to Mis- souri in the fall of 1845. The following spring, in March, he started across the plains with ox- teams, being accompanied by his wife and chil- dren. Where Mulino now stands he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, and in 1854 built the fine old house now occt- pied by his son, Charles T. While improving this farm his energies reached out in various di- rections, and he was especially interested in sur- veying, to which he devoted considerable time. In the carly days he surveyed many of the roads in Clackamas county, his largest effort in this direction being the big road from Oregon City to Butte Creek. The sawmill erected by this early pioneer in 1848 experienced many years of activity, but has long since subsided into silence, its water wheel and timbers and general pictur- esque appearance having long been destroyed for the latter-day uses of man. However, a flouring mill, erected in 1851, is still a landmark in the community, the cessation of its usefulness being indefinitely postponed. Mr. Howard died No- vember 14, 1865, leaving innumerable reminders of his well-adjusted and really worth while life. The little creek that sings its way through the old claim owes its christening to his appreciation of its appearance, and was called by him Mill creek. Mr. Howard married Cynthia Turner, who was born in Elizabeth county, Ky., October 10, 1810, and whose father, Francis, a native of England, established the family in Kentucky. Eventually Mr. Turner removed to Illinois. where his death occurred in 1816. Ten children were born to Richard R. Howard and his wife, six sons and four daughters, of whom two daugh- ters and one son died in October, 1854.

The fifth oldest in his father's family, Charles T. Howard moved with his parents from Illinois and Missouri, and was five years of age when the memorable trip across the plains was accom- plished. He was educated partially in the public but mostly in a private school, and received a practical and thorough home training. His first departure from the parental home was in 1862, when he spent three and a half months experi- menting in eastern Oregon, after which he re- turned to his home and has lived here since. After the death of his father he assumed entire charge of the farm and mill, and under his man- agement the latter has undergone a complete transformation, having been re-built first in 1880, and again in 1890. In the latter year new and up-to-date machinery replaced that of long ago, and although water power is still maintained, the capacity of the mill has been increased to sixty barrels per day. Of the four hundred and seventy-seven acres of his own and sixty-three belonging to his wife in the home farm, Mr.

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Howard has under cultivation about one hun- dred acres, and besides stock, raises principally grain and hay.

In Oregon City, Ore., Mr. Howard married Mary H. Sanders, who was born in Marion county, Ore., May 1, 1853, and whose father, Asa, was born in Connecticut, and was a farmer in his native state. Mr. Sanders came to Oregon in 1851 and took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres in Marion county. This lie soon after sold, and in 1857 located on three hundred and twenty acres of land upon what is now a portion of Molalla, where his death oc- curred February 4, 1895. He married Abby L. Woodward, who was born in Connecticut, and who came west to Ohio with her parents where the marriage occurred. Mrs. Sanders at present lives with her daughter, Mrs. Howard. and though seventy-five years of age possesses the bright faculties which made her of so great as- sistance to her husband during his struggles in the early days. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Howard, Claude S. and Bayne A., both of whom are living with their parents.

A Republican in political affiliation, Mr. How- ard has been very active in supporting his party in the west, and has filled many offices of trust and responsibility. Since Cleveland's first term he has been postmaster of Mulino, and he has also been road supervisor for several years, and justice of the peace for one term. Diligently has he attended Republican county and state conven- tions, and it is a matter of pride with his fellow townsmen that his political record has been clean, and above any suspicion of personal aggrandize- ment. Both Mr. and Mrs. Howard are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, both have been superintendent of the Sunday school, and active promoters of the charitable and social life of the church. Both are interested in the spread of the temperance cause, and have ar- dently worked for the prevalence of this com- mendable condition. Mrs. Howard is a woman of broad mind and great refinement, and her in- fluence upon the social and intellectual life by which she is surrounded cannot be too warmly commended. Mrs. Howard has been three times elected secretary of the State Grange, and at present is holding that position. In his person- ality Mr. Howard is genial and optimistic, and has the assurance and manner of the typical man of affairs, to whom all that pertains to the wel- fare of his neighborhood is of vital importance.

GEORGE GALBREATH, who follows gen- eral farming and stock-raising, was born May 8, 1849, in Iowa, his parents being Samuel and Sarah (Spencer) Galbreath. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and resided in that state

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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 63

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