Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 73

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 73

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Mr. Dauchy married in Minnesota, Martha Woodle, who was born in Wisconsin, and whose

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father, Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania, was the first county judge of Fayette county, Iowa. Mr. Woodle, who was engaged in a general mer- chandise business in Iowa, was a pioneer of his locality, and was one of its most prominent and influential citizens. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dauchy, five of whom are de- ceased. Kate is the wife of S. E. Homcomb, secretary of the Oregon Packing Company, and one of the largest stockholders; and Charles H. is a blacksmith and lives at home. Mr. Dauchy is a Republican in national politics, and in local affairs votes for the man best qualified to serve the interests of the community. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is also connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, of Oregon City. The standing of Mr. Dauchy in the community of Clackamas county is indeed an enviable one, and is based not only upon his skill in erecting many of its finest public buildings and residences, but upon personal attributes which are bound to win honest appreciation in any locality.

M. E. PAGE. Ever since 1889 the general merchandise store of M. E. Page has been one of the stanch and reliable business concerns of Clatskanie. From near and far customers have come to avail themselves of the complete line of goods carried by this enterprising purveyor of the people, whose success has been materially augmented by his genial manner, public spirited- ness, and general interest in town affairs. Also, Mr. Page is serving his fellow-townsmen as postmaster, having attended to the affairs of Uncle Sam ever since 1890, two years after start- ing in business. He is a firm believer in the prin- ciples of Republicanism, and is at present satis- factorily filling the office of city treasurer.

A native of Macon county, Ill., Mr. Page was born near Decatur, June 5, 1860, the son of a contractor, builder, mover and teamster. As one of the five children in the paternal family he re- ceived his education in the public schools of Braidwood. Ill., and at the age of fifteen found himself dependent upon his own resources. For several years he followed teaming and moving, and in 1884 came to Oregon, settling in Clat- skanie. His first mercantile experience was gained while clerking in a general merchandise store, and in 1889 he was sufficiently experienced to start in his present business, and to make of it a success from the beginning. The same year that he started in business for himself Mr. Page was united in marriage with Mabel Edgerton, a native of Illinois, and the mother of four chil- dren : Leilla. Rov. Nellie and Mary. Mr. Page is variously associated with the social and fra- ternal organizations in which this part of Colum-

bia county abounds, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a charter member in Clatskanie; the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Foresters. He is treasurer of both the last-named societies. Mr. Page is a broad-minded and enterprising citizen, and one of the substantial and popular upbuilders of this town.

JOHN H. WOLFER. The industry and good management of John H. Wolfer have enabled him to realize many of his expectations in regard to Clackamas county, and have built up a reputa- tion for thrift and enterprise second to none in the county. Mr. Wolfer is one of the many sons of Indiana who have appreciated western possi- bilities, and his birth occurred in Floyd county, August 21, 1834. His father, John, was born in Butler county, Pa., June 4, 1806, and died in Oregon, December 14, 1890. His mother. Lu- cinda (James) Wolfer, was born in North Caro- lina in 1795, and died in 1862. John Wolfer was a tanner by trade, and when twenty years of age started out on his own responsibility in Illinois. where he married. In 1833 he removed to Indi- ana, and at the expiration of two years located in Harrison county. The parents removed to Shelby county, Mo., when John H. was eleven years of age, locating in a German colony, where the father prosecuted his trade of tanner. He pulled up stakes in 1861 and came to Oregon. where he was a member of Dr. Kiel's colony until 1880, owning in that section ninety-five acres of land.

Since his twelfth year John H. Wolfer has looked after himself, and upon starting away from his father's home engaged in farming tor other agriculturists. Thus his life was spent in an uneventful way until the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company D. First Missouri Enrolled Militia, and served until November, 1864, having attained to the rank of third sergeant. He served under Gen. John B. Gray and Gen. Madison Mil- ler, and was engaged principally in guerilla war- fare in Missouri. After the war he returned to Newton county, Mo., and was employed at farm- ing until he came to Oregon in 1881, and as- sumed control of his father's place of ninety-five acres. Of this land forty-five acres are under cultivation, and general farming and stock rais- ing are profitably prosecuted.

September 24. 1857. Mr. Wolfer was united in marriage with Barbara Searcy, widow of George W. Searcy. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfer were born the following children : Charles F., a resident of Viola, Ore .: Mrs. Eliza J. Smith. of Arkansas : Benjamin B., deceased : Logan W .. living in Portland, and a teamster by occupation : Sherman W., also living in Portland, and identi-

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fied with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company ; Jabez W., in the pulp mills of Oregon City ; and Frederick, deceased. Mrs. Wolfer died January 1, 1902, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Wolfer is a Republican in politics, and has been road supervisor and school director. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Rock Creek. He is one of the esteemed farmers of Clackamas county, and his creditable farming enterprises, and well-known reliability have helped to maintain the prestige of this well fa- vored section of the state.

WILLIAM M. STEPHENS, substantially identified with agricultural and other affairs in Washington county, was born near Madison, Jefferson county, Ind., July 8, 1831, and is one of the five children born to Thomas S. and Elizabeth Stephens. The parents removed from Indiana to Hancock county, Ill., in 1833, settling near Carth- age, where they farmed until 1845. With four wagons and thirteen yoke of oxen they crossed the plains in that year by way of the old Grant trail, there being in the start one hundred and fifty wagons in the party. Eventually there were divisions in the company of fifty wagons each, as far as Fort Laramie, and here the elder Stephens gathered together thirteen wagons which he en- gineered to The Dalles. With others he built a raft to take their provisions and furnishings down the river to Cascades. From there they went by boat to Sellwood, near Portland, and there remained for about a month. The father then came out to Washington county, near where Glencoe is now built, and bought a Snelling right to a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, fifty acres of which was fenced in. Here was erected a temporary log cabin, in which the family lived while the land was being cleared and placed in readiness for crops. In 1847 Mr. Ste- phens sold his farm and moved to the vicinity of Portland, where he bought a right to six hundred and forty acres of land upon which he engaged in farming almost up to the time of his death, at the age of eighty-one years. His life was charac- terized by great industry, and great interest in whatever he set out to accomplish. In connection with his farming he ran barges from Portland to Oregon City, and particularly during the Cavuse war handled all of the government freight from Portland to Cascades. He was quite successful from a business standpoint, and amassed quite a little fortune during his active western life.

Enthusiastically interested in the west because of his experiences on the plains as a boy of four- teen, William M. Stephens started in to avail himself of all that the new country offered. In 1849 he went down to the gold fields of Califor- nia, traveling from Astoria to San Francisco by

sailing vessel, prospected for a while, and then turned his attention to freighting between Sacra- mento and Georgetown, a distance of about fifty- five miles. After thus spending his time for a vear he returned to Oregon, and thereafter mined and prospected in Jackson county for about three years. In 1855 he went to Red Bluffs, Cal., and after running a stable for a year went over into Arizona and investigated mining prospects in Yuma and other centers of activity. Returning to Portland in the spring of 1858, he remained there but three months when he went to Yamhill county, and in a year took a trip to the Fraser river country by water, and with pack mules. The same fall he embarked in farming for a year in Yamhill county, and then in Polk county bought a farm where he lived until 1863. After a residence on a farm near Greenville, Washing- ton county, continuing for three years, he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of uni- versity state land, which has since been his home, and where he is engaging in general farming, stock-raising and dairying. When he first occu- pied the land it was covered with timber, which he cleared with little or no assistance.

August 22, 1861, Mr. Stephens was united in marriage with Ann E. DeLashmutt, a native of Columbia, Ohio, and daughter of E. L. and Es- ther (Stevenson) DeLashmutt, who crossed the plains in 1860, settling in Polk county. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have been born the following children: Ida, wife of John Allen; Clara, de- ceased : Nettie, wife of John Carstens; Edward L .; Alfred L., now owner of the homestead ; Charles R .; and Frederick C. Two of the Stephens boys, Alfred and Charles, served for fourteen months in the Philippine war in Com- pany H, Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Stephens is a Republican in political prefer- ence, and has served for four years as justice of the peace. He has to his credit considerable In- dian fighting, having served five months in the Rogue River Indian war of 1853. Mr. Stephens has fashioned a meritorious career in the west, and while working for substantial financial re- sults has won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had to do.

JOSEPH SEVCIK. In 1891 the old flouring mill and lake near New Era passed into the hands of the Sevcik family, the entire estate comprising sixteen acres. Under the impetus of new man- agement, thrifty methods, modern machinery, and increasing trade, the power in the giant water wheel has taken on a new aspect, and con- forms to the demands of modern thought and latter-day business. From outlying towns in this and the surrounding counties the orders come for products from the Sevcik mill, and for nearly

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the whole year 'round its capacity is taxed to the utmost.

Joseph Sevcik, whose health was for some time undermined through too close application to the interests of milling, and who for years has been head miller and general manager, was born in Tama county, Iowa, February 6, 1873, and has spent his whole life in his native state, living with his father. Joseph Sevcik, Sr., the father of Joseph, was born in Germany, and came to the United States with his parents when about six- teen years old. The family settled in Iowa, from which state their son Joseph came to Oregon in 1888, settling on a farm two miles east of Oregon City. Mr. Sevcik then located on Beaver creek, where also he farmed, and in 1891 bought the sixteen acres, including the lake and flouring mill, which has since been in the possession of the family. He put in the new roller process ma- chinery, enlarging the capacity of the mill to twenty-five barrels per day. He is now making his home in New Era, where he has a pleasant and comfortable residence, and is enjoying the fruits of an industrious and well-applied career. His wife, Mary, is also a native of Germany. and came to America with her parents, settling in Tama county, Iowa. There have been born into the family three sons and four daughters, of whom Joseph is the oldest.

From earliest boyhood Joseph Sevcik, Jr., was associated with his father in the mill, and learned the business from the bottom up. He received his education in the public schools, and in time became head miller, a position maintained until illness necessitated turning over the management of the mill to his brother-in-law. At present he is picking up somewhat, and is superintending the business part of the manufactory. The mill runs with water power, being propelled by the water of a large lake, fed by Beaver and Parrot creeks, which empty their waters into the lake and then goes into the race. Mr. Sevcik is inde- pendent in politics. He is one of the very pro- gressive and intelligent business men of this sec- tion, and has fortunately found his largest field of activity in the milling business. Mr. Sevcik has never married. His brothers and sisters are as follows: Antone, a resident of Portland ; Mary, now Mrs. Joseph Strejc. living in Port- land; Wesley, at home; Anna, Josie, and Julia, all of Portland.

JOHN SCHLEGEL, one of the farmers of Washington county, near Banks, was born in Fond du Lac county, Wis., October 25, 1849, a son of John and Mary ( Walty) Schlegel, both of whom were born in Switzerland. John Schlegel. Sr., was reared in his native land, married there, and came with his wife to America, becoming

one of the very early settlers of Fond du Lac county, Wis. There he owned a farm and en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and in 1856 moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and later to Davis county, the same state. In 1876 he came with his family to Oregon, settling on four hun- dred and twenty acres of land in Washington county, where he is still making his home, and is still in possession of his faculties, although eighty-seven years of age. His wife died in Iowa.

When he came to Oregon with his father in 1876 John Schlegel, Jr., brought with him his wife, formerly Sarah Luther, who was born in Iowa, and married in her native state. In 1876 he moved onto the home farm, and in 1877 bought his present farm of forty acres, upon which he has made many fine and modern im- provements, and where he is engaged in general farming, besides stock and fruit raising. For a time Mr. Schlegel occupied a homestead of eighty acres near Buxton, which also he cleared, and up- on which he lived for five years, returning there- after to his original and present home. He con- ducts a model dairy in connection with his other responsibilities, and, judging from the appear- ance of his property, he is an excellent manager. good business man and model agriculturist. Of the fifteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Schle- gel eleven are living, the order of their birth being as follows : Annie, Mary, Arthur, Wesley, Rosa, Ella, Fred, Edwin, Samuel, Earl and Emma. Four of the children died when young. Mr. Schlegel is a Democrat in political affiliation, and is at present serving as school director.

WILLIAM F. ROLSTON, now deceased. was a veteran of the Mexican and of the Civil war and was a man ever loyal in citizenship and trustworthy in business life. He was born in Hart county, Ky., October 16, 1825, and there upon a farm was reared to manhood. At the out- break of the Mexican war he manifested his lov- alty to his country by volunteering for service, and throughout the period of hostilities he re- mained with the army. In 1849 he removed to Missouri, settling in Ray county, near Richmond, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until the Civil war was inaugurated, at which time he enlisted in the Fifty-first Missouri Infantry, serv- ing gallantly throughout the war for the preserva- tion of the Union. He held the rank of lieuten- ant and was ever a loyal defender of the stars and stripes. While living in Missouri he was also concerned with public affairs of the state and represented his district in the general as- sembly.

In 1853 Mr. Rolston was united in marriage to Miss Alice J. Gilpin, a native of Lawrenceburg,

W.J. Rauch

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Ky., and of this union seven children were born, the surviving members of the family being Frank ; Fannie, the wife of C. H. Russell; Myr- tle, the wife of John Bates; Samuel; and Lulu, the wife of Vitto Davenport.

The year 1875 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Rolston in Oregon. He made his way across the plains to the northwest, settling in Yamhill coun- ty, where he rented land for three years and then purchased one hundred and thirty-five acres. This was wild and unimproved and he cleared and developed it, as well as other tracts, and upon the home farm he remained until 1890, when he removed to Gaston, where he became proprietor of a hotel, and to the conduct of a hostelry he devoted his energies until his life's labors were ended in death. He was an extensive and prosperous farmer and well known in busi- ness circles for his fair dealing. In his political views a Republican he took an active interest in affairs pertaining to the general good and he was a valiant member of the Grand Army of the Republic. For fifty-five years he heid member- ship in the Christian Church, to which his wife also belonged, and his life was in consistent har- mony with his professions. He died April 13, 1897, respected by all who knew him.

WILLIAM J. RAUCH. Among the suc- cessful and retired farmers, merchants and real- estate men of Gladstone, that busy little town across the Clackamas from Parkplace, may be mentioned W. J. Rauch, whose well directed life has resulted in financial prominence, and a repu- tation for unquestioned business integrity. Mr. Rauch is one of the many sons of Illinois who have contributed to the upbuilding of Oregon, and his birth occurred September 23, 1845, in Effingham, Effingham county, Ill.

Jacob Rauch, the father of W. J., was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and at the age of fourteen came to the United States with his pa- rents, settling in St. Clair county, Ill., near Belleville. Later on the father engaged in farm- ing in Effingham and McDonough counties. eventually locating in Keokuk county, Iowa, and in 1852 in St. Clair county. In Belleville he learned the blacksmith's trade, but he did not follow this for his life work. April 14, 1853, he started across the plains with ox-teams, arriving at the end of his journey without experiencing any special adventures. At first he bought a log cabin in which to live, and later donated the claim upon which it was located. Here he lived and worked with fair success until 1896, and then located in Oregon City, later taking up his resi- dence with his son. W. J., at whose home his death occurred May 30, 1902, at the age of eighty-five years. In 1839 he married Elizabeth

C. Anderson, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and whose father, George Anderson, was born in England, and later became identified with real estate interests in Philadelphia. Two sons and three daughters were born of this union, all of whom attained maturity, W. J. being third oldest in the family.

At the little log school house in the vicinity of his father's donation claim W. J. Rauch re- ceived such education as his arduous home duties permitted, this being confined principally to three months during the winter time. With his father he continued to farm until twenty- four years of age, or until the time of his marriage. He then bought a farm adjoin- ing that of his father, and later added fifty to his one hundred and sixty acres, disposing of the same in 1890, in order that he might be enabled to engage in a mercantile business in Oregon City. This venture did not prove as satisfactory as Mr. Rauch had anticipated, and two years later, in 1892, he disposed of it, and in 1896 re- moved to Gladstone and engaged in the grocery business. By reason of his well-applied industry he has accumulated large land holdings, and though no longer a business man in an active sense of the word, spends some of his time look- ing after his many affairs, a part of his duty be- ing to collect the rents from eight cottages which he owns in Oregon City and Portland.

September 23, 1869, Mr. Rauch was united in marriage with Mary A. Farr, who was born in Oregon City. August 19, 1851, and whose father, Isaac Farr, was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1845. In New York City Mr. Farr engaged in the retail grocery business until 1850, and during the last-named year came around the Horn, Governor Gaines, the second governor of the state of Oregon, and Judge Strong both being passengers on the same ship, which dropped anchor in Oregon City August 3, 1850. For about a year Mr. Farr made his home with Governor Gaines, and then settled on a do- nation claim six miles south of Oregon City. where is now located the village of Carus, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Farr lived to reach the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. His wife. who was Miss Constance Hunt, was a native of England and came to this country at the age of seven years. She was a daughter of Vair and Mary ( Waters) Hunt, both of whom lived and died in the old country. Mrs. Farr died in 1893. at the age of eighty-eight years.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rauch, as follows: Ina E., the wife of J. O. Church, a captain of the Willamette and Columbia rivers ; Maggie Matilda, the widow of G. W. Davis; Nettie Frances, the wife of Charles Foster, a conductor on the Oregon Railroad for

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a number of years but now a member of the Port- land police department ; and Martha Helen, Ella Sarah, Ruth and Edward, the four latter children living at home with their parents. Mr. Rauch is a Republican in politics, but has never been heard of among the ranks of office seekers. At one time, however, he consented to serve as justice of the peace. Socially he is identified with the Oregon Pioneer Society. The numerous fine characteristics of Mr. Rauch have been appreci- ated during his long residence in this county, and he may well consider that his emigration here was a wise move.

CHARLIE A. MILLER. The superintend- ent of the Willamette Falls Company at Oregon City is C. A. Miller, a resident of Oregon since 1892, and one of the leading men of his town. He was born at Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, November 14, 1859, being a son of Joshua and Rhoda A. (Swindler) Miller, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and Greencastle, Ind. His father, who was of German descent, settled in Louisville, Ky., at fifteen years of age, and there learned the ship-carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed for some years. Removing to Iowa in 1848, he settled in Appanoose county, where he took up the study of law under a well-known jurist and attorney of Centerville. After his ad- mission to the bar he took up active practice and continued to follow his profession in Centerville until his death, in 1884. Meantime, he served three terms as state senator, and also held the office of district judge. During early life he voted with the Whigs, but on the organization of the Republican party he became one of its ad- herents, being among the first men in the entire county to take up the new doctrines. In Masonry he was of the Knight Templar degree, while in religion he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, who died in Iowa, was a daughter of John Swindler, a farmer and lifelong resident of Indiana. The family is of German extraction.

Among nine children, all but two of whom at- tained mature years and six are now living, C. A. Miller was the fifth oldest. Two besides him- self are on the coast, one of these being his brother H. R., of Oregon City. His education was such as the grammar and high schools af- forded, in addition to which he had the advantage of a course of study in the State Agricultural College. On account of his father having met with reverses, he gave up the study of law, which it was his ambition to enter, and at twenty-one became a civil engineer, his first employment in that capacity being with a surveying corps along the Wabash line in Iowa. Later he was with a part of the Q system in Illinois, also between St.

Paul and Chicago. He was given charge of the construction of forty miles of railroad extending from Savannah, 111., toward Chicago, after which he was for two years with the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad in Kansas, making his headquar- ters in Atchison. After a year on the preliminary and local survey he was given charge of con- struction for a year, building west from Atchi- son. When that work was completed, he turned his attention to the shipping of live poultry to New York City, making his headquarters in Se- dalia, Mo., for two years. However, the enter- prise was new to him and he did not meet with the success he had anticipated. Thereupon he decided to resume railroading, and accordingly, in 1890, in the employ of the Thompson-Houston Electrical Company, came to Tacoma, Wash .. from which city as his headquarters he had charge of construction work in Tacoma, Ana- conda, Whatcom, Olympia, Wash., and Salem, Ore. The consummation of this work consumed two years.

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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 73

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