Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 74

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 74

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Coming to Oregon in 1892, Mr. Miller entered the employ of the Portland General Electrical Company as superintendent of their Willamette Falls Company. In this capacity he has devel- oped several thousand acres, and has superin- tended the erection of five miles of railroad. In- cluded in his possessions is a residence at Willa- mette Falls. His marriage was solemnized in Oregon City in 1895 and united him with Ida Hickman, who was born in Festus, Mo., and by whom he has two children, Alice and Clare. The Masonic Order numbers him among its members, and in politics he supports Republican principles, casting his ballot for the men and measures of this party.

JAMES T. HOUGHAM. A very successful chicken industry is being maintained by Mrs. James T. Hougham, on a farm of one hundred and six acres two and a half miles east of Canby. The feathered bipeds which contribute food in such large quantities to the markets in the vicinity lead an altogether ideal existence on this model farm, and every attention is given to their comfort and general well-being. Three hundred buff leghorns strut around complacently in all the glory of their golden plumage, and staid Plymouth Rocks add a touch of dignity to a really interesting pageant. The extent to which the business is carried may best be judged by the statement that during six months of 1902 thirteen hundred and ninety-two dozen eggs were gathered, and disposed of through M. C. Mace, the Portland agent. To some extent dairying accompanies the poultry industry, also general farming on a more or less ambitious scale.

The farm over which Mrs. Hougham presides was purchased by her husband, James T.

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Hougham, in 1888. Mr. Hougham was born in McLean county, near Bloomington, Ill., and died on his farm in this county, September 7, 1894, at the age of forty-seven years. eight months and seven days. He was reared on the farm of his father, Wesley Hougham, with whom he lived until his marriage at the age of twenty-two. The father was a large land owner in Illinois, and the son lived on one of his farms for the eight years following his marriage, and emi- grated to Oregon in 1876. From a farm in Linn county he removed to Portland, where for six years he was foreman of the Pioneer Wood Yard at the foot of Morrison street. However, close confinement undermined his health, and in order to regain strength he returned east for a visit to the home of his birth. Upon returning in 1888 he purchased the farm at present owned by his wife, upon which his last days were spent in comparative affluence. Mr. Hougham was a Democrat in political affiliation. and served as school director for many years. He was frater- nally connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mrs. Hougham claims the same native locality as did her husband, her birth having occurred near Bloomington, Ill., October 8, 1851. Before her marriage she was Mary F. Lash, daughter of Henry Lash, a prominent veterinary surgeon, who was born in Portland, Belmont county. Ohio, October 12, 1823, and who is still practicing his profession in his native town. His wife, Lavina. was born in Richmond county, Ohio, and died September 22, 1890, at the age of sixty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Hougham were born the following children : Charles A., living with his mother ; Henry W., married and living in Port- land, and employed by the C. R. Davis Fuel Com- pany ; James E., deceased in infancy : Claude G., at home ; and Albert O., deceased in infancy.

JOHN C. TRACY. Among the native sons of New York who have materially promoted the agricultural interests of Clackamas county may be mentioned John C. Tracy, who was born in Jefferson county, January 25, 1845, and whose father, Lorenzo Tracy, brought him to Oregon when seven years of age. The elder Tracy lo- cated on one hundred and sixty acres of land near Springwater, of which he bought a home- stead right, upon which he made some improve- ments, but which he occupied only six months. Not content with this county he removed to Linn county, this state, and upon the land which con- stitutes the present site of Cottage Grove, took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. Here he lived for five years, and during that time was fairly successful, and placed the estate in fairly good shape as far as improve-

ments were concerned. After disposing of this claim he located on eighty acres of land in Logan precinct, Clackamas county, where he lived until removing to near Currinsville at the end of eight years. The latter farm consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, thirty of which he cleared and improved, and upon which this pioneer settler died in 1885. To his children Mr. Tracy left considerable property, but what is more to be de- sired, the example of an industrious and well- applied life.

Notwithstanding his father's success, John C. Tracy had the grit and determination to carve out his own future, and at the age of sixteen left the paternal roof for the mines of Idaho. There he worked for about three years, and in the meantime managed to save some money with which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land three miles east of Currinsville. One hun- dred acres of this land is cleared at the present time, and besides Mr. Tracy has added to his land responsibilities by purchasing eighty acres of railroad land, and eighty acres of the Oglesby homestead. He now has one hundred and fifty- eight acres, after having divided up eight-five acres between his two sons. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. and has fifteen head of cattle, twenty-eight hogs, and nine cows. He is a practical and scientific farmer, and con- ducts his various enterprises on reliable and con- servative lines.

The wife of Mr. Tracy, who was formerly Martha Bidwell, has been a source of great help and comfort to her husband, and to her assist- ance and sympathy he attributes much of his success. Ten children were born into the Tracy home, four of whom are deceased. The oldest living daughter, Adelaide, wife of D. M. Mar- shall, is living in this county ; Norman lives on a farm adjoining that of his father ; Harrison also lives on a portion of the homestead ; Annie, wife of Frank Thomas, lives at Sandy, Ore .; Lottie, wife of George DeShields, lives at Currinsville ; and Maud, wife of Edgar Heiple, resides in Clackamas county. Mr. Tracy is a Republican in politics, and at the solicitation of his many friends and associates has served as road super- visor, director and clerk for a number of years. He is associated with the Grange of Eagle Creek. and his sympathies and inclinations are with all that has to do with the upbuilding of his locality.

JOSEPH C. SCHULMERICH, one of the farmers of Washington county, is a native son of the golden west, and was born near Placer- ville, Eldorado county, Cal., February 14, 1868. Conrad Schulmerich, the father of Joseph C .. was born in Germany, and reared and educated in his native land. He was early in life ambi-

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tious of larger opportunities than seemed to him to exist in the Fatherland, and in 1850 he boarded a sailing vessel at Hamburg, spent many weeks in the storm and calm of the ocean, and finally arrived in safety in New York harbor. For the first six years in America he worked out on farms in different parts of New York state, and in 1858 went to California by way of the Isthmus. Nineteen years did not seem too long a time to spend in the mines of California, principally around Placerville, and he made considerable money, experiencing his share also of losses and disappointments. After all these years as a miner he decided to settle down to the more certain, if less exciting, occupation of farming, and in Washington county. this state, bought three hun- dred and twenty acres of land upon which he lived until 1897. Wearied of farming, and feel- ing the approach of failing faculties, he then took up his abode in Hillsboro, in which peaceful little town his death occurred at the age of seventy- three years. He married Margaret Schnetzer, who died in Hillsboro in 1899.

When eight years of age Joseph C. Schulmer- ich came with his father to the farm in Washing- ton county, and it was therefore his lot to be reared to agricultural enterprises, and to find his chief usefulness in this manner of livelihood. As opportunity offered he attended the public schools, securing there a fair education, and at the same time developed into a model and thrifty farmer. At the age of twenty-four he entered his father's store in Hillsboro, as a clerk, and was connected with this enterprise for about eight years. Fol- lowing his mercantile experience he located on the farm which has since been his home, and which is a part of the Wilkes donation claim. Mr. Schulerich has one hnudred and sixty acres of land, all in the bottom, and he is extensively engaged in general farming, dairying and the raising of high grade Jersey cattle. His efforts have met with well merited success, and his stock are among the best of their kind in the county.

In 1891 Mr. Schulmerich was united in mar- riage with Minnie Toelle, of which union there have been born four children, Elfa May, John B., Eva Belle and Herman C. Mr. Schulmer- ich is independent in politics, and believes that the best man ought to win out regardless of party affiliation. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias of Hillsboro, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

CHARLES S. CLAGGETT. During his active agricultural life Charles S. Claggett was known as a good business man and shrewd mana- ger, and he favorably impressed all who knew him during his residence in Multnomah county.

A native of the state of Missouri, he was born February 5, 1835, and was reared on the paternal farm, at the same time attending the nearby school. The family fortunes were shifted to the west in 1852, in which year Benjamin Claggett, the father of Charles S., and his wife Elizabeth, determined to seek the larger possibilities of the west, and after a year spent in California they came to Oregon. Here they took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which Charles S. lived with the rest of the family, contributing his share toward the general sup- port. Mrs. Claggett now resides on a portion of the original claim.

From his new home in Oregon, Mr. Claggett returned east in 1879 to marry Phebe A. Steph- ens, a native of the vicinity of Paris, Champaign county, Ohio, and daughter of Joseph and Cath- erine Stephens, the latter of whom were en- gaged in general farming, stock-raising and a mercantile enterprise. Mr. Stephens spent his entire life in Ohio, where he died in 1897, Mrs. Stephens passed away in 1886. Together Mr. Claggett and his wife traveled back to Oregon, and continued to reside on the sixty-five acres lett from the original claim of three hundred and twenty acres up to the time of his death in 1899. Of this tract, about thirty-five acres are cleared, and general farming and stock-raising are en- gaged in. Mr. Claggett was a Republican in political preference, and while active at times, confined his political services to the office of school director for many years. Mrs. Claggett and her daughter, Elizabeth, are members of the Baptist Church, to the support of which Mr. Claggett had contributed liberally. He was honored and respected by all who knew him.

JOSEPH E. HALL, M. D. . Preceded by many years of practical experience as a physi- cian and surgeon, Dr. Joseph E. Hall came to Clatskanie in 1889, and has since been the chief ameliorator of the physical woes, and the all- around wise health counselor of the residents of this section. Dr. Hall is not only one of the most erudite exponents of medical science in Columbia county, but his business sagacity has been exercised with excellent results, and his public-spiritedness has found vent in many ef- forts to improve general conditions. Also, his well-ordained career has been ennobled by meri- torious service during the Civil war.

Dr. Hall is one of seven children in the family of his parents, and was born in Brookville, Pa., April 12, 1842. His father was a man of varied attainments, and whereas his early life was de- voted to cabinetmaking, he later conducted a mercantile business in Brookville for many years. still later turning his attention to the planing-

wanda

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mill and lumber business. Joseph E. remained at home until his twentieth year, and his education was acquired in the public schools, and at Alle- gheny College, Meadville, Pa. The first impor- tant outlet in his otherwise uneventful life came with the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Harrisburg for a three-years' service. He saw much of the terrible and grew- some side of warfare, and participated among others in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, Peterburg, Ream's Station and Bristow Station. At the battle of the Wilderness he was engaged in recruiting men near his home, and was transferred from his original to the One Hundred and Eighty-third Volunteer Infantry, with the rank of adjutant, September 7, 1864. Mr. Hall was mustered out of the service at Philadelphia, Pa., July 13, 1865, and thereafter returned to his former home in Brookville.

The project of studying medicine was a long thought-out one on the part of Mr. Hall, whose impression as to the desirability of such a course had been materially strengthened during his war service. His professional training was received primarily at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and after two terms he repaired to the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was duly graduated in 1869. For the following twelve years the doctor conducted a successful practice at Parker's Landing, Pa., and in 1872 was united in marriage with Fannie Jenks, of Brookville, Pa. After a post-graduate course in 1884 he located in Brookville for a couple of years, and for the following two years carried on a practice in San Diego, Cal. In the fall of 1889 he selected Clatskanie as a desirable permanent residence, and the correctness of this decision has been demonstrated repeatedly in the intervening years. In connection with his prac- tice the doctor maintains an up-to-date drug store, and he has at times been extensively interested in the lumber business, and a large purchaser of timber lands.

A Republican in politics, Dr. Hall has taken an active interest in promoting the interests of his party in this county, and has represented it for one term in the state legislature. He was also justice of the peace for four years and has been school director for the past twelve years. In the latter capacity he has great opportunity to further the interests of education, in which he is vitally interested. Fraternally the doctor is a welcome visitor at various lodges in which the county abounds, including that of the Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the United Artisans. He is also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is past commander of the posts at

Parker's Landing and Emlenton, Pa. Dr. Hall is a member of the State Medical Society, and is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first wife of Dr. Hall, who died in 1877, left two children, Allen and Francis, both of Brookville, Pa. September 19, 1888, he mar- ried Fannie Arnold, a native of Pennsylvania, and of this union there have been born two sons, Enoch A. and Charles C., both of whom are liv- ing with their parents.

CAPT. WILLIAM GADSBY. A career of more than ordinary interest to Oregonians is that of Capt. William Gadsby, proprietor of the large furniture and carpet house, corner of First and Washington streets, Portland. In Birmingham, England, where he was born January 18, 1859, the name of Gadsby was associated with a large mercantile enterprise conducted by Benjamin Gadsby, the father of William, whose untimely death at the age of forty cut short a career of great promise. His wife, who also died in Eng- land, was Frances Anne, a daughter of Richard Moore, owner of Prestop Park, Leicestershire, England. There were five children of this union, of whom three are living. Capt. William is the oldest ; Walter is engaged in business in the east, and Agnes resides in Wales. The paternal grand- father, Charles Gadsby, came of a very old Eng- lish family, of Warwickshire, England.

Owing to the death of his father and conse- quent reverses in business, William Gadsby was practically thrown on his own resources at twelve years of age, and he worked in different capacities until the age of sixteen, when he enlisted in the British army and was assigned to the Seventeenth Foot, then stationed in Ireland. In 1877 he was sent to India, where by strict application to study he acquired a thorough knowledge of the Hindustani language, and was consequently pro- moted to a staff appointment in the Bombay com- missariat department. While serving in the com- missariat, he assisted in the embarkation of the army corps sent from India to Malta and Cypress, during the Russo-Turkish war. On the outbreak of the Afghan war he was detailed to take charge of the stores of the Third Brigade Kandahar field force and accompanied the division under General Phayre to relieve Kandahar. After serving with the movable columns under General Ross in the Hurnai valley, he returned to India.

In Bombay, February 14, 1880, William Gadsby married Nellie Slater, daughter of Oliver Slater, of Newhall, Staffordshire, England. Hav- ing served about six years in India, his health became impaired so much that he was compelled to resign the army and return to England to recuperate. After so many years in the Orient he found the foggy and damp climate of his native

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land very trying, so the next year he came to the United States. Finding the climate of Colorado very beneficial, he decided to locate there, and taking out naturalization papers, engaged in the furniture business in Denver. Here he met with considerable success until 1889, when, on account of his wife's health, he was again obliged to seek a change of climate; he therefore removed to Portland and engaged in his former occupation, where his success has been phenomenal.

Not less interested in the need of his adopted country than in that of the mother country, Will- iam Gadsby came to the front during the Span- ish-American war. He had served in the Oregon National Guard for several years, rising from private to captain of Company E. At the out- break of the hostilities with Spain he was com- missioned by Governor Lord and made captain of Company G, Second Oregon Volunteer In- fantry. In this capacity he accompanied the regiment to the Philippines and was present at the taking of Manila, remaining in the islands until invalided home. He resigned his com- mission in December, 1898, and thereafter re- cuperated for three months in southern Cali- fornia.

Politically Captain Gadsby is affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the Cham- her of Commerce, Commercial Club and Board of Trade. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. and Mrs. Gadsby have two sons, William B. and Walter M., who were born in India and are at present engaged in business with their father. They have one daughter, Alice, who was born in Colorado.

JOHN MATTHIESEN. The manager and proprieor of the Hotel Zur Rheinpfalz is an ex- ceedingly helpful example of the class of suc- cessful men who have evolved much from a child- hood absorbed in responsibility and cheerless- ness. His present prominence among the hotel men of the country has been reached after much tribulation, and much juggling with adverse cir- cumstances. The fourth oldest of the eight children in the family of John Matthiesen, he was born in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Ger- many, February 3, 1857, the paternal farm being scarcely large enough to support so large a household. His environment was characterized by all around poverty, and the lad of nine, name- sake of his father, had the responsibility of live- lihood resting heavily upon his shoulders. Before that he had at intervals attended the district school for one or two months in the winter time. but this was uncertain, as was also everything else but work. The little fellow applied himself to work on farms of the surrounding neighbors,

and the general dreariness of his lot may be imagined when it is known that his last year in his native land brought him in $6 and a suit of clothes.

With his brother, Thomas, Mr. Matthiesen started for America in 1875, he being at that time eighteen years old. They left Hamburg on the Clapstock, and arrived in New York eighteen days after embarking. They came on to Lyons, Iowa, where John found work on a farm for eighteen months at what seemed to him enormous wages, judged from the standard of Wurtemberg prices. This $18 per month for eighteen months helped him out considerably, and gave him a great impression of the possibilities of America. With the money above expenses he came to Cal- ifornia in 1877, and in San Francisco found em- ployment in an hotel. The next year, in 1878, he made his first trip to Portland on the old Ajax, and there found employment in the old New York hotel. After six months he removed to the farm of Mr. Cooley, Washington county, Ore., where he remained for eighteen months, after which he homesteaded a claim on the Tua- latin river, the right to which he afterward sold to his brother. He lived on a farm in Amity for one summer, and then removed to Independence, where he completed his trade as a cook, an occu- pation in which he had long been interested.

In the spring of 1880, Mr. Matthiesen came back to Portland, entering the employ of Ernest Haus, of the Prescott house, and soon after en- tered the employ of Henry Rodfurth of the old New York hotel, as chief cook. In 1882 he started in business for himself at the Narrow Gauge hotel at the corner of First and Jefferson streets, where his marriage with Alvina Hoehler occurred in 1883. In the fall of the same year Mr. Matthiesen became chief cook at the Globe hotel, later filling a similar position at the Ore- gon hotel, still later going to the International hotel. In 1887 this chef with the firmly estab- lished reputation started in the hotel business on his own responsibility, and on the corner of Front and Main streets established the Zur Rhein- pfalz, which he ran with increasing success until the lease ran out in 1890. Nothing daunted, he gathered together his furnishings and re- moved to his present location on Front and Madi- son streets, where he has built up about the largest hotel business in the city, the Zur Rhein- pfalz easily ranking with the most elaborate, com- fortable and well managed hostelries on the coast. Besides his hotel business Mr. Matthiesen has several interests in Portland, and his faith in the future has been evidenced by the purchase of considerable town real estate.

The first wife of Mr. Matthiesen died in 1895. leaving two children, Edward and William. His second marriage occurred in Portland in 1898, and

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was with Meta Winters, who was born in Bremen, Germany, and who is the mother of one child, Walter. Mr. Matthiesen is fraternally associated with the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Her- man, of which latter organization he is past grand president. He is past president of the Eintracht Society, a member of the German Aid Society, and of the Turn Verein. In political affiliations he is a Republican.

HENRY HILL. That good can and does often result from seeming disaster has been ex- emplified in the life experience of Mr. Hill, who in all probability would never have organized the Oregon Foundry had it not been that his original plans had been thwarted. In 1882, when the new steel mill project was set on foot at Oswego, Ore., he was employed to come to Port- land as foreman of the foundry department, but after he arrived here the project was aban- doned. Being pleased with the climate and sur- roundings, he decided to remain here, however, and at once set about to find work at his trade. Subsequently he founded the Oregon Foundry, in partnership with his sons, and in an incredibly short time the business had grown to vast pro- portions. In 1898 they purchased the Oregon Iron Fence & Foundry Company, thus adding to their large plant, and two years later the company was re-incorporated, with the following officers in charge: Henry Hill, Sr., president; John Hill, vice-president; Miss Sadie Hill, secretary and treasurer, and Henry Hill, Jr., manager. While a specialty is made of machinery, they also manufacture lumber trucks, shaft boxes and grate bars, in fact castings of all kinds can be turned out upon short notice. The plant is admirably located at the corner of Alder and Ninth streets, upon three and one-half lots, and the products of the foundry and machine shop are shipped all over Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wash- ington, British Columbia, and even to Alaska.

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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 74

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