Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 82

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 82

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W. C. JOHNSON is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Cooper county, April 4, 1833. His father was a farmer by occupation and died when the son was but five years of age. Five years later the mother was also called to her final rest, and thus at the early age of ten years Mr. Johnson was thrown upon his own resources and started out to fight the battle of life. In the struggle he has come off victorious, for he possesses sterling characteristics and un- tiring energy and purpose. He began working by the month as a farm hand, and was also em- ployed at driving stock, following those pursuits until he was eighteen years of age, when, hoping that he might have better opportunities in the far west, he started with friends for Oregon. The history of travel common at that time gives a picture of the way in which the party made a journey across the plains. They had seven yoke of oxen and in this slow, laborious way they pro- ceeded, mile after mile, over the long distance that separates the Mississippi valley from the Pa- cific coast. At Umatilla some Indians stole a horse and blanket belonging to Mr. Johnson, but the savages did not commit any greater depreda- tions and the party thankfully escaped with their lives. On the 15th of September, 1852, they reached Salem, having been upon the way from the 4th of May.

After coming to Oregon Mr. Johnson was employed at making rails, following that pursuit for about ten years, and thus he gained a start and was enabled to lay the foundation for his future prosperity. He wedded Miss Mary Ger- ish, a native of Missouri, and unto them has been born one child, James A., who is now a resident of Forest Grove. It was in the year 1853 that Mr. Johnson took up his abode in Washington county and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Gaston, the greater part of which was wild and unimproved. He has owned altogether eight farms in Washington county, and throughout an active business career his labors have been very effective in promoting the cultivation and improvements upon his place, having these various tracts of land under a high

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state of cultivation. He now has in the home place one hundred and six acres devoted to gen- eral farming, and he is likewise a successful stock-raiser, making a specialty of Angora goats and Cotswold sheep.

In 1856 Mr. Johnson was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, and later he married Elizabeth Williams, who was born in Missouri. Her death occurred in April, 1898. In his family are seven children: Florence J., who resides upon a farm adjoining her father's land; Martha A., who is now living in Dilley; William T., of Malheur county ; Rosa A., who has departed this life; Frank W., at home; Thomas S., of Malheur county ; and Elmer C., whose farm adjoins the old home-place.

In political views Mr. Johnson is independent. He has served as road supervisor for several years and has been a member of the school board. His life record shows the force of perseverance and energy in the practical affairs of life, for through those lines he has become the owner of a comfortable competence and a good property.

WILLIAM LARSON. In Sweden, April 20, 1839, occurred the birth of William Larson, who was reared on the home farm, and there grew to a sturdy manhood, such as an outdoor life only can give. In 1869 he came to America, landing in New York. At once striking out for the west, he made his first halt in Kansas, where he was engaged for one year in constructing railroads, and from there he went to Kansas City, and for four years was employed as a stone-mason. At the expiration of this time he came to Oregon, working in the gas plant at Portland for two years, and then, in 1877, bought ten acres of his present place, near Palestine. When he first saw the land it was covered with heavy timber, but by persistent effort he has transformed it into a habitable tract and feels well repaid for the hard work which he expended upon it. In 1887 he purchased twenty acres more, one mile south of the original tract. This was also heavily tim- bered, but has since been cleared. Altogether he owns one hundred and sixty acres in Multnomah county, ten acres being planted to strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries and cher- ries.

Mr. Larson was married to Miss Matilda An- derson, whose birth occurred in Sweden. They became the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. Augustus makes his home in this county ; John went to Alaska to seek his for- tune and is interested in mines there; Josephine became the wife of George Pickett and resides in Seattle; Henry makes his home in Gresham ; Emma is still at home with her parents; and Charles and Theodore complete the list of those

living. Hilda and Annie died in childhood, and Hilda, another child of that nanie, passed away when nineteen years of age. When Mr. Peterson was county road supervisor Mr. Larson held the position of foreman for some time. He has also been road overseer. In political matters he gives his vote and the weight of his influence in behalf of the Republican party. He holds membership in the Lutheran Church and is also identified with the Grange.

SAMUEL A. MILES. No more honored name adorns the pages of the history of Columbia county than that of Hon. S. A. Miles, who has not only known how to avail himself of apparent opportunities, but has penetrated into grooves of activity discernable only to those of far-sighted and more than ordinary penetration. Arriving in this state with available assets amounting to less than a dollar, Mr. Miles is to-day rated as the wealthiest man in Columbia county, and his rise from comparative obscurity to a place of per- sonal and business eminence is interestingly inter- woven with the most substantial development of one of the garden spots of Oregon.

In Pulaski county, Ky., where he was born on a farm near the present site of Somerset, the county seat of Pulaski county, September 17, 1830, Mr. Miles lived with his parents until nine years of age, when they removed to a farm near Macon City, Macon county, Mo. Extremely pioneer conditions prevailed in Missouri about this time, and the most palatial residences of the settler were not far removed from puncheon- floored and clapboard-roofed log cabins. It was with a feeling of opening up chances that the youth started away with a caravan bound for the land of the western sea and future orange groves, but instead of locating in California as the party had intended, they veered off at Pacific Springs, in the Rocky Mountains, and headed for Oregon. This change of plans was due to adverse reports from the gold fields, and the travelers had more faith in the prospects mapped out by Lewis and Clark and the Hudson Bay Company in Oregon. From Oregon City Mr. Miles came down the river to Portland, which at that immature time consisted of seventeen box houses located among logs and stumps along what was intended to be a street. September 23, 1850, the boarding-house of F. Perry, at Milton, one and one-half miles south of St. Helens, had a stranger guest at its festive board, who, had he been asked for a dollar, the usual price of meals served at Perry's. must needs have departed with a full stomach, but an empty pocket. It is supposed that Mr. Miles in time paid for this layout, for he continued to live in the vicinity for eight years, and during that time worked for many people, among them being

Charles Michle

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this same Francis Perry and H. M. Knighton, the first proprietor of the town site. An attempt on the part of Mr. Miles to reap a fortune during the mining excitement of the Rogue river in 1852 was frustrated, owing to the hostility of the In- dians, in consequence of which himself and part- ner, William Kane, were obliged to beat a hasty and undignified retreat through the waters of the Jumpoff Joe creek. He then returned by foot to St. Helens, and went to hewing timber for the San Francisco market and driving oxen.

Conscious of a deficiency in his education, Mr. Miles started in to attend school in 1854 under Professor Condon, but after three weeks he de- cided to go to Port Offord on the Rogue river, which he reached March 28. His arrival in the town was characterized by considerable damp- ness and discouragement, for the small boat which was to convey them ashore from the steamer was overloaded and he was washed over- board and was obliged to swim nearly three- fourths of a mile. After working in a saw-mill in Port Offord for some time Mr. Miles returned to St. Helens, and the following year, in 1855, participated in a battle with the Indians just across the river, in which contest eight Indians were taken prisoners and three killed. Mr. Miles was variously employed at St. Helens until 1860, in which year he became the owner of half of the Daniel Wilson donation claim on Deer Island. This property was utilized for a stock ranch, and he conducted his enterprise on an extensive and profitable scale. The stock business may be said to be the foundation of the large fortune of this intrepid pioneer, the gaining of which has been intercepted by many setbacks, discouraging in- deed to one less stout of heart. On the night of December 14, 1885, fire destroyed the Miles home, the savings of twenty years, including $1,000 in county warrants, and treasures upon which no intrinsic value could be placed. Noth- ing daunted, this was not allowed to dampen the ardor or deter the progress of Mr. Miles' accu- mulation, for other opportunities came his way, and were seized with avidity and consummate understanding. His knowledge of human nature has been gained at somewhat of a loss, as most money loaners can testify. On several occasions his only interest on capital loaned has been expe- rience, a considerable amount of principal also being swallowed up in this same invaluable com- modity. Nevertheless, Mr. Miles has a fine faith in the general integrity of his fellow-men, and a happy and inspiring optimism seems to emanate from his genial and always helpful personality. Thinking, striving, saving and working have made up the guiding elements of his life, and thus his wife and himself have an abundance. and his children have been started upon their various ways with splendid fundamental training.

the blessings of fond parents, and substantial aid from a generous and successful father.

The home life of Mr. Miles has been a particu- larly harmonious one, due largely to the fact that the head of the house has always conceded the important part taken by his wife in fashioning his career and assisting him in the uphill road. The marriage occurred February 2, 1862, be- tween Mr. Miles and Elizabeth Peacher, with whom he commenced housekeeping in St. Helens. Of this union there have been born eleven chil- dren : Mary E. is the wife of Marion E. Butler, of Portland; Francis lives in Portland; Rebecca J. is the wife of Guy W. Cole; William A. lives in Portland; Cora is the wife of A. J. Rupert, of Seattle ; Lucy is the wife of Elmer B. Wharton, of Spokane, Wash .; Samuel A., Jr., died Novem- ber 24, 1877; the next child died in infancy ; Bertha L .. deceased, April 21, 1877; Grace H. is living at home, as is also Eugene. Mr. Miles has been associated with the Democratic party ever since casting his first vote, and he has always strenuously maintained the principles and best tenets of his party. He was elected sheriff of Columbia county in June, 1862, and during his eight years of service in this capacity was also tax-collector. For eight years he promoted the cause of education as a member of the school board, and during a part of that time was chair- man of the board. Four times since living in the great northwest, Mr. Miles has journeyed across the mountains to his old home in Missouri, re- turning always with renewed enthusiasm for the great northwest in which he has suffered much. lost much, but gained infinitely more.

CHARLES MUCKLE. A career worthy of inspiring like effort in all struggling young lives is that of Charles Muckle, who traces his abso- lute independence back to his eleventh year, and who is justly proud of the grit and determination which have placed him among the foremost lum- ber men of St. Helens. A native of Ontario, Canada, Mr. Muckle was born August 12, 1846, and is a son of James and Katie (Charles) Muckle, natives of England, and the former born July 26, 1809.

The many-sided abilities of James Muckle, Sr., have won him the old fashioned appellation of Jack of all trades. He was brought to Canada by his parents during his tenth year, settling in Quebec, where his marriage eventually occurred. He became interested in the lumber business in that northern city, and served as township officer for many years. In 1876 he removed from Can- ada to St. Helens, Columbia county, where his wife died at the age of eighty-four years, but where he is still living with his son, Charles, at the age of ninety-three years. Nevertheless, in

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spite of his extreme age, he is enjoying good health, and is in the possession of all of his facul- ties. To himself and wife were born the following children : Robert, of Tennessee; James, of Port- land; William, of Rainier; George W., of St. Helens ; Charles ; Anna, the wife of R. Cox of St. Helens; Eliza, the wife of D. J. Switzer of St. Helens: Mary, the wife of Jacob George of North Albino; Margaret, deceased; Jane, de- ceased ; and Thomas, deceased.

At the immature age of eleven Charles Muckle was bringing in sufficient to pay for his board and clothes. In 1866 himself and brother James es- tablished a sort of silent partnership, and started forth upon a combined career which has been amicably continued up to the present time. With their small worldly possessions the boys left the home farm in Canada, and after experimenting for a short time in Ohio traveled further to Wis- consin, where they became interested in lum- bering. The three years in the lumber camps of Wisconsin gave them an insight into possibili- ties as yet unsounded, and they determined to seek a field of operations in the great lumbering district around Vancouver, Wash. For seven years they profited by the resources of this well favored locality, when, rich in experience, and fairly well to do financially, they came to Port- land July 26, 1870, and to St. Helens in 1874, and have since been identified with the largest lumbering concern in the town. The brothers are held in the highest esteem in this state, where they are well known, and where their business integrity is above reproach. They are among the conservative and substantial money-makers of this country, and have built up a business de- stined to increasingly promote the general pros- perity. At the present time James Muckle makes his home in Portland, where he oversees the large timber interests of the firm.

Charles Muckle is a Republican in politics, but has always been too busy to either desire or accept political preferment. He is fraternally connected with the Masons, and in religion is a. member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Muckle owns farm as well as timber land, and may be said to be an integral part of the development of his adopted state. He is popular and suc- cessful, his many admirable traits of character having drawn to him and kept, many warm friends.

GEORGE W. FORCE. The name of George W. Force has been associated with a number of important western enterprises, chief among which is that of pork packing, conducted in East Portland and Vancouver. He is now living on his farm on the south side of Columbia river, opposite Vancouver, Wash., where he was born

and raised. This honored and very enterpris- ing member of the community of Multnomah county is a native son of this section of Oregon, and was born May 29, 1849, a son of George W. and Susan (Wolfe) Force, natives respectively of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the latter of whom died on the 4th of March, 1868, at the age of thirty-nine years.

George W. Force was a man of leading char- acteristics, and materially impressed his general worth upon all people and things with which he had to do. A shoemaker by trade, he followed his calling in several parts of the middle west, and in connection therewith carried on general farming and stock-raising. That he was far- sighted and ambitious is proved by the fact that as early as 1845, before the general emigration westward, he joined a large train of others equally desirous of broader opportunities, and braved the six months' trip across the plains. Landing at The Dalles, he engaged in boating emigrants down the river to Portland for a couple of years, from 1847 to 1848, and event- ually became master of a line of boats called the Captain Force Hudson Bay Boat Company. After going out of the transportation business he took up a donation claim of six hundred and twenty acres on Columbia slough or river, across from Vancouver. Here he made his home for a couple of years, and then went to California and inter- ested himself in mining for fourteen months near Placerville. Returning to his farm he rounded out his life thereon, attending to an extensive stock business. Before his death, in September. 1898, at the age of seventy, he had increased his farm to seven hundred and twenty acres. Three sons and four daughters were born into his fam- ily: George W .; James W., living on the old place : Theodore N., of Colton, Ore .; Eva Jane Simmons, of St. Johns Peninsula ; Mrs. Lottie Scotten, of Washington ; Delia Scotten, of Clark county, Wash. ; and Hannah Selbey, of Mulino, Ore.

As a boy George W. Force worked on the paternal farm on the Columbia river, and at the age of eighteen assumed the entire management thereof. When twenty-eight years old, Septem- ber 18, 1876, he was married to Annie Fulkerson, and about that time he purchased two hundred and thirty-seven and a half acres adjoining the paternal possession, and engaged in an independ- ent stock business. After his long experience under his father's instruction he was bound to make a success of his own business, and lived on this farm for eight years. Next he removed to Portland and engaged in the milk business, as the firm known as the railroad milk depot. First street, for a couple of years. This did not prove as profitable as he had anticipated, and he dis- posed of his milk interests, and returned to the

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farm and stock business for a couple of years. Returning to Portland, he became interested in pork packing in a small way, and gradually in- creased his business until he became prominent in his line under the firm name of Burkhard & Force. At the end of two years he bought out his partner, and after conducting the pork pack- ing three years by himself sold out, and under- took a similar occupation in Vancouver, Wash .. where he purchased three lots and built his own buildings thereon. Two years later he retired to his farm, owing to impaired health, due to con- finement. At this writing he is engaged with his brother, James W., in the dairy and stock busi- ness. James W., T. N. and George W. own the old donation claim, formerly their boyhood home.

Mrs. Force is a native of Clarke county, Wash. Peter Falkerson, her father, was born in Missouri March 1, 1822, and died about 1879. He was a painter by trade, and crossed the plains to Ore- gon in an early day, taking up a homestead in Clarke county. His wife, Minerva ( Fitzgerald) Fulkerson, was born in Arkansas, and died March 15, 1899, at the age of sixty-one years. Of the two sons and two daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Force Maggie and Frank are deceased ; and Fred and Kate are living with her parents. Fraternally Mr. Force is connected with the Masons of Vancouver, Wash.

JOHN H. McNAMER, whose history with its many exciting episodes reads almost like a tale of fiction, has been a resident of the west since 1859 and his career is indicative of the early con- ditions of the country. He was born in Louisa county, Iowa, March 20, 1848, a son of Noah and Elizabeth (Hurley) McNamer. The father was a native of Kentucky, and the grandfather on the paternal side was a rep- resentative of an old Virginia family of Scotch descent. From Kentucky he removed to Illinois, where his death occurred. Noah Mc- Namer, after living in Illinois for a number of vears, became a pioneer farmer of Louisa county, Iowa, but in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, made his way to Cali- fornia by the Panama route and engaged in min- ing in that state. Success attended his efforts and he there remained until 1853, when he came to Washington county, Ore., and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of bottom and prairie land. His first wife had died during the infancy of our subject, and in 1859, by way of the Panama route, he returned for his little son. When he again reached Washington county he resumed farming, continuing in this occupation up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1863. His wife, a native of Illinois, had died in Iowa in 1849. Of the three daughters and two sons born

of their marriage, two daughters and one son are yet living.

John H. McNamer spent the first ten years of his life in Iowa and in the spring of 1859 came to Oregon with his father and was reared upon the home farm five miles north of Forest Grove, pur- suing his education in the district schools, which he attended only through the winter months, as his services were needed in the fields during the balance of the year. He remained at home until 1864, when he volunteered for military service as a member of Company B, First Oregon Volun- teer Infantry, and was mustered in at Salem. He served on the plains to protect immigrants and prevent Indian uprisings, but did not go to the scene of fighting in the south, for the war was almost over at the time of his enlistment, and previously he had been too young to be accepted as a soldier. He was only sixteen years of age when he did enlist, and in 1865 he was mustered out at Vancouver.

On the 9th of March, 1868, in Vancouver, Mr. McNamer was married to Miss Amanda May- field, a native of Missouri, who came across the country with her parents when a young girl. Af- ter his marriage Mr. McNamer removed to Shasta county, Cal., settling near Fallriver City, where he carried on farming and stock-raising. He always dealt extensively in horses, but he suffered heavy losses because of the hard winters and gave up agricultural pursuits, entering the employ of the Wells-Fargo Express Company as an express messenger. October 24, 1876, while going by stage between Redding and Weaverville he was held up on the Tower House and Weaver- ville road, being the only messenger in the coach, although there were three other passengers. The bandit secured the express company's money box containing $6,800 and then ordered the coach to

drive on. At the first curve, however, within seventy-five yards of where the robbery occurred, Mr. McNamer jumped off the coach and ran back, managing to keep out of sight. He found the robber rifling the box under a bank and stayed within gunshot distance until he climbed up, when he fired. The robber ran, still grasping the money, but Mr. McNamer fired again and brought his man down about thirty yards further on, killing him at the second shot. Thus he ob- tained the express money which had been stolen and also recovered $1,300 beside which the rob- ber had in his pocket, and when the expenses of the inquest were paid there remained of this sum $1.025, which amount was turned over to the school fund of California. The express company presented to Mr. McNamer a fine gold watch, inscribed with his full name and the date of the robbery, in recognition of his coolness, courage and success in dealing with the robber. He was then transferred by the company to Nevada, on a

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route south of Carson, because the road agents were looking for him and had they found him would undoubtedly have taken his life. Four times stages were held up in an attempt of the robbers to find him.

For three years Mr. McNamer remained upon the road in Nevada and then returned to Oregon, where he engaged in stock-raising on land in Klamath county, The hard winter of 1878, how- ever, again occasioned him heavy losses, and sell- ing the horses which he still had, he returned to California and purchased a stage station in Big Valley, which he conducted for eighteen months, but a toll road built about three miles away, took the trade the other way. He then sold there and bought a station on the toll road twelve miles away. Disposing of this after two years he went to San Francisco to get a position on the police force, but was not eligible until he had remained for a year in the city, and therefore he returned to the Sunset state, locating in Forest Grove in 1891. Here he purchased a livery busi- ness which he has since successfully conducted, and he also has a livery barn in Tillamook, Ore., doing a big business and having a stable 100x105 feet. His stable in Forest Grove extends from street to street, and is 11OXI45 feet in size. His patronage is very extensive and he also is en- gaged in dealing in horses.

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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 82

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