Portrait and biographical record of Portland and vicinity, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 87

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 87

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In Portland, Ore., occurred the marriage of Col. M. L. Pratt and Miss May Loller, a native of Philadelphia. The colonel is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Washington Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., in which he served as secretary. He attained the degree of Royal Arch Mason in Washington Chapter. He is past commander of Sumner Post No. 12, G. A. R., and in June, 1902, in Astoria, Ore., at the state encampment of that organization, he was elected department commander of Oregon, with the rank of general. During 1901 and 1902 he was inspector general under the national com- mander. His relations with his army associates are of the most pleasant nature, and he has the regard and esteem of all. Politically he has ever been a stanch Republican.

SAVIL W. ILER. During the many years of his association with Washington county, Savil WV. Iler filled a more than ordinary place in gen- eral affairs, and was particularly active in main- taining the highest agricultural, educational and political standards. This highly honored citizen was born in Rush county, Ind., November 24, 1823, and was one of the seven children born to his farmer parents. At the age of twenty-one he entered upon an independent career, and upon arriving in Illinois in 1844 worked at various occupations for three years. In 1847 he secured a position as teamster in an emigrant train bound for the coast, and all the way across drove a team of oxen, there being about three hundred people in the train. Arriving in Oregon City he secured employment as a farm hand, and with the break- ing out of the Cayuse war, tendered his services in the suppression of the Indians. For six months he served under Captain Nesmith of the Oregon Volunteers, and was with him until the end of the war.

After the Indian war Mr. Iler went down into California with ox teams, and after mining and prospecting for about a year was glad to return to more stable methods of livelihood. November 10, 1850, he was united in marriage with Caro- line Lee, a native of Fulton county, Ill., and a daughter of Philemon and Elizabeth J. Lee, who came across the plains from Iowa in 1847, settling on a donation claim of six hundred and forty

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acres. upon a portion of which the widow of Mr. Iler now lives. After his marriage Mr. Iler lived in Clackamas county for a couple of years, and then located near Gales Creek on a farm that was wild and timbered, and a stranger to plow or harrow. Here he lived until 1852, and then came to the farm upon which his widow now lives. He made many improvements on his land, and was accounted one of the most progressive and succesful of farmers, being engaged in both general farming and stock-raising.

A Republican in political affiliation, Mr. Iler entered actively into all county political affairs, and filled many positions of trust and responsi- bility within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He was postmaster of Gales Creek for five years, and was on the school board for a great many years, serving also for a few years as justice of the peace. He took a great interest in establish- ing schools and encouraging scholarship. and though his own early opportunities were com- paratively limited, profited thereby, and endeav- ored to insure to the youth of the present gener- ation more fitting chances than came his own way. For many years he was a welcome member of the Masonic fraternity. He lived to be sev- enty-six years old, his death occurring October 10, 1899. Too much cannot be said of the ex- ample left by so manly and upright a life, nor does any serve to better illustrate the virtue of industry and correct living. Mr. and Mrs. Hler were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living. The family included: John, born September 27, 1854; Henry, deceased, born Oc- tober 10, 1856; Emma, deceased, horn June 19, 1859: Elva, born October 5, 1864, wife of Harry Westcott, of Forest Grove; Savil, born December 8, 1867; Myrtle, wife of Nicholas C. Lilly, of Gales Creek, born July 12, 1871 ; and Carl, born April 28, 1877.

GEORGE P. LENT. Many leading pioneer families are represented among the legal prac- titioners of Portland, and that to which George P. Lent belongs is deserving of more than pass- ing recognition. A native son of the great north- west, he was born on his father's farm, Novem- ber 1, 1852, one day after his parents had crossed the plains to identify their futures with the timbered and resourceful wilderness. Oliver P. Lent would have been a credit to any com- munity in the world, for his rugged simplicity and unfailing good humor marked him as the scion of good fortune, and heir to friends who would tarry near him, no matter what his mis- fortunes or mistakes. He was born near Mar- ietta, Ohio, August 31, 1830, and although his early educational opportunities were limited, he was the kind of student to advance through ob-

servation of the men and events by which he was surrounded. In his youth he learned the stone cutter's trade, and while thus employed he mar- ried, in West Virginia, in 1851. Martha A. Buckley, a native of the Old Dominion, who was born in Parkersburg, March 19, 1833. The parents of Mrs. Lent died when she was a child.

Mr. Lent's original plan in coming to the west was to visit California and try his fortunes in the mining regions. For some reason his ideas underwent a change, and he turned his oxen's heads towards Oregon, which he reached in comparative comfort and safety. In his party was William S. Buckley, the brother of his wife, who later became superior judge of Stockton, Cal., and is now deceased. A sister, Susan Buck- ley Jenne, also joined the train, and her death occurred in Portland in 1893. A sister of Mr. Lent, the widow of Nathan B. Low, came to the coast in 1889, and is now a resident of Port- land. Mr. Lent himself relied upon his stone mason's trade to help him out as soon as he landed in Oregon, and he readily secured work on the old penitentiary. later on erecting the okl Prettyman house at the end of Hawthorne ave- nue. He located three hundred and twenty acres of land at what was then Pleasant Valley. but which is now Sycamore, and on this built a hewed log house in which he located his family in com- parative comfort, and this house, the only one of the pioneer houses, is still standing. This claim continued to be his home until 1861, at which time he removed to Cedarville and leased an old sawmill for a year. A later undertaking was the management of the mill owned by J. B. Stevens, of which he had control for several years, making his home in the immediate vicinity of the mill. In 1866 he purchased one hundred and ninety acres of land upon which the town of Lents sprang into existence, and this little com- munity is a monument to the honor and estecin in which he was held, bearing his name, and containing many reminders of his progressive spirit and unfailing industry. This farm was partially improved, but Mr. Lent erected a new residence, enlarged and remodeled the outbuild- ings, put up new fences, and disposed of his land in general farming and stock-raising.

Always the friend of education, Mr. Lent's attention was called very early in Multnomah county to the deficiency in this direction, and it was largely through his efforts that school dis- trict No. 12 was started. For many years he watched over the school near his home, serving as director and clerk of the board, and insisting that an excellent standard be maintained. For years he was road supervisor, and also justice of the peace, filling the position with tact and clue regard for the best interests of the commun- ity. He failed in the election for state senator

O PLent

STEPHEN ROBERTS.

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on the Democratic ticket, but this failure did not interfere with his peace of mind, for he never made any attempt to secure official recognition. During the Civil war he was a stanch Union man, notwithstanding his later tendencies, and he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, whose sincere admirer he was. On many occasions he was a delegate to conven- tions, and he was one of the prime instigators of the Grange, serving several terms as master of the same. He always held to the Universalist and Unitarian doctrines, finding great comfort in his beliefs, and contributing liberally of his means to the support of these and other churches. In this connection he assisted in building the Universalist church in East Portland.

In 1883 Mr. Lent with his son built a sawmill, at the same time looking after his farm, com- bining the interests with large profit. Mill and farm were disposed of in 1890, and Mr. Lent re- tired to a home which he had purchased at Mount Tabor, where his death occurred, April 22, 1899. His personal appearance was of a particularly pleasing nature, and he was one of those sturdily built and healthy appearing men who instinctively draw pcople to them, and in- spire them with their own enthusiasm. His wife, who still lives in the Mount Tabor home, has a host of friends and well wishers, and fills her life with many noble activities. She is an ardent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is prominent in the old Pioneer As- sociation, taking a keen interest in philanthropic and social life. She became the mother of twelve children, the oldest of whom is George P., the attorney above referred to. Emma L., born in 1854, is the wife of J. C. McGrew, and has three children : Fremont L. was born in 1856 and is making his home at Lents; William and Charles died of diphtheria in 1863; Ella, born in 1862, is the wife of C. Whitlock, of Silverton, and has four children ; Oscar B., who is a school director of his home district at Lents, was born in 1864, is married and has five children; Rose was born in 1866, married William Giddings, and is liv- ing in Fulda, Wash .: Jean was born in 1868 and died in 1900: Elizabeth was born in 1870, married F. P. Wood of Sunnyside, and has one son : Oliver W. was born in 1875, and is en- gaged in the meat business in Mount Tabor : and a daughter died in infancy. All of these chil- dren were born in Multnomah county, and all received practical educations in the public schools.

Being the oldest in the family, George P. Lent was the first to seriously consider the problem of self-support, and this he did with his eyes wide open, and with a fine appreciation of the possibilities of legal science. The profession appealed to his growing faculties even when he

was assisting his father on the farm, and his de- termination strengthened when he became a part- ner in the milling business. Aside from the pub- lic school training it was his good fortune to receive a collegiate education, and he graduated from the scientific course at Corvallis College in the spring of 1876. His preliminary legal in- struction acquired was under J. J. Brown, now of Spokane, Wash., and after a year of study he engaged in school teaching in Multnomah county for three terms. After a trial of saw- milling in Spokane for a few months Mr. Lent engaged in the assaying business in Portland for a couple of years, and also in job printing for a time. In 1882 he engaged in the real-estate and brokerage business with J. C. McGrew, and while thus employed continued the study of law, finally graduating from the law department of the University of Oregon in 1896.

From the time of opening an office in Portland Mr. Lent has been very successful, his profound grasp of legal principles, and of their practical application to the entanglements of life, having won for him the distinct approval of an increas- ingly large clientele. He possesses a judicial mind and temperament, excellent business abil- ity and judgment, and a capacity for hard work well developed, supplemented by those admirable characteristics, faithfulness and energy. Through his marriage with Mary M. Johnson, seven chil- dren were born to Mr. Lent, one of whom died in infancy, and one in early childhood. The other children are: Bessie V., Perley B., Ken- neth G., George Balfe, and Frank B. For eighteen and a half years Mr. Lent made his home on Portland Heights, but since 1900 has lived at Piedmont. He is public spirited in the extreme, and has stanchly supported clean mu- nicipal government, being particularly interested in education and good roads. Though never an aspirant for office, he was at one time a candi- date for county judge. For two years he was supervisor of roads for the west side, and during that time he opened the boulevard system now in use in the Heights, raising the funds largely by private subscription.

STEPHEN ROBERTS. Among the public- spirited residents of Multnomah county brief mention should be accorded Mr. Roberts. A son of Charles and Mary ( Hackner ) Roberts, he was next to the youngest in a family of six sons and five daughters. His birth occurred in Wayne county, Ind., January 13, 1824, and when only thirteen months old his parents removed to Ver- milion county, Ill., locating on a farm near Dan- ville. Thereafter for fourteen years the family resided on that farm and then moved to Peoria county, that state. Until 1851 Stephen remained

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at home, attending school and aiding in the work of the farm as opportunity permitted. In the mean time, however, a desire to see what fortune the glowing west had in store for him became paramount and in the latter year he started on the tedious journey across the plains with an ox- team. When he reached the Missouri river, how- ever, he was unable to proceed further on account of high water and so spent the winter in a Mor- mon village there. In the spring of 1852 he re- sumed the journey and was six months in reach- ing The Dalles, from which point he went on a flat boat to the mouth of Sandy river. At this point he located on a donation claim of three hun- dred and twenty acres, where Mr. Penison for- merly resided, ten and one-half miles east of Portland. The land was in a primeval state when he settled on it, covered with heavy timber, but he cleared it and erected a hewed log house of one room, besides making other improvements. In 1892 he sold that property and bought a farm near Gresham, which he has since disposed of among his children and he is now living in re- tirement.

Miss Mary Tripp, who was born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1822, became the wife of Mr. Roberts December 5, 1844. Thirteen children were born to them, but only five are living, namely : John, a farmer near Gresham; William, who resides in Portland; David M., residing in Gresham; Ellen E., who is in Portland; and Sarah, the wife of John Schram. For twenty years Mr. Roberts was road supervisor, and dur- ing his term of office was instrumental in build- ing many of the roads in this section. As school director and clerk he served more than twenty years, and at one time held the office of justice of the peace for two terms. Politically he is a Democrat. For over thirty years Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the former has served as trustee.

DENIS SULLIVAN. Since 1896 Mr. Sulli- van has resided near Montavilla, Multnomah county, upon a tract of land that originally com- prised thirty-one acres, but he has since disposed of a portion of it and now his farm comprises only twenty acres, a portion of which is in or- chard. Born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1835, Mr. Sullivan was there reared to young man- hood, and after reaching his majority went to Australia, making his home there for three years. San Francisco was the next port at which he landed, and after working in a warehouse there for a time, in the spring of 1862 he went to the Caribou country and was there engaged in pros- pecting and mining for about one year. The fol- lowing winter was spent in Vancouver, Wash.,

and in the spring of 1863 he came to Portland, accepting any honest employment that he could get to do. Although Mr. Sullivan had embarked in several lines of business since he started out in life on his own responsibility, mining had been a line of special interest to him, and after spend- ing a year in Portland we again find him engaged in prospecting and mining, this time in Canyon City. In the fall following he went to Centerville, Idaho, where for four years he was similarly engaged. Again coming to Portland in the year 1868, he helped to survey the West Side road and later assisted in the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad and for a time was employed in the yards of the company. Subsequently he was given charge of the supply department of the same company, and in all was in their employ for twenty-five years. In 1875 he purchased thirty- one acres of land in Multnomah county, the same on which he now resides.

September 5, 1888, Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Ellen M. Green, a native of Galena, Ill., and they became the parents of three children, namely : Arthur, Helen and Catherine. Mrs. Sullivan received her education at St. Mary's academy and for about twelve years was engaged as a teacher. Her father, Thomas Green, came to Oregon in 1870, locating in Portland. Besides the property already alluded to Mr. Sullivan owns considerable property in the city which is considered quite valuable. In politics he has al- ways supported the Democratic party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

EDWARD A. KNOTTS resides one and one- half miles from Tualatin, where he owns and operates one hundred and fifteen acres of good land. He was born in Yamhill county, Ore .. January 16, 1855. His father, Richard Knotts, was a native of Maryland, and about 1847 went to Arkansas. He had previously served his coun- try and was a veteran in the Seminole war. In 1850, attracted by the possibilities of the far west, he made a trip around Cape Horn and took up his abode in Milwaukee, Ore., where he was employed by the firm of Meek & Eddie. Here he was united in marriage to Betsey Talbert, a na- tive of Virginia, who crossed the plains in 1852, and they took up their abode near North Yam- hill. Three children were born unto them : Francis P., who is living in Portland; Edward A., of this review ; and John, who has departed this life. The father had secured a farm at North Yamhill and was engaged successfully in farming for a number of years, but his death occurred in Salem in 1882.

Edward A. Knotts remained at home until fourteen years of age when he started out to

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make his own way in the world. He was first em- ploved by the month as a farm hand by August Yergen and wife, who live near Butteville on a large farm. Mr. and Mrs. Yergen were very kind to the motherless boy, to whom they were parents indeed. Mr. Knotts followed agricul- tural pursuits until 1873 when he entered the employ of the Oregon Iron & Steel Company, in whose service he remained for some time. Afterward he began contracting in Oswego and in 1885 he purchased the farm of one hundred and fifteen acres upon which he now resides. During the eighteen years which have since elapsed he has worked untiringly and effectively for the improvement of this place and has added thereto many substantial buildings and modern equipments. He is extensively engaged in the cultivation of hops at the present time and this crop returns to him a very gratifying income.

March 30, 1881, Mr. Knotts was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hackett, of Oregon City, and the daughter of John C. and Ellen E. (John- son) Hackett. John C. Hackett came to Oregon from Illinois in 1847 and took up government land in Clackamas county, located about four miles from Oregon City. His wife, a daughter of William Johnson, was a pioneer of 1846. The latter left Indiana in 1845 and spent the follow- ing winter at the Whitman mission, locating in the Willamette valley the following spring. To Mr. and Mrs. Knotts have been born four chil- dren : Merle C., Roy R., Ivan R. and Vera G., all at home. In his social relations Mr. Knotts is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the An- cient Order of United Workmen and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. His political support is given the Democracy.

HENRY KRATZ. For a number of years the general merchandise store of Henry Kratz has been an upbuilding factor of the small but promising town of Clatskanie. This busy center of activity has all of the interest usually sur- rounding enterprises of this kind, and upon its crowded shelves may be found everything apt to be called for in so cosmopolitan a community. Mr. Kratz carries groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, hardware, small agricultural implements, wood, shingles and lumber, and in the not remote future is contemplating a general enlargement of his business. He possesses the true mercantile spirit, and in addition to sound business judg- ment, possesses an abundance of tact, kindliness and a sincere desire to please his numerous cus- tomers.

A native of Germany, Mr. Kratz was born September 10, 1865, and in his youth received the practical home training accorded the average

Teutonic boy of the middle class. As a student he early evinced considerable aptitude, and not only completed the lower public schools, but grad- uated from the high school of his native town. When a boy he learned the carpenter's trade, but did not follow it to any great extent. At the age of nineteen he embarked upon various busi- ness enterprises and continued thus engaged up to the time of his emigration to Canada in 1888. After a year in the north he came to Oregon in 1889, and in Clatskanie engaged in the wood and lumber business for four years. He then turned his attention to mercantile affairs, and the wisdom of this departure has been repeatedly demon- strated in the meantime.

Mr. Kratz is a broad minded promoter of Republican principles, and though personally he has never sought or desired official recognition, has devoted much of his time and energy to the election of those friends whom he considered worthy of maintaining the best interests of the people. He was for several years a member of the city council, and as such gave general satis- faction. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen, and with the Independent Order Odd Fellows. Mr. Kratz married, in 1901, December 16, Maud Bryant, and they have one child, Helen C.

CHARLES H. HUNT. The municipal wheel of Portland has a strong and unyielding spoke of hickory in the person of its chief of police, Charles H. Hunt. Fashioned on the Cromwellian order, large in mind and person, grimly deter- mined, hating a lie and all manner of undermin- ing backsliding, brooking no interference with the discharge of his duty, yet amenable to time- ly suggestions from the proper sources, it is promised that the present police administration will put no one to sleep because of lack of inter- est, or astonish with its laxity, inactivity or cor- ruption.

Of Irish extraction, that combination of com- bativeness and adaptability which is a welcome adjunct to any community in the world, Chief Hunt is a member of an old Rhode Island family, and was born in Providence, January 5, 1843. His father, Captain Josiah, and his grandfather. Captain Joshua, were native also of Providence, and by occupation were seafaring men, the grandfather engaging in the trans-Atlantic trade for many years, and thereafter serving for years as collector of customs at Providence under President Andrew Jackson. The father was equally devoted to the sea, and almost up to the time of his death, in 1848, regarded ports chiefly as places in which to recuperate for yet another voyage. Through his marriage with Lydia Mason, daughter of Charles Mason, a Rhode

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Island farmer of English descent, eleven chil- dren were born, all of whom attained maturity, and four of them are living at the present time. Of these, Josiah D. was the first lieutenant of the Fifth Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. The mother died in 1888.

Educated in the public schools of Providence, the natural fighting capabilities of Chief Hunt received a decided impetus during the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company F, Fourth Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, and for meritorious service was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, in time becoming active commander of a regi- mental company. During the North Carolina campaign he participated under General Burn- side in the battle of Roanoke Island, later being transferred to the army of the Virginia and tak- ing part in the battles of Antietam, South Moun- tain, Fredericksburg first and second, Newbern, Frederick City, and many others equally historic.

In December, following his return from the war, Mr. Hunt was appointed to the police force under the administration of Thomas A. Doyle, to whom is due the unusual distinction of having been elected mayor of Providence for seventeen consecutive years. Beginning in an extremely humble capacity, he became a warrant clerk, and from that position graduated into the office of chief of police in May, 1879. His administra- tion in Providence was characterized by many in- novations acceptable to the community, and in the discharge of his duty he evinced that fear- lessness and all absorbing regard for right and progress which have placed him among the most efficient officers of his kind in the country. Giving a clean and thoroughly worthy service, it is not surprising that his resignation as police chief in order to accept the office of superintend- ent of state institutions should be received with regret and protestation from all connected with the administration, more especially the mayor of the city. As superintendent of state institu- tions he served also as commissioner of public works of Providence, and these combined re- sponsibilities were being discharged with great credit, when the failure of his wife's health made his resignation necessary, in order to seek a change of climate and surroundings.

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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 87

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