Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 104

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, The Chapman Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1622

USA > Oregon > Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present > Part 104

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AI PORTER. A worthy representative of one of the finest and most influential families of the Willamette Valley is Ai Porter, the for- tunate owner of six hundred and fifty acres of land six miles southeast of Silverton. This farm, and especially the house, has a two-fold interest for Mr. Porter, for it represents the place of his birth, December 31, 1873, the scene of his childish pastimes and small labors, and the surroundings among which developed his rugged ancestral characteristics. At present he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising under the most favorable circumstances, his barns, outhouses, implements and general im- provements keeping pace with agricultural ad- vancement as understood by practical and sci- entific toilers of the soil.

The Porter family was established in Oregon by Edward S. Porter, who removed from Ohio to a location in Fulton county, Ill., about 1835, and there worked at his trade of blacksmith for about twenty years. He came to Oregon in 1853 with ox-teams, and in Marion county lo- cated with his wife and children on what is now known as the Porter donation claim, five miles

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southeast of Silverton. He lived to a good old age, and after the death of his wife, Anna (Anderson) Porter, made his home with his youngest son. His son John, the father of Ai, was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 6, 1830, and when five years of age removed with his parents to Fulton county, Ill., where he was reared and educated. He was twenty-three years of age when he came across the plains with the rest of the family, and two years later, on his father's donation claim near Silverton, he married Annis White, who was born in Mis- souri, and who came across the plains with her parents in 1852, settling on the White donation claim five miles southeast of Silverton. Mr. Porter is possessed of marked business ability, and to the farm upon which he first located he added materially, and at present owns nearly sixteen hundred acres of land. Two years after his marriage he located near Fairfield, and in 1864 located on the White donation claim, re- maining there until after the death of his wife in 1897. Since then he has made his home with his children, at whose homes he is a welcome guest at all times. To an exceptional degree Mr. Porter enjoys the confidence of his fellow- townsmen, and his services in behalf of the up- building of this county have been appreciated.

Ai Porter was educated in the district schools, and has always taken kindly and even enthusi- astically to farming, for which occupation he was prepared by his wise and sagacious father. October 22, 1901, he was united in marriage with Miss Josie Baller, a native daughter of Oregon and, like her husband, educated in the public schools. Her parents were Rosie and Abraham Baller. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter there was born July 29, 1903, a son, whom they call Clarence. In politics Mr. Porter is a Republican.

HENDERSON W. MURPHY. The head of the Murphy family, Rev. John E. Murphy, brought with him into the wilderness several families to swell the growth of the western ter- ritory, being accompanied on the journey by his own immediate children, sons-in-law and their families and several other relatives. The train was known as the Murphy train, so many of that name and blood did it contain, in fact, by the time their destination was reached being alone, as they had parted company with the other emigrants long before.

Rev. Tohn E. Murphy was born in Barren county, Ky., in 1806, and was the son of Will- iam Murphy, also a native of that state, having been born there of Irish ancestry. The elder man was a farmer by profession, and brought his children up to this life. In religion he was

a member of the Christian Church, and the moral instruction which accompanied that of daily duty bore great and good fruit in the person of his son, John E. At an early day Mr. Mur- phy took his family into Illinois, where they located in Warren county, John E. Murphy engaging then in the Christian ministry as well as following agricultural pursuits. In Ken- tucky he was married to Frances W. Daughty, who was born in Barren county, in 1810, and in 1852 they had quite a large family, many of the children being married and having homes of their own. When the trip to the west was talked over they were nearly all in accord, and at once began making preparations to leave the Miss- issippi valley in the spring of 1852, four wagons drawn by oxen conveying the possessions of Mr. Murphy. There were about thirty wagons in the train when it left Monmouth, Ill., April 13, 1852, but as before mentioned they broke up into smaller parties before the journey was ended. Five months after the time of starting their destination was reached, and their first winter was spent where Crowley is now located, the next spring finding them upon a claim of three hundred and twenty acres to which Mr. Murphy had bought the right. This was located near Airlie, and they remained for two years, when he sold the farm and removed to Mon- mouth, Polk county, engaging in farming and stock-raising near that city. In addition to his agricultural pursuits was the ministerial life of Mr. Murphy, for as he had made that his principal occupation in the Mississippi valley he made it so here, and no small debt is owed to him by the congregations of the Christian Churches of Oregon. For many years he gave himself almost entirely to the establishment of churches and evangelistic meetings, both in Oregon and Washington, and he met with great success, for he was a speaker of unusual ability and strong personality. He was also interested in all educational movements and was active in the organization of the Christian College at Monmouth, which has since become the state normal school. This was established in 1856, and he became a trustee and financial agent, discharging his duties with the admirable faith- fulness which characterized his entire life.

Many incidents in the life of Mr. Murphy are characteristic of his strong sense of right, which was his, partly through inheritance, as his father was also a Christian in the truest sense of the word. The family was of southern blood, and was well-to-do in every way, and like many other Kentucky families its wealth consisted of negroes, inherited from an estate in Virginia, the former home of the Murphys. Opposed to slavery in every thought and principle, though every year up to the time of manhood had been

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spent among these conditions, Mr. Murphy used his influence toward the liberation of the slaves held by his father, and was successful both with father and an uncle, who also owned quite a number of negroes. During the Civil war he was strong and earnest in using his influence for the defense of the Union, as he had been in the case of the two plantations. During a too brief life he made many friends by the kind- ness and Christian charity which he ever gave to those about him, and his death, which occurred in Monmouth, in 1876, was a loss felt by the entire community. His wife, who had faithfully assisted him through the long years of their married life, survived him until December 30, 1891, when she died in the eighty- first year of her age.

Of the twelve children which blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Henderson W. Murphy was the fourth, and was born in War- ren county, Ill., February 3, 1835, and received his principal common school education in the schools of Illinois. After settling in Oregon he attended the Christian College at Monmouth for some time, and when his education was con- sidered complete he went into the stock business in Polk county, later removing to Klickitat county, Wash., where he continued the work. Until 1882 he remained in that location, when he purchased the property which he now owns and upon which he makes his home. After five or six years here he returned to Klickitat county and engaged in the sheep business, having at one time forty-five hundred head. He was very successful, and after four years there he once more settled upon his farm and for the last sixteen years he has been interested in general farming and stock-raising, having at present one hundred head of cattle and seventy sheep. He is also interested in dairying and hop-rais- ing, having twenty-two and a half acres devoted to the cultivation of this plant. Altogther he has nine hundred and forty-three acres, six hundred of which is in active cultivation.

In 1862 Mr. Murphy was married to Rebecca L. Davidson, a native of Indiana, born there in 1842, and the daughter of Henry Davidson, who crossed the plains in 1852 and located in Linn county. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, Sarah is the wife of W. L. Wells; John D .; Omer is located in Independence; Nel- lie is the wife of A. M. Rayburn of Adams county, Wash .; Kate is the wife of Wilmer Cooper, of Klondike, Sherman county, Ore .; Carrie is the wife of Charles Diekman, of Monk- land, Sherman county; and Claud is still at home. Politically Mr. Murphy is a Republican, and in religion both himself and wife belong to the Christian Church at Monmouth. Some years ago he served as his father had done in the

capacity of trustee for the Christian College at Monmouth, and has also served as school director and road supervisor.

WILLIAM M. PORTER. Not even second to the thought that one is numbered among the pioneers of this great commonwealth of Oregon is the pleasure to be gained from the fact that one is the son of a worthy man among them, and the native son of the state which has been an asylum and refuge for so many homeless wanderers. The grandfather of W. M. Porter, Samuel Porter, after his removal to Missouri from Tennessee, followed this up with a trip to the Sunset state, where his last days were spent. The father, John, was born in Tennes- see, and removed with his parents to Missouri, from which he emigrated to Oregon in 1848, in company with his wife and child and two brothers. They went over the Barlow route in an ox-train, the journey occupying six months. Upon their arrival in Oregon Mr. Porter took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres ten miles south of Corvallis, Benton county, where was located the town which at that time was called Marysville. Upon this farm he remained for some time, engaged in active farming and improving his property, later removing to Lane county, and, with the proceeds of his sale of his Benton county prop- erty, investing in another farm in this section. And once more, before being entirely satisfied with his surroundings, he made a sale, settling in Harrisburg, Linn county, in the latter place remaining until his death. His wife was for- merly Mary Winkle, a native of Alabama, whose father, Isaac, moved to Missouri at an early day, crossing the plains in 1848, taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres at Winkle Butte, nine miles south of Corvallis, making this his home until his death. Mrs. Porter is also deceased.

Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Porter, five are now living, the fourth oldest W. M., who was born in Benton county, Ore., January 3, 1861, being brought up on the farm in Linn county. His educational advantages consisted of a very irregular attendance upon the common schools in the vicinity of his home the three months of the year in which they were in session. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, at that time commencing an apprenticeship under a blacksmith to learn that trade. These years were not disagreeable ones to the young man, his business relations being with his brother, Thur- ston, who was a blacksmith in Harrisburg. When his education in this line was completed he left his brother and opened a business for

Ea alderma

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himself in Corvallis, of his native county. This event was in the year 1893, and since that time his business has grown to splendid proportions, through the manner in which he has served the public. Not only a good blacksmith, he is pat- ronized by all who have horseshoeing to be done, as he has made a specialty of this branch of the business, and is an acknowledged leader in this section of the community.

In Harrisburg occurred the marriage of Mr. Porter which united him with Miss Marie Pierce, a native of that place, and daughter of James Pierce, who came to Oregon in 1847 and settled in Linn county. One daughter, bearing the name of Mildred, has blessed the union. Fraternally Mr. Porter is past master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belongs to the encampment, and is also a member of the Rebekahs. He is also identified with the Wood- men of the World. As to his political affilia- tions he votes the Democratic ticket and in re- ligion is a member of the Christian Church, in which he now serves as deacon.

EDWIN A. ALDERMAN. A native son of Yamhill county, who has done much to increase its agricultural prestige, is Edwin A. Alderman, born on his father's farm November 30, 1866, a son of Albert and Charlotte (Odell) Alderman. Albert Alderman was born in Old Bedford, Conn., December 16, 1820, and in his youth learned the cooper's trade. From his native state of Connecticut he moved to New York when a young man, and from there to Michigan, in both states being engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. In 1846, with ox teams, he crossed the plains to Oregon, Captain Dunbar being captain of the party. In Yamhill county, Mr. Alderman took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres the following year, located near Day- ton, the same on which he now resides, and which has been brought to a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Alderman's first wife was Mary J. Burns, and at her death left four children, of whom Margaret is now Mrs. Hubbard, of Polk county ; William is also a resident of that county ; Marita, Mrs. McCowan, is also a resident of Polk county, and Medorem was the youngest child. The sec- ond marriage of Mr. Alderman occurred in 1866, with Charlotte Odell, a native of Carroll county, Ind., and daughter of John R. Odell, the latter of whom was born in Indiana and crossed the plains in 1851, locating in Yamhill county. By his scc- ond marriage the family of Mr. Alderman was increased by four sons and one daughter, Edwin A. being the eldest. Ennis resides south of Day- ton ; Lewis R. is principal of the schools of Mc- Minnville ; George is deceased, and Eva E. is the youngest member of the family.

Until the paternal donation claim was divided among the children Edwin A. Alderman re- mained at home with his father, receiving a thor- ough agricultural and common-school education, and evincing from the earliest youth, habits of thrift and economy. In 1896 he received his share of the home farm, which amounted to one hundred and fifty acres, of which he has one hundred acres under cultivation. While Mr. Al- derman has derived considerable profit from gen- eral farming, he also enjoys a substantial income from his stock enterprises, in connection with which he conducts a good-sized dairy.

On the first day of the year 1897, Mr. Alder- man was united in marriage with Mary Bliss, daughter of John and Rose (Hubbard) Bliss, both of whom were natives of Lewis county, N. Y. One son has blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman, who bears the name of Dwight E. Private affairs have not consumed all of the time and talents of Mr. Alderman, and his public life has been above reproach. For several years he was a member of the city council, and it was his privilege to be the first chief executive of Dayton. Political matters have always been of interest to Mr. Alderman, and he has been a stanch defender of the principles of the Repub- lican party from young manhood. He is usually a delegate to the county conventions, and has served as recorder of Dayton. School matters have likewise been benefited by his abilities, his service in the cause of education being felt while he was school director. Fraternally, he is iden- tified with the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Day- ton Grange also claims Mr. Alderman as one of its members. All in all, Mr. Alderman is one of the rising young men of Yamhill county, to whom the younger generation may look as an example of honorable, upright living.

WILLIAM SHEPHERD. After one has achieved a success in life there is a pleasure in taking a retrospective view of one's career and following the various steps which have led to the place now honorably occupied, and many things serve as reminders, especially in a country like Oregon, justly proud of the rapid advance- ment which has characterized the growth of the state. To William Shepherd, a pioneer of '47, the past is recalled by a few old blacksmith tools, which helped him to carn a livelihood during his early days in the west, and by the broad acres of his original donation claim, upon which stands an old building of hewed logs, the first house of worship put up in the country of the early times. By a long, prosperons and helpful life in this vicinity Mr. Shepherd has come to be known among the people as one who helped to

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iay the corner stone of Oregon's greatness, the esteem in which he is held being evidence of his worth.

The life of Mr. Shepherd has been full of in- teresting events, patriotism, a love of adventure and a spirit of justice inducing him to give his aid in various causes. He hails from the Em- erald Isle, being born near Belfast, County Down, November 26, 1821, and having lost his father when he was nine years old he was thrown upon his own resources. When only sixteen years old he came with his mother and sisters to make a new home among the more hopeful conditions of the United States; and after a voyage of two months they landed and became residents of Catskill, Greene county, N. Y. In that city Mr. Shepherd served an apprenticeship with a blacksmith, after which, in 1842, he removed to Illinois. In the same year he enlisted under Captain Stevenson for services in the war between Texas and Mexico, where he remained for about six months, during which time he took part in the battle of Matamoras. His remuneration for this period of service in the cause of Texas was three hundred and twenty acres of land, the value of which is shown in the fact that he traded the entire tract for a horse. After a siege of sickness which kept him in Texas more than a year Mr. Shepherd crossed the United States to Canada, and after a short time there he visited his old home in New York, and then located in Pittsburg, Pa. Afterward he returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1847, when he started across the plains with ox- teams, his brother-in-law being in the same train. The journey occupied six months, during which they encountered no difficulties, and upon their arrival in Linn county Mr. Shepherd at once took up a donation claim, which he eventually lost by enlisting again in the army. From that location he came to Oregon City and worked at his trade until he enlisted in Phil Thompson's company for services in the Cayuse war, remain- ing in Thompson's command for six months, and was then under Captain Martin for three months. It was his fortune to serve in every engagement of this war, after which he was mustered out, and returning to Linn county, he again took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres located four miles south of Peoria. He here built the log cabin before men- tioned as the first place of worship in this coun- try. In 1849 his spirit of adventure was aroused hy the gold excitement of California, and with ox-teams he journeyed thither and successfully followed mining and prospecting for four months. Returning north he engaged earnestly in the cultivation of his donation claim, transforming the wilderness into a farm of fine, well kept ap- pearance, a comfortable dwelling and modern

out-buildings testifying to the prosperity which has followed the well directed efforts of Mr. Shepherd. In addition to his farming Mr. Shepherd has always been employed at his trade, the first blacksmith shop in this country being his, many of the tools being still in his pos- session.

In 1851 Mr. Shepherd made a trip back to New York state, via the Isthmus of Panama, and on December 25, of the same year, he married Mary F. Palmer, a native of that state, and in the spring of 1852 they crossed the plains to- gether with horse-teams, after six months reach- ing the claim where their home was henceforth to be. Of the children born to them, William H. is located in the vicinity; George B. is at home; Sarah A. is now Mrs. Williams, of Har- risburg ; Ida B. is Mrs. Bromwell, and Margaret is Mrs. Allenham both of this vicinity. Mrs Shepherd having died in 1890, Mr. Shepherd now makes his home with his son. In politics Mr. Shepherd has always voted the Republican ticket, though he has never been actively identi- ficd with any political movement, nor has he as- pired to political office, satisfied with the honor which his own sturdy efforts have brought to him, the position among his neighbors and friends as a worthy pioneer of Oregon.

C. H. HOAG. On a farm in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he was born September 15, 1841, C. H. Hoag was reared to habits of thrift and industry, and laid the foundation for the strong constitution and natural aptitude which have been so advantageously used during his residence in Oregon. His father, Daniel Hoag, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and by trade was a carpenter, although his entire active life was devoted to farming as well. As a young man he married Eliza Barlow, who was born in England in 1823, and when twelve years of age came to New York state with her parents, lo- cating on a farm. Seven children, three boys and four girls, were born to Daniel and Eliza Hoag, and all were reared in New York, where the parents lived until about 1890, when they came west to visit their children. They were an unusually well mated and happy couple, and even in death they were not long divided, for both died in Chehalis county, Wash., in 1897, the father at the age of seventy-seven and the mother at the age of seventy-four.

During his youth C. H. Hoag worked on his father's farm in St. Lawrence county, N. Y .. and irregularly attended the near-by district school. Arriving at his majority, he desired to depend solely upon his own efforts, so engaged in farming on his own responsibility. He was fairly successful, and in 1872, when thirty-one

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years of age, came west by way of New York, Panama and San Francisco, and for a year en- gaged in teaming in Santa Cruz. In 1873 he came to Marion county, and at Jefferson became manager for a saw-mill for a year and a half. While thus employed he met his future wife, Nora Terhune, who was a native daughter of Marion county, and born in December, 1852. Her father, Jabez, crossed the plains at a very early day, locating on a donation claim near Jefferson, Marion county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoag, Dwight, of Chehalis county, Wash., and Artie Gertrude, deceased.

In 1875 Mr. Hoag went to eastern Oregon, and in Wasco county engaged in the cattle and sheep business for two years. Returning to Marion county he soon after came to Polk county, and in 1878 bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, one hundred of which are under cultivation. Mr. Hoag is engaged in stock-raising and general farming, and he has a well-improved place, with com- modious residence and barns, good fences and modern agricultural implements. He is a Re- publican in politics, and has served as road super- visor and school trustee. With his wife he is a member of the Evangelical Church, of which he is at present a steward. Genial and kindly in his manner, enterprising and thrifty, Mr. Hoag commands the respect and good will of a host of friends and associates.

COL. JOHN KELSAY. High on the roll of fame in Oregon appears the name of Col. John Kelsay, and his influence has been felt far beyond the limits of the locality in which he made his home. He was long regarded as one of the most learned lawyers of the state and was not only a leading representative of the legal fraternity, but was a student of the questions relating to the social conditions, the labor in- terests and the citizenship of this country. In fact, his reading compassed almost every sub- ject affecting the weal or woe of the nation and his voice was raised in defense or opposition to measures advanced, as he believed in their utility or felt that they would prove detrimental to the country. None doubted his patriotism, all admired his wisdom and even those hold- ing different views acknowledged his honesty of purpose and honored him therefor.

Colonel Kelsay was born in Wayne county, Ky., October 23, 1819, his parents being Alex- ander and Jane (Kelley) Kelsay. He came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was ten years of age when in 1829 his parents removed from Ken- tucky to Cooter, Mo., afterward locating in Mor- gan county, that state. The educational privi- leges in Missouri were then extremely limited,

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Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 104

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago, The Chapman Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1622

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, The Chapman Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1622