Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 123

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 123

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casting his ballot for the men, who, in his opin- ion, will administer affairs for the best general interests of the state and country. Personally he is a man who is held in the highest esteem by those who have been favored with his acquaint- ance and thereby have learned to appreciate the numerous fine qualities which go to make up his character.

LUTHER ELKINS was born of English stock in Cornville, Me., in 1809, the youngest of nine children. His father, Samuel Elkins, was one of the first settlers in Somerset county and was granted a quarter section of land for hav- ing the first white child born in that county-his eldest son, Smith Elkins, who after growing to manhood was a captain of a company of volun- teers at the battle of Plattsburg, under Col. Winfield Scott in General Brown's command in 1812, became a practicing lawyer in New York City, and died at an advanced age in Missouri, an ex-judge.

At the age of thirteen Luther Elkins was left an orphan in the state of Indiana, whence his father had moved. He grew to be a tall, strong man, taking jobs of labor as he could secure, being at one time in company with mischievous Jo Wright at Bloomington on a contract for pul- verizing sandstone for brick making. This same Jo Wright in after years became the dis- tingnished statesman and jurist, and died while United States minister, at the Court of Berlin.

Mr. Elkins was married in 1830 to Miss Philo- theta Williams in the city of Wheeling, where he worked at his trade of wagon and carriage making. Thence they moved to Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. Mr. Elkins made a permanent settlement in Belmont county of that state, entering into the merchandise and milling business, connect- ing the same with wholesale buying of leaf to- bacco, in which his operations were successful; however, for having, as justice of the peace, fined one of his own hands for disturbing a tem- perance meeting when drunk, the fellow set fire to the great tobacco houses for revenge, and their entire loss almost financially ruined Mr. Elkins. He therefore resolved to cast his lot in Oregon, and on May 1, 1852, crossed the Missouri river above St. Joseph, entering upon the great plains of Nebraska, with two teams of four yoke of oxen each, with his two eldest sons, James, aged twenty, and Joseph, aged eighteen, at the helm. hauling their " little all," with the wife and their eight children, of whom. besides those named, were Louisa. Elizabeth, William S., Clara, Julia and Chas. W. After a tedious journey of five months they landed, Sep- tember 26, at " Foster's, " east of Oregon City. on the mountain overlooking the "land of

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promise," with one team only. Their journey was without incident of note, beyond the usual privations and hardships over a journey of two thousand miles, except that which came near stranding the little train after three days out on the wild plains. Near sundown, the cattle hav- ing fed over a bluff, out of hearing from the bells, alarm was given that three Pawnee In- dians were seen whooping with flying blankets driving the band of cattle southward. With the only horse in camp, which Mr. Elkins mounted, he gave pursuit with desperation, realizing all was lost if the cattle were not recovered. He overhauled the stock after a chase of four miles, the Indians scudding out of sight, and he re- turned with the entire drove after dark, to the great joy of all concerned, whose settlement in Oregon came so nearly being indefinitely post- poned.

Settling first upon a claim in the Santiam val- ley, he subsequently was a general merchant in Lebanon, Linn county, from 1858 to 1865. He became prominently identified with the upbuild- ing of this section of the state, being a projector and liberal supporter of nearly every enterprise inaugurated to benefit the county. He, with Jason Wheeler, Abram Hackleman, William Ral- ston, C. P. Burkhart, M. Luper, Andrew Cowan and Jacky Settle, was one of the promoters of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Mountains wagon road, four hundred miles in length, ex- tending to the eastern boundary of the state The road company was inaugurated by this en- terprising merchant and his farmer co-operators for the sole purpose of enabling emigrants and stock to cross the great Cascade mountains, that settlement of central Oregon could be more speedily brought about, avoiding what, at that day, was the exorbitant expense of traveling around by way of the Columbia river. The road was to be kept open by reasonable tolls. The company had no forethought at the time, nor until much work had been done, to apply for a land grant, which was afterwards obtained from the government. The travel became immense over this road and continued so until closed by winter, exceeding that of any other mountain route, being materially improved by a subsequent company. The enterprise has proved the wis- dom of the originators, in creating a direct con- venience to the public and an improvement to central Oregon.

Mr. Elkins, with several of his old co-oper- ators, constructed the Albany and Santiam Canal at a cost of $65.000, including terminal lands, which has been of inestimable value to the growth of the city. This property. however, was entirely lost to the original builders, from a forced sale of the property by outside influ- ences-unnecessarily so, as Mr. Elkins had se-

cured the promise of abundant means to relieve the financial situation. But this was thwarted, and his answer to a sympathizer was: "Yes, it has ruined us, but saved the town."

Mr. Elkins was likewise a prime mover, with enterprising men in Albany and Lebanon, in in- fluencing the Southern Pacific Railroad man- agers, Villard and Kohler, to construct the twelve miles of railway between Albany and Lebanon, and to the question propounded to him personally by Villard-" Will this piece of road pay? "-he replied: "Yes, better than any feeder you can have." This settled the construc- tion of the road, and the result was assured, and a great boon to Lebanon and Albany ac- complished.

Being a man of force and strong views, he readily attracted prominent notice, and twice represented in part his county in the territorial legislature. He was a member of the constitu- tional convention and also served as state sen- ator after the granting of statehood. Being president of that body, he had the honor, on the thirty-fifth ballot, of casting the vote that elected General Nesmith and Col. E. D. Baker, two loyal men, to the United States senate, in 1860. Mr. Elkins had endeavored by his influence to elect Nesmith and Judge George H. Williams, or Nesmith and Delazon Smith, determined that Oregon should be represented by two loyal union senators in Washington. Seeing the approach- ing storm of secession, he warned O'Meara and other leading Democrats of the Lane faction that he would not be responsible much longer for a non-election of United States senators, when it depended upon his vote, and he was com- pelled to give his casting vote on the last ballot for Colonel Baker, a man of national fame, to accomplish that result, thereby making certain the election of General Nesmith. By doing this Mr. Elkins received the plaudits of the war Democrats and Republicans, but incurred the enmity of very many of his old Democratic friends in his county, and was accused of being " bought "; when in truth Colonel Baker and his friends did not expect Mr. Elkins' support, relying upon Amery Holbroke to eventually cast the requisite vote. Mr. Elkins had avoided Colonel Baker's pressing invitations and social intercourse, and no man who should offer to bribe him could escape his denunciation. He was high-minded, and dealt not in any dishonor- able means or secret plans. From that time on Mr. Elkins ceased to be held a leader. While still being classed as a Democrat, he frequently acted independently.

Luther Elkins was a firm believer in the doc- trines of Christianity. He led a busy and active life, was warm-hearted, brave and forgiving, and true to his friends, and well calculated to be a

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pioncer. Though amassing small fortunes at various times in his eventful life, he died at the age of seventy-eight a poor man. The last few years of his life were spent with his son Joseph at Lebanon, in retirement, suffering in his old age from a general breaking down of his physi- cal and mental powers. He left a large number of friends to remember the industry of a man to whom Linn county is more indebted for her material prosperity than to any other one indi- vidual. His wife, whose maiden name was Philotheta Williams, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., and preceded him in her demise in Lebanon, Ore., in 1881, at the age of seventy- four. She was a helpmate indeed, and a com- forter in her husband's trials-a fond mother, beloved by all.

The oldest child of the parental household, James Elkins was educated in Belmont county, Ohio, and as a young man was first a clerk in the auditor's office there, and afterwards in his father's store. Coming with his parents to Linn county in 1852, Mr. Elkins took up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres near the property of his father, which he improved. For two terms he taught school, being the first teacher employed south of Crabtree creek. In 1855 and 1856 he was clerk in the Quartermaster General's office at Salem, Ore., during the Indian war of those years. His brother, Joseph, going out with the volunteers to fight the Indians, James was afterwards appointed clerk in the Surveyor General's office. under General Zieber. At his father's request, Mr. Elkins gave up his clerkship in 1858 to become a partner with him in the mercantile business at Lebanon, remain- ing there until 1862. Being then elected county clerk of Linn county, Mr. Elkins removed to Albany, and in 1864 was re-elected to the same office for the ensuing two years. Becoming sec- retary of the Wagon Road Company, he served from 1866 until the road was sold in 1869 to Colonel Hogg, after which he dealt in real estate for a time. In 1870 he was a candidate for sec- retary of state, against Judge Chadwick, but with the rest of his ticket-General Palmer for gov- ernor, Myer Hirsch for treasurer and Joseph Wilson for congress-was defeated by the small vote of three hundred and fifty. He was ap- pointed by Benjamin Holliday as the first rail- road agent at Albany, serving from 1870 until 1871, when, on account of ill health, he was forced to resign. Going to eastern Oregon, he was engaged in the cattle business in Crook county, near Prineville, for awhile, then re- moved to Beaver creek, where he enlarged his operations, carrying on an extensive business for a number of years as a stock-raiser and dealer. His sons wishing a change of occupa- tion, he sold his property and returned to Al-

bany, where he has since resided. In June, 1902, Mr. Elkins was elected county treasurer, and assumed the duties of his responsible office July 7, 1902.

In 1860 Mr. Elkins married Miss Helen Mil- lard, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, in October, 1842, and came across the plains to Oregon in 1851 with her widowed mother, Amelia Millard (who afterward became the wife of Rev. Edward Fisher). Mrs. Elkins died in 1899, leaving six children, namely: Charles M., a general merchant in Prineville, Ore .; Col- lins W., a merchant in Lyle, Wash .; Luther, an attorney in San Francisco, Cal .; Frank, a mechanic in Prineville, Ore .; Helen and James, Jr., at home Politically Mr. Elkins is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of its board of trustees.

WILLIAM HAGER. One of the most promi- nent merchants and leading business men of Marion county is William Hager, who has been engaged in mercantile pursuits from his youth. In that line he has achieved success and has be- come well known as a man of integrity and honor. He meets promptly all obligations, his word being as good as his bond, and in the com- mercial world he is recognized as a keen and sagacious business man, thoroughly up to date and alive to the requirements of his patrons. Mr. Hager is now at the head of a large estab- lishment in Fairfield, conducts a general mer- cantile business, and also has a large ware- honse and deals extensively in grain. He has made good use of his business opportunities and owns five hundred acres of valuable land, including real estate in Portland and Salem, Ore., besides a very nice residence and store building in Fairfield. This prosperity has come to Mr. Hager through his own well directed efforts. He comes from Switzerland, that little independent country which nestles among the Alps, and whose sons are as familiar with the word "Freedom" as are our own American born citizens. It is an acknowledged fact that emigrants from that country have ever been thrifty, upright and self-supporting, and on coming to America have always acquired a competence for themselves, at the same time advancing the prosperity of the land of their adoption. Mr. Hager has been no exception to this rule. He has established a home and a name for himself in the new world, of which any one may well be proud. As a private citi- zen, he is highly honored, while in public life his record is alike commendable, he having

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served as postmaster of Fairfield for twenty- two years.

In St. Gall, Switzerland, May 28, 1850, Mr. Hager was born. There he acquired his education and entered into the mercantile business, serving as an apprentice for three years and receiving nothing for his services except the experience which he gained. This, however, was good capital for a bright lad such as he was, and proved to be an excellent foundation for the future success which awaited him in America. The family history of Mr. Hager is of tragic character, owing to the death of his beloved mother at the hands of an assassin, and the demise of the father a year later, which resulted from the shock at the loss of his wife. John Hager, the father, was born in St. Gall, Switzerland, in 1824, and in that land followed the occupation of farm- ing. In the home of his youth he was married to Barbara Klingler, a native of the same place, born in 1825. The family resided in Switzerland until 1865, when Mr. Hager, hear- ing of the great opportunities to be found in America, crossed the broad Atlantic, settling in Minnesota, where he resided until 1869, at which time he removed to Portland, Ore. In 1871 the wife and children came to America, joining the father who immediately rented a farm near Oregon City, and here they lived very happily until Mrs. Hager was murdered. She had received an inheritance from her native land and the murderers probably thought the money from the inheritance was in her possession, and, although it is known who did the deed, the perpetrators have never been brought to justice, yet this great crime is not hidden from Him who sees all hearts and knows all things. As has been stated, her husband survived only a year after her death, she living to be fifty-five years of age and her husband fifty-six. Three children were born unto this couple: William, of this review; Mary, the wife of Charles Hickethier, of Cedar Mills, Ore .; and Matilda, who is deceased.

The life history of a man who from a small beginning has made his way upward in the world, is always of interest to others, as it indicates the amount of vim and energy which has culminated in success, and to those who have come to America from other countries, bringing with them the very life-blood with which to form a new and great nation, is due the marvelous growth and progress of this great land. In this connection the career of Mr. Hager is an eminent example. On arriv- ing in America in 1871. he made his way to Portland, remaining in that city for about six months, then proceeding to Fairfield, in 1872.

In the latter place he was engaged as a clerk, serving in that capacity until 1879, when he purchased a one-half interest in the business. Thus was his progress toward success made step by step. In 1880 he became sole owner and proprietor of the general mercantile busi- ness which he now conducts and through his fair and honorable dealings Mr. Hager has gained the good will and patronage of the public.

In 1887 Cordelia Byrd became the wife of William Hager, the marriage taking place in Fairfield. Her parents were L. A. and Martha Byrd, who came to the Pacific coast in 1849. The present home of Mr. and Mrs. Hager is the place where they first began housekeep- ing. Four children have been born to them, but only one, Harold B., is now living. He makes his home with his parents. As post- master for twenty-two years, as school clerk for several years, Mr. Hager has contributed with his best efforts to the advancement and prosperity of his adopted city. In politics Mr. Hager has always allied himself with the Republican party.

CAPT. S. B. ORMSBY. The family of which Capt. S. B. Ormsby of Salem is a representative was founded in America in the early colonial days by descendants of the head of the ancient Scottish clan Ormsby, who fought under Robert Bruce for the freedom of Scotland. They were of the Scotch nobility, possessed of a coat of arms, were sturdy, brave lovers of freedom, stern in their dispensation of justice, with a large body of retainers who were ever ready with sword and lance to defend the honored name and person of their powerful chief. Through many generations and the admixture of other blood, these prime characteristics still remain dominant in representatives of the family, evi- dence of which may be found by study of the life, the work and personality of the subject of this brief memoir.

Joseph Ormsby, the grandfather of Captain Ormsby, was a young man when the Revolution- ary war began, and during the early days of the struggle offered his services to the cause of the colonists. Enlisting in the Continental army as a member of the Third Regiment of the Penn- sylvania Reserve, commanded by Gen. Anthony Wayne, he served throughout the war with dis- tinction.' He was placed on guard at the door of the room in which was held the court-martial which resulted in the conviction of Major Andre, the British spy, and witnessed his execution. In the war of 1812 he served as guide to General Hampton in his Canadian invasion, and was cap- tured by the British, While held as prisoner along

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the St. Lawrence river, he was sent out to fish in company with a boy, and while on his mission succeeded in making his escape. He made his way to the American lines, and eventually reached St. Albans, Vt., where he decided to locate and establish a home. At this place he engaged in farming for several years, finally removing to Parishville, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of his life. He died at Ogdensburg, N. Y., at the age of eighty-eight years.

Lyman Ormsby, father of the captain, was born and reared at St. Albans. With his parents he subsequently settled in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he became a farmer. Later in life he moved to Jackson county, Wis., settling near Black River Falls, where he died at the age of eighty-six vears. Throughout his life he car- ried on agricultural pursuits. A devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was its class leader for sixty years, taking a very active part in the work of the church. He voted at every presidential election from the time he cast his first ballot for John Quincy Adams until and including the election of Benjamin Harrison. He married Laura Bell, who was born near Burling- ton, Vt. She was of English descent, and died in New York state. Of this marriage there were born two children-Mrs. Delia Howard of Lincoln, Neb., and S. B. Ormsby, subject of this sketch.

Captain Ormsby was born at Parishville, N. Y., October 18, 1835, and was dependent upon his own resources from the age of eight years, at which time his mother died. After acquiring his rudimentary education in the public schools, by working for his board among the farmers he became qualified to teach and in this way he gained sufficient means to enter St. Lawrence Academy at Pottsdam, N. Y., where his studies were completed. In 1856 he moved to Michigan, traveling by boat to Detroit, whence he pro- ceeded to Montcalm county. For a time he taught school near Greenville, after which exper- ience he entered the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsilanti. He continued to teach at in- tervals in order to meet the expenses of his normal course, being thus engaged until the fall of 1860, when, because of failing health, he went to Mis- souri. At Versailles and Tipton, in that state, he continued to teach school until the outbreak of the Civil war. Being a stanch Union man, and taking part in the election of delegates to the state convention, he made himself obnoxious to the Confederate leaders and was ordered to leave the state. Upon his refusal to do so he was arrested and held as a prisoner for a time; but managing to escape he made his way to St. Louis, thence to Michigan, where he again

entered the Ypsilanti Normal School, from which he was graduated in March, 1862.

Immediately after leaving school he enlisted in Company K, Fifth Michigan Cavalry Volun- teers, and was mustered in as a private in August, 1862, in Detroit. His command was assigned to duty with the Army of the Potomac. He re- mained with this regiment until June, 1864, and with it participated in the Gettysburg campaign and the operations immediately following it. In June, 1864, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company C, One Hundred and Eighth United States Colored Infantry. In 1865 he. was pro- moted to the captaincy of Company A, and held that rank when he was mustered out in March, 1866. After receiving his commission he served in Kentucky, and for about six months guarded Confederate prisoners at Rock Island, Ill. The remainder of his service was in Mississippi.

Returning to Michigan upon the close of the war, Captain Ormsby resumed teaching in Wash- tenaw county. In August, 1868, he removed to Carthage, Jasper county, Mo., where he became principal of the high school. Later he was elected superintendent of the public schools of Joplin, in that county, a position he filled until May, 1882, when he resigned and returned to Michigan on a visit. In January, 1883, he started for the Pacific coast, arriving in Marion county, Ore., in June. For seventeen years continuously he was engaged in stock-raising in the mountains of Marion county. He homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres of land twenty-seven miles northeast of Salem, improved this, and bought two hundred and forty acres adjoining, all of which he operated with success.

While in Missouri Captain Ormsby had taken an active interest in politics as a stanch supporter of the Republican party, having cast his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. Upon coming to Oregon he at once became interested in the polit- ical situation in this state, laboring diligently for Republican success. In 1892 he was the candi- date of his party for the state legislature, and was elected, serving in the session of 1893. He was the father of the bill resulting in the estab- lishment of the Soldiers' Home at Roseburg, and promoted other legislative measures of import- ance. In 1894 the governor appointed him member of the board of trustees of the Soldiers' Home, and he served as its president until July, 1897, when he resigned to take charge of the office of superintendent of Forest Reserve in Oregon, having been appointed July I by Secre- tary Bliss. This office he filled until it was abol- ished January 1, 1903. Captain Ormsby's duties included the protection of the forests from fire and from timber trespassers, and the manage- ment of stock-grazing upon the range. The total area of the reserves in his charge was 4,548,640

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acres, and is included in the Cascade, the Bull Run, and the Ashland reservations. These ranges were a feeding ground for from two to three hundred thousand head of sheep and about five thousand head of cattle. His ad- ministration of the affairs of the office gave entire satisfaction, not only to the government, but to the men who occupied the ranges.

Captain Ormsby has disposed of his cattle interests and now rents his ranch. He has, how- ever, considerable private business interests, having acquired mining interests in Coos county, Orc., where he is actively engaged in mining and where he is developing several gold claims, which promise to become the leading mines of southern Oregon.

In Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1862, Captain Ormsby was married to Adelia Merritt, who was born in Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Jefferson Merritt, a native of Vermont. The Merritt fam- ily came originally from France, settling in Cana- da, and Mrs. Orsmby's father became a resident of Michigan, following the wheelwright's trade in Ypsilanti for many years. He died in Ionia, Mich. Unto Captain and Mrs. Ormsby has been born one son, Lyman Merritt, who is a grad- uate of the School of Mines at Scranton, Pa., and is now engaged with his father in develop- ing their mines in Coos county, Ore.

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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 123

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