Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 125

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 125

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The birth of Mr. Wiesner occurred near Zunderbach, Germany, March 7, 1835. His father, Adam Wiesner, born in 1799, was a manufacturer of tile and brick and also engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred at the age of sixty years, in the year 1860, the mother, Margaret Happ, born in 1809, having died when about fifty years old. Bartholomew Wiesner was one of eight chil- dren, and the large family prevented him re- ceiving as many advantages as would other-

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wise have been accorded him. His school days were ended at the age of twelve years, at which time he started for America. Having his own livelihood to earn, he sought with remarkable judgment the best field wherein to spend his energy. It was in the year 1847 that he came to the United States and settled in Buffalo, N. Y., where he served as an apprentice to his uncle, who was a tailor. After a period of three years spent in that city, Mr. Wiesner removed to Canada West, locating in what is now On- tario, where he secured employment on a farm, and remained until 1862. In the last-named year he came to Oregon, via New York, Isth- mus of Panama and San Francisco, and after a stop in British Columbia of a few months, he came to Marion county and settled on a farm on French Prairie, where his management and industry resulted in sufficient means to enable him to purchase land in 1864. This first purchase was located on the Prairie, and there he bought the farm which he now owns, consisting of one hundred and seventy-two acres, though since his purchase he has added twenty more. One hundred and twenty acres of his land is under cultivation. Mr. Wiesner has put all the improvements on this place and has brought it to the present high state of cultivation.

April 6, 1868, Mr. Wiesner was united in marriage with Miss Louise Jane Cawood, who was born in Daviess county, Ind., and with her parents crossed the plains with mule teams in 1865. They took up their residence on the farm on French Prairie, and in 1870 removed to their present location. Eight children were born of the union, of whom Emma is the wife of Edward Baughton, a contractor of Portland, and they have two children, Ralph and Mamie ; Philip is in Mesa, Ariz., engaged in bee cul- ture; Ephraim G. and Ernest C. are at home ; Opha is the wife of Warren Gray, of Mar- quam ; Bertha and Archie B. also make their home with their parents, and Oso died in in- fancy. One of the most important events in the life of Mr. Wiesner was obtaining his mar- riage license and teacher's certificate on the same day. He taught school one term, organ- ized a new district, there having previously been no building, the pupils meeting in a room of his own house. Politically Mr. Wiesner is a Socialist and is a member of the Christian Scientists. He has served in public offices at different times, being elected justice of the peace, serving four years, and school director from 1870 to 1890. Mr. Wiesner is influential in the Grange, and is now overseer in the Pa- mona Grange and master of North Howell Grange, No. 274, having passed all the chairs of the subordinate Grange.

WILLIAM D. CLAGGETT, whose fifty-one years of residence in Oregon covers almost the entire period of development and improvements here, was for many years extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising and still supervises his interests in those directions from his home in Salem, where he has resided since 1880.

A native of Missouri, William D. Claggett was born near Albany, Gentry county, November 28, 1840, a son of Charles Claggett, who was born in Woodford county, Ky., October 13, 1813. The latter's father died in Kentucky when Charles Claggett was an infant. Charles Claggett was reared in that state, and after attaining his major- ity began farming on his own account in Gentry county. I11 1852 he left the Mississippi valley for the coast, making the long and tedious journey across the sands and through the mountain passes until he reached Marion county. He settled four miles north of Salem, where he secured about three hundred and twenty acres of land covered with a heavy growth of timber. He at once began to improve the property, and in those early days he burned charcoal. His pits were long enough to take in logs of seventy-five feet, and would contain two thousand bushels of charcoal. Each pit would be left to burn for three months, before the product was considered ready for the mar- ket. In this Mr. Claggett was quite successful, although the early years of residence here were a period of hardship to the family. The father had but a single dollar at the time of his arrival, and the first home of the family was a log cabin, 16x16 feet, and without a floor of any kind, or a stove or a fireplace. Through many years, how- ever, Charles Claggett successfully engaged in the raising of stock and grain, and added to his original purchase the adjoining farm. His deathı occurred October 7, 1902, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneer settlers. He had a brother, Mason Claggett, who was a soldier in the Mexican war.

The mother of William D., Mrs. Mary (Irvine) Claggett, was a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Jesse Irvine, who removed to Mis- souri, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1842. Mrs. Claggett passed away in Salem in 1891. In the family were ten children, of whom only four reached adult age: Mrs. Margaret McNary, who died near Salem; Mrs. Sallie A. Pugh, who also died near Salem; Will- iam D., and Mrs. Martha Savage, who was accidentally killed in Marion county.

When but eleven years of age William D. Clag- gett came with his parents to Oregon. They left their Missouri home on the Ist of April, with two wagons drawn by oxen, and some loose cattle. The boy William drove an ox-team of four yoke, and in the lead had a pair of three-year-old oxen which he had broken from calves, and had made

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so tractable that he could stand on the wagon tongue and guide them simply by speaking to them. The party crossed the Platte river where it was three miles wide. Mr. Claggett had his three-year-olds in the lead of seven yoke of cattle, and had they stopped swimming the wagons would have sunk. This yoke of oxen crossed the Platte seven times in one day, leading the other big teams. At length they reached the old Ore- gon trail and proceeded slowly until they arrived at Fort Hall, when they quickened their pace and passed every team which they overtoook upon the road. On July 4 they reached the North pass and came on toward Oregon, arriving at The Dalles, September 13, and proceeding down the Columbia on a flatboat, while the cattle were brought by the trail.

Mr. Claggett arrived at Salem October 13, 1852, and proceeded to make himself useful on the home farm. In the winter months, when his services were not needed at home, he attended the district schools, and between the years 1852 and 1862 he was a student in the Willamette University. For some time he continued with his father, assisting in the operation of the home farm. Soon after reaching maturity he bought one hundred acres, to which he added another hundred, then three hundred and forty and subse- quently other tracts, until he now owns over nine hundreed acres in Marion county. His farm is devoted principally to the production of grain and the raising of stock. He has made a specialty of fine Angora goats and now has a large and valuable herd. He is one of the pioneers in this industry in Oregon, and has the largest herd, and has taken many prizes with his goats at the state fairs. He has also owned many fine horses, including registered Clydesdales and some fine trotting stock, on which he has also won first premiums, and has raised fine sheep. Mr. Clag- gett has always been a lover of high grade stock and has ever kept on hand animals of superior excellence. One of his horses, Homdell, has a race record of 2:18, and has a halfmile time record of 1:08.

Mr. Claggett married Miss Ella Hennis, who was born in Iowa and died in Marion county, Ore., leaving two children : Mrs. Annie Cosper. of Salem; and Mrs. Ellen Welch, who is living on the old homestead. For his second wife Mr. Claggett chose Miss Eliza Parrish, who was born in Iowa and died in Oregon. There were eight children of that union: Amelia, of New York: Charles W .. of Salem; Archie, who is on one of the father's farms: Thomas of Wash- ington ; Clyde, who is also on one of his father's farm ; Benjamin, Margaret and Harriet at home. Mr. Claggett's third marriage was to Miss Lizzie Jacobs, who was born in Marion county, her

father having been one of the first settlers of that state, arriving here in the earliest pioneer days.

Since 1880 Mr. Claggett has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has held office in the lodge and encampment. In politics he is an active Republican. As the years have passed, through the careful conduct of his business interests, through judicious invest- ment and unflagging industry, he has prospered, and is today one of the substantial citizens of Salem, having extensive and valuable property holdings in Marion county. Soon after his arriv- al in the county he was ill for a short time with mountain fever, but has since enjoyed remarkable health, for the past fifty years never missing a meal a single day. He is familiar with pioneer history, and has witnessed the development of the county, as early conditions have been replaced by those of an advanced civilization, making Oregon one of the most promising commonwealths in this great country.

MAJOR MATTHEW H. ELLIS, M. D. One of the prominent physicians and sur- geons of Linn county is Major M. H. Ellis, M. D., who has met with noteworthy success in his professional career, and attained an en- viable position among the foremost citizens of Albany. A native of Ontario, he was born near Owen Sound, being the oldest of the eleven children of John Ellis. His grandfather, Thomas Ellis, was born in the North of Ire- land, of Scotch ancestry. When a young man he emigrated to Ontario, where he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his deatlı. He was held in high esteem as a citizen, and was an active member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

John Ellis was born and educated in On- tario, and was subsequently engaged in the hotel business in Rochester, N. Y. Removing from there to Port Hope, Ont., where he re- sided several years, he then removed to Minne- apolis, Minn., where he lived retired from ac- tive pursuits until his death, in 1902. He mar- ried, at Port Hope, Eliza Dean, who was born in the North of Ireland, of Scotch ancestors. Her father, the Rev. Matthew Dean, came to Canada with his family. and settled in County Durham, Ont., where he engaged in general farming, and for some time preached in the Methodist Church. John Ellis and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Ellis died in 1898. Seven of their children are still living, two of them, the. doctor and his sister, Mrs. C. E. Sox. being residents of Albany.

After his graduation from the Collegiate In- stitute at Port Hope, Ont., Matthew H. Ellis

Newton Houston

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entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1879. Beginning the practice of medicine in Belmont county, Ohio, he remained in Jacobsburg two years, when, in 1882, he re- turned to Minneapolis, and there followed his profession until coming to Oregon in 1884, and located in Albany, where he has gained an ex- tended reputation as a skillful physician and surgeon, and has met with merited success in his special work of treating diseases of the eye and ear. Progressive in his methods, ever aiming to keep himself well informed in regard to the advances of medical and surgical sci- ence, the doctor is still a close student, and in 1895 took a special course at the Post Gradu- ate College in Chicago, Il1.

In 1887 Dr. Ellis was appointed regimental surgeon of the Oregon National Guards, a position which he filled until the breaking out of the Spanish-American war. In 1898 he was commissioned, by Gov. T. T. Geer, surgeon of the Second Oregon Infantry, with the rank of major. Going with his regiment to the Philippine Islands, he took part in various en- gagements, and at the Battle of Norzagaray, was wounded by a shot in the right leg, but by riding a horse he remained with his regi- ment, heroically performing his duties. During the Malolos campaign Major Ellis was brigade surgeon of the Staff of Brigadier-General Lloyd Wheaton. Returning home with his regiment, the major was mustered out of service at San Francisco in August, 1899, returned to his home and resumed the practice of his profes- sion. He was subsequently re-appointed ma- jor and surgeon in the Oregon National Guard and still holds the position. He is likewise United States Pension Examiner.

Politically Dr. Ellis is one of the leading Re- publicans of the Willamette valley, having served as delegate to the state conventions of his party. In 1895 he was a delegate to the National Convention of the Republican League held in Cleveland, Ohio. For four years he was a member of the State Central Committee, representing Linn county. Fraternally the doctor was made an Odd Fellow in Ohio, and is a member of Albany Lodge, No. 4. I. O. O. F., and is a member and Past Chief Patriarchi of the Albany Encampment, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of Albany Camp, M. W. A .; the Independent Order of Foresters ; the Knights of the Maccabees, and of the Oregon State Medical Association.

NEWTON HOUSTON. A commodious residence, excellent out-buildings, good fences and the most modern of agricultural implements

help to make the farming property of Newton Houston one of the most valuable and desirable in Linn county. Located four miles east of Albany, and in extent five hundred and ten acres, it is principally devoted to stock and grain-rais- ing, and the most scientific and successful kind of general farming. As one of the very early pioneers of Oregon Mr. Houston has accom- plished much for his adopted state, and has been unceasing in his efforts to improve the condi- tions among which he has found himself. Born in Miami county, Ohio, near Piqua, Septem- ber 27, 1828, his father, Robert Houston, had a large farm in the interior of the county, where he married Mary Brown, and where he reared a family of five sons and three daughters. An ambitious man, he gave ready credence to the reports of greater fertility in the northwest, and in the spring of 1848 prepared for the long jour- ney across the plains. For the transportation of the husband, wife and eight children they had two wagons with three yoke of oxen on each, and another with five yoke, and they also took with them three cows and two horses. Seven months of travel brought them to Linn county, this state, where the father took up a claim just outside of Albany, and where he died at the age of eighty-five years.

Ten years of age when he came to Oregon in 1848, Newton Houston went into the mines of California in 1850, accompanied by his brother, Milton, with whom he drove across the mountains. For six months he alternated between success and failure, and after return- ing to this county he continued to farm on the home place. In 1852 he married Louisa Parish, soon after purchasing a claim of three hundred and twenty acres, to which he has added and now owns five hundred and ten acres. Having a thorough understanding of farming, and a fine knowledge of stock-raising, he has succeeded in his adopted county and is one of its most con- scientious and painstaking agriculturists. Five sons and three daughters have been born into his family, all of whom have been accorded the best educational opportunities in their neighbor- hood. Robert E. resides on a farm near the home place, having married Aurelia Marshall, a native of Oregon: they have two children, Ala E. and Robert L .; Katherine, wife of W. WV. Phillippi of Walla Walla, Wash., and they have four girls, Della, Laura. Amy and Elsie ; Charles W., who resides at the home place, and married Rose Wilson, to whom have been horn three children, Chester, Van and Ilda; Brown J. and Leroy reside in Portland, Ore .; Minnie (now deceased) was the wife of Preston B. Marshall, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume: Calista C., wife of A. B. C11s- ter of Linn county ; they have one child, Ira

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N .; Edward P. resides in Boise City, married Nora Mills and has one child, Robert E.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Houston was prominent in the early days, and at times has been school director and road supervisor. He is a member of the Grange, and his stanch support has greatly facilitated the growth of this institution. Although so many years have passed over his head, Mr. Houston is still active, and not only still performs his share of the labor of life, but heartily enters into its joys and di- versions. Honored by all who know him, he has a cheery home, to which his many friends like to go, and where they invariably receive a warm and convincing welcome.

WILLIAM R. BILYEU. A judicial mind and temperament, excellent business ability, and a capacity for hard work well developed, has placed Hon. William R. Bilyeu among the foremost legal practitioners in Linn county. Of French origin, he represents a family the earliest emigrants of which settled in Virginia, and from the Old Dominion state branched out into various parts of the south and east. His paternal grandfather was the establisher of the name in Tennessee, where was born Joseph Bilyeu, the father of Hon. William R., the lat- ter of whom settled at an early day in Miller county, Mo. Joseph Bilyeu cleared a wilder- ness farm in Miller county and married Anna Osborn, who was born in Sangamon county, Ill., a daughter of William Osborn, a farmer who died in Illinois. In Missouri were born six of the ten children reared by these parents, of whom William R., the oldest, was born March 19, 1847. In 1862 the father outfitted with wagons and ox and horse-teams and brought his family across the plains, on the way escaping many of the unfortunate experi- ences which rendered terrifying and uncertain the way of the earlier immigrants. Leaving Missouri May 5, 1862, the party arrived at its destination in Portland October 7, of the same vear, William and his brother driving the stock down the old Columbia river trail, arriving a few days later. Mr. Bilyeu settled on a claim in Linn county, and the same winter removed to Polk county, where he bought the farin which he improved, and upon which he lived for many years. A later place of residence was a farm near Turner, Marion county, from where he moved to Albany, where his death occurred May 20, 1902, at the age of seventy- nine years. From early manhood he was a member of the Christian Church, as was also his wife, who died in Marion county in 1899. Of the large family of children, the following seven attained maturity : William R .; Larkin,

an attorney at Eugene, and representative for several terms; James, an educator at Scio; Lydia, now Mrs. Ennis, of Eureka, Cal .; Tab- itha, now Mrs. Vaughan, of Salem, Ore .; John, who died in Linn county, Ore., at the age of twenty-seven, and Joseph, who died in Linn county at the age of twenty, and who was the only one born in Oregon.

The education of Hon. William R. Bilyeu was acquired under difficulties, for, as the old- est son in the family, he was early confronted by large responsibility, the fulfillment of which crowded out many opportunities. He was fif- teen when the family came to the west, and on the way he made himself useful by driving a team of three horses. On the western posses- sion he performed his share towards clearing off the timber and rendering the land profit- able, and through the exercise of great econ- omy gained admission to the Tualatin Acad- emy when he was twenty. This institution afterward became the Pacific University, and his tuition was met from the proceeds of his several years of teaching in Washington, Linn and Marion counties, thus enabling him to take a six years' course, from which he was gradu- ated in 1873 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. In conformity with a long-thought- out determination, he began the study of law in the office of Mallory & Shaw, of Salem, and after being duly admitted to the bar in 1875, engaged in practice in Albany, where his entire professional life has been centered. He is known as an astute and most capable lawyer, and has received his share of the legal patron- age of Albany and Linn county.

A stanch upholder of Democracy, Mr. Bil- yeu has rendered signal service in state affairs, but has never been induced to hold local office. He was elected to the state senate in 1878, and re-elected in 1882, and in 1902 was elected to the house of representatives in the twenty-third biennial session. While in the latter body he drew up and was instrumental in securing the passage of the mortgage tax law, which was litigated in the courts, but finally sustained by the United States Supreme Court. This ses- sion also passed the Indian veteran bill, which gave an appropriation of $100,000 for the vet- cran fighters of '55-'56. In 1888 he was nomi- nated presidential elector on the Democratic ticket, and has attended many conventions, but never as a candidate. For several terms lie was chairman of the County Central Commit- tee, and he is an ex-member of the State Cen- tral Committee. Fraternally he is associated with St. John's Lodge, No. 62, of which he is past master ; Bayley Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M., of Albany; Temple Commandery, K. T., No. 3, and the Benevolent Protective Order of

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Elks. He married, in Corvallis, Mary Gold- son, a native of Mississippi, and who has borne him two children, Charles and Walter. Mr. Bilyeu ranks among the foremost legal expon- . ents in the Willamette valley and personally he embodies those strong and admirable char- acteristics which win respect and command at- tention.

WILEY NORTON. Among the keen, pro- gressive, and substantial agriculturists of Polk county, conspicuous for their ability and worth, is Wiley Norton, whose father, Lucius C. Nor- ton, and maternal grandfather, Nahum King, were Oregon pioneers. An important factor in promoting the industrial interests of this section of the state, he is actively and prosperously engaged in his free and independent calling near Lewisville, his home farm being one and one- half miles from the village. A native of Mis- souri, he was born at Big Bend, Carroll county, March 27, 1844, and was but a year old when he was brought to Oregon.

Born in Illinois, December 26, 1818, Lucius C. Norton subsequently settled in Carroll county, Mo., where on October 7, 1839, he married Hopestill King, who was born February 7, 1816. Her father, Nahum King, an early settler of Missouri, was born in New York state. In 1845 Mr. Norton and Nahum King, with their fam- ilies, crossed the dreary plains, coming to Orc- gon with ox-teams. Losing the trail at Meeks' cutoff, they were nine months on the way, and endured terrible hardships and privations, their provisions giving out just as they reached The Dalles. After spending the first winter on the Tualatin plains, in Washington county, they pro- ceeded to Benton county, where both men took up donation claims of six hundred and forty acres each. The town thus founded, was after- wards named Kings Valley in honor of Mr. King, who became one of the leading men of the place. He was a tanner by trade, but engaged in general farming from the time he came to Benton county until his death, in 1853. Mr. Norton's farm adjoined that of his father- in-law, and he was there successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his active career, dying at Kings Valley, May 6, 1859. His wife survived him many years, dying November 16, 1893, at Norton's Station, Lincoln county, Ore. Four boys and four girls were born of their union, six of whom are now living, namely : Isaac, a resident of Benton county ; Wiley, the subject of this brief sketch ; Ashnah, wife of James Plunkett, of Kings Valley; Sereptah, wife of Willard L. Price, of Kings Valley; Nahum, residing at Blodgett, Benton county; and Lucius C., of Lincoln county.

After completing his studies in the district school, Wiley Norton assisted his brothers for a while in the care of the home farm, after their father's death. On coming of age he married, and began housekeeping on a homestead farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Blodgett's valley. He continued there as one of the most successful farmers of the vicinity until 1900, when he assumed possession of his present farm, near Lewisville, Polk county, it being a part of the donation claim which Mrs. Norton's father took up from the government. He has ninety- three acres of land, the greater part of which is in a high state of cultivation, twelve acres being especially devoted to the cultivation of hops.

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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 125

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