Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 138

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 138

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Enlisting in Captain Barns' company, Var- den Artillery, of Carroll county, Mr. Will- banks started for the war, and served four years and four months. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, and three months later was cap- tured and exchanged and sent to Mobile, Ala. After the evacuation of the latter city he was sent to Demopolis, Ala., and remained until the surrender of the city, thereafter serving as assistant to the regiment surgeon, Allison. In the latter capacity he had charge of the tents and hospital appliances, and was also hospital steward until the close of the war. Returning to his home in Carroll county, Miss., he found the four bales of cotton un- molested on the barn floor, notwithstanding the fact that the county was raided several times, and he himself was otherwise almost impoverished thereby. Nevertheless, the cot- ton served as a nucleus for a new beginning, for he sold it for forty-five cents a pound, and thus had a nest egg of $900. Continuing on the old farm after the war he found things sadly changed, and by 1874 had sold his pro- perty and prepared to take up his residence in the west.

Two weeks after his arrival in Oregon, Mr. Willbanks lost his wife by death, and five children were left to his care. Of these, Katie is the wife of Mr. Adler of Gilliam county, Ore .; Nettie is the wife of W. A. Buchannan of Corvallis; Josephine is now Mrs. Bogue of Paisley, Ore; James is a farmer in Benton county ; and John is on the home farm. The second marriage of Mr. Willbanks occurred in Portland, Ore., and was with Margaret C. Mecklin, April 21, 1875, the second wife being a sister of the first. Her father, David Meck- lin, was born in South Carolina, and his father came from the north of Ireland. David farmed in South Carolina, but eventually re- moved to Mississippi, where he died, as did also his wife, Elizabeth (Caldwell) Mecklin. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs.

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Mecklin, three of whom are living. Pearl, the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Willbanks, is now the wife of Clarence Hout of Corvallis. A Democrat ever since his first voting days, Mr. Willbanks has been prominently before the public of Benton county, and in 1899 was appointed councilman of the third ward to fill an unexpired term of one year. So satis- factory were his services that he was regu- larly elected in 1900 for a period of three years, and during that time was chairman of the street committee. He is a member and deacon of the Congregational Church, and contributes generously toward the maintenance of the same. An excellent business man, progressive in his ideas and abreast of the times, Mr. Will- banks is a notable acquisition to the general life of Corvallis, and has made many friends by reason of his public-spiritedness and admirable personal characteristics.

WILLIAM M. SHERER. The farming lands of Linn county comprise its most val- uable property, and the men who have re- deemed the wilderness from its primitive con- dition occupy no unimportant position among a vast and intelligent population. William M. Sherer properly belongs to this class, and as a reward of his efforts, he is the possessor of one of the best and most fertile farms in the entire county. General farming and stock-raising form his chief occupation, and in the latter department he makes a specialty of raising Percheron horses, Durham and Holstein cat- tle. Modern buildings adorn the place, promi- nent among which is noticeable the family residence, a fine structure recently erected. Commodious and well arranged outhouses en- hance the appearance of the place, and facili- tate the labors incident to managing a large farm.

In Columbiana county, Ohio, whither his parents had settled about 1826, William M. Sherer was born July 29, 1828. That he him- self is an agriculturist of no inferior order is a natural sequence, as he is descended from a long line of tillers of the soil. His father, David Sherer, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Beaver county in 1797. The Keystone state was also the birthplace of the mother, in 1800, who was known in her girlhood as Saralı Miller. It was about the year 1826 that the parents took up their abode in Columbiana county. From Ohio the family removed to Henderson county, Ill., in 1838, and for the following fourteen years made their home in the latter state, carrying on general farming. The belief that larger opportunities awaited him in the newer western country induced the

father, in 1852, to seek a home there, and, ac- cordingly, he started with his family and house- hold belongings, the wagons being drawn by the slow-moving ox-teams. Ere they had reached their destination, however, the father was stricken with cholera, from which sick- ness he never recovered. He died and is buried on the Loup, fork of the Platte river. and thus the little party was left without a leader. With true pioneer courage the mother assumed the responsibility which was thus put upon her shoulders, and after nursing her son William back to health, he, too, having fallen a victim to the disease, she proceeded to Linn county, Ore., one redeeming feature of the journey being that the Indians gave them no trouble whatever. Seven months had expired before they finally reached Linn county, but the mother at once took up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres, about four miles from Shedds, to the improvement of which she set about immediately. This tract of land was at the time in its primeval condition, but. through her efforts it was transformed and all the improvements were due to her indomitable persistence. Here her death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. The family comprised five children, but of the number only two are now living, William M. and Elizabeth, the widow of William Millhollen, of Albany.

William M. Sherer received his education in the district schools of Illinois, principally, and at the time the family removed to Oregon was about twenty-four years of age. Owing to the death of his father much of the care and re- sponsibility of the family naturally fell upon him, and he was not reluctant in discharging the duties. Until his mother's death he made his home with her on the old donation claim, which she took up on coming to Oregon in 1852, and subsequently he took up an adjoining claim, on which he now resides, and upon which he expects to pass the remainder of his life. As the greater part of his life has been spent in the confines of Linn county it is but natural that he should take an abiding interest in its progress and development, and none will dispute the fact that he has done his full share in making it the magnificent farming region that it now is. In politics Mr. Sherer takes a keen interest, and Republican candidates are sure of his vote and support.

NORRIS P. NEWTON. To his numerous friends and associates in Philomath it would seem that Norris P. Newton has cause to con- gratulate himself upon his fortunate disposal of western opportunities. The owner of a flourish- ing little harness shop and store, of a comfort-

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able residence, two stores, and a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres adjoining the town on the northeast, he certainly has much to show for years of patient attention to business, and for that eternal vigilance which establishes a repu- tation for sobriety, honesty and enterprise.

Born on a farm within sixteen miles of Co- lumbus, Ohio, April 18, 1830, Mr. Newton comes of ancestors located for many years in the state of Massachusetts, in which seat of Puritanism his father, Abiathar, was born in 1806. The elder Newton went to Kentucky at a very early day, locating in Louisville, where he worked at his trade of blacksmith and boilermaker. While that state was young in enterprise he removed to Ohio, and near Columbus bought and lived on government land until 1841. A later place of residence was Van Buren county, Iowa, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and improved the same into a paying prop- erty. Ambitious and resourceful, he was one of the first in his neighborhood to give credence to the stories of fertility which reached them from the coast, and in 1848 he sold his land and out- fitted for the long and tiresome journey over the plains. No experiences of a thrilling or unusual nature are recorded of this trip, and it is sup- posed the train of home-seekers arrived at their destination in fairly good health and spirits. Mr. Newton took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Corvallis, in Benton county, where he farmed exclusively, no longer paying attention to his trades. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years, his wife, formerly Rachel Garlinghouse, born in the east in 1806, also attaining to and beyond the biblical allotment. Of the eight children there were four sons and four daughters, Norris P. being the second child and oldest son.

As a boy Norris P. Newton had the advan- tages of the public schools of Ohio and Iowa, and was of course reared on the paternal farms in these states. He was just eighten when the family preparations were made for crossing the plains, just the age to appreciate the situation, and profit largely by the all around change. Near his father's farm he took up a claim of three hundred and twenty acres, lived thereon until 1800, and then engaged in the livery busi- ness in Philomath for about seven years. Seven years later, in 1897, he embarked in the harness husiness, which he has since followed with suc- cessful results. He is a practical harness maker, and besides catering to a large retail purchase trade, makes a specialty of repairing old harness.

Near Corvallis Mr. Newton was united in mar- riage with Justina Knotts, who was born in Ohio, and who has borne him nine children: Cynthia, Mrs. Hinkle, resides near Corvallis; the others are Abiathar and Walter, both of Philomath;

Edwin, deceased; Harvey, residing in eastern Oregon; Laura, now Mrs. William Haynes of Forest Grove, Ore .; Ernest, of eastern Oregon; and two children who died in infancy. As a stanch Republican Mr. Newton has been active in local affairs, and has served as school director and as a member of the city council. He is prom- inent in fraternal affairs, and is identified with the Corvallis Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., and the Chapter ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Rebekahs. With his family he is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

LOUIS HENRY FISCHER, who is now manager of the Fischer Flouring Mill at Silver- ton, was born in DuPage county, Ill., September 14, 1870, and was but seven years of age when he came to Oregon. His father, Henry Fred Fischer, was born in Hamburg, Germany, March 4, 1838, and was a son of Fred Fischer, who was also a native of Hamburg, and brought his family to the United States about 1842, locating in DuPage county, Ill. There he followed farm- ing throughout his remaining days. The father of the subject of this biography was only four years of age at the time of the emigration to the new world. He built a flour-mill near Ad- dison, Ill., being the first built there, fourteen miles west of Chicago, when twenty-one years of age and was thus identified with industrial in- terests in that locality. In 1877 he came to Ore- gon, locating in Corvallis and there he purchased the Corvallis Flouring Mill, which he conducted up to the time of his death, September 25, 1902. He had learned the miller's trade in Illinois and was an expert in that work. He married Sophia Rathje, who was born in Germany and came, to the United States when but three years of age with her parents, the family locating in DuPage county, Ill. Her father was Fred Rathje, who was also a native of Germany and was a farmer by occupation. He prospered in his undertakings after coming to the new world and was worth about $50,000, when he died in Illinois at the age of eighty-four years. His sons are William and Lonis, who are bankers in the Englewood National Bank of Chicago, Ill. His daughter, Mrs. Fischer, still survives and is now residing in Corvallis. She is actively connected with the Fischer Flouring Mill. Unto the parents of Louis Henry Fischer were born eight children, five sons and three daughters.

Louis Henry Fischer, the third in order of birth, acquired his early education in the public schools and afterward entered the Portland Busi- ness College, where he was graduated in the class of 1891. From early youth he was famil- iar with the milling business as he assisted his father in the mill and in 1900 he became man-

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ager of the Fischer Flouring Mill of Silverton. Under his control the business has grown to very extensive and profitable proportions. He has overhauled all of the machinery and the plant is now equipped with a full roller process and has a capacity of two hundred and fifty bar- rels per day. The mill is operated by water power and the product is shipped to Portland, San Francisco and also sells to the home trade. Mr. Fischer has a thorough understanding of the business in every detail, and his capable man- agement has been a valued factor in the success- ful conduct of the business.

In Corvallis, Ore., Mr. Fischer was united in marriage to Miss Lida McDaniel, who was born in Independence, Polk county, Ore., a daughter of Joseph McDaniel, of Polk county, who is now connected with mining interests in Alaska. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have two inter- esting children, Harvey and Raymond, both of whom are at home. In politics Mr. Fischer is a Republican.

THOMAS SKAIFE. In Silverton are many men who have won undoubted success in the business world by sheer persistency and force of will, prominent among the number being Mr. Skaife, who has been an important factor in de- veloping the lumber, manufacturing and agri- cultural resources of both eastern and western Oregon.

Mr. Skaife is a native of Wisconsin, his birth occurring September 8, 1847, in Grant county. He comes of English ancestry, his father, Robert Skaife, having been born October 26, 1818, in Yorkshire, England, the life-long residence of John Skaife, the father of Robert, and grand- father of Thomas Skaife. (For a more extended account of the life of Robert Skaife, see biog- raphy of Michael Skaife.) In 1857 Robert Skaife located in Jackson county, Iowa, and was there engaged in milling for nine years, owning and operating a grist-mill. In 1866 he journeyed by way of the Isthmus and San Francisco to Ore- gon, and located in Salem, going from there to Lincoln, this state, where he bought a farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres, which he managed successfully until his retirement from active pursuits.

Thomas Skaife acquired his early education in the district schools of Iowa, where his youth- ful days were spent. Coming to Oregon with his father and arriving June 13, 1867, he and his brother, Michael Skaife, were first employed in a flour-mill in Salem, remaining there until 1872, when they purchased a saw-mill in the near-by town of Lincoln, and at once erected a flouring- mill to operate in conjunction, their property ad- joining the farm which their father subsequently

bought. They afterward exchanged their mills for the farm of J. D. Cooper, later trading the farm for a half interest in a Silverton flour-mill, which they operated in partnership with the Mackintosh Brothers, and another brother, Jas- per Skaife, for four years, when they bought ont their partners, subsequently running the mill alone for two years, when it was known as Skaife Brothers Milling Company, then dispos- ing of the property to the Oregon Milling Com- pany. From that time until 1887 Mr. Skaife was connected with a flour-mill in Salem, then went to Summerville, where he was successfully engaged in business for fourteen years. Return- ing to his former home, he remained in Silver- ton a brief time, then assumed charge of the La Grande Flouring Mills, formerly known as Alliance Flouring Mills, retaining that position until 1902, when he settled at his present home in Silverton. He now owns considerable real estate in this vicinity, including a house and some lots in the city, and a valuable farm on the Abaqua river, about one hundred acres of which is in a good state of cultivation, nine acres of it being devoted to the raising of hops.

Mr. Skaife married, in Summerville, Ore., Lenona May Settlemier, who was born in Al- bany, July 17, 1872, daughter of Alexander and Linnie (Allen) Settlemier, the former a native of Illinois, who came to Oregon across the plains in 1852, and located on the Pudding river, becoming a pioneer settler of that part of the state. Politically Mr. Skaife strongly advocates the principles promulgated by the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of Silver- ton Lodge, No. 45, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star.

MICHAEL SKAIFE. A farm that never fails to attract the attention of the passerby is one located three miles south of Silverton, Marion county, Ore., belonging to Michael Skaife, into the' improvement of which he has put the un- wearied strength and eager effort of a man who tills the soil from a love of it, and not from necessity. He was reared to the life of a miller, that being the trade of his father, Robert Skaife, a native of Yorkshire, England, born October 26, 1818. Emigrating to the United States in 1840, the father settled near Dubuque, Iowa, where he engaged in farming till about 1846, after which he removed to Grant county, Wis. In the spring of 1850 he removed again to his farm near Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1857 removed to Jackson county, Iowa, where he engaged in the milling business. In 1867 he came to Ore- gon, sailing from New York to the Isthmus of Panama, and on the Pacific side stopping at

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San Francisco on his way to Portland. He first settled at Salem, where he worked at his trade for a short time, soon, however, changing his residence to Polk county. After a period of twelve or thirteen years spent in this county, he removed to Silverton, Marion county, where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife, Jane Skaife, also a native of Yorkshire, England, born June 9, 1818, had borne him eight children, named in order of birth as follows: Joseph, born August 22, 1841 ; Emma, born June 6, 1839, and John G., deceased, born December 29. 1842, the latter dying while serving in Company I, Twenty-fourth Iowa Regiment during the Civil war; Michael, of this review; Thomas, of Sil- verton ; Jennie, born July 25, 1850, and Mary A., born June 1, 1855, also deceased; and Jasper, born December 19, 1861, now living in Colfax, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Skaife were devoted mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being very active in church work. The death of these old people, occurring to each in their eightieth year, was a loss mourned by many.

Michael Skaife was born April 18, 1845, in Dubuque county, Iowa. He received his early education in the district schools, later attending a high school and a business college. From his father he learned the milling business, following it steadily from 1867 to 1885. The last eight years in which he was engaged in this business he spent at Silverton, where with his brothers, Thomas and Jasper, he conducted the mills of that place. There in 1878 he married Miss Anna Schnackenberg, a native of Missouri, born Ant- gust 28, 1858, who had come with her parents to Oregon in 1876. Four children blessed their union, their names in order of birth being as follows : Roy A., Bennie M., Robert Guy and Mary J. The two last named are now deceased.

In 1887 Mr. Skaife moved his family to the farm where he now lives, three miles south of Sil- verton, the place containing three hundred and twenty acres, one hundred and ninety of which are under cultivation. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He is also interested in hop cultivation, having twenty-six acres de- voted to this plant, which in 1902 produced nearly seven tons. Mr. Skaife further improved his property by erecting a handsome, modern house.

In public affairs Mr. Skaife has always taken a prominent place, serving as mayor of Silverton and in minor offices, also as school clerk and member of the board of education. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Daughters of Rebekah, having passed all the chairs, and also filled one appointive office in the grand lodge. Mr. Skaife has proven himself an able and earnest citizen whose broad- est aim is to assist in the upbuilding of the

country's prosperity. His success is seen, not only in the well tilled fields of his farm, but also in the general esteem in which he is held by the men with whom his associations have lain for so many years. When the brothers located in Silverton there were but two hundred and fifty inhabitants, and they built up the milling busi- ness and also extended the railroad to their mill, and in other ways liberally contributed to all movements that advanced the interests of the city and people.

ANDREW G. STEELHAMMER. Many of the most thriving and enterprising agriculturists and business men of Marion county have come from the land beyond the sea, and of this number Mr. Steelhammer is a worthy representative. The second child in a family consisting of two sons and a daughter, he was born in Carlstadt, Sweden, January 6, 1847, and was there reared and educated. After leaving school, he worked as a puddler in the iron works of his native town until 1869, when he emigrated to America, a land supposed to be flowing with milk and honey.

Arriving in the United States, Mr. Steelham- mer located first near New Boston, Ill., where he worked as a farm hand about three months, when he joined a harvesting gang, which he fol- lowed through northern Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. The ensuing year he was employed in the construction department of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, laying rails for a year. Settling in Winona, Minn., in 1871, he served as an apprentice at the carriagemaker's trade, which he followed in that place for ten years. Going then, in 1881, to North Dakota, he was there engaged in blacksmithing for ten years, when he followed the tide of emigration westward to the state of Washington, where he stayed about two months. Early in 1892, Mr. Steelhammer came to Silverton, Ore., and at once established himself as a blacksmith, meet- ing with signal success from the first. He has since purchased twenty-eight acres of land, one half of it adjoining city property, and has ma- terially improved his purchase by the erection of a fine residence on the hill overlooking the city of Silverton. He has further utilized his land by devoting three acres of it to the raising of prunes, and eight acres to the raising of hops.

At Winona, Minn., in 1871, Mr. Steelhammer was united in marriage with Miss Christina An- derson, who was born and reared in Norway, living there until 1869, when she came to the United States, settling in Winona, Minn. Of their union the following named children have been born: John F., a resident of Salem, Ore .; Carl G., deceased ; Helma, wife of A. P. Allen, San Francisco, Cal .; Oscar Adolph, connected

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with the Military Band at Salem, Ore .; Louie R., of Salem, Ore .; Artie E., living at home; George W., at home; and William H., living with his parents, plays in the Silverton band.

Mr. Steelhammer is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in political affairs, attending all local and county conventions. He is prominent in fraternal cir- cles, being a member and past master of Silver- ton Lodge No. 45, A. F. & A. M .; Ramona Chapter No. 58, Eastern Star ; past grand of the Silver Lodge No. 21, I. O. O. F .; and past chief in the Ridgley Encampment.

FRANK VAN WESSENHOVE. Farm- ing and mining have been followed by Frank Van Wessenhove with equal success, al- though he undoubtedly would give the prefer- ence to farming, in which he has been con- tinuously engaged since 1859. This indus- trious and exemplary farmer is one of the many who have come from the little country of Belgium and identified their special abil- ities with the upbuilding of this fortunate nook of the world. He was born on a farm not far from Brussels, March 8, 1841, and was but three years of age when his parents embarked in a sailing vessel for American shores, reaching their destination after many weeks of storm and calm. The parents located in Monroe county, Mich., where the son Frank grew to manhood, and where he secured a fair education in the public schools.

Of all the youth in the farmer families of Monroe county none listened more attentively to the accounts of wealth in the west than did Frank Van Wessenhove, then approaching eighteen years of age. Accordingly, he made preparation to cross the plains in a train of emigrants in 1859, and located the first winter in Portland. In the spring of 1860 he came to the French Prairie, in Marion county, and after living on a farm for a year tried his luck in the mines of Idaho. He was fairly success- ful in the latter enterprise, and upon returning to Marion county located on a rented farm near Gervais, where he lived until 1867. In the meantime, in 1863, he had married Ellen Coyle, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of James Coyle, who came to Oregon in 1853. locating in Yamhill county, whence he moved to St. Paul. He married Charlotte Scott, a native of Wisconsin, who died on the Platte river while crossing the plains. Mr. Coyle died at the home of Mr. Van Wessenhove in 1897. In 1867 Mr. Van Wessenhove and his wife located on the farm which has since been the family home, and which is located one mile from Champoeg. Of this first marriage

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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 138

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