Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 141

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 141

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Rev. Starr is entitled to more than passing mention among the early settlers of Benton county, for his influence was a broad and human- itarian one, and was not only exerted in favor of agriculture and stock-raising, hut extended to educational and moral development. He was known as "Uncle John," and his home was always open to whomsoever might come that way, no matter what his need or mission. He was the first local preacher in Benton county, or indeed anywhere around this section, and he was never too weary to go on a long journey to perform marriage ceremonies, to bury the dead, or comfort the living. Strong, sincere and fear- less, he was an inspiration in the early and lawless days, and many a discouraged pioneer has been turned towards more hopeful things by the force of his eloquence, and the honesty of his convictions. He was one of the promoters and builders of Simpson's chapel, the first place of worship in this vicinity. Rev. Starr lived to be seventy-four years old, and the wife who had shared his lifework for so many years, and who had so faithfully reared her large family of children to be noble and helpful men and women, survived him until eighty-three years old.

CAPT. MELANCTHON W. HUNT. Af- ter many years of arduous professional labor as one of the leading representatives of the bar of Oregon, Capt. M. W. Hunt retired in the spring of 1902, to his farm of two hundred and sixty acres near Whitaker, Marion county, where he contemplates devoting the remainder of his life to the less strenuous occupation of agricul-

ture. Though still a comparatively young man, Captain Hunt had risen to a position of distinc- tion at the bar before deciding to lay down the cares his practice imposed upon him, and those most familiar with his character and ability, in- herent and cultivated, express the opinion that his attainment of high political office would have been dependent solely upon his own desires in the matter, had he cared to remain in professional and public life.

Capt. M. W. Hunt was born on a farm in the Waldo hills, Marion county,' April 14, 1860, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Smith) Hunt, pioneer settlers of the Willamette Val- ley. (An extended sketch of the Hunt family will be found elsewhere in this work.) His elementary education was acquired in the public schools in his neighborhood. At the age of seventeen years he entered Willamette Univer- sity, remaining a student in that institution from the fall of 1877 to the spring of 1880, when he returned to his home upon the farm. Soon after leaving college Captain Hunt decided to enter upon a military career, and enlisted as a private in the United States Heavy Artillery. He was assigned for duty with Battery B, First United States Artillery, and was stationed at Fort Point, San Francisco, for about a year. At this station the accidental discharge of a gun disabled his left hand, incapacitating him for further duty, and he was honorably discharged and permitted to return to his home. October 8, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie G. Mc- Monies, the daughter of John and Mary J. (Ros- siter) McMonies, all natives of Canada. Mrs. Hunt's parents are now residents of Portland. Two years later, in 1886, Captain Hunt re- moved to Salem for the purpose of qualifying himself for the practice of law, a profession for which he had for some time entertained a prefer- ence. For two years he studied in the office of S. T. Richardson, and after being admitted to the bar in 1888, entered into partnership with S. L. Hayden. Six months later he entered into a similar relationship with W. H. Pratt, now of Kansas, and subsequently this firm consolidated its interests with those of the Hon. J. J. Shaw, under the firm name of Shaw, Pratt & Hunt. For several years thereafter this firm was recog- nized as one of the strongest in Oregon, and conducted many cases which became celebrated in the annals of jurisprudence in the Willamette Valley.

In recognition of his profound knowledge of the law and his excellent judgment in the appli- cation of its principles to the cases intrusted to his charge during the years of his practice, Cap- tain Hunt was appointed attorney for the Oregon State Land Board in 1891, filling the post with credit to himself and conserving the best in-

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terests of his client, the people, until his resigna- tion and retirement from practice in 1902. Prior to this period he had received from President McKinley, in July, 1889, an appointment as a member of the board of United States commis- sioners for Alaska, there being three other mem- bers of the body. After serving in this capacity for three months he resigned. For two terms he served as a member of the Salem city council, taking an active interest in the promotion of those projects calculated to enhance the ma- terial advantages of the city. He was also deep- ly interested in the military organization of the state. In 1884 he enlisted as a member of Com- pany C, First Regiment of the Oregon State Militia, and was elected captain of that company. Upon the reorganization of the militia, in July, 1884, as the National Guard, he was commis- sioned captain of Company C, Second Regiment, serving until 1886, when he resigned and went to Salem. In July, 1887, he was commissioned second lieutenant of Company B, Second Regi- ment, O. N. G., and on August 2, 1887, was pro- moted first lieutenant and adjutant Second Regi- ment, O. N. G., and on November 29, 1889, was commissioned captain of Company B, Second Regiment, O. N. G., and on April 29, 1890, to the position of lieutenant colonel of the same regi- ment. In December, 1893, he resigned and went back to the ranks, and on February 21, 1894, was commissioned second lieutenant of Company B, Second Regiment, O. N. G., and in March, 1894, was promoted to a lieutenant colonecy on the staff of Governor Lord, remaining in this capac- ity throughout the terms of Governors Lord and Geer, a period of nine years.

Captain Hunt has always been a Republican, and has been actively interested in the success of his party in the local, state and national elec- tions. Fraternally he is identified with Salem Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and with Mult- nomah Chapter No. I, R. A. M.

The decision of Captain Hunt to retire from the practice of law brought with it a distinct loss to the bar of the state. Few men of his years have been so successful in their profes- sional labors, and none had a higher standing among his contemporaries or with the laity than he. Unquestioned integrity marked his con- duct of all causes which he espoused, and no charge of questionable tactics was ever laid against him, even by innuendo. He is a man possessed of a masterful mind, quick to grasp the essential points, pro and con, in any case, a forcible pleader, never resorting to those tricks in practice which are too common among the exponents of this branch of science. Though now permanently retired from active practice his work has not been forgotten, as he is still spoken of as one of the brilliant minds which

have adorned the bar of Oregon. Captain Hunt's family consists of his wife and four children, the names of the children being as follows : George M .; Percy C .; Homer and Gertrude E., all of whom are at home with their parents.

M. P. BURNETT. The present sheriff of Benton county comes of a family of whom much is expected, a precedent for great accom- plishment having been established many years ago, and faithfully maintained by successive bearers of the name. From their firmly knit and substantially endowed ranks has stepped forth Peter H. Burnett, the first governor of California, who undertook the responsibilities of his position under the most unfavorable and trying circumstances, but who, with the help of able men around him, managed to weather the storm of opposition and enmity created by jealousies and to overcome the difficulties en- countered because of an empty exchequer. As is well known, the state of California began administrative business without a cent in its treasury, and at the time owned neither ink- stand, pen, nor yet a ream of paper. That the financial stringency was lifted, and appropria- tions forthcoming, was due largely to the tact and forbearance, as well as financial and ex- ecutive ability of the pioneer occupant of the gubernatorial chair.

Several of the brothers of Governor Burnett came to the coast, nearly all of them having been born in Clay county, Mo. Among the brothers was James White Burnett, the father of M. P., the sheriff of Benton county ; Thomas, who died in California; William, who died in McMinnville, and who was the father of Judge George Burnett; Glen O., and Horace, who died in California. James White Burnett, a native of Clay county, Mo., crossed the plains in '49, engaged in mining for some time, and then operated a farm in Colusa county, Cal. He came to Oregon in 1867, settling in the Chehalem valley, Washington county, where he engaged in farming, and from where he removed to near Bethel, Polk county. At a later period he lived at The Dalles, but re- turned to near Bethel, Polk county, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He was a member of the Christian Church, and a Demo- crat in political affiliation. In his young man- hood he married Sarah J. Turner, who was born in Fayette, Mo., January 4, 1828, and now lives in Corvallis, and whose father, Thomas Turner, was born at Lexington, Ky., in 1797, and was an early settler in the state of Missouri. Mrs. Burnett is the mother of four sons and seven daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters are living, M. P.

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being the second son. Of the daughters, Flor- ence is living in Crook county, Ore .; Lulu is living in California; and Mattie is a resident of Corvallis.

M. P. Burnett, sheriff of Benton county, was born in Colusa county, Cal., August II, 1861, and when seven years of age came over the mountains with his parents to Oregon, travel- ing by means of ox-teams. Although he has made his own way in the world since twelve years of age, he has succeeded in acquiring an excellent education, studying not only in the public schools but at the academies at Bethel and La Creole. At first his remuneration from a business standpoint was extremely meagre, working on a farm until the age of twenty-one, when he began as clerk in McCoy, receiving $10 per month, out of which he had to board himself. Six months later the merchant with whom he was employed came to Corvallis, and his competent clerk accompanied him, making no arrangement, however, in regard to wages. At the end of the year he was presented with $50 per month, and as time went on he became practically the head of the establishment, man- aging its affairs and doing the entire buying. At the expiration of four or five years he sev- ered his relations to engage in business for himself, and after successfully conducting a cigar store for some time he was offered the position of managing a store closed out by the administrator. Later he engaged as clerk for Jacobs & Nugos for a year, and then for J. M. Nolan, and finally became identified perma- nently with Z. H. Davis, with whom he re- mained for six years, making a splendid record as a business man and faithful employe.

In 1890 Mr. Burnett was elected county treasurer by a large majority, and re-elected in 1892, serving until July, 1894. In July, 1896, he became deputy sheriff under Peter Rickard, and after serving thus for four years was elected sheriff by a majority of one hundred and twenty-six. In 1902 he was re-elected by a majority of three hundred and seventeen, the county at that time having a Republican ma- jority of two hundred. In order to have his affairs in perfect order, and that he may un- derstand about everything connected with his responsibility, Mr. Burnett keeps his own books, and attends to all of the business him- self. He is well equipped to serve as sheriff, having a keen knowledge of human nature, a great fund of good nature, perfect command of himself at all times and under all circum- stances, and absolute fearlessness.

Since living in Corvallis Mr. Burnett has married Minnie Huffman, who was born in Benton county, Ore., and who is the mother of two children, Leo, aged fourteen years, and

a baby unnamed. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Burnett became a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Bethel, and he is now a member of Corvallis Lodge No. 7. He is also identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Knights of Pythias.

FRANK J. MILLER. Albany is the home of many of the leading enterprises that are building up and adding to the importance of Linn county as an industrial center, and among the men that are actively identified with the establishment and development of these industries Frank J. Miller, secretary of the Albany Iron Works, oc- cupies a position of influence. A man of ener- getic ability and keen foresight, he has met with much success in his various undertakings, and is one of the popular and esteemed residents of Albany. A native of Ohio, he was born Septem- ber 6, 1857, in Dallas, now Ansonia, Darke county, a son of Albert S. Miller.

Born in Massachusetts, Albert S. Miller comes from sturdy Puritan stock. Remaining in the old Bay state until twenty-three years of age, he there learned the trade of bridge building, and then removed to Ohio, where he was for a num- ber of years superintendent of bridge building on different railways. During the Civil war he of- fered his services to his country, but on being ex- amined, was rejected. Coming to Oregon in 1873, he lived first in Lebanon, Linn county, then in Eugene, Lane county, engaged as a bridge builder and contractor. When the first railway was built through the valley, he accepted the con- tract for building the bridges between Roseburg and the Rogue River valley. He subsequently had charge of the construction of the bridges, east of Portland, for the Oregon Railroad & Naviga- tion Company, and on the completion of the road embarked in mercantile business in Portland, in which he continued until his retirement from ac- tive pursuits. He is now living at Grant's Pass, Josephine county, a hale and hearty man, eighty- two years old. He is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the de- gree of R. A. M. He married Cecilia Harris, who was born in Ohio, in 1821, of French an- cestry, and the daughter of an early settler of that state. She died in Portland, Ore., in December, 1883. Five children were born of their union, namely: Mrs. Nellie Burgess, who died in Sa- lem, Ore .; Harry B., formerly a manufacturer and merchant at Grant's Pass, is now United States Consul at Niuchwang, China; Frank J., the subject of this review; Leroy, who died in Ohio; and Albert, who passed away in Portland.

Obtaining his elementary education in the pub- lic schools of Ohio, Frank J. Miller remained in

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Toledo until he came with his parents to Oregon. On the opening of the University of Oregon, he entered the first class, and there continued his studies three years, leaving the institution during his senior year on account of the removal of the family to Salem. Becoming familiar with the trade of bridge building when young, he assisted his father in the construction of many of the bridges on the O. & C. Railroad. In the fall of 1883, Mr. Miller entered into business as a bridge contractor on his own account, and during the two years that he was thus engaged, built bridges for counties and cities in Oregon. Washington and Idaho. The ensuing two years he acted as agent for the San Francisco Bridge Company, which he represented throughout the northwest, from 1885 until 1887. He was subsequently as- sociated with bridge constructing on the C. & E. Railroad for a while, and then became superin- tendent of bridges and buildings on the O. P. R. R., a position that he retained three years. After working at bridge building for a short time, he then accepted the appointment of secretary of the Oregon State Board of Railroad Commission- ers, which he held two years, from 1891 to 1893, his headquarters being in Salem.

During the year 1892-93, he was supervising engineer for Albany for the building of the Al- bany steel bridge, which, with approaches, reaches nearly one-half mile in length.

Purchasing an interest in the Albany Iron Works in 1892, Mr. Miller served as president of the company several years, and is now its secre- tary and treasurer. When he entered the firm, its business was comparatively unimportant, but has rapidly increased, and has now control of all the iron work required on the C. & E. R. R., and on the Oregon & Southeastern Railway. The com- pany also makes a specialty of manufacturing heavy saw-mill machinery, carrying on an excep- tionally large business in that line, furnishing many of the mills in Oregon with machinery and supplies. The buildings connected with the works cover four full lots, and in the shops twenty-five men are kept constantly employed. Mr. Miller has also other interests, with his brother owning, at Grant's Pass, a thirteen hun- dred acre ranch, which is devoted to agriculture and horticulture, much hay, grain and fruit being produced each year.

Mr. Miller was married in Eugene, Ore., De- cember 1, 1880, to Miss Maggie Gray, who was born, reared and educated in Eugene. Her father, Hon. J. G. Gray, for many years a promi- nent merchant in that city, was for sixteen years county treasurer of Lane county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children, Lena. Inez and Nellie Gray, students at Albany College, and J. Franklin. Mr. Miller is promi- nent in Masonic circles, and is a member and

past master of St. John's Lodge No. 62, A. F. & A. M .; past high priest of Bayley Chapter No. 8, R. A. M .; illustrious master of Adoniram Coun- cil No. 4, R. & S. M. ; past eminent commander of Temple Commandery No. 3, K. T .; is grand master of Third Vail in the Grand Chapter of Oregon; is grand junior warden of the Grand Commandery of Oregon; is a member of Al Kader Temple, N. M. S., of Portland; and is an officer in the Order of High Priesthood. Socially he is a member of the Alco Club. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, and for many years has been one of its trustees, serv- ing two terms as chairman of the board, and is now serving as president of the board of trustees of Albany College. He is actively and promi- nently identified with the Republican party, and has rendered good service as a delegate to county and state conventions.

MRS. MAHALA F. TURNER. Continuing in the work which her husband laid down at the summons of death Mrs. M. F. Turner is carry- ing on the routine of a general farm and stock- raising business with the success which always characterizes the methods and plans of one who has made a thorough and far-reaching study of agricultural pursuits. She is located upon a farm of two hundred and twenty acres six miles north- east of Harrisburg, Linn county, this being a part of the donation claim which her husband's father made in the early history of the country, and which became the property of her son, G. H. Turner, through her husband's purchase of his childhood's home.

Mrs. Turner was before marriage Mahala F. Cochran, her father being William Cochran, who was born in Madison county, Ky., November 20, 1813, his principal occupation on attaining man- hood being that of stock-raising. He married Ollie Johnson, a native of Putnam county, Mo., having been born there September 6, 1813, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and in 1847 they outfitted for the trip across the plains, bringing their worldly wealth to Oregon in a six months' jour- ney with ox-teams. In the fall of the same year they located on Molalla river in Clackamas coun- ty, where they remained for two years, after which, in 1849, they became residents of Linn county. Here Mr. Cochran took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, located one mile north of Brownsville, which remained the home of the family for many years. In 1889 Mr. Cochran removed to San Jose, Cal., near which he lived retired until 1898, when he returned north and located permanently in Albany, in which city he lived until January 24, 1900, when he went to the home of Mrs. M. F. Turner, where he remained until his death, which occurred Au-

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gust 4, 1901, and his last resting place is in Al- bany cemetery beside his last wife, who died January 7, 1900. He was married four times, his first wife having died September 12, 1854, in their home near Brownsville. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the ninth in order of birth was Mahala F., born in Putnam county, Mo., July 14, 1846.

The early education of Mahala F. Cochran was received in the common schools at Brownsville, beyond which she has no recollection, as she was but one year old when the journey was made to their new home. When only seventeen years old she became the wife of Francis M. Rice, who had crossed the plains in 1852 and located three miles west of Brownsville. After her marriage her home was eight miles southeast of Harris- burg for a period of three years, after which, in 1866, they moved to a farm adjoining that on which she now lives, where her husband's death occurred in 1880. In this same location Mrs. Rice remained until her second marriage, which occurred October 12, 1887, uniting her with Thomas Turner. Mr. Turner was born in Indi- ana, January 16, 1835, and when he was seven- teen years old crossed the plains with his father, the latter of whom took up the donation claim before mentioned in 1852. This Thomas Turner bought of his father and made it the home for his wife and son George, at the time of his death owning three hundred and sixty acres. He died February 7, 1900, at the home place. Mr. Turner's life had been one of active interests, eight years of which, between 1854 and 1862, he passed in the gold mines of southern Oregon, and as a Democrat in politics he had always taken an active interest in every movement cal- culated to advance the tide of civilization and im- prove the conditions of his own community. He served variously as road supervisor and school director. He was a member of the Christian Church at Harrisburg, where his wife now holds membership.

Of the seven children born to Mrs. Turner, six by the first union and one by the last, Farmer J. is located on the adjoining farm; Rettie is de- ceased; Archer is at Ione, Morrow county, Ore. ; William is at Northport, Wash .; Mahala is the wife of T. J. Rogers, of Harrisburg ; Frances M. is the wife of C. D. Bucknum, of Junction City ; and George H., the son by the last marriage, is still at home with his mother.

CASPER ZIEROLF. The name of Zierolf is a well known one in Oregon, its two representa- tives being men of the highest moral character, supplemented by good business ability and pro- nounced capacity for industry. Peter Zicrolf. a resident of Corvallis, is the youngest, and

Casper, of whom this sketch makes men- tion, is the oldest of the six children in his father's family. His birth occurred in Boston, Mass., 'December 8, 1840, his parents having settled there after coming from their na- tive land of Bavaria, Germany. The family later removed to Medina county, Ohio, and from there to Henry county, where the father lived to be sixty-five and the mother sixty-three years of age. Both are buried in a little Ohio churchyard, where they were laid to rest by their well loved children, who honored them for the practical and conscientious training which they had given them. The father was a rope-maker by trade, but, though he followed that in Bavaria, he de- voted his energies entirely to farming in his adopted country. Besides Peter and Casper, al- ready mentioned, are Mary, who is the wife of John Whitaker of this vicinity, and William, who is living in Ohio.

In his youth Casper Zierolf had ambitions not entirely centered in farming, for while still quite young he served an apprenticeship to a brewer, and followed that business for about four years. The breaking out of the Civil war offered an opportunity for action which was thoroughly ap- preciated in a hitherto uneventful existence, and April 13, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Four- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was mustered in at Defiance, Ohio. The regi- ment was first sent to Virginia, and in their order took part in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill, Cheat Mountain and Carrick's Ford, in which last engagement Mr. Zierolf was wounded and forthwith returned to his home, his term of serv- ice having expired. Not satisfied with his com- paratively short service he re-enlisted in Com- pany E, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and after being mustered in at Toledo was sent to Harper's Ferry to join the Ninth Army Corps. After the memorable battle at the Ferry he was transferred to the Twenty- third Army Corps of the Western Army, sent to Louisville, Ky., Bowling Green and Murfrees- boro, and later to Frankfort, Ky. From east Tennessee he went to join Sherman in his march to the sea, and at Atlanta Mr. Zierolf was wound- ed and sent to the hospital. Later he was sent to Camp Dennison and mustered out, immediately returning to his home in Ohio, where he rested, and then continued his association with the brew- ery

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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 141

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