Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 145

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 145

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their backs, proceeded on foot to their destination in Oregon City.

In the primitive community of Oregon City Reuben Lewis helped build a mill, and February 14, 1844, married Polly Frazier, who, with her mother and step-father, John McHaley, had crossed the plains in 1843. With his newly wedded wife he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres one and a half miles northwest of Aumsville, and erected a rude log house 16x16 feet, ground dimensions. In this primitive house Abner Lewis was born Decem- ber 10, 1846, the second of the nine children born to his parents. His older brother, William H., resides in Ohio; Newton lives at Gates, Ore; John is a farmer near Aumsville; Melinda is the widow of J. Chambers of Turner, Ore; Nelson died when quite young; Mary A., deceased, was the wife of Charles Bowie; Frank is a resident of Pendleton ; and Sarah died September 10, 1881.

In the early days his father took a keen inter- est in his crude surroundings, and while cutting down his timber and getting his land in shape for the seed looked out also for the general im- provement of the locality. He took a special interest in laying out roads, in establishing schools, and erecting churches, and he was a man of untiring industry and great business judg- ment. Necessarily he had to contend with the encroaching Indians, and he took an active part in the early efforts to exterminate the murderous red men. At the age of seventy-five years, April 6, 1886, this pioneer of pioneers passed quietly from life, leaving behind a fair competency for those dear to him, and the legacy of a good name earned by industry and integrity. His wife had preceded him to the unknown July 14, 1862, at the comparatively early age of thirty-five. Both were members of the Christian Church. Mr. Lewis took no very active interest in politics, probably because there was little political agita- tion in his neighborhood. He favored statehood for Oregon, and used his influence and vote in behalf of the movement toward that end.

The success of his father enabled Abner Lewis to start out in life with a better education than falls to the lot of the average farm-reared youth, for he not only studied at the district schools. but received supplementary training at the Will- amette University. He remained at home until his marriage, December 12, 1869, with Margaret A. Baker. a native of the vicinity of Turner, Marion county, Ore. Soon after he purchased a part of the farm upon which he has lived most of the time since, and which is now increased to two hundred and forty acres of land in the home farm. Mr. Lewis is also the owner of eighty acres near Aumsville, and one hundred and five acres seven miles south of

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Salem. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has some of the finest and best- improved property in Marion county. A practi- cal and scientific farmer, he stands at the head of his calling in his neighborhood, keeping abreast of the time in agricultural and general matters, and contributing in every way in his power to the stability and upbuilding of his district. Of the children born to himself and wife, Emma was born December 8, 1870, and died October 3, 1883; Albert is a resident of Portland, and was born April 27, 1872; Elmer was born Feb- ruary 7, 1874, and lives in Idaho; Oren Edwin, was born January 7, 1876, and lives south of Salem; Julius was born July 1, 1877, and lives in southern Oregon; Carl was born April 28, 1879, and is deceased ; Clifford, a school teacher, was born April 6, 1881 ; and Floyd was born August 3, 1885.

Mr. Lewis has been a member of the school board for many years, and his appreciation of the value of a good education has made him an earn- est advocate of a high standard of intellectual training. Mr. Lewis has always been a supporter of the principles of the Republican party and active in the councils of that party. In June, 1897, he was elected to the state legislature representing Marion county and serving in the special session of October, 1897. when he sup- ported Hon. Joseph Simon for the United States senate. He also served in the regular session following and was appointed a member of the committees on assessment and taxation, roads and highways, public library, and was chairman of the committee to examine the accounts of the secretary of state.

HON. J. H. ACKERMAN is now serving for the second term as State Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction in Oregon, and the fact that he was re-elected by an increased majority stands as incontrovertible evidence of his capability and his effective labors in behalf of education. He was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, Novem- ber 7, 1854, and is of German lineage. His pa- ternal grandfather spent his entire life in Ger- many, and his father, John Ackerman, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade and when a young man, prior to his marriage, he emigrated to the new world, settling in Warren, Ohio, where he engaged in blacksmithing until 1855. In that year he removed to Toronto, Clinton county, Iowa, where as a pioneer blacksmith of the place he carried on business with success until 1900. He then established his home in Hale, Mo .. where he is now living a retired life. Twice he volunteered for service in the Civil war, but each time was rejected on account of disability.

In religious faith both he and his wife are Luth- erans, and in political belief he is a Republican. He wedded Caroline Hartman, a native of Trum- bull county, Ohio, and a daughter of Philip Hart- man, who came from Germany and settled upon a farm in Trumbull county. Subsequently he took up his abode at Arcadia, Trempealeau county, Wis., where he carried on agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Ackerman, the mother of our subject, died in Iowa, leaving four children : J. H., of this review ; George, a farmer of Mis- souri ; Frank, a merchant of Black Hawk county, Iowa, and Mrs. Virginia Sennett, of Missouri.

Professor Ackerman was reared in Toronto, Iowa, and in his youth acquired a public school education. From the age of sixteen years he has made his own way in the world and is truly a self-made man. At that time he began work upon a farm and between the ages of seventeen and twenty he followed carpenter work on rail- roads in Iowa and Illinois. Then came the finan- cial panic of 1873, and his employer, who had just taken a contract for building a section of the Northern Pacific Railroad, found that the company had failed and the work was abandoned. Accordingly Professor Ackerman lost his position and in 1874 he went to Arcadia, Wis., where he had an uncle engaged in contracting and build- ing. While there his uncle advised him to go to school and his teacher suggested to him that he should teach. The county superintendent per- suaded him to take an examination and he did so, thereby receiving a certificate in the spring of 1875. He became a district school teacher at a salary of $25 per month and thus he entered upon what has been his lifework-a profession in which he has attained distinction, while his labors have been a great benefit to the localities in which he has lived. He continued to teach in the dis- trict schools near Arcadia, Wis., and afterward in Minnesota and Iowa until 1888 and during that period was principal of the high school at Arcadia for six years. Wishing to receive better instruction himself, he then took an examination for entrance into the State Normal School at Milwaukee, Wis. His knowledge had been sup- plemented by reading, observation and study, but previous to this time he had received no mental training, save that of a district school course. However, he was graduated from the Wisconsin State Normal in 1889 and in that year he came to Oregon, locating first in Portland, where he accepted the principalship of the Holladay school. For a year he thus served and was then elected city superintendent of the schools for East Port- land. After a year the schools were consolidated with those of the main city of Portland and he was made assistant superintendent. In 1892 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of county superintendent of schools of

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Multnomah county and was elected by a good majority. In 1894 he was re-elected, receiving the highest vote on the ticket and from 1894 until 1896 he not only served as county superintendent but also as principal of the Harrison Street school, and continued to act in that capacity until 1898. He was then nominated on the Republican ticket for state superintendent at the Astoria con- vention and was elected by a plurality of about ten thousand. In January, 1899, he took the oath of office and removed to Salem, where he is now living. Throughout the state he received the endorsement of leading educators and public men of all classes, and in 1902 he was re-nominated and re-elected by a majority of nearly fifteen thousand, his term of office continuing until January, 1907.

Since becoming state superintendent Professor Ackerman has re-organized the State Teachers' Association and divided it into the eastern and western divisions, each having its individual or- ganization and officers, while before there had been but one society, with the superintendent of public instruction as its president. He originated the preparation of a state course of study for all of the schools of Oregon, so that there is now a uniform course from the introduction into the schools until the completion of the high school work. During his administration he has also been instrumental in obtaining a thorough revis- ion of the school laws of the state. He is a mem- ber of the National Educational Association, and has served as representative from Oregon to its conventions and was one of its trustees. He is a member of the State Historical Society, of which he is a trustee. By virtue of his position he is ex-officio member of the board of regents of the State Normal schools at Monmouth, Drain and Ashland; also of the State Agricultural Col- lege of Corvallis. He is likewise ex-officio mem- ber of the board of trustees of the State School for the Blind at Salem, and of the State School for the Deaf at Salem. During his incumbency in office Professor Ackerman has twice visited every county in the state, except Curry, has done much to infuse his own enthusiasm and deep in- terest in the work into those who are promoters of educational work and advancement through- out the state.

In Arcadia, Wis., occurred the marriage of Professor Ackerman and Miss Ellen Boorman, a native of that state, while her parents were from Illinois. They have three children: Lilian, who was graduated from the University of Oregon with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and is now Mrs. Carlton, of Albany, Ore .; Mrs. Caroline Burton, who is a graduate of the Portland high school, and is serving as chief clerk in the office of the state superintendent of public instruction ; and Isabella. Fraternally, Mr. Ackerman was

for some time connected with Arcadia Lodge, No. 45, A. F. & A. M., but now holds membership in Washington Lodge, No. 46, of Portland, of which he is a past master. He took the royal arch degree in Washington Chapter R. A. M. of Portland. Both he and Mrs. Ackerman are mem- bers of the Eastern Star, of which he is past worthy patron of Martha Washington Chapter. They hold membership in the Unitarian Church.

Professor Ackerman has always given his po- litical endorsement to the Republican party. There is no interest which is more closely allied to every household than that of public education, and it is therefore of the greatest moment that he who stands at the head of the educational sys- tem of the state shall be a man of high scholar- ship, of strong mentality and of irreproachable character. Such a one is Professor Ackerman, whose advancement to the prominent position which he now occupies has been steady and well merited. He has ever been a student, thorough and painstaking, and is not only ready to quickly follow every idea or improvement ad- vanced by others for the improvement of schools, but is also instituting many methods of reform and improvement of his own, and under his guidance the schools of Oregon have taken rank with those of the older states, and the citizens of Oregon have every reason to be proud of their educational system.

HARRY B. CLOUGH, M. D. Probably every state in the Union has sent representatives to Oregon, and among those that Vermont has furnished to the Sunset state is Dr. Harry B. Clough, who is now practicing his profession in Newberg. He was born near Montpelier, Vt., May 4, 1864, and is a son of Storrs S. Clough, also a native of the same state. His grand- father on the paternal side, Thaddeus Clough, was likewise born in the Green Mountain state, and throughout his entire life he followed agri- cultural pursuits. He represented an old New England family of Scotch descent that was founded in America by the great-grandparents of the doctor. In the control of his farming inter- ests Thaddeus Clough manifested perseverance, diligence and sagacity and as the years passed became the possessor of a very desirable compe- tence. He died at the age of seventy-two years.

Storrs S. Clough likewise turned his attention to farming, and in connection with the raising of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he also established a nursery upon his farm and to some extent he dealt in dairy products. He became the owner of a large and valuable tract of land and was a successful agriculturist. He married Jane Snyder, who was born in Hunting- ton, Vt., a daughter of John Snyder, whose birth

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occurred in New England and who in early life conducted a flouring-mill, while later he engaged in farming. He, too, enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity, and he lived to be seventy-eight years of age. When his country became involved in hostilities with England a second time he joined the American army, thus serving in the war of 1812.

Dr. Clough, of this review, was the youngest of a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. His boyhood days were spent in the Green Mountain state and he acquired his early education in the common schools, while later he was a student in the Vermont Methodist Semi- nary of Montpelier, being graduated in that in- stitution with the class of 1887. Going thence to Hanover, N. H., he was apprenticed to a pharmacist for two years, devoting his attention to the mastery of the business with such good re- sults that he was advanced from time to time by his employer until he became the head of the house. Such friendship did his employer enter- tain for him that he released him from his three years' contract and encouraged him to pursue a course in medicine. Acting upon this advice Dr. Clough entered the medical college at Dartmouth, where for six months he attended a course of lectures. At the end of that time he went to Bos- ton, Mass., where he entered the city hospital in order that he might earn the money which would enable him to resume his own studies. Owing to over-work there which undermined his constitu- tion he suffered from an attack of grip, and this changed his plans.

In the year 1891 Dr. Clough arrived upon the Pacific coast, locating first in Portland, where he remained for a few months, when he went to Moscow, Idaho, spending three years in that city. There he took up medical work again and afterward went to Louisville, Ky., entering the medical college of that city, in which he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of M. D. He also won the gold medal in the line of obstetrics and returned to Oregon with a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the principles of the medical science. Making his way direct to Port- land he there passed the examination before the state medical board and in the spring of 1897 he located in Yoncalla, Douglas county, Ore . where he engaged in practice for two years. In 1898 he removed to Whitman county, Wash., where he was engaged in practice for four years, and in August, 1902, he arrived in Newberg, where he opened an office and is now located.

Dr. Clough was married in Newberg, in 1893, to Miss Anise Brown, a native of Champaign county, Ill., and a daughter of John Brown, who was likewise born in Illinois, and came to Ore- gon in one of the first trains that crossed the con- tinent. He settled in the vicinity of Newberg and

has been a resident of the city for about thirty- nine years-classed among the honored pioneers who have been instrumental in developing their localities. Three children have been born to the doctor and his wife, but only one is now living, Dorothy, who is still with her parents. The doctor belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and gives his political support to the Re- publican party. He has a comfortable residence in Newberg. Near it is his office, which is cen- trally located on the main street of the city. In addition to his practice he owns a sixteenth in- terest in the Orient Gold & Copper Mining Com- pany, which was incorporated for $1,000,000, and which is a paying investment. His attention, however, is largely given to his practice and al- ready he has gained in Newberg a liberal patron- age, accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability. He has always been a close and discrim- inating student and his knowledge of the princi- ples of medicine is good.

Dr. Clough is a member of the Whitman County (Wash.) Medical Society, Washington State Medical Society, Yamhill County and the Oregon State Medical societies, and the Amer- ican Medical Association.

JOHN LICHTY. Prominently identified with the lumber interests of Marion county is Mr. Lichty, who owns and operates a large and finely equipped manufacturing plant on Silver creek, in Silverton, where he carries on an exten- sive and prosperous business. During the many years in which he has been engaged in this indus- try he has labored unceasingly, gaining wisdom by practical experience, and has now reached the point where every effort put forth brings him in rich reward for the time and money so lavishly expended.

A native of Switzerland, Mr. Lichty was born December 21, 1852, in the canton of Berne, and was there reared and educated. His father, also named John Lichty, spent his entire life in the same canton, being a successful farmer and stock-raiser and one of the active members of the Mennonite Church. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Lark, eight chil- dren were born, John, with whom this brief sketch is principally concerned, being the second in order of birth. Neither of the parents are now living, the father having passed away at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother when sixty- three years of age.

John Lichty became familiar with agricultural pursuits in his youthful days, remaining at home and assisting his father in the farm labors until about nineteen years old. Filled then with an ambitious desire to try his fortune in a newer

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country, he emigrated, in 1872, to the United States, and located first in Wayne county, Ohio, where he served an apprenticeship at the car- penter's trade, which he followed for four years. Making another move westward in 1876, Mr. Lichty came to Oregon in that year, and being impressed with the desirability of Howells Prairie as a place of location, he there purchased ninety acres of timberland, from which he im- proved and cleared a good farm. As an agricul- turist he has been unusually successful, from time to time adding to his original purchase, his farm now aggregating three hundred and sixty acres, and being one of the most valuable and well kept in its vicinity. Here he and his family have a most attractive home. In 1890, Mr. Lichty, with characteristic enterprise, erected a sawmill on Pudding river, and for twelve years was there engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Disposing then of that property, he immediately transferred his business interests to the city of Silverton, locating on Silver creek, where he has built one of the largest lumber mills in the Wil- lamette valley. The plant which includes a saw- mill, a planing mill, a dryer, etc., is fully equipped with the most approved modern machinery, the total cost being $20,000, and the capacity of the plant being 25,000 feet of lumber per day. He has also been fortunate in so fixing the dams in Silver creek that he can at any time, no matter how low the water, so manipulate the gates as to float his logs down to his mill, the damming expenses amounting to $7,000. He also owns sixteen hundred acres of timber land nearby, from this cutting much of the material used in his plant, the output of which he sells princi- pally in the local markets.

Mr. Lichty married at Wooster, Ohio, Eliza- beth Stefen, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 1. 1856, and died June 24, 1899. Eleven children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lichty, namely: Minnie, the wife of Gideon Welty, the family residing on the home farm; William, Henry, Matilda, Alexander, Bertha, Josephine, Lillian, Lida, Ruth and John. In politics Mr. Lichty has always been a Republican.

HEZEKIAH H. WINSLOW. Preceded by many years of activity as a merchant, farmer, dentist and politician, Hezekiah H. Winslow came to Oregon in 1886, and though agricultur- ally successful during several of the following vears, is now living retired on one of the finest little places in Newberg. Mr. Winslow has ten acres of land on the outskirts of the town, made attractive and homelike with a two-story, com- fortable-looking dwelling, surrounded with trees, shrubs and flowers.

The Oregon career of Mr. Winslow gives but a faint conception of the large accomplishment which has characterized his active life. He was reared in three middle western states, and was born in Randolph county, N. C., November 15, 1838. His father, John Winslow, preferred farm- ing as an occupation, and conducted the same for many years in his native state of North Caro- lina, removing in 1841 to Grant county, Ind., of which he was one of the very early settlers. In 1852 he took up his residence in Howard county, Ind., where he engaged in the merchandising business until 1870. At a later day he returned to Grant county, where he lived retired and eventually died, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife, Elizabeth (Henley) Winslow, was also a native of North Carolina, and died when her son Hezekiah was four years of age, be being the youngest of the five sons and three daughters in the family.

The first business experience of Hezekiah H. Winslow was acquired in Indianapolis, whither he removed at the age of seventeen, and where he was identified as a clerk with the firm of J. M. Tolbott & Co., wholesale dry goods merchants, from 1856 until 1859. Upon returning to How- ard county, Ind., in the latter part of '59, he was appointed deputy sheriff. a position creditably maintained until the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1861 Mr. Winslow enlisted in Com- pany D. Sixth Indiana Infantry, and for three months served as corporal of his company. After being mustered out he again enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company F, Eighty-ninth Indiana In- fantry, and upon the organization of the regiment was made sergeant-major. In the spring of 1863 he was promoted to the rank of second lieuten- ant, and for the greater part of the service was detailed at brigade headquarters as aid-de-camp. In 1864 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of Company F, but still remained on detail service. He participated in the Red river campaign under Gen. A. J. Smith, and was in the battle of Nashville, later going down the river to New Orleans and around to Mobile, Ala., where he was finally discharged, at the close of the war.

After the war Mr. Winslow returned to Indi- ana, and upon locating in Kokomo, studied dentistry with his brother, at the same time be- coming vitally interested in Republican politics. In 1866 he was defeated for the nomination for treasurer of Howard county by one vote, but was elected to the office of county clerk in 1867, a position creditably held for four years. He was elected a second time without opposition, and during his occupancy of this office for eight consecutive years gave a very satisfactory service. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster at Kokomo under Grant's last administration, and in 1879

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resigned in order to remove to a farm near In- dependence, Montgomery county, Kans. After years of successful farming he went to the vicin- ity of Liberty, Mo., and four years later, in the spring of 1886, came to Oregon to investigate the country with a view to future residence. Con- vinced that he had found a desirable location, one promising the largest financial and home- building returns, he went back to Missouri for his family, with whom he located on a farm in the Waldo hills the following fall. In 1887 he settled on a farm near Sheridan, Yamhill county, and in 1898 came to his present home, for which he traded his Yamhill county farm.

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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 145

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