Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 152

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 152

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politics, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a broad-minded and enterpris- ing citizen, and has contributed materially to the upbuilding of this prosperous little town.

LORENZO HARVEY LASSELL. The present mayor of Harrisburg, Lorenzo Harvey Lassell, is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of the community, through the many qualities which make him a useful factor in the growth and upbuilding of the western state. His position as mayor has been creditably maintained for four years, previous to which he served in the city council for many terms, using his influence to advance the cause of the Repub- lican party, of which he is a faithful adherent. In addition to his connection with municipal affairs Mr. Lassell has given substantial aid to the advancement of the commercial interests of the city through his connection with the mer- cantile business of Harrisburg.

The birth of Mr. Lassell occurred in Platts- burg, Clinton county, N. Y., April 28, 1838, the son of Harris Lassell, a native of Vermont who had settled as a young man in the Empire state, where he engaged in getting out marble slabs in Dekalb, St. Lawrence county. In 1832 he removed to Plattsburg, and there followed the life of a saw-mill operator, until his last removal in 1854, which left him a permanent resident of Decatur, Green county, Wis., where he engaged in farming until his death at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was in maiden- hood Lydia Fisk, a native of New Jersey, and who became a resident of New York state with her parents. She died in Wisconsin when seventy-eight years old, the mother of three sons and three daughters, of whom Lorenzo Harvey Lassell is the fourth child. Mr. Lassell was given every advantage in securing a good edu- cation in his youth. After attending the com- mon schools he took the preparatory course at the college at Beloit, Wis., after which, in 1859. he came to California with his brothers, Luther and William, and with them he located at Placer- ville and engaged in mining. Quite a number of years following were spent in this line of work, his success being sufficient to warrant a continu- ance. He passed the winter of 1862 in Oregon, and following this he located in the Boise Basin, Idaho, engaging in mining, the winters of 1863- 64-65 being passed in Marion county. In the last named year he made the trip back to Wis- consin, and while in the middle west he visited Kansas and later engaged 'in the lumber busi- ness in Iowa, in which he remained until 1889, since which date he has been a resident of Ore- gon. For the first six months he located in Portland, after which he engaged until 1902 in

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the conduct of a sawmill at Harrisburg, in which he owned a one-third interest. This mill was burned and rebuilt in 1896. He shortly after closed out his milling interests and purchased with his sons the merchandise establishment in Harrisburg. Mr. Lassell has met with entire success in all his efforts and has accumulated quite a large fortune, owning among other pieces of property seven lots in the city of Portland, and five at University Park. He has also built a handsome residence in this city, well located and commodious, the whole occupying an entire block of twelve lots, and adding greatly to the appearance of the town, and does credit to the judgment of its prosperous owner.

Mr. Lassell was married in Wisconsin in June, 1874, to Emma Lyman, who was born near Whitewater, that state. Her father was Dwight Lyman, a native of New York, who after his removal to Wisconsin became a farmer, and in later years loaned the money which had been the fruit of his years of earnest effort. He died in Brodhead, Wis., in 1878. Of the three chil- dren which blessed this union Lyman G., the eldest and Robert B., the youngest, are connected with the mercantile interests of their father. The one daughter, Anna M., is now deceased. In his fraternal relations Mr. Lassell is promi- nent among the Masons belonging to Blue Lodge, Royal Arch chapter and Knights Temp- lars.

GREAR STORTS. During the year 1902 Grear Storts gathered forty thousand pounds of hops from thirty acres of land, in addition to which he derived a substantial income from var- ious other products which mature upon his well improved farm. Though not one of the very large farms of Marion county, containing but seventy-three acres, all of it has been placed under cultivation, forty acres having been cleared by the former owner. Located three and a half miles east of Woodburn, and comprising a por- tion of the Major Magoon donation claim, the operation of this farm has brought prosperity to Mr. Storts, who has reason to congratulate him- self upon his wise choice of a home.

A native of Washington county, Ohio, Mr. Storts was born March 2, 1847, and was reared on the farm of his parents, both of whom came from farmer stock, and devoted all of their lives to this means of livelihood. As the Ohio farm was not a large one, and as there were ten children to feed and clothe, the children were early taught to depend upon themselves, and were thoroughly drilled in agriculture and general business. Grear remained with his parents until his twenty-fourth year, and then made his way to Nebraska, where he farmed in

Holt county, and where he married Emma Car- penter, a native of Marietta, Ohio. Directly after his marriage he took his wife to Marion county, S. D., where they took up land, and lived for about eight years. Not realizing their expectations in the northern state they returned to Nebraska and lived for eight years, and in 1888 came to Oregon, settling in Clackamas county. After four years they removed to the present Stort's farm, to the improvement of which the enterprising and practical owner is devoting all of his attention., Two interesting children contribute to the happiness and hope of their parents, Katie M. and Ray C. Mr. Storts is a Democrat in politics, but has never shown any inclination to enter the uncertain field of official life. He is successful and popular, and is appreciated for his honesty of purpose and breadth of mind.

GEN. MARTIN VAN BUREN BROWN. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed away since the death of Gen. Martin Van Buren Brown, but he is still remembered as one of the men most closely identified with the early history of Oregon. A strong, earnest and forceful per- sonality was his, and it was through his ex- cellent newspaper work that he impressed this personality upon the growth of his adopted state in the brief sixteen years which he passed within her borders, and through his association with the Oregon press that he is best remembered and his efforts appreciated. Beyond the fact that he was an able and forceful writer in his chosen work, General Brown was a patriot and faithful to the country which gave him citizen- ship, responding to the first call of President Lincoln in the time of the country's need and serving until incapacitated, when he was honor- ably discharged and returned to the work for which he was eminently fitted.

In Winchester, Ind., March 15, 1843, occurred the birth of Martin V. Brown, shortly after which event his parents removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa. Early introduced to the practical duties of life, as a lad of twelve years he was apprenticed to learn the work of a printer, in the office of the Oskaloosa Herald, remaining therewith for sev- eral years. Desiring to broaden his education with experience, he left Oskaloosa, and for some time after was identified with various papers of the middle west, among them being the St. Louis Republican and Democrat, the Memphis Ava- lanche, Louisville Courier and Quincy Whig. It was after his return to the Oskaloosa Herald that a call for volunteers was made by the pres- ident, and, in company with many others of the printing office force, this lad of eighteen enlisted for service, his name appearing sixth upon the

W. W. Withers

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volunteer roll in Mahaska county. He became a member of Company H, Third Iowa Regiment, and served in all the early Missouri campaigns of the first year; after about nine months he was honorably discharged from the army on account of failing health. His father and two brothers likewise enlisted for service in the Union army and served faithfully until the close of the war or until removed by death.

Returning to Iowa, General Brown made that his home for some time, after his recovery to health becoming city editor and business man- ager of the Albia Union, in which work he con- tinued profitably for some time. After his mar- riage, March 28, 1865, to Miss Henrietta Stew- art, he started, May 2, for Oregon, in company with the family of his father-in-law, Dr. W. Q. Stewart, arriving at The Dalles October 2, of the same year. During his first winter in the west General Brown made his home in Port- land, and, being an expert printer, he found no difficulty in obtaining employment in that city, being engaged on the Oregonian and various other papers until August of the following year, when he went to Albany and was there associated with M. H. Abbott, in the purchase and publi- cation of the State Rights Democrat. Up to within a few months of his death the work of

this paper continued to engross his attention, and his able pen was ever wielded in the effort to advance and elevate the civilization of the west, and fulfill the law of duty. His death occurred at the age of thirty-eight years, August 3, 1881, passing away at Lower Soda Springs, Ore., from which place his body was conveyed to Al- bany for interment.

In politics General Brown was a Democrat and was always active in the work of promoting the principles of his party, and as a strong man of his party was often called upon to serve in positions of trust and responsibility. He was elected in 1874 state printer, and two years later was made a delegate to the national Democratic convention which nominated Samuel J. Tilden for president, and was at one time chairman of the Democratic state central committee. Com- missioned by Governor Grover brigadier general of the Oregon State Militia, he commanded the troops in the campaign against the Bannock In- dians in 1877, the settlers of Grant and Wasco county having cause for grateful remembrance of him for his efficient service. As a resident of Albany he exerted every influence in his power to promote the general welfare of the city and was universally recognized as a man faithful to duty, earnest and energetic in the discharge of the work which became his as a public officer, and he was chosen at different times to represent the interests of the city as mayor, recorder and councilman. He was a

charter member of the old Albany Engine Com- pany No. I, and for many years was its president, his last term ending in June, 1881. Fraternally he was identified with Corinthian Lodge No. 17, A. F. & A. M., was also a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, and had united with Willamette Lodge, A. O. U. W., soon after its organization in Albany. The first named order had charge of the funeral services of General Brown, the imposing ceremonies being conducted by Past Grand Commander R. P. Earhart.

WILLIAM W. WITHERS. In the faithful discharge of his duty as sheriff of Lane county, Willianı W. Withers was mortally wounded at seven o'clock, Thursday evening, February 5, 1903, his death following Saturday morning, at half past eleven o'clock. In reply to a telegram from the sheriff of Jackson county Mr. Withers had gone to arrest L. E. Lyons, a horse-thief, who had broken jail, and the man wanted dis- charged his weapon and the shot took effect in the windpipe of the sheriff. Mr. Withers was a man universally respected and much beloved by those who knew him best, for the many noble qualities which distinguished him among his associates, and though only forty-five years old he had made for himself a record of worldly success and moral triumph that numbered him among the first men of the county.

J. E. P. Withers, the father of William W., and the pioneer of the family, was born in Jes- samine county, Ky., of Scotch ancestry, and early removed with his parents to Illinois, locating near Springfield, where he was left an orphan. He then went to Missouri and in 1851 brought stock across the plains to Oregon, first settling in Benton county, and later remov- ing to Lookingglass valley, Douglas county. There he engaged as a stockman, but remained but a comparatively short time until locating on a farm near Eugene, Lane county, here com- bining his interests with agricultural pursuits. He now makes his home on a farm near Thurs- ton, Lane county. He served one term in the state legislature. He married Margaret Gilles- pie, a native of Missouri, and she is now living at the age of sixty-eight years, while Mr. Withers is seventy-two. The father of Mrs. Withers was the Rev. Jacob Gillespie, a pioneer of 1852, and a minister in the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, which he founded in Eugene. With the practical. ideas of the ministers of early times he combined farming with his preach- ing. thus making the support of a church an easy matter for the people in moderate circum- stances. He died in Eugene at the age of eighty-

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five years. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Withers, Mary is the eldest and is the wife of William Van Duyn of Eugene; Mabel is the wife of A. G. Bogart, of Eugene; William W., of this review, was born in Benton county, Ore., January 31, 1858; Alice is the wife of J. H. Hawley of Lane county; Price is located in Harney City, Ore .; Anna is the wife of W. T. Emery, of Coles valley, Douglas county ; Emma is the wife of N. L. Cornelius, of Helena, Mont .; and Jessie is the wife of W. W. Edmis- ton, of Thurston, Ore.

William W. Withers was reared in Looking- glass valley, Douglas county, and was still a youth when his parents removed to Lane county. His educational advantages consisted of the dis- trict school and an attendance at the University of Oregon, after which he engaged in farming and stock-raising near Thurston, his last ranch, located five miles east of Springfield, consisting of seven hundred acres. In 1898 he was elected sheriff of the county on the Democratic and Populist ticket, his majority being but twenty- five votes. That he met with the popular favor is indicated by the fact that, at his re-election in 1900 his majority was eight hundred, and his election to a third term was by a majority of one thous- and and twenty-one. Earnest and conscientious in his work, he carried his principles into public offices, and, unlike many, kept them with him, and applied them to his daily life. Upon his election in 1898 he had removed with his family to Engene, there to assume the office. His remains now rest in the Masonic cemetery, the highest honors having been accorded him in burial as a citizen. Fraternally he was a member of Knights of the Maccabees; Knights of Pythias ; Woodmen of the World; Elks, and Native Sons. In his religious views he belonged to the Chris- tian Church.

Mr. Withers was married, December 18, 1884, to Miss Viola Comegys, who was born near Springfield, Lane county, the daughter of Pres- ley Comegys, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere. She was reared in this vicinity and educated in the University of Oregon. The one son born of their union is Frank. She still owns and conducts the ranch which belonged to her husband, and like him is a member of the Chris- tian Church.

MATTHEW COOPER GILL. An early settler and one who has been identified with much of the progress of Scio, Linn county, is Matthew Cooper Gill, who was born in Giles county, Tenn .. January 23, 1842, the son of Samuel H. and Millie (Usery.) Gill. The parents were both of southern birth, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Georgia. In the

fall of 1856 the elder man located as a farmer in Appanoose county, Iowa, and later settled in Kansas, from which state, after the death of his wife near New Albany, he removed to Missouri with his children, and there remained until his death at a ripe old age.

The fourth of six sons and six daughters which were born in the family of his father, Matthew Cooper Gill early acquired the self-reliance and independence of the youth of those early days, and after the completion of his education in the common schools of Tennessee and a brief period with his parents in the state of Iowa, he started with ox-teams for the west. Six months of the year 1864 was consumed in this journey, which must certainly have left a strong impression on the mind of Mr. Gill, on account of the various dangers and hardships which he then experi- enced, the principal difficulty being the Indians. Near Deer Creek Station, on the Platte river, they were attacked by the Indians, who succeeded in stealing some of the stock, in the defense of which three men were killed and Mr. Gill re- ceived a wound in the arm from an arrow. On his arrival in Oregon Mr. Gill located first on Mill Creek, spending the winter there, and in 1865 he came direct to Scio, Linn county, and has since been a resident of the town, with the exception of two years which he spent in eastern Washington for the benefit of his wife's health. The blacksmith shop which he then bought remained in his possession for twenty consecu- tive years, and, with his trade of tinner, he was able to build up a good business. That it was lucrative is indicated by the fact that he was justified in establishing a hardware business in 1889, which though small in the beginning, has now grown to very remunerative proportions. He nows owns his own home here, and though having disposed of a half interest in the hard- ware business, it is still retained in the family, his son, William Franklin Gill, being the partner. March 16, 1903, the Mercantile and Produce Company of Oregon was incorporated with Mr. Gill and his son as stockholders with houses at Grant's Pass, Cottage Grove and Scio.

Mr. Gill was married in Linn county to Miss Nancy Elizabeth Howell, who was born on Howell Prairie, Ore., in 1848. She was the daughter of William B. Howell, a pioneer of 1843, and for whom the location of his daughter's birth was named. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill are as follows: William Franklin, who, in addition to his hardware interests, is postmaster of Scio; Lillie May, the wife of Ross Hibler, of Scio; Ralph W., also of Scio; Roy R., of Portland, in the employ of Honey- man Hardware Company; Grace A., a teacher in the schools of Washington; Archie Laflin, deceased: John G., a student in the Dental

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School of Portland; Imogene, at home; Mary and Mark, both deceased. Fraternally Mr. Gill is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order; Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. In religion he is a member of the Christian Church, in which he officiates as an elder. In addition to his business interests of the city, Mr. Gill has always been active in the municipal government, as a Republican serving as mayor of the city for one term, as councilman for many years, and as school director for one term. He has always proven his interest in public welfare by his disinterested and broad- minded action, and as a man of integrity and capability the community depends upon him to help sustain the honor and prosperity of their city.

JOSEPH R. KEEBLER. Now retired from the active cares of life Joseph R. Keebler makes his home in Lebanon, Linn county, Ore., near which city over a quarter of a century of his life has been passed, his energy, industry and perse- verance given to an intelligent cultivation of the soil. He came to Oregon in 1875 and has since resided in this state, becoming a sturdy and trust- worthy citizen of the western commonwealth, and in connection with his accumulation of a compe- tency he has fulfilled the duties that have come to him as a member of the community in which he made his home.

The Keebler family came originally from the Middle Atlantic states, the grandfather, James, having been born in Virginia, from which state he removed to Tennessee, and died there while engaged in farming. The father of Mr. Keebler, another James, was born in Tennessee, and in 1849 he crossed the plains with ox-teams, and located in California, where he became connected with a stage line between Sacramento and Placer- ville, which was then called by the significant name of Hangtown. He drove a stage for some time over this route, his last trip being made in the year 1852, when he drove in at the end of the line and some time later was found dead on a mound of hay near, cholera having claimed him for its victim. His wife, formerly Katherine Crouch, a native of east Tennesseè, was again married, after the death of her first husband, and then removed to Illinois in 1856, from which state she crossed to California in 1861. She later made her home in Oregon, where her death occurred. Her second husband, Allen Range, is also deceased.

Of the two sons and one daughter horn to his parents, Joseph R. Keehler was the eldest, and was born in east Tennessee, May 14, 1840, where he lived until he reached the age of four-

teen years. During these years of childhood he attended the common schools of his native state, gleaning what little knowledge he could under the adverse conditions of those early times. On going to Illinois he found employment on a farm until 1871, and at that date he crossed the plains to California and located in Yolo county. After four years spent as a farmer in that loca- tion Mr. Keebler came north to Oregon, and with the proceeds of his previous years of labor he bought two hundred and fifty acres of land one mile north of Lebanon, Linn county. Later he parted with a portion of this purchase, and at the present time owns but one hundred and sixty acres, which he rents. In September, 1902, he removed to Lebanon, and has since made this his home.

The marriage of Mr. Keebler occurred in Illi- nois, Lucinda Melvin, a native of that state, becoming his wife. Her death occurred in Ore- gon. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Keebler, John Allen is now deceased; James V. is located upon the home farm; Elbert E. is also in this county; Katie is the wife of S. G. Keefhaver, of Linn county, Ore .: William Henry is deceased: Anna is the wife of D. Hil- dreth, living in this county; Bell is the wife of Frank Lutz, of Linn county; Myrtle is Mrs. Frank Parrish. of Linn county; Mary Narcissus is deceased: Joseph Benjamin is located in this county; and T. E. is engaged in logging in Washington. In his fraternal relations Mr. Keebler is a master Mason, and also belongs to the F. O. R. Politically he is a Democrat and has served as road supervisor and school director.

ANDREW V. LANE. Although several years have elapsed since Andrew V. Lane went from the scenes of his activities in Lake county, he is still recalled by those who survive him, and who met him at the home, in the church, or in public life, as the embodiment of virile manhood. Born in Vermilion county, Ill., De- cember 5, 1852, Mr. Lane was a son of Horace and Margaret (Barner) Lane, natives of Ohio. The parents were married in the Buckeye state, and from there removed at an early day to Vermilion county. Ill. The year after Andrew's birth, in 1853, the parents crossed the plains, the father taking up a donation claim of three hun- dred and twenty acres upon the present site of Rowland Station. Here he succeeded fairly well as a farmer and stockman, and reared his fam- ily in comparative comfort, giving his children such advantages as were in his power. His wife dying in Colfax. Wash., in 1885, he con- tinued for a time to live on the home farm; hut his last days were spent at the home of his

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daughter, Mrs. Joel Huston, where his death occurred in October, 1896.

Andrew V. was the third of the children born to his parents, and his youth was uneventfully passed on the home farm. Although he at- tended the public school with comparative regu- larity, he learned more from observation than books, and in later life especially, kept abreast of the times, becoming a well informed man on current events. In 1868 he left the home place and went to Big Valley, Cal., where he engaged in stock-raising until 1873, and then moved to Silver Lake, Ore., and dealt in stock until his death, which occurred December 13, 1896. His wife, formerly Martha Small, was born in Lane county, February 23, 1857, a daugh- ter of George Small, the latter born in Ten- nessee, January 6, 1802, and who died in California, March 13, 1862. Mr. Small was a farmer during his entire active life, and crossed the plains with the emigrants of 1853, locating in Lane county on three hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining Cottage Grove. Here he farmed until removing his family to Califor- nia in 1860. His wife, Malinda (Hinch) Small, was born in Cape Girardeau county, Mo., Aug- ust 25. 1813, and died at Cottage Grove, Ore., March 13, 1893, leaving five children, of whom Mrs. Lane is the youngest.

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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 152

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