Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 154

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 154

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in 1869 entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York City, from which he was graduated in 1870. The same year he returned to Oregon and located in Salem, where he prac- ticed successfully until going to The Dalles, in 1879. In 1887 he took a post-graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate School, returning then to Salem, which has since been his home. The doctor has never allowed himself to get be- hind the times in his profession, in proof of which he returned to New York City in 1895 for an additional post-graduate course.

Aside from a general medical and surgical practice Dr. Richardson has filled many posi- tions of trust and responsibility in the commun- ity. As early as 1872 he became identified with the medical department of the Willamette Uni- versity, filling the chairs of obstetrics, diseases of women, hygiene and materia medica up to the time when the school was removed to Portland. When the school was again located in Salem he was appointed to the chair of diseases of children. For about twelve years he served as a member of the pension board; has been con- nected professionally with the Oregon Insane Asylum for three years; with the Oregon State Penitentiary; with the Oregon Reform School for nine years ; as well as with the Blind and Deaf schools. He is a member of the County Medi- cal Society, a charter member of the State Med- ical Society, of the Historical Society and the Pioneer Association.

Much of Dr. Richardson's prominence is due to his exceptional political service, he being a stanch exponent of Republicanism, and at all times incorruptible and broad-minded when in office. He was a member of the state senate from 1872 to 1876, was mayor of Salem for one term, and is an ex-member of the state central com- mittee and the county committee. Fraternally he is one of the best known men of the county, being formerly identified with Amity Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M., of Amity; Union Lodge No. 46, of which he was master; Pacific Lodge of Salem, of which he was master; and Wasco Lodge at The Dalles, of which he is past master. He is also associated with The Dalles Chapter, R. A. M., of which he was high priest for one term; De Molay Commandery No. 5; Oregon Consistory No. 1; the Eastern Star, of which he organized the Second Chapter in Oregon at McMinnville.

In Salem, Ore., Dr. Richardson married Fannie Boyd, who was born in Yamhill county, Ore., in 1852, the daughter of John and Lodowiska (Adams) Boyd, her parents having arrived in the state in the early forties. Two children have heen born to the doctor and his wife, of whom Frankie is a graduate of the law department of Willamette Valley; and Boyd is a graduate of

the medical department of the same university, and is now with the hospital staff in Manila. Dr. Richardson is a splendid example of the sub- stantial and well balanced physician who is also the man of affairs, and vitally interested in the moving world around him. To no one in the county is the medical profession more indebted for the maintenance of sound and practical the- ories, or for that spirit of humanity, tolerance and kindliness which the world at large has come to associate with its foremost disciples of ÆEscu- lapius.

JAMES W. MILLER. The prosperous owner of four hundred and seventeen acres, one hundred and sixty of which comprise a part of the old donation claim taken up by his father in October, 1850, James W. Miller is one of the enterprising farmers of Linn county, now en- gaging in general farming and stock-raising, meeting with the returns which follow persever- ing and intelligent industry. Through the efforts of himself and a family of exceptional ability Mr. Miller has contributed in no small measure to the growth of this part of the Willamette valley in which he makes his home, his position of prominence being the result of praiseworthy ambition along the lines of state advancement.

James W. Miller was born in Bridgeport, Nova Scotia, August 17, 1833, the son of Mal- colm Miller, for a fuller account of whose life refer to the sketch of Gabriel Miller, which ap- pears elsewhere in this work. When ten years old he removed with his parents to Pennsylvania, and after seven years' residence in that state, the family crossed the plains in the spring of 1850, landing in Linn county safely after the long and trying journey. In December, 1851, he went with his father and brothers George and An- drew to California with pack animals, and there worked in the mines for the ensuing winter. In the fall foilowing this he began to conduct a pack-train from Portland to the Yreka mines, at which work he continued until the spring of 1853, when he went to the Coos Bay country and there opened up cove mines. He afterward be- gan buying and selling cattle, which he drove through from Linn county into southern Ore- gon and California, reaping returns that justified a continuance in the work until 1859. Still inter- ested in mining Mr. Miller went in 1862 to the Salmon river mines in Idaho, but after a few months he returned to Linn county, and has since that time devoted his energies entirely to farm- ing and stock-raising.

The marriage of Mr. Miller occurred Janu- ary 25, 1874, and united him with Mrs. Rosa A. Baker, a daughter of Peter S. Brenner, who came to Oregon in 1853 from La Fayette, Ind.,

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and bought Dr. Warren's right to a donation claim near Scio, where he died in 1899. The children of this union are as follows: Malcolm B., located on an adjoining farm ; J. W., Jr., who, after securing an education in Monmouth, has devoted his talents to instruction in the school room for the past six years; Kate B., also edu- cated in that city, has become a teacher; Rosa L., also a teacher; and Nona P. Mr. Miller is a member of the Presbyterian Church, re- ligiously, and though not a politician, in his pub- lic life he has always demonstrated his willing- ness to aid in the government of the community to the best of his ability by serving in various offices.

HON. SYLVESTER PENNOYER. One of the most forceful and earnest men to be named in connection with the early history of Oregon is the Hon. Sylvester Pennoyer, whose term of office as governor of the state was characteristic of the qualities which distinguished this pioneer. He was born in Groton, Tompkins county, N. Y., July 6, 1831, the son of Justus Powers and Eliza- beth (Howland) Pennoyer, both of whom were representatives of fine eastern families which transmitted to their descendants the good charac- teristics of natives of several European countries. Justus Powers Pennoyer was one of the largest farmers in Groton and one of the foremost men of the town in all public enterprises, and at one time he represented his county in the New York assembly, though he was not at all a politician in the common acceptance of the term.

The boyhood of Mr. Pennoyer was much like that of any other farm-bred youth, consisting of alternate work and school, until he had attained a sufficient age to become a student of Homer Academy, New York, where he took a full course of study. Later he attended the Dane Law School, Harvard University, from which he re- ceived his diploma in the summer of 1854. The following year he left his home and came west, arriving in Portland, Ore., about the Ioth of July, 1855. Shortly after his arrival in the state he engaged in teaching in the public schools, in which occupation he remained for five or six years. It was about the year 1862 that Mr. Pen- noyer became interested in the lumber business in Portland, this remaining the subject of his busi- ness activity throughout the greater part of his life. With his intellectual capacity he naturally became connected with the papers of the west, from 1868 to the year 1871 serving for the greater part of the time as editor of the Oregon Herald. He became well and favorably known as a political writer of the day; though his arti- cles were always forcible and pungent they sel- dom aroused animosity, both on account of the

infusion of a warm humor and the entire absence of any manifestation of malice in all his writings. Though a strong Democrat and always active in the promotion of the principles which he es- poused, he neither sought nor cared for political recognition, and it was not until 1886 that his name was brought up as that of a candidate for public office. He was then nominated for gov- ernor of the state on the Democratic ticket, the action being entirely without effort on his part, as he declined to do more than to promise to ac- cept the nomination if given him. He had be- come a very prominent man in the state, however. through his espousal of the cause of the Anti- Chinese party, the agitation of which question had recently caused bitter feeling. Following his nomination Mr. Pennoyer canvassed the state with that determination and energy characteristic of him in all his efforts, whether personal or public, and in his speeches proved a logical and forceful advocate. His inaugural address was faultless as a literary production, though it aroused much sharp criticism on account of the position which the governor took in regard to the right of the courts to nullify a law of the state. During his administration he maintained the same direct, positive manner in dealing with whatever came under discussion and won recog- nition as a man fearless and determined in the maintenance of his principles.

The marriage of Mr. Pennoyer occurred in 1856, and united him with Mrs. Mary A. Allen, by whom he had five children, two of whom are still living.

LA FAYETTE GROVER. The name which heads this review is one that is widely known throughout the state of Oregon, and the man who bears it is one honored in the early history of the northwest. In all early political move- ments, progressive in their trend, he was officially connected and gave substantial aid, rising suc- cessively, step by step, until he attained the posi- tion of fourth governor of Oregon.

He was born in Bethel, Me., November 29, 1823, of ancestry on both sides distinguished in the early history of Massachusetts. His educa- tion was received in the Classical Academy at Bethel and in Bowdoin College, after which he studied law in Philadelphia, under the instruction of the late Asa I. Fish. He was admitted to the har in March, 1850, shortly after which event he put aside his bright prospects in the east and went to California, arriving in July, 1851, and in the next month reached Portland via the old steamer Columbia. He at once proceeded to Salem, where he established himself as a lawyer. He was shortly appointed clerk of the First Ju- dicial district, from which office he resigned to

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become a law partner of Benjamin F. Harding, afterwards United States district attorney, sec- retary of the territory of Oregon and United States senator. In 1852 Mr. Grover was elected prosecuting attorney of the second judicial dis- trict, and the year following was elected and served as a member of the territorial legislature for three terms, the last two terms being a repre- sentative from Marion county. In 1857 he was chosen a member of the state constitutional con- vention, and was elected first congressman for Oregon in 1858, taking his seat February 15, 1859.

On his return to Oregon Mr. Grover devoted his time to professional and business pursuits, besides a practice of his profession in partnership with Hon. Joseph S. Smith and Judge W. W. Page, taking an active part in various enterprises. In 1856 he took an active part in the organization of the Willamette Woolen Manufacturing Com- pany, at Salem, and four years later became a one-third owner of all the mills and water-power of the city, and during his management of the company's interest the Salem Flouring Mills were completed and became an industrial success of the valley. In 1866 he presided over the Demo- cratic state convention of that year, and by the convention was elected chairman of the Demo- cratic state central committee, which position he held for four years. At the close of that period he was elected governor of Oregon on the Demo- cratic ticket, and was re-elected and served until 1877, when he resigned to accept the position of United States senator, to which he had been clected. He served in the senate until 1883, when he retired permanently from public and professional life and devoted his time to private affairs.

Mr. Grover was married, in 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Carter, daughter of Thomas Carter, well known as an early resident of Portland, and they have one son, John Cuvier Grover.

HENRY STEWART. Since the latter part of the '8os Henry Stewart has been known around Albany as an enterprising and successful dairyman-farmer. He came to the state in 1885, engaged at various occupations in Albany for a couple of years, for two years conducted a small ranch near the city and finally settled upon his present farm, four and a half miles southwest of Albany. He has one hundred acres of land, a large part of it in pasture, and his general in- provements are modern and consistent with an ideal dairying enterprise.

Born in Ashe county, N. C., February 9, 1860, Mr. Stewart is a son of Jackson and Hila ( Fran- cis) Stewart, natives of North Carolina, and the former born in Surrey county, N. C., February

29, 1819. Jackson Stewart was formerly a farm- er, who left his large southern property to enlist in the Civil war, during which service he con- tracted an illness which has since resulted in total blindness. He was a member of the Home Guard, and was never afterward able to work as well as before the fortunes of war left him with weakened faculties. Many years ago his wife died at the age of sixty-four, and he, himself, is eighty-four, a philosopher in his affliction, and inclined to view the world after better fashion than it has treated him. Thirteen children have been born into his family, and of this large num- ber the following are living: Casper, of Eu- gene; Eli, of Albany; John, of North Carolina ; Jacob, also of North Carolina; Margaret, New- ell, Henry, Lowry and Lular.

At the age of twenty-one Henry Stewart left the old farm in North Carolina and went to Vir- ginia, where he followed farming for a couple of years. For a year, also, he farmed in Ne- braska, but not being particularly well pleased with the middle west came to the coast and set- tled in Albany in 1885. With him came his wife, who was formerly Celia V. Testermon, a native of Virginia, and who is now the mother of five children, the order of their birth being as fol- lows: Maggie E., Ella L., Dent F., Roy C. and Dora B. While not an office-seeker, Mr. Stew- art is a stanch npholder of Republicanism, and has served for one term on the school board. He is fraternally connected with the Knights of the Maccabees. As a farmer and promoter of the wellbeing of Linn county, Mr. Stewart takes high rank, and he has many friends in the county. His dairy products have reached the highest standard of excellence, and he has as high grade Jersey cattle as will be found in Linn county.

GILBERT L. WORKINGER. Enviable prominence in Linn county has followed as the result of many years of agricultural and other activity on the part of Gilbert L. Workinger, whose ninety-acre farm, though a comparatively small one, is one of the finest in this vicinity. Located four miles northwest of Shedds, and fourteen miles southwest of Albany, it is a part of the old Jacob Miller donation claim, and is indebted to its present owner for the greater part of its improvements. A fine modern dwelling and unquestionably the largest and finest barn in the neighborhood, as well as the most modern of agricultural implements, facilitate the carry- ing on of as scientific and practical a general farming enterprise as may be found in this county. A model dairy contributes a consider- able share of the income from this splendidly de- veloped farm.

That congenial work means successful work

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is undoubtedly the secret of Mr. Workinger's success, for he expresses the greatest enthusiasm for the free and beautiful life of the country, and for the infinite possibilities of the soil and climate to be found in this fertile region. As far back as is known, his ancestors were tillers of the soil in the state of Pennsylvania, where his birth oc- curred September 5, 1862. His father was a car- penter and millwright by trade, as well as a farmer, and, until the time of his death, at the age of forty-six, he combined these occupations with moderate success. He was survived for many years by his wife, who lived to be seventy- nine, and who reared a family of eleven children. Like his brothers and sisters, Gilbert L. attended the public schools irregularly, but there were many mouths to feed, and the children were obliged to support themselves as early as pos- sible. He started away from home at the age of eleven, and for the following five years worked as a farm hand in his native county of Indiana, receiving as compensation for services his clothes and board and schooling. His five years ended, he continued with his employer for nine months, and for the latter period received the-to him- large sum of $60.

At the age of seventeen Mr. Workinger went to Johnstown, Pa., and was employed in the Cam- bria Iron Works for a couple of years, and when nineteen went to Kansas and worked on a farm for about two years. His path then led to Mor- tana, where he found employment in a hardware store until the fall of 1884, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and farmed until 1885. In his native state he married Jennie N. Gibson, born in the Quaker state, and with whom he came to Oregon in the spring of 1886. At that time he purchased his present farm, and has since de- voted his energies to improving it, and to making a name for himself among the most honored and influential citizens of this county. He is the only one of his family who has come to the west, and his exertions here have certainly reflected credit upon those responsible for his training in the east. There is not a man hereabouts who is more universally commended, both for accomplish- ment and character, or one who more nearly typi- fies the representative northwestern farmer. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the United Brethren Church. In his family have been born six children, the order of their birth being as follows : Tillie Margaret, Clata Mae, George William, Gilbert Frank, Edith Jane and Gerald Lowry.

GEORGE W. CLINE. Among the native sons of Marion county, none are more typical of the successful and progressive northwestern farmer and stock-raiser than George W. Cline, at present

owning and living on a farm formerly owned by his father. He was born on a farm near Salem, May 6, 1849, his father, George Cline, being one of the foremost of the early settlers of Oregon. The elder Cline was born in Indiana, March 5, 1799, and came of German parentage, his an- cestors, as far back as is known, having been tillers of the soil in different parts of the east. He was thrice married, his last wife, formerly Jane Oliver, and the mother of George W., having been born in Ohio.

The Cline family lived an uneventful life in Indiana for many years, and in their neighbor- hood were known as exceptionally thrifty and successful people. George Cline was no ordi- nary plodding farmer, but forged his way to the front, and improved a farm that brought a good price when he decided to sell. This he did in 1846, for he had long heard glowing reports from the west, and determined to see for himself if there was any truth in them. His success in life permitted him to outfit much more completely than the average emigrant, and he not only had plenty of substantial wagons and strong oxen, but brought along a large drove of horses and cattle. The party of which his family were mem- bers had little trouble with the Indians, and were not laid low by illness, as was the case with so many during the long journey of those days. Mr. Cline started away from home with three thousand dollars, and by the time he reached The Dalles he had just twenty dollars. This decrease in his finances was largely due to his generosity, for there were many very poor people in the train, to many of whom he gave practical assistance. He spent the first winter with his family on the present site of Portland, and in the spring settled in Marion county, near Salem, purchasing a squatter's right to which he afterward proved up. The next spring he settled in Linn county, where he took up six hundred and forty-three acres adjoining Albany, where he spent the remainder of his life. At the time of his death, at the age of sixty-four, he was apparently strong and robust, and seemed to be destined for many years more of useful citizen- ship. In both the east and west he took an active part in local politics, in Porter county, Ind., and in Linn county, Ore., serving as sheriff of the respective counties, besides holding many local offices. He erected one of the first sawmills in the vicinity of Albany, and operated the same for some time in connection with his general farming. He was a very successful man, and he was also very honorable and reliable.

The only one living of his father's last fam- ily of five children, George W. Cline received his education in the country schools and the public schools of Albany, his father's success permitting him to devote more time to educational matters

& H Hawkin

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than fell to the lot of many of his neighbors. He stayed at home uninterruptedly until his marriage, in 1879, with Nellie Smith, who was born in Clackamas county, Ore., in 1863, and after the ceremony went to housekeeping on a portion of the old farm, which he has man- aged since his father's death, and now owns. There were comparatively few improvements here at first, but at present he has good buildings and modern facilities for conducting a practical general farming enterprise, besides one hundred acres cleared and available for general crops. He has a fine dairy in connection with the farm, and makes a specialty of Jersey cattle, standard breed. He is a director and vice president of the Albany Creamery Association, of Albany, Ore. Like his father he is an active Democrat, but as yet he has shown no disposition to leave the quiet of his home to participate in the excitement of office-getting. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cline, Nina M. is the wife of H. B. Cusick, of Albany, and Margaret and Charles O. are living at home. Mr. Cline is prominent in his locality, and may be counted on to further any enterprise for the betterment of his home district.

EDWARD H. HAWKINS. The name of Edward H. Hawkins is associated with a prac- tical farming enterprise in Lane county, his farm being one of the many finely improved proper- ties in which this locality abounds, and his meth- ods are those which have elevated the agricul- tural standard to a par with that in any part of the country. When Mr. Hawkins crossed the plains in 1845 he represented the third genera- tion of his family to journey westward at the same time, his father Zachariah, and his grand- father, Henry, looking forward with equal en- thusiasm to a life under different auspices in the new country. On this journey Zachariah died ere he had reached his destination, but the grandfather, Henry Hawkins, lived to settle on a claim in Polk county, where he farmed for the remainder of his life. He was of Irish descent, and was fairly successful as a farmer and stock- raiser. Edward H. was three years old when his parents crossed the plains, having been born in Lee county, Iowa, February 17, 1842. His mother, formerly Nancy White, was born in Indiana, reared a family of two sons and three daughters, of whom Edward is the fourth child. Mrs. Hawkins died on the old homestead in Benton county in 1900. For the first winter in Oregon she lived in Polk county, and the next spring went to Benton county, where she mar- ried T. M. Reed. Mr. Reed took up a donation

claim of six hundred and forty acres, and there the children were reared and educated.

At the age of sixteen Edward H. Hawkins grew weary of his life on the home farm and went to eastern Oregon, where he was engaged with stock for some time. Industrious and sav- ing, he managed to save quite a little money, and in 1865 bought a farm nine miles east of Harrisburg, in Linn county, which he sold after three years of profitable farming. He next took up two hundred and seventy acres near Monroe, Benton county. He lived thereon un- til disposing of it in 1889, when he pur- chased four hundred acres on Spencer creek. Three years later he sold out and bought three hundred and seventy-eight acres, comprising his present farm, about three miles southwest of Eugene. For his first wife Mr. Hawkins mar- ried, in 1865, Susan Norton, who was born in Missouri, and died in 1880, leaving three chil- dren, of whom Clarence is deceased, and Clara and Clayton are at home. The second marriage of Mr. Hawkins occurred in 1882, and was with Nancy Taylor, who was born in Virginia, Jan- uary I, 1862, and who is the mother of three children, Virgil, Ruth H., and Edward Herbert. A Republican in political preference, Mr. Haw- kins is liberal-minded as regards office seekers, and believes in voting rather for principle than party. At the time of his removal from Benton to Lane county, in 1889, he was obliged to re- sign the office of county commissioner, and in this county he has served many terms as county supervisor and school director. He is a wide- awake and progressive man, favoring all move- ments that have to do with the development of the resources of the locality or its improvement along educational, moral or industrial lines.

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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 154

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