Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 165

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 165

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Equipped with a high school education and subsequent training received at the St. Paul (Minn.) Business College, Robert McMurphey began his independent career as a clerk in a Wis- consin office of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo-

lis & Omaha Railroad Company, subsequently be- coming a clerk in the office of the general pas- senger agent of the Great Northern Railroad Company at St. Paul. Being appointed private secretary to the superintendent of the Northern Pacific Railroad at Livingston, Mont., he re- mained there. until 1889, when he removed to Portland, Ore., as private secretary for George H. Andrews, secretary of the Oregon & Cali- fornia Railroad Company. July 31, 1893, he was united in marriage with Alberta Shelton, a native of Salem, Ore., and the only daughter of Dr. T. W. Shelton, a prominent physician of Salem, who later was identified with business and professional affairs in Eugene. Dr. Shelton was the founder and first president of the Eugene Water Company, and by reason of an active and well appointed life accumulated a fortune. Upon his death in 1893 his son-in-law, Mr. McMur- phey, removed to Eugene to look after his varied interests, and assumed the management of the water works, improving and enlarging their capacity, with which enterprise he is still connected.

In December, 1901, Mr. McMurphey incor- porated the Willamette Valley Woolen Manu- facturing Company, of which he has since been president and general manager. For the furth- erance of the business the present modern and finely equipped mills were erected in that year for the manufacture of cloth and woolen goods in general, native Oregon wool being utilized. The plant is a four-set mill, is operated by water power, and gives employment to about eighty persons. For the sale of the output of the mills the concern has established branches in San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia, and the blankets, robes, flannels and other cloths manufactured find their way to foreign mar- kets, as well as to the principal cities of the United States.

Attractive personal characteristics have placed Mr. McMurphey in touch with the most exclusive social life of Oregon, and among his personal friends are many men of great prominence in political, industrial and fraternal circles. He was one of the organizers, the first vice president and the second president of the Eugene Commercial Club, and still fills the lat- ter office with dignity and satisfaction. Fra- ternally he is connected with Eugene Lodge No. 11, A. F. & A. M .; Eugene Chapter No. IO, R. A. M .: Oregon Consistory No. I, of Port- land; the Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor : the Ancient Order of United Work- men; the Modern Woodmen of America; the Woodmen of the World; the Independent Or- der of Red Men, and the Knights of Maccabees. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Congregational Church, in which he

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serves as trustee. Five children have been born to him and his wife, named as follows in the order of their birth : Lois Alberta, Robert Shelton, Adah Antoinette, Elsie Mearle and George Winthrop.

Though a comparatively young man, Mr. Mc- Murphey wields a wide and powerful influence among the business men of the Willamette val- ley. Perhaps the foundation of his strength among his fellowmen is the high public spirit he has always exhibited. In all those movements which have for their aim the elevation of the moral tone of the community or the advance- ment of the material interests in other depart- ments of life, educational, social, religious, com- mercial and industrial, he has taken an active interest, always exhibiting an unselfish spirit. By men of discriminating intelligence he has come to be regarded as a high-minded man of affairs, whose chief aim is an honorable bus- iness success and the elevation of the city of Eugene to the highest rank among the cities of the northwest which it is possible to attain.

CLARENCE FREDERICK SOMERS Prac- tical and businesslike in all his methods and dealings, C. F. Somers has combined with these sturdy qualities an enterprising spirit which well fits him for citizenship in a comparatively new country. He makes his home in Eugene, Lane county, and since the fall of 1902 has acted as president of the Eugene Planing Mill Company, of which he was one of the organizers. The vice president is P. J. Olsen, the secretary and treasurer being P. Lorenzen. They have erected a new mill on Lawrence street, the dimensions of which are 44x80 feet, and have equipped it with all modern machinery, including a thirty- horsepower steam engine and a dry kiln, where they turn out all kinds of planing-mill stock.

There were six children born in the Somers family, five of whom are now living, the second being C. F. Somers, who was born in St. Johns- bury, Vt., April 14, 1851. His father was Fred- erick A. Somers, a native of Barnet, Vt., and though a stonecutter by trade he followed farm- ing throughout the principal part of his life. In 1853 he removed to Lombard, Ill., and later located in Doniphan, Neb., where his death occurred. He married Sarah E. Hardy, a native of Bangor, Me., born in 1828, the daughter of Capt. Charles Hardy, who followed the sea for a livelihood and was thereby lost. Mrs. Somers is now living in Doniphan, Neb. C. F. Somers was reared in Illinois on his father's farm, and interspersed his home duties with an attendance at the district school. He remained at home until attaining his majority, when he became an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, in Wood-

stock, Ill., where he served for two years. From that city he settled in Rockford, of the same state, and engaged in the prosecution of his trade until December, 1877, when he removed to Doniphan, Neb. There he became the owner of eighty acres of railroad land which he pro- ceeded to improve, at the same time engaging in contracting and building in that city. Becom- ing dissatisfied with the existing conditions of Doniphan, he decided to remove to the west, and in 1890 he located in Baker City, Ore., where he was employed for eleven months in a planing mill, and in 1891 he located in Port- land and followed his trade until the fall of 1892. He then purchased nine and a half acres of land four miles west of the city of Eugene and engaged in contracting and building here, which he continued successfully until the fall of 1902, when he withdrew from that employ- ment to enter upon his present work. This busi- ness is rapidly becoming one of the principal industries of Eugene and is adding very mater- ially to the business prestige and future growth of the city.

In Rockford, Ill., Mr. Somers was married to Miss Elizabeth Elwick a native of that state, and their two children are Daisy and Dorilla. In religion Mr. Somers is a member of the Christian Church, in which he officiates as a deacon, and in politics he has always been a stanch and earnest Republican. Personally, he is a man of many fine qualities and is liberal and enterprising as a citizen, worthy to be named among the representative men of Eugene.

MRS. EMALINE WALLIS. Enjoying the affection and esteem of a younger generation while occupying the position of honor which belongs to her as a pioneer, Mrs. Emaline Wallis is one of the connecting links between the early days and the present affluence and prosperity of Oregon, living and faithfully laboring in the one, which service has given her the right to ease in the present.

Mrs. Wallis was in maidenhood Emaline Lindley, born. in Nashville, Tenn., the daughter of Jonathan Lindley, of South Carolina, where her grandfather, also Jonathan Lindley, was a planter. The father was a farmer and became a stock-raiser in Tennessee, when he removed to Cedar county, Mo., where his death occurred at the age of fifty-five years. His wife was formerly Clara Ann Terry, a native of Georgia. She died at the age of eighty years, at the home of Mrs. Wallis, having crossed the plains with her in 1852. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lindley, seven attained maturity and two are now living, Mrs. Wallis being the only one in Oregon. She was reared in Missouri

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from her seventh year, and received her educa- tion in a little log schoolhouse, where the dis- tribution of knowledge was conducted in a prim- itive way. February 18, 1847, she married Matthew Wallis, who was born in North Caro- lina and had come to Missouri when quite a young man, where he became a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1852 this family outfitted with ox-teams, two wagons, some loose cattle and necessary supplies and set out upon the journey which meant so much in those early days. They left Missouri April 15 and arrived at Foster's, September 13, the trip having been made over the old Barlow route, during which they had encountered the Indians at Snake river, when the further progress of the party was disputed. They succeeded, however, in making their es- cape, and this was their most serious trouble during the journey.

On their arrival in Oregon, Mr. Wallis took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres located two and a half miles west of Eugene, Lane county, and there erected a hewed log house which is still standing as a type of the early habitations of the country. Into the improvement and cultivation of this farm, both Mr. and Mrs. Wallis put the strength and energy of their young lives, making that their home for many years. In 1873 they removed to the city of Eugene, but still conducted their farming interests, adding to their property by continued purchase until the estate numbers besides the original claim over a thousand acres, which is now utilized as a modern stock farm and also in the cultivation of grain, this property being rented at present. A handsome residence was built in Eugene, and there Mr. Wallis died July 17, 1895. He was a member of the Christian Church in which he officiated as deacon. In politics he was a Democrat.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Wallis continues to reside in Eugene. Of her family of six children Clara married John Duncan and resides near Dayton, Wash .; Alice became the wife of John Welch, of Portland; Margaret married Rufus Edmunson, of Eugene; Web- ster is a farmer located near Dayton, Wash .: M. Sneed is a clerk in the sheriff's office in this county ; and Harris L. is a farmer of Eugene. Mrs. Wallis is a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat. Through the membership of her husband with the Royal Arch Masons she belongs to the Eastern Star.

FRANCIS FELLER. One who desires to know the extent of the farming possibilities of Marion county need look no further than the splendidly equipped farm of Francis Feller, which stretches out over eight hundred and sixty

acres in extent, and is located four miles from Butteville. This property is well tiled and ditched, has modern barns and outhouses, and its fences are kept in good shape by a pairis- taking and orderly owner. Until 1884 he car- ried on general farming and stock-raising ex- clusively, but that year he put out twelve acres in hops, and since then from time to time has increased his acreage of that product, until at present the hop pickers have to wander over seventy acres. This is probably the largest hop enterprise in the county.

Until his fourteenth year Francis Feller was reared on a farm in Lorraine, a province which at that time belonged to France, but which was ceded to Germany in 1871, where he was born July 28, 1840, and where his father was exten- sively engaged as a horticulturist, and more es- pecially a grower of grapes for wine-making. In 1855 the ancestral property was disposed of and the family embarked for America in a sail- ing vessel, forty days later moving slowly into the great harbor of New York City. At Galena, Ill., the father bought a farm, and two years later, in 1857, Francis Feller came to Oregon with Peter Feller, of whom he borrowed the 'money for transportation via the isthmian route. From Portland he came to Butteville, June 6, 1857, and in the vicinity of the town found work on the farm of William Case. For the follow- ing few years he tried his luck in the mines of Idaho, and upon returning to Oregon felt dissat- isfied, so again visited the mines in 1863. This time he remained for a year and a half, and was so successful that upon his return he was able to purchase for cash a farm of four hundred and twenty acres, the same being now occupied by Jacob M. Miller. He remained on this farm and made many improvements, but finally dis- posed of it in 1875, and purchased the eight hundred and sixty acres upon which he now lives, and which is located four miles from Butteville.

March 12, 1865, Mr. Feller was united in marriage with Miss Reuamah Whitney, of which union there were born nine children, the order of their birth being as follows: James P., a farmer near Butteville; William, a resident of British Columbia; Alfred and Charles, living on the home farm; Elizabeth, wife of Clarence Bearinger, of Benton county, Ore .; Nellie, wife of Clarence Scheurer of Portland; Hattie; Annie; and Ida. The faithful mother of this large family died October 1, 1892, at the age of forty-five years. January 8, 1895, Mr. Feller married Ida Garrett, who was born in Clackamas county, a daughter of Thomas Garrett, who crossed the plains in 1852 from Missouri and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Marquam. One daughter,

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Ivy, was born of the second union of Mr. Fel- ler.

Although his large farm is a wearing respon- sibility, Mr. Feller finds ample time to interest himself in political and other matters. in his county, and although he has been defeated in his candidacy for the legislature and as county com- missioner, his showing has been a good one, con- sidering that his political faith is contrary to his Republican environment. His liberal and pro- gressive, ideas of farming have resulted in a keen interest in the welfare of his fellow agricultur- ists, and in this connection he was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Fire Insurance Com- pany, has been president for three years, and is still a director. He is also one of the organizers and chief promoters of the Hop Growers' Fire Insurance Company, and has been a director therein for many years. For more than twenty years he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity, and is now a member of the Cham- poeg Lodge No. 27, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Multnomah Chapter, of Salem. He is also a member of Protection Lodge No. 2, An- cient Order of United Workmen, of Salem. Mr. Feller bears an enviable reputation in the vicini- ty of Hubbard, and in fact is known throughout. the length and breadth of Marion county as one of its substantial and thoroughly reliable citi- zens.

WALTER T. WILES. The term " captains of industry" is a familiar one of the day and has arisen from the conditions existing in the world when business activity has replaced the records of war and conquest in the world's history. The men who awaken public attention and regard are those who control the large commercial, in- dustrial and financial interests or manage the professional labors. Each city has its represen- tatives who have worthily won this title, and in Corvallis Walter T. Wiles is a representative of this class. He is today the cashier of the First National Bank of Corvallis, a man of keen dis- crimination in business, of sound judgment and unflagging industry.

Born in Benton county, near Wells, June 17, 1860, he is the fourth in a family of seven children whose parents were John and Martha Ann (Hughart) Wiles, respected and honored pioneer settlers of Oregon, who are represented elsewhere in this work. His childhood days were passed on the old homestead and his early education was acquired in the public schools. Subsequently he entered the Oregon Agricult- ural College and later he was engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising until May, 1887, when he was appointed by President Cleveland to the position of inspector of customs under Q. A.

Brooks, collector for the district of Puget Sound, Wash., the custom house being at Port Townsend, that state. Mr. Wiles remained in charge of his duties for some time and then resigned in order to return to Oregon and take charge of the home farm. Later he entered the pharmacy of Foshay & Mason at Albany, Ore., and in due time became prescription clerk. In 1890 he resigned that position and returned to Corvallis, where he became one of the incor- porators of the First National Bank. He was elected a member of the board of directors and assistant cashier and later he was also chosen to the position of vice president of the bank, holding the two positions until November, 1895, when, upon the death of W. T. Peet, the cashier, Mr. Wiles was elected his successor and since that time has filled the responsible position which he now occupies. The success achieved and the high standing of the First National Bank are due in no small degree to his ability as a bank official. His affable manner, cour- teous treatment of the clients of the institution, his straightforward dealing and his accuracy in all transactions with the public-these inspire the greatest confidence, and thus in association with other officers in the institution, he has placed the bank upon the substantial plane which it now occupies, ranking it among the most reli- able banks of the entire state. Mr. Wiles is also largely interested in farming, and owns a part of the old family homestead near Wells. This is a well improved place in which he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle.

On October 8, 1890, in Linn county, Ore., was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wiles and Miss Mary Brandon, a native of that county and a daughter of Alexander Brandon, who was born in Madison county, Ind. Her paternal grand- father, Moses Brandon, was a native of Penn- sylvania and when a young man removed to Madison county, Ind., where he married a Ken- tucky lady. Subsequently he took up his abode in Minnesota, where his remaining days were passed. Alexander Brandon crossed the plains to the Willamette valley when a young man, the year of his emigration being 1851. Here he married Mrs. Arminda (Whipple) Andrews, who was born near Meadville, in Crawford county, Pa., a daughter of Albert Whipple, also a native of the Keystone state. She first mar- ried Harrison Andrews and removed to Ashta- bula county, Ohio. About 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Andrews started for the northwest by way of the Panama route, but a few days after leaving Panama Mr. Andrews died. His widow then continued her way to Oregon and in the year 1865 she gave her hand in marriage to Mr.

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Brandon. By her marriage with Mr. Andrews she became the mother of one son, C. L. Andrews, who is now chief deputy collector of customs in Skagway, Alaska. Mr. and Mrs. Brandon still reside upon the old donation claim at Plainview, Linn county, Ore., which Mr. Brandon took up as a home when he came to the northwest as a pioneer settler. Five children were born of their marriage, namely: Mrs. B. Whealdon, of Idaho; Mrs. Wiles; Alfred, who is living on the old homestead; Mrs. O. G. Chamberlain, of Athena, Ore .; and Anna, who resides at home. Mrs. Wiles was educated in Albany College, and is a most estimable lady. Unto our subject and his wife has been born but one daughter, a lovely and affectionate child named Frances Alberta. Mr. Wiles be- longs to the Ancient Order of the United Work- men and to Corvallis Cabin of the Native Sons, of which he is the treasurer. Although his time is largely taken up by extensive and important business interests, he never neglects his duty as a Christian and is a useful and active mem- ber of the First Baptist Church of Corvallis. He is now serving on its board of trustees and during the building of the house of worship and for several years afterward he served as clerk of the board. He has also been very active in Sunday school work. In politics he is a Demo- crat where national issues and questions are involved, but at local elections does not con- sider himself bound by party ties. His unswerv- ing purpose, his unquestioned fidelity, his unfail- ing honesty and his unchanging will have com- manded the highest respect of all, and there is in Corvallis no one held in warmer esteem than this native son of Oregon.

CHARLES O. PETERSON. Few of the thousands of people who take advantage of the product known as excelsior, in the loose meshes of which can be transported in perfect safety to the uttermost parts of the earth the most costly or fragile articles, realize to what extent its manufacture is a money-making and employment proposition. A visit to the factory and warehouses of the plant of C. O. Peterson and W. J. Royse at Eugene, would convince the most casual observer that he is in the midst of a live, substantial, and far-reaching business, based upon sound commercial principles, and contributing to an enormous outstanding trade. Especially would one gain a complete under- standing of the business were one accompanied on the tour of inspection by Mr. Peterson, the junior member of the firm, whose many years of practical experience in this line qualify him to speak authoritatively. The plant has a few protected patents not known to others similarly

equipped, besides the most modern machinery, ten machines being operated the year around. The exclusive machinery facilitates the manu- facture of the product, the capacity being ten tons per day of twenty-four hours. This output of course necessitates a large amount of wood that must be kept on hand, and from two thous- and five hundred to six thousand cords are con- tinually in process of seasoning, the latter an absolute necessity in this department of manu- facture. Balmwood alone is used to make the thin shavings, and the banks of the Willamette yield up many trees in the course of a year. Once finished, the product is pressed into bales of one hundred and forty pounds each, average weight, and shipped to different parts of Ore- gon, California, Washington and Utah. The two large buildings at the corner of Sixth and High streets are supplemented by warehouses holding many tons, and the whole enterprise is adequately protected from fire by the best hydrant and fire system known in the west. From sixty to seventy-five hands are employed to cut wood for the mill, about five months of the year, and many more are required for the operation of the plant.

Mr. Peterson, who embodies in his make-up the push, energy and force of the successful western business man, is a native of Iowa, and was born near Lansing, December 20, 1868. Nine years later, about 1877, he accompanied his parents to Lacenter, Wash., where his. father died, and where he was left to support himself at the age of twelve years. He had much to be thankful for, however, as he was strong- limbed and stout-hearted. For two years he worked on a farm for his clothes and board and the privilege of attending school for a few months, and two years also he spent on a farm in Benton county, Ore. At the age of sixteen he arrived in Portland, and after various at- tempts at employment began working for Henry Nicholi of the Portland Excelsior Mill, remain- ing there for about two years. He seemed to take naturally to the work, advanced rapidly, and was promoted even further after entering the Willamette Falls Excelsior Works at Ore- gon City. Here he became foreman of the mill. but his work was interrupted by the death of his mother and the necessity of temporarily withdrawing to settle the estate. Afterward, he went to Lebanon and engaged in the excelsior manufacturing business for himself, purchasing an interest in the concern of O'Neill Brothers, which operated under the name of O'Neill Brothers & Peterson for six years. While thus employed Mr. Rovse, his present partner, pur- chased the O'Neill interests and in this manner the business was continued in Lebanon until September, 1899. Owing to superior facilities

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for conducting the business it was removed to Eugene, and the present mill and warehouses erected.

In Oregon City Mr. Peterson married Hannah Stuart, a native of lowa, and whose father, Joel A. Stuart, a builder by occupation and now living retired in Seattle, Ore., came to Oregon with his family in 1868. Albert and Myma, the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, are living at home. Mr. Peterson has taken an active interest in Democratic politics, and for two terms was a member of the town of Lebanon council. He is a member and past officer in the Knights of the Maccabees.

JAMES M. STAFFORD. A member of the legislature in 1887, and again in 1889, James M. Stafford has also served Lane county in many other official capacities, elected thereto by his fellow Republican townsmen. Under public observation he has proven himself possessed of clear judgment, and disinterested devotion to the public welfare, at the same time enjoying the satisfaction of having been elected without canvassing, or any solicitation of votes. A resi- dent of Oregon since his tenth year, he was reared on the farm which is still his home, and which was taken up by his parents, William and Priscilla J. (Ramsey) Stafford , in 1852. The parents were born and married in Indiana, and at an early day removed to Atchison county, Mo., where their son, James M., was born May 18, 1842. Missouri continued to be the home of the Staffords until 1852, when the father outfitted with three wagons, eleven yoke of oxen, fifteen cows and three horses, out of which he had, at the end of his journey, fourteen steers two cows and two horses. From May until November the train moved slowly over the plains, the travelers leading for the most part an uneventful existence, and meeting with little resistance from Indians, weather or illness. In the fall the father took the three hundred and twenty acres above referred to, and in November erected a one-room log cabin, about 18x18 feet in ground dimensions. Fortunately the land was mostly prairie, and more easy to cultivate than the heavily timbered properties. Success attended his efforts, and in 1866 he sold out and moved to a farm near Halsey, Linn county, still later moving to Umatilla county in order to engage in extensive wheat-raising. In 1888 he took up his residence in Tacoma, Wash., and died there June 30 of that year at the age of seventy-four years. For the last three years of her life his wife lived with her son, James M., her death occurring January 23, 1903, at the age of eighty four years. Since 1853 she had

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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 165

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