Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 167

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 167

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In 1846 Mr. Collins outfitted for the trip across the plains, having decided to become a pioneer of the northwest. Besides ten yoke of oxen he brought with him valuable loose cattle and horses upon a trip made memorable by in- numerable hardships and dangers. They crossed the Kansas river, thence followed the Republi- can fork, and the Platte river, by Ft. Laramie, and on to the Black Hills. They were not mo- lested by the Indians until they reached the Hum- boldt valley, in Nevada, but from there on they encountered considerable difficulties. One week was consumed in passing through the Umpqua canon, a distance of twelve miles, as they were compelled to bridge over the rocks, follow the streams, etc. Upon their arrival at the present site of Eugene City, they found but one house, that having been built by Eugene Skinner, but with no occupants. Here the subject of this sketch remained with the wagons and ex- hausted stock during the winter, while the rest of the family proceeded on pack-horses, to the settlements on the Luckiamute river, about sixty miles further north.

In the spring of 1847 Mr. Collins took up a donation claim located between the Luckiamute and Soap creek, in Polk county, and entered at once upon the work of reclaiming the land from its wilderness state. The stock which he had brought with him to Oregon he turned upon the open range. By energy, perseverance and man-

agement he acquired a large amount of property, in later years trading stock for land in the southern part of Polk county, which he retained until the time of his death. Mr. Collins had brought with him to Oregon several hundred dollars' worth of leather, the first brought into the state, and on his claim he established a small tannery which he conducted for several years. Mr. King, the first settler of King's valley em- ployed him to finish some leather which he had previously tanned, but could not curry and finish.

Mr. Collins was married in 1829 to Miss Eliza Emily Wyatt, who was born near Mount Sterling, Ky., in 1812. She was a daughter of Douglas Wyatt, a native of Kentucky and pio- neer of Warren county, Mo. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Collins, namely : Jane E., who became the wife of M. M. Neeley, and died in Oregon; James Layton, the subject of this review; Francis M., of Dallas; George Smith, who was killed at the age of six years while crossing the plains; Eliza Melvina, of Dallas, the widow of William P. Shaw; Doug- las Wyatt, of Klickitat county, Wash .; William Wallace, of Polk county; David Crockett, who was drowned in Forest creek in 1875; Alex- ander H., of Dallas; Emily A., who became the wife of Richard Wells, and died in Polk county ; Mary I., the wife of Elvin Carter of Klickitat county, Wash .; and A. S., of Prineville, Ore. The eight children first mentioned were born in Missouri and accompanied their parents to Oregon, while the last four were born in Polk county. Mr. Collins died in 1872.

James Layton Collins was born in Warren county, Mo., May 9, 1833, and shortly before his thirteenth birthday he was en route for Oregon, a member of the first company that ever came by way of the Klamath lakes, and across the Siskiyou, Umpqua and Calapooia mountains into the Willamette valley. He was often detailed to drive the foremost team that broke down the thick sage brush upon the trackless waste and was thus in the van of danger and difficulty throughout the greater part of the trip. On October 10, the party arrived in the Willamette valley at the present site of Eugene City. There a great many of the hardships and perils of pioneer life fell upon the shoulders of Judge Collins, then a mere lad, the necessity of pro- viding game in sufficient quantity for the sup- port of himself and two sick companions, en- forcing him to shoulder his gun, and with its breech breaking the ice in the sloughs and streams, wade through them in order to reach good hunting grounds on the other shore. In the spring of the following year he settled with his parents in Polk county where he helped to erect and improve their pioneer home. For sev- eral years he remained at home, assisting in the

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general work of the farm. During this period he followed out his natural inclinations and began to devote every spare moment to study ; not being able to procure lights, he pursued his studies by the glow of the pitchwood fire in the rude fireplace, the foundation for knowl- edge having been laid in the subscription schools of his native state. After a few years, when the family could manage to get along without his assistance, he became a student in the old Ore- gon Institution at Salem, then conducted by Pro- fessor Hoyt, and which has since become Will- amette University. Being under the necessity of working for his maintenance while attending school, he was first employed by Father Waller. Professor Hoyt soon recognized the intellectual qualities of the ambitious lad, and employed him to cut wood and to work in the campus garden, for these services paying him twenty-five cents per hour. He occupied a room in the upper story of the college building, and for two years put in many hours of hard labor daily, and soon became proficient in Greek and other branches.

In 1853 Judge Collins went to the mines of northern California, where he remained until the fall of 1855, when he returned to Oregon. The legislature being in session, he secured a posi- tion as reporter for the Democrat-Standard, and continued as such until the close of the session, during which the capital was removed from Cor- vallis to Salem. A few days before the adjourn- ment of the legislature Capt. B. F. Burch organ- ized Company B of the recruiting battalion of the first regiment of Oregon Mounted Volun- teers, for service in the Yakima Indian war. Judge Collins at once enlisted, and after the adjournment of the assembly he joined the troops in the field on the Columbia river and participated in the hardships and perils which followed. He was with Col. Thomas R. Cor- nelius throughout his famous " horse-meat cam- paign," when the volunteers pursued the In- dians for two months, being often reduced to the necessity of subsisting upon the horses cap- tured from or abandoned by the Indians in their flight. He also took an active and honorable part in the battle of the Simcoe, which won for him the respect of his officers and the confidence and esteem of all his comrades in arms.

After the close of hostilities Judge Collins re- turned to Polk county and engaged in teaching school, at the same time continuing his studies. He had previously studied law under Hon. B. F. Harding and Hon. L. F. Grover while a resi- dent of Salem, and in 1859 he made application for admission to the bar. Judge Wilson, then District Attorney, wrote the motion for his admission, a committee was appointed, consist- ing of Judges J. G. Wilson, George H. Williams and Ben Hayden, to examine him, and he was

admitted November 19, of the same year. Dur- ing the session of 1864 and the special session of 1865 he was chief clerk of the house of representatives. In 1869 he was appointed by Gov. Geo. L. Woods county judge of Polk county, and the same year was appointed by Judge Deady to the office of United States commissioner, which he has held up to the present time. He has served as deputy prose- cuting attorney for several years and has been attorney for the state in managing the school fund of Polk county for the past fifteen years. In politics the judge is a Republican, though he had been a Democrat until the breaking out of the Civil war. At that time he abandoned that party and as a member of the state convention at Eugene City aided in organizing the Repub- lican party for its first effective campaign in Oregon. He has also served as chairman of the county central committee, and was a member of the state central committee and has served as a member of the Dallas city council. As county superintendent of schools for two years he was active in the promotion of educational matters, being instrumental in the organization of Dallas College, and takes great interest in all move- ments pertaining to the general welfare of the community. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served as trustee.

The marriage of Judge Collins occurred in Polk county in 1861, Miss Mary Whiteaker be- coming his wife. She was born in De Kalb county, Ill., in 1846, the daughter of Benjamin Whiteaker, who was one of the pioneers of Polk county in 1847, and a relative of John White- aker, the first governor of Oregon. Mrs. Col- lins died in 1864, leaving one daughter, Nellie, who is a graduate of La Creole Academy, the state normal school at Monmouth, and the New York state normal college at Oswego, N. Y. She is now critic in the state normal school at Madison, S. D., which position she has occupied for the past ten years. On January 1, 1867, Judge Collins married for his second wife Miss Mary E. Kimes, a native of De Kalb county, Mo., and a daughter of Lewis Ray Kimes, who started with his family for Oregon in 1852 and was drowned while attempting to cross the Mis- souri river. His widow continued her journey to Oregon, locating in Yamhill county, where was born her son, Lewis Ray Kimes, now a prominent farmer of Polk county. To Judge and Mrs. Collins were born ten children, name- ly : . Ray Smith, deceased ; Edgar Layton, of Ka- lama, Wash .: Mary, wife of Prof. E. E. Watts, of Washington county, Ore .; Ednelle, a teacher in the public schools of Dallas; Ben David, de- · ceased ; Ora; Frank Wyatt, a mechanical en- gineer in the Union Iron Works of San Fran-

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cisco; Louise; James Dean; and Margaret, de- ceased.

In 1859 Judge Collins opened an office in In- dependence, but since 1860 has been continu- ously engaged in the practice of law in Dallas. By his contemporaries he is regarded as an able lawyer, a safe counselor, a strong pleader, well grounded in the principles of his chosen profes- sion, and equipped with unexcelled ability to apply them correctly to the case in hand. A young attorney once cast reflections upon the in- tegrity of Judge Collins. Governor Gibbs re- plied : " He is a man who may safely be trusted with uncounted gold." An attempt was once made to throw out of court a case in which Judge Collins was thé attorney. Judge Boise, who pre- sided, said : "Judge Collins has practiced before me, and has uniformly appeared with the best papers ever presented in my court." The mo- tion was overruled.

This brief outline of the life record of Judge Collins illustrates what careful and thorough preparation, determination and perseverance, supplemented by a righteous ambition to attain a position of responsibility and honor, will ac- complish. Many a young man of the present generation, or of generations yet to come, doubt- less will find in the story of his life much that will prove an incentive to earnest and conscien- tious effort, and without these qualifications no man may hope to make a success of his elected vocation, regardless of the extent of his mental attainments.

GEORGE EBERHARD. To his apprecia- tion of the dignity and usefulness of an agri- cultural life George Eberhard owes his finely improved farm in Marion county, and the com- petence which enables his family to enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. As long ago as 1860 his good judgment sug- gested the purchase of the three hundred and twenty acres which have been his home, and whereas at that time only sixty acres were cleared, his industry has completed the clear- ing of one hundred and fifty acres in all. All kinds of grain and general produce attain ma- turity upon the well tilled acres each year, and fine stock graze in contentment under the sun- mer sun. This land is a portion of the old Peter Burke donation claim, and cost the pres- ent owner but $1,200. That its value has in- creased many fold in the meantime is apparent to all who visit this hospitable home, and note the progressive methods employed by the tact- ful, resourceful and diligent owner.

The state of Ohio has contributed many native sons to the upbuilding of Oregon, and to this

class Mr. Eberhard belongs, he having been born near Bucyrus, Crawford county, November 25, 1832. When he was four years of age his parents removed to St. Joseph county, Mich., where he grew to manhood on a farm, and was educated principally in the public schools. As time went on he realized the limitations by which he was surrounded on the Michigan farm and wisely determined to strike out for himself, although in a strange land and with but scant available resources. Accordingly, in 1855, when about twenty-two years of age, he set forth for San Francisco by way of Panama. Arriv- ing at his destination, he went at once to the mines in Eldorado county. Altogether he spent about five years in California, alternating be- tween mining and ranching, and in 1859 came to Oregon, locating in Marion county.

In January, 1866, Mr. Eberhard was united in marriage with Louise Jones, and of the six children born to this union three are living : Barbara, the wife of Mr. Austin; John P .; and George A. David L., Benjamin F. and Wal- ter are deceased. Mr. Eberhard is a Democrat in politics, and has held the offices of school director and supervisor for many years. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Grange.

CHARLES P. FULLERTON. The ro- mance-tinged history of the early days in Ore- gon were sadly incomplete without due mention of the career of that pioneer of pioneers, C. P. Fullerton, at present living in retirement in Corvallis. That the mention of a name in the owner's locality calls up instinctively the dom- inating characteristics which his friends of many years have carefully observed is invariably true, and in Mr. Fullerton's case the keynote of his influence would seem to be an absolute and un- questioned integrity. With this admirable trait for a foundation, he has traveled the weary years since 1846, accomplishing substantially and conservatively, and in such way that his posi- tion has never been swayed by passing events. Born in Troy, Lincoln county, Mo., September 1, 1830, he comes of Revolutionary stock, for his grandfather, Arannah, left his home near Pembroke, Mass., and stacked his musket on · Revolutionary battlefields. He served from Sep- tember 28, 1777, to November 1, 1780, enlisting as a private and being mustered out as sergeant. On the Massachusetts farm Rufus, the father of C. P. Fullerton, was born, and from his native state removed to Missouri in 1823 or 1824. ' He was a merchant and farmer, and died in his adopted state in 1842. His last years were spent alone, for his wife, Janet (Pringle) Fullerton, died in 1836, leaving three children, of whom

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C. P. is the only one living. Mrs. Fullerton was a native of Connecticut, and with her father, Norman Pringle, removed to Warren county, Mo., in 1820, locating on a large farm at what is now Hickory Grove. One of her sons, L. B., came to Oregon in 1851, and died some years later in Salem.

Left an orphan at the age of about eleven, Mr. Fullerton was reared on a farm in Missouri, and when fifteen years of age had a chance to come to the coast with his uncle, V. K. Pringle. Start- ing out with ox-teams and provisions April 20, 1846, he drove nearly all the way across, and on the way encountered some sorry experiences. He happened to be in the Applegate cut-off, and, in company with others similarly placed, nearly starved to death. The party reached Salem December 25, 1846, and the Fullertons spent the winter in the town, the uncle settling on a farm near Aumsville, Marion county, the following spring. C. P. lived with his relative for a year, but much to his disappointment there was no school for him to attend, and consequently his western education has been entirely of his own getting. Soon after reaching the west he be- came familiar with the dangers as well as ad- vantages of the wilderness country, for duty com- pelled him to enlist in the Cayuse war during 1847-8, first as a private in Capt. W. P. Pugh's company, and later in the company of William Martin. Having completed his two enlistments he returned to his home, and in April, 1849, started across the mountains to California, where he hoped to make a fortune in the gold mines. His expectations. were evidently not realized, for during September, 1849, he started back across the mountains, fully resolved to hence- forth rely upon more certain, even if slower, means of livelihood.

In 1851 Mr. Fullerton took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres south of Salem, which he improved, and to which he added until he possessed four hundred and eighty-two acres. He engaged principally in grain and stock-raising, his farm being located four miles south of Salem. Success rewarded his efforts to clear his land and make it profitable, and he became prominent in his locality, promot- ing its all-around interests, especially along edu- cational lines. Realizing his own want of op- portunity upon arriving in the far west, he saw to it that the youth of the rising generation had better chances, and assisted in establishing tlie first school in his district. He was an officer of the school board up to the time of selling his farm and removing to Alsea, Benton county, in 1887. Here Mr. Fullerton bought six hundred and forty acres of land, upon which he engaged in farming and stock-raising, and where he made his home until disposing of the same in 1901.

December 31, of that year, he located in Cor- vallis, and the following year built one of the attractive residences of the town, and which is surrounded by fifteen acres of land.

Through his marriage in Yamhill county, in 1854, with Cornelia M. Lady, a native of Ten- nessee, and daughter of William G. Lady, a Yamhill pioneer of 1854, eleven children have been born: Lucy T., now Mrs. C. J. Bradner, of Seattle; Walter, engaged in the stock business in Crook county; Mark, a graduate of the Willamette University, and an attorney at law, in Olympia, and member of the supreme bench of Washington; David, engaged in mining in Alaska; Finley, living on a part of the Alsea ranch; Rufus, a merchant in Kennewick, Wash .; Nellie C., now Mrs. D. H. Glass, of Oregon City, and an educator by occupation ; Juliet at home ; Lucian, in Crook county, Ore .; Josephine, a teacher in Corvallis; and Charles, Jr., attend- ing the Oregon Agricultural College. A Re- publican in politics, Mr. Fullerton has never had any desire for public office, but at one time did serve as justice of the peace at Alsea. In re- ligion he is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. ' In the estimation of his many friends in Corvallis and throughout the county, Mr. Fullerton is representative of the highest western citizenship; strong of character, upright in motive and act, and genial in manner, he com- mands the respect and esteem of all who have ever been associated with him.

ADOLPH F. PETERSON. Many of the handsomest residences, the most modern and practical public buildings, and the most am- bitious architectural accomplishments in general in Corvallis are due to the skill and artistic ap- preciation of Adolph F. Peterson, one of the foremost builders and contractors in Benton county. The armory of the Oregon Agricultural College, and the court houses of Wheeler, Gill- iam and Sherman counties may be mentioned as fair samples of his excellent and substantial construction. Since coming here Mr. Peterson has found his way into the front rank of the business community, and his very successful career may be taken as typical of the best and most progressive class of Swedish-Americans.

In Minnesota, whither have settled so many of his countrymen, Mr. Peterson was born at Mound Prairie, Washington county, August 8, 1858, his father, John F., being one of the very earliest settlers of that section of the north. John F. Peterson was born in Smaalan, southeastern Sweden, and when about fourteen years of age was apprenticed to a crown tailor of Stockholm. In his native land he married Katrina Harden, a native of Stockholm, and member of a promi-

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nent Swedish family, and three children were born to this union in the old country. With his wife and children Mr. Peterson came to America at an early day, and in New York city was swindled out of considerable money by his sup- posed friends. In this way the savings of many years were lost, and it was with difficulty that he succeeded in getting his family to St. Paul, Minn. The northern metropolis at that time con- sisted of a few small log cabins occupied by some French settlers and Indians, and the new ar- rival was probably as ignorant as they of the teeming industry and giant enterprises which would one day have their birth upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Had he fore- seen, he would probably have held his land until it increased in value, but as it was he saw noth- ing beyond rather barren and not particularly profitable acres fit for certain kinds of grain and general produce. So he disposed of his land and removed to Sauk Center, where he engaged in farming until the Sioux Indian outbreak in 1861-2. Thus surrounded by danger, his family were obliged to make their escape with ox-teams to St. Cloud, and from there to St. Paul, where they remained until peace was restored. In the meantime the father had taken up the defense of the settlers, and was serving as a scout under General Sibley, his oldest son standing valiantly by his side, and assisting in every way in his power to break the sway of the murderous red men. Father and son participated in the battle of New Ulm, and assisted in the capture and subsequent hanging of thirty-eight of the ring- leaders among the Indians. Not content with his service in the north, Mr. Peterson then en- listed for the Civil war, then at its height, in Company G, Seventh Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, which company was composed of Swedish and German citizens. With the rest of his com- rades he went south, fought bravely upon many a field of battle, and finally died of exposure and deprivation in Little Rock, Ark. That his valor was appreciated, and that his sad end touched a sympathetic chord in at least one heart, was proven when a comrade-in-arms walked three hundred miles to inform the widow of his un- timely and tragic death. This faithful wife, who had braved the dangers and trials of the early pioneer days in the north, finally died in St. Paul, mourned by her large family of children, nine in all, of whom Adolph F. is the eighth. One of the sons, John by name, is engaged in the real estate business at Grant's Pass, Ore., and served as assistant surgeon during the rebellion ; and Victor distinguished himself as a second lieutenant during the Civil war.

In' St. Paul Adolph F. Peterson received his education in the public schools, but quit during the junior year at the high school to apprentice

to a carpenter. In the meantime his brother had come to Oregon and engaged in the sawmill business on Yaquina bay, and in 1875 Adolph joined him, and unsuccessfully engaged in saw- milling. But success came to him when he be- came foreman of construction on the United States jetties at the mouth of the Columbia river. His superior, J. S. Polhemus, gave him the most superior recommendations when he left his service at the expiration of eight years. Dur- ing his service for the government Mr. Peterson married Etella Thompson, a native of Corvallis, and daughter of R. M. Thompson, a man of great prominence in this part of the county, hav- ing succeeded as postmaster, merchant and agri- culturist. Mr. Thompson was foremost in pub- lic affairs in Corvallis, and was an active worker in the Republican party. More extended mention of this early settler may be found elsewhere in this work.

Owing to the precarious state of his wife's health Mr. Peterson removed to Los Angeles, Cal., where he built and contracted for a couple of years, after which he returned to Corvallis, and has since made this his home. Three chil- dren have been born into his family, Ileen, Ray- mond George and Agnes Reka. He is a Re- publican in politics, and though often urged to accept office, has steadfastly refused all honor of an official nature. He is fraternally popular and well known, and is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Arti- sans, the Knights of Pythias, and the Degree of Honor. He is well adapted to his chosen call- ing, to which he brings an astute mind, a clear conception and a versatility which finds expres- sion in delightful, harmonious and practical effects.

JUDGE VIRGIL E. WATTERS, who is now serving upon the county bench, dates his residence in Oregon from 1877 and in Benton county from 1884. He was born in Holton, Jackson county, Kans., in 1863. His paternal grandfather, Dr. James Watters, was a repre- sentative of an old New England family of Scotch-Irish descent. Leaving the east he settled in Indiana and afterward removed to Wassonville, Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1857 he removed to what is now the city of Holton, Kans., where he spent his remaining days, dying in 1891, when more than ninety years of age. Thomas G. Watters, the father of the judge, was born in Rockville, Ind., and reared in Iowa, and later became one of the pioneers of Kansas, taking a very active part in its early development. He arrived in that state in 1857, settling first in Lawrence, and later took up his abode upon the

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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 167

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