Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 171

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 171

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JOHN A. BUCHANAN. But a few years ago Benton county was called upon to give up by death one of the most honored members of the community, a man who commanded the re- spect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact, by his high moral character and the many sterling qualities which have made him a much-beloved citizen in his adopted state. He was the son of a Scotch emigrant who brought his family to the United States from England, where he had settled some years pre- vious, and where John A. Buchanan was born. In 1854 he accompanied his brother, Robert L., to Oregon, the latter having made a previous trip. This brother now resides south of Cor- vallis. With the strength of character inher- ited from his Scotch ancestors John A. Buch- anan soon found a place for himself in this growing west. After nine years in the mines in Idaho he selected agricultural pursuits for his life occupation, and with industry and perse- verance through the pioneer years of this state he labored to become recognized as a succss- ful farmer, in the process of which he acquired the title to many acres of valuable land. At his death he owned eight hundred and forty acres, a part of which was the old Proctor do- nation claim, and upon which he put the best and most substantial of improvements until now it represents one of the most valuable pieces of property in this section of the coun- try. Mr. Buchanan engaged principally in general farming, being, however, much inter-

ested in wheat-raising, in which he was very successful. Not always a farmer, he owed con- siderable of his success to a fortunate venture in the Idaho mines, and also to other business interests. At the time of his death, which oc- curred very suddenly May 3, 1900, while he was engaged with the performance of some trivial duty, he was serving as county com- missioner in the interests of the Republican party, of which he was a stanch adherent. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. The last resting place of this honorable pioneer is in Bellfountain Cemetery.

The marriage of Mr. Buchanan occurred January 15, 1873, in Douglas county, and united him with the daughter of a pioneer fam- ily, Miss Ruth Gardner, who was born in Illi- nois. Her father, Isaac M. Gardner, was a native of Baltimore, Md., who removed to Ohio at an early day, later following this up with a venture into the Prairie state. In 1853 he crossed the plains with his wife and three children, and after seven months of slow plod- ding of the patient oxen they descended from the Cascade mountains into the Willamette Valley, settling at Siulaw, where for seven years Mr. Gardner engaged in farming. Re- moving at this time to a farm on Elk creek, near Drain, Douglas county, he continued in this occupation, making his home at the pres- ent time in this location, being now eighty- four years of age. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. His wife, known in maidenhood as Hannah Krewson, was born in Ohio and died in Douglas county, Ore., in 1891. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gard- ner eight attained maturity, of whom six are now living. They are as follows: Ruth, the widow of John A. Buchanan ; Susan, now Mrs. M. N. Ensley of Drain; Lucy, Mrs. Jacob Sawyer of Elkton; Emma, still a member of her father's home; Henry, a farmer near Drain; and Isaac, now a retired farmer of Drain.

When first married Mrs. Buchanan and her husband lived on his farm, which was lo- cated ten miles south of Corvallis, but since his death she has removed to Corvallis, mak- ing this city her home since 1901, on account of the educational advantages for her chil- dren, of whom there are seven living. The eldest of her children, J. Fred, is engaged in farming on three hundred and twenty acres of land in this county; Alice, a graduate of the Oregon Agricultural College, is the wife of R. C. Herron, of Bruce, Benton county ; Ernest is occupied in the stock business in Douglas county ; Edith died at the age of sev- enteen years while attending the Oregon Agri-

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cultural College; the remaining children, Claude, Mildred, Carrie and Lizzie, are all at home, the former being a graduate of the Ore- gon Agricultural College, and the three younger are attending the public schools. Mrs. Buchanan looks after the interests of the home farm, upon which the family spend the sum- mer months. Like her father, she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, her polit- ical convictions running parallel with those of her late husband.

JOSEPH GRAY. The labors which have resulted in the present high state of develop- ment noticeable in Benton county have been largely participated in by Mr. Gray, who is one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of the county. A native of Scotland, born June 30, 1828, his early life was not unlike that of many another youth of his acquaintance in the home land, but at eighteen years of age he de- termined to learn a trade and begin life in earnest. Choosing the carpenter's trade as the most congenial to his tastes, he at once set about to master it in all its details, and there- after followed it in his native land until 1850, or until he was twenty-two years of age. It was in the year last mentioned that he first ventured from the scenes with which he had hitherto been familiar, going to Australia, and for four years was engaged at his trade in Mel- bourne.

The year 1851 was memorable in Australian history as the one in which gold was discov- ered in that country, and it is not surprising that Mr. Gray became enthusiastic in search- ing for the yellow dust as did so many thou- sands of others equally ambitious. After fol- lowing the life of the miner for about six years he returned to his native land to visit friends and relatives, remaining but a short time, how- ever, for in October of the same year, 1860. he landed in California. The following year he came to Oregon, settling in Benton county, where for four years he carried on farming upon rented land. At the expiration of this time, in 1865, he removed to his present farm of three hundred and thirty acres in the vi- cinity of Philomath, which he had purchased in 1862, and here he carries on general farm- ing and raises stock, meeting with good re- turns for the care and labor bestowed.

It was while a resident of Melbourne, Aus- tralia, that Mr. Gray was united in marriage with Miss Annie Murray, a native of Scot- land. Two children were born to this worthy couple, the eldest of whom, Isabelle, is a teacher in one of the public schools of Fresno, Cal. ; and Alexander M. is interested with his

father in the conduct of the home farm. Re- ligiously the family are identified with the Presbyterian Church, to whose maintenance they contribute, and they may always be found in the forefront of all measures tending to benefit mankind or upbuild the community.

ABRAM N. LOCKE. The name of Abram N. Locke is worthy of mention among the early pioneers of Oregon, for at the youthful age of five years he crossed the plains with his parents and became an inhabitant of the coun- try where primitive conditions reigned su- preme, and in the passing years he has added his aims and ambitions to the upbuilding in- fluences that have made the greatness and prosperity of this commonwealth.

The birth of Abram N. Locke occurred near Keytesville, Chariton county, Mo., September I, 1842, his parents being A. N. and Harriett Sinett, natives respectively of Mississippi and Ohio. When a young man the father settled in Missouri, and there engaged in farming, re- maining until 1847, when he was induced to undertake the journey into the west for the sake of the opportunities offered in the rich and productive lands, the times giving prom- ise of rapid settlement. With his wife and four children he joined an ox train bound for the new settlements over the southern route of the old Oregon and California trail, coming by way of Canonville and Rogue river, and after six months spent in traveling he arrived at his destination. He at once took up a do- nation land claim of five hundred and fifty- four acres five miles north of Corvallis, Ben- ton county, Ore., and in the years which fol- lowed he never had reason to regret his choice of a location. He continued to improve the land until his farm became one of the most valuable in the county. He remained in this location until his death, not too interested in his farming to take an active part in the af- fairs of his community at a time when men of worth and ability were most to be desired. Religiously he was a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church South, and politically he was a Democrat, holding through this influ- ence several important positions, among them being that of probate judge, in which he con- tinued for six years; deputy sheriff for two years; and sheriff for a like period. Actively interested in all that pertained to the welfare or material growth of his adopted county, Mr. Locke gave liberally of his means toward every public movement, one of his donations being an acre of land to be devoted to the use of a cemetery, which was called by the name of the donor, and is now one of the finest burial

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grounds in this part of the county. The dona- tion was made in 1855. His wife also died upon the old homestead. Besides our subject, the other children of this pioneer family are as follows : Thomas, who died in Oregon; William, residing on a part of the old home- stead ; Alonzo, a resident of Lint county, Ore .; Alfred, also on a part of the home farm ; Laura, deceased ; and Jennie, located in Seattle, Wash., is the wife of Samuel Boreland.

The boyhood of Abram N. Locke was spent upon his father's farm, and interspersed with his usual home duties was an attendance of the public school, his first remembrance of the educational advantages of Oregon being of a little log house where the children of the pioneer settlers gathered for their share in the distribution of knowledge. Later he engaged with his father in farming, where he remained for three years; after attaining his majority, or nearly so, he went in 1862 on a prospecting trip to the mines located near Boise City, Ida- ho, and the next year, in company with his father and brother William, he took pack trains to that city and for some time was en- gaged in packing in the mines, from which labor he realized a considerable amount. On returning to Oregon he became the possessor of a part of the home place, which he has since continued to own, farming upon it for the principal part of the time. Four years of the time since his purchase he was engaged in the cattle business in Crook county, Ore., after which he sold his interests there and returned to Benton county. He now owns one hundred and ninety acres of the original claim, upon which he has built a residence and made many other improvements, following the ex -. ample of his father in his endeavor to make a successful farmer and a good citizen. His spe- cialty in agriculture is the cultivation of grain, most of his land lying in a rich and productive valley. He also owns two handsome residences in Corvallis, to one of which he retired in 1898, where with five acres of land he occupies his time and takes a well earned rest from the active duties of life, enjoying and appre- ciating the changes which have come within his range of vision, one of the greatest being the absence from the hills and forests of the wild animals which he hunted in his boyhood days.

In Chariton county, Mo., Mr. Locke was united in marriage with Miss Annie Sinnett, a native of that state. Adhering to the con- victions of his father, Mr. Locke is Demo- cratic in his political affiliations, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having attained the De- gree of Honor.

NELSON P. CRUME. The Brownsville flouring mills, owned and managed by Nelson P. Crume since 1901, is one of the substantial enterprises of the town, and one which is destined to continually enlarge its business. This prophecy is based upon the excellent quality of the flour produced, and which finds a ready market all along the coast. Since coming under the present management the old mills have been completely overhauled, new and modern machinery intro- duced, and a capacity of fifty barrels a day at- tained to. The power is water, and the visitor to the white interior finds a hive of industry, wherein the greatest system and order prevail.

In Daviess county, Mo., where he was born December 9, 1856, Mr. Crume was reared on the farm of his father, George W. Crume, who had settled there after leaving his native state of Illinois. The father left his home interests to serve in the Civil war, and became a martyr to the cause of the Union. Enlisting as a private in the Twenty-third Missouri Volunteer In- fantry, in 1861, he took part in several of the first battles of the war, but died at Alton of camp fever, contracted while exposed to the rigors of the service, in 1863. His wife, formerly Ma- linda C. Thompson, was born in Kentucky, and some months after the death of her husband, married Lot S. Harris. The latter brought his wife and her children across the plains in 1864, locating on a claim near Scio, which he improved and lived upon until his death, in 1900. He is survived by his wife, who lives with her son, Quincy, near Carlton.

The oldest of the three sons born to his pa- rents, Nelson P. Crume, was educated in the public schools, and entered the Oregon Agricul- tural College, at Corvallis, in 1875. In 1882 he engaged in farming near Brownsville, purchas- ing one hundred acres of land, which he sold in 1890, and thereafter engaged in a general mer- chandise business at Shedds. Eleven years later he sold out and purchased the mills, to the man- agement of which he has since devoted his en- ergies. A native daughter of this vicinity, Sarah Harrison, became the wife of Mr. Crume, since his coming to Brownsville, her father, Robert Harrison, born in Lincolnshire, England, having come to the United States at an early day. Mr. Harrison located first in Michigan, from which state he crossed the plains in 1853 and settled on his present farm four miles northwest of Brownsville. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crume: George W., on the home place; Van A., deceased; Nellie; Bessie; Iris ;

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and Sarah. Politically Mr. Crume is a Prohi- bitionist, and he is at. present serving his first term in the council. He is fraternally connected with the Blue Lodge No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons, of Brownsville, and the Woodmen of the World. A man of high moral character and un- swerving integrity, he finds a religious home in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and towards the support and upbuild- ing of which he has liberally contributed both time and money for many years.

LEMUEL DUNCAN SCARBROUGH, M. D. The work which Dr. L. D. Scarbrough has done in the community in which he has made his home for a lengthy period has been varied in nature, but in no instance has its quality suf- fered, as thoroughness has been the doctor's watchword in all lines of business which he has cared to take up. He was born in White Plains, Ala., June 14, 1851, the son of a farmer of North Carolina, and the descendant of Scotch and English ancestry. The father, Lemuel, lived to the age of fifty-two years, while the mother, Nancy P. (McRae) Scarbrough, at- tained the age of eighty-five years. Of the twelve children born to his parents all attained maturity and the youngest was Lemuel D., of this review, his preliminary education being received in the public schools in the vicinity of his home. Afterward he attended Oxford Col- lege, in the town of Oxford, in his native state, and at the age of twenty-one took up the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Ben- jamin S. Evans, of White Plains, graduating from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., in 1875, being one of the first class to graduate from that institution. For a year following his graduation he practiced medicine in Alabama, at the end of which time he came to Oregon and located at Creswell, Lane county, in which vicinity he has since remained, becoming one of the prominent and successful men of the section. Besides carrying on his profession he has been extensively engaged in general fruit farming, owning a ranch of two hundred acres, fifty-five acres of bearing prune and apple trees, one hundred and twenty acres of a hundred and forty-four-acre farm just set to fruit, and twen- ty-three acres adjoining Creswell upon which he has built a comfortable cottage, a substantial barn and other improvements, and has also a fruit dryer, the capacity of which is from five to six hundred bushels. In addition to this he has been engaged since 1882 in the general merchandise business in this town.

Dr. Scarbrough was first married in 1878 to Emma Redford, a native of Oregon, and of the three children born to them Marvin M. is a

student in the medical department of Yale University ; Eba E. is at home, and the young- est died in infancy. Miss Clara Cochran, who was born in Cottage Grove, Lane county, became his second wife, and their five children, all of whom are at home, are named in order of birth as follows: Emerson, Carlisle, Dewey, Nancy G. and Crystal. In politics a Democrat, Dr. Scarbrough has always taken an interested part in the local affairs of his party and through this influence has held various minor offices in the vicinity. For twelve years he has acted as postmaster of Creswell. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, in which he has passed all the chairs, and is also identified with the Woodmen of the World, having held all the offices in this order, and in which he also acts as examining physician. The Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows also profits by his member- ship.

JOHN MORLEY. Closely identified with the farming interests of Marion county is John Morley, who is pleasantly located about three miles northeast of Silverton, where he is pros- perously engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, He is numbered among the veteran farmers of the county who have labored with unceasing toil in their chosen vocation, and are now enjoy- ing comfortable competencies, acquired chiefly by their own efforts. Of good old Virginia stock, he was born May 9, 1823, in Jackson county, Ohio, a son of Moses Morley.

Moses Morley, a native of Virginia, born about 1788, removed with his parents, when a small boy, to Ohio, where he lived until after his mar- riage to Catherine Wadkins, a native of Mary- land, and the birth of several of his children. In 1850, although then past the prime of manhood, he made an overland trip to Oregon, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and settled near Sublimity, Marion county. Two years later he sent for his wife, who crossed the plains to join him, but their reunion was of brief duration, his death occurring the same year, in 1852. His widow spent her remaining days with their son, John, the subject of this sketch, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-three years. She was the mother of thirteen children, John Morley being the only survivor of the family.

Obtaining his early education in the district schools, and remaining on the old home farm in Ohio until twenty-one years of age, John Mor- ley then left the parental roof and began the battle of life for himself, working for wages the first three years thereafter. In 1847, follow- ing the tide of immigration westward, he and two boys by the name of Darst started for Ore- gon, crossing the plains with an ox-team, and

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being four months on the road. They crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph May 5, and reached the Willamette valley September 5. Be- coming a pioneer of Marion county, he took up a claim near Sublimity, about three miles from the town, and after his marriage settled to housekeeping on property still nearer that place, living there about eight years. Removing to Silverton in 1862, Mr. Morley turned his atten- tion to the milling business, operating a grist- mill there for eight years. In 1871 he bought a farm nearly three miles northeast of Silver- ton, after which he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. He has one hundred and forty-six acres of land, which he devotes to stock-raising and general farming, twelve acres being planted to hops.

September 20, 1855, Mr. Morley was united in marriage with Senah E. Jones, who was born in Missouri, and from that state crossed the plains in 1852, accompanying her parents, Lewis and Polly Ann (McAlpin) Jones. She passed to the higher life in 1886. To Mrs. Morley sixteen children were born, namely : George W., who lives near Silverton; Jerome, living at home; Levi, deceased; Nettie, wife of Philip Hicks, resid- ing southwest of Silverton; Joshua M., of Sil- verton ; Mary Catharine, wife of John C. War- nock, residing near Silverton; Laura Alice, wife of William S. Jack, of Silverton; Charles, resid- ing near Silverton; Effie, wife of John Hicks; Iva B., at home ; Rosa, wife of Howard C. Whit- lock ; Ella, wife of Dennis C. McCleary ; John L. : Roy; Rachel, and Ruth.

JEREMIAH E. HENKLE. In a beautiful home in Philomath, erected in 1883, Jeremiah E. Henkle is living a practically retired life, the for- tunate possessor of large property interests in town and county, and of the unbounded good will of his fellow townsmen. A resident of Ore- gon since his tenth year, he represents one of the pioneer families of the state, while not far dis- tant, on a farm of three hundred and sixty acres, four miles west of the town, there is living his father, Ichabod, the possessor of a good name in this northwestern country. Ichabod Henkle is ninety-three years of age, is feeble in health, and as the result of a stroke of paralysis four years ago, is deprived of the gift of speech. En- shrouded thus in the shadows of life, and ap- proaching that bourne whence no traveler ever returns, he can contemplate serenely his life- work, interspersed as it has been with more than ordinary accomplishment. He was born in Pen- dleton county, W. Va., October 10, 1810, and, when very young, removed with his parents to Fayette county, Ohio, in 1839 locating on a farm

in Lee county, Iowa. In 1849 he settled on a farm in Appanoose county, Iowa, and there lived with his family, working with his father, Jacob, who was born in West Virginia, and who moved to Ohio, and from there to Iowa with his wife and children. Jacob and his son, Ichabod, were the prime movers in the proposed emigration across the plains in 1853, and Jacob located on the farm where Ichabod is still dreaming his dreams, and waiting. Jacob lived to be seventy- seven years old, his death occurring in 1875. Ichabod developed the true western spirit, was full of push and energy and resource, and saw many ways of promoting the well-being of his adopted state. He was one of the original incor- porators of the Corvallis, Oregon & Yaquina Bay Wagon Road Company, and was a director in the Willamette Valley Coast Railroad, predecessor of the Oregon Pacific Railroad Company. He married Mary A. King, who was born in Dela- ware, and who bore him three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom Jeremiah and Jessie only are living, the former being the second child.

At a very early age Jeremiah E. Henkle started in to perform his share of work on the farm, attending as opportunity offered the public schools of his neighborhood. In 1867 he en- gaged in working a saw-mill on the old farm, and in 1872 came to Philomath, where he was enrolled as one of the first students of the college of this town. However, scarcity of funds pre- vented his attending the college for more than one term, and an opportunity presenting itself to engage in business, he started a general mer- chandise enterprise in partnership with J. L. Shipley. Mr. Shipley dying in 1877, Mr. Henkle was left to manage the business alone, which he did uninterruptedly until 1891, when he sold his business and has since been on the retired list. In the meantime his interests had accumulated, and among other things he had purchased eight hundred acres of land, where he engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, eventually plac- ing thirty acres of his land under hops. He still owns the Henkle saw-mill on the south fork of the Mary river, with its surrounding two hun- dred acres, all of which is rented to his brother. He also owns a farm of four hundred and fifty acres near the town, as well as the store in which the postoffice is located, and a half block adjoin- ing, with its three or four buildings.

Many interesting events have occurred in the career of Mr. Henkle, who is above all else pub- lic-spirited, and ever on the alert for opportunity. In 1859, with his father, Ichabod, he made a trip down the Yaquina river to the bay, a most excit- ing and interesting voyage, for they had to cut their way at every turn. In 1863 they undertook the same journey in a skiff, and, in 1867, Jere-

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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 171

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