Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 179

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 179

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since lived retired in the enjoyment of a well- earned rest, but he still retains possession of the farm, and the rental of the property brings to him a desirable income.

Erastus Spaulding was united in marriage to Elizabeth Kent, who was born in Canada and is now living with her husband in Newberg. They had three children, of whom one died in infancy, but two sons reached mature years. Frank Spaulding, the brother of our subject, however, is now deceased.

In the common schools of Portland Charles K. Spaulding pursued his education, having been brought to the Pacific coast when only about nine years of age. He continued his studies until he had gained a good knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the super- structure of a successful career. When nine- teen years of age he became connected with the logging business, which he has since followed, beginning operations in that line near Dayton, Ore. He had little capital when he embarked in business, the entire sum probably amounting to about $1,000, but he possessed strong resolu- tion and determined energy, and these stood him in stead of greater capital. The splendid forest districts of the state have made Oregon a lucra- tive field for logging and kindred interests and Mr. Spaulding decided to engage in this line of industrial activity. After two years he came to Newberg, Ore., continued in the same business, and in 1890 he went to Washington, where he established a sawmill, operating it for one year. At the end of that time, however, he sold his mill and returned to Newberg, where he or- ganized the Charles K. Spaulding Logging Com- pany, of which he is the president and in which he owns a large interest. This business was incorporated in 1897 with a paid-up capital of $30,000, and the present capital is $150,000, a fact which indicates the almost marvelous in- crease of the business. The company owns a sawmill in Newberg, turning out fifty thousand feet of lumber per day, and also has ten thou- sand acres of timberland whereon a number of crews of men are employed in getting out the timber. These number altogether one hundred and twenty-five workmen, and the property of the company also includes two large river steam- boats. They handle about forty million feet of logs per year, supplying various extensive lumber manufacturing companies situated along the Willamette river. The business has reached mammoth proportions and the successful control of this important and profitable enterprise is largely the work of Mr. Spaulding. He is a man of excellent business ability, of keen sa- gacity, and recognizes quickly every opportunity in the line of his chosen pursuit. He is also a director in the Bank of Newberg, and aside

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from his timberlands he owns five hundred acres of land ten miles from Newberg, Ore., constitut- ing a splendid ranch on which he raises grain and stock. In Newberg he owns a beautiful residence.

In Dayton, Ore., was celebrated the marriage of Charles K. Spaulding and Miss Lorah Seese, who was born in Benton, Ind., a daughter of E. Seese, who was a resident of Dayton, Ore. He came to this state at a very early day and con- ducted a lumber yard at McMinnville, while a portion of his time was also given to the super- vision of a ranch. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spauld- ing have been born four children: Walter, Beu- lah, Clifford and Ila. In his political affiliations Mr. Spaulding is a stalwart Republican, and for two terms he served as city councilman. To him there has come the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the great material industries of the state, and his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well defined lines that he seems to have realized at any one point of progress the full measure of his possibilities for accomplishment at that point. A man of dis- tinct and forceful individuality, of broad men- tality and most mature judgment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world. For years he has been an important factor in the development of the natural resources of the state, in the upbuilding and in the promo- tion of the enterprises which add not alone to his individual prosperity, but also advance the general welfare and prosperity of the city in which he makes his home.

JOHN A. CONSER. The family to which John A. Conser belongs was very prominent in the early days of Oregon, becoming not only a power in the agricultural world, but being rep- resented in the first territorial legislature, and in the jurisprudence of Marion county. The founder of the family in the northwest was Jacob Conser, the father of John A., and of nine other children who grew to maturity, eight sons and two daughters. This early pioneer was born in Center county, Pa., of poor parents, who fol- lowed the old and often convenient custom of binding out their children at an early age. This was the fate of Jacob, who rebelled at his bond- age, and without bidding farewell to his family or master, left his native state and by devious ways arrived in Illinois. Here he finished his trade and added to it the trade of millwright, proving that he was industrious and ambitious. In time he ran a saw-mill and otherwise engaged in busi- ness in Illinois, and in 1848, with his wife and children, made arrangements to cross the plains to Oregon. Besides household possessions with which to start a home in the far west he had a

wagon with several yoke of oxen, two cows and two steers. A calamity befell him at the Platte river, where he lost his oxen in a stampede, and was obliged to complete the greater part of his journey with the two steers and two cows. For- tunately he had slight difficulty with the Indians, and his family escaped the physical disorders which made the passage of many of the emi- grants so distressful. Arriving in Linn county Mr. Conser purchased another man's right near Scio, remained thereon until 1849, and then took up a claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Jefferson, Marion county. He also bought the same amount of land, thus making a farm of six hundred and forty acres. In 1853 he started a saw-mill near Jefferson, and this proved so successful that he erected a flour and grist- mill in 1858, running tlie grist-mill for several years. He became prominent in politics, and was elected to the first territorial legislature, and was again elected in 1855-6. He served his county with rare good judgment, possessing those re- liable and fundamentally strong traits of char- acter of which the state had particular need at that time. In the early days he was judge of Marion county, and held many other positions of trust to which his Democratic supporters elected him. The Masonic order profited by his membership for many years, and he took many of the higher degrees. He was a man of ster- ling personal worth, unquestioned integrity and large capacity for industry. His farm was de- voted to general farming and stock-raising, and his far-sightedness recognized the advantages of modern improvements, including good buildings, fences and implements. In 1885 he moved into Eugene to get away from the worry and responsi- bility of business, and in retirement his death occurred in 1894, at the age of seventy-five years. He was of a social nature, enjoying a good story or a joke, even at his own expense.

Seven years of age when he came to Oregon, John A. Conser was reared on the farm near Jefferson, and naturally became interested in his father's grist-mill, entering the same in a humble capacity, where he worked for some years. When his father moved to the farm near Jefferson he accompanied him, and has ever since resided on this fine property. In all he owns six hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, nearly all in the valley, located at Miller station, and six miles from Albany. No finer agricultural prop- erty is to be found in the county, nor has any at its head a more thoroughly practical and re- sourceful farmer. Prosperity, orderliness, econ- omy, and, above all. system, are the things which most impress the visitor to this pleasant home in one of the garden spots of Oregon.

Mr. Conser was married September 27, 1874, to Miss Jane Jones, a native of Marion county,

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Ore., the daughter of Lewis Jones, who came to Oregon in 1852 from Tennessee. He was a farmer, following that occupation until a short time before his death, which occurred at Oak- land, Ore., at about seventy-five years of age.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Conser: Lester Carl, born on the homestead in Linn county, is married to Iva Meeker, daughter of William Meeker, of Linn county, having one son, and lives on the paternal farm; and Rocky; also born on the Linn county farm.

MELVIN MARTIN EDWARDS, who is the owner of a valuable farming property in Yamhill county and has been a resident of Oregon since 1880, was born in Sangamon county, Ill., on the site of Springfield, April 29, 1832. His paternal grandfather, William Edwards, was a native of New York, whence he went to Charleston, S. C., on a trading expedition, but he lost his money in that venture and moved to North Caro- lina, where he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Justus. He then went to Overton county, Tenn., and afterward to Illinois, where he eventually retired from business cares. He died in the latter state in 1839 and his wife passed away in 1851. Among their children was Amos Edwards, the father of our subject, who was born in North Carolina and was but two years of age when his parents removed to Overton coun- ty, Tenn. When a young man he went to Illi- nois, settling on the present site of the city of Springfield. He helped survey the land and was active in pioneer development of that part of the state. When he and Abraham Lincoln were young men there was a strong friendship formed between them and they were companions in many of the sports and pleasures of youth. Mr. Ed- wards remained a resident of Illinois until about a month prior to his death, when he went to Iowa, passing away near Cumberland, that state, Ang- ust 20, 1876. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Hash, and was born in Sparta, Tenn., a daughter of John Hash, who belonged to one of the old and prominent southern families who lived upon plantations and owned large numbers of slaves. At an early day Mr. Hash moved to Illinois, where he died in 1830.

Melvin Martin Edwards is the eldest of a family of five sons and two daughters, and was educated in the subscription schools, but his advantages in that direction were rather limited. In 1855 he began farming on his own account and also followed basket-making in Ful- ton county. Ill. In 1861 he removed to Iowa, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Cass county, where he purchased two hundred and twenty acres of land, continuing its cultivation

with success until 1880. On September 20 of that year, he arrived in Oregon and took up his abode at Dundee, renting the place which is now his home. There was no town here at that time, however, and the country all about was. wild and unimproved. Mr. Edwards did not make a permanent location here, but roamed over different parts of the country for a time, and in 1901 he returned to Dundee, where he is now located. He has been engaged in railroad con- struction, employed in every department of the work, including that of teaming. Mr. Edwards now owns four acres of land at his present home in Dundee and he also has a stock and dairy ranch of one hundred and sixty acres at San Lake, Tillamook county. This is partially im- proved and returns him a good income. He also has a block of lots in the city.

On June 19, 1855, in Fulton county, Ill., Mr. Edwards wedded Miss Mary E. Bartles, who was born in that county, a daughter of Frederick Bartles, who was born in Bath, Me., and was a distiller and miller. In later years, however, he followed farming. About 1832 he sought a home in what was then the frontier of Illinois and in 1866 he went to Iowa, settling upon a tract of land which continued to be his home until his death on August 10, 1870. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have been born twelve children, of whom three died in infancy. Those still living are: Melvin J., a resident of Tillamook county, Ore .; Nancy M., the wife of A. S. Lane, of Newberg, Ore .; James William, at home; Henry Grant, who is living in Polk county; U. Schuy- ler, of Dundee; Roy, of Grass Valley, Ore .; John Sherman, who is serving as city marshal of Dundee ; and Maude D., the wife of Roy Robert- son of Dundee. One daughter, Rosa, passed away at the age of twenty-six years.

While in Iowa Mr. Edwards was a member of the state militia, and upon its organization in 1861 he became fourth sergeant, but saw little active service. In politics he has ever been a stalwart Republican and while in Iowa he served as school director, as county sheriff and as con- stable. He has also been school director and con- stable in Oregon and has ever been interested in the progress and advancement of this state dur- ing the twenty-three years of his residence here. He is now practically living a retired life at his home in Dundee.

ALBERT HERREN, the popular agent of the Portland Flouring Mills Company and Ore- gon Railway & Navigation Company at Inde- pendence, has been a resident of this thriving little town since 1895, and during these years has been buying wheat of the surrounding farm- ers to ship to Portland. He is probably as good

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a judge of this commodity as any man in the county, and his enormous purchases for the firm which he represents have had much to do with stimulating wheat-growing in this section. A native son of Oregon, Mr. Herren was born four miles east of Salem, Marion county, Feb- ruary 4, 1853, and is the third of five sons and one daughter. His father, William J. Herren, was born at Greensburg, Ind., and when a small boy removed with his parents to Missouri, from which state in 1845 he came across the plains to Oregon. It is not known that his long journey was characterized by any particular adventure or interest. He traded a horse and his labor for a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Salem. This he improved to some ex- tent, and in 1887 located in the town of Salem, where he engaged in the warehouse business. He bought hops and wheat on an extensive scale and was thus engaged up to the time of his death in April. 1891, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, Evelyn (Hall)' Herren, who survives him, was born in Missouri, and is a daughter of James Hall, a pioneer of 1845, who died on his ranch near Butteville, Marion county.

The education of the public schools fitted Mr. Herren for a general business career, and at the age of seventeen he embarked in a stock-raising enterprise with his brother, David, in eastern Oregon. In the fall of 1876 he sold out his land and stock and located in Salem, soon after tak- ing charge of his father's ranch in that vicinity, and until 1890 engaged extensively in the cattle business on the paternal farm. For a time he was freight agent at Salem, and in 1892 became associated as foreman with the Willamette Val- ley Milling Company. Following this in 1895 he engaged in his present business as agent for two well-established Portland firms. The family of Mr. Herren consists of his wife, formerly Mary E. Smith, and two children, Carl and Lela. Mrs. Herren was born on a farm near Turner, Ore., and is a daughter of Simeon Smith, who crossed the plains in 1845. Mr. Smith located on an unimproved farm near Turner, and in those early pioneer days contributed his share towards the development of his section, his death occurring in 1879. Mr. Herren is a Democrat in national politics, hut aside from casting his vote has never identified himself with the politica! undertakings of his neighborhood. He is an ex- cellent business man, and a public-spirited, sub- stantial citizen.

WILLIAM EVEREST. An interestingly checkered career has been that of William Ever- est, born many thousand miles from the spot where he now makes his home, his father being

Richard Everest, who was born in Kent county, England, March 8, 1798. In 1836 his father emi- grated to the United States, coming by way of Quebec, Canada, and locating at Newark, Ohio, where he drove a dray wagon. In 1840 he re- moved to Washington county, Iowa, investing in land advantageously located on a small stream called Crooked creek, within one and a half mile of Washington, the county seat. Subsequently he tried his fortunes in the west, crossing the plains in 1847 to Oregon, where he took up a donation claim just east of the town of New- berg. This claim contained six hundred and forty acres, and into the improvement of it he put the strength of his years, undiminished by the wandering life he had led. Here at the age of eighty-four he passed away. The mother of William Everest was Miss Jane Cole, also of English extraction, having been born in Kent county, England, where her marriage to Rich- ard Everest occurred. At the age of eighty-two years she died in this faraway land which, how- ever, their efforts had made home. Twelve chil- dren were born to them, the youngest of whom was William.

This son was born in Kent county, England, August 30, 1836. His trip across the plains was made at the age of eleven years, and at thirteen he accompanied his father to California prospect- ing for gold, along the American river, where the gold was first discovered at Sutter's mill. When the two returned, they took back with them $3,000, the result of three months' work. Up to the time he was twenty-one years old he worked on his father's large farm, taking a quar- ter section of the claim and farming it. In 1861-62 he was engaged in mining in Boise Basin, Idaho, following this up with a trip to Cariboo, British Columbia, where he worked in the mines in 1863. In 1884 during the mining excitement at Cœur d'Alene, he passed three months in the vicinity, gaining from the time spent there some substantial fruits.

Since that time Mr. Everest has been indus- triously employed in farming on a part of the old donation claim that belonged to his father. He has made a great success of this work, tak- ing as much interest in it as in the more exciting experiences in mine and camp, it being his hoast that more camp-fires have been lighted by his hand than by that of any other man in the state. Upon his property he has built a homelike little cottage hack about one hundred and fifty yards from the main road leading into Newberg. An- other of his improvements has been the setting out of fifteen acres to many kinds of fruit and English walnuts, and he takes great pleasure in showing guests through this Oregon bower of plenty. The gentle wife who shares this quie-

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tude was Miss Josie Acheson, whom he mar- ried in 1892, the children of this union being Marguerite Bell and Maud, both at home. In her church affiliations Mrs. Everest is of the Presbyterian faith, while her husband was chris- tened in the Church of England. She was a native of Magnolia, Rock county, Wis., her father, Alexander Acheson, having gone with his parents from Newburgh, Orange county, N. Y., to settle in Wisconsin at an early day. In 1899 he also emigrated, going to Oregon and locating at Springbrook, where he bought a farm of twenty-five acres. This he sold and removed to Newberg, then to Tacoma, Wash., November 4, 1902, in which latter place he expects to make his home.

Mr. Everest is independent in politics, giving his vote to the man rather than the party. Among the objects of interest in Mr. Everest's possession is a copy of the tenth paper that was printed on the Pacific coast, called the Oregon City Spectator.

JOHN H. MORAN. As one who shouldered the responsibilities of life when but twelve years of age, and who by his own energy has worked his way upward to an honored place in the world, John H. Moran of Monmouth is eminently deserving of mention in a history of this charac- ter. Today he is carrying on a real estate busi- ness which grew from a small, unpretentious beginning in 1890, until he now has two offices, the office in Monmouth being a branch of the main office in Independence. Private affairs have not consumed all of the time and abilities which Mr. Moran has at his disposal, however, as will be seen by a short reference to his public life: His nominationi and election to the highest office within the gift of the citizens of Mon- mouth shows the confidence which they placed in him as a public official, and his term as mayor, from 1892 to 1894, was characterized by honesty and fair dealing. From 1894 to 1898 he served as deputy sheriff under H. B. Plummer, and is now filling the office of district constable, to which position he was elected in 1894, and is still creditably filling the office, having been elected to the foregoing offices on the Republi- can ticket.

John H. Moran was born December 24, 1849, in Essex county, N. Y., whither his parents, Martin and Elizabeth (Fitzmourse) Moran, had located upon coming to the United States from Ireland, their native land, in 1846. The father was a farmer by occupation, and he lost no time in finding a suitable location for carrying on his chosen work. After a residence of six years on his New York farm he moved to northwest-

ern Missouri in 1852, and for ten years carried on farming operations there. In 1862, with his wife and six children, he started across the plains, with Oregon as his destination, but he was not spared to realize his hopes of life in the west. When they reached the Green River, Wyo., the Cheyenne Indians attacked their train, causing havoc among the cattle which they were taking to their new home in the west. While Mr. Moran was endeavoring to regain his lost property the Indians leveled the fatal arrow that left the little party without a leader, and the date of this sad event, July 18, 1862, is one never to be forgotten by the bereaved family. He was buried on the west fork of the Green river, where stands Mt. Moran. It was with heavy hearts that the remnant of the party resumed the journey, but finally they reached their desti- nation, and locating on a farm in Polk county, near Monmouth, engaged in farming. Mrs. Moran was familiar with life on a farm, as it was amid such surroundings that her early life had been passed on her father's farm in Ireland. She came to this country with her parents prior to her marriage, the family locating in New York state, where her father died about 1897.

As has been said, when John H. Moran was but twelve years of age he found the respon- sibilities of a much older person resting upon his young shoulders. The death of the father had left John as the eldest of the family to bear the great responsibility which naturally fell to him. He successfully conducted the home farm, carry- ing on general farming and stock-raising until, by carefully saving his earnings, he was enabled to purchase a place of his own. When twenty-one years of age he changed his occupation and sur- roundings, and coming to Monmouth, engaged in the real estate business in a small way, but which has steadily grown until he now manages two offices, doing an immense business in the handling of all kinds of property, a specialty being made of farm lands. Mr. Moran enjoys his prosperity alone, as he has never married; and resides in the family home on the corner of Clay and Warren streets. His interest in fraternal societies is limited to the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he is serving as past master. H. C. Moran, a brother of John H., resides in Salem, Ore., where he is extensively engaged in buying and selling stock.

IRA C. POWELL. The representative of a prominent pioneer family of Oregon, Ira C. Powell, cashier of the Polk County Bank at Monmouth, was born in Linn county, Ore., November 26, 1865, and is a son of Franklin

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S. and Louise J. (Peeler) Powell, a grandson of John A. Powell, and great-grandson of Joseph Powell, the latter a soldier in the war of 1812. Of the father and grandfather extended mention will be found in the sketch of Franklin S. Powell, although it is fitting to say that the original emigration of the family to the west was due to the ambition of the grandsire, John A., one of the most earnest and forceful of the early minis- ters of the Christian Church in the west. A man weighing two hundred and twenty pounds, this early preacher had a brain and heart in keeping with his physical proportions, and his influence upon his time and place cannot be over-estimated. Franklin S. Powell was in the prime of a vigorous young manhood when he came across the plains with his parents in 1851. He now lives in the summer on his large farm. and in the winter in the town of Monmouth. He occupies an enviable position in the com- munity. He is one of the chief upbuilders of the Christian College, and has contributed much time and means to making of this a fitting insti- tution for educating the youth of the land.

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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 179

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