Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 195

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 195

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his farm of seventy-three acres three and a half miles north of Eugene, taking great interest in the improvement of his property.

Fraternally Mr. McFarland is one of the pop- ular men in Lane county. While a resident of Ohio he was a member of Belmont Lodge No. 16, F. & A. M., was later identified with the Savannah Lodge, and is now a member of Eu- gene Lodge No. II, A. F. & A. M. He was made a Royal Arch Mason in Eugene, and is a member of Eugene Chapter No. 10, and is a member of the Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 2, K. T. Formerly he was identified with the Council of Corvallis, Ore., but demitted and joined the council of Albany. Mr. McFarland was a char- ter, but now demitted, member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of the Degree of Honor, and the Eastern Star. He was a charter member of the first Knights of Pythias Lodge in Eu- gene, but when the lodge became defunct he withdrew from the order and has never joined the lodge of the present day. In political affilia- tion Mr. McFarland is a Republican. He is a genial and interesting man, devoted to his calling, and invariably in favor of progress. He believes in the gospel of industry, of fair dealing and uprightness, maintains a name above reproach, and worthy of all honor.

JOSEPH McBEE. A very popular and re- sourceful man was William McBee, who came to Benton county in 1852 and established the family whose very worthy representative is Joseph McBee, a successful farmer near Cor, vallis. Born in Ohio in 1801, the father moved to Missouri with his parents when he was a boy, and was there reared on a farm, securing such education at the public schools as the times and his arduous home duties permitted. After his marriage with Elizabeth Milligan, of Ohio, he moved onto another farm, where he prospered, but at the same time desired to further improve his condition. The result of his discontent was that he sold his land in 1852, when he started across the plains with ox-teams, accompanied by his wife and children and his mother. On the way the mother died of cholera, but otherwise the journey was an uneventful one, and the home- seekers arrived at their destination less dis- couraged than most emigrants in the early days. The first winter being spent in Marion county, they settled the next spring on a claim seven miles south of Corvallis, Benton county, which claim is still in the possession of his heirs. Mr. Mc- Bce made many improvements on his farm, and in its management exercised business judgment and the greatest frugality. He had an inter- esting personality, and succeeded in making

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C. H. Washburne

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friends with all with whom he came in contact. Somewhat of a politician, he took a keen interest in the local undertakings of his party, although he never aspired to office. Nine children were born to himself and wife, of whom W. H. is a farmer near Corvallis; David lives in Smithville ; and Joseph is the subject of this sketch.

Trained to farming on the paternal ranch, Joseph McBee remained at home until he was twenty-one, and then went to the gold fields on the Salmon river. After mining and prospecting for a short time he returned to Benton county and took up farming, and in 1875 married Fan- nie Irwin, who was born in Corvallis, and with whom he went to housekeeping on a claim eight miles southeast of Corvallis. In 1879 he bought two hundred and seventy-three acres of land constituting a portion of the old J. Gage dona- tion claim, and where he is engaged in stock- raising and general farming. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has been a school director for many years. Mrs. McBee, who was a daughter of Richard and Louisa Irwin, the former of whom is deceased, crossed the plains with her parents in 1850, and was reared in Oregon. She was the mother of the following children : Richard C .; Joseph E .; Lela; Leora ; Lizzie; Georgia: Ida; and Willie, deceased in infancy. Mrs. McBee died at the home farm May 31, 1903, a devoted wife and a kind and loving mother. Mr. McBee is prominent in his locality, has a fine farm and fine Durham cat- tle, and in all his undertakings evidences thrifty and progressive ideas.

CHARLES W. WASHBURNE. Occupying a position of importance in the business circles of Junction City, Lane county, Charles W. Wash- burne is rounding out a well spent life, the domi- nant influence of which has been the incidents of a pioneer effort among the primitive conditions of early Oregon. Mr. Washburne came to Ore- gon in 1853, and to no other man is greater credit due for the rapid and substantial upbuild- ing of Lane county ; strong in his own integrity, his ambitions and purpose in life, he has given the benefit of all these to the advancement of Ore- gon, and in the evening of his days enjoys both his own prosperity and that of his adopted state.

The birth of this honorable pioneer occurred in Gallia county, Ohio, September 13, 1824. He was the son of Robert Washburne, who, like his father, Charles Washburne, was a native of Vir- ginia, where he met his death by an attack from the Indians while cutting timber for fuel a short distance from the fort, which was the protection of the settlers during the Revolutionary war. Charles Washburne was a pioneer farmer of Vir- ginia and his descendants followed his example

by becoming pioneers of the western states. His two sons were Isaac and Robert, the latter mov- ing to Gallia county, Ohio, in 1820, and there engaged in farming until 1827, when he located in Illinois, on a farm eight miles west of Spring- field. He continued in that location for a num- ber of years, participation in the Black 'Hawk war being an event in life during the time. In 1834 he removed to Iowa, making his home in that state throughout the remainder of his life. Eleven miles west of Burlington he entered land and engaged in farming until his death in 1840, meeting with the success which always attends persevering effort. He became a prominent man in his new surroundings and fulfilled his duty as a citizen. Politically he was a Democrat. A reminder of the Washburne family lies in the name of a branch of Cedar Creek, which is known as Washburne creek, in memory of this Iowa pioneer. The wife of Mr. Washburne was in maidenhood, Eva Roy, who was born in Vir- ginia and died in Illinois, in 1839, being at the time en route to Ohio on a visit to friends. She is buried near Decatur, Ill.

Of the four sons and five daughters which were born to his parents, Charles W. Washburne is the youngest and the only one now living. He received his education in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, where he remained dur- ing the lifetime of his parents, taking upon him- self the management of a farm when he was but sixteen years old. At the time of the gold ex- citement in 1849, he set out for California and was soon mining on the south bank of the Sac- ramento river. After two years of success he returned to Iowa via the Isthmus of Panama, and after his marriage came to Oregon in 1853. crossing the plains with ox-teams. During this journey his oldest child, Ruth Ellen, was born near Chimney Rock. After six months of travel the train reached Oregon safely, and Mr. Wash- burne at once located a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, one and one-half miles southwest of Junction City. For twenty years he made this his home, and lost no time nor spared no effort to reclaim the land from its bar- ren condition. In 1873 he purchased of T. A. Milliorn one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the site of Junction City and there engaged in farming and milling, in which he met with the same success which has characterized his agri- cultural pursuits, and in 1891 he purchased the old flour mills at Springfield, Lane county, put- ting in a complete roller process, with a capacity of one hundred and sixty barrels per day. This mill was for some time conducted by Byron and William, the sons of Mr. Washburne, and the property is now owned by himself and his son Byron. One of the most notable achievements of the business ventures of Mr. Washburne was

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the part which he took in the organization of the Junction City Hotel Company, becoming vice president and a member of its board of directors, remaining in that capacity up to the present time. In 1893, in company with George Pickett and others, he bought the Commercial Bank, a pri- vate institution of Junction City, at a cost of $50,000, and he became one of the principals in the organization of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, in which he and his sons now own the con- trolling interest, Mr. Washburne being a director, and his son, W. C., acting as cashier. This is the only bank in the northern part of Lane county.

Mr. Washburne has met with success in all his efforts. His landed property represents a large amount of money. Besides owning busi- ness and residence property in Junction City, he owns four thousand acres of valley land in Lane county, the principal part of which is tillable. Two hundred acres of this adjoins the city, and Mr. Washburne acts as manager of his farming interests, which is principally that of stock-rais- ing, having at present three hundred cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. That which represents the success of Mr. Washburne is the outgrowth of energy, perseverance and determination, for his entire fortune, when he commenced life in the Willamette valley, consisted of thirteen oxen, one horse, six cows, and the farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres.

Not alone has Mr. Washburne achieved suc- cess, for his wife was to him a veritable help- meet, bravely bearing her share in the trials and troubles which fell to their lot as pioneers. Be- fore her marriage in Iowa, she was Catherine Amanda Stansbury, born in Indiana, the daughter of John Stansbury. He was a native of Mary- land and moved to Iowa, where he remained until 1850, when he spent some time in Califor- nia. After a successful period in the west, he returned to the Mississippi valley, and died in Nebraska, where he had made his home the lat- ter part of his life. Mrs. Washburne died in Junction City April 4, 1894, at the age of fifty- six years. She was the mother of seven daugh- ters and four sons, of whom five sons are de- ceased, two having died in infancy, namely : Thomas Albert and Chester Douglas. George S., deceased, was a graduate of the State Uni- versity, a first-class practical lawyer in Eugene, also serving one term as county judge. Those living are Ruth Ella, who is now the wife of John Wortman, of Portland; Eva G. is the wife of R. P. Hill, of Colfax, Wash .; Byron A. is lo- cated in Springfield : W. C. is cashier and man- ager of the bank and hotel company, and is also mayor of Junction City ; Emma is Mrs. W. E. Butler of this city; Bertha Kate is the wife of E. U. Lee, of Eugene; Fred W. and Letitia S. are still at home.

In his political convictions Mr. Washburne has always been a stanch Republican, and his was one of the votes which helped make Abraham Lincoln president of the United States. The ability of Mr. Washburne to maintain the re- sponsibilities of public office being so manifest, he has often been called upon to serve his party in various positions, in 1872 upholding the prin- ciples of the Republican constituency in the state legislature for one term. During his period of service he was instrumental in locating the state university at Eugene, and also in laying the foun- dation of the state capitol in Salem, acting as well on various committees. He has always been active in local politics and wields no little influ- ence in political circles in the county and state.

The pioneer days are gone, and there is little left to recall those times of trial and privation ; but to the younger generation there is still the living link as represented by the few who re- main, while recollection forms a great part of the lives of the latter, as they pass their declining days in the sunshine of Oregon's prosperity. The little log cabin which was once the home of Mr. Washburne has been replaced by a handsome residence, and modern improvements have taken the place of the crude implements and primitive surroundings of those early times. When first a resident of Oregon Mr. Washburne would drive to Brownsville, with his well trained ox-teams, hauling his grain to mill. The trip consumed a week, and on one occasion he drove all night in order to hurry back to his wife and little daugh- ter, left alone in the wilderness of the country. No bridges spanned the streams. The favorite mode of travel was on horseback, and many happy visits were made to friends in various sec- tions of the country, with Mr. Washburne in the saddle, his little daughter before him, and his wife behind. No one, who has known Mr. Wash- burne and listened to his descriptions of the early days, can fail to have some idea, however faint, of that life which laid the foundation for the western commonwealth, and in so doing built up that character which is the nation's stronghold, in times of peace or war.

WILEY WINKEL. Of Wiley Winkel and his wife it may be said that they have lived longer on one farm than have any of the neighbors in Benton county. Genial and hos- pitable, they are also among the most popular of the early settlers and have continuously striven to add their quota to the general improvement of their locality. Mr. Winkel was twenty years of age when he crossed the plains with his pa- rents in 1848, having been born in Madison county, Ala., July 6, 1828. His father, Isaac, was born in Kentucky in 1802, and was of Ger-

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man descent. At a very early day he removed to Alabama, and there married Martha Bragg, a native of Alabama, with whom he moved shortly afterward to Missouri. In 1848 he outfitted with ox-teams and wagons and crossed the plains in the train of Captain Miller, and on the way en- countered no serious opposition from the Indi- ans, nor was there serious illness among the homeseekers. Mr. Winkel came direct to Benton county, where he took up a claim of six hun- dred and forty acres ten miles south of Cor- vallis, on the old territorial road, which is now occupied by his son, but upon which he himself lived for about a year. Next he located on a farm one mile north of Corvallis, which he improved and lived upon until his death in 1874, having been preceded by his wife in 1865. Seven children were born to this couple, of whom the following are living: Wiley; Gillian A., wife of G. Fisher, of Lane county; Martha, the widow of Mack Porter, of Benton county; and Mis- souri, the widow of John Baker, of Junction City.

Wiley Winkel remained at home and aided his father with the management of the farm for a year after coming to Oregon, and when the older man moved onto his other farm the son proved up on the original claim. In 1851 he married Pamelia Grimsley, who was born in Illinois in 1834, and who crossed the plains with her family in 1847. The young people went to housekeeping on their present farm, which con- sists of seven hundred acres in one body, three hundred of which are under cultivation. He has since carried on general farming and stock- raising, and has proved himself one of the very capable and resourceful men of the country. His interests have been by no means confined to his immediate neighborhood, but have embraced the political, educational and moral well-being of the county community. He has been especi- ally interested in the undertakings of the Democratic party, in the principles and issues of which he has unbounded faith. An important factor in his success has been the unfailing sym- pathy and help of his wife, who is a daughter of John Grimsley, who was born in Tennessee, and in Kentucky married Mary Scott. Soon afterward he moved to Illinois, and thence to Iowa, and after crossing the plains in 1847 set- tled on a claim three miles south of Philomath in the foot-hills. Four children were born to himself and wife, of whom Mrs. Winkel is the oldest ; Alameda is the widow of J. Morris, of Big Bend; Malinda is the widow of M. Win- kel, of Harrisburg; and Mary E. is the wife of A. Palmer, of Arlington, Ore. Mr. Grimsley farmed successfully until a few years before his death, at the age of ninety-four years, he hav- ing moved into the town of Corvallis, where his

wife also died at the age of eighty-four years. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, and was one of the first settlers of Benton county. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Winkel, the order of their birth being as follows : Fannie, deceased; Lawrence, a resident of Junc- tion; Effie, the wife of R. Irvin, near Corvallis ; Robert M., deceased; Bellvaria, wife of R. Lo- gan, of Linn county, Ore .; Isaac N., farming a part of the home place; John G., also on a por- tion of the home place ; Percy C., living at home; and Eugene, who died in infancy. To all who appreciate manly and substantial traits of char- acter, and the value in their midst of conserva- tive and painstaking thought, the wish is sin- cere that Mr. and Mrs. Winkel may have many years yet of successful life, and may be long spared to represent the substantial and influential element in their county.

JOHN JOHNSTON. Fifty-one years, with their changing scenes and conditions, have passed over the head of John Johnston since he first set- tled on the farm where he now makes his home. the location being in Marion county, Ore., five miles west of Woodburn. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1828, and came to the United States in 1835, with his parents, Thomas and Hannah Johnston. The trip was made on a sailing vessel and occupied six weeks. Upon their arrival in New York City they journeyed at once to St. Louis, Mo., where the father en- gaged in the commission business.

The education of Mr. Johnston was received in private schools in St. Louis. He remained at home until he was fifteen years old, when he went to work with his brother at Beardstown, Ill., in a flour-mill. In 1850, in company with two friends, Horace Hill and Dan Riddle, he bought four yoke of oxen, wagon and other necessary equipments, and started from Inde- pendence, Mo., bound for the great northwest. The journey lasted from April to August, at the close of which the young emigrants located in Marion county, Ore. The first year of his resi- dence here Mr. Johnston conducted Mckay's Mission Mill, the next finding him in Yreka, Cal., having traveled by pack-horses from Ore- gon to the latter state, where he spent a short time in mining and prospecting. Though meet- ing with gratifying success he preferred life in the state in which he had made his home on first coming to the west. Returning to Oregon in the fall of the same year he passed a part of the sum- mer of 1852 in running a mill on the Santiam river, giving it up to buy, in partnership with William H. West, the right of Mathew Mc- Cormick to four hundred and ninety acres of land located in Marion county. There was a lit-

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tle log cabin on the claim, wherein the two men, both being bachelors, kept house for four years. At the end of that time Mr. Johnston married Miss Mary Kennedy, who was born in 1842, and from that day to the present their home has been made upon this farm.

Of the children which blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, Ellen, the eldest, is the wife of K. Manning, of Portland; Annie is the wife of Charles Henkle, also of Portland; Thomas is located in Forest Grove; Robert is in Astoria; Agnes is in Spokane; William is in Sherwood; John is a hop-grower of Marion county ; Joseph and Charles both make their home with their parents; Eliza is in Portland ; and Cecilia lives at home.

Mr. Johnston now owns five hundred and thirty-five acres of land, three hundred and fifty of which is cultivated and pasture land, upon which he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising. Politically he is an adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party, and through this influence has served in various offices in his community. For a period of twenty years he has served as clerk of the school board, and also as road supervisor for a considerable length of time, his personal worth being evidenced in the discharge of the duties which have fallen to his lot as a citizen of this great commonwealth.

CHARLES BECKE, JR. The agricultural interests of Marion county are well represented by him whose name introduces this review, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers a brief outline of the qualities and characteristics of Mr. Becke. The province of this history is not so much to enter into the small details of a man's life, as to show forth to the world some- thing of the governing principles which have led to his success. We do not any of us need to be told that the farming class of any country is really its bone and sinew, and that those who cultivate the soil contribute the first and most essential source of wealth in all lands. It is to this class that Mr. Becke belongs, being the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and ninety-three acres, devoted to general farming, twelve acres being planted to hops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. The farm is well cultivated and has many improvements upon it, indicating the careful supervision of the owner.

Mr. Becke was born in the German colony, in Bethel, Shelby county, Mo., February 20, 1854, and is a son of Charles Becke, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1820. In 1846 he left his native land, sailing for America, and on arriving in this country he took up his abode

in Shelby county, Mo., where he was married to Johanna Keil. He remained in Missouri with the Bethel colony until 1867, when he brought his family across the plains and mountains, making his way to the Aurora colony, east of the present site of Aurora. Six months were con- sumed in making this journey, and the family of course were weary and glad to find a permanent place of abode. They remained in the Aurora colony until there was a division of property, in 1875, Mr. Becke receiving as his share the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he yet makes his home.

Charles Becke, Jr., was but thirteen years of age when his parents came to Oregon, and in the common schools of this state he received his education. He was one of a family of eleven children, five of whom are now living: Charles, the subject of this sketch; Louisa, the wife of Joseph Erbsland, of Marion county ; Henry, who lives upon his father's farm; Sarah, the wife of George Gooding, a resident of Marion county ; and Edward, who resides in Aurora.

At the age of twenty-five years, Mr. Becke be- gan work for himself on a farm, following this by engaging in carpenter work for the Southern Pacific Railroad and elsewhere. For three years he acted as a clerk in the store of John Giesy. He was persevering and industrious, and these virtues always bring their reward, so that in 1881 he had saved enough money to purchase his present farm. He was not satisfied that his land should remain unimproved, but set about to transform it into a valuable farm property which he has succeeded in doing and it now an- nually returns to him a good income and does credit to his industry and care. Three years after the purchase of his home, he took a bride to preside over it, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Giesy, daughter of John Giesy, the ceremony being performed January 23, 1884. They have three living children : Aurelia Louisa, Ursula Amelia and Alterius Charles. Mr. Becke is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having maintained fraternal relations with these organizations for a number of years. He is a firm believer in the principles of the Re- publican party and always defends what he be- lieves to be right, whether it relates to his own personal actions or to the issues which involve the nation's honor.

GEN. THOMAS JONES THORP. Though nearly a half century has passed away since the dark cloud of threatened disruption appeared on the country's horizon, and in the interval many events have conspired to make common the in- terests of the then warring sections, there is still

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a lasting lesson of patriotism and a strengthen- ing of national love in the perusal of the lives of men who offered themselves as sacrifices for a principle the advocacy of which meant a fratri- cidal struggle, fearful in its intensity and sad- dening in the result when viewed through the desolated homes and ruined fields. The army which pitted its strength against Lee's soldiers was not called forth from impulse ; principle and patriotism dominated the actions of these men, foreshadowing the future greatness of our united country.

A representative of the men of this epoch is Gen. Thomas Jones Thorp, a review of whose life, though brilliant in action and teeming with events, would still be incomplete without its com- panion sketch-a record of the woman who cast in her fortunes with his in the maelstrom of pub- lic upheaval, giving herself with patriotic ardor to every movement that meant service to her country. United as General Thorp and his wife were in the face of the gathering storm and at the head of the mustering forces, the record of their lives is so closely interwoven that that of one is not complete without that of the other. Mrs. Thorp was in maidenhood Mandana Cole- man Major, her birth occurring in Allegany county, N. Y., January 25, 1843, being the daughter of Col. John Major, also a native of that county, and the granddaughter of Stephen Major. The latter was born in the northern part of Ire- land of Scottish parentage, and as a young man he came to New York and settled in Karr val- ley, where he engaged as a merchant tailor, through the practice of his inherited thrift amass- ing a fortune before his death. Her father, John Major, was a colonel of the state militia and a large land-owner, and he married Serena Rath- bone, a native of New York and a descendant of Major Moses Van Campen, a patriot of the Rev- olution. Colonel Major died in the state of his birth.

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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 195

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