Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 202

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 202

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James A. Bushnell was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., July 27, 1826, his father being Daniel Bushnell, a native of Middlesex countv, Conn. After his marriage he located, in 1810, in New York, as a pioneer farmer of Cattaraugus county, and later he removed to Pennsylvania. Two years afterward he became a resident of Ohio, continuing his agricultural pursuits in Ash- tabula county. He died in 1844 in Harrison county, Ohio. He was the descendant of an old Connecticut family, his father, who was born there, also following the employment of a farmer. His wife was formerly Ursula Pratt, a native of Saybrook, Conn., and the daughter of Ozias Pratt, a native of the same state. He was a sea- faring man and also conducted a farm, and his death occurred there at quite an advanced age. He was of English extraction. Of the six sons and three daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Bush- nell, the sixth child was James A. He remained at home with his parents until attaining his ma- jority, when he learned the cooper's trade, work-

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ing in Hannibal, Mo. In 1849 he married and settled on a farm in Adair county, Mo., where he remained three years, at the expiration of this time deciding to join the westward movement with the hope of bettering the condition of his family. Three young men, Timothy Halstead, Alexander Nesbit and Mr. Bushnell, set out for Oregon in the spring of the year, with ox-teams, and on arriving at their destination they went on down to California, spending the first winter in Shasta county, where they engaged in mining. The success of Mr. Bushnell was only moderate, so lie decided to return to his home in Missouri. He set sail from San Francisco July 4, 1853, and reached the Missouri valley only to find the home empty and the family gone to meet him in Ore- gon. He thereupon returned to Oregon via the Isthmus and in Springfield, Lane county, he was once more reunited with his loved ones. Mr. Bushnell then took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres located six miles south of Junction City, upon which he remained until 1868, when he bought another farm of eight hun- dred acres on the west side of the Willamette river, the greater part of this land being still in his possession. In 1875 Mr. Bushnell built a warehouse at Junction City, and entered ex- tensively into the grain business. This he has since continued to carry on, handling the greater part of the grain which came into the city.

The wife of Mr. Bushnell was formerly Eliza- beth C. Adkins, a native of Adair county, Mo., the ceremony which united them being performed in Adair county. She died in Junction City, in 1868, the mother of eight children, the two living being Lucy J., now the wife of William M. Pit- ney, a farmer in this vicinity, and Helen V., wife of C. J. Ehrman, of Menan, Idaho. Mr. Bush- nell was married the second time to Mrs. Sarah E. Page, a native of Indiana, and the two chil- dren are Henry C., of Junction City, and Myrtle G., at home with her parents. As a Prohibition- ist and active for the interests of his party Mr. Bushnell has served for two terms as mayor of Junction City, and as a member of the council for many terms. He has also been the nominee of the Prohibition party for county judge and representative in the state legislature. Alway in- terested in educational movements, he has served as school director many years, and has contrib- uted generously toward all school enterprises. He was one of the founders of the Eugene Di- vinity School, and is now acting as president of its board of regents. The institution is supported by the Christian Church, whose tenets are the religious belief of Mr. Bushnell, in his own con- gregation acting as elder, and it was largely through his efforts that a church building was erected in Junction City. For five years he has been a member of the Oregon Christian Mission-

ary Convention, and during the past four years has served as vice president of that body. To this, as to all other worthy objects, Mr. Bushnell gives liberally, and a debt of gratitude is owed him by those who would have their city and com- munity one of the first in this section, as to financial and moral supremacy.

ANDREW RICKARD. By his many friends and associates in Benton county Andrew Rickard is recalled as a very popular and successful man, and one who must have surveyed his sixty-three years of existence with a great deal of satis- faction. The farm now occupied by his widow, three miles southeast of Monroe, and which was occupied by him from 1860 to the time of his death, in 1893, is a constant reminder of his prac- tical and businesslike methods, and of the shrewd common sense which was the keynote to a self- made and thoroughly worthy character.

On his father's farm in North Carolina, where he was born August 15, 1830, Mr. Rickard was reared among the usual southern surround- ings, and remained at home until his twenty- third year. An opportunity offering to go the far west, he joined a party bound for Oregon with ox-teams and prairie schooners, and on the way fortunately escaped serious trouble with the Indians, cholera or mountain fever, or severe deprivation incident to pioneer travel. His first experience with land was decidedly unsatisfac- tory, for after taking up a claim twelve miles south of Corvallis, Ore., and improving it to some extent, the government claimed and re- deemed it, and he was no better off than when he arrived from the east. In 1855 he made his way to Josephine county, this state, and followed mining and prospecting for five years, returning afterward to Benton county, where, in 1861, he married Mary E. Barclay, a native of Missouri, and daughter of William Barclay, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work. The year previous to his marriage Mr. Rickard had pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of the farm now owned by his heirs, three miles southeast of Monroe, and with his wife he settled thereon, beginning at once to transform it into a valuable and productive property. From time to time he added to his land, and the farm at present is composed of four hundred and ten acres. Mrs. Rickard has proved a good manager since her husband's death, and in this is ably assisted by her son, Frank, one of the bright and promising members of a thriving agricultural community.

Besides Frank, who is the seventh of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rickard, there is the eldest son, William, a farmer in Benton coun- ty ; Sarah E., the wife of John Conger, of Lane county ; Eliza J., the wife of James Traftzer, of

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Linn county ; Nellie, the wife of William Drisco, of Lane county ; Lucy, the wife of R. H. Hewitt, of this vicinity ; George, living near his mother ; and Anna, the wife of George Waldron, of Lane county. Mr. Rickard was a stanch Democrat in political affiliation, and took a keen interest in the political undertakings of his neighborhood. More offices than he cared to fill were tendered him, but he served acceptably as school director and road supervisor. He exerted a moral and pro- gressive influence in the community, and was particularly devoted to advancing the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a member from earliest youth.

GRANT ADELBERT COVELL, M. E. In the college curriculum of today, no branch of learning is of more consequence than that per- taining to the mechanical arts, and that the science may be of the highest practical benefit to the student, it is absolutely necessary that the head of the department of mechanics shall pos- sess a master mind and intellect. In Prof. Grant A. Covell the Oregon Agricultural College has secured a person worthy in every respect to fill the position which he there holds as professor of mechanics and mechanical engineering, his superior talents and scholarly attainments emi- nently qualifying him for his important work.

The descendant of one of the earlier New England families, Grant A. Covell was born August 30, 1862, in Bradford county, Pa., a son of Albert Covell. His grandfather, William Covell, was born at Plattsburg, N. Y., but when a young lad removed with his parents to Penn- sylvania, and there spent his remaining years, being a pioneer farmer of Bradford county. Albert Covell has been a life-long resident of Bradford county, Pa., where he is carrying on general farming, including dairying and bee- keeping, with excellent financial results. He is the owner of several valuable farms, and resides near the village of Bigpond. He is a man of prominence, and is actively identified with the Masonic order. He married Lavina Alfred. who was born in Tioga county, Pa., of New · England ancestors, and six children have been born of their union, five of whom survive, Grant Adelbert, the special subject of this sketch, being the first-born, and the only son.

Beginning his studies at the district school, Grant A. Covell remained beneath the parental roof-tree until seventeen years of age, when he became a pupil at the high school in Troy, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1883. Entering Cornell University soon after, he completed the required course of study in four years, receiving his degree of M. E. in 1887, afterward remain- ing there a year as instructor in the machine

shop. The following year he went to the Uni- versity of Minnesota as an instructor, taking the chair of mechanics and mechanical engineering while Professor Barr was away on leave of ab- sence, at the end of the year being offered a position as instructor under Professor Barr. Before the opening of the term in September, 1889, however, Professor Covell received his appointment to the chair of mechanics and mechanical engineering at the Oregon Agricult- ural College, and has since held the position. Under his wise supervision this department has had a phenomenal growth. The mechanical building in process of construction when he came here, is now used as the blacksmith shop and power house. With the means at his com- mand, he fitted it up as best he could. As time went on additions were made, and the shops were fairly well equipped. In 1899 the old building burned, and the following year, 1900, Mechani- cal Hall was built, a magnificent structure, with finely equipped machine shops on the first floor, where are also various recitation rooms, and Professor Covell's office. In addition to having charge of mechanical engineering, the professor likewise supervises electrical engineering in the college.

Professor Covell married in Corvallis, Mary Spencer, who was born in England, but came to this country when young, and was educated in Ohio, at the Grand River Institute. Four children have been born of their union, namely: Spencer; Walter; Margaret; and Kenneth. Politically the professor is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of Corvallis Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of which he is past inaster; and of the Sigma Psi Society at Cor- nell University. Mrs. Covell is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

ALFRED M. WITHAM. Continuously since the fall of 1849 A. M. Witham has lived on his present farm two miles from Corvallis, which originally consisted of six hundred and forty acres, but has since been enlarged to one thous- and acres. Here he has carried on farming and stock-raising all of these years, and has reared noble and able-bodied sons to follow in his foot- steps, and to share with him the possession of his broad and valuable acres. The farm is all in one body, and is among the valuable properties of Benton county.

Mr. Witham is one of the very venerable resi- dents of this community, having been born near Liberty, Union county, Ind., September 18, 1821. He was reared on a farm and allowed such edu- cational chances as those early times afforded, and in 1835 removed with his parents to Porter county, of the same state, where he married, in

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1842, Rosanna Allen. In 1847 he prepared to cross the plains with two wagons each having three yoke of oxen, and four loose cows, and came by way of Fort Hall, his brother, William, also being a member of the party. In October, 1847, he landed in Corvallis, and spent the winter in an empty cabin found on a claim four miles south of Corvallis. In the spring of 1848 he located a claim two miles from Philomath and crected a log cabin, made fences, and cleared a portion of the land, but was dissatisfied, so in the spring of 1849 came to his present farm. When he had first come to the county in 1849 this property had a small log house of one room and ten acres plowed, but when he took possession there were some improvements and three hundred acres cleared. In the fall of 1849 he went to California with John Onby and mined on the middle fork of the American river, and when he came back in the fall brought $1,100 with him. This money went towards improvements on his land, and paved the way for his future large operations. At one time he owned eleven hun- dred acres, but now has a thousand, and this comprises all but fifty of the original claim. Thirteen children have been born into his fam- ily, and all have been reared to habits of thrift and industry. Eight attained maturity. Of these, Oliver lives on a farm four miles north of Corvallis; Mary is the wife of D. M. Bradley of Everett, Wash .; Charles lives on a farm near Monroe, Benton county; Fannie is the wife of D. Baker of Seattle, Wash .; Henry lives on the home place; Edward is living on part of the home place; Elvin is also helping to work the home farm; and Olive is the wife of J. W. Alkire of Mount Vernon, Wash. Mr. Witham is a Republican in politics, and was active in the early days of the state. In 1861-62 he was a member of the legislature, and was re-elected in 1868 and 1874. While serving he represented his constituents with great credit and satisfac- faction, placing their needs and aspirations before the body with convincing intelligence. For more than thirty-three years he has been a member of the Masonic order. He is highly respected by all who have ever been associated with him, and though now approaching the twilight of life takes an active interest in the success of his sons, and in all the interests of his home.

SAMUEL N. HOWARD. Among the sons of Indiana who have made their way to Oregon and have materially added to its development, is Samuel N. Howard, representing the second generation of his family in the west, and the owner of a farm of three hundred acres three miles north of Eugene. The namesake of his father, who was born in Virginia, August

4, 1792, Mr. Howard is of English descent, and possesses many of the sterling characteristics of his worthy ancestors. The father, Samuel Howard, was a farmer during his entire active life, and as a young man removed to Ohio, and there married Charlotte Yates, who was born in Ohio, of German descent. The family subse- quently removed to Henry county, Ind., where the father bought a large farm, and where Sam- uel N., was born October 26, 1839. Three years later the family moved to Grundy county, Mo., and after two years moved to Polk county, near Des Moines, Iowa, where they lived until 1853. The father was ambitious, notwithstand- ing the fact that he had long since passed the half century mark, and in this he was seconded by his children, of whom there were eight, Samuel N. being the fourth, and at that time twelve years of age. Outfitting with nine yoke of oxen and three wagons, the party started for Oregon and was six months on the way, and at the end of their journey were the proud pos- sessors of three yoke of oxen and one cow, two of their wagons having been lost by the way- side. The party was under command of Rev. George Koger, and the travelers had little to record of a disagreeable nature, the Indians having kept to themselves, and the weather having been fairly pleasant. Samuel Howard took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Junction City. His removal to the west was well timed and wise as was demonstrated in the following years, when his crops multiplied, and success came to him. Engaging in a large general farming enterprise, he was obliged to have more than his original purchase of land, and at the time of his death, in May, 1872, owned seven hundred and ten acres.

At the age of fourteen Samuel N. began to work for wages, and early recognition of his ability as a wage earner greatly encouraged him to do his best. Practical and thrifty, he saved his money and studied whenever opportunity offered, for attendance at the public schools for so busy a boy was at best irregular. He knew that whatever he accomplished in life would be due to his own energy, and he applied himself to becoming a first class farmer, and broad- minded citizen. In the fall of 1861 he went to Wasco county, eastern Oregon, and engaged in a stock business for about six years, during that time continuing to save his money, and lay by for a rainy day. Returning to Lane county, in 1868, he took a drove of cattle across the mountains to California. remained a year, and then permanently took up his residence in Lane county, north of Irving.

In 1872 Mr. Howard bought three hundred

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and twenty acres of land one mile north of Irving, where he lived and conducted general farming for six years, and then moved to his present farm; three miles north of Eugene. There are few farms in the neighborhood more to be desired than this, for the owner has bent every energy to produce the best possible results. He has twenty-five acres of hops, and forty-five acres of fruit, prunes and cherries predominat- ing, to the extent of forty-five hundred trees. The residence on his farm is large and commod- ious, the barns modern and large enough for grain and stock, and the general improvements are in keeping with an up-to-date farming en- terprise. A large share of Mr. Howard's suc- cess he attributes to the assistance of a capable and helpful wife, who is a native daughter of Oregon. She was born in Marion county, April 14, 1856. Mrs. Howard was before her mar- riage Cinderella Kays, daughter of John and Frances Kays, and she is the mother of six children of whom Emmett, the oldest son, lives on an adjoining farm, while DeWitt C., Dolph, Bessie, Jessie, and Nellie, are living at home. Mr. Howard has subscribed to Republican prin- ciples from the first of his voting days, and he has held the offices of school director and road supervisor. He has led a busy life, and while amassing a competence has never overlooked fair dealing, or consideration for the rights and prerogatives of others.

CORNELIUS B. STARR. As one of the substantial residents of the vicinity of Monroe, Benton county, Mr. Starr occupies an enviable place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. Coming to the state when a youth of fifteen years, his life from that time forward has been passed under Oregon skies, and that it has been well and worthily spent a perusal of this short life history will prove.

Cornelius B. Starr was born in Belmont coun- ty, Ohio, August 11, 1838, but has no recollec- tion of his birthplace, as his parents moved to Iowa when he was only six months old. Moses Starr, his father, was born June 22, 1787, in old Virginia, but in an early day and when quite a young man moved to Ohio, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In his wife, who was Eliza- beth Calhoun, also a native of the Old Dominion, he had a wise counselor and true companion, whose nobility of character was proverbial. From 1839 until 1853 the parental home was in Iowa, the father following general farming and also acting in the capacity of sales agent. as his farm duties permitted. The year 1853 was a memor- able one to the Starr family, as it was April 4 of that year that they started on the long and peril- ous journey across the plains, ox and horse-teams

furnishing the motive power. When they reached The Dalles the father was taken ill, and soon after reaching Clackamas county his death oc- curred. Saddened and bereaved though she was, the mother courageously took his place at the head of the little band and led them on to their destination, and in Benton county, one and one- half miles northwest of Monroe, took up a dona- tion claim of one hundred and sixty acres. With true pioneer instinct she set about to bring order out of chaos, and her success was exemplified in the fine improvements which from time to time were made upon the tract. Her ability as a physician was of an unusual order, and many a sickroom was brightened and cheered by her presence. Of the twelve children born to her, five sons were ministers of the gospel, in this re- spect following in the footsteps of their father, who was a local preacher and class-leader. An- other son, Samuel F., became the first sheriff of Benton county. Mary J. became the wife of James Campbell of Lane county ; Milton C. re- sides in the vicinity of Monroe; Elizabeth A. is the widow of Jesse Hawley and resides in Grass Valley; and Martin L. resides in Washington. At the time of the father's death he was sixty- six years of age, and the mother seventy-nine at her demise.

Until twenty-four years of age, Cornelius Starr remained at home, dutifully assisting his mother in the care and maintenance of the farm. At this age, however, he started out in a new line of en- deavor, and in freighting goods to Jacksonville met with considerable success. The Civil war had been in progress for some time, and when no longer able to resist the call for volunteers, he laid aside personal considerations and enlisted as a member of Company A, First Oregon Infantry, and November 30, 1864, was mustered in at Salem. From Vancouver, the first field of ac- tion, the regiment went to Fort Yamhill, and from there to eastern Oregon, thence went into camp. After a service of nineteen months he was mustered out at Fort Yamhill, from there returning to his home and resuming the peaceful life of the farmer.

The marriage of Cornelius B. Starr and Miss Mary A. Howard was solemnized November 21, 1869. She was a native of Illinois and crossed the plains with her parents in 1852. Mrs. Starr is a daughter of Pontius P. and Sarah (Grimm) Howard. The father was born in Wisconsin, and came to Oregon in 1852. He now resides in Washington, where he has lived for the past twenty years. He was in the Civil war. The mother died May 17, 1901. She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom are still living: Albert of Washington ; Alpheus of Benton coun- ty; Mary A., now Mrs. Starr; Adelia. Mrs. Jo- seph Baird; Oren, of Cottage Grove; Sarah E.,

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now Mrs. George Ludwig; Maria, resides in Monroe. On a claim adjoining the home of Mrs. Starr's parents the young people began house- keeping, making it their home for the following eleven years. From there they went to Corvallis, where Mr. Starr was engaged in the livery busi- ness for four years. After a period of six months spent in southern Oregon, he settled on the tract of seven hundred and fifty acres which now forms his home place. The place is embellished with a commodious residence and convenient barns and out-houses and, all in all, is one of the model estates in the country roundabout. While he carries on general farming to a certain extent, Mr. Starr is more particularly interested in stock- raising, his ranch being stocked with Shorthorn and Polled Angus cattle. Four children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Starr, as follows : John H., a resident of Junction City, and has one child, Loris B .; Sylva J., Artie B., and Mamie C., the three latter at home with their parents. The family are identified with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which Mr. Starr is serving as trustee. Politically he upholds the tenets and candidates of the Republican party.

LEVI P. TALLMAN. A youth developed in a practical and kindly home atmosphere, a young manhood tried by the deprivation and danger of a Civil war service, and later years rounded out in useful occupations in the far northwest, is the life story of Levi P. Tallman, now living on a little fruit farm of thirty acres two miles north of Eugene. A pleasant recollection to Mr. Tall- man is the fact that he is indebted solely to his own efforts for his start and subsequent suc- cess in life, and he is a stanch advocate of indus- try and uprightness, aids which have been the principal factors in his advancement. Born in Huron county, Ohio, July 17, 1845, he is a son of Timothy W. and Harriett (Palmer) Tall- man, natives of New York state. The parents were married in their native state, and soon afterward removed to Huron county, Ohio, where the father farmed and worked at his trades as shoemaker and carpenter. He removed with his family to Kent county, Mich., in 1853, after a time settling in Grand Rapids where he was earnestly and successfully plying his trade at the time of his death at the age of seventy- seven years.

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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 202

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