Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 205

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 205

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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Groves was celebrated September 24, 1864, and has been blessed with four children: Lillie May; Jessie, the wife of Professor Kittredge, of Weston, Ore .; Frank W., who has charge of the general storehouse at the Puget Sound navy yard; and Edna, who is a teacher. All are graduates of the Oregon Agricultural College.

In public affairs Mr. Groves has long been prominent and several times has been called to offices of public honor and trust. He served for nine years as city treasurer and for one term

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as county treasurer. He was made a Mason in Corvallis Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; he belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter and is a charter member of the council, while both he and his wife are charter members of the Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Groves is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political views Mr. Groves has always been a Republican and his active co- operation in many measures for the general good indicates his progressive nature and public spirit.

WILL G. GILSTRAP. The editor of the Eugene Register is not only one of the most commanding figures in western journalism, but also one of the most cosmopolitan of men. Since 1892 he has conducted in all its details the most prosperous, and in many respects the most sub- stantial and enterprising newpaper in Lane county, never for an instant losing control of its policy, always the initiator, always the leader. As is well known, his paper is the mouthpiece of the Republican party in this section, and the proprietor has a genius for politics. A bril- liant and forceful writer, he has humor, business sagacity, a penetrating style as a paragrapher, untiring energy and amazing enterprise and keenness in the collection of news. As an expon- ent of moderate, conservative, and well balanced journalism, and of the courtesy which more than aught else indicates an adherence to the world- wide mission of the press, the Eugene Register is deserving of the respect and attention which it commands even among its opponents.

That Mr. Gilstrap spent many years of his life on a farm has certainly been in his favor, and is undoubtedly responsible for the nearness to nature so apparent in his sympathies. He was born on his father's farm near Pleasanton, Kans., November 4, 1865, and the drudgery of the harvest field was varied hy attendance at the district school. In 1882 he was graduated from the Pleasanton high school, and during 1883-84 attended the Fort Scott Normal College, where terminated his preliminary search for knowl- edge. His first business experience was acquired as a clerk in a large lumber concern, a position which he relinquished upon removing to Colfax, Wash., in 1888. In the spring of 1889 he moved to Oakesdale, Wash., and established the Oakesdale Sun, in 1890 increasing his responsi- bility by starting the Alliance Advocate, which was later disposed of to the Farmer's Alliance, and used by the latter organization as its official organ. Mr. Gilstrap came to Oregon in 1892, soon afterward succeeding to the editorship of the Eugene Register, a daily and weekly publi-

cation, easily ranking as one of the leading Re- publican newspapers in the state. A feature of the paper is that it is connected with the largest job printing plant in Lane county.

In Oakesdale, Wash., Mr. Gilstrap was mar- ried, October 16, 1891, to Lillian May Finch, who was born in Umatilla county, Ore., a daughter of S. E. Finch. Two children have been born of this union, Cosby Lucile, aged eleven, and Louis Frederick, aged two years. Mr. Gilstrap is a member and trustee of the Eugene Commercial Club, and is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

MARY A. GARLINGHOUSE. A pictur- esque windmill, flapping its skeleton arms in the breeze, and further indicating its presence by the inevitable dirge which accompanies its industry, would seem to beckon travelers along the high- way to an inspection of the finely improved Gar- linghouse farm over which it is called to preside from its elevated vantage ground. Had this time- honored and very ancient device eyes with which to see, it might view eight hundred and eight acres of land, given over to wheat and other grains, fruit, acres of corn, all the general com- modities with which farmers have to do, and ex- tensive stock-raising operations. One of the most valuable properties in Benton county, it is also one of the best equipped, and it would seem that no improvement evolved by the ingenuity of man, had been omitted from its working equip- ment.

This model farm has been the property of Mrs. Mary Garlinghouse since 1852, and is now managed by her second husband, William Gar- linghouse, who is one of the successful and popular men in Benton county. Mrs. Garling- house was born in Kentucky, her parents having been farmers in that state for many years. The family moved to Illinois at an early day, where the daughter married William Coyle, with whom she continued to live in Illinois until 1849. The young couple then started across the plains with ox-teams, were on the road the usual length of time, and arrived in good health and spirits at their destination in Oregon. In Multnomah county they spent the first winter, and in 1852 came to Benton county and took up six hundred and forty acres of land one mile northeast of Monroe. Mr. Coyle prospered in the west, made many improvements on his farm, and availed himself of all the suggestions then known to agriculturists. He died at the age of fifty-eight, leaving his widow sole owner of the large farm, upon which she has since lived. One child was

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born of this union, Malinda F., the widow of L. J. Starr, who is living with her mother.

In time Mrs. Coyle married William Garling- house, who was born in Ohio, and who crossed the plains in 1862, settling in Benton county. At present the farm consists of eight hundred acres, with fine improvements. Mr. Garling- house is the present postmaster of Monroe, and has served several years as a member of the school board. One ought certainly to mention his extensive knowledge of the horse, of which he is a keen and persistent admirer. The noble animal has no stancher friend anywhere, or one who can more eloquently sound his praises. Mrs. Garlinghouse is a typical pioneer woman of the west, strong and resourceful, and capable of winning and retaining the friendship of many. There are no more genial or hospitable people in the neighborhood, for their latch-key is always down and their larder is a tempting one.

M. SVARVERUD. Eugene has a number of adopted sons claiming Norseland ancestry, but none who stand higher in the public esteem, or are more thoroughly identified with the sub- stantial business life of the city than M. Svar- verud, senior partner and manager of the Eugene Real Estate & Investment Company.

Mr. Svarverud was eleven years old when he left his ancestral home near Christiania, Norway, where he was born December 11, 1855, and where he had received irregular training at the public schools. He was accompanied by his father, Andrias P., and his mother Eline (Peter- slkken) Svarverud, the latter a daughter of Peter Petersikken, a farmer near Christiania, and a land owner. The paternal family were moder- ate land owners, and Peter, the grandfather of M. Svarverud had a farm of large size and re- markable fertility. On both sides of the family the members were strict adherents of the Luth- eran Church. Arriving in America on a sailing vessel in 1866, Andrias Svarverud located in Fill- more county, Minn., bought a good-sized farm, and lived there until moving to Ransom county, N. Dak., in 1881. In 1893 Mr. Svarverud retired from active life and moved to Eugene, Ore., and died here in June, 1902, at the age of eighty- three years. He is survived by the wife who shared his rising fortunes, and who is now seventy-four years of age.

The oldest of the six children born to his par- ents, and one of the four now living, M. Svar- verud was reared on the Minnesota farm, ac- companied the family to North Dakota, and at the age of twenty-one years homesteaded a claim near Fort Ransom. He was one of the first in that region to engage in wheat-raising, and his venture proved successful, netting him sufficient

money to engage in a practical business enter- prise. He came to Eugene in 1889 and started a hardware and implement store on the corner of West Eighth and Olive streets, and later on moved to Willamette street, where he built up a large business under the firm name of M. Svar- verud & Company. The firm were so successful that they started a branch store at Harrisburg, and later one of the same kind at Independence, operating all three under the same firm name. The Cleveland administration brought the large general and branch houses to a crisis in 1893, the general depression affecting them to such an extent that they were obliged to sell out in order to pay their liabilities. With commendable courage Mr. Svarverud weathered this storm and kept hope burning in his heart, and in 1894 started the business since known as the Eugene Real Estate & Investment Company, which was organized in 1897 with R. McMurphy, C. M. Densmore and W. A. Wood as Mr. Svarverud's partners. The firm handle town and country properties, including residence and timber. Many fine properties have passed through their hands, and many important transactions have been car- ried to a successful finish. This partnership con- tinued for about eighteen months, at which time Messrs. McMurphy and Wood withdrew, the business being continued by the other two gentle- men until 1900, when Mr. Densmore withdrew, and the business was continued for a year by Mr. Svarverud, when George Fisher purchased an interest, and in April, 1903, was succeeded by W. W. Calkins.

Mr. Svarverud's public spirit has found out- let in many avenues of activity in the city, and his sympathies have invariably turned towards the benevolent and charitable as worthy of his personal attention and financial assistance. He is a Republican in politics, but has never taken a more than nominal interest in local affairs. Fraternally he is one of the best known men in Eugene and Lane county, and at present enjoys the distinction of being grand marshal of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, I. O. O. F., as well as past noble grand of the Eugene lodge. He is a member of the Encampment, the Woodmen of the World, and the Knights of the Maccabees. One of the first to agitate the subject of the Eugene Real Estate Exchange, he has been president of the exchange since its organization, and has been the leading and most influential member in promoting its well-being.

In Ransom county, N. Dak., Mr. Svarverud married Georgiana Marsh, a native of Mil- waukee, Wis., and daughter of George Marsh, an early settler of Barnes county, N. Dak. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Svar- verud: Franklin Evander ; Leland Wray; George Martin; Jesse Lawrence, and Frederick Carlton.

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The old-time expression, that "his word is as good as his bond," applies to Mr. Svarverud, for no man in the community is more readily ac- corded honor and confidence and good will, nor have any a more firmly established reputation for loyalty to business and general community interests.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN KNISELY. Oc- cupying a conspicuous position among the prom- inent educators of the northwest, Prof. A. L. Knisely is recognized as a man of rare ability and talent. As one of the staff of instructors at the Oregon Agricultural College, being pro- fessor of chemistry, he is faithfully performing his part in making this school one of the leading institutions of the kind in the Union, his labors in this direction being duly appreciated by the board of regents, the faculty, the students, and the patrons of the college. Finely educated, and especially. prepared for the work in which he is engaged, he is very successful as a teacher, and is favorably known as an expert chemist at the department of agriculture, in Washington, D. C.

A son of A. J. Knisely, Abraham L. Knisely was born in Chicago, Ill., February 19, 1865. His grandfather, Christian Knisely, was born and reared in Meadville, Pa., where he learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which he subsequently followed for awhile in Dayton, Ohio, later re- moving to Chicago, Ill., where he spent his last years. A. J. Knisely was born in Meadville, Pa., and was there reared and educated. Subse- quently taking up his residence in Chicago, Ill., he was there engaged as a brick manufacturer for a number of years. Removing then to Benton Harbor, Mich., he has since devoted his atten- tion to horticultural pursuits, having a fine fruit farm of twenty acres. He is a member of the Berrien County Horticultural Society, and its secretary. He married Rebecca Hastings Samp- son, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, of New, England ancestors, and a daughter of William Sampson, formerly a manufacturer of pottery in that city, later a stockholder in the South Branch Dock Company, at Chicago. His death occurred in Cincinnati, where he had resided for many years. Of the children born of their union, two sons and one daughter are living.

Obtaining his elementary education in the graded schools of Chicago, Abraham L. Knisely went with his parents to Benton Harbor in 1876, and after attending the district school for awhile entered the high school, from which he received his diploma in 1884. The following year he spent on the home farm, then attended the Col- legiate Institute, being graduated from there in 1886. Becoming interested in chemistry, Mr. Knisely took a four-years course at the Uni-

versity of Michigan, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1891, receiving the degree of B. S. Subsequently doing post-graduate work in the same university, he had the degree of M. S. in chemistry conferred upon him. After receiving his diploma, in 1891, he went to Gen- eva, N. Y., as assistant chemist at the experi- ment station, and after receiving the master's degree continued there as assistant chemist, also having charge of the dairy products. In 1895 he was given a year's leave of absence to attend Cornell University, where he did post-graduate work in agricultural chemistry and horticulture. Resigning his position in Geneva, he subsequently continued his work at Cornell, being employed, also, as assistant chemist in the College of Agri- culture. Since July, 1900, Mr. Knisely has filled the chair of chemistry at the Oregon Agri- cultural College, and has been chief chemist at the experiment station. Although he has been here a comparatively short time, he is already well known in scientific circles, and takes an active part in institute work all over the state.

At Battle Creek, Mich., Professor Knisely married Miss Blanche Briggs, who was born at Albion, Mich., and was graduated from the University of Michigan, in 1890, with the de- gree of B. L. Two children have been born of their union, Margaret Gould and Malcolm Briggs. In politics the professor is a sound Re- publican.

ARTHUR BURTON CORDLEY. A man of high intellectual attainments, an earnest worker, especially devoted to the interests of the scientific department, of which he has charge, Professor Cordley is considered an authority on zoology and entomology, and by his constant and conscientious labor, both in his classes and at the experiment station, has won for himself an enviable reputation, and gained an honored position among the able instructors of the Ore- gon Agricultural College, with which he is con- nected. Energetic and ambitious, he has built up the department of which he is now at the head from its foundation, making it one of the most useful in the college, and one of the most popu- lar. Active in local enterprises, he has done much toward advancing the interests of Cor- vallis, and is everywhere held in high esteem, . his integrity as a man, and his loyalty as a citizen being unquestioned.

A son of the late Charles Cordley, Prof. Arthur B. Cordley was born February II, 1864, at Pinckney, Livingston county, Mich., which was also the birthplace of his father. His paternal grandfather, James Cordley, was born, reared and married in England. Emigrating to Amer- ica, in 1833, he settled in Michigan, taking up

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land in Livingston county, near Hamburg Junc- tion, and there improved a homestead, on which he spent his remaining years. Charles Cordley spent his entire life in Michigan, succeeding to the ownership of his parental acres, and being engaged in agricultural pursuits most success- fully. His wife, whose maiden name was Esther Hicks, was a life-long resident of Michigan, al- though she was of Pennsylvania ancestry, her parents having been natives of that state. Of the three children born of their union, Arthur B., the only son, is the only one to come to the Pacific coast, the two daughters still residing in Michigan.

Laying the foundation for his education in the district school, Arthur B. Cordley labored hard during his vacations on the home farm, continu- ing his agricultural labors until nineteen years of age, when he entered upon his professional career, teaching in a public school for two years. Becoming a student at the Michigan State Agri- cultural College, in Lansing, in the spring of 1885, he was graduated from that institution withi the degree of B. S. in 1888. Remaining there the ensuing two years, first as instructor in zoology, and later as assistant entomologist, he then accepted a position in the University of Vermont, at Burlington, becoming instructor in zoology in the College of Agriculture, and as- sistant entomologist at the experiment station. In May, 1891, Professor Cordley went to Wash- ington, D. C., as assistant entomologist in the United States Department of Agriculture, re- maining there until 1893. Returning then to Michigan, he spent two years on the home farm, leaving it in 1895 to take up his present work as professor of zoology and entomology at the Oregon Agricultural College, being, also, ento- mologist and plant pathologist at the experiment station. An earnest student, the professor is con- tinually adding to his scientific knowledge, in 1899 taking a graduate course for that pur- pose at Cornell University. In 1900 he was honored by his alma mater, which conferred upon him the degree of M. S. He has a wide reputa- tion in scientific and literary circles, being a meni- ber of the American Association of Economic Entomologists, a branch of the American Asso- ciation for Advancement of Science.

At Brookings, S. D., Professor Cordley mar- ried Miss Mary McLouth, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., a daughter of Prof. Lewis McLouth, Ph. D., for many years one of the faculty of the Michigan State Normal School, later president of the State Agricultural College of South Da- kota, but now a resident of Springfield, Mass., where he organized, and still has charge, of the Intercollegiate Branch of the Home Corre- spondence School. Professor and Mrs. Cordley have one child, Dorothea. Professor Cordley is

a Republican in politics, a member of the Con- gregational Church, and belongs to the W. of W., and to Corvallis Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M.

JAMES WITHYCOMBE. Comprehending and heeding the advice of Sidney Smith, who said, "Whatever you are from nature, keep to it ; never desert your own line of talent, and you will succeed," Mr. Withycombe has unquestion- ably chosen his scientific occupation with great wisdom, and in his earnest studies has become complete master of the particular science. in which he is at present interested. Conversant with the various branches of general farming from his earliest youth, he has never missed an opportunity to gain knowledge of anything connected with farm life, and is, therefore, es- pecially fitted for his present position as director of the experiment station of the Oregon Agri- cultural College.

Of English birth and parentage, Mr. Withy- combe was born March 21, 1854, near Plymouth, England, which was the birthplace, also, of his father, Thomas Withycombe, and the life-long residence of his grandfather, Henry Withy- combe, a successful farmer and stock-raiser. Thomas Withycombe emigrated to this country with his family in 1871, and located in Wash- ington county, Ore., buying a part of the Horace Lindsay donation claim, near Farmington, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for sev- eral years. On retiring from active labor, he removed to North Yamhill, where he spent his last years. He married Mary Ann Spurr, who was born near Plymouth, England, a daughter of Joseph Spurr, an extensive and prosperous sheep-breeder. Of their union five children were born, namely : John ; Thomas ; James; Mrs. Mary Burton, of North Yamhill, Ore,; and Philip, a tile and brick manufacturer at North Yamhill. The mother died on the home farm, near Farm- ington.

James Withycombe received his rudimentary education in the public schools of his native town, afterwards taking a course of study in the grammar school at Tavistock, England. Com- ing to Oregon when seventeen years of age, he assisted in the care of the home farm, at the same time becoming interested in stock-raising, and studying veterinary surgery, which he sub- sequently practiced successfully a number of years in Portland, Ore. In 1889 he was appointed, by the domestic annual commission, state veterinary of Oregon, a position that he filled most satis- factorily for nine years. During that time he also had charge of a farm in Washington county, near Hillsboro, owning a half section of land, which is still in his possession. In addi- tion to general farming, he paid especial atten-

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tion to raising stock, including standard-bred horses, Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire and Cots- wold sheep and Berkshire swine, realizing ex- cellent results. In the fall of 1898 Mr. Withy- combe gave up farming to accept the position of vice director of the experiment station at the Oregon Agricultural College, with which he is still connected officially, having been director of the experiment station since his appointment to the position, in July, 1902. In 1899 this institu- tion conferred upon him the degree of M. Agr., to which he is worthily entitled. In the depart- ment of the college to which he is attached, Dr. Withycombe is attracting much attention, in- teresting the pupils in practical agriculture and horticulture, proving in a clear manner the necessity for a scientific training in these branches if the highest possible success is to be attained. He is widely known in connection with the (lairy and farmers' institutes throughout the state, and has a large acquaintance with the leading agriculturists. With them his great am- bition is to have Oregon reach the place to which she is justly entitled among the rich agricultural states of the Union. He is a charter member of Farmington Grange, of Washington county, but at present holds membership with Cor- vallis Grange. For two years he was president of the North Pacific Wool Growers' Association.

Dr. Withycombe married, in Washington county, Ore., Miss Isabel Carpenter, a native of Farmington. Four children have been born of their union, namely: Harry, who entered the University of Illinois with the class of 1903 ; Thomas Robert, a graduate of the Oregon Agri- cultural College, in the class of 1901; Mabel, a graduate of the same class as Thomas R .; and Earle. The doctor is a strong Republican in politics, and at the convention held in Albany was among the first to advocate the name of T. H. Tongue for member of congress. He is a member of the Christian Church, with which he united in 1874, and in which he has filled dif- ferent offices.

MRS. SARAH E. MOORE. The Ancient Order of United Workmen of the state of Ore- gon has reason to be proud of Mre. Sarah E. Moore, a prominent organizer of the Degree of Honor of that lodge and a woman whose noble qualities have all been enlisted in the cause she espoused. She was born in Alabama, the daughter of H. L. Wilkins, and the youngest of the children which blessed the union of her parents. In 1877 her father came to Corvallis, Ore., bringing his family to a new home among the newer opportunities of the west, and. then but a young girl, Mrs. Moore continued her studies in the public schools of this city. De-

cember 27, 1881, she was united in marriage with Medford Moore, thus allying her fortunes with those of a pioneer family of Oregon. Mr. Moore was born in Lebanon, Linn county, Ore., in 1854, the son of John W., a native of Mis- souri, who emigrated to the west in 1848 and settled in Linn county, where he engaged in farming. His life is more or less interwoven with the events that formed the history of the early days of Oregon, serving with many other pioneers in the Rogue river war. He is now re- tired from the active cares of life and makes his home in Walla Walla, Washı. Of the five chil- dren born to himself and wife only three are now living. The second of the children was Medford, and after a childhood upon his fath- er's farm he completed his education in the Ore- gon Agricultural College. At the age of eight- een years he went to South America in company with his two brothers, John and Frank, and set- tling in Argentine Republic, they remained there farming for three years. Some time after the death of his brother, Frank, in that country, Medford returned to Oregon and engaged in farming in Benton county, near Wells, for five years, removing at the close of that period to Prineville, Crook county, where ·he became in- terested in stock-raising. Two years later he- ran a stage in eastern Oregon for several years; then, during Cleveland's administration he was appointed postmaster of Prineville, a position he held from 1893 to 1897. After a period in the harness business in Prineville he was inter- ested in a drug store. In the affairs of the city he was always actively interested, at the time of his death, July 9, 1902, holding the position of city treasurer. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past officer in the Prineville lodge; the Rebekahs; Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he was past master workman; and the Degree of Honor. Politically Mr. Moore was a Democrat.

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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 205

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