Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 207

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 207

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In his youth Mr. Millett would have had a precarious existence had not a prosperous farmer in Iowa adopted him after the death of his mother. He was two years old when this catas- trophe overcame him, having been born in Waterloo, Iowa, March 9, 1868. When he was five years old Mr. R. Millett, his foster-father, brought his family to Benton county, Ore., re- mained there until 1875, and then moved to Junc- tion City, where the lad attended the public schools for a couple of years. Mr. Millett (the elder) purchased the farm now owned by the younger man in 1881, and which at the time consisted of five hundred acres. When Gideon C. was twenty-three years old he took possession of this farm, made arrangements to pay accord- ing to the terms of a contract, and one of the satisfactions of his life is that he has been able to meet this obligation fairly, and with satisfac- tion to all concerned. He has taken an active part in promoting education, good roads, and general improvements in Lane county, and has always identified himself with Republican poli- tics. Possessed of tact, geniality and other social traits, he is a welcome visitor at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge, representing the same at the state grand lodge in 1900. Mr. Mil- lett is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Rebekahs. He is now perfecting plans to retire from active participa- tion in business and will probably make his home in Eugene. He is the second largest stockholder in the Junction City Hotel Company, of which he is a director, besides owning other property of considerable value. Mr. Millett lives one mile east of Junction City, and in the community is regarded as a man in whom honor, sound busi- ness judgment, and unquestioned success are happily blended.

JACOB SHILLING. Not far from the vil- lage of Munkers, Linn county, may be seen the well cultivated farm of Jacob Shilling, a tract of one hundred and forty-two acres, formerly a part of the old Riley Thorp donation claim. His residence here dates from the year 1873, since which time he has carried on general farming, although of late he has resigned the more ardu- ous work to younger hands, his son doing the practical work, although he still superintends the

1338

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

same. One hundred and fifteen acres are under cultivation, the balance in grubs and an orchard.

A native of Wayne county, Ohio, born Sep- tember 16, 1835, Jacob Shilling is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Falgon) Shilling, both natives of the Keystone state, the former born in Frank- lin county, July 11, 1801, and the latter in Mer- cer county, in 1804. The father was of German descent, the first of the family to emigrate to this country, coming with a colony and making settlement in Pennsylvania. Growing to man- hood in the latter state, he subsequently removed to Ohio, but did not go alone, as in the mean- time he had married Miss Margaret Falgon, who, as his wife, accompanied him. After en- gaging in agriculture in Wayne county, that state, for a few years, in 1839 the parents re- moved to Putnam county, Ind., which was the scene of the family life for the following twelve years. It was in the latter state, in 1851, that the father's death occurred, and the same year the mother removed with her children to Marion county, Iowa. She survived her husband twenty- seven years, passing away in Iowa in 1878.

There were ten children in the family, seven sons and three daughters, and after the father's death the support of the mother and younger children devolved upon the older ones. Jacob was the sixth in order of birth, and at his fath- er's death was about sixteen years of age. His early education was received in the common schools of Indiana and Iowa, but, as early in life it became necessary for him to seek means of self support, he chose the carpenter's trade as promising the most satisfactory remuneration, and at once began to learn it in all its details. In 1860 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Burch, a native of Kentucky, born near Glasgow. February 23, 1841. Five children blessed this marriage, as follows: Sophronia, wife of J. T. Funk, of Munkers; Robert, who died in infancy; C. C., a resident of Heppner, Ore .; Hezekiah, at home; and Alfred, also a resident of Heppner.

After his marriage Mr. Shilling abandoned work at his trade and purchased a farm in Ma- rion county, Iowa, which he tilled until the year 1871, which, as previously stated, marked his advent in the far west. From Tehama, Cal., which was his first stopping place upon reaching the west, he went by team to Benton county, Ore., but two years later came to Linn county. Pleased with the outlook, he felt sufficient con- fidence in the future of the county to make it his permanent residence, and forthwith purchased the farm on which he now resides. In all local affairs he takes an intelligent interest, and gives his support to the Democratic party. His services in a public capacity have been made manifest in

his work as road supervisor and as school di- rector. He affiliates with the First Day Ad- ventists.

DAVID CHARLES ROSE. One of the most enterprising, energetic and prosperous business men of Corvallis dis D. C. Rose, a well known cigar manufacturer, who has been identi- fied with the manufacturing interests of this city for upwards of a score of years. Although of foreign hirth, Mr. Rose has as great love for his adopted country and its institutions as for the Fatherland, and in the time of its great peril, during the strenuous times of the Civil war, he fought with the same zeal that fired the patriot- ism of its native-born citizens.

A native of Wurtemberg, Germany, Mr. Rose was born about three miles from the city of Stutt- gart, in 1842. His father, the late David Rose, emigrated, in 1847, from Wurtemberg to the United States, with his family. He sailed to Galveston, intending to locate in Texas, but find- ing the country too new, he proceeded to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Kentucky, settling in Campbell county, and buying a ranch near Newport, on which he resided until his death, prior to the war. Of his union with Anna M. Schindelin, who died in Kentucky, seven children were born, of whom three survive, one being a resident of Kentucky, and the other two of Oregon, D. C. living in Corvallis, and E. W. in Chitwood.

With but limited school advantages, D. C. Rose was reared on the home plantation near Newport, living there until fifteen years old, when he went to Newport, where he remained until the breaking out of the Civil war. Early in 1861 he joined Taylor's Guards, later enlist- ing in the Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry for a term of three months, during which time he was on guard duty most of the entire period. After being mustered out of service, Mr. Rose enlisted in the Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, but as that regiment did not fill up he joined the Seventy-first Ohio Infantry as a private, and with his companions was sent to Paducah, Ky., to join Sherman's army, thence going up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing, at which battle he was shot through the right leg. the ball entering just below the knee. Being inca- pacitated for further duty for a time, he was sent home on a furlough, and being anxious for something to do, he then began learning the trade of a cigarmaker. Being subsequently ordered to report at Camp Dennison, Ohio, he was from there sent to a camp near Columbus, where the officer in charge recommended that he be dis- charged on account of his wound. Completing

1339

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his trade in December, 1863, Mr. Rose worked at it in Newport for awhile, and then with a friend went to New York city, where his. com- panion soon enlisted as a musician in the band of the Eighteenth regulars, leaving him alone. He, therefore, in 1864, enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, receiving a bounty of $700, but the examining surgeon rejected him; he tried again, that time being accepted, but losing $200 of his bounty, it costing him that sum to get in. With his regi- ment he went to Winchester, thence to the front at Petersburg, where the peak of his cap was shot off, down through Richmond, and on to Appomattox, being present at the surrender of Lee. He afterwards took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and received his honorable discharge at Ogdensburg, N. Y., July 5, 1865.

Returning to Newport, Ky., he remained until 1866, when he removed to Lawrenceburg, Ind. Two years later Mr. Rose located in Kansas City, Mo., going from there to Ellsworth county, Kans., where he was engaged in general farm- ing northeast of the town of Ellsworth for twelve years, working also a part of the time at his trade, in Salina. Disposing of his farm and stock in the fall of 1882, he came to Oregon, establish- ing himself at his trade in Portland, at the same time owning a farm in Cornelius, which he sold in a few months at an advantage. In January, 1883, Mr. Rose transferred his residence and business to Corvallis, where he has since been engaged in the manufacture of cigars, for a time having had his brother, E. W. Rose, as a partner. He aims to make good cigars only, among his brands that are most popular being the "Battle Ship Oregon," "Speckled Trout," "Victor Dewey," "Nickle Leader" and "Up to Date."

Mr. Rose has invested to some extent in real estate, owning a small farm of twenty-five acres, on which is a fine orchard of cherry, pear and prune trees, which yield good crops each season. Politically he is a zealous advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and is now serv- ing his second term as a member of the city council. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias ; to the Ellsworth Post, No. 19, G. A. R .; and is one of the board of trustees of the Oregon Fire Relief Association.

While living in Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Rose formed the acquaintance of Miss Lauretta M. Berry, to whom he was united in marriage soon after the close of the war, their nuptials being celebrated at Hartwick, Vt., in September, 1865. She was born in New Hampshire, and died, at Corvallis, March 2, 1894, leaving five children. namely: Oliver, a machinist in Portland, Ore .; Lottie E., of Portland; George C., a farmer, in

Condon, Ore .; Edward, in partnership with his father, is junior member of the firm of D. C. Ross & Son, at Corvallis; and Daisy A. Mr. Rose married for his second wife Mrs. Georgia (Berry) Stevens, of Corvallis, who was born in New Hampshire, a sister of his first wife.

DANIEL WILLIAM PRICHARD. When Daniel William Prichard undertook to learn the carpenter's trade under Eben Jones in Judson, Minn., more than a quarter of a century ago, he supposedly did not aspire to becoming one of the most expert woodwork instructors on the Pacific coast. Yet such he is today, and as head of the woodwork department of the Oregon Agricultural College, at Corvallis, he moulded the abilities and stimulated the aspirations of many hundred pupils, the membership of the class having increased from thirty, which con- stituted the class in 1894, to about a hundred in 1903, when he severed his connection with the college by resigning on September I.

As his name implies, Mr. Prichard is of Welsh extraction, and his father, R. E., is the founder of the family in America. The elder Prichard was born in Carmarfon, Wales, and in his native land learned the tailor's trade. Coming to Amer- ica at an early day, he located at Turin, N. Y., where he plied his trade, and where his son, Daniel William, was born October 5, 1856. In 1862 he removed to Waukesha, Wis., but, not finding a profitable trade, located the following year in Blue Earth county, Minn., where he engaged in farming for a time, but is now living at Sioux Falls, S. D. His wife, formerly Mar- garet Williams, was also born in Wales, a dangh- ter of Daniel Williams, who emigrated to Amer- ica and located on a farm in New York state. Mrs. Prichard, who died in South Dakota, was the mother of five sons and one daughter. all of whom are living, the talented instructor of Corvallis being the second child. One of the sons, Rev. E. R. Prichard, is pastor of the Pres- byterian Church of Aberdeen, Wash.

For the greater part of his youth Daniel Prich- ard lived on the Minnesota farm, and at the same time attended the public schools of his neigh- borhood. At the age of eighteen he apprenticed to Eben Jones as heretofore stated, and in 1880 left a fair business in Judson, Minn., and took up his residence in South Dakota, thereafter contracting and building in Howard, Miner county. He also homesteaded a claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Howard, and while living there combined farming and building with considerable profit. In 1891 he sold his land and came to Oregon, locating in Corvallis, where he worked at his trade until appointed to the po- sition of head of the department of woodwork

1340

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the Oregon Agricultural College. The depart- ment is amply equipped for practical work in the large mechanics' hall, and as an adjunct to one of the greatest developing enterprises of the state of Oregon is unsurpassed.

The Prichard household consists of Mrs. Prichard, formerly Jennie Jones, a native of New York state, and seven children. Of the children, Minerva, the oldest daughter, is the wife of Mr. Ward, of Oregon City; Everett is a student at the Oregon Agricultural College ; Mary; Llewelleyn : Ella; Ennis; and Edwin. Personally, Mr. Prichard is popular in Corvallis and is fraternally associated with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and the Lions. He is a Republican in politics, and finds a religious home in the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon.

MINER M. SWICK. Following upon a ca- reer of particular merit as a builder and con- tractor, lumber merchant and cattle-dealer, Miner M. Swick is engaged in extensive farming enter- prises on the old Stewart donation claim, he be- ing a son-in-law of that well known and well remembered pioneer, John Stewart. Mr. Swick was born in Hillsdale, Mich., a son of Miner M. and Louise Swick, the former being a native of Seneca county, N. Y .; and grandson of a soldier who was wounded and died in the war of 1812.

Miner Swick was a very early settler in Hills- dale, Mich., near which town he owned and oper- ated a farm with considerable success. He was an ambitious man, and, convinced of the larger opportunities of the far west, outfitted for cross- ing the plains in 1853. On this long and per- ilous journey he was accompanied by his wife and four boys, and he arrived in Oregon City September 29, 1853. For three years he lived on the French prairie, or rather made that the headquarters for his family, for he himself spent about eighteen months in the mines in California. Returning at the end of that time he brought with him $1,800, not a bad showing; and with this he bought a farm near Dayton, which con- tinued to be his home for the remainder of his life. His wife, Louise (Latourette) Swick, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., a daughter of David Latourette, who came from France and practiced his art of weaving in Tompkins county, N. Y. Mrs. Swick died on the old Oregon home, leaving behind her the four boys with whom she had crossed the plains. Of these, Tunis is engaged in the sheep business in Grant county; Miner is the manager of the Stewart farm; Lyman is en- gaged in mining in Grant county ; and Benjamin F. is a practicing physician of Dayton.

In his youth Miner M. Swick learned the car- penter's trade, and, beginning with 1857, con-

tracted and built for many years in Corvallis. He then engaged in a planing-mill business, man- ufacturing sash, doors and other builders' sup- plies, and in 1872 located in eastern Oregon, where he engaged in the cattle business for twelve years. Returning to Corvallis he assumed charge of the broad acres left the heirs of John Stewart, and in the managing of which he is showing a keen knowledge of progressive and scientific farming. Mr. Swick possesses fine business abil- ity, and has personal characteristics which in- spire confidence, and retain indefinitely the re- gard and good will of many friends.

JUDGE JOHN BURNETT. Prominent among those who for many years sustained the prestige of bench and bar in Oregon was Judge John Burnett, a pioneer of '49, and a resident of Corvallis for nearly half a century. This very capable practitioner was born in Pike county, Mo., July 4, 1831, and at an early age lost his father, Capt. Frank Burnett, for many years engaged in the steamboat business on the Mississippi river. Captain Burnett was born in Kentucky, as was also his wife, Jane Johnson, the latter of whom died in Illinois.

The youth of Judge Burnett was characterized by a hard struggle for existence, for in the ab- sence of his father the family support fell largely on his shoulders. He was the second of a large family of children, and he lived for years on the family farm, engaging then as a clerk in a store and on different steamboats. As may be im- agined, his education was acquired under diffi- culties, for work absorbed his entire attention, and little time remained even for slight recrea- tion. Fortunately he was ambitious and studi- ous, and with his earnings was finally enabled to attend not only the public schools, but to take a course at an academy. In 1849 he came to the coast by way of the plains, and a year later re- turned east via Panama, the following year again visiting California, where he prospected and mined. In 1858 he had occasion to bring a drove of horses across the mountains to the Willam- ette valley, and after disposing of them looked around him a bit and was most favorably im- pressed with the people and country. Having determined to remain, he engaged in the butch- ering business in Corvallis, and while thus em- ployed improved his spare time in studying law, a consummation long desired and ardently planned for. His guides in the first principles of law were Judge Thayer and Colonel Kelsay, and he was admitted to the bar in 1860, there- after devoting his life not only to an increasing practice, but to the satisfactory filling of many important responsibilities.

In 1865 Judge Burnett was elected a presi-

1341

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dential elector on the Democratic ticket, and be- ginning with 1870 he served for four years as judge of Benton county, in 1874 being elected associate justice of the supreme court of the state. His term as judge having expired in 1876, he again resumed practice, and two years later was elected state senator from Benton county, and served as chairman of the judiciary commit- tee in the senate. In 1882 he was appointed judge of the second judicial district by Governor Thayer, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Watson. In May, 1891, he was elected mayor of Corvallis, serving for two terms, and he was again elected to the same position in October, 1899, serving for two years. As chief executive he evinced the same regard for the best interests of his fellow townsmen as characterized his atti- tude towards his clients in private practice, and his services were invariably accompanied by re- forms and practical improvements.

As relaxation from professional and public cares Judge Burnett engaged in general farm- ing and horticulture, and the farm upon which he expended so much care and study, and where he beguiled so many pleasant hours, is still owned by his wife. It consists of one hundred and ten acres, under fine cultivation, twenty-five acres of which are devoted to prune culture. Although a large and splendidly proportioned man, strong and healthy apparently, the judge readily suc- cumbed to heart disease, superinduced by an at- tack of grip, his death occurring March 1, 1901. He was genial and pleasant in manner, was ap- proachable to all, and was particularly devoted to his family. As a jurist his rulings were equitable and just, and were rarely questioned, it being uni- versally felt that wisdom, common sense and a profound knowledge of law dictated his every decision.

June 12, 1859, Judge Burnett married Martha Hinton, who was born in Missouri, September 28, 1838, and is a daughter of Hon. Roland B. Hinton, a native of Franklin county, Mo. The pa- ternal grandfather, Clayton B. Hinton, the emi- grating member of the family, located in Oregon, married Sarah Richardson, a native of Kentucky, and thereafter engaged in farming in Franklin county, Mo., of which he was an early settler. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1852 crossed the plains with ox-teams, locating on a donation claim in Benton county, Ore., where he died in 1855. His son, Hon. Roland B. Hinton, was also a farmer in Franklin county, Mo., and he preceded his father across the plains in 1846, being accompanied by his wife, formerly Eliza- beth Brammel, born on the James river, Vir- ginia, a daughter of Thomas Brammel, who located in Franklin county, Mo., and died on a farm there. Four children were born to Mr. and

Mrs. Hinton in Missouri, and these were num- bered among the little party that sought a home in the far northwest, and were willing to brave danger and deprivation to accomplish their mis- sion. They were six months on the way, from April to October, and after a year spent in Yam- hill county, Ore., they located on a claim eighteen miles south of Corvallis in Benton county, where Mr. Hinton built a little blacksmith shop, and combined blacksmithing and farming. Here he resided until 1869, when he located in the vicin- ity of Newport, where, after a short time, he was obliged to give up farming owing to impaired eyesight. For the remainder of his life he lived with his son, in time becoming totally blind, a great affliction for so ambitious a man, and one so thoroughly interested in the happenings of the outside world. In a way he was quite a poli- tician, and unswervingly devoted to the Demo- cratic party, many positions of trust and responsi- bility coming to him. For a term he represented his county in the legislature, and he was post- master of Starr's Point for many years, the office now being Monroe.

Mrs. Burnett was educated in Benton county, primarily in the little log school-house near her honie, which employed a teacher for three months during the winter season. Since her husband's death she has continued to reside in this city, where she owns the beautiful home, and also the fine and substantial business block erected by her husband.

She is a member of the Congregational Church, and is a member of the Eastern Star and the Pioneer Association. Mrs. Burnett is the mother of five children, the order of their birth being as follows: Emma Alice, the de- ceased wife of Mr. H. W. Keesee, who left two children, Archie and John Burnett Keesee; Ida B., wife of Thomas Callahan, who is a grad- uate of the Agricultural College, and is now a teacher of English; Martha, the wife of R. H. Huston, a hardware merchant of Corvallis, and the mother of one child, Helen ; Brady F., a grad- uate of the Agricultural College, a member of the bar, and at present clerk in the census depart- ment at Washington, D. C. Brady F. Burnett served in the Spanish-American war, and was in the Philippines in Company M, Second Ore- gon Volunteer Infantry, being wounded at the battle of Malabon, March 25, 1899. After re- covering he left the hospital and joined his regi- ment, remaining with it until the general muster- ing out. Bruce Burnett, the youngest son in the family, is engaged in farming in southern Ore- gon. Mrs. Burnett is a woman of great refine- ment, and her many sterling and amiable char- acteristics have endeared her to a host of friends.

1342

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J. H. WILSON is engaged in the practice of law in Corvallis. He was born August 31, 1863, in the city which is still his home, and is a son of Bushrod and Priscilla Wilson, whose sketch is given elsewhere. He obtained his education in the public schools, where he pur- sued his studies for a few years and then spent a year in the old Corvallis College. He is, how- ever, largely a self-educated man and while he is today regarded as a gentleman of scholarly attainments and broad intellectuality, he owes this reputation to what he has accomplished for himself. In early life he entered the civil en- gineering department of the Oregon Pacific Rail- road Company and was connected with the con- struction department until the road was com- pleted, covering a period of about five years. He then entered the office of the county clerk, serving as deputy under his father for six years. From his boyhood he was interested in the study of law and he read to a greater or less extent while engaged in railroad work and in his clerical duties in the office of county clerk, his reading being directed by Colonel .Kelsay. As the years passed, his knowledge of the principles of juris- prudence was thus broadened and, having been admitted to the bar about October, 1892, he began practice in Corvallis, where he has since maintained his law office. A distinctively repre- sentative clientele is now accorded him, and he has been connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of his district dur- ing the past decade.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 207

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