Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 208

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 208

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Mr. Wilson was married in Corvallis to Miss Effie M. Handy, who was born in Afton, N. Y. Her mother died in the Empire state, but the father, Arden K. Handy, removed with the fam- ily to Oregon and died in this state in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson now have two small children. Mr. Wilson was made a Mason in Corvallis Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M., of which he is now a past master. He is also a past high priest of Ferguson Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., and is con- nected with the Eastern Star, Woodmen of the World, and the Ancient Order of United Work- men. In politics he has always been a Repub- lican and he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as elder for twelve years. He prepares his cases with great fairness and precision, has a mind strongly analytical and in argument he is forceful, his deductions fol- lowing in logical sequence.

THOMAS HENRY CRAWFORD, A. M., has been actively identified with the educational interests of this section of Oregon for fully four decades, and has taken pleasure in witnessing and assisting the development of our school sys- tem from the time when the three "R's" were

its only essentials until the present high plane of instruction has been reached. Obtaining his knowledge of the higher branches of learning in Oregon, he has since been associated with some of its more important schools and universi- ties as a teacher, and is now connected with the Oregon Agricultural College as head of the department of commerce, and with its official management as clerk and purchasing agent.

Of substantial Scotch-Irish ancestry, Professor Crawford was born June 24, 1840, at Clarks- burg, Ind., a son of the late Dr. Robert H. Craw- ford. His grandfather, Andrew Crawford, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, a son of Robert Crawford, who emigrated from Londonderry to America in 1770, settling in South Carolina. Andrew, then but a year old, was there reared to agricultural pursuits, and when becoming of age, located, as a farmer, in Abbeville District. Robert H. Crawford, the professor's father, was born in South Carolina, in 1808, and there ac- quired his early education. He subsequently attended Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, later being graduated, in 1837, from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, with the degree of M. D. The ensuing fifteen years he practiced medicine at Clarksburg, Ind., removing from there in 1852 to Oregon, bringing with him his wife and four children, crossing the plains with ox-teams, from St. Joseph, Mo., following the old overland trail, and being seven months on the road. Locating in Linn county, he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres at the foothills, and there improved a good estate, at the same time practicing medicine. Disposing of his farm in 1870, Dr. Crawford settled in Brownsville, where he continued the practice of his profession until his death, at the age of eighty-two years, in 1890. He was very prominent in public and religious matters, serving as state senator from Linn county from 1866 until 1874, and being one of the prime movers in uniting the Associated Presbyterians and the members of the Associate Reform Church into one religious denomination, the organiza- tion being called the United Presbyterian Church. The meeting at which this organiza- tion was completed, was held, about 1854, near the home of Dr. Crawford, his father-in-law, Thomas Henry, being one of the elders at that time. Dr. Crawford married Elizabeth M. Henry. a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Thomas Henry, who removed from Pennsylva- nia to Jessamine, Ky., thence to Rush county, Ind., where he engaged in farming for a number of years. In 1852, in the company of which Dr. Crawford was captain, Mr. Henry came to Linn county, Ore., with his family, where he carried on farming until his death, in 1865, aged seventy-

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seven years. Mrs. Henry, whose maiden name was Margaret Scott, survived him, dying in 1870, aged eighty years. Mrs. Crawford died in 1897, aged eighty-two years. Of the union of Dr. and Mrs. Crawford, five children were born, namely: Thomas Henry; Andrew, who died in 1859; Robert, a prominent horseman, died in 1900, at San Francisco, Cal., while on his way home front the Philippine Islands, where he had been on government service; Mrs. Lizzie Smith, of Portland, Ore .; and Mrs. Monrovia Starr, of Benton county.

Coming with his parents to Oregon in 1852, Thomas H. Crawford here continued his studies in the district school, later, in 1859, entering Willamette University, at Salem, where he worked his way through college, being gradu- ated in 1863, with the degree of A. B. Begin- ning his professional career in Sublimity, Ore., he taught there three years, being afterward principal of the public schools in Salem eighteen months. Going then to the Portland Academy and Female Seminary, he was professor of mathematics for two and one-half years, and then principal of what is now the Atkinson school until 1872. The following four years he was professor of natural science at the Will- amette University. Returning to Portland, he served as principal of the old Central school one year, then as city superintendent of schools for eleven years, after which he had charge of the Park school as principal for six years. From 1894 until 1896, Professor Crawford was prin- cipal of the Woodstock schools, and was then connected with the old Portland University for a short time, leaving there in 1897, when he was appointed clerk and purchasing agent at the Oregon Agricultural College, and later took charge of the literary commerce course.

Professor Crawford married first, at Salem, Ore., in July, 1864, Emily B. Crandall, a native of Wisconsin, who came to Oregon with her parents in 1852, and settled near Silverton. She died in August, 1882. Four children were born of their union, three of whom, Maude, Merton and Pearl, died in Salem in 1875, while the youngest child, Ruby, is now the wife of Henry McConnell, of Salem, and has one child, Ruth McConnell. At Portland, in 1891, Professor Crawford married for his second wife, Miss Eva Grounds, who was born in Oregon, a daughter of Capt. Brazil Grounds, who removed from his native state, North Carolina, to Illinois, thence, in 1845, to Oregon, becoming captain of a steamboat on the Columbia river.

Professor Crawford is prominently identified with several fraternal organizations, belonging to Willamette Lodge No. I, F. & A. M., of which he is past master; to Portland Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M .; to Oregon Commandery No.

I, K. T .; to Al Kader Temple, N. M. S .; to Has- salo Lodge, I. O. O. F .; to Ellison Encampment, I. O. O. F., No. I, of Portland; and is a past grand representative for Oregon, having repre- sented his state grand lodge at the sovereign Grand Lodge at Indianapolis, Ind., in 1875. He is also a member of the state and county teachers' association; and is a member of the State Pio- neer Association; and of the State Historical Association. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

JOHN RICKARD. No introduction is neces- sary to place the career of John Rickard before the people of Benton county, for his name has been a household word for many years, and car- ries with it an idea of substantiality and worth. Tracing his ancestry back to the very early days of North Carolina, his family was honored by the noble life of his paternal grandfather, who espoused the cause of the down-trodden colonies, and followed the fortunes of the father of his country on most of the great battlefields of the Revolution. His father, Peter, a native of North Carolina, was reared on a plantation, and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade, to which he devoted many years of his life. He married Susan Kepley, a native daughter of North Caro- lina, and in 1835 took his family to Indiana, where the remaining years of his life were spent. Five of the ten children born into his family are living, Casper and Peter being natives of Junction City, while Crissie is the widow of Henry Beck of Smithfield, and Bettie is the wife of John Beck of Indiana. Peter Rickard was sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death, and was survived by his wife, who subsequently removed from Indiana to Oregon, and died at the home of her son, John, at the age of seventy- nine years.

While Peter Rickard was still living in North Carolina, his son, John, was born November 7, 1827, and was seven years of age when the over- land journey was made to Indiana. As oppor- tunity afforded he attended the little log school- house in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and remained at home until his marriage with Susanna Kime, a native daughter of the Hoosier state. Continuing to farm until 1853, he out- fitted for crossing the plains in the regulation way, and it is not recorded that he met with any unusual experiences while wending his way towards the setting sun. The first winter in Oregon was spent near Eugene, Lane county, and in the spring of 1854 he came to Benton county and took up a donation claim of two hundred and ninety acres twelve miles south of Corvallis, on the old Territorial road. It is pleasant to note the ease with which he adapted

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himself to the crude conditions then existing in the county, and how he slowly but surely worked his way to the front among the successful and influential upbuilders of his district. His entire tract consists of nine hundred acres, two hundred and forty of which are over in Lane county, but not separated from the original purchase. That the improvements are modern, the home and sur- roundings in accord with progressive ideas, goes without saying, and indeed the Rickard farm is one of the finest and most valuable in Benton county. Many years of experience have taught Mr. Rickard the most practical methods of con- ducting his general farming and stock-raising, and that his methods are successful is apparent to all who visit his home and accept his hospi- tality.

A Democrat in political affiliation, Mr. Rickard has been a school director for the past eighteen years, and has materially advanced the cause of education in his neighborhood during that time. He is a member, a regular attendant, and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since joining the organization as a young man has contributed many hundreds of dollars towards its support. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons. Delphi, the oldest of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rickard, died on the way across the plains; Peter is a farmer in Benton county ; Julian is the wife of Christopher Tracer of Mon- roe; Michael is engaged in farming in Linn county ; Catherine is the wife of John Stearns of Linn county; John H. is a farmer of Linn county ; Bertha is the wife of Rube Taylor of the vicinity of Bruce; James, Daniel and Mary B. are deceased. Mr. Rickard is a remarkably upright and sincere man, of strong character and purpose, and of exceptionally fine mental and physical fiber.

MARGARET COMSTOCK SNELL. M. D. Deeply interested in all branches of domestic science and hygiene, Dr. Snell is doing a much- needed work, through her teachings and lec- tures, in bringing to public notice the fact that much of the sickness and general ill health pre- vailing throughout the country is largely due to the use of improperly prepared food, illy ventilated living apartments, and unsanitary conditions of the dwelling houses, and their environments. By instructing the present gen- eration as to methods to be used in bettering these conditions, the doctor bases her hope for succeeding generations of a people whose physi- cal and mental status shall be far improved, and the average years of life on earth be greatly in- creased. Since 1889 she has been connected with the Oregon Agricultural College, holding the

chair of household science and hygiene since its establishment.

Of English ancestry, Margaret C. Snell was born near Livingston, N. Y., a daughter of Richard Snell, and a granddaughter of Will- iam Snell, who emigrated from England to America with his family, and settled in Penn- sylvania, where he spent his remaining days. Richard Snell left Yorkshire, England, his birth- place, when a boy of six years, coming with his parents to the United States. Learning the trade of a civil engineer when a young man, he worked at it first in Canada, afterward assist- ing in the survey of the Erie canal. Subse- quently changing his occupation, he was engaged in farming for a while in New York state, going from there to Ontario, where he continued in the lumber business three years. Removing then to Iowa, he took up land near Oskaloosa, where he improved a good farm. On retiring from active pursuits, he located in Oakland, Cal., living there until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Comstock, was born in Adrian, Mich., and died in New York state, when a comparatively young woman, having borne her husband eight children.

Receiving her early education in her native state, Margaret C. Snell, on removing to Iowa, entered Center Grove Academy, after which she spent several years at Grinnell College, in Grin- nell, Iowa. From 1872 until 1875 she taught school in Iowa City, going from there to Benicia, Cal., where three of her sisters had then opened Snell Seminary, in which she was a teacher for three years. The enterprising and energetic sis- ters, in 1878, bought property in Oakland, Cal., and having established a seminary there, she con- tinued with them a number of years. The semi- nary, which has lost none of its former prestige, is now located at Berkeley, Cal. In 1883 Miss Snell, who had previously read medicine, entered the Boston University Medical School, from which she was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1886. Returning to Oakland, Cal., she practiced medicine there for a year, but being imbued with the idea that the higher and broader function of medical lore was to teach people how to keep well, rather than to cure disease, Dr. Snell gladly accepted the call to the Oregon Agricultural College, in 1888, and came here in 1889, when she opened the department of domestic science and hygiene, of which she has since had full charge. Enterprising and pro- gressive in her methods, she is never afraid to adopt new ideas, keeping abreast with the fore- most hygienists of the day, rendering her par- ticular department one of the most useful and efficient in the institution. Beginning with forty pupils, she has met with great success in her

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MRS. J. H. McFARLAND.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

labors, and has now one hundred and fifty students under her charge. In addition to teach- ing, she is widely known as a lecturer throughout the state, her talks on domestic science being interesting and instructive to all.

Politically Dr. Snell is a Republican, and fra- ternally she belongs to the Grange. She also belongs to the Corvallis Improvement Society, and is a member of the Episcopal Church.

DAVID G. McFARLAND. The town of Cottage Grove, Lane county, Ore., has cause to know the name of David G. McFarland, for it is from the donation claim of the father that the son laid out one of the first additions to the city, although previous to his death the father had laid out several city lots, about forty or forty-five acres in the heart of the city being once the property of the family of McFarlands. Four different divisions have subsequently been added, until Mr. McFarland has but two hundred and sixty acres of the original land given to him from the six hundred and forty acres which composed that taken up by James McFarland in 1853. The home farm had been divided between the two brothers, David G. and James Henry.

The father of Mr. McFarland was James, born February 13, 1807, in North Carolina, and as a young man he located in Cooper county, Mo., from which he emigrated in the spring of 1850, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and after a journey of six months arriving in Linn county. He first located in Albany, and in the spring of 1853 he came to the present site of Cottage Grove and took up a claim. Here he died in 1885, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was one of the strong men of the new land, in his political con- victions following the lead of the old Whigs and becoming a stanch and active Republican. His wife was formerly Mary Jones, who was born March 18, 1811, and died in September, 1872, in this location. She was the mother of eight children, two sons and six daughters, two of the latter being now deceased.

David G. McFarland was born in Cooper county, Mo., October 23, 1846, the fifth of this family of children, and his education was re- ceived entirely in the schools of Oregon, as he was but four years old when the journey was made across the plains. He worked for his father until 1875. when the land was given to the two sons, who have since had it in their control. The two hundred and sixty acres of Mr. McFarland which adjoin the city on the north are entirely pasture land, and he is now engaged in the rais- ing of cattle, horses, goats and sheep. He is also interested in mining ventures, owning a one- third interest in the Peek-a-boo and the Nevada. both located in the Bohemia mining district, and

is also a director in the corporation which man- ages the Glendale Mining enterprises. As would be supposed, he is always interested in the ad- vancement of the city, and was one of the pro- moters of the water system sold to the town in 1901. In addition to the property already men- tioned Mr. McFarland has built a handsome resi- dence here in the city and also owns about forty lots, which are quite valuable.

Fraternally Mr. McFarland is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 51, of Cottage Grove, and politically he follows the convictions of his father, being a strong Republican, and in the in- terests of his party he has served as school director.

OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. One of the wisest and most decisive educational movements in the history of our country is that which resulted in the organization of the State Agricultural College. While the Civil war was still in progress, in 1862, congress passed the Morrill act, which gave the impulse to this great educational movement. That act provided land grants for each state that would establish edu- cational institutions according to its provisions, and, practically, all the states of the Union have availed themselves of its provisions.

Ninety thousand acres of land were appor- tioned to Oregon, and on October 9, 1862, the Oregon Legislative Assembly accepted the pro- visions of the congressional law. Six years later the legislature appointed commissioners to locate the land, and as no state college had then been established voted an annual appropri- ation toward supporting Corvallis College, in Benton county, a school controlled by the Methodist Episcopal Church South. When, in 1885, the fund derived from the sale of the land grants became large enough to warrant it in so doing, the state obtained control of the appro- priation, the church willingly relinquishing its claim upon it, a board of regents was appointed, and given full power to establish an agricultural college.

Selecting thirty-five acres of land in Corvallis, arrangements were soon made for the erection of a suitable building, and in the summer of 1887 the corner-stone of the first building of the State Agricultural College was laid by the governor. During that year, congress, by the passage of the Hatch bill, provided for the estab- lishment in each of the states and territories of an agricultural experiment station, an annual sum of $15,000 bcing allowed for experiment work in Oregon. Three years afterwards, August 30, 1890, congress passed the second Morrill act providing that $15,000 should be paid to each land grant college that year, and that amount should

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be increased by the sum of $1,000 a year for ten years, after that time being $25,000 each year.

Finely located in the picturesque city of Cor- vallis, and beginning its life under the most favorable auspices, the Agricultural College of Oregon was well patronized from the first, and soon outgrew its original environments. Addi- tional land was appropriated to its use, the grounds now comprising nearly two hundred acres, about forty acres being devoted to the campus, which is artistically laid out, and em- bellished with trees, shrubbery, and beautiful gardens. The grounds for military drill and athletic sports are on an adjacent tract lately added to the original campus. On the college farm of nearly one hundred and fifty acres are all the necessary buildings, tools, machinery and stock for carrying on agricultural labor after the most approved methods, giving to students prac- tical illustrations of each branch of farming. A variety of farm crops, fruit and berries are raised, experiments being given in agriculture, floriculture and horticulture.

As the college grew, new buildings were de- manded, and many have been added. The offices of the president, registrar and clerk of the col- lege, the library, chapel, and several class-rooms are in the administration building. Near this structure is the assay building, containing labora- tories that are fully equipped for the work of assaying, and studying mineralogy. Near the northwestern corner of the campus is the phar- macy building, two stories in height, with labora- tories and lecture room on the first floor, and rooms for study on the second floor. The classes in physical culture, and the drill hall for the cadets, may be found in the gymnasium and armory, a large building of wood and stone, 70x120 feet. North of the administration build- ing, is the horticultural building, adjoining which are large and well filled greenhouses, containing a large collection of choice plants.

One of the most notable buildings on the campus is Agricultural Hall, a beautiful stone structure, three stories in height, erected at a cost of $45,000. In this are a large assembly hall, laboratories and class rooms for the depart- ments of agriculture, horticulture, botany, chem- istry, zoology, entomology and bacteriology, and the offices of the director of the experiment station. In Mechanical Hall are the machine shops, printing office, the physical laboratory, several recitation rooms, and the office of the professor of mechanical engineering, these occu- pying the first floor. On the second floor are located the departments of art, mathematics and civil engineering. The power house, a brick building, is equipped with a forty-five horse- power engine, and two electric generators, each of two hundred light capacity, and contains, also,

the blacksmith shop, with its twenty forges. The heating plant, made of brick and stone, is fur- nished with the most modern approved applian- ces for heating.

Nothing is omitted that will make student life at the college pleasant and profitable. The phy- sical welfare of the pupils is assured by the offic- crs, Cauthorn Hall, named in honor of Senator Thomas Cauthorn, being devoted to the use of the young men, while Alpha Hall furnishes a home for the young women connected with the institution. Both halls are well lighted and heated, and furnished with modern conveniences.

The social and intellectual life of the students is on as high a plane as that of any of its sister institutions, the social clubs, literary societies and churches of the city of Corvallis gladly welcom- ing members from the school, and each year a popular course of lectures, and various musical and literary entertainments are free to the pupils. Eight literary societies, four for the young men, and four for the girls, are maintained by the students, and are both enjoyable and profitable.

Admission of students to either the freshman or the sub-freshman classes is similar to that of like institutions, and admission to special stu- dents is granted under certain specified condi- tions. One of the great thoughts expressed in the congressional legislation that produced this college in Oregon was that its work should be applied to the industries of the people, especial reference being made to the agricultural and mechanical arts. This idea has here been broadly carried out, the students acquiring a technical and practical knowledge of each.

The college is especially to be congratulated upon its efficient corps of workers and officers. Wisely governed by a board of regents noted for the individual ability and efficiency of each of its members, it is equally fortunate in the selec- tion of its remaining officers, its faculty, and its corps of instructors. Men and women of broad and liberal education, each teacher seems pecu- liarly adapted to his or her especial work. From year to year added improvements are inaugur- ated in each department, new methods are in- troduced as soon as they are proved practicable, in the line of progression this institution stand- ing second to none in the Union.

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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 208

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