Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 214

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 214

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Mrs. Frank is still living, and besides Clement S., the oldest of her children, had a daughter, Arabella Larooka, who died in Iowa in 1874.

Clement S. Frank was reared in New York state until 1857, and then accompanied his pa- rents to Iowa, he being ten years of age at the time. At the age of fourteen he began to learn the shoemaker's trade of his father, and at the same time he was busy acquiring an excellent education, studying at the public schools of New London, at the Mount Pleasant Academy, and at the Burlington Baptist College, attending the latter institution for two years. From the col- lege class-rooms he stepped into a shoe manu- facturing business in Denmark, Iowa, but soon after quit to engage in business with his father, and was thus employed until father and son con- tracted a partnership in the shoe, grocery, drug and grain business in New London. In 1885 he removed to near Ord, Valley county, Neb., and engaged in a stock-raising business for three and a half years, moving from there to Eugene in 1888. Like his father, Mr. Frank is a Republi- çan, and he is further like his sire in entertaining

broad and liberal views in regard to office hold- ing. He is prominent fraternally, and, in 1878, became a member of Charity Lodge No. 56 of Odd Fellows of New London, Iowa, and in 1883 became a member of Industry Encampment No. 18 of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1889 became a member of Spencer Butte Lodge No. 9 of Eu- gene, of which he is past grand, and in 1890 a member of Whimawhala Encampment No. 6, of which he is a past chief patriarch, and is also district deputy. The Rebekas and Woodmen of the World also profit by his membership.

Edward Ray Frank, son of C. S. Frank, was born in New London, Henry county, Iowa, Sep- tember 6, 1870, Edna May was born in New London, Iowa, January 19, 1874, Libert Joy Frank, son of Edward Ray Frank, was born in Eugene, Ore., October 30, 1896, making four generations of the Frank fam- ily now living in Eugene, Oregon. Mrs. C. S. Frank was formerly Mrs. Lizzie (Mueller) Machaw, a native of New York City, and the mother of one daughter by her first marriage. With his wife, Mr. Frank is a member of the Baptist Church, and is serving at the present as chairman of the board of trustees.

ALEXANDER THOMPSON, who occupies a farm of two hundred and eighty acres situated about ten miles northeast of Salem, in Marion county, comprising a portion of the old Rice Dunbar donation claim, is descended from an old New Jersey family. He was born near Mendhamn, N. J., on September 29, 1836, and is a son of George Harris and Tempe Leddel (McCrea) Thompson. George H. Thompson was of Scotch descent, a son of Stephen and a grandson of David Thompson, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war and fought with Washington at Morristown. It was the father of this Revolu- tionary soldier who immigrated from Scotland to America about the middle of the eighteenth century, locating in New Jersey. George H. Thompson, born in New Jersey October 9, 1803, served two terms as a member of the New Jersey state legislature, and was a man who exerted a great influence in his community. For a long period he served as a ruling elder in the Presby- terian Church, toward the support of which he contributed liberally of his means. His death occurred at Mendham, N. J., in 1883. He was united in marriage September 25, 1830, with Tempe Leddel McCrea, who died August 31, 1864, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a daughter of Philip McCrea, a native of New York state. The latter was a nephew of Jane McCrea, whose death at the hands of the British and the Indians of eastern New York formed one of the most exciting incidents in the colonial history of that section, and resulted in the crea-

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tion of the popular sentiment and patriotic spirit which made possible the great victory at the bat- tles of Saratoga.

Mr. Thompson received his education in the common schools of New Jersey. Upon attaining the age of twenty-two years he decided to em- bark upon a self-supporting career. As in the cases of thousands of other young men residing in the east in those days, the alluring tales in circulation regarding the vaunted superiority of western opportunities appealed to him strongly; and, with a determination to put his fortunes to the hazard in the region west of the Missis- sippi, he started for Missouri. The romance connected with life in that state was dispelled not long after his arrival there, however, and he was glad to return to the state of his nativity, where he continued to reside until 1861. In that year he started for the Pacific coast, traveling by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California. From San Francisco he went direct to Nevada, which was then attracting hordes of venturesome spirits from all parts of the world, and in that territory he was engaged in mining for a year. His ex- perience in the mining fields of the west covered most of the period from 1861 to 1867, and in- cluded work in Montana and Idaho as well as Nevada. In the last-named year Mr. Thompson came to Oregon and purchased the farm on the west slope of the Waldo Hills, where he has since resided. At the time he purchased the property it contained three hundred and eighty acres, one hundred acres of which he ultimately sold. This farm is in a highly cultivated and very productive state, and is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. It is well equipped, and the im- provements are all modern and of a substantial nature.

Mr. Thompson has been twice married. On. April 26, 1871, he was united with Harriett Small, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Henderson and Elizabeth ( Burnett ) Small. (For history of the Small family the reader is referred to the sketch of Matthew Small.) She died April 24, 1874, leaving one daughter, Lida. October 4, 1876, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Adeline McAlpin, daughter of Robert and Jane (Thomas) McAlpin. She was born in Jackson county, Mo., and crossed the plains to Oregon with her parents in 1852. Of this union five children have been born, namely: Roxanna, wife of Dr. D. J. Clark, of Silverton, Orc. ; Orla, wife of Arthur J. Simpson, of Portland ; George Harris, at home; Maud Ethel, at home, and James J., at home.

Ever since attaining maturity Mr. Thompson has been a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has been actively iden- tified with its operations in Marion county. His fitness for offices of trust and responsibility has been repeatedly recognized by the party. He was

at one time a candidate for nomination to the office of sheriff of Marion county, but after an exciting triangular contest in the convention an opposing candidate was nominated. During all but the final ballot he lacked but six votes of the nomination. His interest in the cause of edu- cation is illustrated by the fact that for many years he has served continuously as school direct- or in his district, and for most of that period he has been clerk. He is an active worker in the Congregational Church, to the maintenance and work of which he has always contributed freely of his time and money ; and for ten years he has served as superintendent of the Sunday school connected with that denomination.

This necessarily brief outline of the life of Al- exander Thompson conveys but a faint idea of his value as a conscientious and high-minded mem- ber of society. Throughout his entire career he has striven to be guided in his daily walks by the Golden Rule, doing no man an injustice through intention, but exhibiting on all occasions a high-minded, unselfish public spirit and a gen- erosity of heart that will cause his name to be revered by his descendants and the future gen- erations of the neighborhood generally. It is to such men as he that the Willamette valley of to- day owes a debt it can never pay. for in all his undertakings he has been actuated by motives of the highest character, helping to build a foun- dation upon which the future of this common- wealth will rest secure. This, at least, is the estimate placed upon his life and character by those who have known him for more than thirty- five years. It is with genuine pleasure that the publishers of this work preserve for the future generations this record of a complete life, un- sullied by moral taint or personal dishonor at any period of his useful career ; but, on the con- trary, replete with demonstrations of a nobility of character and continuous usefulness that should inspire the young men of the present day to attain the best of which they are capable.

JAMES M. BROWN. One of the most en- ergetic and far-sighted business men of Silver- ton is J. M. Brown, whose speculations have been so judiciously made that they have brought to him a splendid financial return. He has been a resident of Oregon since 1846 and has taken advantage of its splendid business opportunities as the state has grown and developed. He was born in Lincoln county, Mo., January 6, 1844, and is a son of James Brown, who was born in Kentucky, March 14, 1814. His grandfather, Bartholomew Brown, was a native of North Carolina, whence he crossed the Alleghanies into Kentucky about 1804. The father of the latter came from Wales about the middle of the eight- eenth century, locating at Old Fort, N. C., where

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he was killed while serving in the Colonial militia. Bartholomew Brown located on the Green river in Kentucky and there engaged in farming until 1830, when he removed to Illinois, settling near Alton. After a short time, how- ever, he went to Missouri, locating in Lincoln county, near Troy, where he died at the age of forty-eight years. A note of interest in his fam- ily is the fact that so far as is known his sons and daughters have attained a greater average of years than any other family in the United States. James Brown accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri and was reared to manhood on their home farm. After arriving at years of maturity he wedded Lucinda Davis, who was born in Wheeling, Va. In the year 1846 they joined the emigrants who were crossing the plains to gain dominion over the northwest. After a long and tedious journey they arrived at Silverton September 14, 1846, and secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, part of which is now included within the north- ern limits of the present city of Silverton. Mr. Brown established the first tannery in Oregon, its site being a half mile north of Silverton. This he conducted from 1847 until 1849, when he closed out the business in order to go to the gold mines of California, where he spent three months, and then returned home with one thou- sand dollars. He next gave his attention to cattle-raising and general farming. He built the Eating House at a cost of two thousand dollars, which stands on the territorial road leading from Portland to California, a half mile north of Sil- verton. This was erected in 1850, and at the time was the leading eating house between Port- land and San Francisco. Mr. Brown was a typical southern man of high principles, gen- erous and extremely hospitable. The circle of his friends was almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances and he commanded the warm esteem of all with whom he was asso- ciated. His wife died in 1872 and he passed away in March, 1887.

James M. Brown was the third in order of birth of their family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. He obtained a good busi- ness education, and when sixteen years of age he engaged in dealing in cattle and horses, and otherwise speculating in stock. In his business transactions he was ever successful, and by the time he had reached the age of twenty-three years he had accumulated five thousand dollars. He then determined to engage in general mer- chandising and in 1868 entered into partnership with Messrs. Davenport & Wolfard in a general mercantile and milling business, but in this he was not successful. He then turned his atten- tion to the raising of sheep and prospered in this undertaking. He has throughout his entire life engaged in speculation to a greater or less ex-

tent. He laid out Brown's addition to Silverton in 1889, and at the same time Brown's addition A. His investments have been made with marked foresight. He recognized with wonder- ful clearness a good opportunity and utilized it. One of his business principles was to place a fair price upon what he had to sell, and when that amount was offered, to sell it. He forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution, and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He owns different tracts of land, comprising altogether about three hundred acres.

Mr. Brown was married in Portland March 27, 1873, to Miss Edna J. Eastham, who was born eight miles north of Silverton November 25, 1850, and has been a successful school teacher. Her father, William F. Eastham, was a native of Virginia, and on emigrating west- ward took up his abode in Macoupin county, Ill., where he carried on farming. There he was married in March, 1848, to Delilah Ann Cleaver, and in the same year he started for Oregon, in company with his wife's father, Benjamin Cleaver. After residing for about two years at Oregon City he secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres eight miles north of Sil- verton, and afterward sold half of this and made his home with Mr. Brown, both he and his wife dying in Silverton. He was born November 23, 1823, and died December 30, 1901. His wife was born February 15, 1831, and died January 29, 1892. Mr. Eastham was the last survivor, save one, of the jury that convicted the Indians who killed Dr. Whitman. John Lawson East- ham, father of William F., was born in the colony of Fauquier county, Va., in 1776, and died in Macoupin county, Ill., in 1862. His .wife, Nancy Farrow, was born in Culpepper county, Va., in 1781, and died in Macoupin county, Ill., in 1868.

Benjamin Cleaver, Mrs. Brown's grandfather, was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Cleaver, and was born in Grayson county, Ky., Septem- ber 6, 1803, where his wife was also born May 29, 1808. They were married there December 9. 1824. He came to Oregon in 1848, and after spending two years in Oregon City took up a donation claim on the south slope of Mount Angel, where most of the remainder of his life was spent. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and was a man of extensive influ- ence in the early days. He died in 1892, and his wife in 1864. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born four children: Percy L., Carl M., Florence, and Earl (a twin brother of Carl, now deceased). The eldest son was educated in Willamette University. The younger son has also been a student in that institution and they are now associated in the conduct of the Silver- ton Water Works. Mr. Brown's daughter was

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educated in Willamette University and in the Salem Business College. For over thirty years Mr. Brown was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a stal- wart Prohibitionist. He has always been an op- ponent of oppression or slavery in any form. He was a stanch Abolitionist during the Civil war and is now bitterly opposed to the slavery which enthralls the spirits and operations of men, known as the liquor habit. Mr. Brown practices what he preaches, for he has never taken a drink of whiskey in his life, nor does he use tobacco. His life is clean, his principles honorable, his actions manly and. sincere. In the community where he has so long resided he is held in uni- form regard.

JOHN P. HUMPHREYS. Among the pio- neers who crossed the plains in 1852, and have since been identified with the upbuilding of this wonderful commonwealth, is John P. Hum- phreys, younger brother of William J. Hum- phreys, also a large land owner and extensive stock-raiser of this section. Mr. Humphreys is the representative of a southern family located for many years in Tennessee, in which state he was born January 2, 1832. The two brothers men- tioned were among the most ambitious of a large family of children born to Thomas M. and Jane (Harrison) Humphreys. In their youth they worked hard from morning until night, taking part in the diversions afforded the youth of that neighborhood, and indulging in the dreams of future success, which make up a large part of the existence of an active and healthy boy. The Wilson sisters were born and reared in the same community, and July 21, 1852, a double wedding furnished enjoyment for a great many guests, all of whom partook of a royal feast, and had only good wishes for the happy young people. Mar- garet Moore Wilson became the wife of John P. Humphreys, and she and her husband made up two interesting members of the party which out- fitted and crossed the plains in September, 1852, arriving in due time in Missouri, where the on- coming winter suggested a rest until the follow- ing spring. With renewed strength and spirits they started out again in the spring, and Mr. Humphreys took up a three hundred and twenty- acre claim near Scio, Linn county. A more deso- late or unpromising location could hardly be con- ceived of at the time. However, there was an abundance of timber, and a good water supply, and it was with great hopefulness that the young man hewed logs and built himself and wife a one-room house, 16x16 feet, ground dimensions. This little house continued to be their home until 1858, when they moved upon another place, Mr. Humphreys erecting a saw-mill, which he ran

with considerable success until 1861. The mill was traded that year for land in Linn county, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which they lived during the winter of 1862 The next spring they removed to the Waldo Hills, and in the fall went to Idaho, where he bought a claim.

After six months of mining in Idaho, Mr. Humphreys was convinced that he was not born to seek a fortune in the mines, and thereupon re- turned to Marion county, where he bought the farm in the Waldo Hills, upon which he lives. He has two hundred and two acres eleven miles east of Salem, and the improvements are all due to his enterprise and unflagging industry. A practical and scientific farmer, that he has suc- ceeded is not to be wondered at in so enterprising and resourceful a man.

Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys: Thomas M., a mail clerk in the United States postal service, residing in Wood- burn; William H., of Marion county; Mary Minerva, the wife of James Darby; John A., a resident of Springfield, Ore .; Charles L., of Mar- ion county ; Penelope Jane, wife of C. M. Cart- wright, residing in the vicinity of Monroe; Oliver, who died at the age of seven, and Joseph Frank, who is managing the home farm. It was here that the latter's birth occurred, April 7, 1872. He was united in marriage, September 16, 1891, to Minnie L. King, daughter of James T. King, of Marion county, and they have four chil- dren : James Harold, Herbert Rodney, Dolphie Albert and Mary Marguerite, the latter dying at the age of nineteen months.

Like his brother, John P. Humphreys votes the Republican ticket, and he has taken an active part in local and county political undertakings, having filled a number of offices. He bears an honored name in this county, and is esteemed as one of the successful, reliable and substantial citizens.

HARVEY A. HINKLE. A good example of what steady effort, constantly directed, can in a short time accomplishi, is furnished by the record of Harvey A. Hinkle, the subject of this biography, who, although young in years, is conceded to be one of the most successful hop buyers on the western coast of the United States. Mr. Hinkle is junior member of the commission house of W. S. Hurst & Co., having complete charge of the branch house located at Hubbard, Marion county.

He was born in Clackamas county, Ore., March 6, 1870, a son of John R. and Elmira (Thomas) Hinkle, and grandson of Alexander and Fannie (Hinkle) Hinkle. More extensive mention of his ancestors is given in the sketch

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of John Robert Hinkle, the father, and will be found elsewhere in this history.

Mr. Hinkle is the youngest of two children born to his parents. He has one sister, Eliza, wife of O. L. Darling, of Salem. He obtained the rudi- ments of his education in the public schools of Elliott Prairie, and in 1881 entered Willamette University at Salem, where he took a scientific course. In 1888 he began a business course in the Portland Business College, from which he was graduated February 20, 1889. Returning to Salem, he became a salesman in the mercan- tile establishment of Steiger Brothers, and a few months later we find him similarly associated with Preger Brothers, of Portland.

In 1890 Mr. Hinkle, in company with George M. Fry, opened a general merchandise store at Hubbard, and for three years a successful busi- ness was carried on under the firm name of Fry & Hinkle. In 1893, our subject sold his inter- est to Mr. Fry and began buying hops for a broker in San Francisco. This occupied his at- tention for a number of years, during which he made a remarkable record as a hop buyer. In 1899 he made a change and followed a similar business in connection with the Paul G. R. Horst & Lochmund Company, of Salem, who shipped to New York City. Mr. Hinkle remained in their employ until 1902, when he entered the employ of W. S. Hurst & Co., commission mer- chants, owning a half interest in that flourishing business, and, it is needless to say, contributes his part toward its success.

Mr. Hinkle was united in marriage with Sarah Fry, of Aurora, and they have one child, Lona. In politics Mr. Hinkle is a Republican of the most pronounced type; he has served two terms as recorder and is now a member of the city council. Aside from other business pursuits he is associated with his father in raising cattle for the market. He has hosts of friends who predict for him a brilliant future, and he is a worthy member of the Knights of Pythias; Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Woodmen of the World.

EDWARD J. FRASIER. Conspicuously identified with the industrial and business growth and prosperity of Lane county is E. J. Frasier, who is a large property owner, and the leading real estate dealer of Eugene. A man of marked intellectual vigor and cultivated tastes, progress- ive in his ideas, and the possessor of rare execu- tive ability, he holds a position of influence in the community, and is contributing his full share towards the advancement of its highest interests. He was born February 28, 1857, at Delhi, Dela- ware county, N. Y., which was also the birth- place of his father, Alexander Frasier. He comes of Scotch ancestry, his paternal grand-

parents, William and Isabeile (Shaw) Frasier, having both been born and reared in Inverness, Scotland. Emigrating to New York when young, they settled on a farm near Delhi, N. Y., and there spent the remainder of their lives, William Frasier's death occurring at the remark- able age of one hundred and three years, while his widow attained the age of ninety-five years. The grandfather served in the war of 1812, and several years later took an active part in the Anti-Rent war, when battles were fought with pitchforks.

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Alexander Frasier was engaged in general farming in Delhi, N. Y., until 1868, when he removed with his family to California, taking his wife and nine children by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Settling at Monterey, he purchased a large ranch, where he engaged in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, until at one time he had eight thousand head. He also embarked in the dairy business on a large scale, milking eight hundred cows. In the memorable drought of 1876 and 1877, which devastated that section of the state, he lost the greater part of his stock. Coming to Salem, Ore., in 1877, he bought a small farm, and was there engaged in horticultural pursuits until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-six years, at Tacoma, Wash., while he was there on a visit. He married Alice Jane Douglas, who was born in New York city, and died in San Francisco, Cal. Her father, Rev. James A. Douglas, was born in Inverness, Scot- land. He was graduated from the University of Edinburgh, where he subsequently held a pro- fessorship until his emigration to America, when he settled in New York city as a Presbyterian minister. Nine children blessed the union of Alexander and Alice J. (Douglas) Frasier, seven of whom are still living. One son, James A., served in the Civil war as member of a com- pany of the New York Volunteer Infantry.

The sixth child in the family, E. J. Frasier was eleven years old when he left his native town to come to California. Continuing his studies, he attended first the public schools of Monterey, then of Salinas, after which he was a pupil in the high school of Salem, Ore., and of Healds' Business College, in San Francisco, finally completing his education in the California State Normal School at San Jose. Beginning his professional career at the teacher's desk, he taught one year in Salem, Ore., and was after- wards employed in various places, including Newport, Hubbard and Howells Prairie, in Ore- gon. Then, spending a while in California, he taught there for a short time. Returning to Oregon, he had charge of a school in Marion for a time, but resigned his position there to enter the employ of Hubert Howe Bancroft, who

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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 214

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