Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 215

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 215

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was compiling a history of the Pacific coast states, and while thus engaged Mr. Frasier wrote the history of that part of the state, extending from the city of Salem to Oregon's southern boundary line, spending two years in the work. The ensuing three and one-half years he was head bookkeeper at the State Insane Asylum in Salem, serving under Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Josephi.

Locating in Eugene in 1889, Mr. Frasier or- ganized the Lane County Land and Loan Com- pany, a real estate and mortgage loan concern, of which he has since been secretary and man- ager. He has likewise been the secretary, since its organization, of the Eugene Real Estate Ex- change, which he was instrumental in forming, and whose constitution and by-laws he drafted. Being appointed by Governor Lord a member of the executive committee of the board of commis- sioners to represent Oregon at the exposition held in Omaha, Neb., in 1898, Mr. Frasier spent about a year of his time in traveling through the state, collecting such exhibits as would best show the various resources and industries of Oregon. That he succeeded well in his arduous labors was proved by the great exhibition of Oregon's arts, industries and manufactures, and the prod- ucts of its soil, mines and sea at the Omaha Exposition, every part of the state responding generously with exhibits of its special product. Mr. Frasier is an extensive land holder, owning in Lane county several farms, which he rents. He is also interested in the mines of Myrtle creek district, a mining corporation of which was capitalized at $1,500,000, and which owns two thousand one hundred acres of placer mines at Myrtle Creek, Douglas county.

In Woodland, Cal., in 1892, Mr. Frasier mar- ried Miss Jenne Stoddard Lee, a native of that town, and they have two children, namely : Brownell Dorris, and Helen Janet Gertrude. Po- litically Mr. Frasier is a strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in local and national affairs. Fra- ternally he belongs to Olive Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., of Salem, in which he has held all the offices, and is a past grand representative to the Grand Lodge; is a charter member of the Valley Lodge No. 18, A. O. U. W .; and while living in Monterey, Cal., united with the Foresters. In his religious views he is a Presbyterian.

WILLIAM E. ILER. Closely connected with the events of the pioneer days in Marion county, Ore., is the life of William E. Iler, a youthful emigrant to the state of his adoption, within whose range of vision have come great changes during his residence here of over a half century. Fine houses and substantial barns have

taken the place of the little log cabins and " shacks " which once constituted the conveni- ences of the farm; towns and cities have sprung up in the wilderness, with their churches and schools and thriving industries; and even the old fiddle, across whose strings he was wont to scrape the bow to make the music for the country dances, has been displaced by the modern or- chestra ; and only recollection is left to connect the trials and hardships of those early days with the present affluence.

The birth of William E. Iler occurred in Mer- cer county, Mo., April 10, 1845, his parents being James and Maria (Vanalsdale) Iler, both of whom were natives of the state of Ohio. From their Missouri home the father started with his family for Oregon in 1847, traveling by ox- team. Upon his arrival at The Dalles he had left but one ox and a cow, so they abandoned their wagon and came by flat boat to Oregon City, where they spent their first winter in the west. Mr. Iler was employed during this win- ter in transporting provisions to the soldiers stationed at The Dalles. In the spring of 1848 he settled upon a farm owned by a Mr. Hudson, which was located three miles east of Oregon City, and contained three hundred and twenty acres. There he remained but a short time, soon taking up a donation claim in the same neighbor- hood. After a brief experience in a logging camp he again took his family to the Hudson farm, remaining upon the same until 1851, when he took up another claim, located in the vicinity of Butteville, Marion county, consisting of six hun- dred and forty acres. In this location he re- mained until his death, in 1883, at the age of sev- enty-two years. His wife died in 1880, at the age of sixty-seven. Of the five children which blessed the union there is only one now living, that being William E. Iler of this review. The second child, Emma R., attained maturity and married Gustavius A. Cone, Sr. Her death occurred in 1881.

William E. Iler was five years old at the time of his father's removal to his claim, and there he grew to manhood, reared to an agricultural life. His early education was received in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, which he at- tended in the short intermission between the farm- ing seasons. Owing to his father's ill health he was compelled at the age of fifteen years to take entire charge of the farm, which has never since passed from his control. He now owns

one hundred and eighty acres of land, upon which he is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, also being interested in the cultivation of hops, in which business he has met with grati- fying success. In 1881 he first gave his atten- tion to the cultivation of this plant, beginning operations with seven acres. In 1888 he had

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nearly sixty acres devoted to hops, in the year 1890 disposing of over thirty thousand pounds, these figures representing a considerable sum of money. He has at the present time but twelve acres in hops. In the stock line he is interested in Poland-China hogs.

January 10, 1870, Mr. Iler was united in marriage with Miss Lulu Stephens. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, and is serving as treasurer of the local lodge; he is also a mem- ber of Butteville Lodge No. 59, I. O. O. F .; the Maccabees, and the Grange. Being one of the pioneer hop-growers of the Willamette val- ley, Mr. Iler has been deeply interested in all movements that tend toward the encouragement of the industry. He took an active part in the organization of the Hop-growers' Fire Relief Association, of which he was elected the first president, serving in this office for three years; subsequently he was elected a member of the board of trustees in the association for the pro- tection of hop-growers in the Willamette val- ley. He is now serving as treasurer of the lat- ter company, which is carrying about $700,000 of insurance. In the Farmers' Relief Fire Insurance Company he was one of the principal organizers, and is now in the directorate.

It will thus be seen, from this all too brief outline of the principal features in the career of Mr. Iler, that he has been intensely and unself- ishly interested in various movements which have had for an end the safeguarding of the most important interests of the Willamette valley-for it cannot be denied that in an agricultural sec- tion the prime interests are those of the men who cultivate the fields and reap the harvests. In every way a representative of the best citizen- ship of the country, his name will be perpetuated in this record as that of a man whose life has not been lived in vain-who accomplished all that he could for the benefit of his fellow-men, and whose aim was always to make his career one of honor, integrity and utility. That he has accomplished the result aspired to is the outcome of his own unaided efforts, and a distinct and enduring credit to himself alone.

FREDERICK C. BEAN. The name which heads this sketch has long been associated with the cattle and land interests of Lane county, the business having passed from the father, Obe- diah R., to Frederick C. Bean, the subject of this sketch. The latter is a native of this great commonwealth, having been born in Lane county, four miles north of Junction City, Feb- ruary 10, 1869, the son of one of the very early pioneers, a review of whose life is to be found in the sketch of Louis E. Bean, of Eugene. Upon his father's farm Frederick C. Bean was

reared until he was thirteen years old, when he accompanied his parents to a home near the city of Eugene, thus receiving the advantage which accrued from an attendance of the excel- lent schools of that city. In April, 1866, his father bought a farm in the vicinity of Maple- ton, locating at the head of the tide on the Sius- law river, and there the elder man spent the remainder of his days successfully engaged in farming, until his death, when the interests passed into the hands of the son.

After assuming the responsibility of the farm at the death of his father Frederick C. Bean continued to make this farm his home, having now three hundred and twenty acres adjoining the town of Mapleton, and a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres five miles east, but re- sides upon property in Mapleton. He is at the present time engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon his fine property and is also agent for Baug's stage line and conducts a sub- land-office, while he acts as United States com- missioner and notary public. He was married in June, 1900, to Laura E. Coleman, who was born fifteen miles southwest of Eugene, Lane county, 111 1869. They have two children, Hor- tense and Rupert. Through Republican influ- ence Mr. Bean was appointed postmaster of Mapleton January 14, 1902, having served for twelve years as deputy to his mother, in the later years having assumed entire charge of the office. He also acted as school clerk. In fra- ternal relations Mr. Bean is prominent, being a member of the Masonic lodge at Florence; in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Maple- ton, he has passed all the chairs and belongs to the Grand Lodge; and is likewise identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Flor- ence, and the Modern Woodmen of America, of Acme.

EWING B. JAMISON." Among the more active and enterprising business men of Polk county is Mr. Jamison, who is connected with one of the leading industries of this section of the state, being secretary, treasurer, and gen- eral manager of the Oregon Milling and Ware- house company, which has warehouses at Mon- mouth and Airlie, and mills at Independence.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Jamison was born September 11, 1868, in Callaway county, a son of Joseph Jamison, and grandson of Ephraim Jamison, who spent the larger part of his life in Missouri. His father was born in Franklin county, Mo., in 1821, and was there reared and educated. A farmer by occupation, he met with success in his operations, and continued a resident of his native state until his death, in 1901, at the advanced age of eighty years.

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His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy R. Manpin, died on the home farm, in Missouri, in 1880. Ten children were born of their union, five sons and five daughters.

The youngest child, Ewing B. Jamison, grew to man's estate on the home farm, attending first the district schools, and later the State Normal school at Kirksville, entering in 1886 and graduating in 1889, when he received a state diploma. Mr. Jamison at once came to Oregon, locating in Yamhill county, and for five years thereafter taught school in Amity. Establishing himself as a grain dealer at Amity in 1894, he has since assisted in building up the large business with which he is now identified, and which is incorporated as the Oregon Mill- ing and Warehouse Company, with W. T. Hoffman as president ; M. Tillery, vice-presi- dent, and Mr. Jamison, secretary, treasurer and general manager. This company has three warehouses, all equipped with the latest ap- proved machinery, and all having a good car- rying capacity, the one at Independence being eighty thousand bushels, the one at Airlie forty thousand bushels, and the one at Monmouth sixty thousand bushels. In February, 1902, the company purchased the large milling plant at Independence, fitting it up with the best- known and most modern machinery, and put- ting in steam power. Under the supervision of Mr. Jamison one hundred barrels of flour per day are here manufactured, the sifter process being used, and the brand, "Pride of Oregon," finding ready sale throughout the Union.

At Portland, in 1893, Mr. Jamison was united in marriage with Miss Alda Pauline Lance- field, a native of Yamhill county. Mrs. Jami- son was born at Amity, Ore., July 5, 1875, an.1 is the daughter of Robert W. Lancefield, a na- tive son, and a granddaughter of Robert James Lancefield, of Kent, England. Her mother, Sarah J. Maddox, was born in Monroe county, Mo., and crossed the plains to Oregon in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison have three chil- dren, namely: Mildred Chastain, Olga and Russell Warren. Although in business in In- dependence, Mr. Jamison resides at Monmouth, where he has an attractive home.

JAMES WHITFIELD GOWDY. Coming to Cottage Grove in ample time to generously aid in its progress and development, which have been carried on so rapidly and to such a remarkable degree, James W. Gowdy has been actively asso- ciated with many of its beneficial enterprises. and is numbered among the solid business men of the place. For several years he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, but is now one of the leading

furniture dealers of this locality. A son of Cal- vin A. Gowdy, he was born June 12, 1839, in White county, near Carmi or Enfield, Ill. His grandfather, John Gowdy, spent the earlier part of his life in Tennessee, although he was, prob- ably, a native of North Carolina. Removing from Tennessee to Illinois, he settled in White county, purchasing a farm, on which he spent his remaining years.

Removing from Tennessee, the state of his birth, to White county, Ill., Calvin A. Gowdy was engaged in agricultural pursuits, near the town of Enfield, until his death, at the age of sixty years. He married Cynthia Jane Miller, who died at a comparatively early age. She bore him seven children, five sons and two daughters, James W. being the fourth child in order of birth.

After completing his studies in the common schools of his native town, James W. Gowdy as- sisted on the home farm until 1857, when an uncle gave him a tract of land to care for. Pur- chasing forty acres of adjoining land, he carried on general farming a number of years. In 1866 he began working in a grist-mill at Enfield, Ill., and was afterwards employed in a carding-mill, in which he subsequently bought a half interest. Disposing of this property in 1874, Mr. Gowdy followed the star of empire west, arriving No- vember 12 at the present site of Cottage Grove, which was then a wild tract of land still in its primitive condition. In 1876 he bought a half interest in three hundred and twenty acres of land lying west of the present town, and subse- quently bought the remaining half. He has since made another purchase, and has now five hun- dred acres of fertile and well improved land in his ranch. In 1903 Mr. Gowdy platted three acres of his land, laying out Gowdy's addition to Cottage Grove, which has a most pleasant and advantageous location. He has also divided two hundred acres of his land west of town one and one-half miles into ten-acre tracts, most of which have been sold and the place is now called Gowdyville. While engaged in agricultural pur- suits, Mr. Gowdy devoted himself for awhile to sheep-raising and breeding, in 1878, in company with another man, driving them to eastern Ore- gon to the ranges. Of recent years he has rented his farms, and devoted his attention to other industries. For four or more years he carried on a substantial livery business, giving it up in 1903 to enter into his present occupation as a furniture dealer. His first partner, U. S. Martin, sold his interest in the firm to his brother, Jesse Martin, with whom Mr. Gowdy is now associated. These gentlemen have already established a large trade in their particular line of goods, their able and systematic business methods winning them signal success. Mr. Gowdy has also valuable mining

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property, being interested in a group of six mining claims, the Golconda, in the Bohemia dis- trict, and is one of the directors of the company. When he came to Oregon, in 1874, Mr. Gowdy traveled over the Central Pacific railway, being on an emigrant train from Omaha to San Fran- cisco, where he took a boat to Portland, Ore. Returning to Enfield, Ill., in 1884, he went over the Northern Pacific railroad in October, return- ing the following December by way of New Orleans, where he spent two weeks, thence through Texas and Arizona to his home.

Mr. Gowdy married first, in Lane county, Ore., Helen Small, who died in 1877, in eastern Ore- gon, where Mr. Gowdy had taken her for the benefit of her health. Mr. Gowdy later married at Cottage Grove, Mrs. Anna Jane Van Riper, a native of Iowa, and they have two children living, namely: Virgil Whitfield and Erma Bethel. A stanch Democrat in his political af- filiations, Mr. Gowdy has served as school direc- tor for many years, and is now serving his sec- ond term in the city council. Fraternally he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Re- bekas, and a Knight of Pythias. He is an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an elder a number of years.

WILLIAM M. GREEN. The commercial in- terests of Eugene, Lane county, recognize a valuable representative in the person of W. M. Green, who has conducted a grocery business in that city since 1891. At that date Mr. Green and his father began the business in a small room two doors north of his present location, making at first but a modest showing among the other grocers of the town. Energy and close applica- tion to business have brought marked success to this comparatively young man, who is now locat- ed in a building 26x78 feet in dimensions. Mr. Green now stands high as a merchant of integ- rity, the evidence of which is his wide popularity.

William M. Green was born in New Anburn, Minn., August 28, 1860, his father being Jona- than U. Green, who was born near Worcester, Vt., the son of J. B. Green, also a native of Ver- mont, and a farmer there. The father first learned the trade of a tailor but on locating in New Auburn, Minn., in 1857, he engaged as a merchant, continuing in that occupation until 1873, and in 1875 he became deputy collector of customs at Moorhead, Minn., and later at Pem- bina, N. Dak., where he remained for four years. In 1883 he returned to farming, settling in Minnesota, and in 1891 he removed to Eugene, Lane county, Ore. Here his death occurred No- vember 9, 1896. In fraternal relations he was a Roval Arch Mason. He married Martha A. Arnold, a native of Pennsylvania, the daughter

of William Arnold, also of that state, who settled as a farmer in New Auburn, Minn. Mrs. Green now makes her home in Eugene. She is the mother of eight children, five of whom are living. The oldest of this family is W. M. Green, who was reared in Minnesota, and re- ceived a rather limited education in the public schools. He remained at home until attain- ing his majority, meantime spending six years of the period as a clerk in Moorhead and Pembina. He then began farming, conduct- ing a farm near the city of his birth for three years, after which he went to Fargo, N. Dak., where he spent a similar period in a clerkship. In 1891 he came to Ore- gon with his father, and the two opened the business which has since grown to lucrative pro- portions. They started at the foot of the ladder and have now reached a position not to be de- spised in the commercial life of the city. Mr. Green bought his mother's interest in the busi- ness in January, 1903, and now conducts it en- tirely alone.

In New Auburn, Minn., Mr. Green married Etta J. Kipp, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., and their two children are Ellen M. and Robert E. As a Republican in politics, Mr. Green has taken an active part in the affairs of the city, having served for one term as a mem- ber of the council from the First ward. He is also a member of the County Republican Cen- tral Committee. Along the lines of his busi- ness he is a member of the Commercial Club. Fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World, in which he acts as banker; Knights of the Maccabees; was made a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Pembina, N. Dak., and is now a member of the Eugene Lodge and past officer. In the Encampment he is past chief patriarch and is now Grand High Priest of the Grand Encampment of Oregon. He is also identified with the Rebekahs.

ERNEST WILLIAM FISHER. Upon a farm of five hundred acres two miles north of Corvallis, Ernest W. Fisher is conducting a successful general farming and stock-raising enterprise, being one of the very well known farmers of this locality. He came here in 1851, and with the exception of occasional wander- ings into other parts of the northwest, has made this his home, and the scene of his most am- bitious life effort. Mr. Fisher is of German ancestry, and his youth and early manhood were passed in the Fatherland, where he was born May 25, 1825. As was and still is the custom in European countries, he was given the oppor- tunity to learn a trade, and was four years ap- prenticed to a saddler. Having completed his

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trade he became a journeyman saddler, travel- ing over the whole of his interesting country, and visiting many a picturesque and quaint old market-place.

In 1849 Mr. Fisher came to America in a sail- ing vessel, and after a long voyage landed in New York, where he worked for a time at his trade, and from there visited Philadelphia, St. Louis and other large cities. In 1851 he bought three yoke of oxen and a wagon and started across the plains, and after six months of vary- ing experiences landed at Salem, where his good trade furnished him with a means of support. Becoming interested in mining he spent six months in seeking the hidden treasures of the earth, and after returning to Corvallis in the spring of 1852 began to make saddletrees, cov- ering them with rawhide. This kind of saddle was not entirely satisfactory, and as soon as he could procure leather he began making pack- saddles, and later still manufactured quantities of harness. In 1856 he went to Jacksonville for a year, and then went to Iowa by water and the Isthmus, returning to the west in 1857. Locat- ing in Corvallis in the fall of 1857 he purchased his present farm, but continued to live in Cor- vallis, working at his trade and making much money. In 1870 he abandoned his trade in favor of farming, and it would seem from his success that nature has fitted him for the suc- cessful conduct of at least two occupations.

In 1857 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Amelia Diller, of which union there have been born the following children: Annie; Lena ; Charles; Emma; Mollie; Clara; John; and Frank, deceased. Mrs. Fisher died at Corvallis in 1901, a devoted wife and a kind and loving mother. In many ways Mr. Fisher has con- tributed to the well-being of his neighborhood, being always in favor of progressive and up- building enterprises. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, but aside from casting his vote has never identified himself with local affairs of a political nature. He is well known in fraternal circles, and has been identified with the Masonic order since 1857, and has been a Royal Arch Mason for a great many years. Upright in all of his dealings, a good friend and neighbor, and a most worthy and exemplary man, Mr. Fisher is in- deed an acquisition to the farming community near Corvallis.

CARROLL C. CALLAWAY. That pride which a native son feels in his surroundings, and that kinship with the soil which inspires him to do his best under any and all circumstances, finds expression in the life of Carroll C. Calla- way, born on his present home farm January 18, 1869, and the owner of four hundred acres

of land two and a half miles from Wells, and seven miles north of Corvallis. From William R. Callaway, his father, Carroll C. inherits sound common sense and good business judgment, for the elder Callaway made a success of his life through the exercise of these same admirable attributes, and instilled them into his children.

William R. Callaway was born in Delaware, and was eight years of age when his parents moved to Scotland county, Mo., where he was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. He married Abigail Cecil, with whom he started housekeeping on a farm, and in 1850 crossed the plains with ox-teams, taking six months for the journey. After spending six months in the Sacramento valley he returned across the plains to Missouri, not overmuch pleased with the prospects which he had found in the west. Shortly after, however, he returned to the west with a drove of mules, disposed of them at a profit, and in due time was among the familiar surroundings of the state of Mis- souri. In 1855 he disposed of his interests and brought his family to California, but soon after- ward came to Oregon, locating on a farm near Albany, Linn county. Two years later he sold out and came to Benton county, purchasing of Mr. Barnes the farm of six hundred and forty acres, a portion of which is still owned by his son. Here he engaged in general farming and stock-raising, was successful in his operations, and amassed quite a little competency. The last year of his life was spent in Corvallis, where his death occurred January 20, 1898, at the age of seventy. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was popular and well liked in his neighborhood. His wife, who died in 1878, bore hin fourteen children, all but one of whom attained maturity. Of the four sons and ten daughters, ten are married and have homes of their own.

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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 215

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