Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 228

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 228

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).

During the Rogue River war Mr. Milliorn was with the quartermaster department, hauling supplies to the soldiers in the south. This was continued for four or five months, and in all this time he never met with any trouble from the In- dians, it having been his happy faculty to mingle with them without having to fight them. In 1862 he went, in company with his brother-in- law, E. W. Rhea, to British Columbia with cattle, continuing from May until November, and the following year, with his brother James, took forty pack animals over the same road with pro- visions, a distance of fourteen hundred miles. In 1864-65 he went with another brother-in-law with a pack train to Boise Basin, Idaho, and in

1884 went with eighteen men to the Coeur d'Alene mines in a skiff. Not satisfied with his share in the dangerous expeditions in the western states he was eager to try his fortunes in the Klondike, and was only dissuaded on account of his ad- vancing age, which might impair his activity in that cold, northern land, though he is still a very active and energetic man, even at the age of seventy-five years.

The marriage of Mr. Milliorn occurred four miles east of Eugene, Lane county, in 1863, and united him with Eliza K. Awbrey, who was born near Grand river, Daviess county, Mo., and died in January, 1877. She was the daughter of Thomas Awbrey, who, from his native place in Virginia removed to Indiana and later to Mis- souri, from which latter state he crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850. On his arrival he lo- cated near Eugene, Lane county, taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. His death occurred in Junction City. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Milliorn, Nina Ann is the wife of D. C. Gore, of Springfield; one died in infancy and the remaining are Cora Lee; Frank B., and James R., deceased. Mr. Milliorn married a second time in 1878, Mary L. Hill, of Iowa, becoming his wife. She was the daughter of William Hill, who came from Iowa to California and to Oregon in 1864. He later returned to California, where his death occurred in 1885. The two children of the second mar- riage are Effie Gertrude and Merle H., both of whom are at home. In addition to the property before mentioned, Mr. Milliorn owns town lots, and also a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, located in township 15, southwest quar- ter, section 20, and range 6 west, and containing nine million feet of lumber. In his fraternal re- lations he is a member of Eugene Lodge No. II, A. F. & A. M., and the Royal Arch Chapter at Corvallis, Ore.

JOHN WESLEY STARR. Until January I, 1903, one of the foremost business men of Junction City, Lane county, where he had been engaged in a general hardware establishment since 1873, John Wesley Starr now makes his home in that city, retired from the active duties of life. He has built a comfortable residence there and also owns the brick building in which his business was located, and now feels finan- cially able to take the rest earned by his useful life of eighty-two years.

The Starr family came originally from Mary- land, where the grandfather. James Starr, was born. He died in 1822 in Belmont county, Ohio, whither he had removed ahout the year 1800. The father, also John Wesley Starr, was born in Allegany county, Md., April 22, 1794, and

1446

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with his parents he became a resident of Ohio, crossing the Alleghany mountains in wagons. In 1835 he emigrated to Iowa, which movement was followed up with the journey across the plains, which was made in 1848 with ox-teams. He first located in Benton county, Ore., taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres west of Monroe, and there his death oc- curred January 17, 1869, when nearly seventy- five years old. He was a faithful and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in his own locality taught the word of God. His wife was formerly Hanna McWilliams, who was born in County Down, Ireland, July 9, 1790, and at the age of four years accompanied her parents to the United States. Her father, George McWilliams, was born in the north of Ireland, and in 1794 located in Washington county, Ohio, where his death occurred. His occupation was that of a tailor.

Of the five children, four sons and one daugh- ter, born to his parents, John Wesley Starr was the second son, and was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 16, 1822. He received his education in the common schools of his native state, and at the age of fifteen years was ap- prenticed to learn the tinner's trade in Bellefon- taine, Logan county. In 1842 he went to the present location of Keosauqua, Iowa, where his father was then living, and two years later he began traveling up and down the Mississippi river in the prosecution of his trade. A perma- nent location was finally selected in 1846, he then becoming a resident of Pleasant View, Schuyler county, Ill., and later removing to Rushville in the same county, where he re- mained until 1857. In this last named year he followed his father's family to Oregon, traveling by way of the Isthmus. Upon his arrival in this state he located in Monroe, Benton county, and at once engaged at his trade. He went to Idaho in 1864, and at Boise Basin engaged in mining and also followed his trade until 1865, when he once more settled in Oregon, locating near Monroe on a farm which he operated for four years. At the end of that period he opened a hardware business in Monroe in connection with his trade, and this was continued in 1873 in Junction City, the general hardware store following soon after his settlement in this loca- tion.

Mr. Starr was married in Illinois to Mary Grigg, a native of Ohio, she having been born there March 28, 1829. She was the daughter of Thomas Grigg, who was born in New York and came to Ohio, where he married. He was a farmer by occupation. In 1839 he removed to Schuyler county, Ill., where his death occurred. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Starr, Or- rin Henry was born in Beardstown, Ill., June 26,

1847, and now resides in Yoncalla, Ore .; Philo Thomas was born in Schuyler county, Ill., Octo- ber 22, 1849, and is now practicing osteopathy in Albany, Ore .; Phillip was born in Schuyler county, May 9, 1852, and is now deceased; Jos- eph Fletcher was born in Schuyler county, Ill., August 19, 1854, and is now practicing oste- opathy at Passaic, N. J .; Hannah Minerva was born May 2, 1859, in Benton county, Ore., and now lives with her parents; Charles Wesley was born in Benton county, Ore., May 12, 1866, and now resides in Eugene, Ore .; Samuel Oscar was born in Benton county, Ore., December 19, 1870; and one child died in infancy. Mr. Starr is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, and as a Republican in politics has taken a more or less active part in the affairs of whatever community he has made his home. In Illinois he served for two years as constable and also as postmaster, and in Mon- roe he held the latter office for a like term of service. For one term he was city recorder of Junction City.

JOHN W. BAKER. A well known con- tractor and builder of Lane county, John W. Baker is one of the leading men in his line of in- dustry in Cottage Grove, and during the past decade has been prominently identified with its building interests, erecting many of its more im- portant residences. He was born January 10, 1846, near Madisonville, Hopkins county, Ky., a son of C. B. Baker. He comes of excellent Virginian stock, his paternal grandfather having been born and reared in old Virginia, afterwards becoming a pioneer of Hopkins county, Ky., where he followed farming until his death.

Born in Kentucky, C. B. Baker spent the earlier years of his life in the Blue Grass region, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1853, joining the train of which Capt. James Biles was the leader, he came to the northwest by way of the Natchez pass, his train being the first to cross the Cascade mountains into the Puget Sound country and the only train to come through the Natchez Pass. Locating in Thurs- ton county, Wash., he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres lying about six- teen miles south of Olympia, and was there suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, in June, 1866, at the age of fifty- seven years. He was a man of strong force of character and individuality, and was quite influ- ential in public affairs, serving as a member of the first two territorial legislatures of Washing- ton, being elected on the Democratic ticket. He married Louisa Berry, who was born, lived and died, in Kentucky, her death occurring in early womanhood. She was a daughter of Henry

1447

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Berry, a life-long resident of Kentucky, but fur- ther history of her family was lost while crossing the plains. She bore her husband three sons and two daughters. The daughters died in Ken- tucky, but all of the sons became residents of Oregon, one of them subsequently dying in Yam- hill county, and one, L. H., is principal of the Lincoln school, at Salem, Ore., the other being John W., the special subject of this brief sketch.

Crossing the plains with his father in 1853, John W. Baker was educated in the district schools of Washington territory, and at the age of nineteen years began life for himself as a car- penter, going to The Dalles in 1865, and remain- ing there a year. Locating at Lafayette, Yam- hill county, Ore., in 1866, he worked as a carpen- ter and joiner in that vicinity until 1894. Re- moving then to Lane county, Mr. Baker has since been busily employed at his trade in Cottage Grove, by his persistent energy, strict attention to business, and honorable dealings with his fel- low-men becoming very successful in securing a large patronage. Enterprising,' with excellent business tact and keen judgment, he has won his way through life by his own efforts, and in addi- tion to other interests holds stock in the Bohemia mining district.

In 1868, in Yamhill county, Mr. Baker married Lucretia A. Martin, who was born in Yamhill county, August 9, 1850. Her father, Franklin Martin, a native of Missouri, was born April 15, 1827. Crossing the plains with ox-teams in 1846, he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Lafayette, Yamhill county, Ore., and there pursued the peaceful vocation of a farmer until his death, in 1882. He was a mem- ber of the Christian Church, an earnest worker in the temperance cause, and was especially in- terested in the establishment of the pioneer schools of this state. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Baker nine children have been born, name- ly: Cora, wife of W. S. McFarland, a travel- ing salesman residing in Cottage Grove; Ed- ward D., a traveling salesman, residing in Port- land, Ore .; Walter L., a ranchman, living near Cottage Grove; Franklin, deceased; Clair B., a freight conductor on the Southern Pacific rail- way; Ralph N., a salesman in Knight's shoe store, in Portland ; Ella Ruby, Allen B. and Ches- ter H. While living in Yamhill county, Mr. Baker served as deptuy sheriff in 1874 and 1875, and was journal clerk in the state senate in 1876 and 1878. In 1895, three years after locating in Cottage Grove, he was appointed justice of the peace, and in April, 1903, was appointed state game warden by Gov. George Chamberlain. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Baker is a mem- ber of the Christian Church.

FINGAL HINDS. As is invariably the case with adaptive and versatile people, Fingal Hinds has not confined his activities to any one groove, but has rather reached out and disposed of vari- ous opportunities which have come to him. Another natural conclusion is that the speculative in business endeavor has appealed to him with more or less force, as evidenced by a resume of his life, and by his present occupation, that of dealer in mining properties and real estate at Cot- tage Grove. Mr. Hinds comes from financial and commercial as well as agricultural stock, and his first impressions of life and work were gained on a large sized farm in Barren county, Ky., where his birth occurred March 20, 1849.

Hiram Hinds, the father of Fingal, was born in Virginia, his family being one of the well . known and highly honored ones of the Dominion state. Not lacking in interest and historical mo- ment is the maternal family of Kidd, among the remote ancestors of which there looms the pirati- cal figure of Captain Kidd, who lived between 1650 and 1701, and whose gory and picturesque maneuvers upon the high seas, transferred to the pages of fiction, have caused many a youth, con- sumed with the fires of ambition, to bitterly re- gret the passing of the good old days of piracy and loot and hair-raising escapades. A later and more orthodox addition to the family history was Capt. G. W. Kidd, who sought for treasure in the mines of California rather than in the holds of ships, as did his illustrious predecessor, and who, because of his change of business tactics amassed a large fortune, was well known in all of the mining localities of the western state, bore a respected name, and was not assisted to his final reward by the artificial tactics of a disapproving populace. Elvira (Kidd) Hinds was born in Tennessee, where she married Mr. Hinds and later removed to Barren county, Ky. The family fortunes were transferred to California in 1860, the journey being made across the plains in the already well established way, and a halt made in Nevada county, where the mines offered fair in- ducements to oncoming fortune-seekers. A banker by early training, Mr. Hinds soon made his financial influence felt in a locality as yet un- organized and in need of conservative worth, and in time assumed charge of the assay department of the Bank of Nevada county, later becoming identified in an important capacity with the Bank of Stockton. He removed to Fort Townsend, Wash., in 1887, and there died at the age of four- score years, the possessor to the last of a fine character, generous impulses, and many friends whose kindly attentions and appreciation had il- luminated his worthy and gracious life.

The seventh child of the six sons and six daughters born to his parents, Fingal Hinds re- ceived the substantial education accorded all of

1448

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the children of a prosperous family, his public school training being supplemented by a three- years course at the Jesuit College at Santa Clara, Cal. His father's success placed a waiting op- portunity in his way, and he entered the Bank of Stockton, first in a minor capacity, but gradually worked his way up to the position of bookkeeper, and after six years to that of assistant cashier, which latter responsibility he maintained for three years. From 1877 until 1879 he was con- nected as manager and one-third owner with the Golden Gate Packet Company, of San Jose, Cal., afterward associating himself with a sawmilling business at Truckee, Cal. Three years later, in 1882, he ran a hotel in Fresno for a year, and in August, 1883, removed to Tacoma, Wash., where · he found employment as timekeeper and outside manager with the Tacoma Mill Company. Dur- ing 1885 he arrived in the Okanogan mining dis- trict in eastern Washington; and in the mean- time was joined by his brother, with whom he eventually started a wharf business at Fort Townsend, Mr. Hinds remaining in the mines and the brother superintending the wharf enter- prise.

Notwithstanding the fact that he sank about all that he had in the world in the silver mines of Washington, and that he arrived in Cottage Grove in 1883 with extremely meagre assets, Mr. Hinds still continued to place his faith in mining, operating chiefly in the Bohemian district. He has since dealt extensively in real estate and min- ing properties, has access to claims which are bound to realize large returns, and by his intelli- gent and earnest appreciation of the many resi- dence and business advantages of this county, is not only maintaining but increasing its deserving prestige. Recently he has organized the Glen- wood Mining & Milling Company, incorporated for $1,000,000, and of which he is superintend- ent of mines. Mr. Hinds' personal possessions include valuable claims in the Bohemian district, valuable town and country property, and part in- terests in various enterprises here represented. Fraternally, he is a Mason. Through his mar- riage with Gussie Manning, a native of Toledo, Ohio, one daughter was born to Mr. Hinds, the same being now the wife of C. A. Mason, of Seattle, Wash. The present Mrs. Hinds was formerly Effie Knowlton, born in Cottage Grove, and whose father, P. D. Knowlton, an old-time miner, is now living retired. Mr. Hinds is ener- getic and forceful, quick to see a business advan- tage, but invariably scrupulous in all of his deal- ings. As a promoter of the mining and agricul- tural resources of this county he takes high rank, and a continuation of his present success is the wish of all who are personally aware of his many excellent traits of character.

GEORGE BRATTAIN. A model general farming, stock-raising and dairying enterprise is being conducted by George Brattain on the old home place located by his father, Jonathan H. Brattain, in 1849. The elder Brattain was born in the eastern part of the country in 1813, and at an early age settled with some of his brothers in Iowa. Here he married Ellen Trimble, a native daughter of Iowa, and with her settled on an av- erage-sized middle-west farm near Fairfield, where his son, George, was born April 19, 1843. When George was three years old, in 1846, the family emigration to Oregon took place, the jour- ney being made with ox-teams, and accomplished without any particular incident. The first win- ter was spent at Whitman's Station, and in the summer of 1847 Mr. Brattain arrived at Oregon City, where he worked in a saw-mill. A year later he came to Linn county, and just across the line in Benton county took up a claim, although he made his home in Linn county. In the spring of 1849 he, in company with two other men and two women, went in a little canoe down to As- toria, and from there embarked in a sailing ves- sel for California. During the time spent in the mines he was fairly successful, and returned to the home place richer by several hundred dollars. This money was put into a claim the following spring, which claim is the one now occupied by his son George, and located one and a half miles northeast of Peoria, and twelve miles south of Albany. Mr. Brattain was only forty-six years old at the time of his death. He became very prominent in Linn county, was a member of the constitutional convention, and also represented the county in the state legislature. In the early days he served in both the Black Hawk and Ya- kima wars. His wife, who died at the age of thirty-three, bore him four children, of whom Benjamin resides at Alsea, and Mary and Ed- ward are deceased.

Until his fourteenth year George Brattain lived on the farm which is still his home, and then ventured forth to make an independent live- lihood, securing the position of cook for a mule train at Fort Benton. He also engaged in min- ing and prospecting, and for fifteen years made his headquarters in that comparatively wild and unsettled region. Returning to the home farm he assumed the management thereof, and in 1879 married Margaret Bear, a native of Kansas, who proved herself a sympathetic and in many ways remarkable woman. Two children, Grant and Clarence, are living with their parents. Mr. Brattain is a Republican and has filled many positions of trust and responsibility in his local- ity, and he was at one time treasurer of Baker county, Ore. He is prominent and popular in his neighborhood, and has the happy faculty of mak- ing and retaining friends. An excellent farmer

1449

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and practical business man, he is making success of his life, and is a credit to the thrifty com- munity.

WINFIELD SCOTT CHRISMAN. As the only place of the kind in Cottage Grove, the Fashion Stables do not have to contend with competition, but it is safe to say that so admir- ably sustained an establishment would naturally receive a liberal patronage, no matter what its competition. W. S. Chrisman and Eli Bangs, proprietors of the stables, have a thorough un- derstanding of their business, and are in touch with the requirements of an exclusive and exact- ing, as well as more cosmopolitan trade. They have all kinds of turnouts, many fine horses, and are also the proprietors of the Cottage Grove and Bohemia stage line, carrying the fast freight, United States mail and passengers.

Winfield Scott Chrisman, the senior member of the firm, and one of the prominent men of this county, was born in Andrew county, Mo., April 19, 1847, the fourth child of the six sons and two daughters born to his parents. He was four years of age when he came with the rest of the family to Oregon in 1851, and his education was received in the early subscription school near his home, he having to walk a long way through the snow and sleet of winter to a little log school- house with slab benches and few conveniences. The family located first in Linn county, and then lived a year in Douglas county, at the end of which time they removed to Lane county, in 1853, and settling on a claim five miles north of Cottage Grove, near Walker Station. In 1865 Mr. Chrisman engaged in farming and stock- raising on his own responsibility, four miles west of Creswell, having four hundred and twenty acres, and this he sold in 1873, purchasing four hundred and eighty acres east of Cottage Grove on Row river. Stock-raising netted him a sub- stantial yearly income until 1878, when, on ac- count of his wife's ill health, he located in Eu- gene and took up the hack and dray business. Three years later, in 1881, he removed to Cottage Grove and became interested in a harness busi- ness, which he operated for three years, and then sold, and, in 1884, he began buying, selling and shipping stock.

In 1890 Mr. Chrisman departed from his former occupations and sought to increase his hoard among the mines in the Bohemia district. and successfully negotiated for the purchase and sale of many valuable claims. Three years later found him managing the New York Racket store, of this place, and in 1900 he bought into his present livery business, taking as his partner Eli Bangs, of Eugene, Ore. Aside from his business property, Mr. Chrisman owns valuable

residence and store property in several parts of Cottage Grove, as well as a farm of one hundred and sixty acres eleven miles east of the town. He has been prominent in political and other affairs here, and as a Republican has held about all of the offices within the gift of his fellow- townsmen, including that of mayor for one term, member of the council for several terms, marshal for one term, special deputy sheriff for two terms or four years, and constable for several terms. Fraternally, he is connected with the United Artisans.

In Lane county, Mr. Chrisman married Caro- line Boren, who was born in Illinois in December, 1846, and whose father, C. W. Boren, crossed the plains with his family in 1853, locating on a claim of three hundred and twenty acres four miles from Cottage Grove. Mr. Boren was fairly successful in the west as well as the east, and his death occurred while he was on a visit to his old home in Illinois. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman, of whom Wesley is on the old farm; Mattie is the wife of J. W. Kirk, of this vicinity; Clarence Bell and George Austin are deceased, and Hattie Lena is the wife of T. K. Sears, and is living with her father.

LEVI GEER. To be well known is to be ap- preciated in the case of Levi Geer, for he is one of those thoroughly up-to-date and enterprising men from whose well directed efforts the prom- ises of future greatness in a community become a fulfillment. Not content with anything but the highest positions, it is a natural sequence that he is an addition to any society. He has made his business energy and judgment contribute to the advancement of all upbuilding enterprises, having made of his own life a financial success, ardently desiring to see his adopted state and community profit by his efforts. He now owns nine hundred and fifty acres of land, the im- provements of which have been the result of his own efforts. In 1902 he built a modern hotel on his farm, for the use of the patrons of his springs, known as the Oregon Mineral Springs, which are widely appreciated for their medicinal prop- erties. In the equipment of his property he has spared neither time nor expense, and the swim- ming pool, shower bath, and other conveniences attract many to this pleasant retreat.

The springs are highly spoken of by all who have tested their curative properties. Physicians who have analyzed the water are a unit in their decision that it is one of the most wonderful springs in this country. Located in a narrow valley on the coast fork of the Willamette, the scenery is as attractive as any on the coast, and all who have paid the place a visit are anxious to go the second time. Mr. Geer has spent a great

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 228

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