Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 232

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 232

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WILLIAM WILLIS OGLESBY, M. D. The president of the Golden Slipper Mining Company, Dr. W. W. Oglesby, is a man of many and rare talents, and these have led him into many pursuits wherein he has found much pleas- ure and considerable profit, for he unites with a singularly forceful character the temperament of a man of letters. Since his advent into the west he has found much to interest him in the moun- tain peaks of his adopted state, and has ascended nearly all the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade range. He was the first man who reached the crest of Mount Jefferson, ascending this moun- tain in 1886, having ascended Mount Hood in 1869, the Three Sisters in 1865, Diamond Peak in 1858 and Mount Shasta in 1856. While in- terested in climbing he has branched out into hunting and a study of the formations and growths of this wonderful land, which have added no little to his information. Dr. Oglesby is also a famous Indian fighter, having been forced to this form of war while crossing the plains in 1853, and again in the Bannock war in Umatilla county, Ore., in 1878, he served three months as captain of Company G, commanding at the battle of Willow Springs, which was the scene of the fiercest Indian fighting on the coast. With shrewd business sagacity Dr. Oglesby has also devoted much time in his rambling over the mountains to a search for that which makes the onward march of the world possible, and he has met with rare success, having been the fortunate discoverer of two remunerative mines in south- ern Oregon. The first was the Bohemian mines, which he discovered in 1858, but the one of which he is now president, the Golden Slipper, was discovered in 1898. This has since devel- oped into a good paying property, the company having now a capital of $1,000,000, divided into ten million shares, of the par value of ten cents per share, fully paid up and non-assessable. The property of this corporation consists of what is known as the Golden Slipper group of mining claims, located on the eastern slope of Grouse mountain, in the Bohemia mining district, Doug-

las county, Ore., only a short distance from mines famous throughout that section of the country, and there is every prospect of turning out a fortune from this property. Much credit is due Dr. Oglesby for his share in the business, as with several others he succeeded in the pro- motion of the company.

Dr. Oglesby was the fourth son in a family of six sons and eight daughters, his birth occurring May 3, 1837, in Adams county, Ill. He was the son of William Oglesby, a native of South Caro- lina, who come from Virginia with his parents to the Prairie state when only a young lad. Ex- Governor Oglesby, of Illinois, was an uncle of the family. The preliminary education of Dr. Oglesby was received in the common schools of Missouri and Oregon. Anxious to gain a thor- ough knowledge of books he never ceased his application to his studies. In 1868 he began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Johnson, of Corvallis, and in 1869 he took a course in Toltin Medical College, of San Fran- cisco, after which he practiced his profession in California for four years, every step forward being the result of earnest, patient effort on his own part. In 1875 he came to Oregon and at- tended two courses of lectures in Willamette University, and two years later was graduated with the degree of M. D. He then engaged in general practice in Weston, Ore., where he re- mained for three years, and then located in Fossil for a period of ten years, after which he removed in 1889 to Cottage Grove. Four years later he became a resident of Junction City, Lane county, and engaged in the general practice of his pro- fession, later becoming interested in the Golden Slipper mining proposition.

The marriage of Dr. Oglesby first united him with Sarah Jane Morrison, a native of Tennes- see, and took place in Benton county, Ore. She was the daughter of Rev. J. P. Morrison, who was born in Tennessee, and after a residence in Missouri came to Oregon in 1862, locat- ing in Benton county. Nine years later he removed to California, where his death oc- curred at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Oglesby died in Corvallis, in 1867, when still quite young, and the doctor married in 1871, a sister of his first wife, Nancy C., a native of Missouri. The one child born of the first union was Anna, who is still at home with her father. In addition to his many other in- terests Dr. Oglesby took up and mastered the study of telegraphy and held many positions as an operator. He has also been connected with newspaper work for about fifteen years, in Cot- tage Grove, and was a delegate to New Orleans and to the Pan-American Exposition for the Press Association. He has also · written some verse, which certainly has shown his power with

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the pen. In his fraternal relations Dr. Oglesby holds a prominent place, being a member of the Blue Lodge and the Chapter, A. F. & A. M., of Eugene, Ore .; Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of Eugene; Knights of Pythias, of Junc- tion City; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Encampment ; and is an honorary mem- ber of the Woodmen of the World, in which he acted as physician for some time. He is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically Dr. Oglesby has always been a stanch adherent of the principles of the Democratic party, and served as mayor of Cottage Grove for two years, and also of Junction City. He was a candidate for the state legislature in 1896, but was defeated, and in the year in which William Jennings Bryan was first candidate for the presi- dency he was one of the state electors.

ROBERT M. CRAWFORD was born in Bel- fast, Ireland, December 25, 1824, and was reared on a small tenant farm which at best could fur- nish but scant livelihood for the family of fifteen children. His paternal grandfather, James, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and as a young man established the family on the farm at Craw- fordsburn, near Belfast. On this same farm John Crawford, the father of Robert, was born, and he also was a farmer. John Crawford mar- ried Eliza Johnson, born in County Antrim, Ire- land. At present but two of this family are liv- ing, Thomas having been killed in Albany in 1856,; William died here in 1890, and John died in 1900.

Limited facilities for acquiring an education, together with scant opportunity for earning a livelihood, handicapped the early life of the Crawford children. To support himself Robert learned the miller's trade, at which he worked from 1842 until 1848, when he came to the United States, making his way from New York city overland to Lexington, Mo. Here he worked at his trade until 1849, and then joined a caravan bound for the western coast, his brother John accompanying him, and James Waddell. They came via the old California trail and were over five months on the way, finally arriving in San Francisco, where the brothers stopped with old Captain Woodward in the his- toric Whatcheer Hotel. Two weeks later they started for Nicolaus, Sutter county, and still later made their way to the Yuba Dam, mining at the latter place about four weeks, and going then to the Grass Valley mining district. These expe- ditions were not without their dangers and ex- citing adventures, for the Indians still resented the intrusion of the pale faces, and made their progress at best hazardous and uncertain. This was especially true when Mr. Crawford went to

Humboldt Bay in March, 1850, and later to the Salmon river district and Scott's Bar. After a time he returned to Butte City, now Eureka, Cal., and engaged in both mining and merchan- dising, in 1851 joining his brother in Oregon City.

To Mr. Crawford is due the credit of having ground the first flour in Linn county. He pur- chased the mill and site of the Magnolia Mills, started and managed them for ten years, finally disposing of the property to Jim Foster. Later on he re-purchased the mill with his other brother, when Mr. Foster failed, and conducted it for many years, or until it was purchased by Colonel Hoag. Owing to ill health Mr. Craw- ford left this part of the country and sought a change of climate and surroundings in Boise City and Walla Walla, in both of which towns he started mills, and in the former of which he made his home for thirty years. In Idaho he was especially prominent in political affairs, and also took an active part in subduing the Indians, whose language he learned, and whose interests he studied and forwarded. He took part in three of the Rogue river wars, and was promi- nent in forming treaties and directly treated with the aggrieved red men.

In 1890 Mr. Crawford and his brother, Wil- iam, came to Albany to take charge of their af- fairs, and he has since continued to be a resident of this city. He is a Democrat, and a member of the St. John Lodge No. 62, F. and A. M., and is also identified with the Bayley Chapter, R. A. M., and with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. The death of his brother John fell heavily upon the heart of this honored pioneer, for John and he were associated in many of the important undertakings of their lives, and were the closest of friends and boon companions. They crossed the plains together, sitting many evenings over cheery camp-fires, and planning for the future with the enthusiasm of youth as yet untried, and therefore hopeful. They mined and milled to- gether, and together built the canal in Albany, besides owning many large properties upon which they engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. Mr. Crawford is at present a very large owner of country and town land, his possessions being located mostly in Linn county in the Wil- lamette valley, and in the heavily timbered por- tions of the north. True to the land of his birth, he has visited his friends in Ireland on half a dozen occasions, coming back always with re- newed appreciation of the many advantages awaiting him in the northwest.

JOHN W. McKINNEY is a native son of the west, and was born on his father's farm near Marion village, this county, December 21, 1855.

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His father, William W. Mckinney, was born in Missouri, and came to Oregon in the early pio- neer days, thereafter establishing himself among the successful agriculturists of his vicinity. When John W. was five years of age the family fortunes were shifted to four miles east of Turner, where the father died, and where the son grew to manhood, remaining with his mother until the fall of 1879. While still on the home farm he attended the public schools and Wil- lamette University, the latter of which he re- turned to several times, and finally graduated therefrom in June, 1879. For the following four years he rented the home place, and in the fall of 1883 removed to the farm upon which he still lives, bringing with him his wife, formerly Edna T. Smith, whom he married February 28, 1883. At the present time Mr. Mckinney owns three hundred and twelve acres of land, upon which he has built a fine house, and fitted with all mod- ern improvements. Since 1888 the greater part of his land has been devoted to stock-raising, Hereford cattle, Berkshire hogs, and Leicester sheep being among the most profitable stock. He has forty head of registered Hereford cattle, and all his stock is the best procurable. The farm is called the Rockwell ranch, and is located one and a half miles southwest of Turner.

No children were born of the first marriage of Mr. Mckinney, his wife dying February 3, 1893, The present Mrs. McKinney, whom he married November 21, 1897, was Miss Minnie Colwell, of Salem. One child, Althea Lee, has blessed this union. Mr. Mckinney enjoys an enviable reputation in Marion county, and he has many friends among the representative families that live here.

HON. H. B. NICHOLS. One of the most interesting lives to be found among the early settlers in the western states is that of the Hon. H. B. Nichols who, though in his eighty-third year, still enjoys the good health and activity of a man many years his junior. A student from his earliest youth Mr. Nichols has broad- ened the current of his mental attainments by close and intimate associations with the busi- ness affairs of both the eastern and western sec- tions of the country, and through contact with many and varied nationalities he has become a keen, shrewd judge of human nature, but tem- pers the reading with a kindly personality which has won him many friends.

The family of H. B. Nichols is of New Eng- land birth, his father being a native of Middle- town, Conn., where he died at the age of seven- ty-seven years. For a great many years he followed the business of hat manufacturing in Colchester, Conn., where he was very promi-

nent in industrial circles. Henry Brainard Nichols was born January 15, 1821, in Lyme, Conn., and received his preliminary education in the public schools of that town, and at Brainard Academy, Haddam, Conn., later attending Wes- leyan University in the city of his father's birth. On account of ill health he left his home when quite young and entered upon a course of travel- ing, taking sea voyages for twenty-two months, during which time he visited the most interest- ing parts of the globe, gaining most valuable knowledge from his association with the various peoples. On returning to his home he went to Iowa, in company with his brother-in-law, Dr. Dayton, intending to take up the study of medi- cine; but, finding the country well supplied with such professional men, he organized, in- stead, a select school in Muscatine, conducting the same for five years. Later in life many prominent men of the state of Iowa recalled the time when they attended the school conducted by Mr. Nichols. Having seen enough of the world to make him interested in all geographical questions, Mr. Nichols became an emigrant to help change the conditions of the western terri- tory, in 1852 crossing the plains with ox-teams with the intention of settling in Oregon. After a journey of five months he reached his destina- tion, and at once became a resident of Umpqua valley, later taking up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres about six miles west of Monroe, Benton county, where he has since made his home. In addition to his general farm- ing and stock-raising Mr. Nichols has taught school in Oregon, commencing his pedagogical work the first winter which he spent here. Be- ing one of the most intelligent and best in- formed men of the early days, he has always taken an active part in all public affairs, being often called upon in the matter of law contracts, etc. In 1857 he was a member of the constitu- tional convention, a member of the last terri- torial legislature and served one term in the state legislature, where he ably represented those who had honored him with their support. Through his early association with educational matters he has always been interested in all that pertained to the advancement of knowledge, for thirty years serving as school clerk in this vi- cinity. Mr. Nichols now owns twelve hundred acres of land, a part of which is rented, though he continues the management of the remainder.

While a resident of Muscatine, Iowa, Mr. Nichols married Martha Overman, a native of Ohio, and through their many years of married life she was a faithful helper toward wealth and success in the western venture. She died in 1883, leaving three children, all of whom were . graduates of Willamette University. The old- est, Alfred C., is now deceased; R. J. is the

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librarian for the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis, Ore .; and Caroline is the wife of Jud- son Reeves, of Salem. Fraternally Mr. Nichols affiliates with the Grange, having helped to es- tablish that organization in this vicinity, and was the first secretary of the same, and later served as master. Politically he is a Republican and has always been so since the formation of that party, but previously was a Whig, and gave his first presidential vote to Henry Clay, in 1844, while a student at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. As a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, Mr. Nichols has been faithful for fifty years.

GEORGE WASHINGTON PHILLIPS was born in Guilford county, N. C., October 24, 1838, the son of David and Sarah ( Sullinger) Phillips, born respectively August 24 and 27, 1797, and both natives of North Carolina. In 1838 Mr. Phillips brought his family to Ray county, Mo., and there engaged in farming, until his removal in 1843 to Texas, where, near Paris, he continued to follow this occupation. Three years later he again made his home in Missouri, in Andrew county engaging in farming, and in 1852 lie out- fitted with ox-teams and crossed the plains via the Platte river, after six months' travel arriving safely in Salem, Ore., where he spent the first winter. In March, 1853, he came to Linn county, and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres located six miles northeast of Scio, where he remained for twenty- two years. Later himself and wife made their home with G. W., of this review, where Mr. Phillips' death occurred at the age of eiglity-four years. Mrs. Phillips died here in 1889, surviv- ing her husband seven years. She was the mother of three sons and six daughters, of whom G. W. is the youngest.

G. W. Phillips was reared upon his father's farm, receiving a rather limited education in the conimon schools. When twenty years old he took charge of the paternal farm and conducted the same for many years. At that date there were nine hundred acres of land in the one tract on the location northeast of this place, and since that time Mr. Phillips has dealt extensively in land, owning at one time more than did any other farmer in the county. He later disposed of much of this, and coming to Scio bought a tract containing three hundred and fifty acres, but now owns but two hundred and twenty acres. this property converted into cash going into the busi- ness life of Scio. In 1894 he became the owner of the flour mills of the city, and has since fur- nished them with the most complete and up-to- date equipment, the mill being run by water power, the latter being entirely in the control of

Mr. Phillips. The capacity of the mill is one hundred and twenty barrels of flour per day. In 1897 he purchased considerable stock in the bank here, taking out a third interest in the business, and acted as one of the directors of the same until 1900. Mr. Phillips is also the owner of a local railroad, which runs from Scio to West Scio, a distance of three miles.

In Linn county, Ore., Mr. Phillips was united in marriage with Miss Martha Tarply, who was born in Missouri, December 13, 1841. Of their five children William Monroe is located in West Scio; Saide is the wife of George Coffey, a farm- er in this vicinity; Emma is the wife of Grant Davids, of Silverton, Ore .; Ida is the wife of J. A. Warwick, and makes her home in this city, and George W. is in Salem. As a member of the Knights of the Maccabees Mr. Phillips carries a life insurance policy for $3,000. In his political convictions hie was once a Democrat, but now casts his ballot with the Republican party. He has served as county commissioner for two years, and as school director and road super- visor for many terms.

PROF. WILLIAM M. MILLER. A native of Oregon, William M. Miller was born near McMinnville, Yamhill county, December 3, 1862, a son of A. M. Miller. His grandfather, the late Richard N. Miller, was born in old Virginia, but for several years resided in Cole county, Mo., where he was a citizen of influence, and for a number of terms served as sheriff of the county. Coming across the plains to Oregon in 1847, the year of the great Mormon emigration, he took up a donation claim, from which he improved a good farm. He spent one season in the Califor- nia mines, and was afterwards engaged in the stock business in eastern Oregon. A man of a deeply religious nature, he was ordained as a minister in the Baptist Church after coming to this state, and for a number of years was a local preacher. He spent his last days in Marion county.

Coming to Oregon with his father when twenty-two years of age, A. M. Miller assisted in the pioneer labor of improving a homestead for two years. In 1849, on the discovery of gold in California, he went with the first wagon-train to the mines, Eugene Skinner and Colonel Lee being members of the same party. After spend- ing three years as a miner, he returned to Ore- gon, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, first in Yamhill county, then in Linn county, near Scio. Removing to Lane county in 1870, lie bought the old Samuel Baughman donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, lying just above Pleasant Hill, where he improved a farm, which he managed until his death, in 1902,

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at the age of seventy-eight years. He was identified with the Democratic party, and was a deacon in the Baptist Church. He married Sarah Jane Hutchinson, who was born in Mis- souri, and came to Oregon with her aunt, Mrs. Tandy, in the Horton train, in 1850. She sur- vives him, and resides on the home farm. Of the eleven children born of their union, ten grew to years of maturity, and eight are living, name- ly : Mrs. Nancy Hamilton, of Eugene; Mrs. Ger- trude Wilhelm, residing near Florence, Lane county ; Mrs. Belle McCall, of Silver Lake, Ore .; R. N., a stockman of Okanogan county, Wash .; William M., the special subject of this sketch; J. R., of Silver Lake, Ore .; A. T., a farmer at Pleasant Hill, Lane county ; and D. J., also a farmer.

A resident of Lane county since seven years of age, William M. Miller obtained the rudi- ments of his education in the district schools, at the same time being well trained in the art and science of agriculture on the parental homestead. He subsequently pursued his studies at the Uni- versity of Oregon for three years, and after teaching in the county schools for another three years again entered that university, this time re- maining two years, giving up his studies while in the senior class to go to Montana. At the end of six months he returned to Oregon, where he resumed his professional labors, teaching first in Wasco county, then in the valley. Subse- quently becoming principal of the Lonerock school, in Gilliam county, he remained there un- til 1892, when he accepted the principalship of the Creswell School, in Lane county. In 1898 Mr. Miller was elected county superintendent of the Lane county schools on the Democratic ticket, for a term of two years, receiving a majority of one hundred and five votes. In 1900 he was re- elected for a term of four years, receiving a ma- jority of ninety-one of the votes cast, the ma- jority showing his great popularity, as the Re- publican ticket was elected by a majority of four hundred votes.

Since assuming his present position, Mr. Mil- ler has been constantly adding to the efficiency of the schools of the county, among other things introducing the state course of study into the schools, and a system of public school examina- tions into the eight grades, the papers being graded by the superintendent himself. He has now full control of one hundred and seventy- five school districts, the last legislature having. through his efforts, so changed the district boundaries that seven of the Douglas county dis- tricts are now under his supervision. In these districts there are two hundred and twenty-one teachers, for whose benefit he has established summer institutes and local meetings, holding from four to ten each year. His superintend-

ency covers the greatest length of territory of any county in the state, being two hundred miles from one extreme to the other by the nearest traveled road, and stands No. I in regard to districts, although it is the third in regard to school population.

Mr. Miller married, in Eugene, Ore., Clara B. Fowler, who was born at Peters, Cal., and they have two children, namely: W. Kent and E. Mande. Fraternally Mr. Miller belongs to many of the leading organizations of this local- ity, being a member of Creswell Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; of Eugene Chapter No. Io, R. A. M .; of the Woodmen of the World; of the Modern Woodmen of America; and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a promi- nent member of the State Teachers Association, in which he takes an intelligent interest, and be- longs to the Baptist Church. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.

PHY SIMPSON is a native son of Oregon, having been born at Lewisville, Polk county, September 18, 1868. His ancestry is directly southern, his parents being natives of Arkansas, his grandparents of Tennessee, the sketch of his father, which appears elsewhere in this work, giving a detailed account of their lives. Five children of his father's family attained maturity, of whom Phy was the third, and when his school days were over he entered into the same business which had occupied his father's attention. for so many years. In 1893 he bought a one-third in- terest in the saw-mills located at Independence, the two others comprising the firm being F. A. Douty and his brother, David Simpson, a farmer near Pedee. Their combined interests were then known as the Independence Lumbering Com- pany. They now have two camps occupying the attention of twenty men, while Mr. Simpson alone owns between four and five thousand acres of lumber land on the Luckiamute, and his share of the equipment consists of twenty head of cat- tle, ten horses and a donkey engine. The output for the year is in the neighborhood of four mil- lion feet of lumber. In Airlie, Polk county, Mr. Simpson has built a handsome residence, wherein he now makes his home with his wife, a native of Polk county. The one child born to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson is Eldon. Mr. Simpson is a Dem- ocrat in his political affiliations, and fraternally belongs to the Woodmen of the World.

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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 232

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