Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 234

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 234

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Educated in the public schools of this county, Mrs. Perkins developed a charming personality, and at seventeen years of age she became en- gaged to M. C. Connelly, a railroad employe and a young man of excellent character and business ability. Mr. Connelly was born in Liv- erpool, England, and came to the United States, settling in the west, where he was engaged prin- cipally as superintendent of grading for the Ore- gon & California, now the Southern Pacific Rail- road. His married life was short-lived, for he was killed by the explosion of giant powder on a boat while blasting rock five miles above Uma- tilla, on the Columbia river, in 1876, at the age of thirty-one years. At the time he had advanced to the position of superintendent of construction, and his career contained great promise. He left one son, Arthur V., who is living in Cottage Grove, but who is employed as brakeman on the Oregon & Southeastern Railroad.

In 1877 Mrs. Connelly was united in mar- riage with Joseph H. Perkins, a native of Mis- souri, and who came across the plains with his parents in 1864, settling first in Baker and after- ward in Lane county. Mr. Perkins' father, Joseph D. Perkins, was born in Kentucky, and from there removed to Missouri, living there on a farm for several years, or until coming to the west. The son came into the possession of a farm, upon a portion of which the town of Cot- tage Grove has since been built, and where he conducted a thriving general farming business for many years, later running a dairy. Besides the town site of Cottage Grove he disposed of con- siderable more of his land, retaining for his per- sonal use one hundred and fifty acres on the east. His death occurred March 4, 1902, at the age of fifty years, and he left behind him the legacy of a good name, and of a life well and profitably spent. He was a Democrat in politics, and was fraternally a member of the Masonic order. With his wife he attended the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church.

A few years before his death Mr. Perkins

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erected the commodious residence in Cottage Grove now occupied by his widow. She still owns and rents one hundred and thirty acres of the property, to the improvement of which her husband devoted his mature and most worthy energies. Two daughters contribute to the hap- piness of her life, of whom Neva, the oldest, is a student in the junior class at the state university at Eugene, and Leah is living at home. Mrs. Perkins still retains the vivacity and mental charm which rendered her girlhood an interest- ing one, and she has many friends throughout the town and county.

J. H. SAVERY was born in Floyd county, Ind., October 23, 1832, the descendant of a line of southern people. The father, G. B., was born near Lynchburg, Ky., December 24, 1804, the son of Henry and Agnes (Edwards) Savery. When a young man G. B. Savery removed to Floyd county, Ind., and there met and married a daughter of Kentucky, Catherine Sears, born October 16, 1808. Her parents had recently re- moved to Indiana, as presenting more opportuni- ties than the state which they had left. From Indiana Mr. Savery took his family to Illinois, in 1838. In 1846 they again removed, seeking now a desirable location in Iowa, living in both Wapello and Jefferson counties. At length Mr. Savery gathered together his worldly goods in seven wagons drawn by seven yoke of oxen, and joined an emigrant train bound for Oregon, under the command of William Carter. The journey was begun April 23, 1853, and ended October 23, of the same year. The members of the emigrant train parted company in Perrydale, Polk county, Ore., Mr. Savery, his wife and son, J. H. Savery, of this review, going to a location a little farther north, where the father took up a donation claim consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, of which three hundred and twelve are still owned by the son. This farm was lo- cated near Ballston, a convenient market. The father and mother passed their years in this home until their death, after which it passed into the hands of their son. J. H. Savery, as he was the only child born to their union. Here Mr. Sav- ery now lives, giving his time and thought to the painstaking cultivation of his property, one hun- dred and sixty acres being in active cultivation. He is at present engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

April 12, 1870, Mr. Savery married Hulda Jane Kimscy, who was born two and a half miles north of Dallas, December 14, 1851. Her father, John F. Kimsey, was a native of Alabama who crossed thic plains in 1847. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Savery, all but one of whom are living. They are as follows: Ora, Ralph, John T., Henry and Tracy. Mr. Savery

has served in several minor offices, having been supervisor and school director for some time. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grange of Salt Creek, in which he is past master. He is a Socialist in his political affiliations.

M. A. WADE was born March 16, 1830, near Lincolnville, Me., and his ancestors, as far back as record goes, were toilers of the sea or builders of sea craft. The paternal great-grandfather, a ship carpenter by trade, was a native of Scotland, and a sailor, and for many years came and went among the islands and shoals comprising the Scottish coast. His son, the paternal grand- father, also born in Scotland, followed in the footsteps of his sire, built many ships, and was engaged principally in foreign trade. He came to America when a comparatively young man, set- tled in Maine, and readily adapted himself to the marine affairs of that state. He was particularly active during the war of 1812. and though he never enlisted, possessed pronounced sympathy for the Americans, and helped them in every way in his power. He must have been somewhat of a strategist, for he resorted to the expediency of sinking an English vessel of which he was pilot, and which had on board supplies for the English soldiers in the Maine forts. He made his home for many years in Lincolnville, Me., where was born his son, Alfred, the father of M. A., Sep- tember 22, 1798.

A sea-faring life seems not to have appealed to Alfred Wade, for he lived quietly in his home in Maine until twenty-one years old. He then started out to make his living by land occupa- tions, and in his native state married Sarah Gil- key, a native of Massachusetts, and with whom he continued to live in Maine until 1858. He then brought his family to Oregon via the Isthmus of Panama, San Francisco and Portland, and set- tled at Parkersville, Ore., where he conducted a hotel for two years. He was quite successful, and from Parkersville removed to Salem, where he had another hotel which he conducted until a short time before his death at the age of sev- enty-eight years. His wife, who lived to be ninety-three years old, bore him four children, of whom Sarah G. is the widow of Mr. Minor. of Tacoma. Wash .: W. L. is living in Salem; M. A., and an infant, deceased. The parents were members of the Baptist Church.

Owing to an accident which impaired his father's usefulness, M. A. Wade was obliged to assist with the family support at a comparatively early age. At the age of fourteen he put to sea, which he followed in various capacities until twenty-two years old. He became a mate at the age of nineteen, and rapidly rose to the front. After giving up the sea he learned the trade of machinist and after serving an apprenticeship of

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three years conducted an excavator for several months. In 1855 he came to California via the Isthmus, and for two years followed mining and prospecting with varying results. He then came to Oregon and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres two and a half miles south- east of Gervais, to which he has since added, and now has three hundred and six acres. His farm is well improved, many acres are under cultiva- tion, and he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Fifteen acres are devoted to hops, and in 1903 Mr. Wade raised fifteen thou- sand pounds.

In 1860 Mr. Wade married Jane Webb, a na- tive of Indiana, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1847. Mrs. Wade is the mother of seven children, of whom Mary S., Ida, and Frank are living at home. Mr. Webb has always taken an active interest in Republican politics, and has held several offices of trust within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. He is interested in promoting the cause of education, and has been a member of the school board for several years. For several years he was postmaster of Parkersville.

HENRY A. SKEELS. One of the solid, progressive, and able business men of Spring- field, Lane county, is Henry A. Skeels, who, although a comparatively new resident of this place, is prominently identified with its leading interests, and is conspicuous in the management of its public affairs, being at the present time mayor of this thriving little city. A native of Illinois, he was born February 16, 1849, in Iro- quois county, a son of Nelson Skeels, and the descendant of a well known New England family.

Reuben Skeels, grandfather of Henry A., was born and bred in Vermont, growing to a sturdy manhood among its green hills. He served for a brief time in the war of 1812, and afterwards removed to Ohio, becoming a pioneer farmer of Columbus. Going from there to Iroquois county, Ill., in 1837, he took up a tract of land from the government, and again engaged in the pioneer labor of improving a homestead, living and la- boring as a general farmer until his death, at the age of seventy-four years. Deeply religious by nature and training, he was a valued and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination at Onarga, Ill., in which he was the first deacon. As one of the seven men, four of them being named Skeels, that were instru- mental in the establishment of this church, his name appears on its records, and the fact that the first meeting of its first congregation was held in his house is written in its annals.

Removing from Ohio, the state of his birth, to Illinois when a lad of sixteen years, Nelson Skeels subsequently lived in Iroquois county until 1865, when he removed with his family to Montana. Locating in Boulder valley, near Helena, he carried on stock-raising and dairying for five years, meeting with fair success. He was subsequently engaged in the same industry at Bozeman, Mont., until the fall of 1873, when he settled near Walla Walla, Wash., where he was employed in stock-raising and general farm- ing for five years. In 1878 he located near Pa- louse, Whitman county, and there continued in his chosen vocation until his death, at the age of sixty-four years. He married Lucinda A. Fargo, who was born June 21, 1823, in West Virginia. Her father was born in Vermont, but removed to West Virginia as a young man, locating on the Conaway river, near Mount Pleasant, where he remained, a successful farmer and a citizen of prominence, until his death. He was of French ancestry, being descended from one of two brothers that came from France to America in colonial times. One brother, the ancestor of Mrs. Skeels, located in Vermont, while the other brother settled in Canada. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Skeels, seven sons and four daughters were born, and of these four sons and one daughter are now living.

The eldest child of his parents, Henry A. Skeels obtained his early education in the com- mon schools of Illinois, afterwards assisting his father in farming and stock-raising until 1871. In that year he established himself in business as a butcher at Bozeman, Mont., being in partner- ship with his father, however, and continuing thus associated until the death of the father. In 1894 Mr. Skeels located at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where he was employed in getting out timber for the mines, and also in running a general store for four years. Coming to Springfield, Ore., in 1898, he leased the old saw-mill, which he oper- ated successfully until the fall of 1901, when he sold out to the Booth-Kelley Company. Pur- chasing a store of general merchandise, he man- aged it profitably for a year, when, in 1902, he traded it for a fruit ranch in California. This ranch, advantageously located in the Santa Clara valley, contains thirty-five acres of land, and is devoted chiefly to the raising of prunes, apricots and cherries. Mr. Skeels has likewise valuable property in Springfield, owning houses and lots, and is a man of wealth as well as of political and social position.

At Walla Walla, Wash., Mr. Skeels married Elmyra Oglesby, a native of Illinois, and they have six children living, namely: Nelson A., George W., Laura, wife of I. L. Smith; Harry A., Isaac L. and John Robert, all residents of Springfield. For two years prior to his election

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as mayor of the city, Mr. Skeels served as a member of the city council. In his political affil- iations he is a Republican, and fraternally is a Mason.

W. O. HECKART. A leading contractor and builder of Corvallis, Benton county, is W. O. Heckart, who stands high in the estimation of the people with whom he has so long been asso- ciated, his prominent and influential position having been won through a successful prosecu- tion of his work. He was born near Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa, February 5, 1860, the son of Michael Heckart, a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in the neighborhood of Harrisburg, Dauphin county. He was the rep- resentative of an old Pennsylvania family, an an- cestor having settled in that state early in the eighteenth century, whose descendants served in the Revolutionary war, while the grandfather of our subject, W. O. Heckart, participated in the war of 1812. This ancestor subsequently re- moved from a farm in Pennsylvania to Missouri, Michael Heckart, who was then only sixteen years old, accompanying his parents to the latter state, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a carpenter. Subsequently, he en- tered land in Wapello county, Iowa, and im- proved and cultivated the same in conjunction with his trade, the first Presbyterian Church of Ottumwa being the work of his hands. He re- mained a consistent member of this faith until his death, while in politics he adhered to the principles promulgated by the Democratic party. He married Mary Mayer, who was born in Ohio and died in Iowa. Of the eleven children which blessed this union ten attained maturity and nine are now living, another son, Charles L., also a carpenter, being located in Corvallis.

W. O. Heckart was the fourth child in his father's family, and was reared in Iowa, on a farm eight miles south of Ottumwa, where he attended the public schools and acquired a com- mon school education. He was early bred to the 11se of carpenter's tools, learning the trade when a mere lad. At sixteen he entered actively into the work, remaining so engaged until 1883, when he went to Holt county, Neb., and took up a tree claim and proceeded to improve it for the period of six years. In addition to the farming inter- ests with which he was engaged during these years he also engaged in contracting and build- ing in Holt county. In 1889 he sold his property and located in Corvallis, Benton county, Orc., where he has since remained, becoming a promi- nent figure in the industrial life of the place. Among the buildings which he has erected in this county are the Masonic Temple. Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Christian Church

of Corvallis, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of South Corvallis; the Method- ist Episcopal Church of Harrisburg; many of the largest and finest residences in this city, as well as the court house of Toledo, Lincoln county, the government hospital in the Siletz In- dian Reservation, the Beckwith building in Eu- gene and also several residences in that city, among them being the Patterson and Kaufman residences.

Mr. Heckart was married to Miss Carrie Hawk, a native of Wapello county, Iowa, his own residence being built at the corner of Fifth and Monroe streets. In political circles Mr. Heckart has been prominent since his arrival in this locality; a strong Democrat, he has been chosen at different times to represent those of like convictions, from 1900 to 1903 serving as a member of the city council from the second ward and acting on several important committees. In 1902 he was a candidate for state senator, and though he never canvassed the county, in a dis- trict two hundred and nineteen Republican he was defeated by only one hundred and nineteen votes. Fraternally he is identified with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and religiously is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he officiates as elder and trustee.

JOHN CURRIN was born in Grayson county, Va., March 2, 1816, the son of a farmer who was in turn the descendant of an Irish family. The father was always active in politics and even in the midst of his agricultural pursuits found time to serve his party as member of the state legislature for eighteen years, where he was an efficient and honorable representative, and at- tained a wide degree of popularity. He had eight children, and died when John was about three years old, the latter, however, remaining in his home until he was twenty years old, during which time he received his education through the medium of the public schools. About that time he was appointed deputy sheriff of Carroll county, Va., and served satisfactorily for three years, when he emigrated to the state of Mis- souri and engaged in farming. In that state he was married and lived until 1853, when they started across the plains with ox-teams, and. after six months journey, they arrived at their destination. Coming direct to Lane county Mr. Currin took up a donation land claim of three hundred and twenty acres, located five miles cast of Cottage Grove and along the banks of the Row river. A long and prosperous life has since been his and his daily duties have been those which advanced the importance of the real estate in the section chosen for his home, the excellent

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cultivation of a farm which now numbers eight hundred acres bespeaking his thrift and indus- try, and the substantial and handsome buildings being a credit to his taste. With his son, Felix, the only one of seven children now living, he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising, being particularly interested in Durham cattle.

Mrs. Currin, formerly Margaret Swift, a na- tive of Kentucky, is still living and enjoying the prosperity which the years have brought herself and husband, though she is now eighty-four years old. Both of these honored citizens are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Currin adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. Frater- nally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES SCOTT McMURRY is engaged in hay growing and general farming on a portion of the old claim which has been in possession of his family since 1851. Almost within sight of the lights of the city of Eugene, Mr. McMurry has the advantages of both town and country, and his every day life is passed upon one of the mnost fertile and well equipped farms in this vi- cinity. Mr. McMurry was a small child when brought to his present home, for he was born near Quincy, Adams county, Ill., July 22, 1848, and reached here in September, 1851.

Hon. Fieldin McMurry, the father of James Scott, was born in Kentucky, where his paternal grandfather, James, had settled after his emigra- tion from Scotland. James McMurry spent his last years in Kentucky, and after his death his son Fieldin removed to Adams county, Ill., where he married Harriett Riggs, a native daughter of Illinois, whose father, Scott Riggs, was a farmer and early settler of the state. With his wife Fieldin McMurry set up housekeeping on the farin he had purchased near Quincy, and there four of their children were born, all of whom accompanied their parents across the plains in 1851. The family equipment consisted of three wagons and several ox-teams, and the journey was accomplished without any serious drawbacks to the health or convenience of the travelers. The father purchased the Culver do- nation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, erected first a small log and later a more modern residence, his last home being just east of where the university of Oregon has since been built. He was the first treasurer of Lane county, and was also a member of the territorial legislature which met at Corvallis. Formerly a Whig, he was equally stanch as a Republican, and in his religious views adhered to the Methodist Epis- copal crecd. Besides James Scott, who was the fourth of his children, there were Milton, now

living in Eugene; Mrs. Louisa Hubbard, Mary and Zadoc, who died in Eugene; and Emma, Mrs. Archambeau, of Portland.

Besides the country schools James Scott had the advantage of two years' attendance at the Christian College at Monmouth, and after his father's death, in 1860, he remained at home and helped his mother with the management of the farm. In 1873 he married Emma Murphy, daughter of John E. Murphy, a prominent man of Polk county, and thereafter went to house- keeping on a farm half a mile from Monmouth, Polk county, and consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. Here he engaged principally in grain farming until 1879, in which year he came into possession of his share of the old farm, located in the southwestern part. His father had sold off ten acres for the Masonic cemetery, two years before his death, but otherwise retained his property intact. Mr. McMurry has about fifty acres in hay, and the balance is devoted to grain and general farming, also to a fine fruit orchard and large garden. In 1901 he built a prune dryer at Thurston, and now derives a sub- stantial income from drying and shipping prunes for the surrounding horticulturists.

Like his father Mr. McMurry subscribes to Republican principles, and is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has served as deacon for many years, and is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Eight children were born into the McMurry family, of whom the three eldest are deceased. The oldest daughter, Daisy, Mrs. Love, is making her home in Corvallis, while Ralph and Frank became sol- diers in the Spanish-American war, serving in the Philippine Islands in Company C, Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry. At the present time Ralph is living in Washington, but Frank is still in the Philippines. Myrtle, Nellie, Elsie, Glenn and Edna are still living on the home farm.

NATHANIEL W. WHITE. A director in the First National Bank of Cottage Grove, the owner of twelve hundred and fifty acres of land near the town, and the possessor to a gratifying extent of the confidence and good will of the community, Nathaniel W. White is firmly estab- lished in this history-making period of Lane county's supremacy, and deserves to rank among its most practical and helpful financiers and ag- riculturists. He was born in the house which is still his home, March 21, 1863, and with the ex- ception of a year spent in the neighborhood, has found shelter under the same roof ever since. The name of his father, Daniel B. White, is en- rolled with those of the noble pioneers of 1853, who were lost on the trackless plains, and in con- sequence suffered untold deprivations, reaching

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their destination only after running the gamut of illness, Indian outbreaks and scarcity of pro- visions. Daniel B. White was born in Indiana in 1815, and for some years after his marriage with Mary J. Stoms, continued to live in the Hoosier state until his removal to Iowa in 1852. His expectations in Iowa were not realized, conse- quently he decided to remove farther west. Owing to the trouble which he encountered in crossing the plains in 1853 he was seven months in reaching his destination and finally settled on a claim four miles south of Cottage Grove. In 1872 he suffered a stroke of paralysis, in conse- quence of which he soon afterward died, at the age of seventy-six. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-one years. Besides Nathaniel W., who is the youngest of the children, J. P. lives in California, and Mrs. Phoebe J. Sharp.

The principal improvements on the White farmi have been made by the present owner, Nathaniel W., who is one of the most scientific of the agriculturists in his neighborhood. Add- ing to the original property from time to time, he lias accumulated twelve hundred and fifty acres, a large share of which is devoted to stock raising, Herefords and Durhams being the pre- ferred breeds. He married Abbie J. Powell, a native daughter of Oregon, and has four chil- dren, Laura A., Alfred M., Inez B., and Harold WV. Mr. White is a stanch Republican, and has held all of the important local offices in his dis- trict. He is fraternally a Woodman of the World, and in his religious views adheres to the doctrine of the Christian Church, in which or- ganization he is clerk. His association with the First National Bank of Cottage Grove has con- tinued for several years, and he is also identified with other undertakings of a business and social nature.

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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 234

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