Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 244

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 244

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Veatch then engaged in teaching, remaining for a period of seven years in a place near this city, and in 1876 he was able financially to purchase a farm of four hundred and forty acres located five miles east of Cottage Grove where he passed the ensuing nine years. In 1884 he removed to Cottage Grove in order to give his children the added advantages of the city schools, and has since made this his home. He has recently built a fine residence here.

In politics a Democrat, he has been faithful to the principles of his party and an able repre- sentative in whatever position the people have chosen to place him. These have been positions of trust and honor and their interests have been carefully guarded. Mr. Veatch has twice been a candidate for Congress, his first campaign being against Binger Hermann, when he reduced the normal Republican majority about two thousand votes. The second time he was de- feated by the late Thomas Tongue, but cut down the usual Republican vote nearly four thousand. In 1872 Mr. Veatch was first a candidate for the legislature and was defeated by the very small number of seven votes. Not until 1882 did he again seek political honors, and he was then elected to the lower house, following this up with re-election in 1884, and in 1886 being chosen to occupy a seat among the senators. Four years later he was again elected to the senate, and in 1892 he was appointed to the register of the Roseburg land office, where he served four years and three months. In 1900 he was a delegate to the Kansas City Democratic convention. In local politics he is now serving his second term as mayor of the city, under which administration the city has felt the hand of official capability. A new water system has been put in and a sew- erage system is shortly to follow. The water rates have been reduced to the very lowest figures for the benefit of the greater number of people, the entire municipal system now established on a paying basis, and a credit to the city which boasts such splendid government.

The various business interests which occupy his attention are the presidency of tlie corpora- tion which has grown from the hardware busi- ness of his son, and the position of treasurer of the Grisley group of mines in the Bohemia dis- trict, besides which he is a member of the board of regents of the Drain Normal School, which position he has ably maintained for the past six years, always being active in educational work.

The wife of Mr. Veatch was formerly Sur- phina Currin, who was born in Missouri, Octo- ber 4. 1845, and the marriage ceremony was per- formed near Cottage Grove. She was the daugh- ter of John Currin, a native of Virginia, who came to Missouri in an early day and located in Jackson county. He crossed the plains in 1853,

locating in Lane county, and he now makes his home upon his donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres five miles east of Cottage Grove. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Veatch are Henry H., a hardware mer- chant in Cottage Grove; Ermine E., at home; and John C., a student in his freshman year at the state university at Eugene. Mrs. Veatch died in Salem. In his fraternal relations Mr. Veatch is a Master Mason, and is a charter member here of the Knights of Pythias.

PHILIP E. JACKSON. Since coming to Oregon in 1890 Philip E. Jackson has become the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land, located two and a half miles east of Maple- ton, Lane county, upon which he has placed all of the improvements which have made it a valu- able property. One hundred and twenty acres was embodied in a homestead, while the remain- der has been acquired by purchase, the whole being now utilized in general farming and stock- raising, while he also carries on some logging. In the thirteen years of his residence here Mr. Jackson and his sons have killed nearly a hun- dred bears in the neighborhood of his farm, eight being shot in the fall of 1902.

In Ontario county, N. Y., Mr. Jackson was born December 23, 1840, the son of Philetus, born in that state in 1815, and Mary J. (Bel- lows) Jackson, the date of her birth being Au- gust 18, 1819. Of the two living children of this family Philip E. is the youngest child. His early education was received in the common schools of Illinois, where his parents had re- moved when he was a mere lad. The father engaged in farming in Cook county, where he remained until 1859, when he removed to Minne- sota and took up a homestead in Brown county. In 1862 he was shot and killed by the Indians, and the burden of his own and his mother's support fell upon the shoulders of Philip. In the fall of the same year he went to Nicollet county and later located in Crawford county. Wis., where he remained until the spring of 1865. He then returned to the old place in Brown county, Minn., and made his home in Minnesota for twenty-five years. At that date he crossed the continent and located upon his present property, where he has since remained. making a comfortable home in this western state.

Mr. Jackson was married in 1868 to Mary H. Henton, born in Wisconsin in 1849, and four children were born to them, of whom Mary and Silas are deceased, and James and Andrew are at home. The mother of Mr. Jackson has always made her home with this son. In politics Mr. Jackson does not adhere strictly to the prin- ciples of any party but reserves the right to

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cast his vote for the man whom he thinks best fitted to fill the position, believing this to be the means toward securing good government. Pub- lic-spirited and interested in the welfare of the community he shirks no duty which becomes his as a citizen, now acting as school director for the district in the vicinity of his home. In fra- ternal relations he affiliates with the Masons of Florence and the Odd Fellows of Mapleton, be- longing also to the auxiliaries, the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs.

ELMER E. LAWRENCE owes his nativity to the great Prairie State, having been born in Knoxville, Ill., April 4, 1862, of parents in moderate circumstances, who, when he was nine years old, removed to Ottawa, Kans., making this their home for many years. At the age of sixteen with a common school education, he entered Bodworth College and with patience and perseverance born of ambition, he worked his way through the entire curriculum, also attend- ing the state normal. In 1886 he left Kansas, making his way direct to Oregon, going at once to Portland, where he was employed for ten years in the hotel business. In 1896 Mr. Law- rence invested the proceeds of his thrift and economy in a ranch, seven miles northwest of Sheridan, the place containing six hundred and eighty acres, where he engaged extensively in the raising of cattle, in which occupation he met with the uniform success which had attended all his previous efforts. Quite recently he sold his improved ranch and resides in Sheridan for the present, where he experiences the joys of a re- tired life with his little nine-year-old daughter, Mildred, and his wife, who was Miss Claudia Tawney, of Portland, whom he married January 4, 1888. Mr. Lawrence is a Republican and be- lieves thoroughly in the principles of his party.

L. S. LOGAN was the only child born of the union of his father, Thomas J., with Phoebe Tuttle, a native of Iowa, and his birth occurred in Pleasantville, Marion county, Iowa, Novem- ber 10, 1858. His father was a native of Indi- ana, in which state he was reared, and later re- moved with his parents to Marion county, Iowa. After his marriage in that state he engaged in farming for a time, and was attracted to the gold fields of California in 1862. He failed to make a fortune in the mines, and so returned to Iowa, where he once more engaged in farming. His wife having died in 1859 he made the trip across the plains again in 1862, with wagon and mule-teams, his four-year-old son accompanying him. The trip was accomplished in less than four months, and Mr. Logan first located in

Umatilla county, there selling his stock to the Overland Stage Company and for a year attend- ing the stage station. In the spring of 1863 lie settled in Benton county, purchasing a farm five miles south of Corvallis, and engaged in farming until 1869, when he went to what is now Crook county, then known as Wasco, with a bunch of cattle for the Baker boys. In 1870 he traded his farm for an interest in the cattle busi- ness, establishing a ranch three miles south of Prineville, and in 1873 he removed to the south- ern part of that county, on a homestead estab- fishing a ranch, where he began to deal extensive- ly in cattle and horses. This he continued for many years, and later died on his farm near Prineville, in his sixty-eighth year. In the pub- lic affairs of the community he was always in- tcrested. Fraternally he was a Master Mason.

From the age of four years L. S. Logan was reared on his father's farm in Benton county, attending the district school in the pursuit of an education, and when twelve years old he re- moved to eastern Oregon in company with his father, where for many years his home con- tinued to be. For some time he attended school in Prineville, but with a decided talent for the business which occupied his father he early be- came interested, and at the age of fifteen years he took charge of the stock while his father looked after the farm. To give him a better idea of the value of the work he was allowed to have a few head of cattle for his own, and he continued so successfully that he was made a partner at the age of seventeen years. In 1891 he was able financially to buy out his father's interest and from that time on has conducted the business alone. He has since become the owner of other ranches, now owning two on Hampton Buttes, known as Butte or Barbed Wire ranch, and this being in the southern part of Crook county and just on the edge of the desert he has a wide range for his stock. He also owns the old home ranch on Camp creek, a tributary of Crooked river, eleven hundred acres known as the Ninety-six ranch, as the brand which Mr. Logan has always used is the combination ninety- six, which was originally brought by the Bakers from the Cherokee nation, in Indian Territory. Mr. Logan is now dealing in cattle only, until ten years ago, however, having been one of the most extensive horse dealers in that part of Oregon, once having about three thousand head. He now has about six hundred head. In 1897 he located in Eugene and now owns two farms in the valley near Irving, one of three hundred acres and the other of three hundred and twenty. both of which are rented.

Mr. Logan was married in Prineville to Miss Minnie Maud Milliorn. born in Junction City, Lane county, Ore., the daughter of William Mil-

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liorn, a pioneer of the state. Three children were born to them, two of whom are living, namely : Otis, located on the ranch in Crook county, and Wanda. Fay is deceased. In fraternal orders Mr. Logan is quite prominent, having been made a Mason in Prineville, where he served as past master, and he now belongs to Eugene Lodge No. II, A. F. & A. M. He was made a member of the chapter in this city and also a Knight Templar in Ivanhoe Commandery No. 2, and belongs to Al Kader, N. M. S. In religion he is a Baptist, and politically is a Democrat.

JAMES W. McDOWELL. Many interest- ing events center around the family of which James W. McDowell is a member. His grand- father, William, was a man of brain and brawn and met a gallant death during the Black Hawk war, for when his body was picked up from the battlefield at Pilot House, it was found to be riddled with nine bullets. The grandfather was founder of this branch of the McDowell family in America, and he came from Scotland at an early day with six of his brothers.

David McDowell, the father of James W., was born in Beaver county, Pa., May 20, 1810, and when a young man left home and went to Ohio, where he married Malinda Marvin, a native of Brown county, Ohio, and who died August II, 1882, at the age of sixty years. David McDowell led a varied and rather event- ful life, many years of it being spent as a cook and watchman on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. When his son, James, was seven years old he moved to Walnut Hill, Marion county, Ill., and there devoted his energies to river work until 1848. In 1853 he outfitted with ox-teams and brought his family to the west starting from Illinois March 15, 1853, and arriving at Fosters, Clackamas county, September 20, 1853. The same fall he came to Linn county and located a claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Plainview, but soon after traded it for a place the same size three miles northeast of Browns- ville, where he made his home until 1892. He was exceedingly prosperous, utilized his property to the best possible advantage, and by frequent additions accumulated at one time eighteen hun- dred acres. His death occurred in Idaho in March, 1899. He had eight children, five of whom were sons. James W. McDowell was born near Aberdeen, Brown county, Ohio, Sep- tember 20. 1840, and in the public schools of Illinois and Linn county received a practical education, and he was fortunate in having a father who had many business interests and who was a large employer of labor. Consid- crable of the fortune of the elder McDowell was made in the saw-milling business, to which

his timbered land lent itself most readily. The son became interested in his father's mill near Brownsville, and, having gained a fair start, and a complete knowledge of the business, he inde- pendently erected a mill near Crawfordsville. This proved such a successful venture that he built another mill near Holly on the Calapooia, with which he was identified as manager and owner until 1892. For the following seven years Mr. McDowell lived in Brownsville, and in 1899 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles southeast of Holly. He is engaged in stock-raising and general farm -. ing, and has a farm containing many fine im- provements, and modern facilities for conduct- ing approved and up-to-date agriculture. Mr. McDowell married in Brownsville in 1878, Sarah A. Barnard, born on the Santiam river in Linn county, May 31, 1861. Four children have been born of this union, K. D., Henry, Pearl and Wil- liam. Independent in politics, Mr. McDowell has never been a candidate for office, although he has acceptably served as a member of the school board for a couple of terms.

MRS. MALVINA J. HAYS. As one of the well known residents of Junction City Mrs Malvina J. Hays enjoys the esteem of a host of friends and well wishers, and her place among the brave pioneer women who dauntlessly faced privation and danger, and by the usefulness and kindliness of their lives paved the way for better things, is unchallenged. Born in Ohio, March 29. 1836, Mrs. Hays is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wayland) Pitney, natives respective- ly of Ohio and Virginia. In 1840 Mr. Pitney removed with his family to Howard county, Mo., where he followed his trade as machinist, and also engaged in the manufacture of chairs and furniture. He came to Oregon in 1853, locating on a claim near Junction City, Lane county, where he died at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him until sixty-four years old, her death being occasioned by a most distressing ac- cident in a warehouse where she was caught in a pinion and crushed to death while in the act of shaking hands with a friend.

Mrs. Havs was the oldest of the four daughters and three sons born to her parents. In 1857 she was united in marriage with Andrew J. Hays. who was born in Virginia, and came to Missouri at an early day with his father, John Hays. Mr. Hays crossed the plains in 1850, and for two years engaged in mining in California. locating in Lane county in 1852. In 1857 he again visited California, but instead of mining, followed his trade of gunsmith, an occupation for which there was great need in the frontier days of the west. In 1859 he returned to Oregon and located a

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farm of one hundred acres near Harrisburg, farmed there until 1873, and then went to Yaquina Bay for his health, and died there in 1875. Subsequently his widow located on a farm near Junction City, where she engaged in farming until 1883, and then built the residence which she now occupies in the town. Mr. Hays was a Democrat in political affiliation, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Seven children were born into the Hays household, of whom the oldest son, Charles C., is living in Smithfield; Ida is the wife of William Weaver, of Portland, Ore .; Jolın lives in Junction City ; George is also a resi- dent of this place; Della is the wife of Elmer Harrington, of Lake Creek. Ore .; Ella is the wife of Albert Weaver, of Vancouver, Wash .; and Rice is deceased. Mr. Hays participated in the Mexican war as a member of Company B, under the command of General Walton, enlisting at Lexington, Mo., and serving two years.

BENJAMIN F. KEENEY. Inseparably associated with the upbuilding of Lane county is the honorable career of Andrew J. Keeney, who, in addition to establishing a large farming en- terprise near Goshen, gave to the state of his adoption children who maintain his good name, and keep in constant mind his worthy and up- right life. Of these, none are more truly repre- sentative of northwestern force and enterprise than Benjamin F. Keeney, who occupies part of the original claim purchased by his sire, and where Benjamin F. was born October 14, 1865.

Andrew J. Keeney was born in Holt county, Mo., and was the son of a blacksmith who had early settled in the middle west. Remaining on the home farm until his marriage with a Miss Mulholland his life was shortly after saddened by the death of his wife, to whom he was de- votedly attached. In time he married Mrs. Hannah Cooper, who bore him three sons, of whom James M. lives in Eugene, Ore .; William D. is a resident of Caldwell, Idaho; and John B. lives in Olex, Ore. For a third wife Mr. Keeney married Mrs. Amanda J. Matthews, the follow-

ing children being born of this union : Mrs. Martha E. Handsaker, of Tacoma, Wash .: Ben- jamin F., of Goshen, Ore .; Andrew A., of Mas- sena, N. Y .; and Thomas P., of Hong Kong, China. Mr. Keeney was ambitious and far- sighted, and was naturally impressed with the favorable reports he heard of the far west, to which he finally decided to remove his family. Crossing the plains with ox-teams, he mined for a few months in California, coming then to Ore- gon, his choice of residence being Lane county, at that time beginning to assert its independence

as an agricultural and stock-raising section. Lo- cating on the farm, a part of which is now owned and occupied by his son Benjamin, he laid the foundation for the present splendidly appointed farm which has become the pride of the owner and the neighborhood. To his original purchase he added from time to time, and at the time of his death, during the 'gos, at the age of seventy- five years, was the owner of six hundred acres, the greater part of it valuable land. He raised large numbers of fine stock, as well as fruit, grains, hops and dairy products, amassing con- siderable wealth as his harvests increased in ex- tent and variety. He was no politician, but was vitally interested in his church, to the mainte- nance of which he gave liberally, as he did also to all worthy local charities. His life and effort were such that his name became associated with all that was noble and of good import.

From the district schools Benjamin Keeney went to Monmouth College, where his apt mind and powers of concentration accomplished far more in a given time than does the average student. For several terms he applied his knowl- edge as an educator, remaining in the meantime on the home farm, where he worked in the har- vest fields during the summer. After his mar- riage with Martha Cummings he went to house- keeping on a part of the old claim. To himself and wife were born two children, Hugh C. and Hobart S. His second marriage occurred in 1902, with Charity A. Taliafero, a native of North Carolina. It were difficult to find a more perfectly appointed farm than that purchased in the early days by the elder Keeney, his son having added those aids to modern agriculture which rob the occupation of its hard and dis- couraging aspect, and in their place substitute the possibility of an easily acquired competence. Poultry-raising is a department of activity to which Mr. Keeney has devoted considerable study, and is one of the best authorities on poul- try to be found in the state. With practical re- sults he has raised Barred Plymouth Rocks, this fine breed reaching its highest excellence under his scientific treatment. In this connection he is a member and secretary of the Willamette Poul- try Association. with headquarters at Eugene, and member of the State Poultry Association. A stanch adherent of Republicanism, Mr. Keeney has been prominently identified with official undertakings in the county, having served as constable, justice of the peace, deputy sheriff, deputy clerk, school clerk for thirteen years, deputy assessor for eight years and notary pub- lic. He is a welcome member at numerous fra- ternal gatherings, including the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Macca- bees, and the Woodmen of the World. Possess- ing marked financial and executive ability, genial-

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ity of manner, and the power to transfer his ideas and enthusiasm to others with whom he is associated, Mr. Keeney is deservedly popular and influential, and a leader in all forward move- ments of his native county.

HON. LARK BILYEU. Now a leader of the Lane county bar and a general practitioner throughout the courts of the state, the Hon. Lark Bilyeu has attained the success which marks the members of this family since their residence in Oregon. He was born in Miller county, Mo., May 24, 1852, the son of Joseph Bilyeu, a native of Tennessee, and the descend- ant of an old southern family of French-Hugue- not extraction. (For a more complete record of the life and character of the pioneer, refer to the life of the Hon. W. R. Bilyeu, which appears on another page of this work.) When Mr. Bilyeu was a child his parents removed to Putnam county, Mo., and after a short time there they outfitted for the trip across the plains, coming by horse-teams to Oregon in 1862. On their arrival the father first settled for a few years in Polk county, after which he located on a farm near Scio, Linn county, where Lark Bilyeu grew to the age of seventeen years, interspersing his home duties with an attendance of the public schools. When seventeen years old he entered Pacific University, devoting his time entirely to the classical course until his senior year, when he was paid the honor of being elected to the office of superintendent of public schools of Linn county. This position was ably maintained for one term, or a period of two years, during which time he was pursuing the study of law under the instruction of Judge Strahan, of Albany. At the expiration of his service in office, in 1877, he was admitted to the bar, and began practice in partnership with Judge Strahan. July 3, 1882, he established an office in Eugene and con- tinued practice in both offices until Mr. Strahan was elected judge of the supreme court, since which he has maintained an office alone in Eu- gene.

In addition to the claims made upon Mr. Bil- yeu's time in the practice of his profession, he has found time and energy to engage in the cul- tivation of fruit, having put to prunes and cher- ries a field of thirty acres, besides which lie owns considerable timber land and a farm in the vicinity. Politically he is a Democrat, and with his keen, earnest, thoughtful mind he has proven of much benefit to his party as a representative in the state legislature, to which he was elected in 1884, and re-elected in 1886 and 1896. He was also instrumental in the passage of the bill for an appropriation of $30,000 for the erection of a hall for the University of Oregon, besides

exerting much helpful influence toward the bet- terment of local affairs. He has also served as chairman of the Lane county Democratic central committee and has been a member of the state committee. He is now serving as councilman.

In Albany, Mr. Bilyeu was united in marriage with Margaret R. Irvine, a native of Linn county, and the daughter of Robert A. Irvine, an early settler of that county, where he en- gaged in farming and later served as sheriff of the county. One son, Coke, has blessed the union. In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Bilyeu is a member of Eugene Lodge No. II, A. F. & A. M .; Eugene Chapter No. 10, Royal Arch Masons, and Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T., No. 2. He is also identified with the Knights of the Maccabees and the Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Christian Church.

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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 244

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