Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 246

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 246

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two and a half years, after which he disposed of his interests there and again became a resi- dent of Albany. April 17, 1884, again found him a resident of Eugene, where he bought the practice of Dr. Shelton, the latter retiring at this time. For nearly a score of years Dr. Har- ris has practiced continuously in Eugene, and he now enjoys the largest clientele in Lane county.

A man of varied talents, Dr. Harris has taken great interest in various affairs other than those pertaining to his profession. For several years he has raised standard-bred horses, some fine trotters with splendid records having come from his barns. He still owns a few of these horses which he retains for his own use. He is also interested in timber lands, owning about three thousand acres. Though a strong, earnest, con- scientious Republican, Dr. Harris has never sought and seldom accepted political honors. For one term he served as mayor, but declined a re- nomination. He has been chairman of the Re- publican county central committee, and on three different occasions he has served as chairman of the first district congressional Republican com- mittee, still holding that position. He conducted the last campaign of Representative Thomas H. Tongue, one evidence of his work being an in- crease of four thousand votes in the majority of the Republican candidate. He also conducted the campaign of the Hon. Binger Hermann in 1903. Vitally interested in the commercial and industrial life of the city, he is now acting as president of the Eugene City Water Company, which is being constantly enlarged and improved to meet the increasing demand.

The marriage of Dr. Harris occurred in Polk county, Ore., October 24, 1872, and united him with Laura Cattron, a native of Yamhill county, Ore., and they have two children. The eldest of these, Lawrence Thomas Harris, a practicing at- torney of Eugene, was speaker of the house of representatives of the Oregon state legislature in 1903. A sketch of his life is given on another page of this work. The younger child is a daughter, Agnes. Dr. Harris is prominent in Masonic circles, and was made a member of this order in 1887. He is identified with Eugene Lodge No. II, A. F. & A. M.

GEORGE A. HOUCK. An extensive land owner and stockman of this section of the Wil- lamette valley is George A. Houck, who makes his home in Eugene, Lane county, his ranch lying in both Lane and Benton counties. He is much interested in the raising of Angora goats, having the largest herd in the state, numbering sixteen hundred, of an exceptionally fine breed, having been brought from stock of Turkish and

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African blood. He is the principal breeder in Oregon, and has also standard bred horses, Shorthorn cattle and Cotswold sheep, as his in- terest in stock is exceptionally far-reaching and his desire to elevate the standard an absorbing one.

The Houck family came originally from Germany, the spelling of the name having been changed by the grandfather. The great-grand- father came to America and settled at Philadel- phia with his nine sons, of whom one became a settler of Ohio, his son, George W., born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1831, being the father of the Mr. Houck of this review. He learned the trade of a shoemaker and gained a livelihood in Ohio for several years, until he was attracted, in 1852, to the gold fields of California. He made the trip west by way of the Isthmus, and upon his arrival located at Weaverville, where he en- gaged in mining. In 1856 he again made the journey to California, this time crossing the mountains, and finally he located in Benton county, Ore., where he became the owner of a large stock farm. About 1870 he converted everything into cattle and removed to southern Oregon, after which he sold out and returned to Ohio with his family. Though the west pre- sented a herculean task in the clearance and cul- tivation of its broad fields, and the dangers and privations which were a part of the life of a pio- neer, Mr. Houck was again anxious to become a citizen in the new country, so the journey was again made. He then located in Corvallis and engaged in the livery business, and became a very prominent man in the upbuilding of the city. In the days of the construction of the Ore- gon Pacific Railroad he did much toward the furtherance of their plans and the securing of land. About this time he also bought large tracts of land in southern Benton and northern Lane counties, principally in the native condition. and this remains in the family estate to the present time. Mr. Houck died in Monroc. Ben- ton county, in 1895, when sixty-six years old. He served one term as county commissioner, during which the courthouse was erected. In religion he was a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Houck married Delila Young, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of Harvey Young. who was born in North Carolina. He lived in a number of the states of the Mississippi valley. after settling in Kentucky, removing to Indiana and later to Missouri, where he was one of the frontiersmen. In 1847 he started across the plains with his family, leaving St. Joe in May of that year, and not arriving on the present site of Portland until December 25. 1847. There was a very large number of ox-teams in the train, but it was badly managed. for so much

time was lost that their provisions ran very low before their arrival, and in fact would have run out altogether if one of their number had not gone ahead and organized a rescue party which met them with sufficient supplies to last until they could reach the settlements in Oregon. There were only ten pounds of flour when the . rescue party met them. Mr. Young had but one cow and a little wagon upon his arrival, and had met with the misfortune of having one of his children killed on the plains, being run over by a wagon. After locating in various parts of the Willamette valley Mr. Young went to eastern Oregon and thence to Montana, where he en- gaged as a farmer and stockman. His death occurred in that state near Bozeman, when he was over eighty years old. Mrs. Houck now re- sides in Gold Hill, Ore., the mother of six chil- dren, of whom three are living, namely: Jesse J., George A. and Ambrose, the first and last named being engaged as millers at. Gold Hill, in which business George A. is also interested.

George A. Houck was born near Corvallis, Benton county, Ore., January, 1868, and was reared to manhood in that location. His educa- tion was received principally through the me- dium of the public schools of Corvallis, and when the common course was completed he was sent to Notre Dame University, in Indiana, in 1883, taking up the work and graduating in 1888, with the degree of C. E. On his return to his western home he took up the work of the various farms which constituted the property of his father, aiming to bring them to a higher state of cultivation than had hitherto been reached. He became the possessor of two thousand acres of land, then devoted principally to pasturage, and of this he has cleared and broken five hun- dred acres, the balance being in tame grass. He has three thousand head of stock, over half being Angora goats in which he has always taken a special interest. He has arranged his ranch into four different sections which necessitated the erection of four sets of buildings, which has nec- essarily enhanced the value of his property. Much of the land is adapted to the cultivation of fruit and he intends cutting it up into smaller ranches at no distant period. The land extends two miles from Monroe, while the home ranch is within a mile of that city. In addition to this land Mr. Houck also owns eleven hundred acres of timber. In 1898 he removed from his ranch and located in Eugene, where he now makes his home.

In Indiana Mr. Houck was married to Mary Sweeney, who was born in Fort Wayne, of that state, and they now have four children, named in order of birth as follows: Frances, Agnes, Edwin and James. Fraternally Mr. Houck af-

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filiates with the Woodmen of the World. In his political relations he is a Democrat, and in re- ligion belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.

WILLIAM KYLE. Upon his arrival here in . 1884, William Kyle started a canning industry known as the Florence Canning Company, which knew an uninterrupted era of prosperity until it was consumed by fire in 1901. Almost contem- porary with the starting of the canning factory was the establishment of a general merchandise store, in which he was joined by Mr. Myer in 1887, since continuing the business with marked success. The business responsibility of the part- ners was increased in 1890 by the purchase of the steamers Lillian and Roberts, with which they started an ocean trade between this place and San Francisco. The boats proved so profitable that they were induced to add to their resources by building the schooner Bella, in 1897, and the boats now ply the waters with their cargoes and passengers. Yet another concern, the success of which is directly traceable to the combined ef- forts of these sterling business men, is the Flor- ence Lumber Company, inaugurated in 1899, with a capacity of thirty thousand feet, and of which Messrs. Kyle and Myer are sole owners. For the conduct of their business the firm own three thousand acres of timber and river land.

Born in Scotland, May 22, 1858, William Kyle's earliest years were passed among com- mercial rather than agricultural surroundings, for his father, John Kyle, was a woolen manu- facturer, and followed, that occupation during his entire active life. The father was born in Scotland in July, 1828, and died in London in 1885, while his wife, Isabelle (Millree) Kyle, born in Scotland in 1829, died in her native land in 1870. William, who was the fourth of the nine children, boarded an English vessel called Glasgow, bound for the south seas and San Francisco. In this trip he touched at New Zea- land and Australia, and eventually arrived at San Francisco. Starting out again on another vessel as cabin boy, he arrived at Astoria, Ore., when he was fifteen years old, and for the fol- lowing three years interested himself in fishing for the people of that town, and he gradually worked his way in land ventures, eventually suc- ceeding to a position with the Seaside Packing Company, with which he was identified four years, a part of the time as general manager. Severing his connection with this enterprise he went to the Umpqua district and conducted the Gardiner Packing Company's plant for two years, then disposing of his interest and coming to Florence in 1884 as heretofore stated.

Mr. Kyle has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and in more recent years has

been active in local and state politics, attending county and other conventions, and filling many positions of trust and responsibility. Ever since 1887 he has been postmaster of Florence, and he has served as councilman and school director. Fraternally he is one of the most popular men of the town, being a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is recorder. In 1882 Mr. Kyle married Christina Bovang, who was born in Sweden, and who is the mother of four children, William, David, Edwin and Isa- ella.

WILLIAM W. NEELY. The sturdy quali- ties of the Neely family are a direct inheritance from a Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father, Ed- ward Neely, was born in Washington county, Ky., October 25, 1795, and died July 9, 1881, and the mother, Ruth ( Miller ) Neely, was born in Simpson county, Ky., in 1808, and died in May, 1890. The two were united in marriage in their native state and afterward went to Illinois, where they located near Quincy, the father en- gaging in the prosecution of his trade, which was that of cabinetmaker, and also farmed. In 1836 they removed to Cedar county, Mo., and re- mained there eighteen years, when they outfitted for the journey across the plains, which they crossed in 1854, locating on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres ten miles west of Eugene. Lane county, along the banks of Coyote creek. This remained the home of the family until the father's death.

Of the eleven children born to his parents, William W. Neely was the eighth in order of birth, his natal day being December 22, 1842, and the first scenes of his childhood being in Cedar county, Mo. He accompanied his parents to Oregon and attended the common schools of Lane county in pursuit of an education. When fifteen years old he began one of his first busi- ness experiences, being a trip into northern Cali- fornia, when he drove a herd of cattle. When of sufficient age he took a homestead near Hale and made that his home for about eight years, and at the close of that time he removed to Jo- sephine county and located a pre-emption claim of one hundred and eighty acres, upon which he remained for nine years. Returning then to Lane county he bought property above Mapleton and located along the Siuslaw river, and made that his home for fifteen years, when he disposed of that possession and located upon his present farm, where he has since lived. Besides farming he occupies his time in the fall in fishing, and also engages in logging.

In Lane county, in 1870, Mr. Neely was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Fountain, who

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was born in Boone county, Mo., February 18, 1853, and of the seven children born to them three are now living, namely: Thomas J., at home; Mary L., the wife of Ludwig Christen- son, of Florence, Ore .; and Luella, the wife of F. C. Peil, of Monroe, Benton county. In his fraternal relations Mr. Neely is a Mason, hold- ing membership with the lodge at Florence and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ma- pletou, also being identified with the Eastern Star and Rebekahs. In politics he is independ- ent in his views, voting for the best men for of- ficial positions, and is serving at the present as road supervisor and school director.

JAMES W. WHITE. Among the enterpris- ing, prosperous and popular business men of Lane county is James W. White, who is carry- ing on a substantial trade in groceries, grain and feed, at Eugene. Although a mere youth when the Civil war broke out, fired with a patriotic enthusiasm he enlisted, and took an active part in many important engagements, leaving the field at the close of the conflict with an excellent record as a soldier. He was born in Vinton, Iowa, July 24, 1846, a son of Gideon Blackburn White. His paternal grandfather, John White, was born, reared and married in Kentucky, but afterward removed to Edgar county, Ill., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death.

A native of Kentucky, Gideon B. White re- moved with his parents to Illinois, thence to Iowa, where he settled as a farmer in Marion county. Subsequently settling in Chautauqua county, Kans., he there spent his remaining years. He married Sarah Hollenbeck, who was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Edgar county, Ill., where her father, J. C. Hollenbeck, was for many years a well known miller. Of the fourteen children born of their union, ten grew to years of maturity, and four of the sons served in the Civil war, namely: Lawrence, who served in the First Minnesota Sharpshoot- ers, was killed in the Seven-days' Battles; Jona- than, who was a corporal in the First Iowa In- fantry, and is now a resident of Oklahoma ; William, now living in Chautauqua county, Kans., served in the Twenty-ninth Infantry ; and J. W., the special subject of this sketch.

The youngest child of the household, J. W. White was brought up on the home farm in Iowa, and obtained his education in the district school. In the fall of 1861, when fifteen years of age, he enlisted in. the Thirteenth United States Regulars, but the recruiting officer re- fused to accept him without his parents' consent. He subsequently enlisted in the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, in the camp at Keokuk, and was

mustered in March 13, 1862, at Keokuk. He saw hard service both in camp and field, among the engagements in which he took part being the following: Corinth,; Iuka; Holly Springs; Black River Bridge; Vicksburg; Champion Hills; Jackson, Miss .; Missionary Ridge; Dal- las; Resaca; Snake Creek; Peach Tree; Buzzard Roost ; Kenesaw ; and Tilton. While at Hunts- ville, Ala., in 1864, he veteranized, and on Oc- tober 13, of that year, he, with his regiment, was captured and confined in Million prison. Having a sum of money secreted about his per- son, Mr. White succeeded in buying the liberty of himself and the orderly sergeant of his com- pany, giving $50 apiece for their parole, and re- turned home on a furlough. Being exchanged in the spring of 1865, just before the close. of the war, he rejoined the few survivors of his regiment at New Orleans. Subsequently going to Washington, he took part in the grand re- view, then proceeded to Louisville, Ky., thence by train to Davenport, Iowa, where, in the sum- mer of 1865, he was mustered out of service. Returning at once to the parental homestead, Mr. White remained there a while, and then began farming on his own account. Removing to Fredonia, Wilson county, Kans., in the spring of 1867, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he erected a good set of build- ings, and commenced the improvement of a farm, for a number of years being one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of that locality. Dis- posing of his Kansas property in 1892, Mr. White settled in Eugene, Ore., where he has since been extensively and profitably engaged in the grocery and feed business, being favorably located on Willamette street.

In Wilson county, Kans., Mr. White married Miss Esther Ann Vaughn, a native of Kentucky. She died in April, 1899, in Eugene, leaving eight children, namely: William, of San Francisco, Cal .; Mrs. Mav Moffitt, of Bremerton, Wash .; Mrs. Minnie Croner, of Eugene; and James, Edna, Vineta, Velma and Lawrence, living at home. Politically Mr. White supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and for four years represented the third ward in the city council. Fraternally he is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Artisans. He is likewise a member and quar- termaster of the J. W. Geary Post, No. 7, G. A. R. He belongs to the Christian Church, of which he is an active member, and one of the deacons.

MARK HULBURT was born in Whiteside county, Ill., October 18, 1847, his parents being J. F. and Eliza Jane Hulhurt, natives respect- ively of Vermont and Illinois. The father be-

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came an early settler in the Prairie state, and though a miller by trade he engaged as a farmer there until 1853, when, with ox and cow-teams and the family carriage, be brought his wife and six children across the plains. The journey oc- cupied six months, and at its close they settled in Linn county, Ore., taking up a donation land claim located six miles southeast of Albany. Until his death, in 1872, he engaged in improv- ing and cultivating the broad acres, which meant a prosperous and pleasant home for himself and family. The death of his wife had occurred ten years earlier. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom attained maturity. Named in order of birth they are as follows: Harriet Jane, now Mrs. Maple, who makes her home in Pendleton; Lovina, who became Mrs. Brewer, and was accidentally killed by explosion in 1902 ; Mark, of this review; Harlan, in the real estate business in Albany ; Alice M., now Mrs. Turner, of Pendleton ; Florence, now Mrs. Dow, of Linn county ; Ida, Mrs. Cullon, also of Linn county ; Austin and Alden, twins; Wallace, Warren and Frank, the five last named being farmers in Linn county.

When twenty-one years of age Mark Hulburt left home and put in practice the splendid train- ing which he had received from his father, on the home farm, becoming then a stock dealer, buying and shipping stock. In 1870 he went to eastern Oregon and engaged in the stock busi- ness in that locality, establishing a ranch on Hay creek, Wasco county, where he raised cattle and horses for ten years, shipping them to all parts of the country. At the end of that time he re- turned to the Willamette valley, and became the owner of the property upon which he now car- ries on the same business. In 1893 he removed to the city of Albany, from which location he superintends the work of his ranch.

The marriage of Mr. Hulburt occurred in Linn county, Miss Sarah J. Turner becoming his wife. She was born in Missouri and came to Oregon with her parents. The one son of their union is Riley E., who is one of the successful business men of Albany, being engaged in a hardware establishment in that location. In his political convictions Mr. Hulburt casts his vote with the Republican party.

OLE MYRIND was born in Trondhjem, Nor- way, January 18, 1857. He was the son of An- grim Myrind, a native of the same location. whose occupation throughout his life was that of a shoemaker. He died in his native land in 1898. at the age of eighty-seven years, his wife, also a native of Norway. having passed away in 1869, when fifty-one years old.

Of the four sons and one daughter which were

born to his parents Ole Myrind was the young- est in age, and his education was received in the common schools of his native country. When of a sufficient age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a shoemaker, serving for three years before taking up the business for himself. Until 1888 he remained in Norway, when he took pas- sage in a ship bound for Boston. Upon his safe arrival he went at once toward the farming lands of the country, locating first in Mitchell county, Kans., where he engaged as a farm hand. in the fall of the same year proceeding to Ne- braska. In the latter state he became employed in a rock quarry at Bennett, Lancaster county, where he remained until the following year, when he went to Colfax, Wash., and worked on the construction of railroads. Until February, 1900, he continued in that work, and he then came to Portland. Ore., and engaged in fishing in the Columbia river, located at Astoria for two years. In 1892 he came into the Siuslaw valley and bought the right to eighty acres of land lo- cated two miles east of Mapleton, and has since been engaged in general farming and stock- raising. Meeting with success in his work he has added eighty acres to the original purchase and has now one hundred and sixty acres. He has made all improvements upon the farm, erect- ing dwelling, barns and outbuildings, etc. An- other source of income beyond the profits of his farm is his fishing in the Siuslaw river each fall.

In politics Mr. Myrind adheres to the prin- ciples advocated in the platform of the Repub- lican party, and socially belongs to the Grange of Mapleton.

J. B. TILLOTSON. The painstaking and conservative element in Mr. Tillotson's make-up is undoubtedly inherited from his English ances- tors, who were represented at a very early day in America. Bartlett Tillotson, the paternal grandfather of J. B., was born in Virginia, and at an early day removed with his family to a plantation near Dalton, Stokes county, N. C., where he farmed and worked at his trade of manufacturing cooper. His son, John, born near Lynchburg, Va., was a planter in Stokes county, and there married a native daughter, Parthena Powell King, daughter of William King, also a planter and a soldier in the war of 1812.

The third oldest, and the only one on the coast of his father's six children, J. B. Tillotson was horn near Dalton, Stokes county, N. C., January 13, 1862, and lived at home until he became of age. He attended the public schools as oppor- tunity offered, and as early as twelve years of age began to work at carpentering under his uncle, becoming in time a practical and expe- rienccd carpenter. As soon as he left home he

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purchased a farm near Walnut Cove, Stokes county, and not only engaged in farming, but devoted considerable time to teaming and con- tracting. In 1890 he came to Oregon and settled first in Corvallis, and the first year worked at bridge carpentering, afterward engaging in gen- eral trade work in Albany. This town has been his headquarters ever since, although he has re- moved his family to Portland, a more central location for his constantly extending business. From the first bridge construction has appealed to his abilities as particularly congenial and sat- isfying, and considering the number of years which he has devoted to this class of engineer- ing, the amount of work accomplished has been remarkable. Among the many bridges con- structed by Mr. Tillotson, mention may be made of those which span the Santiam at Jefferson, and Stayton, of new bridges over the same river at Mill City, McDowell, the Rocky Point bridge across the South Santiam near Foster, the Waterloo bridge, rebuilt the bridge at Roseburg over the South Umpqua, and rebuilt the bridge at Sandy on the Base Line Road, and the draw- bridge at Skamokawa, Wash.

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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 246

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