Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 28

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 28

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therefor, and upon which he now makes his home, having removed here in 1846. The farm is located one and one-half miles southwest of Au- rora, Marion county. He at once erected a hewed log house, in the same year building a house at Butteville, where he followed the carpenter's trade. Later he purchased some property in Au- rora and improved it, though he still made his home on the claim. In 1851 he started a general merchandise store in Butteville, in company with George La Rock and Mr. Du Puis, the three con- tinuing in partnership for twelve years, when Mr. Matthieu became sole owner and conducted the business until 1866. At that date he sold his stock and returned to his farm.

At variance with his steady business interests, Mr. Matthieu has branched out in other direc- tions, among his ventures being a trip to Califor- nia, in 1849, during the gold excitement. In partnership with another, he loaded fourteen pack horses with flour and other provisions, intending to dispose of their stock to the miners. The ven- ture was not a success, financially, as Mr. Mat- thieu lost $2,000, and after three months, much of which time he suffered from illness, he re- turned by water to Portland, Ore. A more pleas- ant diversion in his pioneer life was a trip back to Canada in 1858, where he enjoyed visiting the scenes of his childhood.

By the marriage of Mr. Matthieu, April 15, 1844, to Rosalie Aussant, who died February 12, 1901, aged seventy-four years, he has had fifteen children, named in order of birth as follows: Philomene, born April 20, 1845, now Mrs. Dwight Geer, of Wilbur, Wash .; Charles, born July 7, 1847, and living on the home farm; Clara, Mrs. Ouimette, born August 16, 1849, and now a widow; Rose, born November 10, 1851, now the wife of Charles Bergevein, of Portland; Pris- cilla Clotilda, born November 10, 1851, and died November 7, 1874; Arcino Laodice, born Janu- ary 4, 1857, and now the wife of A. Burton; Francis Xavier Edward born October 17, 1858, and died November 3, 1891 ; Henry Clovis, born November 9, 1860, and died February 19, 1862; Alfred Stephen, born November 14, 1862, a drug- gist in Portland ; John Joseph Fabian, born Octo- ber 30, 1864, and living on the home farm; Ernest Theodore, born August 2, 1866, located in Salem; Francis L., born February 25, 1868; Robert Wilfred, born August 5, 1869, and was accidentally shot April 20, 1895, dying within an hour and ten minutes; Mary Louise, born July 25, 1871, now the wife of Samuel Howard, of Portland; and Violet .Adelaide, born April 21, 1873, and died September 12, 1896.

While making for himself a competency in the country of his adoption, Mr. Matthient has not neglected to give his energies, mental, moral and physical, toward the upbuilding of the opportu-

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nities of the territory into a great and noble com- monwealth. His most earnest efforts have been devoted toward this end, since he first cast his vote for the provisional government, soon after which he was elected justice of the peace, being the first to hold that office in this community, an office which at that time included the duties of a circuit or probate judge. He discharged the duties of that position for four years. The only court on the coast, there was no appeal from his decision. He and Dr. Wilson served together. After the organized law Mr. Matthieu was one of the first county commissioners of Marion county. In politics a stanch follower of Demo- cratic principles, Mr. Matthieu was very active in the organization of the Democratic party in Oregon, and served in 1874, and again in 1878, in the state legislature, ably representing the people who had honored him with their votes. He had previously given his time and attention to the laying out of roads, and the organization of schools, and many other public services too numerous to mention. During the Cayuse Indian war he was assistant quartermaster on French Prairie, and helped to raise a company, giving liberally of horses and provisions for the troops, thus proving his loyalty and courage. Among other noteworthy incidents in his life was the organization of the Pioneer Association, to which he contributed his efforts in company with Judge Grim, Eli Cooley and W. H. Reese, Mr. Matthieu · being the only one of the four men now living. He was the first president of the society, serving for two years. A late honor in the life of Mr. Matthieu occurred when President Roosevelt vis- ited Salem, the place of honor beside the presi- dent on the platform being given to this ven- erable pioneer. Fraternally, Mr. Matthieu has been a Mason since 1856, being a member of Multnomah Lodge, of Oregon City. In June, 1901, the grand master's degree was conferred upon him by the state Grand Lodge, then in ses- sion at Portland. An evidence of the exceptional morality of Mr. Matthieu lies in the fact that though eighty-five years of age he can boast that never in his life has he used tobacco in any form, all other acts of his life corresponding to the high sense of honor that has placed him among the first citizens of Marion county.

R. WILLIAM FRY. Among the native sons of Linn county who are proving worthy their carly training, and the opportunities which sur- round them, R. William Fry occupies a promi- nent place. He is not only industrious and prac- tical in the management of his two farms, but is of a progressive turn of mind, alert to every ad- vantage which invention and latter-day ingenuity has placed at the disposal of the tiller of the soil. Of the farm near Albany where he was born

September 15, 1856, Mr. Fry owns one hundred and sixty acres, and his home place near New- port consists of one hundred acres. His father was one of the early settlers of this state, and the son grew to maturity under the most kindly and auspicious circumstances, being instilled with a thorough appreciation of the dignity and use- fulness of agricultural life.

At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Fry left the old homestead and took up his residence on the farm of his uncle, which he rented for two years, and then removed to a farm near his old home. Four years later found him located amid the scenes of his youth, and which bore innumer- able tokens of the industry and good management of his sire. Eventually he came to his present farm, in connection with which he runs his share of the old place, devoting both farms to general farming and stock-raising. He is successful and popular, living far behind his yearly income, and thus laying up for a stormy day, or per- chance for the more complete enjoyment of a bright one.

The marriage of Mr. Fry and Irene Swank took place in 1895. One child, Roberta, was born December 15, 1899. Mr. Fry is a Democrat in politics, and his sociability and loyalty find appreciation and outlet in the lodge of the Mod- ern Woodmen of Albany. He is one of the strongest members of a successful community of agricultural interests, and his wide-awake ef- forts reflect credit upon all who surround him as friends or associates.

THOMAS H. SIMS. One need not look to the past to find examples worthy of emulation, for in the life history of those about us we can find qualities that may well be an example to those who would gain the respect and win the confidence and regard of their fellow-men. The life history of Thomas H. Sims illustrates forci- bly the power of activity and integrity in the every-day affairs of life. He has gained suc- cess as a lumber manufacturer of the north- west and now lives retired in Salem, where he stands high in the community.

A native of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Sims was born April 3, 1853. His father, Will- iam Sims, was a native of Greenwich, England. The latter was a carpenter and builder, and when a young man crossed the ocean to Woodstock, Ontario, and in that place and the surrounding district he followed the builders' trade until his life's labors were ended in death. He held membership with the Church of England and was a man whose personal worth was above question. He wedded Jane Martin, who was born in Sussex, England. Her father, who was a stair builder, brought the family to the new

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world, settling in Woodstock, and Mrs. Sims is still living in Oxford county, Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Sims became the parents of ten chil- dren, seven of whom yet survive, and of this number three are in Oregon, Thomas H. and two sisters, Mrs. Mary E. Shaw, of Salem, and Mrs. James Milne, of Howell Prairie.

Thomas H. Sims was the ninth in order of birth in his father's family. His youth was spent in Oxford county in the province of On- tario. When the son was only three years old his father died at Woodstock and the mother afterward removed to the township of East Nis- souri, where Thomas H. Sims attended the Na- tional School. In his boyhood he lived upon the farm and early became familiar with the work of the farm and also learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his brothers, who were contractors. He was fourteen years of age when he undertook to master the builder's art and he found no difficulty in this, for he pos- sessed much natural mechanical ability and skill in the use of tools. The brothers continued to- gether in their farming operations and as con- tractors and builders until 1877, when, attracted by the opportunities of the west, Thomas H. Sims came to Oregon, settling at Stayton, Mar- ion county, where he spent the first summer. He was engaged in farming until the fall of 1877, when, in connection with his brother-in- law, John A. Shaw, he purchased a saw-mill operated by water power, at that place, and was for several years successfully engaged in the manufacture of lumber. On disposing of his interest in that enterprise he became a merchant of Stayton, and while thus engaged he joined Mr. Shaw, W. H. Hobson and Lee Brown in the incorporation of the Santiam Lumber Company, of Mill City. Mr. Sims became general manager and superintendent and erected a new mill on Santiam river, at Mill City, operating the same by water power. This mill has a capacity of ninety thousand feet of lumber in ten hours, and the company owns its own lumber tracts situated on the river above the mill, thus affording op- portunity to engage in logging by river as well as by rail. Retail lumber yards were established in Salem and in Albany, and extensive shipments were made to the east. In 1891 Mr. Sims came to Salem as manager of the business here, and the' splendid success of the lumber enterprise was due in large measure to his thorough under- standing of the business, his practical knowledge and sound judgment. He also engaged in mer- chandising at Stayton as a member of the firm of W. H. Hobson & Co., and the Santiam Lum- ber Company was the owner of a mercan- tile store at Mill City. In 1893 Mr. Sims closed out the yard in Salem, but continued as man- ager of the mill until it was sold to the Curtis Lumber Company in 1899. He has become

largely interested in timber and farm lands, but is now practically retired from business cares, enjoying a well earned rest. In 1893 he erected his present home on State and Fifteenth streets.

At Shaw Station, June 23, 1879, Mr. Sims was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Shaw, who was born in Oxford county, On- tario, a daughter of Angus and Mary J. (Keley) Shaw. Her father, also a native of Ontario, followed farming in that locality until 1876, when he, too, became a resident of the north- west, purchasing a farm in Marion county, upon which Shaw Station has since been established. He had a large tract of land and became a pros- perous agriculturist. He was of Scotch descent, his mother having been a Miss Cameron prior to her marriage. Mrs. Angus Shaw was born in the north of Ireland, and was brought to the new world by her parents, who located in Ontario. She is now a resident of Reidville, Washington county, Ore. In the Shaw family are nine living children, seven of whom reside in this state, while two are residents of Washington. Those residing in this state are: John A., of Albany ; Mrs. J. J. Graham, also of Albany ; W. A., of Portland; S. A., also of Portland; Mrs. Rachel Stish, of Mill City; Mrs. Thomas H. Sims, of Salem; and Daniel, of Reidville. Mrs. Mary McIntosh and J. F. Shaw reside in Washington. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sims has been blessed with three children: Austin, Mercedes and Bernice.

From the time 'age gave to Mr. Sims the right of franchise he has been a stalwart advo- cate of the Republican party, and in December, 1900, was elected on that ticket as alderman from the Third ward, the only member of his party elected at that time. He became chairman of the fire and water committee and took an active interest in the work of the city council, doing everything in his power to advance progress, re- form and improvement in Salem. That he dis- charged his duties in a manner satisfactory to his constituents and to the public at large is shown by the fact that in 1902 he was re-elected without opposition. While in Canada Mr. Sims was made a Mason and afterward transferred his membership to the lodge at Stayton, but is now demitted. His wife became a member of the Eastern Star, and she is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Sims has shown himself a resourceful business man, quick to plan and perform, yet his business activity has been based upon sound judgment and a recog- nition of existing conditions and possibilities. In establishing, controlling and enlarging im- portant mercantile and industrial enterprises of the northwest he has gained for himself wealth and at the same time has promoted the com- mercial prosperity of the community in which his lot has been cast.

Mm Laughlin

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

WILLIAM LAUGHLIN. One of the large land owners of Yamhill county is William Laugh- lin, the possessor of nine hundred acres of land devoted principally to stock-raising interests. Mr. Laughlin, who feels a just pride in his Rev- olutionary ancestry, and in forefathers who ac- complished largely and substantially, was born in Lincoln county, Mo., October 13, 1830. His grandfather was James, and his father, Samuel, the latter being especially worthy of mention as comprising one of the largest band that crossed the plains in 1847.

William Laughlin was educated in Missouri and Yamhill county, Ore., and when eighteen years old left the farm upon which his father had settled and tried his luck in the mines near Stockton, Cal. From the fact that he spent over two years in the mines argues that he must have been reasonably successful, and that from May, 1849, until August, 1851, he succeeded in appropriating to his own use a fair share of the hidden treasure of the earth. From the mines he went to San Francisco and thence embarked for Portland, arriving at length on the old home- stead in Yamhill county. In 1853 he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres east of North Yamhill, where he farmed and raised stock for four years, and then traded for a farm of two hundred acres upon which he lived and prospered until October 8, 1892. He then settled on his present farm of one hundred and ninety-four acres, which, however, he had pur- chased in 1886. To this has been added by more recent purchase, so that at present Mr. Laughlin owns about nine hundred acres, being one of the very large operators of this county.

April 3, 1857, Mr. Laughlin was united in mar- riage with Phœbe Roberts, born in Tippecanoe county, Ind., October 8, 1839, and of this union there were born sixteen children, twelve of whom are living: Bedford H. is a resident of Forest Grove; Charles lives in Alaska ; George also is in Alaska; Abram is a farmer in Yamhill county; Mrs. Mary Tate lives in Seattle, Wash .; William lives near Yamhill; Samuel is cashier of the North Yamhill Bank; Benjamin lives in the state of Washington; Alice is living at home; Leona lives in Washington; Mrs. Delia Richardson lives in Goldendale, Wash., and Crystal lives with her parents. Like all the members of his widely diffused family Mr. Laughlin is a stanch ad- herent of the Republican party, and among the offices maintained by him with credit may be mentioned that of road supervisor and school di- rector. He is a liberal minded, progressive mem- ber of the community, and as an agriculturist is both practical and successful.

BEDFORD H. LAUGHLIN of Forest Grove, is a native son of Oregon, and was born on his father's farm in Yamhill county, February 4, 1858. His parents, William and Phœbe (Rob- erts) Laughlin, are natives respectively of Mis- souri and Indiana, and his grandfather, Samuel, was born in the state of North Carolina. The latter removed from North Carolina to Missouri in the '20s and in 1847 crossed the plains with ox teams, locating on the claim in Yamhill county where the remainder of his life was spent. His son, William, was reared principally in Missouri, and was seventeen years of age when the memorable trip was undertaken, and he in time took up three hundred and twenty acres in North Yamhill, Yamhill county, to which he has since added another large farm. He served with distinction in the Yakima Indian war of 1855-56, and has in many other ways shown his deep interest in the affairs of his native state. At present he is living on his well improved property two miles west of North Yamhill, managing both of his farms with an abundant degree of success. His wife is a daughter of Henry Roberts, who removed at an early day from Pennsylvania to Indiana, and who crossed the plains in 1848, his daughter being at that time seven years of age. Sixteen children were born to William and Phœbe Laughlin, and of these twelve are still living, Bedford H. being the oldest of the family.

After completing his education at the district schools and Tualatin Academy, Mr. Laughlin engaged in business for a year in Forest Grove, and then turned his attention to mining for several years. At present he is one of the best informed men in the county on mining affairs in general, he having experienced all the ups and downs which harass the soul and delight the heart of searchers after golden fortunes. 1883 found him in the Cœur d'Alene district during the excite- ment, after which he went up into British Col- umbia, and in all worked in the mines and at pros- pecting for five years. During that time he spent a couple of winters in Forest Grove, and after finishing in the mines engaged in railroading with the Northern Pacific and the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, principally in the freight department.

In 1896 Mr. Laughlin renewed his association with mining, going to the extreme northi to Cook's Inlet, Alaska. After spending the winter in Juneau he availed himself of the promising conditions in the Klondike and started over the Chilkoot Pass in March, 1897. Going down the Yukon, he took up a claim on American gulch, . tributary to Bonanza creek, and in this enterprise was seconded by two comrades who also took up claims in the same neighborhood. The men worked faithfully for three years, and realized

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considerable success, although not sufficient to wish to devote the remainder of their lives to mining. Mr. Laughlin spent the winter of 1900- OI in North Yamhill, and in the spring of 1901 tried his luck in the Copper River country. Re- turning to this town that fall he bought a livery business which he built up and enlarged, and conducted a general livery and transfer business until he disposed of the same in March, 1903. Mr. Laughlin was united in marriage in Forest Grove June 18, 1902, with Nora E. Johnson, a native of Yamhill county, Ore., and a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Gallee. Mr. Laughlin was made a Mason in Washington, and was iden- tified with Palouse Lodge No. 46, until his trans- fer to Holbrook Lodge No. 30, of Forest Grove. He is a member of the Republican party, but has never taken an active interest in local affairs, or been willing to serve his party officially. He is a progressive, particularly well informed, and adaptive citizen, and his life has been prolific of great good will and esteem on the part of his fellow townsmen.

JEPTHA THOMAS HUNT. No more in- teresting family has invaded the Pacific north- west than that of which Jeptha T. Hunt is a representative, and which was established in Oregon in 1847. The progenitor of the Hunt family was an officer in the army of William the Conqueror. After the battle of Hastings and the conquest of England, for his services in behalf of this mighty warrior he received a grant of lands in the north of England, where he set- tled down to peaceful pursuits, married a British maiden, and founded the present Hunt family. The latter has furnished many men who have won distinction in the various walks of life-gov- ernors of states, generals in the army, distin- guished members of the bench and bar, illus- trious physicians and profound scientists.

About the year 1600 three brothers of this family left the north of England and landed in New York, and in that state founded the Hunt family of America. Wilson Price Hunt of Trenton, N. J., was John Jacob Astor's most trusted man in the company which founded As- toria, Ore., April 12, 1811. He was also the first white man buried at the mouth of the Col- umbia river. The bank of the Skipanon river, where he was buried, having caved off, revealed his burial place, and his skull was placed in Wood's Museum in Portland, Ore.

Two of these brothers who came to America in the early days of the seventeenth century founded families in North Carolina. About the vear 1800 some of the members of the family left Rowen county, N. C., and moved to Clair- mont county, Ohio, and Wayne county, Ind.,

and from them the Oregon branch of the fam- ily sprang. One of these, Charles by name, Jeptha T. Hunt's great-great-grandfather, moved to Indiana, where Jonathan Hunt, his great- grandfather, was born. The latter married a Miss Shotwell. He located on a farm near Smithfield, Ind., where John S. Hunt, the grand- father, was born, and where his father, George W., was born February 8, 1831.

George W. Hunt's father learned the gun- smith's trade in his youth, and in 1835 emigrated with several of his neighbors to LaPorte county, Ind., and built the first house at Byron. He af- terward built the first gun shop in the town of LaPorte, and became prominent in the general undertakings of that section, which he was forced to leave because of the chills and fever, a com- mon affliction in those days. In eastern Indiana he settled near Liberty, the county seat of Union county, and while operating his saw and grist mill there lost large sums of money by reason of the general financial depression of the times. From personal friends in Oregon he received most favorable reports of this state, and forth- with made preparations to cross the plains. In the history of the family written by George W. Hunt appear details of the plans entered into for the long journey. It is recorded that the father and his sons partially made their own wagons, and ran a sugar orchard long enough to make sugar to carry them. On the way they encountered many Indians and had many other novel and exciting experiences; but having a fair outfit, they managed to reach their destina- tion in safety, and in fairly good health and spirits. From one cause or another they lost many of their cattle, especially during the lat- ter part of the trip, when hundreds of miles of travel had reduced them almost to skeletons, and made it difficult for them to withstand the chill of winter. The party were obliged to pur- chase new oxen, and these outstripping the weary ones, the latter were left behind, with few ex- ceptions.

Arriving in the Waldo Hills, John S. Hunt took up a claim now called the Warren ranch. At the time of his arrival here his sole cash capi- tal consisted of but fifty cents. One of his brothers, Harrison H. Hunt, had established a milling business at the upper end of Cathlamet bay on the Columbia, having brought his mill irons across the plains in 1843. He was already transacting an extensive business with the Sand- wich Islands, and gave of his abundance to the pilgrims but recently arrived from the east. There was a large family to make a start, for the grandfather had six sons and three daughters, and but one child, Noah W., was older than George W. Harrison H. Hunt had had the Columbia built at New York and brought her

nm Newport

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west, the first and for a long time the only ocean steamer plying regularly the waters of the Pacific between Portland and San Francisco.

From the first the newcomers had trouble with the Indians, who began levying tribute upon the white settlers, and enforcing their demands by stealing ammunition and intimidating the women and children left alone. The subjugation of the red men interfered for a time with the erection of suitable homes and the cultivation of the land, but, the trouble once lessened, the elder Hunt at once built his house and afterward erected the first school house in the neighborhood. This building served as a church for several years, and for a long time was the only house of wor- ship in the vicinity.

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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 28

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