Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 34

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 34

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twenty acres nine miles south of Corvallis, where he engaged in farming for about fourteen years. At the end of that time he was able to sell his land at a profit, and he changed his base of opera- tions to Willow creek, Crook county, Ore., where he conducted a very large stock-raising business for the period of twenty-eight years. He had three thousand acres of land in Crook county, and became one of the best known stockmen in that section of the state. The experience gained was invaluable, besides enabling him to retire with an ample competence in 1900. Two years later he disposed of his Crook county farm and its herds of cattle, but he still owns twelve hun- dred acres of farm land near Plainview, which he rents, and he also posseses the farm formerly oc- cupied by him in Benton county, and consisting of three hundred and twenty acres.

This ambitious and successful stock-raiser and at present retired citizen of Albany, was born in Sullivan county, Tenn., October 28, 1833, and was reared on a farm. His father, Henry Cleek, was a farmer during his entire active life, and from Sullivan county moved to Ray county, his death occurring in Monroe county, also in Tennes- see. His mother, Linda (Titsworth) Cleek, also was born in Tennessee, and died in Monroe county after raising to maturity a family of twelve children. Of these children, Henry A. is the oldest, and the only one in Oregon. He lived on the home farm until his twenty-fourth year, and in 1857 joined a party of home-seekers bound for the coast, his outfit consisting of ox and horse teams. Leaving Arkansas in March, they pro- ceeded over the Platte route to California, arriv- ing in Yolo county, Cal., in October. Here Mr. Cleek engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1859, and that year returned to Tennessee via Panama, remaining there until the spring of 1860. Going then to Independence, Mo., he wintered there, and in 1861 again outfitted for the long journey across the plains. This time he came with horse teams, starting in March and arriving in Oregon in September, via Red Bluffs and Honey Lake.

In Albany, Mr. Cleek married Sarah Isom, who was born June 27, 1849, in Cole county, Mo., a daughter of John Isom, who, with his wife, was born in Virginia and brought his family to Oregon at an early day. Mr. Isom took a promi- nent part in agricultural and business affairs in Linn county. Among his undertakings was the erection of the Red Crown Mills, which he suc- cessfully managed for several years. His death occurred in February, 1903, aged seventy-five years, after a particularly active life. His widow, Elizabeth (Mercer) Smith Isom, now makes her home with her children.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cleek, the order of their birth being as follows :

Isom, living in Prineville, Ore .; Varian, wife of Samuel Smith, sheriff of Crook county; Hugh, a farmer near Plainview; and Charles and Lillie, twins, living with their parents.

Mr. Cleek is a Democrat in politics, but has been too busy with his stock to think about hold- ing office. He is one of the most successful stockmen that this county has produced, and in addition, he is a very enterprising and liberal gentleman, contributing generously when called upon in a public or private capacity. In manner Mr. Cleek has about him the breeziness and whole-souled honesty which we are wont to associate with men of his calling, and his jour- ney through life has been brightened by the devo- tion of many friends, and the good will of all his associates.

JOHN WALLING. As the son of a promi- nent business man of Lincoln, Polk county, John Walling has been interested in various enter- prises in this community, working for his father in both his mercantile establishment and the Peo- ple's Transportation Company, the oldest business of its kind on the Willamette river, and in which the elder Mr. Walling owned an interest. John Walling is now engaged in farming on property which he purchased in 1880, consisting of sev. enty-two acres of land, forty of which is devoted to the cultivation of hops, the income so acquired amounting to no small percentage of the money invested.

The origin of the Walling family is English, the grandfather having been an Englishman who fought in the Revolutionary war. He was at that time a farmer in the state of Virginia, where his son, J. D., the father of John Walling, was born April 1, 1818. Being reared to the life of a farmer J. D. Walling continued in that occupa tion in early manhood, locating first in Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1847, when. with the usual outfit for such a journey, he joined an emigrant train of ox-teams and set ont for the west. The train was unusually large, and, with the usual experiences of such a journey, they reached Oregon safely after six months. The first winter of the Walling family in Oregon was spent in Oregon City, the next spring, however. finding them located near Zena, Spring valley. Polk county, on a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, upon which property Mr. Wall- ing made his home until his death in 1870, being killed by being thrown from a vehicle while driv- ing. In addition to his farming interests Mr Walling was engaged in general merchandising in Lincoln, and a warchouse in the same location. In politics a Republican, he served as road su- pervisor. While giving his attention to the duties of this office he met his death. Fraternally he

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was a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge at Amity. The wife of Mr. Walling was in maidenhood Eliza A. Wise, a native of New York state, and the descendant of a Dutch family. She survived her husband twenty-two years, dying in 1892, at the age of sixty-two years. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Walling thirteen are now living, four sons and nine daughters.

John Walling is the fourth child of the family, and was born in Iowa, September 14, 1846, being but one year old at the time of the removal to the west. He received his early education in the com- mon school located in the vicinity of his home, and when his school days were over he went to work for his father in his store in Lincoln, where he remained until after his father's death. He then rented a farm for a few years and engaged in the cultivation of the soil, until 1880, when he purchased his present property, which has since yielded him a good income.

The marriage of Mr. Walling occurred in Polk county, in 1870, and united him with Celia Har- ris, who was born in Missouri, January 16, 1850, her father, James R. Harris, crossing the plains in the same year. Of this union nine children have been born. Six died in infancy, while those living are: Tracy, Lorin and Alvin, all of whom are still at home with their parents. Politically Mr. Walling is a Republican, and has served in several offices, among them being that of road supervisor and school director, holding the latter position for twelve years. In his fraternal rela- tions, he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership with the lodge at McCoy, and with the Maccabees at Lincoln.

VERY REV. LOUIS METAYER. Thomas Carlyle says, "Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work, a life purpose. Labor is life." Admit- ting the full truth of this saying, Very Rev. Louis Metayer, Rector of St. Mary's Church at Albany, and Dean of Southern Oregon, is surely worthy of receiving divine favor. Imbued with the true missionary spirit, and with scarce a thought of self, he has labored untiringly in his appointed vineyard, and in the upbuilding of the parish with which he is connected is reaping a rich reward for his many years of toil and sacri- fice. A native of France, he was born June 24. 1855, in the diocese of Laval. His father, Louis Metayer, was born, lived and died in France. His mother, whose maiden name was Louise Marie Marcus Du Plessis, survives her husband, and still resides in her native country.

Reared in France, the Very Rev. Louis Me- tayer prepared for college when quite young, and

afterwards obtained a fine knowledge of philos- ophy and the classics at the Archbishop's Col- lege, at Chezal-Benoit, in the arch-diocese of Bourges. Coming to American in 1875, he studied theology in the Montreal Seminary, and on December 20, 1879, was ordained for the Dio- cese of Oregon by Bishop Morro. Desirous of entering the missionary field, he came to Port- land, Ore., as secretary to Archbishop Blanchet, who resigned from the see of Oregon in 1883. He was subsequently Secretary for Archbishop Segher, who was murdered in Alaska. In Sep- tember, 1885, Father Metayer was appointed by Archbishop Gross as Rector at Albany. Coming to this city, he courageously took up the work before him, and has labored diligently. There was neither church nor congregation here at that time; nor had there ever been a resident priest in this locality. Purchasing a small school-house in Albany, he had it moved to the site that Arch- bishop Blanchet had bought thirty years before. remodeled it, and it did duty for a church until the new one was completed, in 1898. This new edifice was blessed by Archbishop Gross, August 17, 1898, it being the last church that he blessed. his death occurring the following November. It is a noteworthy coincidence to relate in this con- nection that the first church building that the late archbishop blessed was the old school-house of which Father Metayer first had charge as a church.

Father Metayer labored hard to secure the money to erect his church, which cost $18,000, and which is built according to European archi- tecture, resembling the old abbeys of the conti- nent. In connection with the church is a vestry, toward the erection of which he contributed largely from his private fortune, his small con- gregation being unable at present to assist very much. He also purchased land about one-half block from the church and on it has erected a fine, large rectory, which is surrounded by beau- tiful grounds.

Rev. Father Metayer has also in his parish the Academy of Perpetual Health, which was estab- lished and built in Albany in 1887, and in Novem- ber of that year was dedicated by Archbishop Gross, and is controlled by the Benedictine Sis- ters. In 1893 he was appointed, by Archbishop Gross, Dean of South Oregon, and he is now a member of the Council of Archbishops of Ore- gon.

WILLIAM R. HAND. In the business cir- cles of Albany Mr. Hand is accorded a high place. Eminently successful in a financial sense, he has throughout his entire career exhibited clearness of perception and soundness of judg- ment, and moreover enjoys an enviable reputation

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for moral worth and integrity of purpose. He possesses true public spirit, and uses his influence to enhance the best interests of the city and county, and all worthy enterprises for their de .. velopment meet with his hearty support.

William R. Hand was the only child born to his parents, Crandal and Delilah (Mussleman) Hand, both of whom were born in Iowa, the father in the vicinity of Keokuk. As a partici- pant in the Civil war he served valiantly as a pri- vate in an Iowa regiment, and was wounded in the service. Upon retiring to private life he settled on a homestead claim in Lincoln county, Neb., which was the scene of the family life until the father removed to Albany, Ore., in 1882. Here his death occurred at the age of fifty-four years. His army associations were kept fresh in his memory by meeting with old comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member. The mother is still living and makes her home in Albany with her son.

Born February 1, 1872, on his father's farm in Nebraska, William R. Hand was a lad ten years of age when the trip was made to Oregon, and he distinctly remembers the incidents con- nected with the journey, which to a boy of that age were romantic indced. In the public schools of this western state he received his education, and when sixteen years of age was apprenticed to learn the trade of architect and builder, under Mr. Shell, in Albany. Having become proficient at his trade he put it to practice in his home citv, but in 1895 went to San Francisco, where, in addition to following his trade, for two years he took a night course in an architectural school. Determined that there should be no part of the profession with which he would not be perfectly familiar, he took a course of instruction with the International Correspondence School, from the drawing department of which he received a di- ploma. A self-made man, Mr. Hand began life for himself without fortune but made the most of his privileges and advantages and steadily worked his way up until today he is numbered among the substantial business men of his com- munity. He is now devoting his entire attention to architectural work, and has drafted plans for many of the prominent buildings in Albany and elsewhere in Linn county, and is meeting with well-merited success.

In Albany December 28. 1897, was celebrated the marriage of William R. Hand and Miss Clara Bentlev, a native of Albany and the daughter of one of Oregon's pioneer citizens. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hand, Eula, and an infant which died unnamed. Business affairs have not absorbed Mr. Hand's attention to the exclusion of all else, and every movement looking to the material advancement of the city meets liis encouragement and active support. In poli-

tics a Republican, he advocates with enthusiasm and fidelity the platform of his chosen party and supports its candidates with his ballot. In the fraternal organization Woodmen of the World he is holding the office of council commander. Mrs. Hand is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church of Albany, to the support of which Mr. Hand liberally contributes.

JAMES F. BEWLEY. Worthy of ranking among the chief developers of the state of Ore- gon was James F. Bewley, a pioneer of '47, and for many years an agriculturist of Yamhill county. A native of Tennessee, Mr. Bewley was born April 9, 1828, the third oldest of the twelve children of John W. and Catherine ( Ellis) Bew- ley, natives also of Tennessee. From their an- cestral home in Tennessee, the Bewley family removed to Indiana, and from there to Missouri, in which latter state they developed an ambition to go west, and, accordingly, outfitted for the dangerous and adventurous journey. Two of the children, Crocket A. and Lorinda, having quali- fied as teachers, stopped at Whitman Mission to help educate the Indians, a most unwise decision, for Crocket A. was killed by the people for whose interests he was willing to sacrifice his time and ability, and Lorinda was kidnaped and held until ransomed. The rest of the family pro- ceeded upon their journey, unconscious of the fate of their loved ones, but the father died soon after reaching Oregon, and his wife and children lived in Oregon City until removing to Yamhill county, in 1849. Here the mother married Col. J. B. Graves, whose interesting career is spoken of elsewhere in this work, and in Salem, where the remainder of her life was spent, her death occurred in 1867.

James F. Bewley became an independent land owner in Oregon in the spring of 1852, when he took a half section of land near Sheridan. Sep- tember 12, 1852, he married Lucy E. Graves, a native of Missouri, and daughter of his step- father, Colonel Graves. For some time after- ward he lived in a rudely constructed frame house, and in 1860 disposed of his property, and purchased the three hundred and twenty-acre farm of his father-in-law. This property was his special pride for many years, and his most intel- ligent and broad-minded efforts were expended in making of it a model agricultural enterprise. Somewhat weary of arduous labor, Mr. Bewley took up his residence in Forest Grove, after ten months removing to McMinnville. The five acres of land purchased for his home is now within the corporate limits, and the home erected thereon reflected his ideas of comfort and refine- ment. At the same time he managed his finely- improved farm, up to the tragic event which

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occasioned his death in 1888. Owing to a small- pox epidemic, McMinnville was quarantined, but notwithstanding this fact, Mr. Bewley went to his farm and stopped to see a man at Sheridan. Being met by an officer, a colloquy followed re- garding his attitude in the matter, and such pro- portions did the argument assume that Mr. Bew- ley was ordered to throw up his hands, and was instantly shot. His son, who was present, was also shot at, and in turn shot at the murderer, but the ball fell short of the mark. This sad event threw disorder and sadness into the hap- penings of McMinnville and vicinity, for Mr. Bewley was a man most highly honored by all who knew him, and his sixty years of worthy living deserved a less ignominious termination.

In memory of the brother so ruthlessly killed by the Indians in 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Bewley named their first son Crocket A., and his birth occurred July 31, 1853. He died while vet a bright-eyed boy, but his brother, Roswell L., born December 24, 1864, still lives and owns the old homestead. In October, 1888, he was united in marriage with Anna R. Young, a native of New York state. Mrs. Bewley, who afterward married J. W. Cowls, also deceased, is one of the highly-hon- ored and popular women of McMinnville, and in her interests displays broad-mindedness and ca- pability. She is foremost in all efforts of the women of her locality to improve their social and intellectual surroundings, and is especially promi- nent in the Christian Church, the Ladies' Aid Society and the Woman's Relief Corps of Custer Post No. 5. G. A. R., of which latter organization she was for one term junior vice-president.

ROSWELL L. BEWLEY. While his mother was on a visit to Salem, Marion county, Ore., Roswell L. Bewley was born, December 24, 1864, and he was afterward reared on his father's farm, one and a half miles from Sheridan. Judging by his present success, he must have had an ex- cellent agricultural training, his educational chances being also far above those of the average farm-reared youth, for he was permitted the ad- vantages of the public schools, the Forest Grove College, and the McMinnville College.

Mr. Bewley assumed charge of one of the finest ranches in this county in 1888, and on Oc- tober 7, 1888, married Anna R. Young, who was born in New York state, and who has borne him twin boys, William H. and James Garfield. At the present time Mr. Bewley owns five thousand acres of land, nearly all in one body, of which one thousand acres are devoted to farming enter- prises, and all under cultivation. Also, he owns a stock ranch of eight hundred acres in Polk county, and has some of the finest stock in the state. He is one of the most experienced and in-

fluential stockmen in Oregon, and one of the largest land owners. Mr. Bewley is a Repub- lican in politics, and is fraternally connected with Sheridan Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., of which he is past master.

GEORGE F. SIMPSON. In estimating the extent to which individual effort has influenced the development of the northwest, it is hardly fair to regard as typical the career of George F. Simpson, whose more than ordinary ability and resource have enabled him to accomplish more than his fellow pioneers of less fortunate mould. The most careless surveyor of present conditions must needs feel an interest in the lifework of so worthy and honored a man, and perchance may find for his own encouragement that suc- cess is rarely denied the capable and earnest striver.

The virtue of perseverance, a characteristic of Scottish folk, is inherited in marked degree by Mr. Simpson, whose paternal great-grand- father, both in Scotland and America, was de- termined, practical and persevering. This was true also of Francis Simpson, the father of George F., who was born on a farm near Win- chester, Clark county, Ky., and during his active life combined farming and carpentering. About 1840 he settled in Cooper county, Mo., twelve miles from Booneville, and from there moved to Cass county, Mo. His wife died in Cooper county, Mo., leaving to his care two children, G. F. and J. W., the latter of whom is now liv- ing on Snake river, Wash.

Through a second marriage, contracted in Mis- souri, four sons and two daughters were born, all of whom are living. In 1850, with his sec- ond wife and seven children, Mr. Simpson crossed the plains with ox teams, and after living on a farm in Washington county, Ore., for a couple of years, operated a saw-mill on Dairy creek. In April, 1852, he located on a section of land four miles south of Albany, but later sold it, and bought a farm twelve miles south of the town. This continued to be his home until 1870, when he went to Big Valley, Cal., where he died in 1871.

Born on the old homestead near Winchester, Clark county, Ky., June 29, 1835. George F. Simpson was five years old when the family moved to Missouri, and soon after that he lost his mother. The children were naturally enthu- siastic over the plan to cross the plains, and George, then fifteen years of age, made himself very useful on the long and tiresome journey. They came up the Platte through the Indian country, and arrived in Oregon the latter part of October. He was a footsore and tired youth, for he had driven an ox team all the way from

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Missouri, and walked the entire way. They had a considerable number of loose stock, and were fortunate in being able to retain nearly one-third of it until the end of their trip. George lived on the donation claim with his father for a con- ple of years, and during that time attended the early subscription school in his neighborhood, his teachers being Hugh George and Rev. Ir- vine.

As early as 1853 Mr. Simpson began trading in cattle, and at different times took herds over the mountains to California. In the latter state, on Humbug creek he engaged in mining during 1854-5, and upon returning to Oregon, married, in December, 1859, in Linn county, Mary Nan- ney, who was born in Kentucky, and came to Oregon in 1852. Abner Nanney, the father of Mrs. Simpson, was born in Kentucky, and moved to Missouri previous to crossing the plains. He located in Oregon on a claim which . comprised the present site of Shedds Station, al- though he subsequently retired to Albany, where his last days were spent. His wife, formerly Isa- belle Morgan, was also born in Kentucky and died in Oregon.

After his marriage Mr. Simpson settled on a farm four miles south of Albany and engaged in stock-raising, and in 1863 bought a quarter section, and later ninety acres of land, making three hundred and thirty acres in all. Before locating on this farm, in 1862, he had a rough experience in trying to reach the Florence Mines in Idaho, and he will never forget crossing the White mountains on foot through the snow and storm, with a burden of one hundred pounds on his back. Nevertheless, notwithstanding this handicap, he made thirty miles a day. Eventu- ally he sold his farm and at the present time manages one of the finest farms in this county, and unquestionably one of the most valuable. It is one hundred and forty acres in extent, located two and a half miles south of Albany, and is equipped with a fine new house and barns, mod- ern fences, the latest of agricultural implements, and all known aids to scientific and practical farming. Mr. Simpson raises stock principally, making a specialty of high-grade sheep and An- gora goats.

In 1873 Mr. Simpson moved into Albany, and has since been substantially identified with its business growth. The same year he became superintendent of the Farmers' Grain Storage Company, an enterprise destined to promote the agricultural prestige of the vicinity more than any other agency as vet established. He was the first superintendent of the company, and directly controlled its affairs for many years. To facilitate the object for which it was started, he bought the warehouse at Tangent, and during the first year taxed its capacity with ninety-

thousand bushels of wheat. There was no divi- dend the first year, but the second realized a dividend of forty per cent. This increase of busi- ness inspired him to enlarge his capacity, and he built a larger and better elevator, of which he had charge for seven years. The disposal of the first storage required some time, but he finally found a buyer who paid a dollar a bushel, whereas the ruling price was eighty cents. After disposing of his elevator, Mr. Simpson engaged in wheat buying for about twelve years, and was compelled to retire from business because of a stroke of paralysis. At the time he had sixty thousand bushels of wheat on hand, and not being able to personally superintend its disposal at the proper time, suffered a financial loss of $20,000. In the hope of securing the boon of health he traveled for several months in California, and, having accomplished his desire, he returned to Oregon, where he has lived uninterruptedly since. For a couple of years he ran the Magnolia Mill in partnership with his son, and in the mean- time he has been improving his farm, which has ever been a source of pride and satisfaction to him.

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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 34

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