Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 40

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 40

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Reaching the west with comparatively few available assets, Mr. Thompson has made the most of his opportunities, and for his industry can point to his drug store building, several town lots, and the thirty acres of land ad- joining the city on the west, which is laid out in lots, and is known as Thompson's First Addition.

In Falls City, in 1895, Mr. Thompson mar- ried Maggie Travis, who was born in Penu- sylvania, as was also her father, Calvin M. Travis. Mr. Travis removed from his native state to Kansas, and from there came to Ore- gon in 1890, locating at Falls City. A car- penter by trade, he has spent many years in working at his trade, but is now engaged in farming near the city, although well nigh eighty years of age. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Hallett E. and Mildred. Mr. Thompson, as an official, has proven himself worthy of the confidence of the people. He is equally well known in fraternal circles, being identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees of Falls City. He is enterprising, progressive and public-spir- ited, a shrewd business man, and a very genial companion.

E. S. REMINGTON. One of the much es- teemed farmers of Yamhill county is E. S. Rem- ington, a native of Ohio, born May 13, 1833, a sojourner in Illinois, and a westerner by long adoption. For many years his father was a res- ident of Trumbull county, Ohio, where he fol- lowed the trades of carpenter and millwright. In 1837 the family removed to Illinois, and twelve years later, in famous '49, the father prepared to go west in the hope of bettering the condition of those dependent on him for support. He trav- eled by ox team as far as Salt Lake City, where he sold his team, going the remainder of the journey by pack-mules. In common with the thousands of others who thronged to the west at that time, he tried prospecting and mining for several years in California on the American river.

While awaiting the father's return, or financial success, the principal support of the mother was her son, E. S., a lad of sixteen, who in the four

hood, generously taking up the burden of car- ing for the family, even venturing in 1853 to set out with the family to join the wanderer in the west. When we think of what the journey must have been to him, with its dreariness and danger, the long days and lonesome nights when he could not help but think of his responsibility should they never see again the loved one they were going so far to join, we gain a truer esti- mate of the courage of this young pioneer.

However, after six months, the emigrant train, consisting of fifteen yoke of oxen and one mule team, reached Bear valley safely, August 20, 1853, and the reunited family went at once to settle on a pre-emption claim, the one selected being eighteen miles from Sacramento, where they remained until 1859. The last year but one of their residence there was marked by the death of the father, thus once more throwing the entire responsibility upon the shoulders of the son. In 1859 the family made another move, into the state where they have ever since lived, settling three miles south of Hillsboro, in Washington county, Ore., where they remained for three years. They then removed to Marion county, making this their home until 1893. Here Mr. Remington met and married Miss Hannah Rauch. She was also a sturdy product of the middle west, who crossed the plains from Illinois with her parents in 1853. Until 1893 the young people made their home in Marion county, but in the last-named year they went into Yamhill county, where Mr. Remington bought the Joseph H. Garrison donation claim just south of White- son. Two years later, in 1895, he was bereaved by the death of his wife. In 1874 he had also lost his mother, for whom he had continued to provide even after his marriage, making her an honored member of his home up to the time of her death. She became the mother of nine children, three of whom are living.

Mr. Remington is the owner of considerable property, consisting of one hundred and ninety- nine acres in the home farm, seventy-five acres adjoining and one hundred and twenty in hill land, besides land in Marion county, making nearly four hundred acres in all, well improved and under cultivation. He made all the im- provements on the farm now occupied by his son, the original land bought in Yamhill county, and also built a house where he now lives. He has four children living and settled near him: Henry, who runs a portion of the home farm, married Susie Thurman and has two children, Leta and Melvin ; Elizabeth is the wife of Will- iam A. Forrest and the mother of one child, Ver- nal ; and Mina and Vina are twins, Mina being the wife of C. Patterson, and Vina making bright the home that would otherwise be lonely without

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the presence of the wife and mother. Though now retired from active duties, Mr. Remington has not lost the zest of living, having always taken an active part in politics, being a stanch Republican, and holding at various times public offices at the request of his fellow-townsmen. He has lived a good, clean, useful life, giving from his earliest boyhood to those who claimed his help, bringing into his character the fruits of this self-sacrifice that have made him a most respected member of every locality of the west in which he has lived.

J. H. GRIMES. An important farming en- terprise of Yamhill county is that managed by J. H. Grimes, who is successfully raising grain and general crops, and is making a specialty of Jersey cattle and O. I. C. hogs. This farm is located five miles south of Dayton, between Salem and Wheatland, and about one hundred and thirty acres are under cultivation, Mr. Grimes having recently purchased sixty acres of the adjoining farm.

A native of Indiana, Mr. Grimes was born near Millersburg, Elkhart county, September 25, 1862. His father, who was a farmer in the vicinity of his birthplace, died when his son was only two years of age. There were three other children in the family, and in spite of their limited resources the mother and children managed to keep together and share their com- mon sorrows and pleasures. The son, J. H., managed to acquire a good education in the common schools, and he eventually assumed charge of the paternal farm, remaining with the rest of the family until his twenty-first year. In 1884 he came to Oregon, settling in Yamhill county near his present location, and from then until 1895 found employment on various farms in the vicinity. In the year last mentioned he was employed by the C. K. Spaulding Logging Company in Newberg, remaining in their em- ploy for two years, after which he located upon the farm which has since been his home.

March 15, 1885, Mr. Grimes was united in marriage with Minnie Seese, a native of Indiana, and the daughter of Eli Seese, a farmer by occu- pation. Mr. Grimes is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and has taken an active part in the undertakings of his party both here and in his native state of Indiana. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights and Ladies of Security. With his wife and two children, Ray and Venelli, he is a member of the Evangelical Church, in which he is an active worker. Mr. Grimes has won the respect of all who know him in his adopted state and all accord him the credit due so conscientious and painstaking a farmer.

THOMAS W. RICHES, who for ten years has filled the position of postmaster in Silver- ton and is one of the well and widely known citizens of that locality, is numbered among Ore- gon's native sons, his birth having occurred on the 17th of November, 1853, in the Geer settle- ment amid the Waldo Hills about six miles from his present home. The Riches family is of Eng- lish lineage. The grandfather, Thomas Riches, was born in England. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world he settled at Hamilton, Canada, where he spent his remaining days. His son, George P. S. Riches, the father of our subject. was born near London, England, and accompan- ied his parents on their emigration to the new world in 1830. Desiring to make his home in the United States instead of in the Dominion. he removed to Illinois, where he was engaged in the logging and lumber business until 1847.

In that year he crossed the plains to Oregon, among many other emigrants and brave pioneers who made their way into the northwest to sub- due the wilderness and claim from the red man the dominion of this rich section of the country. He located in Oregon City, where he was en- gaged in business as a ship builder; and later he removed to Oakpoint, Wash. In 1851 he took up his abode in the Waldo Hills, where he secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, and there he remained up to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1892, when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Wat- kins, who was born in Anderson, Ind. She started across the plains with her parents, but both died during the journey, one surviving the other only a day; and they were buried in the same place. Mrs. Riches is still living and makes her home on the old donation claim. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters, and of these three sons and three daughters are yet living.

Thomas W. Riches, the eldest of the family, having obtained a public school education, en- gaged in farming for himself on attaining his majority. He was married, and in order to have a home of his own he purchased one hundred and fifty-one acres of the old donation claim from his father. This he continued to improve and cultivate until 1883, when he sold that property and removed to Silverton, where he purchased a grocery store, which he conducted for six years. He was then made assistant postmaster, and under President Harrison's administration was appointed postmaster. He was also appointed to the position of turnkey in the State Penitentiary, but remained there only six months. Return- ing to Silverton, he later engaged in clerking

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in a general mercantile establishment until he was re-appointed postmaster by President Mc- Kinley, and again by President Roosevelt, so that his incumbency in the position covers an entire decade.

Mr. Riches has been twice married. In 1873 he wedded Rosa Hibbard, who was born in Ore- gon and died in Silverton on the 17th of Sep- tember, 1883, leaving two children : George H., who is now assistant postmaster; and Amy, who is an educator at Jefferson, Ore. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Riches chose Mary L. Hall, who was born in Vancouver, Wash. They have five children : Lloyd, Lelia, Harold, Gladys and Mar- jory.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Riches is an Odd Fellow, and is very prominent in the order. He has served as grand patriarch, and was Ore- gon's representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge in Detroit in 1889, and also in Richmond, Va., in 1890. He is likewise connected with the Woodmen of the World, and has filled all of the offices in the local order. His life is in harmony with the teachings of the Odd Fellows' frater- nity, which is based upon brotherly kindness and helpfulness. For one term Mr. Riches has served as school director, and for two terms has been a member of the city council of Silverton. In pub- lic office he is always prompt and faithful in the execution of his duties, and his administration has been business-like, systematic and progres- sive, giving general satisfaction to the many patrons of the office.

HORACE E. BICKERS. The superintendent of the state reform school in Marion county is well qualified for his responsible position, years of practical business experience and close asso- ciation with men in many walks of life having mellowed his judgment and turned his thoughts into humanitarian and common sense lines. Hor- ace E. Bickers was born on his father's dona- tion claim within six miles of the reform school, September 26, 1856, a son of Henry C. Bickers, who was horn in the state of Virginia in 1820.

Henry C. Bickers was reared in Virginia and Kentucky, and as a young man removed to New Orleans, where he learned and followed the trade of ship carpenter. In the southern city he mar- ried Mary Carter, who died four years later, leaving three children, all of whom died young. In order to reach the western coast Mr. Bickers joined the government service and came across the plains with a caravan, stopping for a short time in the mines of California. His trip was not altogether satisfactory, for he encountered much difficulty with the Indians, and was wound- ed while attempting to defend himself during an attack. In 1851 he came to Marion county, Ore.,

and worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1853 took up a claim of four hundred acres about two miles east of Marion. The same year he was married to Mrs. Malinda Brown, widow of Thomas J. Brown, who crossed the plains with her former husband in 1852. Mr. Brown's death on the plains was one of the sad occurrences which marked the early emigration to the west, and his wife proved one of the heroic pioneer women upon whose shoulders fell so much of the responsibility in the early days. Alone she resumed her journey with her four children, and coming to Marion county, she started a boarding . house in Jefferson, of which she was the amiable hostess at the time of her second marriage. After his marriage Mr. Bickers continued to live on his claim, and there he and Jacob Conser built the first three reapers in this part of the state, and the first ones on the coast.

The elder Mr. Bickers was variously connect- ed with the affairs in the county, and for many years derived a substantial income from cutting and sawing logs. He also engaged in carpen- tering and building, getting the material from the timber and making lumber by hand. In 1861 he took about $30,000 worth of cattle and horses into eastern Oregon, intending to engage in an extensive stock-raising business. The severe winters of '61-'2 annihilated his hope in this di- rection, for out of his herd he had but one team of horses left. With this team he drove his family to Boise City, Idaho, and there engaged in mining and prospecting and also followed that occupation in different parts of that and the adjoining country. In 1869 he went into San Diego county, Cal., and discovered what is now known as the Wash- ington Ledge in the Julian district, and the same year, with his son, spent some time in Seattle, Wash. The year 1873 found him in Alaska dur- ing the excitement of that year, and on this trip he was accompanied by his son, Horace E. Sev- eral months were spent in the mines and in the fall of '73 they returned to California, where he made his home until his death in 1893. His wife died in Angust, 1900, at the age of eighty-one years. She was the mother of four children by this marriage. of whom Horace E. is the sec- ond oldest. William H. died in 1882; Mary died in 1862; and Andrew J. is a resident of Waldo, Wash.

From so energetic and ambitions a father Hor- ace E. Bickers inherits the traits that have brought about his own success. He was educated in the public schools and learned carpentering from his father, an occupation which he followed from the age of twelve to that of twenty years. He was seventeen years of age when he went to Alaska, and the experience among the miners gave him an insight which he might otherwise

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never have received. In 1879 he went to Pendle- ton, Ore., where he acceptably filled the office of clerk in the postoffice until 1886. For the fol- lowing two years he engaged as an accountant, and the next occupation to which he turned his attention was merchandising in Alba. His little store was also the postoffice of the town during the three years of his residence there, after which he sold out his interests and returned to Pen- dleton. In 1896 he was elected recorder of Uma- tilla county, serving for two years, and thus launched upon the sea of politics stepped natur- ally into his present position as superintendent of the Oregon State Reform School, to which he was appointed in 1899, his appointment being duly confirmed by the secretary of state.

In 1881 Mr. Bickers married Miss Ida Bean, of Vancouver, Wash., and of this union there were born three children, of whom Horace E., Jr., died in infancy ; Hazel, who after graduating from the public schools of Pendleton, took a special course of music at Eugene, Ore., and is now attending the conservatory of music at Port- land; and Mabel, also a student, is living with her parents. Mr. Bickers has always been a very active man in the Republican party, and frater- nally is associated with various orders, namely : The Masons, belonging to Pendleton Lodge No. 52, A. F. & A. M .; and Pendleton chapter, R. A. M .; is a member of Pendleton Camp, W. O. W .; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Pendleton ; and Damon Lodge No. 4, K. P. Both himself and wife are identified with the Eastern Star.

MARTIN R. SETTLEMIER, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Marion county, was born in Montgomery county, Ill., March 24, 1846. His educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools of the frontier and were somewhat limited because his services were needed upon the farm. At the age of eighteen years his father allowed the sons to begin farm- ing on their own account. The family had come to Oregon in 1850 and when Martin R. reached the age mentioned his father gave him two hun- dred acres of the original donation claim ad- joining Mount Angel on the west. He also secured fifty acres more, and now has a valuable farm of two hundred and fifty acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultiva- tion. There are altogether one hundred and fifty acres planted to cereals and other crops, while the remainder is devoted to pasture land. He has twenty-three acres planted to hops, which is becoming a very valuable product of the north- west. He makes a specialty of raising cattle and draft horses, and has some very fine speci- mens of Belgian horses and Durham cattle. In

the various branches of his business he is meet- ing with creditable success. The greater part of his land was unimproved when he took pos- session, being covered with brush, but this he cleared away and transformed the tract into pro- ductive fields. He also built his residence, two barns and the other necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and today the farm is one of the best improved in this section of the county. Mr. Settlemier's possessions are not limited to this property, however, for he is the owner of two lots and residences in Port- land and a house on east Davis street in East Portland. He also owns some lots in Astoria, Ore.

About two miles from his present home, in 1872, Mr. Settlemier was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Simmons, who was born in Octo- ber, 1855, on Howell Prairie in Oregon. Her father, John H. Simmons, was a native of In- diana, and in 1845 made the long and wearisome journey overland to the northwest with his par- ents. His father secured a donation claim on Howell Prairie in Marion county, thus becom- ing the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land. The father of Mrs. Settlemier resides about two miles northeast of our subject's home.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin R. Settlemier have been born nine children : Etta, now the wife of J B. Palmer, who has two sons and one daughter, Hazel, George and Jesse, and is living in the Ya- kima district of Washington; Flora, who is as- sistant postmistress in Mount Angel; Elmer, who carries on farming on the old homestead, is mar- ried and has one daughter, Minnie; Mamie, de- ceased; Eva, the wife of C. Janz, a farmer on Howell Prairie; and Mary, Sadie, Perry and Adelphia Eldorene, all at home.

In his political views Mr. Settlemier is an earnest Republican who has studied closely the issues and questions of the day, and gives a stalwart support to the principles in which he believes. For one term he served as clerk and for many terms as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. In his farm work he is prospering through methods which always bring success, and his well im- proved property with its splendid buildings and highly cultivated fields forms one of the most at- tractive features of the landscape.

PETER A. FINSETH. The largest and finest mercantile establishment in Polk county is universally conceded to be the Bee Hive, op- erated and owned by the firm of Nordby & Fin- seth, the latter of whom is the general manager and largest stockholder. This store, which has been an upbuilding factor of Dallas since 1899,

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has been located in the Odd Fellows Building since 1900, and has quarters 32x80 feet in ground dimensions. The firm has a comprehensive un- derstanding of the needs of a cosmopolitan com- munity, and carries a complete and up-to-date line of dry-goods, notions, shoes and clothing, and in its attitude toward a large and apprecia- tive trade observes the courtesy, tact and con- sideration invariably associated with permanent success and uninterrupted retention of patronage.

Financially speaking, P. A. Finseth began at the bottom round of the ladder four years ago, and has since worked his way up- to a substantial mercantile position. He is one of the many Scandinavians who have found a practical field of effort in the northwest, and who is appreciated because of his many fine national characteristics. Born in Trondhjen, Norway, July 19, 1867, he was reared in his native town until his fifteenth year, and attended the public schools, his emi- gration to America taking place in 1882. He lo- cated in Sioux City, Iowa, and inaugurated his mercantile career as a clerk in a dry goods store, remaining in that capacity for five years. In 1887 he shifted his residence to Portland, Ore., and engaged as a clerk for the proprietors of the Farmers' and Mechanics' store, two years later being promoted to the management of the linen, drapery and blanket departments. In 1894 he be- came a salesman in the linen department of the store of Olds, Wortman & King, and in August, 1898, resigned his position to start up in business for himself in Portland. On Morrison street. between First and Second streets, Portland, he established the Crescent, a well-equipped and modern dry-goods store, of which he was sole proprietor until January, 1899. He then started up business in Dallas on Main street, but has since removed his stock to the Odd Fellows building.

In Sioux City, Iowa, Mr. Finseth married Anna Paulson, a native of the vicinity of Chris- tiania, Norway, and who is the mother of two interesting children, Leif and Roy. Mr. Finseth is a member of the Board of Trade, and in his political affiliation is a Democrat, and fraternally is identified with the Woodmen of the World. He is possessed of a broad knowledge of the mer- cantile business, and his friends and associates predict a continuation of his present success.

THOMAS HOWE. No more genial person- ality is included among the citizens of Mount Angel than Thomas Howe, and it is doubtful if any furnish more frequent glimpses of the bright and happy side of life. Mr. Howe is possessed of fine business ability, has substantially launched himself in the commercial life of the town, has invested in real estate, and has established the

reputation of being one of the best dog fanciers and trainers in the United States.

In Mr. Howe is found a refutation of the generally accepted belief that the English are devoid of humor, and lack effervescence and buoyancy of spirit. He was born in Dorset- shire, England, June 22, 1842, his father, Thomas, and his mother, Phillows (Garrett) Howe, being natives of the same shire. The elder Thomas was a farmer during the greater part of his active life, and he was also a con- tractor for large excavations and kindred work. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight, his wife having died at the age of eighty-two. Eighteen children came into this home, four- teen sons and four daughters, of whom Thomas, Jr., is the fifteenth in the order of birth.

As soon as he had completed his education in the public and parish school in Dorsetshire, Thomas Howe entered upon an independent ex- istence as game-keeper for John Tatchell Bull- ing, in the parish of Marshwood, Dorset. Hc was also game-keeper for Lady Rool, whose employ he left to enter that of Hon. Captain William Hood Waldron, of Dunchideock, Dev- onshire, England. He lived for a time in South Wales, and at the age of thirty-two began to work as porter and ticket collector for the Great Western Taffail Railroad. In 1875 Mr. Howe came to Canada, and after a residence of five years in Orillia, returned to England for nine months. Again locating in Canada, he soon after came to the United States, and at Salem, Ore., started the dog kennels which have since made him famous. He raises pointers, setters, and brake dogs in large numbers, always has thein on hand, and ships them to all parts of the United States, some of them being sent beyond the borders of the country. In connection with his kennels Mr. Howe owns and manages a fur- niture store in Mount Angel, and also handles buggies, hacks, and agricultural implements. He also carries guns and ammunition, all manner of sporting goods, as well as pianos and organs. He has demonstrated his faith in the future of this section by investing heavily in real estate, and besides the two acres in connection with luis home, owns the store building called the Howe Block. He is a Democrat in political preference, and is a member of the Episcopal 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 40

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