Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 41

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 41

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In Dorsetshire, England. April 3, 1863, Mr. Howe married Emma Rawlins, a native of the same shire, and whose father. Robert Rawlins, died on his farm in Dorsetshire at the age of forty-four. His wife died in 1883 at the age of seventy-three years.

Six children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Howe, of whom Charlotte. the eldest child, is the wife of George Applin, living in Dorsetshire, England; they have two children, Flossie and

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Alice. Frank is a resident of Portland, and is representative agent for the Union Metallic Car- tridge Company, and the Remington Arms Com- pany; Frank won the cup and gold medal from the mayor in 1902; he married Clara Rustin and they have four children : Florence, Wesley, Fred and Harry. Alice is the wife of T. R. Ryan of Mount Angel; has five children, Mary, Edward, Agnes, Leon, Frank; and Emma, the youngest daughter, is living at home. Two of the sons, Fred and Walter, are deceased. Mr. Howe has many friends in Salem, in Mount Angel, and in different parts of the state, and it is needless to say that he occupies an alto- gether enviable place in the social and business life of his home town.

JOHN JAMES COLWELL. When Scotland denied religious liberty to thousands of her loyal citizens, near-by Ireland offered an asylum to such as desired to avail themselves of her more rational but less prosperous conditions. Among those who, smarting under their years of perse- cution, took themselves and children to the sheltering country, were the paternal grand- parents of John James Colwell, a retired farmer and business man of Falls City. The grand- parents settled in County Cavan, Ulster, Ire- land, and here John James Colwell, Sr., was born, reared, and eventually married a bonnie Scotch-Irish lassie by the name of Mary Ann Glenn. Miss Glenn was born in Ireland, of Presbyterian stock, and her father, William, born in Scotland, came to Canada at an early day, settling near Hamilton, where he died at an advanced age. From Ireland John James Colwell, Sr., came on a sailing vessel to Canada about 1834, locating on a farm near Toronto, where he farmed with moderate success until removing to St. Paul, Minn., in 1864. Ile and his good wife reared a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and besides giving them as good an education as his circumstances permitted, he left a nice little estate at the time of his death in 1899, at the age of about seventy years.

Born twenty miles north of Toronto, Canada, July 12, 1849, John James Colwell was fifteen years of age when he went with the family to Minnesota, and in 1870 he entered the University of Minnesota, where he remained five years. In 1875 he started out to make his own living in the world, and as a mail carrier in Minneapolis, delivered the missives of Uncle Sam for about a year. In 1876 he went to Texas and engaged in school teaching twenty-two miles south of San Antonio, some time later turning his attention to stock-raising near that city. He remained in Texas' seven years, and in 1884 returned to Min- nesota and worked on his father's farm until

1886. He had long desired to see the far west, so he came to Portland, and as a means of live- lihood engaged with the street car company as carpenter for about a year, when he returned east, and 1887 found him filling the position of foreman and check clerk of the floating gang at the steel mills at Carbondale, Pa., and two years later he again made the trip across the country to Oregon, locating on a farm adjoining Falls City. In 1891 he abandoned farming and in Falls City, worked at teaming for two years, and in 1893 engaged in a general merchandise business. He was fairly successful as a merchant, and in 1902 closed out his business, and prepared to take the rest of his life easy. That he is suc- ceeding in his expectations is evident from his disposal of his time, for he has just returned from a delightful trip of three months to California and Texas, in which latter state he still has interests.

While living in Carbondale, Pa., Mr. Colwell married, September 27, 1890, Cora M. Baker, who was born in Fell township, Lackawanna county, Pa., July 17, 1870. Mrs. Colwell is a daughter of Jackson Baker, also born in Penn- sylvania, and who, after many years of farming in his native state, came to Oregon in 1891. Mr. Baker located on property one mile east of Falls City, where he is now living with his wife, formerly Sarah Ann Montgomery, who is now seventy-eight years of age.

Mr. Colwell is a Republican in politics, but has never sought official honors. He has always been an earnest promoter of education, and in this capacity served for a term on the school board. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and has contributed generously towards its support.

LOUIS H. PFANDHOEFER, M. D. Falls City is fortunate in the possession of so erudite and successful a practitioner as Dr. Louis H. Pfandhoefer, who came here in 1898 after many years of practical experience in Buffalo, N. Y. Although devoting his energies to all branches of medicinal science he has made a specialty of obstetrics, and has already demonstrated his skill in this direction. That he is favorably impressed with his adopted town and county is evidenced hy the fact that he has invested in considerable property and besides a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, owns resi- dence property consisting of five acres, on the banks of the creek. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in political affiliation is independent.

As his name indicates, Dr. Pfandhoefer is of Teutonic ancestry. He was born in the Rhine province of Germany, January 7, 1853. His

Lee Laughlin

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

family had long been known in the locality, his father, Louis, being a native of the Rhine country, as were also several of his forefathers. His mother, formerly Margaret Wusthoff, was born near there, so that his paternal and maternal associations are connected with one of the most historic and fertile parts of the empire. Louis Pfandhoefer, Sr., was a black- smith by trade, and was also an excellent business man, so that his combined abilities resulted in a substantial little property. He was able to give his three sons and six daughters more than an average education.

Louis H. is the seventh child of this family, and he passed from the public schools to the his- toric Bonn University, from the portals of which have stepped forth some of the most brilliant men. However, his university career was des- tined to be short-lived, for, owing to the death of his father, he was obliged to return home at the end of the first term. In 1873 he entered the normal school, and thereafter engaged in educational work in Germany until coming to the United States in 1879.

In America Dr. Pfandhoefer located in Bay- onne City, Hudson county, N. J., where he taught school for two years, and in the winter of 1881 changed his field of endeavor to Buffalo, N. Y. While teaching in the latter city he became inter- ested in medicine, and in 1883, entered the Buf- falo Medical College, from which he was duly graduated in the class of 1886. Thereafter he engaged in practice in Buffalo, but by 1898 found that his health was failing, and that a change of climate was imperative. He therefore came to Oregon, and fot seven months rested and enjoyed life in Portland, coming then to his present home in Falls City.

In 1881 the doctor was united in marriage in Buffalo, N. Y .. with Annie H. Winkelman, who was born in Buffalo, although her father, Charles, was a native of Germany. A tanner by trade, Mr. Winkelman was successful in both Germany and America, in the latter country plying his trade in the New England states and in Buffalo, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-eight. Five children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Pfand- hoefer, of whom Louis, Jr., Charles and Johannas are deceased, while Henry and Violet are living at home.

HON. LEE LAUGHLIN, who, as a youth of fourteen, crossed the plains in 1847 with the largest caravan which had as yet raised the ap- prehension of the Indians, and paved the way for succeeding home and fortune seekers, has been substantially identified with the growth of Yam- hill county, and has contributed to its agricul- tural, political and general well-being. The

Laughlins, and there are many belonging to this special family, have proved themselves pioneers in the highest sense of that important term, and one and all have left the impress of strong and rugged personalities on whatsoever they have found to do in the great northwest

James Laughlin, the paternal grandfather of Lee, was born in South Carolina, and partici- pated in the Revolutionary war at the battle of Cowpens. He was a farmer by occupation, and when a man of middle age, with his family, re- moved to Hopkins county, Ky., where his death occurred. He married Rachel Dalrymple, who died in Missouri at the age of seventy-five years. Of the large family of children born into the family of James Laughlin, Samuel, the father of Lee, was the oldest, and was born in the Pendle- ton district, South Carolina, December 2, 1791. He was ten years of age when the family for- tunes were shifted to Kentucky, and he remained on the paternal farm in Hopkins county until his twenty-second year. About 1814 he began to have pioneering inclinations, and, saddling his horse, started forth on a journey to what is now the great city of St. Louis. Arriving at the then small town, then a French settlement, he was offered five acres of land in the heart of the now busiest section of the city for his horse, but re- fused the offer as inadequate. In Franklin county he purchased a farm, but a high-water washout induced him to move north into Lincoln county. Reports from the journal of Patrick Gass, who accompanied Lewis and Clark, filled him with the fever of unrest, and he disposed of his Missouri farm, and joined the largest train that, up to that time, had ever braved the dan- gers of the plains. There were twenty-nine wagons under Capt. Joseph Magone, and besides Samuel and his brother, James, there were eleven Laughlins in the party. No braver or more de- termined band ever carried the flag of civilization before them, nor did any have more typical and varied pioneering experiences. Starting on their way April 19, 1847, they arrived at Wapato lake November I, of the same year. In January. 1848, Mr. Laughlin took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, three miles north of Yamhill, and there engaged in general farmning and stock-raising until his death, June 22, 1869. A former Democrat, he left his party on account of its slavery attitude, and died firm in the faith of Republicanism. He was a member of the Baptist Church.

While his father was living on a farm in Lin- coln county, Mo., Lee Laughlin was born Janu- ary 17, 1833. His expedition across the plains. at the age of fourteen, was both interesting and developing, and so imbued had he become with western ideas and chances, that at the age of six- teen, during the gold fever of '49, he went down

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into California, on the Trinity river, and engaged in mining for about three months. He was fairly successful on the Sacramento and Trinity rivers, making sometimes as high as $150 per day. With his little hoard he returned to Oregon in Janu- ary, 1850, and the next year made another trip overland to the mines of the New Eldorado. As soon as age permitted, he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles north of Yamhill, and engaged in farming thereon until 1864. In the meantime, Mr. Laughlin had real- ized the importance of education, and as oppor- tunity offered, had applied himself at the public schools, also attending the Pacific University for a couple of years. For two terms he applied this knowledge as an educator in Yamhill county. After disposing of his Yamhill county farm he removed to Horseshoe Bend, near Boise City, Idaho, and engaged in the hotel business for a couple of years, and in 1866, returned to Yamhill county, and opened up a general merchandise business in North Yamhill. As the largest mer- chant in that section, he catered to an increasing trade for nine years, his affability and business ability enlarging both his capital and his list of friends. After retiring from business, in 1876, Mr. Laughlin paid a visit to the east for a few months, but finding the need for active occupation, returned to the store the same year, remaining there until 1886, when he permanently retired from business activity.

The business aptitude and progressive spirit of Mr. Laughlin has created a demand for his services in connection with many undertakings in this county. He is credited with being one of the principal organizers of the Republican party in Oregon, and since then has closely and actively watched the trend of Republican affairs. His first definite service was in 1860, when he was elected county assessor, and ten years later, in 1870, he was nominated to the state legislature. However, the Democrats being in the ascend- ancy, his seat, with that of others, was severely contested, and the political plums passed into the keeping of the opposition. In 1874, Mr. Laughlin was duly elected to the state legislature from Yamhill county, and so satisfactory were his services for the best interests of the people, that his re-election followed in 1880. During the last session he was chairman of the committee on public lands, and was also instrumental in secur- ing the erection of the State Insane Asylum. Other offices were duly maintained with credit by this broad and liberal minded citizen, includ- ing that of school director and clerk for many vears, and mayor of North Yamhill for a couple of terms. As a politician, he has won additional respect and confidence from those who placed him in office, and his services have invariably been accompanied by substantial and popular re-

sults. Mention of the creditable war record is due so valiant an Indian fighter, he having served in the Yakima Indian war of 1855. In 1887, Mr. Laughlin was one of the organizers of the McMinnville National Bank, and was a member of the first board of directors, and first vice- president, which position he held until the death of Judge Cowls, in 1897, when he succeeded him as president, holding the position at the present time.

October 8, 1856, Mr. Laughlin was united in marriage with Emma Stewart, who was born in Putnam county, Ohio, and whose father, Ben- jamin E., crossed the plains in 1847, locating in North Yamhill. Mrs. Laughlin, who died Feb- ruary II, 1901, left no children, but homeless children have at times found shelter and care under the hospitable Laughlin roof, and have grown to maturity under the most kindly and parental influences. Mr. Laughlin is a man of broad information and most liberal ideas, and his services to his adopted state are of an enduring and highly appreciated nature.

FREDERICK SCHWAB. The warehouse business of Frederick Schwab is contributing to the financial stability of Mount Angel, the owner being one of its most enterprising citizens. He embarked upon his present occupation in 1893, and has since dealt in grain, hay and potatoes, making a specialty of the latter. Other inter- ests also claim the time and attention of Mr Schwab, and he owns a farm of sixty acres two and a half miles east of the town, ten acres of which are within the corporation fimits, although not yet laid out in lots. He has built a fine residence, and he also owns the warehouse and lot. Mr. Schwab takes a keen interest in the general affairs of this town, and may be counted on to meet any just demand upon his resources. Although independent in politics, he has held im- portant city offices, including membership in the city council, and three terms as recorder.

The early life of Mr. Schwab was spent in Johnson county, Iowa, where he was born No- vember 1, 1863, and whence he removed with his parents to Harrison county in 1866. His father, Louis, was born at Frankfort, Germany, and, immigrating to the United States in the first flush of manhood, located in Philadelphia, Pa., and engaged in the meat-market business. At the expiration of five years he removed to Iowa, settling on a farm near Blairstown, Benton county, where he remained until 1866. He then located in Harrison county, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and ten years later, in 1876, removed to Crawford county. In 188t he became a resident of Oregon, and near Mount Angel bought one hundred and fifty acres,

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one and a half miles east of the town, and where he died in 1882. His wife, Josephine (Winters) Schwab, was born in Baden, Germany, and died in Oregon in 1893, at the age of seventy-one years. She was the mother of five sons and four daughters, of whom Frederick is sixth in order of birth.

As a boy Mr. Schwab accompanied his parents in their migratory agricultural life, and his educa- tion suffered somewhat from the uncertain condi- tions. Nevertheless, he was apt and quick, and has all his life been one of those who learn more from observation and direct contact with men and affairs, than from books. The business in which he is now engaged was his first attempt to earn an independent livelihood, and his success is proof of the wisdom of his selection. Since coming to Mount Angel he has married Mary Maver, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 2, 1869, and whose father, Joseph, is at present living on the family homestead in the German principality. Mrs. Schwab came to Am- erica to visit her brother Joseph in 1890, and while here met and married her husband. Six children have been born of this union: Mary, Gertrude, Joseph, Bertha, Agnes and Paul. The family are members of the Catholic Church.

THOMAS G. HOPKINS. A valuable ad- dition to the society of the western state has been Thomas G. Hopkins, with the many ad- mirable characteristics that bespeak his na- tionality, and who, for a number of years has been an estimable citizen of Oregon, through his substantial business enterprises and shrewd judgment becoming a leader in the financial circles of the city of Albany. He is now at the head of the Albany Hardware Company, a business which was begun about 1885, and has since grown to remunerative and satisfactory proportions, becoming an in- corporated concern in 1901, and through its successful operations adding much to the prestige of the city.

Thomas has been a family name for many generations in the Hopkins household, the grandfather and father both bearing the name. Both were born in Dartford, County Kent, England, the elder man emigrating to America, settling near Fond du Lac, Wis., where he was followed by his son in 1857. The grandfather followed chair manufactur- ing, while the father engaged in the hardware business in the city of Fond du Lac, continu- ing profitably in the same until 1891, and now living retired in that city at the age of sev- enty-nine years. He married Mary Wikes, also a native of County Kent, England, where she was born in 1812, the daughter of William

Wikes, who later settled in Wisconsin. At her death she was the mother of six children, four daughters and two sons, all of whom, ex- cept one son, are still living.

The birth of Thomas Hopkins of this re- view occurred November, 1852, and he was the second of his father's children. He was reared in the state of his father's adoption and educated in the public schools of Fond du Lac. At the age of nineteen years he was ap- prenticed to a tinner, remaining with him until 1872, when he went to Green Bay, Wis. After three years he returned to Fond du Lac, and passed the ensuing two years. In 1877 he severed his connection with Wisconsin, coming to California. For a short time he worked at his trade in San Francisco. In July, of the same year, he came to Portland, Oregon, and after a year's successful prosecution of his trade in that city he was made second foreman of the firm of Hexter May & Co., with whom he remained for three years. In 1881 he came to Albany and entered the employ of W. C. Tweedale, remain- ing for two years as an employe, when he pur- chased an interest in the business, the firm being then Tweedale & Co. This co-partnership was continued for eighteen months, when Mr. Hop- kins sold out and began business for himself in the hardware line. From 1890 he had a part- ner in the person of his brother, H. J. Hopkins, who died in 1901. He has now one of the largest hardware stores in Albany, carrying a complete line of all articles to be found in an establish- ment of this nature. He conducts also a plumb- ing and tinning shop.

The marriage of Mr. Hopkins occurred in Salem, in May, 1883, and united him with Cora Reily, a native of that city. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and of the Alco Club.

EDWARD ANGUS McPHERSON. The position of first warden of the state penitentiary is now (1903) being acceptably filled by E. A. McPherson, a native of Salem, Ore., born Octo- ber 13, 1866, the son of W. A. McPherson, one of the progressive and able pioneers of 1852, who left the imprint of his strong personality upon the course of events in the early history. The father was born in North Carolina and in his native state became associated with news- paper work; but, feeling his ability to help in the up-building of a new country, he accepted the hard lot of a pioneer, and in 1852 crossed the plains and located near Scio, Linn county, Ore. He first engaged in farming, persevering amid the discouragements and trying conditions of those primitive days and succeeding in his work.

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Some time after he located in Albany and was later elected state printer, his death occurring about 1892, in Portland. Besides E. A. Mc- Pherson of this sketch, there were the following children : Cassius, who died in Salem; Ella, the wife of Jolin M. Lewis, treasurer of Multnomah county ; Leon, of Portland; Kate, the wife of W. S. Weeks, who has charge of the supply department of the Northern Pacific Terminal Company, of Portland; Guy, of Portland; and Pearl, also of that city.

The early education of E. A. McPherson was received in the common schools of the state, after which he entered Willamette University. Upon the completion of his school course he entered the State Prison and for three years acted as guard, winning the confidence of the officials of that institution. He then located in Portland and became a clerk in the employ of the Moyer Clothing Company, with whom he remained for six years, working under Ben Selling. April 1, 1903, he received the appointment to his present position. While a resident of Portland Mr. Mc- Pherson was president of the Retail Clerks' Association and secretary of the Trades Council, in which discharge of duty he manifested the same thoroughness which has distinguished his entire career.

February 28, 1893, Mr. McPherson was united in marriage with Miss Carrie B. Hart, who was born in Wisconsin, in 1876, and two sons have been born to them, Oscar and Donald. In his fraternal relations Mr. McPherson is a member of the Masonic order, Mt. Tabor Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to Portland Lodge No. 142, B. P. O. E. Politically, he casts his ballot with the Democratic party.

JAMES DANNALS. Formerly engaged in the furniture business in Albany, James Dannals had a reputation for fair dealing and honest worth not exceeded by any of the other pioneers of 1851. He is one of those who came to the west with a stanch belief in its future, and his success in the various oc- cupations in which he was engaged strength- ened his conviction that Oregon is a place par excellence for homes and substantial for- tunes. Of an old and honored New York family, Mr. Dannals was born on a farm near Rochester, Monroe county, N. Y. His father, Richard, a tanner by trade, was a native of the same state, as was also his mother, Lucy (Clough) Dannals, who was born in Onon- dlaga county, and died in Rochester.

As one of the three children to attain ma- turity in his father's family of five, James Dannals remained at home until his twenty- first year, in the meantime performing his

share towards the general support. He learned the cabinet-makers' trade in Roches- ter, N. Y., and thus equipped for a livelihood removed to near Freeport, Ill., in 1849. While plying his trade he heard a great deal about gold mining on the coast, and contracting the gold fever himself he crossed the plains in 1850 with horse teams, starting out in March, and arriving at his destination on the Ameri- can river in California after about six months on the plains. That he had a very exalted idea of mining is hard to believe, for in the spring of 1851 he crossed the mountains to Oregon with pack mules, arriving in Cor- vallis in June, 1851. Here he worked at his trade of building in partnership with Bushrod Wilson, and in 1853 took up a donation claim east of Coburg, in Lane county, which he im- proved to some extent, engaging also in building and contracting. Four years later he started a furniture business in Eugene, both manufacturing and dealing, but five years later disposed of his store and again turned his attention to farming. This farm was subsequently traded for a farm near Al- bany, Linn county, which he lived on until starting his furniture business in 1876. He is now living retired in Albany.

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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 41

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