Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 49

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 49

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Thomas Weaver spent his long life of four score years in Canonsburg, where he was busily employed in agricultural pursuits. He married Elizabeth Lesnett, who was born near Bridgeville, Pa., a daughter of Frederick Les- nett, a well-known farmer of that section of the country. Of the ten children born of their union, one son and one daughter died in in- fancy. Seven sons and one daughter grew to

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years of maturity, and the doctor, a brother, Frank Ritchie, and his sister are the only ones now living.

Receiving the rudiments of his education in the common schools of his native town, Sam- uel W. Weaver subsequently attended the Can- onsburg Academy, later entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Md., from which he received the degree of M. D. in 1882. Beginning the practice of his pro- fession in Pennsylvania, he remained in Wash- ington county two years, then settled at Para- dise Valley, Nev., continuing there an active practitioner for two years. Coming to Oregon in the spring of 1886, Dr. Weaver located in Hubbard, where he has a large and constantly increasing practice, being known as one of the leading physicians of this locality. In addi- tion to his practice, the doctor has also another source of revenue, having a half interest in the drug store of Weaver & Scholl, a well-known and well-patronized establishment. Since com- ing here he has identified himself with the best interests of the city, and has built a most attractive residence for himself and family in a desirable location.

Dr. Weaver was married November 1, 1888, in Hubbard to Alice Grim, who was born Sep- tember 28, 1867, and educated in that city, and of their union two children have been born, namely : Francis E. and Guy G. Mrs. Weaver is a daughter of Judge John W. and Frances E. (Geer) Grim, pioneers of 1847, and both now deceased. Judge Grim was the first county judge of Marion county. His family comprises the following children: Byron; Martha, wife of M. Schmer of Yamhill county ; Thurston, of Marion county; William, of Marion county ; Isaiah, of Portland; Edwin and Edgar, twins, the former mining in Philip- pine Islands and the latter an attorney at Nome, Alaska: Mary, wife of George H. Beebe, of Woodburn; Ralph, of Clackamas county ; and Alice, wife of Dr. Weaver. Polit- ically the doctor is a Democrat, and has ren- dered the city excellent service one term as a member of the city council. Fraternallv he is a member of Hubbard Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is an accomplished musician, belonging to the Hubbard Symphony Orchestra, in which he plays the first violin. Among his valued pos- sessions he counts the first violin ever played in this valley, it having been brought here prior to 1847.

LEVIN NELSON ENGLISH. To be stic- cessful in business, one must have, as a rule, an occupation that is congenial. The truth of this proposition finds an illustration in the agri-

cultural undertakings of Levin Nelson English, who owns and occupies a finely cultivated farm near Sublimity. He is not only one of the most prosperous farmers in Marion county, but also one of the most ambitious and advanced in his ideas. He thoroughly enjoys his vocation, takes advantage of all innovations which, in his opin- ion, will prove beneficial, and is constantly look- ing for ways and means to render more con- tented and happy those intrusted to his care. His farm consists of four hundred acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation, and its improvements include three fine cattle barns, recently constructed. A general air of neatness and thrift in evidence everywhere bespeaks the careful and painstaking farmer.

A native of Macoupin county, Ill., Mr. English was born September 17, 1832, a son of Levin N. and Mary (Tucker) English, respectively of Kentucky and Maryland. When his son and namesake was three years of age the father moved to a farm near Burlington, Iowa. From there he went to Davis county, that state, his family in the meantime being increased to four sons and three daughters. In 1845 he made arrangements to cross the plains, and laid in a large supply of provisions, besides loose cat- tle and the requisite number of oxen. The long journey was accomplished in six months' time. Upon their arrival at the Cascade Moun- tains they crossed the range on pack animals, driving their cattle before them. Their wagons were left at The Dalles, in order to facilitate the journey westward from that point. At that time all the members were in fairly good health, and felt they had reason to congratu- late themselves on their escape from Indian depredations and other disasters. But the family were saddened at this point by the death of one of the children, William, and a lonely grave was left to mark the last resting place of one who had counted much on making his way in this country of wonderful resources.

The family spent the first winter in Oregon City. In the spring of 1846 the father bought a right to six hundred and forty acres of land located seven miles east of Salem, in Marion county, upon which a small log cabin had al- ready been erected. Into this the family moved and resided until prosperity permitted the erec- tion of a more commodious residence. He then returned to Marion county, located on a farm, and operated it for two years, at the expiration of that time removing to Salem, where he died in 1880 at the age of eighty-five years.

Mr. English was a man of strong personality and marked characteristics. He always exhih- ited a keen interest in current events, and had strong convictions as to the righteousness of the policy pursued by those intrusted with the

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administration of the affairs of the government. In politics a stanch Democrat, he was honored by clection to the Oregon State Legislature and in turn honored his county by the faithful per- formance of the duties intrusted to him. For many years he also served as a justice of the peace. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons.

Of the children born of his first marriage, Me- linda married Joseph Foss, of Howell Prairie; William died while crossing the plains, as noted; Hiram is deceased ; Mary A., deceased, was twice married, her first husband being Jeremiah Mor- ris, after whose death she became the wife of Coleman Burnett ; Rebecca was the wife of Pres- ton Smith; Delilah is the widow of William Hendricks, and resides at Chehalis, Wash .; Levin N. is the subject of this sketch ; and Rob- ert is deceased. For a second wife Mr. English chose Mrs. Mary Daley, a native of Missouri. Of this union the following children were born : Francis, deceased; Thomas; Mahalla; LaFay- ette ; Elizabeth; Nancy, and Lewis.

When the memorable journey across the plains was undertaken Levin Nelson English. Jr., was thirteen years of age. At the age of fifteen he enlisted with the Oregon troops for service in the Cayuse Indian war with his father and brother Hiram, and during the three months' campaign in which they were actively engaged they had some very trying and exciting experi- ences. For twenty-seven days they were with- out bread of any kind, and besides being exposed constantly to the menaces of the Indians, they suffered at times from most inclement weather. After the massacre at Whitman's Station they fought their way through their savage enemies, following them through to the Snake river, where a fiercely contested battle took place. The elder English raised his own company, drilled it, and throughout the entire campaign served as its captain. After the thrilling ex- periences of the three members of this family they were glad to return to their home.

Until his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Riggs, which took place in February, 1853, the subject of this memoir remained at home assisting his father in the operation of the farm. His wife, who is a native of Scotland county, Mo., is a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Burton) Riggs, and crossed the plains from Iowa in 1852. They settled on a donation claim four miles south of Eugene, and later removed to Umatilla county, where Mr. Riggs died, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife passed away in that county at the age of eighty-three. After his marriage Mr. English resided for a time on Howell's Prairie. In 1853 he took up a claim of five hundred acres in the foothills, where he erected a log cabin and remained for four years.

He then purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres on Howell Prairie, which he oper- ated successfully for ten years. This property he sold at the end of that period and went to California, spending two years at Los Angeles and San Diego. Upon his return he rented a farm for a year. In 1870 he purchased his pres- ent farm of four hundred acres, which is unques- tionably one of the finest and most productive in the Willamette valley.

Unto Mr. English and his estimable wife four children have been born. Robert N. is deceased ; William H. now has charge of the home place; Alice is the wife of Byron Denney, of Marion county, and has one daughter, Florence; John A. is engaged in farming near Sublimity, and has a family of two children, Clarence and Mil- dred.

It will be seen from a reference to this brief outline of the career of Mr. English that he is doubly entitled to a permanent place in the annals of the representative families of the Willamette valley. He is not only a descendant of one of the earliest pioneers of the state and a pioneer himself, but during the long years of luis residence in Oregon has been closely as- sociated with the best interests of the home of his adoption in various ways. He is highly es- teemed by his fellow-citizens as a man of probity, ever willing to assist in every way in his power in fostering and developing the resources of the state, in securing the best possible educational facilities for the rising generation, in inculcat- ing in the minds of the young a healthy moral tone, and in aiding materially all projects of a worthy character. His spirit is an unselfish one, broad and liberal. That he has attained more than the ordinary measure of success in his chosen field of endeavor is a fact that can be attributed solely to his own energy, perseverance and praiseworthy ambition. The record of his career, which is here preserved for the inspira- tion of future generations, will do much to pro- mote in the minds and hearts of those to come, a worthy ambition to emulate the principles which have guided his life and crowned it with the success which is his just due.

JOHN M. WATSON. One of the best known representatives of the dairy interests of Marion county, Ore., is John M. Watson, who resides on a farm of seventy-five acres near Turner, where he devotes his time principally to the product of a fine herd of Jersey cows. Mr. Watson was born in Beaver county, Pa., near Beaver Falls, April 8, 1848, the son of Nicholas and Hannah (Creighton) Watson. With his parents he removed to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1853. and thence, in 1860, to Findlay, Ohio, where

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he completed his education and grew to ma- turity. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Com- pany K, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio In- fantry, which formed a part of the Twenty-third Army Corps. His active service was principally in North Carolina, and the principal engagement in which he participated was the battle of Kings- ton, that state. At the close of the conflict he was mustered out of the Federal service and at once returned to his home, where he remained until his twenty-fourth birthday. At that time he moved to Auburn, Ind., where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of hubs and spokes for three years. In the Centennial year he sought better financial returns for his energies and abil- ities by a prospecting tour of the Black Hills. Soon after abandoning this venture he went to lowa, where he remained for a short time. The opportunities which he was earnestly seeking not appearing to him up to this time, he finally de- cided to try his fortunes in the far west, Oregon appealing · to him as a fertile field for young men of brain and brawn. Removing to this state in 1876 he located in Marion county, where he remained until 1879. In that year he went to Idaho, where he took up government land under the pre-emption act, and operated a farm for two years. Returning to Oregon in 1881 he en- gaged in the management of a hotel at Turner, in which his efforts were attended by success. Upon the expiration of two years he became associated with the Oregon Milling Company, an occupation which he found both congenial and profitable, and to which he devoted his time for seven years. At the end of that time he purchased the farm upon which he now re- sides. Here he makes a specialty of dairying. though general farming is engaged in to some extent.

Mr. Watson has been twice married. In 1872 he was united with Miss Clara Beach, who be- came the mother of one daughter, Clara, now deceased. In 1879 he married Miss Jane Steele. They are the parents of five children, named as follows: Clara E., wife of E. L. Martin, of Turner; William Byrd; Ruth; Sophia R. and John M., Jr.

Mr. Watson has become one of the thoroughly representative men of Marion county. An earn- est Republican, he has been prominently identi- fied with the party, and has been called to posi- tions of official trust. In 1890 he was elected county commissioner of Marion county, serving continuously in the office for eight years. He has also exhibited a profound interest in educa- tional matters, and has been a member of the local school board for several years. Frater- nally he is a member of Pearl Lodge No. 66, A. F. & A. M., of Turner, in which he has filled the various chairs. On every occasion when

Mr. Watson has found the opportunity to dem- onstrate his public spirit he has done so, not for the sake of any personal aggrandizement, but with motives of an entirely unselfish character. He has accomplished all in his power for the improvement of the social, moral and intellectual status of the community, and in all ways has shown himself to be a useful citizen.

WILLIAM E. BAKER. That Mr. Baker has been an important factor in the growth and up- building of Albany is disputed by no one, but on the contrary he is conceded by all to be one of the city's most enterprising citizens. As a con- tractor and builder he stands second to none in the profession in Albany, where upon every hand are to be seen evidences of his superior handiwork. When he came here in 1888 the city could boast only two brick buildings, but in the years that have intervened scarcely a brick struc- ture has been erected for which he has not had the contract. As a partial list of the structures he has erected mention may be made of the Masonic Temple, Baltimore building, Vance building and the woolen mill, all in Albany, and the bank building in Lebanon. In addition to contracting and building, he also fills contracts for doing cement work of all kinds, this department alone furnishing a splendid income.

A native of England, Mr. Baker was born near Wells, Somersetshire, where his father, William, who was descended from an old established fam- ily, followed the peaceful life of the agriculturist. Charles Baker, the grandfather, was a wagon and carriage-maker by trade. William Baker chose as his life companion Charity Foxwell, also a native of England, and the daughter of William and Mary (Stone) Foxwell, the former of whom was a stone and brick contractor. The parental family comprised eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom reside in England with the exception of William E. and his brother Walter G., who is superintendent for a large contracting firm in Seattle, Wash.

William E. was the oldest child born to his parents, the date of his birth being January 13, 1850. His early boyhood days were spent in steady application to his books in the national schools in the vicinity of his home, and at the age of twelve years he was apprenticed to his maternal grandfather for a term of seven years to learn the mason's trade. His grandfather dy- ing four years later, however, he completed his apprenticeship under the direction of John Par- rot. When twenty years old he began to apply the knowledge gained during his apprenticeship, and for one year worked at his trade at Bristol. In 1871, when he had reached his majority, he set sail for the United States, his destination be-

James Helmink

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ing Skaneateles, Onondaga county, N. Y., where he remained until 1876, working at his trade. From the latter state he went to Sibley, Iowa, engaging in contracting and building there for twelve years, or until coming to Oregon in 1888.

W. E. Baker and Miss Mary Lukens, a native of Somersetshire, were united in marriage in England, and of the six children born to them all are deceased. His identification with the Ma- sonic order dates from the time of his residence in Sibley, Iowa, and he is now a member of St. John's Lodge in Albany. Later he was made a Royal Arch Mason, being identified with Bailey Chapter, and subsequently was raised to the com- mandery, affiliating with Temple No. 3. While in England he was made an Odd Fellow, and is now a past officer in the lodge of the order at Al- bany, besides being identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Business and fra- ternal matters have not absorbed his time and attention to the exclusion of religion and politics, however, and in the Episcopal Church of Albany, of which he is a member, he is accounted one of the stanch supporters. Politically his sympathies and support are in favor of the Republican party. In his business dealings Mr. Baker has been very successful, his good management and fair deal- ing winning him a handsome competence, and he is numbered among the substantial citizens of the community.

JAMES HELMICK. There is an indisput- able honor attached to the fact that one has come to ownership of the many attributes which go to make up the necessities of life, the strongest of them being the inalienable rights of citizenship, through an inheritance which has followed the name, proving the loyalty and the courage of an immediate ancestor. To James Helmick, a farmer of Polk county, has been given such an inher- itance, left to him by his father, Henry Helmick, a pioneer of 1845, and a man who won his way against heavy odds in the days of Oregon's early history.

Henry Helmick was born in Germany, Sep- tember 14, 1822, and came with his father, Ste- phen Helmick, to America in 1825. The first settlement was made in Pennsylvania, from which state the elder man removed later to Indiana, and followed this up with a movement into Iowa, set- tling near Burlington, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Henry Hel- mick grew to manhood principally in Iowa, and in 1845, he left the familiar surroundings of his youth and started across the plains for the pro- ductive lands of the northwestern territory. Two yoke of oxen and a wagon embodied all his worldly wealth, but courage was a dominant trait in the character of the pioneers of the times and

he made the six months' journey, buoyed up by the hope of finding a home in the western land. The greatest misfortune of the trip befell Mr. Helmick after the journey was ended, or nearly so, the strong current in the river at The Dalles sweeping away the raft upon which the wagons were standing, preparatory to being taken ashore. Thus deprived of all that would have made farm- ing a possibility, Mr. Helmick was compelled to take any kind of work offered, the first being to help in building a barn, the pay for which enabled them to subsist for a short time. The first winter was spent on Tualatin plains and in Salein, and in the spring of 1846, Mr. Helmick took up a do- nation claim upon the present site of Salem. He remained there but a short time, however, before giving it up and coming to Polk county. The claim which he took up here was located four miles south of Monmouth, and consisted of six hundred and forty acres, upon which he engaged in stock-raising and farming until his death, in 1876. Through perseverance and unending in- dustry he had succeeded in building up a fortune, owning at the time of his death thirteen hundred acres. But once in the intervening years had he departed from the industries of his farm, that being in the spring of 1849, when he was at- tracted to the gold mines of California. Not meeting with the success he had expected and de- sired, he returned in the fall of 1850, and found a greater wealth in the wide lands of his adopted state.

The wife who shared the trials and burdens of the early life of Mr. Helmick was, in maiden- hood, Sarah Steeprow, who was born in Indiana, July 4, 1823, of German parentage. : The mar- riage was celebrated April 14, 1845, and the next day witnessed their departure for the west. Of the four sons and one daughter which blessed their union, two died in infancy, the, remaining three attaining maturity. They are as follows : James, of this review ; Lewis, now deceased ; and Mary C., who became Mrs. James Tedrow, of Corvallis, Ore.

James Helmick was born in Polk county, Ore., February 21, 1851, upon his father's donation claim, and the old house in which the family lived is still standing. His early education was re- ceived in the district schools of his native county, which he attended until he was nineteen years old. At that age he left school and entered upon the work of the farm, remaining at home until his father's death, when the property was divided among the children. He now owns five hundred and eighty acres of land, to the cultivation of which he is devoting his intelligent effort, being now one of the most extensive and successful farmers in this neighborhood. He is principally interested in general farming, though sixteen acres are set apart for the raising of hops. In

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addition to his farming interests Mr. Helmick is engaged in a warehouse at Parker Station, having built the same in partnership with his brother, Lewis, in 1882. He handles grain in immense quantities, shipping from forty thousand to fifty thousand bushels annually, as well as produce of all kinds. He has met with the same success in this work, which has characterized his every effort, and stamped him as one of the leading farmers of Polk county.

In 1880, Mr. Helmick married Miss Amanda Mayes, who was born in Marion county, Ore., April 25, 1860. She was the daughter of Stephen Mayes, who crossed the plains in 1852 and lo- cated in the northern part of Marion county. The five children born to them are as follows: Fran- cis, Sarah, Nellie, Mary and William, all of whom are still at home with their parents. Po- litically, Mr. Helmick is a stanch Republican, and through the influence of this party he served as county commissioner in 1890-94, and has also held the position of road supervisor, and that of various school offices. In his fraternal relations he affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

ZENAS FERRY MOODY. No man in Ore- gon is more highly respected than Hon. Zenas F. Moody, and no man ever more fully enjoyed the confidence of the people or more richly de- served the esteem in which he is held. His life has been one of labor-labor in the business world and in the field of public service-and the result of his efforts is to be found in the benefits which have accrued to the entire commonwealth. · He is a man remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perseverance and his strong intellectuality. His entire life has no hid- den phase, being an open scroll inviting the closest scrutiny.

Born in Granby, Mass., May 27, 1832, his an- cestry, both lineal and collateral, is distinctively American through many generations. The line may be traced back to George Moody of Moul- ton, Suffolk county, England, whose son, Deacon John Moody, crossed the Atlantic to the New World in 1633, settling in Boston, Mass. Later he resided in Roxbury, in that state, and in Bos- ton he was made a freeman. His son, Samuel Moody, married Sarah Deming. At the time of his death, Samuel Moody was serving as a select- man in his town. His son, who also bore the name of Samuel, was born November 28, 1670, and died November 10, 1774. His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Samuel Lane of Suffolk, Conn., and the son born of this marriage, another Samuel Moody, was born in Granby, Mass., Sep- tember 10, 1702, and wedded Mary Hovey. The son of this union was Thomas Hovey Moody,

the great-grandfather of the subject of this re- view. He was born in South Hadley, Mass., August 31, 1736, and married Eunice Chapin, a native of Massachusetts. Their son, Gideon Moody, grandfather of Z. F. Moody, was born in Massachusetts March 15, 1765, and served in the Revolutionary war in a company com- manded by Captain Oliver Consey. To one of his sons, the father of Z. F. Moody, he gave the name of his own father, Thomas Hovey Moody. The birth of this son occurred August 19, 1795, and he became a farmer in New England. Even- tually he removed to Illinois, settling at Con- cord, Morgan county, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. He served as Major in the old Massachusetts State Militia, and in poli- tics he was originally a Whig and afterward a Republican. He married Hannah Ferry, who was born in Massachusetts, a daughter of Noah and Hannah ( Montague) Ferry. Her birth oc- curred March 17, 1794, and she gave her hand in marriage to Thomas H. Moody in May, 1817. Her father was a son of Noah Ferry, Sr., and a grandson of Charles Ferry of Springfield, Mass. Senator T. W. Ferry of Michigan is a cousin of Governor Moody, his father, the Rev. William Ferry of Grand Haven, having been a brother of the Governor's mother. Hannah Montague was a daughter of Joseph Montague. The an- cestry in that line may be traced back to Richard Montague of Hadley, Mass., who was the first of the name to come to America. He was of English birth, and in England the family history may be traced back to Normandy, the French name being Montacute.

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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 49

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