Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 56

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 56

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REV. CHARLES C. POLING, Ph. D. It is a widely acknowledged fact that the most im- portant work to which man can direct his en- ergies is that of teaching, whether it be from the pulpit, from the lecture platform or in the school- room. Its primary object is ever the same-the development of one's latent powers that the duties of life may be bravely met and well per- formed. The intellectual and moral natures are so closely allied that it is difficult to instruct one without in a measure influencing the other, and certainly the best results are accomplished when the work goes hand in hand. Christian instruc- tion is having an influence over the world that few can estimate, for it is in youth that the life of the individual is marked out, the future course decided, and the choice as to the good or evil made. It is to this work of thus instructing the young that Dr. Charles C. Poling devotes his time, energies and thought, being now president of the Dallas College.

Dr. Poling was born near Martinsburg, W. Va .. February 2, 1859. His paternal great- grandfather was born in Scotland and, coming to America, reared a large family in Virginia. He was of Scotch-Irish lineage. His son, Capt. John Poling, the grandfather of our subject, gained his title through his connection with the boating interests, being master of the "Potomac" on the Chesapeake and Ohio canals from Cum- berland to Martinsburg. He was also engaged in ranching in Hampshire county, Va., and, raising stock, he drove his cattle to the markets of Balti- more, Philadelphia and Boston. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Rev. Daniel S. Poling, the father of Dr. Poling, was born in Romney, Hampshire county, Va., in 1830, and when twenty-one years of age was ordained a minister of the Evangelical Association. He began work in behalf of the church in the Shenandoah valley and afterward removed to Ohio. During this period he was also a stanch advocate of the abolition cause and did much to raise a feeling of indignation to- ward slavery. Removing to Pennsylvania, he has since continued his work in the ministry, never faltering in his labors in behalf of Christi- anity. Although now well advanced on life's journey he is still active in his church near Johns- town, Pa. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Pownall, was born in Virginia, a daughter of Jonathan Pownall, who owned a large plantation near Romney, Va. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Poling were born eight children, of whom our subject is the third. His brother,

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Rev. D. V. Poling, is a graduate of Central Penn- sylvania College and is now pastor of the Con- gregational Church of The Dalles, Ore.

Dr. Poling began his education in the public schools of Virginia, continued his studies in Ohio, and afterward entered Greensburg Sem- inary at Greensburg, Ohio. Later he was a student in Clarion County Institute of Pennsyl- vania and subsequently completed his sophomore year in Mount Union College of Mount Union, Ohio. Having determined to devote his life to the active work of the ministry, he was licensed to preach in 1880 at Johnstown, Pa., and for two years was pastor of the church at Brook- ville, Pa. He was ordained a deacon in Venango county, Pa., in 1882, and for two years was pas- tor of Trinity Church at Johnstown After enter- ing the ministry he continued his educational work as opportunity afforded, until he completed his philosophical course, graduating and receiv- ing the degree of Ph. B. from LaFayette Seminary. Since then he has taken a four years course in metaphysics and philosophy at Rich- mond College, of Richmond, Ohio, receiving therefrom the degree of Ph. D. In the spring of 1884 he and his wife were appointed to active service on the board of missions and assigned to duty in the Willamette valley, Ore., and April I of that year arrived in Portland. Dr. Poling established the first English mission of the Evangelical Association in the city of Port- land, where he continued his labors for three years. In 1888 he was elected presiding elder of the Oregon Conference of the Willamette dis- trict and after serving for seven years in that important office he resigned to accept the presi- dency of LaFayette Seminary in 1895.

In 1888 Dr. Poling had taken the initia- tory step toward founding the seminary, and when the county seat was removed to McMinn- ville he secured the old county building which he removed to its present site and therein La- Fayette Seminary was established with Dr. Poling as president of the board of trustees. He was first elected to the presidency of the institu- tion, but refusing the honor, Dr. W. C. Kantner, of Millersburg, Pa., was appointed president, with Dr. Bowman as one of the professors. Dr. Kantner successfully continued at the head of the institution until 1892, when he resigned and Professor Bowman was elected to the presidency of the seminary, in which capacity hic remained until 1895. Dr. Poling was then elected president, conducting the institution for three years, and at the same time officiating as pastor of the First Union Evangelical Church. In 1891 President Poling was sent as a delegate to the general conference held in Philadelphia. In 1894 the general conference at Naperville, Ill., organized the United Evangelical Church, with

which he cast his lot. In 1899 he was again elected presiding elder of the Oregon Conference and has since been superintendent of the work of the denomination in the state. Between the years 1895 and 1900 Dr. Poling sought a new location for the seminary, and eventually secured one at Dallas, uniting LaFayette Semi- nary with LaCreole Academy and incorporating the same under the name of Dallas College, with himself as president. They retained the old charter of the academy, and since the amalgama- tion the college has made marked advancement. There is, however, a separate board of trustees for both the college and academy, with Dr. Poling as president of each. The academy fur- nishes the preparatory course for entrance into the college. Marked improvements have been made, including the erection of new buildings and there is now a well equipped college build- ing. new dormitory and gymnasium. The aca- demic work includes a three years' course above the eighth grade school work, while the college embraces a full college course. Perhaps no bet- ter idea of the institution can be given than is presented in its catalogue. "LaCreole Academy, whose aim, as formerly, shall be 'to prepare stu- dents for college and for the active affairs of life' ; and Dallas College, successor to LaFayette Seminary, will henceforth be conducted under the auspices of the Oregon Conference of the United Evangelical Church. While the control of the school is denominational, its instruction shall in no sense be sectarian. The purpose of the institution is to furnish to young men and women a liberal Christian education, to lay a deep and broad foundation in the study of the Sciences, Arts and Philosophies, and to build up a strong intellectual and moral character. The school, therefore, is open to persons of good moral character, who are willing to obey the rules and regulations adopted for its govern- ment."

Dr. Poling was married in Greensburg, Ohio, in 1882, to Miss Sevilla A. Kring. who was born in that state, a daughter of the Rev. S. B. Kring, a minister of the Evangelical Asso- ciation, who died in Kendallville, Ind., in 1893. Mrs. Poling is a graduate of the high school of Van Wert, Ohio, and prior to her marriage was an evangelist for four years, laboring in Penn- sylvania. Ohio and Indiana, and has ever been a most able assistant to her husband in promoting the cause of Christianity and religious education. Their marriage has been blessed with seven chil- dren : Daniel A., who is now in the junior year in Dallas College: Ethel V., who is pursuing a course in the academy ; Laura A .; Charles S .: Mabel: Rudolph; and Paul Newton. At this point it would be superfluous to enter into any series of statements as showing Dr. Poling

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to be a man of broad intelligence and genuine public spirit, for these qualities have been set forth between the lines of this review. Strong in his individuality, he never lacks the courage of his convictions ; but there are dominating ele- ments in this individuality-a lively human sym- pathy and an abiding charity, which, combined with his sterling integrity, have naturally gained for him the respect and confidence of men.

JULIUS NEWTON HART. The district attorney for the territory comprising Linn, Ma- rion, Polk, Yamhill and Tillamook counties, Ore., is one of the well known legal practitioners of the state, and is discharging his duties with courage, fidelity, and with absolute fearlessness.

Back to Colonial times Mr. Hart traces his lineage, and justly cherishes an enviable ances- tral record. He was born near Fairfield, Wayne county, Ill., May 13, 1869, a son of John S. and Minerva J. (Neal) Hart, natives respectively of Carroll county, Ohio, and Wayne county, Ill. As far back as 1632 Stephen Hart came from Braintree, Essex county, England, settling in Massachusetts, and removing in 1635 to Hart- ford, Conn., which town he helped to found. He became prominent in early governmental affairs in Connecticut, and was a member of the general court for fifteen terms. From Stephen the line of descent is through John, John, John, Silas, Julius C., John S., and J. N. The first John, with his wife and daughter, became victims of the Indians, who burned their house at night, and all within. His son, Capt. John Hart, of the Connecticut militia, avenged the deaths in his family by relentlessly pursuing the red men. The first to establish the family outside of Connecticut was the great-grandfather, Silas Hart, a farmer by occupation, who removed to Wayne county, N. Y., where his son. Julius C., the grandfather of our subject, was born. Julius C. Hart devoted his life to farming and school teaching, which he followed for many years in Carroll county, Ohio, and afterward in Wayne county, Ill., where he removed in 1850. His wife was Catherine Carl, a native of Pennsylvania, whose father was a soldier in the war of 1812.

John S. Hart was a boy when his parents re- moved to Illinois, and he was reared to farming on the pioneer property cleared by his father. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and served for more than three years. After the war he continued farming and filled various political offices. After removing to Oregon in 1885 he located on a farm near Dallas, Polk county, which has since been his home. His wife is a daughter of Isaac Newton Neal, who was born in Kentucky. Her ancestors

emigrated from the north of Ireland to Virginia before the Revolutionary war.

The oldest of the eight children born to his parents, Julius Newton Hart was reared on a farm, and attended the public schools during the winter. After coming to Oregon from Wayne county, Ill., in 1885, he continued to work on the farm for a year, and at the age of seventeen began teaching school in Polk county. Realizing the necessity of a superior education he increased his knowledge while teaching, attending both the State Normal School and La Creole Academy, graduating from the latter institution in 1889. Having decided at an early age to become a law- yer he attended the law department of the Uni- versity of Oregon at Portland, and was admitted to the bar in 1895. In the meantime he had acquired an enviable reputation as an educator, and in 1896 was elected superintendent of schools of Polk county on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected in 1898, his term of service extending from July, 1896, to July, 1900. While superin- tendent of schools he engaged in a limited prac- tice of law, and in 1900 was nominated for dis- trict attorney. He was elected in June and took the oath of office in July, 1900.

In December, 1890, Mr. Hart married Irene Dempsey, a native of Polk county, and daughter of James A. Dempsey, a native of Knox county, Ill. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hart, Judge Isaac I. Dempsey, came to Oregon in 1862, bringing with him his family, and settling at Rickreall, Polk county, where he filled the office of county judge. James A. Dempsey farmed for many years in Polk county, and died in Mon- mouth in 1893. His wife, Alice (Embree) Dempsey, a daughter of C. D. Embree and sister of Dr. Embree, represented elsewhere in this work, came to Oregon in 1844. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey, eight daughters and one son, Mrs. Hart being the third oldest. Two children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Hart, Julius Harold and Hallie Ruth. Mr. Hart is fraternally connected with Jennings Lodge No. 9. A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master ; with Ainsworth Chapter No. 17, R. A. M .: and Salem Lodge No. 336, B. P. O. E. He is also a member of the State Bar Association. Mr. Hart is entitled to much credit for the stanch support of the cause of education and for the standard of excellence which he was largely in- strumental in inaugurating and maintaining. He has been uniformly successful as a lawyer, and is a broad-minded, cultured, liberal and enterpris- ing citizen.

FRANK M. SMITH. Many years ago a lit- tle town of Jackson county, Mo., was the scene of what would now be called strange happen-

A & Richardson

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ings, the congregating of white-topped wagons and meek, slow-plodding oxen, with men and women in the picturesque costumes of the early pioneer, with somber determination showing through the eagerness of their faces. These men and women were the products out of which the new west has grown. This little city was Inde- pendence, the starting point for the great emi- grant trains that took their way into the west.

In the midst of these stirring scenes, Frank M. Smith was born July 20, 1831, near Indepen- dence, the son of Doctor and Nancy (Scott ) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively, and here the family remained until Frank M. was sixteen years old. Living among these scenes it fol- lowed as a natural consequence that they, too, should be imbued with the spirit of the times, and in 1847 they started from Holt county with two ox-teams to put the width of the continent between them and their old home. The journey occupied three days less than five months, during which time Doctor Smith was seized with his last illness. By the time they reached Green river they left a mound of up- turned earth to mark their pathway, and the bereaved family went the remainder of the jour- ney alone. By a strange decree of Providence they were unmolested by the Indians, reaching Oregon City safely, going from there to North Yamhill, where they remained until the spring of 1848. In the last named year they went to the Waldo Hills, Marion county, making this their permanent home by taking up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, putting into the improvement of the claim the strength of the seven young people who blessed the lonely mother with their presence. In 1876 occurred the death of this devoted mother.

The children born to Doctor Smith and his wife are as follows: Mandana, who was married in Missouri to Duff Kimsey, and died in Oregon ; Moses I., died in Salem, aged about seventy years; Frank M., subject of this sketch; Eliza- beth, who became the wife of George Hunt, and died in Salem. Sarah A., widow of Daniel Dur- bin, now a resident of Salem; Harriett E., died unmarried. Doctor, Jr., died on the farm now owned by Frank M.

Frank M. Smith remained on the home farm for seven years. At the age of twenty-three he went to Salem, where he was soon engaged stic- cessfully in the livery business. For ten of the twenty years which he devoted to this enterprise the Durbin brothers were his partners. In 1881 he purchased a farm of two hundred and sixty acres located three and a quarter miles south- east of Salem, where he has since resided. He has made many improvements to the place and has the greater part under cultivation, devoting the

estate to the raising of stock and to general farm- ing. In 1855-56 he enlisted in Capt. Charles Ben- nett's Company F, First Regiment, Oregon Mounted Volunteers, for the Yakima expedition, Col. J. W. Nesmith commanding.

In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a Dem- ocrat, but he has never been ambitions for public office, preferring to give his time to his own per- sonal affairs. He is one of the representative men of his section of the county, and is always ready to lend his assistance to the furtherance of those enterprises intended to benefit the com- munity.

ALBION J. RICHARDSON. Numbered among the prominent and successful business men of Polk county is A. J. Richardson, who is living retired from active pursuits at his pleas- ant home in Buena Vista. A man of courageons industry, sound judgment, and keen New England foresight, he came to Oregon when the country was new, and by persistent effort and steadfast- ness of purpose succeeded in the various under- takings with which he has since been identified, and is now one of the most extensive landholders of the county, and a person of affluence and in- fluence. A native of Maine, he was born at Mount Desert, Hancock county, May 11, 1835. He is of Scotch descent, and his father, Abraham Richardson, Jr., and his grandfather, Abraham Richardson, Sr., were both born and reared on that picturesque Maine island that is now a fa- mots summer resort.

Abraham Richardson, Jr., followed the sea dur- ing his early life, shipping before the mast when a boy, subsequently sailing as master of a vessel. He was afterwards employed for many years in shipbuilding, being successful, and accumulating considerable property for those days. His wife, whose maiden name was Deborah Burnham, was also born on Mount Desert Island, and like her husband, spent her entire life in Maine. Seven boys and three girls were born of their union, and of these Albion J., the second child in order of birth, is the only survivor.

Receiving excellent educational advantages, A. J. Richardson attended first the public schools of Tremont, Me., afterwards continuing his studies at the Bucksport Academy. Working with his father as a shipbuilder, he became fa- miliar with the trade, and followed it for two years in Rockland, Me. Leaving Boston in June, 1855, he came to San Francisco by way of Cape Horn, landing in that city in December, after a voyage of one hundred and thirty-two days. Going to Amador county, he was there engaged in mining two years, being quite successful in his operations. Starting then for the Fraser river, at the time of the gold excitement there, he changed his mind before arriving at his point

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of destination, and located in Portland, Ore., where he followed his trade. Coming from there to Polk county in the summer of 1859, Mr. Rich- ardson worked at his trade until 1862, when he went to Florence, Idaho, where he was engaged in mining about six months. After spending the winter of 1862-63 in Oregon, he again went to the mining region of Idaho, making the jour- ney with a pack train laden with merchandise for the mines, and remaining two years. Returning to Polk county, he was actively engaged in deal- ing in land for several years. From 1892 until 1898 he was a resident of Portland, Ore., but has since made his home in Buena Vista. One of the largest real estate owners in this section of the state, Mr. Richardson has about twelve hun- dred acres of land in the Willamette valley, two farms lying in Marion county, east of Buena Vista, two farms west of Buena Vista, and is the owner of considerable city property of value. His land is all rented, about twenty-five acres of it being devoted to hops. Since 1875 he has carried on a profitable business as a grain dealer, having a warehouse in Buena Vista, for eighteen years has been the leading grain merchant of this locality.

In 1862 Mr. Richardson married Hannah J. Linnville, who was born in Missouri, in October, 1845. Her father, the late Harrison Linnville, came from Missouri to Oregon in 1846, and took up a donation claim at what is now Parker's Sta- tion. He subsequently spent his last years in Corvallis. Of the four children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, but one is now living, Lillian, wife of C. A. Gray, of Salem, Ore. Politically, Mr. Richardson is a stanch Repub- lican, and fraternally he is a member of Lyons Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M., of Independence ; Oregon Consistory No. I, of Portland, and Al Kader Temple, N. M. S., of Portland.

TRENTON R. HIBBARD. The soldier on the field of battle is called upon for no greater heroism than is the pioneer who makes his way into the wilderness, far from other men and the comforts of an older civilization in order to es- tablish homes and to reclaim the wild district for the uses of himself and his race. The conditions which he meets are very hard and oftentimes discouraging. Nature may be bountiful in her gifts to man, but she also realizes the value of work in the development of character. She has therefore simply bestowed upon him the mate- rials from which he is to gain through labor that which brings him comforts and wealth. One always looks with interest upon the pioneer people who were brave enough to face the dan- gers and difficulties that awaited them on the Pacific coast. So far were they from the old

homes of the Mississippi valley or the east that communication was almost entirely cut off, and yet with unflinching courage they undertook the work of reclamation here. Mr. Hibbard is among the number whose labors have been of great benefit to Oregon, and few indeed are the settlers of the state at the present time who can claim residence here from 1847. While he is now living a retired life, he is to some extent engaged in making loans and in renting prop- erty. He resides in Silverton, where he is an honored and respected citizen.

Mr. Hibbard was born near Pekin, Tazewell county, Ill., April 2, 1836. His father, King Hibbard, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 31, 1806, a son of Samuel P. Hibbard, whose birth occurred in Vermont, whence he removed to Buffalo. He was a teamster in the army of the war of 1812, and his family heard the firing of the guns of Perry during the famous naval bat- tle on Lake Erie, which occurred only about six miles from their home. The grandfather of our subject became a resident of Oregon in 1848, locating near North Yamhill, Yamhill county, where he lived with his son until his death. In the year 1827 King Hibbard removed from Ohio to Illinois, stopping first where the city of Chi- cago now stands. One of his sisters gave birth to a boy there, the first born in Chicago. His name is Levi Reed, and he is now living a re- tired life in Portland, Ore.

On the 7th of April, 1847, King Hibbard left his home in Pekin, Ill., and started for the northwest, crossing the Missouri river at St. Joseph on the 3rd of May. . He then proceeded by way of the Platte river and the Oregon route to the northwest. He saw thousands of buffalo itpon the plains, and Indians were almost as numerous. There were no bridges across the streams, and neither had the ferry boats been put in operation. On one occasion the Indians stole the horses of the party, but they managed to recover them. They crossed the Cascades, and on the 17th of September arrived at the Foster place in Clackamas county. The Hibbard family located amid the Waldo Hills, and the father of our subject took a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres, which he entered on the 25th of September. He was a typical pioneer settler, brave, self-reliant and deter- mined, willing to cope with the hardships and difficulties incident to life on the frontier in order to establish a home for his family. With char- acteristic energy he began the development of his place and continued to work there until his death, which occurred on the 30th of June, 1860. He left everything in the hands of his son, Tren- ton R., administrator of the estate. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy C. Brisbin, was born in Center county, Pa. Her death oc-

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curred in the Waldo Hills in January, 1864. Her father, John Brisbin, was a native of Penn- sylvania, whence he removed to Kentucky, be- coming an influential and prominent citizen there. He served as judge, and took an active interest in public affairs, contributing largely to the improvement and progress of his community. He was a very successful educator, and was also a fine penman. In the early '2os he removed to Illinois, locating near Jacksonville, and suhse- quently he took up his abode near Pekin, that state. In 1846 he made the trip to Oregon across the plains with an ox team, and died in the Cow Creek canyon. They had lost all of their stock and were coming on foot when Mr. Brisbin sickened and died. He was at that time alone with his son, who buried him, digging a grave with his hands. It had been necessary for them to wade through the water, and in this way Mr. Brisbin had become ill. The remainder of the train proceeded on their way, while the father and son stopped for what they believed would be but a brief period, thinking that the father would be better soon. After burying his father, the son hastened on and joined the rest of the party, but in the meantime nearly starved, the supply of food giving out. On reaching their destination a settlement was made by the Bris- bin family in Marion county.

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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 56

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