Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 65

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 65

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In 1853 Mr. Feller, alert for greater oppor- tunities than he found in Illinois, embraced the opportunity to drive some ox-teams across the plains in return for board and accommoda- tions. After five months of experience more or less interesting, he arrived in Oregon City, where he looked around for a suitable perma- nent location, and where, in the meantime, he drove dray wagons as a means of support. Later he came to Butteville, and worked at various occupations, in 1857 returning to Illi- nois, to the wife and children who awaited him with so much anxiety. In May, 1857, he re-

turned to Oregon with his family by way of Panama, and settled for a time near Butteville, soon after purchasing fifty acres of land upon which the present home now stands, and of which fifteen acres had been cleared. Other improvements consisted of a log stable and frame house, and in the latter the family lived for many years, although there was but one room for all purposes.

At the time of his death, October 2, 1896, Mr. Feller had transformed his crude possessions into a splendidly improved farm, with modern buildings and all manner of agricultural im- plements. At the last he owned four hundred acres, having added to his original purchase on several occasions. Advantageously lo- cated on the renowned French Prairie, he en- gaged for years in general farming and stock- raising, and in the meantime took a keen in- terest in developing the conditions by which he was surrounded. He was a member of the Catholic Church, as is all his family, and he held various local offices, among them that of school director. Of the eight children born to himself and wife two, Barbara and Francis, died in infancy ; John is a carpenter of Wood- burn; Peter, Jr., farmed with his father until his death, and then assumed complete control of the property; he was married February 6, 1898, to Christina Haag, and four children have been born into his family: Mabel E .; Lillian M .; Lucille J., deceased ; and Harley Laverne. Of the other children, Mary is the wife of J. J. Ryan of Butteville; Annie is the wife of John Whitney, residing near Woodburn; Clara is the wife of George W. Case, residing near Champoeg; Lizzie is the wife of D. H. Bomhoff, a merchant of Woodburn; she had a daughter, Mabel Edith, by her first husband, Charles Scheurer; and Annie, Grace and Harry by her second marriage. Peter Feller, Jr., owns eighty-two acres of land near Hub- bard, and in addition to general farming has ten acres under hops.

JOHN McCHESNEY. Many of the finest residences and public buildings in Albany owc their construction to the skill of John McChes- ney, who, previous to locating here in 1888 had acquired extensive experience along general building lines. This prominent and successful member of a thriving community was born in Ontario, Canada, where had settled his father, Hugh, and his mother, Hannah (Dole) McChes- ney, upon their arrival from their native Scot- land. From Canada the father moved to Moore- head. Minn., and later to Tacoma, Wash .. where he died at the age of eighty-six. He was sur-

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vived by his wife, who came to Oregon and spent the remainder of her life with her son, John.

The sixth oldest of the nine children in his father's family, and the only one in Oregon, John McChesney was born November 17, 1853, and was primarily educated in the Canadian pub- lic schools. He was twenty years of age when he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1873 re- moved to Detroit, Mich., where he worked for a time at carriage making. At Fargo, N. Dak., he engaged in a blacksmith and carriage making business with his brother, but afterward sold out and removed to Grand Forks, Dak., where he manufactured and contracted for brick. As before stated, he came to Albany in 1888, and has since made himself a necessary adjunct to the prosperity of the town. In all of its depart- ments Mr. McChesney has a comprehensive understanding of his chosen occupation, and that it is the work for which he is particularly fitted, and which he finds most congenial, is undoubt- edly the secret of his success. He has a correct appreciation of the substantial and lasting, as well as artistic and pleasing, and with almost no exceptions his work has been satisfactory in all of its details.

In Albany Mr. McChesney married Nancy Candis Conn, a native of Indiana, and sister of Perry Conn. Two children have been born of this union, Arthur Carmine and Esther May. As a Republican Mr. McChesney has been promi- nently before the public on various occasions. In religion he is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The most desirable traits of the typical northwestern business man are embodied in Mr. McChesney, among which are enthusiasm for and active participation in all undertakings which have for their object the up- lifting and development of his adopted com- munity.

JUDGE HIRAM M. PALMER. Entering upon his responsible duties as county judge of Linn county with a sincere desire to perform the obligations of his office to the satisfaction of his supporters and the general public, Judge Palmier of Albany has proved himself cminently worthy of the trust reposed in him, and has served the people with ability and fidelity. Practical, pro- gressive and whole-hearted, he is an esteemed and popular citizen, and since becoming a resi- dent of this section of the state has contributed his full share towards advancing its educational, political and agricultural interests. A son of A. F. Palmer, he was born near Batavia, Gencsee county, N. Y., in 1849. He is a descendant of one of the early families of western New York, where his paternal grandfather, James Palmer,

was a well-to-do lumber manufacturer and dealer.

Educated for the bar, A. F. Palmer practiced law as a young man, but was afterwards en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Genesee county, N. Y., until 1853, when he removed to Iowa. Locating near the present site of the town of Malcom, he purchased land, and was there suc- cessfully engaged in general farming until his retirement in 1895. and is now seventy-eight years of age. He married Sarah J. Milliman. She was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., which was also the birthplace of her husband, being the daughter of Hiram Milliman, who removed from the Empire state to Ohio, and there spent his last years. Of the nine children born of their union, four sons and four daughters are living.

The oldest child of the parental household, H. M. Palmer obtained his elementary education in the district schools, afterwards completing a course of study at Grinnell College, in Iowa. Choosing for himself the independent occupation to which he had been reared, he took up a home- stead and a tree claim, near Hastings, Adams county, Neb., in 1873, and subsequently added to his acreage by the purchase of railroad land until he became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres, which he devoted to general farm- ing and stock-raising. Disposing of his Ne braska property in 1891, Mr. Palmer came with his family to Oregon, locating near Albany. Linn county. Purchasing two hundred acres of land about four and one-half miles southwest of Albany, he has since carried on a successful busi- ness as a stock-raiser and dairyman, and has met with satisfactory results as a fruit-grower. having about twenty-five acres of his ranch de- voted to the culture of prunes.

Taking a warm interest in the affairs of his adopted state and county, Mr. Palmer represented his district in the state legislature during the spe- cial session of 1898 and the regular session of 1899, rendering excellent service. As one of the committee of five appointed by the legislature of 1898 to revise the new school laws, he did much to advance the cause of education in this state. He was also active in trying to pass better and more stringent game laws, and although not suc- cessful at that time, the more important parts of the bill which he championed are incorporated in the present game laws of Oregon. Declining a re-election, he was nominated by the Fusionists for county judge, in 1900, and was elected by a majority of six hundred votes, running far ahead of his ticket, his term of office being for four years. Judge Palmer has since resided in Al- bany, among its residents attaining to a place of prominence.

Judge Palmer married, in Iowa, Miss Electa

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lewis, a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of six children, namely : Leslie M .; Mrs. Flora E. Small, of Albany ; Mrs. Lola R. Junkin, of Albany; Mrs. Nevada Alice Medin, also of Albany; Arthur L .; and Jay B. In politics Judge Palmer was a Republican until after the election of Garfield in 1880, but has since been identified with the Democratic party. He is an influential member of the local Grange, and is ex-president of the district council. Belonging to the Presbyterian Church, the judge is ruling elder, and was for eight years superintendent of the Sunday school in Riverside district.

PETER C. ANDERSEN. Engaged in the lucrative business of blacksmithing and horse- shoeing, of the latter making a specialty, Peter C. Andersen is a prominent and successful citi- zen of Albany, Linn county. He is not a native of the west, nor yet of the national government of which he has chosen to become a citizen, for he was born in Denmark, in the town of Ham- melev, October 17, 1857, a son of Andrus, a farmer in that vicinity, and Elizabeth ( Petersen) Andersen, the latter of whom is still living. Un- til he was sixteen years old he remained with his parents, engaging in the duties which such a life affords, and also attending the national school, and at that age he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, with whom he remained for five years. After one year in journeyman work he came, in 1879, to America, confident as to his ability to cope with the difficulties which he might encounter.

On landing, Mr. Andersen started at once for the west, stopping in the city of Chicago, Ill., where he worked successfully at his trade for two years. Changing his location to Manistee, Mich., he spent sixteen months working at his trade there, before deciding to make his home on the Pacific slope. In 1884 he settled at The Dalles, Ore., and in 1885 went back to Portland, the next year finding him located in Linn county, engaged in a successful prosecution of his trade at Halsey. He remained there but one year, however, residing for a time in both Corvallis and Lebanon before taking up a permanent lo- cation in Albany, where he now makes his home, the date of his removal here being 1887. For three months following his settlement in Albany he worked at his trade alone, after which he went into partnership with a Mr. Huston. After buy- ing out the interest of his partner he erected in 1893 his present commodious shop at the corner of Second and Montgomery streets, where he now engages in the manufacture of wagons, car- riages, etc., and carries on all kinds of work per- taining to the duties of a blacksmith. He has

built up a splendid trade among the farmers of the vicinity, and even numbers among his cus- tomers those at a distance of forty miles. In addition to his industrial interests he has also an interest in the Poorman's Mining Company, the mine being located at Blue River.

The marriage of Mr. Andersen occurred in Albany, and united him with Miss Laura Ches- well, a native of England, and four children have been born to them, who are as follows: William H .; Lloyd C .; Edmond G .; and Wallace C. Politically Mr. Andersen is a Republican, and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Fraternally he is prominent, being a member of Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he is past noble grand and ex-representative; he is also a member of the Encampment, in which he is past chief patriarch and ex-representative ; and has membership with the Rebekahs, Knights of the Maccabees; and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

WILLIAM THOMAS COLEMAN. On his father's donation claim near Bellevue, Yamhill county, Ore., William Thomas Coleman was born February 4, 1855, and was reared to the useful and fundamental occupation in which he is at present engaged. His father, James Coleman, mentioned at length in another part of this work, was one of the pioneers of Oregon, and during the many years of his active life in the west con- tributed his share towards its best development. The son accompanied his parents to Marion county in 1861, locating near St. Paul, where he was educated in the public schools, and where he attained twenty-three years of age.

In the meantime Mr. Coleman had purchased one hundred and fifty-four acres of land near Champoeg, and hither took his young wife, for- merly Callie Orton, with whom he was united in marriage November 5, 1876. She is a daugh- ter of Ira and Martha (Burton) Orton, both de- ceased, who came from Gentry county, Mo., in 1853, locating in the Chehalem valley, in Yamhill county. After living on this farm for a year he sold it and bought the one hundred and sixty acres which comprise his present home, and which had at the time sixty-five acres cleared. His industry has accomplished the clearing of one hundred and thirty acres in all, and he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, devoting fifteen acres of his land to hop culture. In 1891 he moved his family into one of the finest rural homes in this section, and his barns and outbuildings are in keeping with the ideas of a practical and very progressive agriculturist. Mr. Coleman is a Democrat in politics, but

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has never taken an interest in the political agi- tations of his neighborhood further than to cast his vote. He is wide-awake to all the general affairs by which he is surrounded, and may be counted on to aid financially and otherwise all wise efforts at improving the general welfare of the community. By his marriage Mr. Coleman became the father of one son, Raleigh, who was born February 4, 1881. The latter was united in marriage November 26, 1900, with Annie Haas, daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Prager) Haas. She is a native of Melrose, Minn., and came to Oregon with her parents in 1893. Mr. Coleman bears an enviable reputation in Marion county, his many excellent traits of character having made him many friends, and surrounded him with well wishers.

JOHN W. ROLAND. Marion county fig- ures as one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state of Oregon, justly claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which is certain to conserve consecutive development and marked advance- ment in the material upbuilding of the section. The county has been and is singularly favored in the class of men who have controlled its af- fairs in official capacity, and in this connection the subject of this review demands representa- tion as one who has served the county faithfully and well in positions of trust and responsibility. He is now serving as county clerk, to which posi- tion he was elected upon the Republican ticket in 1902.

Mr. Roland was born in Danville, Vermilion county, Ill., September 1, 1848, and comes of a family of German lineage that was established in Virginia many generations ago. The paternal grandfather was a farmer by occupation and died in Kentucky. David Roland, the father of our subject, was born in Cynthiana, Harrison county, Ky., and in early life became familiar with commercial methods in merchandising. At a very early date he removed to Vermilion coun- ty, Ill., and served in the Black Hawk war of 1832. He followed merchant tailoring in Dan- ville until 1852, when he brought his family, con- sisting of his wife and eight children, to Oregon, having outfitted with an ox team and other necessaries for the overland trip across the plains. They were six months upon the way, and while in the Cascades their stock was driven off and stolen, so that on their arrival in Port- land Mr. Roland had nothing with which to begin life in the northwest. Through the suc- ceeding winter he worked at his trade for A. B. Roberts, of Portland, and in 1853 he came to Marion county, Ore., securing a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres of wild

timber land. After building a log cabin for the shelter of his family he turned his attention to the stock business and also to some extent fol- lowed his trade, making clothing for the early settlers. He had a good range and his attention was chiefly devoted to his cattle interests. In 1871 he removed to Jefferson where he lived re- tired until his death, which occurred in March of that year, when he was seventy-one years of age. He was an old line Democrat, a well-in- formed man and a true Christian, and his upright life gained for him the respect and genuine re- gard of all with whom he was associated. He married Eliza Barnes, a native of Harrison county, Ky., and of Scotch-Irish descent. Her death occurred in 1889, at seventy-nine years of age. In their family were eight children: C. B., who served in the Rogue River Indian war of 1856, and was a lieutenant in the First Oregon Vol- unteer Infantry in the Civil war. He carried on merchandising in Jefferson, Ore., was a mem- ber of the state legislature for one term and died in Marion county in 1894. Jacob resides in Multnomah county. Mrs. Pauline Phillips, the third of the family, is living in Lincoln, Wash. David S. died in Portland. George follows mining in Jackson county, Ore. Mrs. Melvina Worick is living in Portland. Esther is a resi- dent of Jefferson, and John W. completes the family.

When three years of age, John W. Roland accompanied his parents on their removal to the northwest. He lived with the family upon the home farm, one mile from Jefferson, and pur- sued his education in the district school. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the harness and saddler's trade in Salem, and when he had served for a term of three years he began business on his own account in Jefferson, continuing alone for a few years. In 1878 he was joined by his brother, Charles B. Roland, under the firm name of C. B. Roland & Co., and abandoning the harness trade they es- tablished a general store in Jefferson. There our subject also served as deputy postmaster under his brother for twelve years, and when his brother died he became postmaster and continued in that capacity until 1895, when he resigned, preparatory to his removal to Salem. August I of that year he was appointed chief accountant in the Oregon State Asylum by its board and under Governor Lord he held that position acceptably until January, 1900. He then be- came a fire insurance agent, representing the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company of Baltimore, Md. In 1902 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of county clerk and was elected by a majority of fifteen hundred, taking the oath of office on the 7th of July, of the same year. He is also clerk of de-

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partments numbers one and two of the circuit court, and clerk of the probate court, in the dis- charge of his official duties being systematic, methodical and accurate, so that his course has won high commendation.

Mr. Roland was married in Jefferson to Miss Emma Reeves, who was born in California and died in Jefferson, Ore. They had two children : Edwilda, who is attending Willamette Uni- versity, and Tracy. Mr. Roland was again mar- ried in Jefferson, his second union being with Miss Carrie S. Shumaker, who was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Burnett) Shumaker, who were also natives of the Empire state. Her parents moved to La Crosse county, Wis., where her father was engaged in building until 1888, when he brought his family to Oregon, settling in Jef- ferson. Mrs. Roland is a graduate of the high school and a most estimable lady, who shares with her husband the regard of many friends. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Since 1870 Mr. Roland has been a member of the Odd Fellows society, having been initiated in Jefferson Lodge, of which he is a past noble grand. He is connected with the En- campment of Salem, of which he is past chief patriarch, and with the Rebekah degree, to which Mrs. Roland also belongs. His fraternal rela- tions also connect him with both the lodge and uniformed rank of the Knights of Pythias, and of the latter he has served as treasurer. He is a charter member of the Illihee Club, of which he served as secretary for three years. In poli- tics he has always been an active Republican. In his private life he is distinguished by all that marks a true gentleman and an upright character. one that subordinates personal ambition to pub- lic good and seeks rather to benefit his fellow- men than the aggrandizement of self.

WILLIAM J. JERMAN. A very pleasant home just outside of Silverton is occupied by William J. Jerman, who has been a resident of Oregon since 1867, and who was formerly an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of . Marion county. Mr. Jerman was born in Boone county, Mo., August 6, 1830, his father, Edward Jerman, having settled in Boone county on a farm formerly owned by his father-in-law, Thomas Turner. Edward Jerman was born in Madison county, Kv. Later in life he emigrated to Missouri, and in 1838 returned to his native state, remaining there for three years. The western fever again overtaking him, he returned to Missouri. locating on a farm in Andrain county, where he died in 1843, at the age of thirty-five. He was very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, and though young at the time

of his death, had accumulated six hundred acres of land. His wife, Lurane Turner, was also a native of Kentucky, and was born at Crab Orchard, Madison county. She became the mother of six children. three sons and three daughters, and died in Boone county, Mo., at the age of eighty years.

The oldest of the children in his father's family, William J. Jerman was educated in the public schools of Missouri, and in time became an independent landowner in that state, pur- chasing a farm in 1850. He was extensively en- gaged in buying and selling stock, and in the early days used to drive cattle down to the market in St. Louis. Lured by the tales of gold which came from the coast he became interested in mining, and in 1863, went to California, locat- ing in Nevada county. After two years of fitful success as a miner he came to Oregon, in 1865, taking up land in Jackson county, where he en- gaged in teaming, farming, and mining. In 1867 he removed to Lane county, Ore., and the following spring came to Silverton, soon afterward buying a farm on Howell's Prairie, con . sisting of one hundred acres. To this he added from time to time, until he had one hundred and fifty-eight acres, which he finally sold, buying another farm. This was also disposed of in due time, and Mr. Jerman again came to Silverton in 1892, with the intention of making this his permanent home. He bought his present home in Brown's addition, in 1902, and is most pleas- antly and conveniently located.

In Howard county, Mo., in 1850, Mr. Jer- man married Martha Hilton, who was born August 22, 1832, in Huntsville, Randolph county, Mo., and daughter of Jonathan Hilton who was born in Madison county, Ky., and went to Missouri at a very early day. He was a carpen- ter by trade. and died in Howard county at a com- paratively early age. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jerman, the order of their birth being as follows: George Thomas, of Union county, Ore. : Allen G., a farmer on Howell's Prairie: Margaret Lurane, the wife of Edward Adcock, of La Grande, Union county, Ore .; Mary E., the wife of W. Gervis of Silverton, Ore .; James E., in California : Ida and Madi- son B., hoth deccased: David Franklin and Will- iam LaFayette, both of Salem, Ore .; Isaac Newton and Samuel Wellington of Silverton. Mr. Jerman has also reared a grandchild, Edna, who is the wife of Burt Brown of Portland. Mr. Jerman is a man of high principle, and en- viahle standing in the community, and has iden- tified himself with all forward measures requir- ing his support. For more than fifty years he has been a member and active worker in the Christian Church, and in political affiliation he belongs to the Prohibition party.

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ISAAC STEVENS. The Stevens family is numerously represented in Oregon, and especial- ly in Marion county, where they own fine large farms, and represent the progress and enlighten- ment of western life. Every year a family re- union is held, thus binding more closely the ties of good will and uninterrupted friendship which are distinguishing features of the brothers and sisters.

Isaac Stevens, one of the best known repre- sentatives of his family in Yamhill county, was born in Indiana March 12, 1840, a son of Hanson and Lavina (Wickard) Stevens, natives of In- diana, the former born in 1818. . The family re- moved from the Hoosier state to Iowa in 1846, and in 1852, made arrangements to cross the plains with ox teams and wagons. Starting out with three wagons and twelve yoke of oxen they crossed the plains without any particular mis- hap, the Indians even causing them very little trouble. After six months they landed at Howell Prairie, in the fall of 1852, and here Mr. Stevens took up a donation claim of three hundred and eight acres about a mile and a half southwest of Mount Angel. After a short time, however, the family located for a time in Washington, from which state the father eventually returned to Marion county, where he died in 1880. His wife died when forty years of age, Of the nine chil- dren born to himself and wife all are living but one.

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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 65

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