Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 69

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 69

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Born and brought up in Ireland, Edward Riley first came to the United States when about twenty-three years of age. A merchant tailor by trade, he followed it first in Chicago, Ill., then in St. Louis, Mo., where he was made a citizen of the United States. Subsequently returning to the scenes of his childhood, he married a fair Irish maiden, Catherine Swords, and settled in County Kildare, where he re- mained until after the death of his wife. Com- ing again to America with his motherless chil- dren he settled in Jamaica, Long Island, where he followed his former trade with good suc- cess. Of his nine children seven survive, Peter, the special subject of this sketch, being the fourth child in succession of birth.

Being but twelve years of age when he crossed the ocean with his father in 1858, Peter Riley completed his early education in the pub- lic schools of Jamaica, Long Island, studying three years. Beginning life as a wage-earner in 1861, he was tow boy on the Lehigh canal for a short time. Anxious to see more of his adopted country, he started for California in 1865, taking the Panama route from New York City to San Francisco. Arriving on the coast he worked on a farm a short time, afterward being brakeman on the Central Pacific Rail- road for a year. Subsequently locating in Wheatland, Cal., he worked on a farm, and then resumed railroad work, being first em- ployed on the San Joaquin Railway, afterward being on the Sacramento and Vallejo Railroad, and on the branch road extending to Marys- ville. Crossing the mountains with a mule train in 1869 Mr. Rilev came to Oregon as an employe of the construction company that had charge of the building of that part of what is now the Southern Pacific Railroad, extending from Salem, Ore., to Roseburg. Continuing with the same company he subsequently as- sisted in building the branch of the Northern Pacific Railway that extends from Kalama, Wash., to Tacoma, Wash., being foreman and having charge of the teams.

PETER RILEY. Representing the agri- cultural interests of Linn county as one of its best and most favorably known farmers and stock-raisers is Peter Riley, of Albany, who has won an extended reputation as a breeder of fine horses, in that special branch of indus- try being one of the most prominent men of On the completion of the road. Mr. Riley located in Linn county, Orc., where he pur- chased two hundred acres of land lying two miles north of Albany along the river. Em- barking in the wool business he has met with signal success, keeping a fine grade of .Angora goats, which have proved profitable in this locality. In addition he is extensively inter- the Willamette valley. Beginning the battle of life for himself when but a boy, he has stead- ily trod the pathway of success, advancing step by step, and now occupies a firm position among the most prosperous citizens of the town or county, being highly esteemed for his many fine traits of character. A son of Ed- ward Riley he was born April 15, 1846, in ested in breeding draft horses, making a spe-

C. C. Stratton.

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cialty of the Clydesdale and Percheron, also keeping a choice stock of French and Belgian horses. He formerly owned a noted Percheron stallion, Desires, imported by Dunham, and now owns a fine stallion, Don, imported from Belgium, and the registered Clydesdale stal- lion, Junius. Among the younger stallions that he is raising are Percherons, Clydesdales and Belgians, all of superior stock and breed. Mr. Riley is an extensive landholder, owning the entire block bounded by Jackson, Railroad, Third and Fourth streets, and here has his fine residence, his large barns and woodyard. He carries on general farming on a large scale.

In Marion county, Ore., Mr. Riley marrieu Mary Hunt, who was born in that county, a daughter of Thomas Hunt, a pioneer settler. who located there in 1847. Five children have been born to their union, namely : Thomas Ed- ward, with the Corvallis & Eastern Railway Company ; James Valentine, a horseman, en- gaged in business with his father; Katie, who died at the age of twelve years ; Nellie M., wife of John Scott, of Albany ; and William. Po- litically Mr. Riley supports the principles of the Democratic party by voice and vote, and was formerly a member of the County Central Committee. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.

CHARLES CARROLL STRATTON, A. M., D. D., was born in Tioga county, Pa., of New England ancestry, his mother, Lavinia Fitch, being from Vermont, and his father, Curtis P. Stratton, from Hartford county, Conn. Through his paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Hannah Adams, he was related to the Con- necticut branch of the Adams family. His father's ancestors run back in New England to the first half of the seventeenth century, and thence to London, where the family emerges into recorded recognition as early as 1520.

In 1837 Curtis P. and Lavinia Stratton, with their young children, removed from Pennsyl- vania to Jefferson county, Ind., and settled a short distance back of Madison, on the Ohio river. About the same time also Myron Strat- ton, a younger brother, came west from Pennsyl- vania and settled in Jeffersonville. Ind. This was the father of Winfield Scott Stratton, well known as the owner of the Independence mine, but to be known hereafter much better and longer as the munificent founder of the Myron Stratton Home in Colorado Springs, for the aged and infirm. In 1852 the father and oldest brother, Riley E. Stratton, afterwards of the Oregon bar and bench, came to the Pacific coast around Cape Horn. After stopping for a time in Cali- fornia they came on to Oregon, for which they

had originally started, and after looking over the country for a time wrote for the remaining mem- bers of the family to sell their belongings in Indiana and meet them in Oregon. This was effected and the journey across the plains with ox teams was accomplished with the usual priva- tions, hardships and dangers, but without any serious disaster. The family at this time con- sisted of the father and mother, then fifty-four and fifty-one years of age, respectively, and ten children-five sons and five daughters. The parents were truthful, honest, plain people of good antecedents and blood, who desired to give their children the best education in their power, and train them to habits of truthfulness, industry and thrift.

The eldest son, Riley Evans Stratton, was then thirty-two years of age, a classical graduate of Farmers' College (Ohio), a junior member of the Madison (Indiana) bar, and married to Sarah M. Dearborn, of an old family in that city, a woman of many attractions of mind and per- son. After the death of Judge Stratton she mar- ried Smith Kearney, a well known Portland capitalist.

Soon after settling in southern Oregon Mr. Stratton was elected prosecuting attorney and on the admission of Oregon into the Union as a state he was elected to the bench of his circuit and became ex officio a justice of the Supreme Court of the state. He was an easy, graceful and lucid public speaker and upright judge, and his early death at the age of forty-four years cut short a promising career. The next sur- viving member of the family was Delia C., then the wife of James I. Patton, who, with their young family, were among the early settlers of the Umpqua valley. Following her was Sarah Victoria, afterwards wife and widow of Harvey Gordon, editor and proprietor of the Oregon Statesman, after A. Bush, and his successor as state printer, a man of brilliant gifts and great promise, whose career was terminated by a premature death when but little over thirty years of age. The next of the family in order of age was Charles Carroll, the subject of this sketch, the leading incidents of whose life will follow later. After him came Horace Fitch, at one time a member of the lower house of the Oregon legislature and later a member and pres- ident of the council in the Washington legis- lature. Milton Adams, the first of the family born in Indiana, was well known in business circles in Salem, Oregon City and Portland. He served a term as mayor in Oregon City and was president of the First National Bank of East Portland at the time of his death. in 1895. All of the remaining members of the family were born in Indiana. Lura Melvina married Archibald Simmons and lived and died in Springfield, near

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Eugene, where her children and grandchildren still reside. Augusta Josephine married Dr. Samuel Whittemore, at the time assistant sur- geon in the navy, and later in the United States army. He died in 1898 and his family reside in Washington. Judge Julius Augustin has chosen Seattle for his home. He began life as a printer in Salem, Ore. This enabled him to make his way through the classical course of Willamette University. By the same means he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Salem. After several years of successful practice there, during which time he was reporter for the Supreme Court, he removed to Seattle, where he ac- quired a large and lucrative practice, was for a term on the bench of the Superior Court, and now lives in comfortable retirement. Irene Has- seltine is the youngest daughter and child She married Parrish L. Willis, a well known and wealthy attorney of Portland, Ore. He has rep- resented his district as a member of the state senate and been an efficient promoter of many local enterprises by which the welfare of the city has been advanced.

Of this large family of twelve children-for two sleep in Indiana-Charles Carroll was the sixth. Stimulated by the example of his older brother, reinforced by his own tastes, he resolved early in life to become a scholar, as that term was then understood, and moved by his moral convictions to become a minister. His plans were postponed and somewhat marred by the unwillingness of his mother to go to the Pacific coast without him, as money which he had begun to lay aside was spent in the journey to the Pa- cific and he had to make the best of the imperfect educational advantages of the young state. His first season was spent with his brothers Horace and Milton in aiding his father on the new farm in the Umpqua valley where the family first settled. Then he joined a surveying party in the mountains for several months. The net proceeds of this service were less than $200, but with this he started for Salem, the seat of the newly chartered Willamette University, at that time the most promising of the two or three in- stitutions, of large name and hope but slender facilities, within reach. Being an expert penman he was able to supplement his inadequate means by writing one-half of each day in the adjutant- general's office and by this means remained in school. This continued until the sophomore year, in 1858. His classmates at this time were J. A. Odell, T. L. Davidson, Roswell L. Lamson and James Carey. For different reasons these young men had to leave the institution and he, being left alone, was advised by President F. S. Hoyt to leave the school for the present, enter the Oregon conference for which he was pre- paring, bring up his studies as he best could,

and graduate later. This advice he pursued, and took his final examinations and received the de- gree of A. B. from the university in 1869, at thirty-six years of age. Meantime he had been pastor in Dallas, Roseburg, Jacksonville, Oregon City, Olympia and Portland and was at that time pastor in Salem.

In 1860, while pastor in Roseburg, he had married Julia Elenor Waller, daughter of Rev. A. F. Waller, one of the early missionaries sent out to evangelize the Indians of Oregon. Those who knew the sterling qualities of Father Waller during his lifetime, and the equally sterling qual- ities of Elepha Waller, his wife, will not need to be assured that Dr. Stratton found in his wife a worthy helpmate. To them have been born two children, Mary Elepha and Harvey Gordon, who are still with them.

The year following his graduation Dr. Strat- ton was elected to the chair of natural science in his alma mater, but was dissuaded by Bishop Ames from accepting, and received the appoint- ment of presiding elder of the Portland district. Up to this time he had been for six years secre- tary of the conference, but this appointment for- bade his re-election. In the fall of 1871 he was selected by his conference to represent them in the general conference, which met in Brooklyn in 1872. This was the first general conference wherein lay delegates were admitted, and as the episcopate was to be strengthened and it was finally decided to elect eight additional bishops, the session was of more than ordinary interest. He has been a member of two general confer- ences since, in 1880 and 1892, but thinks this one altogether the most interesting in his experience.

On the way to and from the general confer- ence Dr. Stratton stopped off at Salt Lake City, and soon after returning to Salem, where he now lived, a telegram was received from Bishop Fos- ter appointing him to the First Methodist Episco- pal Church in that place. The three years which followed were years of great activity and de- voted especially to completing the building of the First Church there and setting forward its religious interests. This was the third promi- nent church enterprise with which he had been identified, viz., the First Church of Portland, still the hive of Methodism there; the First Church, Salem, toward which he had secured over $20.000 on subscription, laid the corner- stone and begun the superstructure, and now the Salt Lake City Church. At the end of his pas- torate there he transferred to the California con- ference and was appointed to the pastorate of the First Church in San Jose. Here were spent two quiet and useful years. Before the end of the second year he was elected president of the University of the Pacific, many of the students and most of the faculty of which had been his

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parishioners during the two years of his pas- torate there. The next ten years were full of responsibility and services, with some degree of success, as well. The year following his election to the presidency of the university he was re- quested to organize and lead the Chautauqua movement on the Pacific coast. On the death- bed of Bishop E. O. Haven he designated Dr. Stratton as his literary executor, to edit and com- plete an autobiography, at that time about half done, and to publish, if the demand should justify, selections from his sermons and university lec- tures. The autobiography was completed and published at once ; the sermons and lectures await a more encouraging market. Meantime the uni- versity and the Chautauqua associations made steady progress; and the university buildings, catalogues and financial statements of that period bear testimony to its substantial improvement.

At this time Dr. Stratton's excessive overwork began to tell upon his health and symptoms of paralysis led him to listen to the advice of his physician, Dr. Wythe, to resign both as presi- dent of the university and as leader of the Chau- tauqua movement. Every reasonable induce- ment was held out for him to remain, especially in the university, and these inducements were renewed after the retirement of Dr. Hirst, his successor there, and after his own return to Oregon, but considerations on the other side overbalanced them and he persisted in his resolution. During this period of educational work Dr. Stratton was especially remembered by fellow educators, the degree of D. D. hav- ing been conferred by the Willamette, Ohio Wesleyan and Northwestern Universities. He is also a life director of the National Educational Association. Soon after this overtures began coming from his friends in Oregon, and espe- cially from President Van Scoy of Willamette University, looking to his return to his early field as chancellor of that institution. All of these letters contained information that a plan was on foot which had taken definite shape at the last session of the Oregon conference, by the appointment of a large committee of influential members to confer with a similar committee to be designated by the trustees of the university as to the selection of a more suitable point and site for the institution. In this correspondence Portland was the point generally favored, espe- cially by Dr. Van Scoy. All of this preceded Dr. Stratton's return to Oregon and was in- tended to pave the way therefor. His selection as head of Willamette University ; his return to Oregon : the action of the joint committee above referred to in selecting Portland as the point for the building of what was intended to be a great university ; the ratification of this action by an overwhelming majority of the Oregon confer-

ence and the refusal of the trustees of Wil- lamette to accept the report of their own com- mittee are matters of history.

It was not in contemplation that Willamette University should cease to be an educational center or that its property should be interfered with, but that its grade should be changed, that it should be affiliated with the larger and better located central institutions, in common with other institutions to be located in different parts of the state and northwest was proposed.

The organization of Portland University, the selection of trustees to represent the business lay element of the northwest, the alumni of the in- stitution, and the Oregon, Puget Sound, Colum- bia river and Idaho conferences, the election of H. W. Scott as president of the board, and, not- withstanding his many engagements, his accept- ance of the trust with his accustomed public spirit, the election of Dr. Stratton as president of the institution, the selection of the site at University Park, the purchase of the land, the organization of the Portland Guarantee Com- pany to endorse the bonds by which the lands were to be paid for, the early promise of the school, the failure of its finances under the collapse of 1894-5 and 6 are known to all. But it is not so well known that the sales of University Park property during the years 1892-3 and 4 were sufficient to provide for the interest on the total indebtedness, the redemption of the bonds at maturity and leave a large sur- plus in land for permanent endowment. The lands were sold on contracts and were to be paid for in one, two and three years. On account of the pressure of the times and the decline of prices, payments on these purchases defaulted in shoals. After a time this general defaulting of purchasers of property resulted in the stop- page of interest payments on bonds. Then fol- lowed legal complications and the property finally passed into the hands of one of the religious orders of the Catholic Church. The influences which operated against the payments for the lands sold at University Park tended to stop the collection of subscriptions toward the Uni- versity building fund. Many thousands of dollars in pledges which had been depended on to meet payments on contracts with build- ers defaulted. In order to protect the credit of the University, President Stratton drew on private funds while they lasted and then used his credit until it became necessary for him to retire from the University and look after the wel- farc of his family. All of these matters have been dwelt upon with so much detail because they were so intimately related to the life of our subject. The fate of Portland University hc sometimes speaks of as his crucifixion. It has in

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a measure turned him aside from his chosen call- ing and shadowed the closing years of his life.

Dr. Stratton's family still reside at University Park, while most of his time is spent in Chicago, until he can complete his plans and retire to the rest befitting his years and to the home circle for which he longs.

EUGENE LINCOLN REMINGTON. One of the most expert machinists as well as large property owners of Woodburn is Eugene Lin- coln Remington, owner and proprietor of Rem- ington's bicycle and gun store, recognized as one of the reliable and necessary adjuncts of the city. This oldest resident of the first town of Woodburn is a native son of the golden west, and was born east of Silverton, Ore., March 24, 1867. His father, Marquis de LaFayette Remington, and his grandfather, Col. Virgillius E., a phy- sician who was born June 6, 1805, in Greenville, Hampden county, Mass., were identified with the old Mormon town of Nauvoo, Hancock county, Ill., where the former was born February 2, 1847, on Laharp Prairie, and where the latter participated in the Mormon troubles which will ever be a blot upon the fair name of the little Mississippi river city. Nauvoo, founded by the Mormons in 1840, became an eyesore to the rep- utable citizens of the state, and the sect was driven out through the capture, and subsequent shooting at Carthage, of the chief Mormon agi- tator, Joe Smith. Col. Virgillius E. Remington had the honor of capturing this noted disciple of the church, but he was averse to shooting him, although he ever after got the credit for securing his ignominious end. Somewhat fearful of his fate at the hands. of the accusing Mormons, and also because of a progressive nature which rec- ognized superior advantages in the west, the grandfather crossed the plains with his family in '49 with ox teams, locating at Roseville Junction, Cal. He was very successful in min- ing, and became a well known figure there, and he now sleeps under an old oak tree on the out- skirts of the town. Colonel Remington was a Master Mason. The marriage of Colonel Rem- ington united him with Esther E. Doud, who was born May 3, 1808, in Canton, Hartford county, Conn., and died in Silverton, Ore., Sep- tember 14, 1884. Of this union were born the following children: Virgillius D .. born Novem- ber 26, 1826, in Fowler, Trumbull county, Ohio, (lied August 29. 1898, at Whiteson, Yamhill county, Ore .: Esther M., born September 4. 1820, and died October 26, 1829, in Fowler, Trumbull county, Ohio; Lucius C., born May 31, 1831, in Fowler, Trumbull county, Ohio, and died September 28, 1858, in Placer county, Cal .; Elmore S., born May 13, 1833, in Mecca, Trum-

bull county, Ohio, and is living in Whiteson, Yamhill county, Ore .; Juliett L., born July 7, 1836, in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, and died October 13, 1889. She married Peter Rauch, who is living in Silverton. Evaline E., born September 5, 1839, in Macomb, Ill., and married J. H. Hadley, now deceased; she is liv- ing in Silverton, Ore .; John J. B., born August 3, 1841, in Mills, McDonough county, Ill., died September 8, 1858, in Placer county, Cal .; Jose- phine M., born March 4, 1844, in Mills, Ill., and died September 3, 1846; Marquis de LaFayette, the father of Eugene Lincoln Remington; Fran- cis M., born August 16, 1849, on Macomb Prai- rie, Ill., and is now a hardware merchant in Cul- desac, Idaho.

Marquis de LaFayette Remington was seven years of age when he crossed the plains with his father. He was reared at Roseville Junction, Cal., until after the death of his father, January 14, 1858, in Placer county. With his mother and two brothers he came to Beaverton, Ore., in 1854, and on rented land engaged in farming until about 1863. He then moved near Silver- ton. There he bought one hundred and twenty- five acres of land, working this until 1870, when he located in Woodburn and engaged in black- smithing. About 1882 he started a foundry and general machine shop, the successful operation of which netted him a fair income up to the time of his death at the age of fifty-one years. Mr. Remington was a mechanical genius, and was at the head of that business in his city, contrib- uting a remarkable inventive talent towards the advancement of mechanical ideas. He invented and patented the Remington traction engine, the patent of which was sold to the Best Manufac- turing Company, of San Leandro, Cal., and is still being manufactured by them. Other pat- ents of labor-saving machinery and appliances are also attributable to his ingenuity. His plant sustained a severe loss in the fire of 1886, when he lost about $10,000 in building and machinery. Mr. Remington married Helen Elmyra Welch, who was born January 14, 1850, in St. Marys, Hancock county, Ill., and died in Woodburn, Ore., November 25, 1893. May 5, 1855, the Welch family started for California, going by rail to New York and then by steamer to the Isthmus of Panama, crossing by rail. The steamer Golden Gate landed them in San Fran- cisco May 31, 1855. In 1859 they started for Oregon with teams. The Welch fam- ily lived near the Remingtons in California, and they were not divided in Oregon, for Thomas Welch settled on a farm northeast of Silverton, where he died September 1, 1899, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a native of Kentucky, while his wife, Lucinda C. (Tyrrell) Welch, was born in Tyrrell Hill, Trumbull

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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 69

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