Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 77

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 77

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In Dakota county, Minn., the doctor was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Sittkus, who was born in Germany and was brought to America when nine years of age. She has deep sympathy with the doctor in his work and has been of much assistance to him. They attend the Baptist Church, in which they hold membership, and the doctor is now serving as chairman of its board of trustees. He is a man of fine physique, with an intellectual forehead, a firm mouth and honest eyes, and moreover a kindly expression which in- dicates his broad humanitarian spirit.

A. S. BIBLE. Almost every state of the Union has furnished a quota of citizens to Oregon who have aided in the settlement and improvement

of the northwest. Mr. Bible comes from Ten- nessee, his birth having occurred near Warrens- burg, in Greene county, that state, March 16, 1834. There he was reared upon a farm and the common schools of his home neighborhood pro- vided him with his educational privileges. When twenty-one years of age he started out in life on his own account and whatever success he has achieved is the direct result of his enterprising efforts. He followed farming in his native state until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry and par- ticipated in the campaign from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap. For a year longer he con- tinued in the service and was then taken ill with typhoid fever, which unfitted him for further military duty during the remainder of the war.

Soon after the close of hostilities Mr. Bible began merchandising in Warrensburg, Tenn., carrying on business in that vicinity until 1879, when, believing that the opportunities of the northwest exceeded those of his native state, he came to Oregon, settling in Sheridan. Here hie again established a store and continued in mer- chandising until 1898, when he sold out. For one year he also conducted a store in Willamina. Soon after his arrival in the northwest he began dealing in cattle and now owns a ranch of four hundred and forty acres together with other land. Aside from the supervision of his invested interests, Mr. Bible is now retired from active business cares.

On the Ioth of April, 1865, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Bible and Miss Mary J. Mendenhall, of Jefferson county, Tenn. They have no chil- dren. Mr. Bible votes with the Democracy and believes in the gold standard. He has firm faith in the northwest and its future possibilities and has allied his interests with this section of the state, becoming a valued factor in the work of progress and improvement here.

RILEY Y. FENDALL. A native son of Ore- gon, Riley Y. Fendall has improved the oppor- tunities which were his from the earliest years of his boyhood, making a success for himself through the cultivation of the soil, being the life to which he was reared. He was born on the old donation land claim taken up by his father in the pioneer days of Oregon, September 17, 1852, and was there reared to a practical and useful life, interspersing his home duties with an attendance at the common schools. Later he attended the public schools at Willamina, a considerable dis- tance from his home, sometimes riding, but oftener walking to and fro in his efforts to add to his knowledge of the life of a farmer the edu- cation that enables a farmer to be an exception to the general average.

When twenty-two years of age he and his

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brother bought a part of the land adjoining that where Mr. Fendall now lives, and two years later, December 6, 1876, he married Miss Susie E. Campbell, the daughter of Peter and Sophronia Campbell. For two years after his marriage he remained on the home place, at the close of that period moving upon a part of his present prop- erty. Ten years later he removed to his present location, this having been his home since. Mr. Fendall has put upon his property nearly all of the improvements of which it boasts, and has given to the cultivation careful thought and an earnest effort to excel in that to which he has devoted his time and attention. He now owns three hundred and twenty-seven acres, principally located in the valley, and is at present engaged in carrying on general farming and stock-raising, and for twelve years was interested in hop cul- tivation.

Of the children which blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fendall, Roxie M. is now the wife of C. E. Mendenhall; and Guy H., Claude S., Car- rie E., Lucia E. and Cullie make their home with their parents. Politically Mr. Fendall adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party.

MERRITT MCKINLEY is a native son and successful farmer of Yamhill county. He was born near Wheatland, September 18, 1853, and is a son of James McKinley, whose birth occurred on the 2d of March, 1827, in Indiana. When a boy the father accompanied his parents to Mis- souri and in 1845 he crossed the plains to the coast, driving an ox team. The succeeding year he returned by water route to his home in the east, but in 1847, accompanied by his father, Alexander McKinley, he again made the trip. There were six sons and four daughters in the grandfather's family and all of the boys and one of the daughters came at that time. The grand- father secured a donation claim in Yamhill coun- ty near where our subject was born. He then became the owner of two hundred and forty acres which he developed into a good farm and thereon spent his remaining days, passing away at an ad- vanced age.

James McKinley was married in Yamhill county in 1845 to Charlotte Johnson, who was born in Germany, and the same year he secured a donation claim near MeMinnville, while in 1847 he became the owner of another donation claim of one hundred and twenty acres near Wheat- land. It was upon the latter farm that the birth of his son Merritt occurred. James McKinley remained upon that farm until 1874, when he re- moved to Perrydale and in 1877 he came to the place upon which our subject is now living in the Gopher valley. In 1892, however, he re-

moved to Sheridan, where he died in June, 1893. He was a member of the United Brethren Church and was a man of strong character, sterling pur- poses and of honorable life. His wife passed away upon the farm upon which her son Merritt. is now living, her death occurring in the year 1885. They were the parents of five children : Angeline, the deceased wife of Calvin Miller ; Merritt; Mark, who died in childhood; Mary, the wife of A. J. Sawyer; and Henry, who died at the age of eighteen months.

Mr. Mckinley of this review was reared in Yamhill county and after attending the common schools near his home he further continued his studies in the public schools of Salem. In his youth he assisted his father in the work of the home farin and when his education was completed he became his father's associate in agricultural pursuits, the business relation between them be- ing maintained until the death of James McKin- ley. In 1895 Mr. Mckinley returned to the farm upon which he is now living. He owns here six hundred and seventy-four acres of val- uable land, pleasantly located on Deer creek, about two miles northeast of Sheridan. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, keeping on hand large herds of cattle, sheep and goats. He has a fine ranch well equipped for the purposes used and his thorough and prac- tical understanding of his business has made him one of the prosperous citizens of his community.

On the 28th of October, 1886, Mr. Mckinley was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cox, who was born in Chehalis county, Wash., a daughter of William A. Cox, one of the pioneer settlers of that state. They had four children; Hilda, An- drew, Laurin and one that died in infancy. In his political views Mr. Mckinley is a Democrat, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to devote his energies to his business affairs, which, having been capably conducted, have brought to him a gratifying financial return.

ARIEL H. LEIGHTON. One of the most handsomely improved and best cultivated farms in Yamhill county, Ore., is the one known as Highland Lodge, consisting of four hundred and eighty-five acres, and located four miles from Willamina on the Willamina creek. The place is supplied with a handsome residence and good barns and outbuildings of all de- scriptions, all furnished with running water, supplied by pipes which connect with springs. The ranch was originally owned and improved by Lord Oswald Grosser, a German nobleman, who disposed of his interests here in 1899 to Mr. Leighton. Much of the land is de- voted to an apple and prune orchard, three thon-

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sand prune trees yielding a large harvest each year, the cost of preparing for market being greatly lessened by his owning a prune dryer. He is also largely engaged in stock-raising, be- ing principally interested in cattle, sheep and hogs.

The birth of Mr. Leighton occurred in Hyde- park, Vt., September 29, 1834, and in that state he was reared to manhood, with the exception of a few years spent in Massachusetts, receiving his education in the public schools and academies of these two states. At the age of fifteen years he began working at the trade of tinning, in which he continued until 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company I, First Vermont Cavalry, for a term of three years in the service of the Union army. After serving a little over one year, while with General Banks in the Shenan- doah Valley, he was wounded while on horse guard by the accidental discharge of his own pistol, which entailed his discharge on account of disability. Returning to Vermont he re- mained there until 1866, when he removed to Iowa, and settled upon a farm near Fort Dodge, making a purchase of the land, and for two years engaged in tilling the soil. At the close of that period he changed his location to the town of Fort Dodge, where for three years he followed his trade, making such a success of the business that he was enabled to open a hardware store, in connection with which he carried on plumbing. For twenty years he carried on this business, receiving sufficient remuneration to warrant his continuing in the work. At the close of that time he again moved to a farm near Fort Dodge, but six years later, in 1899, he came to Oregon, in search of more pleasant surroundings, being more than ordinarily successful in his selection of Highland Lodge.

Mr. Leighton has been married three times, and has had twelve children, seven of whom are living: Dora, the wife of J. W. Leighton ; Carrie B., the wife of Thomas Adamis; Lee, re- siding in Ogden, Iowa ; Bessie, a teacher in North Dakota; and Robert, Almyra and Dixie, the three latter at home. Mr. Leighton is a Republican, and fraternally has been a member of the Ma- sonic order for thirty years.

JAMES McCAIN, who has attained distinc- tion in both the civil and criminal departments of law practice, and is now a member of the well- known law firm of McCain & Vinton, was born March 30, 1844, in Delphi, Carroll county, Ind. His father, James McCain, Sr., was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. The paternal grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812 and a prominent land owner and farmer of the vicinity of Cincinnati, and his old

homestead has been divided into town lots, and is now incorporated within the limits of the city. His death occurred in the Buckeye state.

In 1851, after residing in Delphi, Ind., for a number of years, James McCain brought his family to Oregon, his eldest son, Paris, having preceded him to the northwest in 1847. With oxen and horse teams the family made the jour- new overland, and in Iowa the father purchased some fine stock, which he drove to Oregon. He traveled with a large and well-equipped train, all the men being armed, and having left Indiana in early April, they arrived in the Willamette valley early in November. Mr. McCain secured a donation land claim of three hundred and twenty acres on the boundary line of Polk and Yamhill counties, three miles east of Sheridan, and this he cultivated and improved, making it a valuable tract, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1874. His political allegiance was given the Republican party, and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Sarah Earnest, who was born and married near Cincin- nati, Ohio, and was of Scotch descent. Her death occurred .when she was seventy years of age. In the family were ten children, of whom nine came to Oregon: Paris, who died in Seat- tle, Wash .; William, who died in Linn county, Ore .; Mrs. Maria Martin, of McMinnville; Mrs. Clarissa Foster, who died in California; Mrs. Agnes Stauffer, who died in Polk county, this state; Mrs. Ellen Graves, of Yamhill county ; John, a resident of southern Oregon; Mrs. Sarah A. Osborne, who died in Polk county, and James.

Judge McCain was but seven years of age when the family came to the northwest, and upon the home farm he was reared, while in the dis- trict schools he pursued his education, which was supplemented by a short period of study in Mc- Minnville College, and Willamette University, but though he resumed his studies several times, each time illness or accident forced him to put aside his books. Later he went to Dallas, and spent over two years in La Creole Academy, and subsequently he began the study of law under the direction of P. C. Sullivan, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. He then began practice at Dallas, and later entered into partnership with Mr. Sullivan, continuing the relation with him until June, 1871, when he located in La Fayette, Yamhill county, where he remained until 1889, when the county seat was removed to McMinn- ville, and here he has since made his home. In 1892 he was elected district attorney for the third judicial district, embracing Marion, Linn, Yam- hill, Polk and Tillamook counties, and in 1894 he was re-elected, each time on the Republican ticket. From the beginning of his professional carcer he enjoyed considerable distinction as an

John Geisendorfen

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able criminal lawyer, and since 1885 he has won equal fame as a practitioner of civil law. He has not only practiced successfully in various coun- ties in Oregon, but has also been entrusted with important litigation in Idaho and other states. He is strong in argument, forceful in his presen- tation of a cause, and his deductions follow in logical sequence. He is now the senior member of the firm of McCain & Vinton, which is re- garded as one of the strong legal combinations at the Yamhill county bar. In May, 1898, he be came postmaster of McMinnville, to which posi- tion he had been appointed by President McKin- ley, and for four years he acceptably filled the office.

In Dallas, Ore., Mr. McCain married Miss Electa C. Sullivan, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of P. C. Sullivan, who came to this state in 1862, and here successfully practiced law. They now have three children: Mrs. Mabel Parker, Mrs. Ivaline Wells and Mrs. Ethel Grin- nold, all of McMinnville. Mr. McCain belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, to the Elks Lodge of Salem and to the State Bar Associa- tion. Since attaining his majority he has given his support to the Republican party, and since locating in McMinnville has served as a mem- ber of the state central committee, and was chair- man of the county central committee of his party. In his law practice he has been very successful, and enjoys a high reputation as a representative of the legal fraternity of the county.

JOHN GEISENDORFER. Through his own efforts, entirely, has John Geisendorfer made himself a position of prominence among the prosperous farmers of Linn county, Ore., coming empty handed from his native land, Germany, into a strange country, where a strange language was spoken and entirely dif- ferent customs prevailed, with no promise of his future success save in his own sturdy char- acteristics, inherited from his German fore- fathers. With the prosperity of the country before him, as evidenced in the thriving cities and well tilled farms, Mr. Geisendorfer recalls the days of privation and inconveniences of Oregon, his first impressions of the now busy and populous city of Portland being of three cabins on the banks of the river, in one of which he secured board and lodging, paying for the former at the rate of $1 a meal, and in the latter furnishing his own blankets.

John Geisendorfer was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, November 19, 1826, and started for America in 1845, the sailing vessel on which he took passage being forty-five days in making the trip. Landing at Baltimore, Md., he later settled at Pittsfield, Ill., engaging as a farm

hand in that locality, with a remuneration of $90 per year, his pay, however, not being in money, receiving instead, articles from the store, and live stock as well, consisting of cows. He remained at this employment for four years, and in the spring of 1849 he started with ox-teams for California, going by way of Oregon. After five months he arrived in Ore- gon City, where he was ill for some time with Oregon fever. Upon his recovery he went to work in a saw-mill at Milwaukee, this being his first employment in the west. In the fall of 1849 lie continued the interrupted journey, finishing the trip to California by water. On his arrival he went to the mines at Hangtown, now called Placerville, and in partnership with another man, he mined there for five weeks. Having had an opportunity to see both the southern and northwestern portions of the Pa- cific slope, Mr. Geisendorfer chose the latter in which to make his permanent residence, and, returning to Oregon, he spent the first winter there at Milton, Columbia county. In the spring of 1851 he took up a claim near Oak- point, Wash., which consisted of three hundred and twenty acres of timber land, and there en- gaged in the timber business for twelve years. In 1862 he returned to Oregon, and the follow- ing year he bought his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres, located near Albany, Linn county, and upon which he has since re- mained. He has since added to his property, until he now owns three hundred acres, the well cultivated fields, upon which he carries on general farming and stock-raising, and the. many handsome improvements which he has made, being indisputable evidence of the suc- cess which has crowned his unceasing efforts.

The marriage of Mr. Geisendorfer occurred May 1, 1854, and united him with Mary Crook Creecy, who was born near Pulaski, Gales county, Tenn., daughter of Bennett and Mar- tha (Brown) Creecy, January 9, 1827, and died at her home near Albany, Ore., June 22, 1903, aged seventy-six years. She crossed the plains with her parents (who had resided in Illinois since 1830), in 1853, coming by way of the South Pass, Fort Boise and the Columbia river route. Mrs. Geisendorfer was a lifelong mem- ber of the Methodist Church. Her family his- tory contains some things of unusual interest. Her parents were natives of Buckingham county, Va. Her maternal great-great-grand- father was Peter Brown, who came over in the Mayflower, and her maternal grandfather, Isham Brown, was a Revolutionary soldier of the American army. Her paternal great-great- grandmother, Tabitha Pledge, daughter of a Scottish chieftain, was sentenced, according to the custom of the time, to transportation to the

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colonies for taking a windfallen apple. On her- arrival in America a Mr. Mckinney paid her passage fare with four hundred pounds of to- bacco, secured her release from the ship master and married her.

Mrs. Geisendorfer was highly respected and greatly beloved. She became the mother of seven children: George, who is located at Cascadia; Anna, who is the wife of Prof. W. C. Hawley, of Salem ; Emily, wife of H. D. Burk- hart, living near Albany, and to whom have been born Leander K., John G. and Verna K .; Margaret, living at home; Elizabeth, wedded to Frank Lyons, and residing near Albany, Ore., who are the parents of five children, Don- ald J., Mary J., Ruth J., George L. and Rachel B., all born in Oregon; John, who is practic- ing medicine at The Dalles, and Daisy, who is the wife of John M. Davis, Kansas City, Mo., to whom have been born two children, Morton C., who died when eight months of age, and Nelson H.

Mr. Geisendorfer has in his possession a number of chairs which were the first made in Oregon, and also a table which was made of native wild cherry very early in the history of the territory. In his early pioneer days Mr. Geisendorfer was associated in a business way with Governor Abernethy and the latter's brother, Alexander; and also with John Mc- Loughlin and Senator Mitchell.

JOSEPH F. SCOTT, one of the very success- ful farmer of Yamhill county, has been a resident of the state since one year old. He was born in Tennessee, February 10, 1869, and comes of farming ancestry identified with the south for many years. His father, James Hervey Scott, born in Sullivan county, Tenn., was reared in his native state, and conducted farming there during his early manhood. He married Eliza- beth J. McCauley, and there were born to them but two children, of whom Walter F., the younger, is a resident of Sheridan, and a me- chanic by trade.

The Scott family removed from Tennessee to Oregon in 1870, settling near Salem, where they farmed for three years. The father then bought land near Grand Ronde and in 1883 moved to Gopher Valley, where he lived for two years. His next home was on the farm now occupied by his son, Joseph F., and a portion of which is owned by the other son and wife. Here Mr. Scott died January 23, 1897, at the age of seventy years. He was successful as a farmer and stock- raiser, and left to his family a well improved and valuable farm.

Until the death of the older man Joseph F. Scott remained with his father. profiting by the

experience of his sire, and attending the public schools as opportunity offered. In 1899 he was united in marriage with Mary Jane Ivy and of this union there has been born one son, Robert E. On his two hundred and twenty-five acres of rented land Mr. Scott carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising, in which he is very success- ful, and at the same time his efforts give promise of future prominent participation in the general affairs of his neighborhood. He also owns two hundred and seventy acres in Yamhill county, near the Highlands. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and is fraternally connected with the Wood- men of the World. Like his father, Mr. Scott bears an honored name in the community, and his tact and agreeable nature have won him many friends.

WILLIAM PAUL BABCOCK, who is agent for the Salem Flouring Mills Company, was born in Salem, January 17, 1876. His father, Free- land Jesse Babcock, was a native of Burlington, Vt., and was of an old New England family of Puritan ancestry. He was reared in Burlington, but in 1861. when a mere lad, he ran away from home in order to enter the army, joining a Ver- mont regiment of infantry, with which he val- iantly served for four years. Three times he was wounded, but each time he returned to active duty as soon as his injuries permitted, and he rose from the ranks to a captaincy, being com- mander of his company at the time the war closed, and receiving an honorable discharge. Although but a boy when he entered the army the hardships of war soon developed in him the spirit of a man and no veteran of twice his years excelled him in patriotism and bravery.

After visiting his old home in the Green Moun- tain state Captain Babcock came to Oregon, by way of the Panama route to Salem. He was a cabinetmaker by trade, and soon he engaged in the manufacture of furniture and the undertak- ing business here. In 1888 he was elected county clerk of Marion county, entering upon the duties of his office in July of that year, and in 1890 he was re-elected, serving in that capacity until his death, which occurred November 2, 1891. Prom- inent and honored in public and private life, he was also a distinguished member of the Masonic fraternity of Oregon, holding membership in Pacific Lodge No. 50, A. F. & A. M., in which he was past master. He was also the grand sec- retary of the Grand Lodge of Oregon from 1880 until 1888. when he resigned in order to enter upon the duties of the political office to which he had been chosen. He likewise held membership in Salem Chapter No. 3. R. A. M., and De Molay Commandery No. 5. K. T., while in the Scottish Rite he took all of the degrees up to and includ-

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ing the thirty-second in the consistory at Port- land. In the Grand Army of the Republic he was prominent and honored, and he also belonged to the Loyal Legion. In politics he was an unfal- tering Republican, standing by the party which was the support of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Congrega- tional Church.

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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 77

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