Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 80

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 80

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Of the four sons born into this family of typi- cal western enterprise, John is cashier of the First National Bank; Frank died in 1883, having qualified as a physician and surgeon at the Jef- ferson Medical College ( Philadelphia), later en- gaging in post-graduate work for one year in London and one in Vienna; Jacob L. is a gradu- ate of the University of Oregon, is a well known scientist, and fills the chair of Paleontology at Yale University, and H. C. is secretary and treasurer of the firm of Olds, Wortman & King, of Portland, Ore. The success of their sons has invested the life of these honored pioneers with a great deal of satisfaction and joy, and reflects vast credit upon the splendid home training in the early days, which inspired the best possible in their respective undertakings, and laid the foundation for strong and capable manhood. In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. Wortman made their first trip back to the old home in the east, and also visited the World's Fair, their journey being of a vastly different order because of latter day enterprise and accomplishment. Serenely they gazed at the splendidly developed farms and prosperous cities from the windows of a Pullman palace car, and it is surmised that many con- trasts were drawn, and many references made to the ox trains of the very long ago. In 1895 also another trip was undertaken back to the old haunts so familiar in his experience of forty- five years before. Mr. Wortman represents the integrity and substantial growth of the west, and his is a kind of citizenship as ennobling as it is inspiring and helpful.

E. E. GOUCHER, M. D., is the pioneer physi- cian and surgeon of McMinnville, having located here in 1883. No professional name in Yamhill county carries with it greater weight, or suggests

Robert Robe

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more conscientious application of the highest ten- ets of medical and surgical science. A son of the country bordering on the western sea, Dr. Gou- cher was born near Healdsburg, Sonoma county, Cal., March 12, 1858, and from a very successful physician sire received his first inspiration to- wards his life calling.

Of fine Old Dominion stock, G. W., the father of E. E. Goucher, was born in Virginia, and practiced medicine for many years in the south. Reports of golden fortunes on the coast led him to temporarily abandon his profession in 1849 in favor of prospecting and mining in California, to which state he journeyed via Panama, and where he experienced the success of the average rather than the exceptional miner. Fortified with a calling for which there is invariable demand, he lived at times in Alameda, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties, and in 1864 identified his for- tunes with Yamhill county, Ore., where he com- bined practice and ministerial labors in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church south for some years. Eventually he located in Amity, where a success- ful practice was interrupted by his death in 1893. He was a stanch member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church south, as was also his wife, Delilah Ann (Morrison) Goucher, who was born in In- diana, and came to California with her brothers at an early day. Of the five children born to these parents but two are living, the pioneer physician of McMinnville being the second oldest child in the family, and Mrs. Norah Springer.

At a very early age Dr. Goucher became in- terested in his father's profession, and from this reliable source received his first practical instruc- tion. Primarily his education was received in the public schools of California and Yamhill county, and he eventually entered Willamette University, from which he was duly graduated from the medical department in 1882. After a year's practice in Yamhill county he located in McMinnville, as heretofore stated, and aside from a general practice of medicine has identified him- self with horticulture, owning one of the very fine and productive fruit farms of the county. Since its establishment he has been a member of the pension board of Yamhill county. Frater- nally the doctor is associated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand; the Encampment of McMinnville ; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Salem; and the Odd Fellows lodge of McMinn- ville. The family of Dr. Goucher consists of his wife, Hattie M. (Sherman) Goucher, a native of Minnesota, and two children, Rua and Norma.

REV. ROBERT ROBE. To the mission- ary of the early days Oregon owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. Diamet- rically opposed to the hundreds who staked all

on the possibility of acquiring a fortune, his object in life has been the saving of souls and the building up of moral character in the rising generations. Like a benediction, his face and voice have recalled the miner, the tiller of the soil and the merchant to the teachings of his youth, and caused him to pause in the midst of his mad struggle for the smile of mammon. Thus a few honored names are associated with peace and tranquility, rather than the strife of pioneer days, and among these that of Rev. Robert Robe is one of the best known and most worthy.

That Mr. Robe should associate his minis- terial labors with the Presbyterian Church was a foregone conclusion, for on both sides of his family there were stanch adherents to the ec- clesiastical rule of presbyters. His grand- father, William, was a strict churchman of Scotch ancestry, and became a very early set- tler at Morgantown, Va. His father, Josiah, was born in Virginia, and established his fam- ily in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1809. He be- came a large land owner, and took an active part in the church, was an elder therein, and reared his children to follow his worthy ex- ample. At the time of his death, on his farm in 1845, he was seventy-five years old, and left behind him a record as a business man and up- right, influential citizen. In his youth he mar- ried Jane Frame, who was born in Pennsylva- nia and died in Ohio, and who was a daughter of David Frame, one of the early settlers of Ohio. Mr. Frame was an elder in the Presby- terian Church. Robert was the youngest of the three sons and five daughters born to his parents, and he was educated primarily in the public schools. In 1845, shortly after the death of his father, he entered Muskingum College at New Concord. He had previously received some training at a college in Antrim, Ohio, and in 1846 entered Washington College, at Washington, Pa., from which he was duly graduated in 1847. Returning to his home he commenced studying for the ministry, and, in the fall of 1848, entered the Western Theolog- ical Seminary at Pittsburg, the following two years being devoted to ministerial labors in the state of Ohio.

As a missionary Mr. Robe came to Oregon in 1851, crossing the plains in an ox-train, and heing on the road from the first of April until the latter part of August. For three months he taught a pioneer school in the wilderness, and then, finding that Lane county had no spiritual advisor, he removed to Eugene, making that his headquarters for the whole county. Hc organized the first Presbyterian Church in Eu- gene, and was one of three to organize the Presbytery of the Willamette in 1851. This

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was the first presbytery north of California and west of the Rocky Mountains, and its im- portance in the history of the church in the state cannot be over-estimated. Rev. Robe assisted in the organization of the first synod in San Francisco, out of which grew the pres- bytery in the north. He has been a member ever since. During his ten years of residence in Lane county Mr. Robe accomplished a world of good, stimulating right living and gentle judging, and in a strong, forceful man- ner promoting the cause of education. For some time he was county superintendent of schools, and assisted in laying out the school districts of that county.

After his recall to Brownsville Mr. Robe had charge of the Brownsville Church until he was superannuated in 1895. He has since lived a practically retired life, although his interest in moral and educational promotion continues unabated. Since coming to Brownsville he has organized the church at Crawfordsville, and his voice has been heard in exhortation in many pulpits throughout the county. He is a stanch Prohibitionist, and his own life best illustrates his uncompromising belief in tem- perate living. At present he is a resident of Brownsville, but during certain portions of his life he has lived on a farm, and engaged in stock and grain-raising. At times his remu- neration for services rendered has been small, and would have seemed entirely inadequate to one less devoted to the cause of humanity. Dur- ing the Civil war, especially, his salary was cut very low, and the prevailing high prices aug- mented the financial discomfort of this worker for the betterment of the world. His cour- ageous spirit has been the wonder of all who have labored with him, and his life of self- sacrifice undoubtedly has inspired many a weary toiler in other fields.

July 18, 1854, Mr. Robe was united in mar- riage with Eliza A. Walker, who was born in Murray county, Ga., February 4, 1835, a daugh- ter of William Walker, a carpenter by trade. Mr. Walker removed to Tennessee in 1841, and, in 1843, located on a farm in Missouri, his emigration to Oregon taking place by way of the plains, in 1853. After locating in Eugene he worked at his trade for many years, his death occurring in Springfield, Ore., at the age of eighty years. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robe, the order of their birth being as follows: William W., residing in Brownsville; Maria J., the wife of Mr. Mar- sters, of this place; Mary Bell; Emma Annella, Ida Augusta and Robert, deceased; Herman L .; Charles, deceased; Stella, who died in in- fancy, and Elbert S., a bookkeeper in the mill at Albany.

JAMES H. OLDS. October 18, 1902, there was celebrated in Lafayette the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Olds, who are among the most honored and well known of the pioneers of '52. An element of more than usual romance is connected with this couple, whose association has been characterized by that fine sympathy and helpfulness engendered by necessary concessions and companionship in the very hard days of pio- neer Oregon. As cousins Mr. and Mrs. Olds were married while crossing the plains near Fort Boise, Idaho, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. Reasoner, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, the principal witnesses being Wilson Cook and Mrs. N. A. Jacobs. At the golden wedding were present ninety relatives, a showing rarely found on occasions of this kind. The many beautiful gifts, the enthusiastic good wishes of many friends, and the general air of rejoicing, but slightly indicated the esteem in which are held these high minded and very prosperous early settlers.

The career of Mr. Olds should furnish en- couragement to all desirous of rearing a structure solely upon their own merit. He was born near Sandusky, Seneca county, Ohio, May 29, 1830, and on both sides of his family cherishes a just pride of ancestry. His father, Martin, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1799, and lived until 1877; while his paternal grandfather, Timothy, was born and partially reared in England, and came to the colonies in America when a youth. At the age of nineteen the grandfather enlisted in the Revolutionary war as a private, and after participating in many of the best known battles was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. After the war he was ordained a Baptist minis- ter, and during his ministry took part in the stirring events which have made his time mem- orable for its hideous religious intolerance. In accordance with the Massachusetts decree : "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," he was present at the hanging of a number of supposed witches, but just what attitude he assumed in regard to this travesty of justice is not clearly defined. From Massachusetts he removed to New York state, and later to Seneca county, Ohio, where he died.

Martin Olds followed farming during his entire active life, and wherever he lived took an active interest in politics. In his youth he had limited educational chances, but he learned much from observation and life-long investigation and was always accounted a well informed and pro- gressive man. He was one of the very early settlers of Branch county, Mich., where he at- tained to great prominence, not only serving as the first county judge, but being elected to the state legislature of 1843-44. Mr. Olds crossed the

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plains in 1851, and located on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres at the head of the Chehalem waters, where he lived until 1860. He then took up a claim three miles west of Middle- ton, in Washington county, where his last days were spent. As in Michigan, his special fitness for office was soon recognized, and after filling several offices with extreme credit he was made county judge of Yamhill county. From 1854 until 1858 he was a member of the constitutional convention of Oregon, and he was postmaster of Lafayette for many years. In his youth he married Temperance Parker, whose grandfather, Green Parker, was a Free Will Baptist preacher, and who settled on a farm in New York state near where his granddaughter was born in 1809. She died in North Yamhill, Yamhill county, in 1889. Of the children born of this union we make the following mention: Green is a farmer in Goldendale, Ore .; George died in Washington county in 1862; Martin is in Michigan; James H. is next in order; Nancy H. Jacobs lives in McMinnville ; and Mrs. Sarah Cook also lives in McMinnville.

James H. Olds engaged in independent farm- ing in Washington county in 1853, but after- ward disposed of this property to his father, and settled on the old homestead on the Chehalem. In 1868 he removed to Lafayette to educate his children, and in 1872 engaged in the warehouse business in St. Joseph. He also became inter- ested in managing a hotel, and for seven years experienced considerable success in this venture. In 1880 Mr. Olds built his present residence in Lafayette, and has since made this his headquar- ters. The year 1882 found him in the hotel business, from which he retired October 1, 1902. Mr. Olds lived in Clackamas county between 1892-95. Like his father, he has been active in promoting the interests of the Republican party, and has almost continuously served as a mem- ber of the school board, a part of the time as clerk. From 1866 until 1870 he served as deputy sheriff, and was justice of the peace for fourteen years, and bailiff of the circuit court for twelve years. As road supervisor he has ma- terially impressed upon the community the ne- cessity for good thoroughfares.

In 1852 Mr. Olds married Nancy A. Parker, from which union there were born three sons and three daughters, the order of their birth be- ing as follows: Mrs. Elberta E. Gates, deceased ; D. V., a resident of Lafayette; E. M., also liv- ing in Lafayette; Mrs. Della Klosterman, of the vicinity of Lafayette; Mrs. Kate Ferguson, of Lafayette, and P. P., who also resides here. Mr. Olds possesses personal characteristics in keeping with the opportunities of this great conmon- wealth, and has left his sterling worth impressed upon many departments of its activity. In re-

ligion he is a Materialist, but never antagonizes his neighbor with his belief. A man of limited education, he is nevertheless exceptionally well read.

JOHN NEWELL, who is engaged in the liv- ery business in McMinnville, has been a resident of Oregon for a quarter of a century. He was born September 12, 1847, in Meigs county, Ohio, a son of Alonzo and Fannie (Dyke) Newell. The grandfather, John Newell, was a native of Massachusetts and a representative of an old New England family, whose loyal sons served in the Revolutionary war. He settled in Meigs county, Ohio, at a very early day, and there Alonzo Newell was born and reared, becoming a farmer by occupation. Removing to Wayne county, Ill., he there engaged in milling, and in 1876 he came to Oregon, carrying on business as a farmer and stock-raiser in Yamhill county until his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife, a native of Ohio, was a daughter of John Dyke, also born in that state. She died in Oregon. Her four children reached years of maturity and three came to Oregon. John ; Mrs. Denica Felner, now of California; and Samuel, of Polk county, this state.

When ten years of age John Newell became a resident of Illinois, where he pursued his educa- tion in the district schools, and on attaining his majority he began farming and stock-raising in Wayne county. In 1876, however, he sold his in- terests there and with the family came to Oregon, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in Marion county until 1878, when he came to Yam- hill county, purchasing a farm near Sheridan. The purchase comprised two hundred and forty acres of wild land, from which some of the tim- ber had been cut, but the stumps still remained. This he improved and in addition to the cultiva- tion of the fields he raised stock there until June, 1896, when he sold that property and came to McMinnville, where in connection with Mr. De Haven he purchased the livery business of Mr. Yocum, and under the firm name of DeHaven & Newell the barn was conducted for two years. The senior partner then sold his interest to James Henry and the firm of Henry & Newell was or- ganized. They have a large livery, feed and sale stable, 100 x 100 feet, containing all kinds of car- riages and vehicles, and in addition to the rental of these they buy and sell horses, shipping them to the Sound country. They keep very fine horses and have the largest livery business in the county.

In Wayne county, Ill., Mr. Newell was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Ake, a native of that county, and they have five children: Frank, Grace, William, Add and Fannie, all of McMinn-

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ville. Mr. Newell belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is a Republican in poli- tics. He has served as a member of the city board of aldermen and was a member of the new charter committee. In matters of citizenship he is liberal and progressive, and in business affairs has met with gratifying success.

SMITH STEPHENS. The owner of one of the attractive homes and fine farms of Yamhill county is Smith Stephens, who, throughout his entire life, has devoted his energies to agricul- tural pursuits, with the result that excellent suc- cess has attended his efforts. He was born No- vember 15, 1851, in Appanoose county, Iowa, a son of Aaron Stephens, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1828. During his boyhood the father accompanied his parents to Virginia, and at an early date in the history of Iowa they be- came residents of the latter state, arriving there about 1850. Aaron Stephens afterward married Miss Mary McGarvey, a native of Virginia, and they resided in Iowa until 1862, when they, too, joined the emigrants who were in those years continually crossing the plains in order to reclaim the wild district of the far west for the purposes of civilization. In addition to the difficulties in- cident to a long journey across the stretches of hot sand and over the mountains, almost impas- sable, they had trouble with the Indians, and were continually on their guard for fear of being mo- lested by the savages. When six months had passed, however, they arrived at Portland, and Mr. and Mrs. Stephens came on at once to the Willamette valley, settling upon a tract of land adjoining Hopewell. Mr. Stephens purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and upon the place made all of the improvements, including the erection of substantial buildings and the transformation of the wild land into productive fields. Both he and his wife continued to live upon that farm until called to the home beyond, he passing away at the age of seventy years, while his wife lived to be sixty-nine years of age. They were life-long members of the Baptist Church, and their upright characters won for them the warm regard of those with whom they came in contact. They became the parents of five children : Malissa, the wife of Enoch Cooper, who resides upon a part of the old home place ; Smith, of this review; Frank S., a resident of Hopewell; Leila, the wife of Isaac Lynch, of Hopewell, and one that died at the age of two years.

Smith Stephens spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity, and then accom- panied his parents on their removal to Oregon, remaining upon the old homestead farm until the time of his marriage. During the period of his

boyhood he had obtained a good education in the district schools and in the Salem Academy. He wedded Miss Emily Allison, a native of Canada, and they took up their abode upon a part of the old homestead, living there for about ten years, when Mr. Stephens purchased what is known as the Richardson donation claim. Upon the tract which thus came into his possession he made all of the improvements, and he now has splendid modern buildings and a fine farm. At the present time he is in possession of eight hundred acres of land, and he carries on general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business prov- ing profitable. During the year 1892 he raised fourteen thousand pounds of hops-a crop which has become an important one in the northwest, and brings a good financial return.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were born five children, but they lost their first child, Myrtle. The others, Mabel, Charles, Howard and Ina, are all at home. Mr. Stephens belongs to the United Brethren Church, of which he is serving as a director. As every true American citizen should do, he keeps well informed on the political questions and issues of the day, and his support is given to the Republican party. He is now serving as school clerk, and has been road super- visor, and for many years has been judge of elec- tions. His success is well merited, because it has come to him through legitimate channels of busi- ness. He realized that there is no royal road to wealth, and that the surest foundation upon which to build prosperity is industry and integ- rity. Upon this, therefore, he has placed his de- pendence, and as the years have passed his carc- ful management and energy have been the means of winning for him a leading position among the substantial citizens of his community.

RICHARD W. PHILLIPS. Among thie pio- neer settlers of Yamhill county Richard W. Phil- lips occupies an altogether unique place, his char- acter, his farm and his carcer being as familiar to the old-time residents as are his genial face and kindly manner. Mr. Phillips was born in Limestone county, Ala., January 1, 1832, and as far back as is known his forefathers were farm- ers and large land owners in the south. His pa- ternal grandfather, William E. Phillips, followed the martial forces of Washington during the Revolutionary war, gaining distinction because of his courageous and meritorious services.

The parental family comprised thirteen chil- dren, who were given a fair education in the dis- trict schools. When their son, Richard W., was seven years old the family removed to Louisiana, and from that age until he was twenty he re- mained at home with his parents. At the latter age, however, he started out on his own responsi-

J. S. Hughes

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bility, and in 1853 crossed the plains with ox teams. He was accompanied on the journey by his brother, George W., and they both sustained some loss, owing to the depredations of the In- dians, thereby losing some of their horses. After a wearisome journey of over seven months they finally reached Amity, Yamhill county, where they remained for some time. At the end of the journey Richard W. was possessed of just $5 in currency, with which to begin life in the west, and, as may well be imagined, it did not carry him very far. Soon after his arrival, however, he was fortunate enough to secure employment at farm work, and in 1855 went to The Dalles, where for nine months he was employed by a pack train, under the supervision of the govern- ment. In the meantime his brother had enlisted in the Indian war of 1855-56, being under the command of Captain Emery, and acquitting him- self creditably as a preserver of the peace in the west.

From The Dalles Mr. Phillips removed to Yamhill county in 1857, and the same year started for California with a bunch of cattle. As this proved a paying venture he made similar expe- ditions for several years thereafter. For a time in 1859 he was employed at farm work, but the same year returned to Wasco county, Ore., where he dealt quite extensively in cattle, and remained there until 1873. While a resident of the latter county, in January, 1862, he married Mary Haw- ley, who was born on the Boise river, Idaho, in 1844. After his marriage he removed to the farm which has since been his home, and which he had purchased ir 1861, it being located one- half mile south of Whiteson. That Mr. Phillips has utilized the chances by which he has been surrounded in the northwest is proved by the fact that he now owns eleven hundred and eight- een acres of land, a truly wonderful increase over his original $5. About five hundred acres are under cultivation, and no farm in this county is better equipped or more extensive in its various avenucs of activity. The past season witnessed thic gathering of sixteen thousand pounds of hops, an item of commerce which is accounted one of the specialties of the Phillips farm, which is known as Peach Hill Farm. The five hundred head of stock include Shorthorn cattle, Cots- wold sheep, Berkshire and Poland-China hogs, and Angora goats. An air of substantiality and thoroughness, also of extreme neatness and thrift, pervades this splendid old farm, as reliable and substantial as is the honored owner, everywhere known as Uncle Dick.

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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 80

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