Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 83

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 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

CHRISTIAN OBYE. Near North Yamhill is to be seen the fine farm of Christian Obye, who was born in Norway seven miles from Chris- tiania, his natal day being February 13. 1835. His father, Lars Obye, was also a native of that locality, and throughout his entire life he carried on agricultural pursuits. In the year 1845 he came to America, induced to this step by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning the new world and its opportunities. He took passage on a sailing vessel, and after a calm voy- age of six weeks landed in New York City. He did not tarry long in the east, however, but at once made his way into the interior of the coun- try, locating in Jo Daviess county, Ill. There he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming until his life's labors were ended in death. He married Miss Katherine Washburn, who was also a native of Norway, and they became the parents of twelve children, nine sons and three daugh- ters, but the only ones now living are Benjamin, who is a resident of Lake City, Iowa; and Chris- tian, who is the youngest of the family. The par- ents were members of the Lutheran Church and took a very active part in church work, doing all in their power to promote the cause of Chris- tianity. The father died in 1854, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother survived him for but a brief period, passing away in 1855, at the age of sixty-eight years.

When thirteen years of age Christian Obye left home and has since been dependent upon his resources for a livelihood. He began earning his own living by working as a farm hand, and after that time his educational privileges were very meager. He had previously attended the com- mon schools of Illinois, but later the knowledge that he acquired came to him through the school of experience. He continued to serve as a farm hand in Illinois until 1855, when, attracted by the business possibilities of the far west, he went to California by way of the isthmus route, land-

ing at San Francisco in the fall of that year. He then resumed his journey overland until he reached Shasta county, where he engaged in placer mining, but he was not very successful, and in consequence turned his attention to other interests. In 1858 he started for the Fraser river, proceeding as far as Olympia, Wash. There his supply of money became exhausted, and because of his lack of funds he returned to Yamhill county, Ore., and soon after purchased his pres- ent place, comprising three hundred and thirty acres of land in the Pike valley. It was then a tract wild and unimproved, but with character- istic energy he began developing it into fields ready for cultivation, and to-day he has one hun- dred and seventy-five acres under the plow. Thirty acres are planted to hops, for the produc- tion of this product is becoming one of the lead- ing industries of Oregon. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and in his business is meeting with a fair degree of success.

In 1860 Mr. Obye was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia Turner, a daughter of Samuel Turner, who crossed the plains in 1853. He was born in De Kalb county, Mo., and became one of the pioneers of the northwest. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Obye was blessed with the follow- ing children: Lewis S., who is on the home farm; J. E. and S. F., who operate an adjoining farm ; Mrs. Mary A. Driscoll, who is in the Klon- dike; H. C., Emma V., and Nancy C., who are under the parental roof. The parents hold mem- bership in the Lutheran Church of Norway. Mr. Obye is a Republican in his political views, and has served as road supervisor, as school director, as clerk, and for twenty-seven years has been judge of elections. In all these offices he has been found prompt, capable and reliable, and he has the national characteristic of fidelity to duty and unflinching honesty in all relations.

JOHN PERKINS, who came to Oregon in the year 1844, was born in Greene county, N. Y., August 21, 1811, and in 1817 was taken by his parents to Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he resided continuously until 1832. In that year the family removed to Tippecanoe county, Ind., where, in 1836, John Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Felix. Subse- quently they moved to Benton county, Ind., where they lived until 1844, when they deter- mined to establish a home in the far northwest, thinking that by taking advantage of its pioneer conditions they might eventually secure a good home and comfortable competence. Accordingly they crossed the plains, accompanied by the fam- ily of Mr. Perkins' father. They were upon the road for about six months, and endured many hardships, trials and difficulties during that long

614

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

journey, which led across the hot, sandy plains of the middle west, and over mountains which hardly afforded a trail. In November, 1844, however, they reached Walla Walla. Mr. Per- kins there separated from the others of the train and assisted Dr. Whitman in repairing his mills and grinding grain for the emigrants. Mr. Per- kins conducted a grist-mill until the fall of 1844, and in the spring of 1845 came to the Willamette valley, locating on a farm near North Yamhill, where, with the exception of the time spent in a trip to California in 1849, he resided continuously until his death. On his return to Oregon, how- ever, he and his father erected a saw and grist- mill, the first in Yamhill county. Shortly after- ward Mr. Perkins purchased the property and ran the mills several years. In 1853 he furnished flour to the Spanish packers, who took the same to the Yreka mines of California.

Unto Mr. Perkins and his wife were born nine children, of whom eight are yet living. Mr. Per- kins reached the age of seventy-five years, while his wife has attained the advanced age of eighty- seven years, and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Bedwell. He served as county commis- sioner, and was a leading and influential citizen of his community. Local progress and improve- ment were causes dear to his heart, and he co- operated earnestly and effectively in the efforts to reclaim this district for civilization, and to carry forward the work of improvement and ad- vancement here.

H. F. BEDWELL is extensively and success- fully engaged in general farming and hop-grow- ing, being a well known representative of the latter industry, which has become an important one in Oregon. He was born January 21, 1842, at Lone Jack, in Jackson county, Mo. His father, Elisha Bedwell, was born September 9, 1819, in Lafayette county, Mo., and April 12, 1847, before the discovery of gold had attracted to the Pacific coast so many emigrants, he made the long and tedious journey across the plains with ox teams, arriving in the northern part of Yamhill county, October 12, after five months spent upon the way. In 1848 he went to the mines of California, and was engaged in mining and prospecting for a time, but in 1849 he returned to Oregon and secured a donation claim near North Yamhill, where he resided until 1874, when he sold that property and removed to Monmouth, there living in retirement from further business cares until his death. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss S. A. Davis, by whom he had two children: H. F., and one that died in in- fancy. The mother died in Texas in 1844, and June 19, 1850, Mr. Bedwell was again married,

his second union being with Miss A. M. Shelton, who was one of the pioneer women of the north- west, coming to Oregon from Missouri in 1846. They became the parents of ten children, two sons and two daughters still living. By trade the father was a blacksmith, and for many years he followed that pursuit, at the same time con- ducting his farm. On the 14th of April, 1848. he joined the Christian Church, and thereafter lived a life in consistent harmony with its teach- ings. He was a well known and popular citizen and an honored pioneer who took an active and helpful part in the work of development and progress here. He died at the age of seventy-six years, and his widow is still living in Monmouth.

H. F. Bedwell was two years of age when his mother died, and he then became a member of the household of his maternal grandparents, who, in 1852, also started for Oregon, and with an ox team crossed the plains, being about six months upon the way. They first settled near North Yamhill, and after they came to this state our subject went to live with his father, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. In the meantime he acquired his education in the district schools.

On the 3Ist of January, 1864, was celebrated the marriage of H. F. Bedwell and Miss Eliza- beth A. Perkins, a daughter of John and Sarah Perkins, who were pioneers of 1844. They began housekeeping upon a farm near North Yamhill, where they lived for fifteen years, and on the expiration of that period they removed to North Yamhill. Here Mr. Bedwell first engaged in the butchering business, but after a year he opened a general mercantile store, which he conducted for twenty-one years, his wife assisting him in the store for fifteen years. In 1891 he retired from that business, and is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising, carrying on agricul- tural pursuits with excellent success. In the sea- son of 1902 he raised twenty-six thousand pounds of hops, and this brought to him a good financial return.

Mr. and Mrs. Bedwell have had no children of their own, but the kindness of their hearts and their sympathetic natures have prompted them to care for a number of orphan children. Mr. Bedwell belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has served as treasurer of his lodge. More than half a century has passed since he became a resident of Oregon, and the history of the northwest is therefore largely fa- miliar to him, for he has seen it emerge from the wild forests to take its place amid the ranks of the states, whose development covers a much longer period. He has seen the giant trees cut down to give way to fields of waving grain or the rich pasture lands, has seen the establishment of industries and of commercial enterprises, and

Plittice

617

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the work of progress he has borne his full share, so that he is now known as a valued citi- zen, as well as an honored pioneer.

COL. J. LINSEY HILL, M. D., PH. D., one of the most eminent physicians, surgeons and medical writers of the Willamette valley, has been a resident of Oregon since 1853, and since 1871 has been continuously engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Albany, Linn county. Born in McNairy county, Tenn., February 28, 1845, Dr. Hill inherits his love for medi- cine and surgery from his father, Dr. Reuben Coleman Hill. The latter was a native of Ten- nessee and a descendant from an old and hon- ored family of the Old Dominion. He was a practicing physician and a minister in the Bap- tist Church, both of which callings he followed during most of his long and useful life. From Kentucky he removed to Tennessee when a young man, and there married Margaret Gra- ham Lair, a native of Kentucky. Thereafter he continued to preach and to practice medicine for many years. Eventually he removed overland to Berry county, Mo., where he lived for seven years, continuing his useful and meritorious labors.

Leaving his wife and nine children, he gave evidence of his courage and determination by crossing the plains on the back of a mule in 1850. After devoting a year to mining and to preach- ing and practicing medicine in California he came across the mountains to Oregon. He was so well impressed with the conditions which he found in Oregon that he resolved to make it his home. Pending his return to his family he located in Albany, taught the first school estab- lished there, and likewise became the first phy- sician of the place. To the traveler of to-day, the distance already covered by this enterprising pioneer would seem quite sufficient for one life- time, especially when the means employed are considered ; yet in 1852 he returned to Missouri in this primitive manner.

In 1853 Dr. Hill outfitted with ox-teams and wagons and started overland for Oregon with his wife and children. After a journey of about six months they arrived in the Willamette val- lev, and soon afterward settled upon a farm in Benton county. For seven years he made this his home, practicing medicine and preaching the gospel. Almost from the first day of his resi- dence in Benton county he wielded a beneficent influence upon the community, which spread year by year until. upon his location in Albany in 1860, he had become personally known to every family within a radius of many miles, and was greatly beloved by all. He was intensely inter- ested in McMinnville College, of which he was

one of the founders and for many years a trus- tee. He traveled extensively in behalf of the in- stitution, making one trip to the east, raising funds for the furtherance of the work of the school. He founded four permanent scholar- ships for the benefit of his own descendants and worthy young men who desired to fit themselves for ministry in the Baptist Church. The work which he inaugurated has been carried on since his death by his son, Dr. J. L. Hill, in accord- ance with the wishes of his father.

When he removed to Albany Dr. Hill took up his residence in the old octagonal house now occupied by his daughter, where he spent the remainder of his life in devotion to the manifold duties which he had imposed upon himself. He took an active and important part in the political undertakings of the county and the state, and for three terms, between 1850 and 1860, represented Benton county in the state legislature. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, but viewed all public affairs with a liberal and unprejudiced eye. He belonged to that class of men possessed of an in- finite capacity for hard work, and thought noth- ing of riding long distances at any hour of the day or night, or in any kind of weather, to min- ister to the physical or spiritual necessities of the inhabitants of the valley, all of whom were his friends. In many respects he was of that type of " doctor of the old school " immortalized by Ian McLaren in his stories of Scotch life- " Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." The great northwest, with its multitude of rugged, sincere, gracious, unselfish, useful men in all walks of life, probably never numbered among its pioneers a man who became more closely endeared to the people of all classes than he; and his death at the age of eighty-three years, which occurred December 31, 1890, was as deeply deplored as that of any citizen of the Willamette valley. The record of his noble life is eminently entitled to a permanent and conspicuous place in the annals of Oregon, and, hesides being a source of pro- found pride to his descendants, should prove an inspiration to representatives of the present and future generations.

Of the six sons and three daughters born to the union of Reuben Coleman and Margaret (Lair) Hill, four sons and one daughter sur- vive, as follows: W. Lair Hill, an attorney-at- law, now of Oakland, Cal., who compiled the codes of Oregon and Washington; George Al- fred Hill, an attorney-at-law of Seattle; Dr. J. Linsey Hill; H. Taylor Hill, a stock-raiser of Washington county, Ore .: Margaret Adeline wife of Rev. Rufus Thompson, of Albany.

Dr. J. Linsey Hill was eight years of age when his father returned to his eastern home from his first journey to the west for the purpose of bringing his family to Oregon with him. His

618

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

elementary education was received in the public schools of Albany. As a boy he had become familiar with typesetting and other features of the printer's trade, and subsequently was asso- ciated for a short time with T. B. Odeneal in the publication of the Corvallis Gasette. In 1865 he began the study of medicine under the super- vision of his father, who carefully assisted him in laying a foundation of scientific knowledge which has proven an important factor in his pro- fessional career. In 1869 he entered the medical department of Willamette University, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1871 with the degree of M. D. In 1900 he took a post-graduate course in the New York School of Clinical Medicine. McMinnville College con- ferred upon him the degree of B. A. and the degree of Ph D. was conferred by an eastern school in recognition of his contributions to the medical literature of the day.

For thirty-two years Dr. Hill has been en- gaged in a general medical and surgical practice, though he has also made a specialty of mental and nervous diseases. He has been a frequent contributor to scientific journals, setting forth the results of his research in and experience with mental disorders, and his work in this direction has received marked attention from the profes: sion in all parts of the country. He has also contributed profusely to local periodicals, dealing with subjects of immediate interest to the public.

Since 1895 Dr. Hill has occupied the chair of genito-urinary diseases in the medical depart- ment of Willamette University, and he is sur- geon-general of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias. During the administration of Governor Moody he served upon the official staff of the latter with the rank of colonel, his post being that of surgeon-general of the Oregon National Guard. He is past grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of the Grand Domain of Oregon. He was made a Mason in Lyon Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., of Independence, and is a charter member of St. John's Lodge, No. 4, of Albany. He is also identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows.

It is doubtful if any resident of Albany has contributed more extensively to its development and its practical upbuilding than has Dr. Hill. The Hill Block, a fine two-story business struc- ture 56x100 feet in ground dimensions, is one of his most important undertakings in this direc- tion. He has erected a large number of resi- dences in Albany, and is the owner of several of the older buildings in the city, about which cluster historical associations of nearly half a century ago. Among his landed possessions are a farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Ben- ton county, and real estate in Portland and Yaquina Bay. He is an enthusiastic student of

ornithology, and has a fine collection of mounted birds from all parts of the world. He is also the owner of the finest museum in the Willamette valley, including a most complete collection of Indian relics and curios.

Dr. Hill was united in marriage on December 30, 1870, with Mary E. Penington, daughter of S. M. and Abigail (Cooper ) Penington, pioneers of Oregon. (For family history see sketch of S. M. Penington, which appears elsewhere in this work.) She died on December 28. 1895, leaving three children. Of these Clyde L., the eldest son, is a doctor of dental surgery and is practicing in Wasco, Ore .; Gale S. is an attor- ney-at-law of Albany; and Emily G. resides with her father

Dr. Hill has always led a strenuous life. In- heriting the characteristics which made his father one of the most remarkable of the pioneer in- habitants of Oregon, among which is a rare ca- pacity for work, he has made each day of his life one of activity and usefulness. He has always exhibited a deep and unselfish interest in all movements which have appealed to him as well-considered efforts to advance the material in- terests of the community, and by the inhabitants of Albany has come to be regarded as one of the most enterprising, discreet and public-spirited men of the city. No man enjoys to a greater extent the confidence of all classes in the com- munity where he has spent the better portion of his life, and no one deserves in a greater degree the appreciation of thoughtful people for that sympathy and help in every movement calculated to elevate the social, intellectual, moral and com- mercial standards of the city. In an eminent de- gree he is entitled to rank among the best class of thoroughly representative men of the Willam- ette valley.

JOHN F. COOK, one of the great army of pioneers who have helped to develop the agri- cultural resources of Yamhill county, and who rose to prominence and wealth solely upon his own merits and indefatigable energy, was born in Tennessee, January 22, 1828, and died on his farm near McMinnville, March 30, 1899. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Cook, was a sol- died in the Revolutionary war, and spent many years of his life in Georgia, where his son, James, the father of John F., was born February II, 1786. He married Rhoda Faulkner, daughter of a soldier of the Revolution, and who bore him twelve children, all of whom attained maturity, John F. being the tenth oldest.

Reared on his father's farm in Tennessee, John F. Cook in time branched out into inde- pendent farming, and before starting for the west, March 6. 1852, had a little farm to sell, which defrayed his expenses over the plains.

619

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Starting earlier than any other trains that year, his party managed to escape the ravages of cholera which rendered hideous the route of later homeseekers, and he arrived in safety at his destination in Oregon City, August 16, 1852. Having exhausted his finances in outfitting and supporting himself on the outward trip, he was obliged to seek employment with the farmers in the county, and during the first winter worked as a farm hand in Yamhill county. For a year he tried his luck in the mines of Eureka, Cal., and while he did not strike it rich, he returned with somewhat replenished finances. For the follow- ing two years he earned about $40 per month at farm work in Marion county, and after returning to Yamhill county, continued to lay up money from farm work wages. In time he was in a position to purchase a farm of three hundred and twenty acres six miles southwest of Mc- Minnville, where he engaged in grain and stock-raising. Being a good manager, and hav- ing excellent business judgment, he from time to time added to his land and increased the volume of business, so that he left to his heirs more than twelve hundred acres of desirable farm property. The better to educate his children he bought a farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres near McMinnville, with the active man- agement of which he was engaged at the time of his death.

The practical assistance of Mr. Cook was en- listed in all efforts to better the condition of the community in which he lived, and he was es- pecially alive to the benefits of education. In this connection he contributed the land upon which the Cook school house was erected, and which has ever since borne his name. He was a Republican in politics, but was inclined to es- pouse the Prohibition platform, so earnestly did he believe in the tenets of that party. With his wife he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. December 11, 1860, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Esther A. Pros- ser, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the daugh- ter of Henry Prosser, of whom more extended mention is made in another part of this work. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook, Mary, the oldest daughter, is deceased; James, a graduate of McMinnville College, and of the Medical Department of the University of Ore- gon, is practicing medicine in McMinnville ; Rhoda died at the age of three years ; Wilbur is a farmer near MeMinnville ; Etta is the wife of Rev. H. B. Blood, and lives in New York state ; Royce is living with her mother ; and Cora is also living at home.

MRS. E. A. COOK. Among the pioneer women of Yamhill county whose timely assist- ance and unfailing spirit of courage have

smoothed over many rough places and helped to place home life in the west on a footing of permanency may be mentioned Mrs. E. A. Cook, wife of Thomas T. Cook, brother of her former husband, John F. Cook.

Mrs. Cook was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and . was reared in Iowa and Illinois until her tenth year, when she crossed the plains with her family. Her father, Henry Prosser, was born in New York state, where had settled his father, Philip, after coming to America from his na- tive England. The grandfather established the family in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in business for many years, and where his last days were spent. Henry Prosser was well fortified with trades, having in his youth mastered both the tailor and painter's trades. After leaving Ohio he lived for five years in Burlington, Iowa, going then to Abingdon, Ill., in both of which places he plied his trades. He was ambitious and unsettled in the middle west, and readily absorbed all news concerning the more prolific opportunities in the far northwest. Accordingly he outfitted with wagons and horse teams. and without any particular incident during the fore part of his journey across the plains arrived at Fort Laramie. There the party were enjoying a peaceful camp life and were partaking of an appetizing dinner, when they were surprised by the appearance on the scene of about three hun- dred Indians. Consternation spread among the travelers, for they expected to be massacred forthwith, but the red men proved to be upon a peaceful mission, and intended no harm. By the time they reached Fort Hall winter had set in, so Mr. Prosser decided to stay there until spring, and in the meantime worked at his trade, making many clothes for both Indians and whites, and for the people connected with the Hudson Bay Company.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 83

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