Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 92

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 92

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Alfred Wilson was born in Tennessee, April 2, 1826, and two years later his parents re- moved to Howard county, Mo., where he was reared upon a farm. . There he became ac- quainted with Kit Carson and there sprung 11p between them a friendship which existed until the death of the latter. In 1846, with the noted explorer, hunter and guide, he went to the Rocky Mountains on horseback, starting from Fort Leavenworth. He made this trip in the hope of benefiting his health, and afterward he traveled with Kit Carson, piloting people across the country. Often he slept with Mr. Carson under the same blanket and shared with him in all the experiences, encounters and hardships which went to make up the life his- tory of that famous man. Mr. Wilson has killed many a bear with his hunting knife, thus coming into close contact with the animals. With Mr. Carson he acted as pilot to Steven- son, a trader who went from St. Louis to New Mexico. Mr. Wilson was engaged to drive a six-mule team across the plains, starting from Mann's Fort on the Arkansas river. After being out five days they were attacked by the Indians, and at that time Mr. Wilson killed his first red man, a Comanche. He narrowly es- caped death, for five arrows penetrated his clothing. Five days later there was another attack by the Indians, but day after day some progress was made, until finally the party reached the last mountain, when he left the train and returned.

In 1848 Mr. Wilson enlisted for service in the Mexican war as a teamster, and after reaching the land of the Montezumas he en- listed as a scout in advance of the army, or, as they were called, a ranger. He was at the battle and in the siege of Santa Cruz, Mexico, where the troops surrounded the town, and for six days they subsisted upon one meal a day.

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Mr. Wilson was one of those chosen to throw bombs into the town, and did his full share in .winning American victories there. After the close of the Mexican war he returned north- ward and several times crossed the plains, making a trip in 1849 and another in 1850. In the latter year he was captain of a company that came to Oregon with an ox-team, journey- ing from Fort Hall westward. He and his brother also came along to Oregon and on the trip killed three Indians. They proceeded to the vicinity of McMinnville, and Mr. Wilson put in a crop for Dr. Sutton, operating the lat- ter's land on shares for a year. In the summer of 1851 he secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres where Riley Fendall now resides. In the fall of that year he was crippled while in the woods by a man hitting him back of the knee with an ax. The injury proved so serious that for eighteen months he was unable to engage in any labor. About that time news came that emigrants crossing the plains were in a starving condition, and Mr. Wilson then busied himself in taking up a collection wherewith to secure provisions to take to the travelers. He raised nearly $800 for that purpose, and it may well be supposed that he was hailed with gratitude as a bene- factor to those who were suffering great hard- ships for lack of food as they journeyed west- ward. At another time Mr. Wilson suffered a second accident, having a leg broken by the falling of his horse when near McMinnville. However, his life altogether has been a pros- perous one and has been filled with many in- cidents which have made his history eventful, and left to him many pleasant memories. In 1852 he secured a donation claim where he is now living, becoming the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres in this way. He has made all of the improvements upon the prop- erty, and substantial buildings now stand as monuments to his enterprise, while well tilled fields indicate his careful supervision. As the years have passed he has added to his property until he now has thirteen hundred and sixty acres of land in one body. He is largely en- gaged in raising horses upon his ranch, and has some very fine animals which bring a good price in the markets.

Mr. Wilson has been twice married. In 1854 he wedded Miss Mary Sailing, and unto them were born ten children, eight of whom are now living: Melicia, wife of Ira Stevens; Ludy, wife of James Le Masters ; Melvina, wife of John Lady; Minnic, wife of Andrew Lady : Lillic, wife of George Ball : Bay, wife of William Briddle: Edward and Harley. Mrs. Wilson died in 1890, and in 1894 Mr. Wilson was again married, his second union being

with Miss Rebecca Bryan. In his political views he is a Republican, having supported the party since its organization. His life history, if written in detail, would furnish more thrill- ing chapters than are usually found upon the pages of fiction. He knows what it is to en- dure hardships, incident to a journey across the plains before the advent of railroads. He also knows what it is to fear the skulking foe and to meet him in battle in the methods of warfare employed by the red men. He has also been a participant in his nation's battles, and he has likewise performed the no less im- portant work of reclaiming a wild district for the purposes of civilization, that nature may yield of its rich resources for the support of men.

ROSWELL L. CONNER, who is en- gaged in the practice of law in Mc- Minnville, was born in Polk county, Ore., near Dallas, September 18, 1866. He traces his ancestry back through several generations to the Emerald Isle and the name was originally O'Con- ner. The story goes that Robert O'Conner, a native of Ireland, was a son of wealthy parents. When twelve years of age he became imbued with an irresistible desire to come to America, and knowing that he could never win the consent of his parents, he ran away and went to a sea cap- tain, to whom he represented himself as an or- phan and obtained permission from the captain to come to America on his ship. In due time with a little bundle he went aboard the ship which soon afterward set sail. But the boy was missed at home and the father getting some track of him chartered another boat and overtook the one on which his son had sailed. The captain, however, in order to have no trouble, hid the boy in a hogshead, and the last time the boy saw his father was from the hold of a vessel as he peeped through the bunghole of the hogshead. The cap- tain brought him to this country on condition that he would work for the captain for three years in this country, and this Robert Conner did. He was also allowed to attend school and he learned a trade in his youth. After he attained his ma- jority he wrote home to his parents, and his father then offered to start him in any business he might select if he would return to Ireland. This he refused to do. Here he changed his name by dropping the prefix and the family have since had the patronymic of Conner. Robert Conner married and among his children was a son William, who also married and reared a fam- ily, including Robert Conner, the grandfather of our subject.

This Robert Conner was born in New York and became a farmer of Ohio, whence in 1847

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he started with his family across the plains with an ox-team and eventually reached Oregon. His wife had died in the east and his death occurred in Polk county, this state, in 1865. All of his children came with him to the northwest, namely : William, a farmer, who died in Polk county ; John, who died in California: Nathan, who died in Polk county; Job, the father of our subject ; Mrs. Sarah Franklin, who died in Multnomah county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Hewitt and Mrs. Ann Allaway, who died in the east ; Mrs. Mary Metz- ker, who died in Lake county, Ore .; Mrs. Han- nah Dexter, who passed away in Polk county, as did Mrs. Rachel Syron.

Job Conner was born in Ohio, December 3, 1827, and when twenty years of age came with the family to Oregon. For two years he engaged in lumbering in Oregon City, and in 1849 he went over the mountains to California, where he spent one year in placer mining. Upon his re- turn he settled in Polk county, where he pur- chased the right of a party to a section of land, but could hold only three hundred and twenty acres. This he improved and farmed, living there until his death in 1886. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Republican in his political belief. In early manhood he had married Polly Ann Riggs, who was born in Scott county, Ill., April 13, 1834, a daughter of Zadoc Riggs and a granddaughter of Scott Adams Riggs, who settled near Exeter, Ill., where he followed farming until his death. Zadoc Riggs was a farmer of Illinois until 1850, when he started with his wife and five children for Ore- gon, but he died while on the way, near the last crossing of the Sweetwater and was there buried. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Leib, was born in castern Tennessee and with her father, John Lieb, went to Scott county, III., where she became the wife of Mr. Riggs. After her husband's death she continued the journey to Oregon, where she spent her remaining days. Her brother-in-law, James B. Riggs, had settled in Polk county in 1845, and to that locality she went. She secured a donation land claim eight miles north of Dallas and there reared her fam- ily. her death occurring in 1872. It was on the 29th of March, 1855, that Polly Ann Riggs he- came the wife of Job Conner, and she died April 13, 1871, when our subject was four years old. She had seven children: Robert S., of San Jose, Cal. ; Thomas E., a farmer of Yamhill county ; Mrs. Jane Baxter, of Polk county ; Le- ander, a farmer of that county ; Roswell L .; Mrs. Lonisa Morrison, of Redlands, Cal., and Mrs. Nancy Berdan, of Spokane, Washı.

On the home farm Roswell L. Conner remained until twenty-one years of age, and after attend- ing the common schools, spent one year in Mc- Minnville College. On attaining his majority

he entered Willamette University, at Salem, where he remained two ycars. In 1889 he went to Sheridan and bought on interest with his brother, Robert S., in the Sheridan flouring mills, which they remodeled into roller mills and con- ducted under the name of Conner Brothers until 1891, when R. L. Conner sold his interest. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under W. L. Warren, serving until 1896. In the meantime he had taken up the study of law, and under the direction and in the office of Judge J. E. Magers he continued his reading until admitted to the bar, at Salem, in June, 1897. Since that time he has engaged in general practice in McMinnville and now has a large and distinctively representa- tive clientage. In 1900 he was appointed deputy district attorney for Yamhill county, under J. N. Hart, of Dallas, and in his law practice he has shown marked ability in coping with the intricate and involved questions of jurisprudence.

Mr. Conner was married in McMinnville to Miss Myrtie Apperson, who was born in Oregon City. He is a very prominent Mason, having become a member of the order in Sheridan Lodge No. 64, while now he is connected with Union Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master. He was exalted in Ainsworth Chapter, No. 17, R. A. M., at Dallas, and now belongs to Taylor Chapter, No. 16, of which he is a past high priest. His membership is likewise with Hodson Council, No. 1, R. & A. M., of which he was thrice illustrious master; the Order of High Priesthood; DeMolay Commandery, No. 5, K. T., having been a knight since 1894; Oregon Lodge of Perfection, No. 1, Ainsworth Chapter, No. I, Rose Croix; Multnomah Council of Ko- dosh, No. 1, and Al Kader Temple, N. M. S. Mr. Conner also belongs to the Commerce Club, of which he is a member of the board of directors, and he belongs to the Christian Church and gives his political support to the Republican party.

In 1897 Mr. Conner married Miss Apperson, a daughter of Albert Jefferson and Eloise Au- gusta (Cook) Apperson, the latter a native of Batavia, Mich. Mrs. Conner's grandfather, Bev- erly Apperson, was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Apperson. Her father is now living retired at No. 472 Yamhill street, Portland, and at one time he was receiver in the United States land office at Sitka, Alaska.

PLEASANT COZINE, extensively en- gaged in building and contracting in Mc- Minnville, is a native son of Oregon, and was born in Yamhill county, on the site of McMinn- ville College, January 28, 1849. He was edu- cated in the public schools of McMinnville, and at the age of thirteen had his horizon materially enlarged while on a trip with his father to the Powder river mines in the Boise Basin, Idaho.

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In the fall of 1863 he returned to this valley, continued his education for several years, and in connection therewith farmed on his father's large claim. Finally he prepared for future in- dependence by learning the carpenter and build- er's trade, in which he has since been engaged most successfully. In the fall of 1882 he re- moved to Sprague, Wash., and worked at his trade, spending some time also in Seattle, and locating permanently in McMinnville in 1898. To his skill in construction are due many of the finest buildings of recent date in the town.

When Samuel Cozine, the father of Pleasant, came to Oregon in 1843, this state was a stranger to all manner of civilization, and was the haunt of wild beasts and many kinds of Indians. This intrepid pioneer was born in Kentucky and re- moved with his family to Missouri, from where he started across the plains in 1843. He was full of enthusiasm for the almost unknown west, and, having nothing particular to bind him to any place, gladly set out in a caravan composed of many wagons, and many hopeful searchers after homes and fortunes. He had a happy, buoyant spirit, and made many friends among the members of the party. Not the least im- portant of the families represented in this band of pilgrims was that to which Mahala Arthur belonged, whose youthful beauty inspired a last- ing regard in the heart of the young emigrant, who at once began to think of the advantages of a pretty and interesting helpmate. That the attachment was reciprocated was a fact apparent to all the members of the train, and substantiated to the satisfaction of all after their arrival at their destination, the marriage ceremony taking place March 29, 1845. This emigrant train was the first to come to the Willamette valley, and on its arrival the young man, Samuel Cozine, bought the right of Thomas Owens to a claim of six hundred and forty acres, upon a portion of which McMinnville College now stands. The country roundabout was extremely wild, with only an occasional cabin like their own dotting the landscape, and here Mr. Cozine erected also a little blacksmith shop, to follow the trade which he had learned in Missouri. Needless to say this young couple started under the happiest auspices, notwithstanding they had little money, and almost no friends in the wilderness.

In 1849 Mr. Cozine left his wife and children for a time while he went down into the mines of California and endeavored to replenish their finances. The first gold he found was made into the ring now worn by the wife who remained behind at the mercy of the Indians. Mr. Cozine was very successful in his mining deals, return- ing to his family about $6,000 richer than when he departed. He ever afterward retained an interest in mining, and in 1862 went into the

Powder river mines, Idaho, two years later visit- ing the mines with satisfactory results. In time he had numerous claims to his credit throughout the west, many of which have since proved of great value, but have unfortunately been dis- posed of. Up to his death, in 1897, he still con- tinned to manipulate the forge, in the meantime taking a lively interest in the town of McMinn- ville, the growth of which he had watched from its infancy. Both himself and wife took great interest in the college in the town, and the for- mer contributed the twenty acres comprising the college grounds. Also they contributed gener- ously towards its upbuilding, and Mr. Cozine was for many years a trustee of the college. This very early settler was known for many years as Uncle Sam, and his figure on the streets and on the country roads was one of the most familiar in the county. Generous and open- hearted, he gave to everything that pointed to the substantial upbuilding of his locality, and his sound business advice and practical sugges- tions were invariably sought at times of stress and moment. From time to time this worthy couple converted portions of their land into city property, and at the last Mrs. Cozine had a hun- dred acres left, while her husband had but forty.

At the present time Mrs. Cozine is living in her pleasant home in McMinnville, where she owns considerable property, and is among the most esteemed of the brave pioneer women of this state. She was born in Jackson county, Mo., near Independence, her father, William, having located there after coming from his native state of Kentucky. As before intimated, Mr. Arthur brought his wife, Millie ( Malone) Arthur, a native of Kentucky, and his eight children to Oregon in the same train with Mr. Cozine, and his daughter. Mahala, who had learned to shoot a gun, had ample opportunity to test her prow- ess on the plains. Of these children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur, David died in Clackamas county, Ore .; Richard died near Hillsboro; Brazilla died near Hillsboro; Robert lives in McMinnville : Mahala is next in order ; William is a resident of McMinnville, and Mary died in California. There were eight children born to Samuel Cozine and his wife, those living being Mrs. Lucretia Storey, of McMinnville; Mrs. Auburn L. Linn, of Portland; and Pleasant. Mrs. Cozine was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Baptist church of Mc- Minnville, is a member of the Aid Society, and has been identified with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for more than thirty years. Her son, Pleasant, the builder and contractor of McMinnville, is also a member of the Baptist Church, and in political affiliation is a Repub- lican. He is an enterprising and progressive man, and reflects great credit upon the honored

Benj Windsor

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name of his father, upon the teachings of his gifted pioneer mother, and upon the community which regards him as one of its most substantial and helpful citizens.

BENJAMIN WINDSOR. A worthy citi- zen of Polk county, Ore., who, through years of vigorous prosecution of the natural advan- tages afforded in the west, has won and re- tained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, is Benjamin Windsor, the subject of this brief sketch. Mr. Windsor was born in Buckinghamshire, Eng- land, April 23, 1832, the son of William Windsor, a native of the same shire, where he died in 1845 at the age of seventy-five years. He was a carpenter by trade, and served in that capacity in the British navy under Ad- miral Nelson. His wife bore the maiden name of Leah Robinson; she was a native of the same shire, dying there at the age of eighty- five years. She was the mother of nine chil- dren, five sons and four daughters, of whom Benjamin was the fourth in order of birth,- and the only one in the United States.

Up to the time he was ten years of age Mr. Windsor attended the common schools of Eng- land. At that time he was compelled to depend upon his own resources, and accordingly he sought employment among the farmers in the vicinity of his home, his remuneration being six cents per day, out of which he had to pro- vide his own living. When he was nineteen years of age he went to London, where for nine months he worked as a milk carrier. On June 9, 1852, he took passage on the American ship Masonic and after fifty-seven days landed in New York City. Soon afterward he located in Knox county, Ill., where he farmed until February, 1856. He then went to St. Louis, where he took passage for Panama, continuing on his journey to California. He first located in Sierra county, where he engaged in mining on the middle Yuba, near Downieville. There he met with gratifying success, the amount of the gold nuggets reaching as high as $25. From one crevice in the rock he took out thirty-six ounces of gold, which netted con- siderable money. He soon tired of a miner's life, so he went to San Jose, where he spent but a short time, and from there went to various cities of California, spending thirteen months at Los Angeles. In 1859 he set sail from San Francisco for Portland, Ore., going from there to Lincoln, Polk county, where he entered the employ of Major W. M. Walker. On the boat which brought him from Portland to Lincoln, was the finishing lumber for the Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. Having

been saving with his money and being pos- sessed with a spirit of thriftiness, he soon began to invest his earnings in land. His first pur- chase was one-half of the McLench claim, for which he paid $2.50 per acre. He next pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of the Swift claim, for which he also paid $2.50 per acre. In addition to this property he bought one hundred and sixty acres near Lincoln, upon which he at once began farming for himself, making a steady upward climb until he has reached a substantial place among the progres- sive citizens of the community. He has made other purchases from time to time, until he is now the owner of between thirteen and four- teen hundred acres of as good land as can be found in any part of Oregon. His land is de- voted to general farming, and in the raising of grain he has been particularly successful, having raised as high as five thousand bushels in one year, besides devoting considerable at- tention to raising Cotswold sheep and draft horses.

Mr. Windsor was married April 10, 1872, to Miss Mary Caroline Allison, who was born in Canada, February 28, 1843. Unto this worthy couple were born five children, as follows : John Allison, who died at the age of seventeen years; Caroline, who is now Mrs. John W. Childers; William, Frank, and Anne, who make their home with their parents.

Politically Mr. Windsor is independent in his views, but by no means indifferent to pub- lic affairs. He has always been deeply inter- ested in the cause of education, and was road supervisor of his district several times. The first railroad laid in Oregon received the ma- terial assistance and co-operation of Mr. Windsor, he having contributed $10 toward the first survey of the same. One of the oldest residents of this section of the county, through- out his entire life Mr. Windsor has been known as a man of thought and action, who has the best interest of the community at heart. and whose life is a worthy example of the possibilities to be attained in this great north- west. He is known as a friend of progress and cheerfully lends his influence to any pub- lic enterprise for the betterment of the com- munity, whether social, political or religious, and these qualities have won for him the high- est regard of his fellow men.

GEORGE W. JONES. McMinnville owes much to the enterprising efforts and business ability of George W. Jones, who has done as intich, if not more, than any other man for the promotion of commercial and industrial activity here. He has seen this portion of the state whie:

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much of it was still in its primitive condition, when the work of progress and improvement had scarcely been begun. He was born in Montgom- ery county, N. Y., April 19, 1835, and his father, Ahijah Jones, was also a native of that county. The grandfather, Lynds Jones, was of Welsh pa- rentage and engaged extensively in the manu- facture of flour on Cayadutta creek, in Montgom- ery county. Ahijah Jones became one of the leading factors in industrial circles there, own- ing and operating cotton and woolen mills and also engaging in the manufacture of flour and lumber, at what is now Berryville, N. Y. In the fall of 1860 he went to the south to engage in manufacturing but the hard times accompa- nying the war came on and he suffered heavy losses. He died in Macon, Ga., in 1863. He married Catherine Veeder, who was born in Tribes Hill, N. Y., a daughter of Col. John S. Veeder, who was of Holland Dutch descent and won his title by valorous service in the war of 1812. He took part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor and was in other engagements, and after his military life was ended he carried on farming in Montgomery county. Mrs. Jones died when her son, George W., was but seven years old.

George W. Jones was the only one of the four children of the family who reached mature years. Reared in New York, he attended the public schools and the State Normal at Albany, where he was a student from 1854 until 1856. In his senior year, however, he left school and joined his father, who had removed to New York City. In his youth he had learned the trade of a mill- wright and miller. For two years he was en- gaged in the wholesale produce business in New York City and in 1859 he left the Atlantic coast for the Pacific, making his way to San Francisco and thence to Crescent City, Cal., where for two years he was manager of a saw and flouring mill. In 1861, at the time of the Salmon river excitement, he came to Portland, making the journey on foot along the Columbia river. It was an arduous trip, fraught with hardship and even dangers. The snow lay so thick upon the ground that sometimes he was able to cover only six miles per day. At night he lay down in the snow and he lived upon crackers and cold bacon for days, but at length he reached his destina- tion.

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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 92

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