Portrait and biographical record of the Willamette valley, Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 93

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 93

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In 1864 Mr. Jones went to Grande Ronde val- ley, where he conducted a sawmill for Stephen Coffin, and in the spring of 1865 returned to Boise, Idaho, where he engaged in mining until August. At that time he returned to Portland, there con- ducting a sawmill for William L. Adams, on Panther creek, and in 1866, in connection with O. H. Adams, he bought out his employer, the business heing continued under the name of O. H. Adams & Company, manufacturing lumber and

also conducting a sash and door factory in the city. When Mr. Adams sold his interest to E. J. Crawford, the firm style of Jones & Crawford was assumed, and later Mr. Crawford sold to Mr. Hill, and Mr. Adams again became became inter- ested in the business. When the partners were Mr. Adams, H. A. Reasoner, Mr. Hill and Mr. Jones, the enterprise was conducted under the name of Jones & Company, thus continuing until 1884, when Mr. Reasoner sold, and the follow- ing year Mr. Hill disposed of his interest, the firm then becoming Jones & Adams. In the meantime O. H. Adams had transferred his in- terest to his son, Frank G. Adams, and the busi- ness has since been continued as Jones & Adams. They have a sawmill at the south fork of North Yamhill river and are extensively and success- fully engaged in the manufacture of lumber. They also conduct a planing mill for the manu- facture of sash, doors, blinds and mouldings, and both branches of their business are profitably con- ducted, and a large trade is enjoyed. On the 9th of July, 1891, the firm suffered severely in the fire which swept over the city, causing them a loss of more than $20,000. May 31, 1892, a sec- ond disaster occurred to their store building, which with its stock of hardware, paints and oils was burned out, causing a loss of $5.000. Dis- aster again overtook the firm on the 26th of Au- gust, 1896, in a third disastrous conflagration, destroying their mill and other property in the mountains, with a loss of $5.000. but with char- acteristic energy the firm rebuilt the mill and began business anew with an energy and deter- mination that have been marked characteristics of the house. Mr. Jones had done more build- ing in McMinnville than any other one man. He was the pioneer builder here and has con- tinned the work as the years have advanced until the city is now largely indebted to him in this direction for substantial improvement. He erected a brick block in the business district, and in the face of adverse circumstances he has pushed for- ward, displaying fortitude and energy which have commanded the respect and admiration of all.

Mr. Jones has been twice married. In Fonda, N. Y., he wedded Miss Rachel Young, who was born, reared and died there, and their only child also died in the Empire state. In Oregon Mr. Jones was a second time married, this union being with Miss Emma E. Adams, who was born in Galesburg, Ill., and was three years of age when brought by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Adams, to the northwest. This marriage has been blessed with seven children: Georgia May, of Portland; Lynds W., who is with Fleischner, Mayer & Co., of Portland; Katie V., also of that city ; Mary, who was graduated in the high school of McMinnville and is now a student in McMinn- ville College ; Frank, Willard and Ellen, at home.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

That Mr. Jones is regarded as one of the valued and leading citizens of McMinnville is shown by the fact that for twelve years, by popular ballot, he was retained as a member of the city council, served on many important committees and was chairman of the committee on ways and means and on accounts and current expenses. He was also a member of the charter revision committee, and for one term he served as mayor of the city, his administration being beneficial because it was businesslike and practical. He has also been clerk of the school board for several terms. He has always been an earnest Republican, with firm faith in the party and the ultimate triumph of its principles for the good of the country. Fra- ternally, Mr. Jones is connected with Union Lodge, No. 43, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, and is a charter member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His wife belongs to the Christian Church, and both have many friends in the city where they make their home. Mr. Jones has labored so consecutively along lines of general progress and improvement that McMinnville's history would be incomplete were his life record omitted.

MITCHELL MONTGOMERY ELLIS. The intimate identification of Mitchell Montgomery Ellis, of Dallas, Polk county, with the important interests of the Willamette valley-which, broadly speaking, means the state of Oregon-is well illustrated by the fact that he has been for many years extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits in that city; is the organizer, vice-president and director of the Dallas City Bank; is the owner and operator of the largest prune orchard planted by an individual in the state; is one of the oper- ators of the best flouring-mill outside of the city of Portland ; was one of the organizers and prin- cipal upbuilders of the Presbyterian Church of Dallas, and is now serving his second term as mayor of that city. These essential features of his career in Oregon form, in themselves, an in- tegral chapter in the history of the development of the commonwealth.

Mr. Ellis was born near Zanesville, Ohio, Janu- ary 10, 1846, and is the son of Henry and Henri- etta (Rowell) Ellis. Henry Ellis was born in Pennsylvania, and in early manhood became a merchant tailor, following his trade near Zanes- ville, Ohio, and in Ottumwa and Decatur, Iowa. In 1855 he purchased three different tracts of raw prairie land near Decatur, where he engaged ex- tensively in farming and stock-raising until 1865. Having disposed of his Iowa property, he came across the plains to Oregon, settling on a farm near Ballston, Polk county, in the latter year. The journey across the plains was a memorable one. The equipment consisted of mule and horse

teams. During the trip the emigrants were stopped three miles east of Kcarney, Neb., and held until a company of one hundred men could be assembled, when the government sent a miis- tering officer to organize them into a military company for the protection of the train, and drill them. They continued as an organized company along the Platte river until the mouth of the Cache la Poudre river was reached, which they crossed with the main body of the train. Though the number had diminished to less than one hun- dred, they then elected a new captain, and con- tinued on their journey to Salt Lake City. Here the Ellis family separated from the rest of the train, and with eleven teams came over the new stage road four hundred miles to Boise City. From this point they continued down the Snake river without accident, until reaching the Cas- cade mountains, where they felt themselves to be in comparative safety. Theyarrived in Salem Sep- tember 14, 1865. The first winter they passed in Yamhill county, and in the spring of 1866 set- tled on a farm near Ballston, as before stated.

· In politics Henry Ellis was a stanch Democrat. Fraternally he was a Mason, affiliating with Amity Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M. In religion he was a Universalist. He died on the home farm in 1900, at the age of seventy-two years.

Henrietta Rowell Ellis was born in Jackson county, Ohio, November 18, 1829, and was the daughter of William Rowell, a descendant of a distinguished family in Virginia. Her Grand- father Rowell followed the martial forces of Washington during the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Ellis is now residing in Salem, at the age of sev- enty-five years. Through her marriage she be- came the mother of eight children, of whom Mitchell Montgomery is the eldest. The others are: Elizabeth, wife of Judge N. L. Butler, of Dallas, Ore .; W. R .. of Sheridan; Sarah, wife of W. H. Kuykendall, of Lewiston, Ore .; H. J., of Enterprise, Ore .: Mabel, wife of Judge C. A. Johns, of Baker City, Ore .; Martha, deceased wife of Dr. J. N. Smith, of Salem ; and J. C. Sheridan, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

Mitchell Montgomery Ellis was reared on his father's farm in Jowa, and received his rudimen- tary education in the public schools of that state. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company I, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, but was rejected on account of his age. In 1864 he re-enlisted in Company A, Thirty- fourth Iowa Mounted Infantry, but his regiment was never mustcred into active service. In 1865 he crossed the plains in company with his parents, and since 1866 has resided continuously in Polk county.

In the fall of 1867 he entered the Baptist Col-

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lege at McMinnville, where he remained for one year. The following year he was engaged in teaching school in Polk county, after which he re-entered the Baptist College, where he com- pleted his education. In 1869 he went to Port- land, and was employed as a clerk for Arnold & Faim and later with Masters & Pratzman, until the fall of 1872, when he engaged in business for himself near where Ballston is now located, and removed to Dallas and engaged in the general merchandising business on his own account.

In the meantime Mr. Ellis had become inter- ested in the political situation in Oregon, and in 1880 was elected county clerk of Polk county, and was re-elected in 1882. The dutics thus de- volving upon him forced him to dispose of his mercantile interests, in order that he might de- vote his entire attention to the duties of his office.

After retiring from office in 1884 he purchased the mercantile business of W. C. Brown, and after four years of successful management sold the business to its former owner. In 1888, with the assistance of William Savage, he organized a private concern known as the William Savage Banking Company, and in 1892 assisted likewise in the organization of the Dallas City Bank, suc- cessor to the first-named institution, with a cap- ital of $50,000. He became the first president of the concern, serving until 1898, when he resigned in order to devote his attention to the manage- ment of his prune orchard. He is now vice-pres- ident of the banking company. During the finan- cial panic of 1893 Mr. Ellis, as president of the bank, established for himself a reputation as a man of resources, sagacity and financial intcg- rity, his keen judgment being the most important factor in enabling that institution to weather the storm which wrecked so many similar enterprises throughout the country.

In 1889 he began to set out a prune orchard adjoining the city of Dallas, and at the present time has sixty acres in bearing trees, this con- stituting the largest orchard of its kind set out and owned by an individual in the state of Ore- gon. Everything pertaining to this enterprise is on an extensive and modern scale, including well- equipped warehouse, packing-house and the largest drier in the state. The well known brand, "K. & W.," is familiar to consumers of fine fruits throughout the northwest, and in 1902 a consign- ment of six carloads of the choicest of the product of his orchard found its way to the markets of London, Eng.

In 1902 Mr. Ellis added to his responsibilities by re-purchasing the mercantile business of W. C. Brown, forming a partnership with Alonzo Brown, and the business was conducted under the style of Brown & Ellis until January. 1903, when Mr. Brown's heirs disposed of their interests to D. L. Keyt, of Perrydale, and the firm is now

Ellis & Keyt. In connection with Frank Gibson, Mr. Ellis is the owner and operator of the Rick- reall Flouring Mills, where is manufactured the celebrated "White Lily" flour, which is recog- nized throughout the entire northwest as the fin- est flour made in Oregon, outside of the city of Portland. The mill has a capacity of one hun- dred and fifty barrels per day, and its production finds its way to many foreign ports, large quan- tities being shipped annually to China and other Oriental countries.

In his political affiliation a Democrat, Mr. Ellis has served as chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee and as a member of the Dem- ocratic State Central Committee. Upon the in- corporation of Dallas as a city, he was made its first mayor, and in 1901 was again elected to the office of chief executive on the Reform ticket, being the only successful candidate on that ticket. Fraternally he is a member of Jennings Lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for two terms. Without his financial and moral as- sistance it is doubtful if the Presbyterian Church of Dallas would have been organized or built. He has been one of its chief supporters, contributing largely to its upbuilding, and is now treasurer of its board of trustees and superintendent of its Sunday school.

In 1871 Mr. Ellis was united in marriage with Ella D'Lashmutt, who was born in Columbus. Ohio, a daughter of Edward L. and Lydia (Mor- ris) D'Lashmutt, also natives of Ohio. The former died in Polk county in 1888. A sketch of his life appears in another part of this review.

Thus is told, all too briefly, the story of the career of M. M. Ellis, one of the stalwart found- ers of the commercial fabric of the northwest, upon whose shoulders rest lightly great responsi- bilities. He has freely disseminated his views relative to important business undertakings in this region, whenever his advice has been sought, and his judgment has been deferred to by the promoters of many local enterprises. His sagacity, his integrity and his keen appreciation of the pos- sibilities afforded by this country of wonderful resources have done much to inspire others to their best endeavors, and the record of his career, with its attendant success, will stand an enduring monument to the important part this man of affairs has borne in the development of this yet comparatively new region.

GEORGE J. WOLFER. Occupying a posi- tion of importance among the wide-awake, en- terprising business men of Hubbard, George J. Wolfer is actively identified with the mercantile interests of the city, and is also proprietor of the far-famed Wolfer's Mineral Springs. A man of energy and decision, public-spirited and am-

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bitious, he has done much to improve and ad- vance the place in which he resides, and is well deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-men.

A native of Harrison county, Ind., he was born March 25, 1842, a son of Rudolph Wolfer. His father, who was born, reared and educated in Pennsylvania, went with his father about 1835 to Harrison county, Ind. In 1846, with his wife and children, he removed to Bethel, Shelby coun- ty, Mo., and joined Dr. Kyle's colony, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits there for seventeen years. In 1863 with this colony he started for Oregon, and crossed the plains in an ox wagon, taking with him his family and house- hold goods. The entire train, consisting of forty- two wagons, was six months on the trip, and suf- fered untold hardships, not the least unbearable being that of hunger. Locating in Aurora, he continued in the independent calling in which he was reared, successfully carrying on general farming until his retirement from active pursuits, and is still living there, a venerable and respected man of ninety-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Katherine Voght, was born in Ger- many, and came to the United States with her parents. She lived to an advanced age, dying on the home farm, in Aurora, Ore., in 1887. Of the eleven children born of their union, seven were boys and four girls, George J. being the fourth child in order of birth.

As a boy and a youth George J. Wolfer attend- ed the district schools of Shelby county, Mo., whither his parents located when he was about four years of age, during the time obtaining a practical knowledge of farming pursuits. Cross- ing the plains with his parents in 1863, he drove one of the teams in the long train, and on arriv- ing in Aurora began farming with the colony. In 1878 he engaged in business for himself by opening a cooper's shop in Hubbard, Marion county, managing it for five years. From 1883 until 1890, he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile, but since that time has carried on an extensive and lucrative business in general merchandise, owning the building occupied by his residence and store, and carrying a varied stock of goods valued at $4,000.

About one-fourth of a mile from the city, Mr. Wolfer owns seventy-five acres of land, on which his celebrated mineral springs are situated, and his bottling works are erected. From a correct anaylsis of the water obtained from these springs the following matter in solution is found, proving it to be of great value for both medicinal and bathing purposes :

Chloride of sodium and potassium ... 29.74 Bi-carbonate of lime. 6.82

Bi-carbonate of soda. 16.10

Bi-carbonate of magnesia. 4.26

Bi-carbonate of iron. 2.10

Silicia

2.39

Sulphate of soda. .58

Manganese

Trace ·

These springs are for sale on easy terms by the present proprietor.

Mr. Wolfer married, in Aurora, Ore., Miss Ot. tillia Will, a native of Shelby county, Mo., and into their household four children have been born, namely: Edward I., a resident of Med- ford, Ore .; Alfred D., of Hubbard; Sadie, wife of Lawrence Scholl, of Hubbard; and Henrietta, living at home. Politically Mr. Wolfer has long been actively identified with the best interests of county, town and state, and has uniformly cast his vote with the Republicans. While living in Aurora he served as constable two terms; has been school clerk and school director in Hub- bard several years; road superintendent one term; and served as member of the Hubbard City Council.

GEORGE W. OLDS, a retired farmer, living in McMinnville, and a pioneer of Oregon of 1851, was born in Hillsdale, Mich., July 16, 1831, and is of English descent. His paternal great-grandfather was a native of England and on emigrating to the new world settled in Maine. The grandfather of our subject was Timothy Olds, the father, Abel Olds. The latter was born in Ohio and at an early age was left an orphan. Locating in Hillsdale county, Mich., he there followed farming for a time and afterward removed to the vicinity of Coldwater, Branch county, where he improved a farm upon which he spent his remaining days, dying in 1850. He was a Universalist in re- ligious faith and a man of sterling worth and integrity. He married Anna Thurston, who was born in Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., a daughter of Blakeley Thurston, who, on removing to the west, settled in St. Joseph county, Mich. The parents of Mr. Olds were the first couple mar- ried in St. Joseph county. The wife died in 1846 and four years later the husband passed away. They were the parents of six children, one son and five daughters, and the living are George W. and Mrs. Derby, of McMinnville.

Upon a farm in his native state the subject of this review was reared, early becoming famil- iar with the work of field and meadow, while in the subscription school he pursued liis education. He remained at home until after his father's death and in 1851 he started for Oregon, with his uncle, Martin Olds. With horse teams they left Branch county, Mich., and journeyed west- ward, crossing the Mississippi at Galena, Ill.,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and the Missouri at Kanesville, their destination being Oregon City. It was on the Ioth of April that they left their Michigan home, and on the 3Ist of October they arrived in Oregon City, where Mr. Olds soon secured work, being in the employ of others until 1857, when he pur- chased a farm.

In October, 1855, however, he had volunteered in an Oregon regiment for service in the Yakima Indian war and served on the Snake river, in Yakima and Walla Walla counties, and took part in the battles of Fort Simcoe in Yakima valley, remaining with his command until the close of the war, being mustered out May 10, 1856. In 1861 he located on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, eight miles southwest of McMinnville. This he fenced and improved, devoting his energies to the production of grain and the raising of stock. He erected good build- ings there and for forty years he carried on agricultural pursuits, after which he rented the place in 1901, and in July, 1902, he sold that property. Upon leasing his farm he removed to McMinnville and purchased a residence in which he has since lived retired.

On the Ioth of November, 1859, in Lafayette, Mr. Olds was married to Miss Nancy Ellen Shuck, who was born near Burlington, Iowa. Her father was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., June 19, 1815, and the grandfather, Jacob Shuck, was born in Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Indiana, locating upon a farm. Later he became a farmer of Iowa and in 1847 he crossed the plains, spending his last days in Yamhill county near Dundee. He had served his coun- try in the war of 1812 and was present at the battle of Tippecanoe. Andrew J. Shuck was reared in Indiana, afterwards becoming a resi- dent of Iowa, and near Burlington, that state, followed farming until 1847. In the meantime he had wedded Mary Conlee, who was born in Byron county, Ky., March 15, 1818, a daughter of Reuben Conlee, who was an agriculturist and a native of the Blue Grass state. He removed to Greene county, Ill., among its early settlers, and served in the Black Hawk war. After his military service had ended he became a resident of Des Moines county, Iowa, settling near Bur- lington, where his death occurred. He was a leading and influential citizen of that state at an early day and was serving as a member of the Iowa legislature at the time of his deatlı, which occurred while he was in Des Moines attending the sessions of the general assembly. Isaac Conlee, the grandfather of Mrs. Olds, was a farmer of Kentucky and dicd there in the year 1847.

Andrew J. Shuck, with his wife and six chil- dren, started on the long journey across the plains in a slow moving ox train, having been

nearly seven months upon the way ere they reached the fertile valley of the Willamette. Mr. Shuck secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near North Yamhill and there he developed his land, providing a good home for his family. At the time of the Indian war he made guns for the use of the volunteers. He was the first sheriff of Yamhill county and served in that position for two terms, after which he represented his district in the legis- lature for three terms. He assisted in building the first schoolhouse of his locality and took an active part in establishing civilization in this wild and unimproved region. Finally he located in McMinnville, where he built a residence. He was serving as school director at the time of the erection of the fine schoolhouse here and he died in 1894, his death being lamented by all who knew him, because he was a valued citizen and earnest Christian man. In politics he was a Democrat and was a warm friend of the cause of temperance. Mrs. Shuck still survives her husband and now makes her home with Mrs. C. A. Wallace. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, Mrs. C. A. Wallace being the eldest. Of the others we mention the following : Mrs. Susan M. Openhoff, of Dawson, and Nancy Ellen, the wife of our subject, are twins ; Mrs. Matilda Wood is a resident of Yam- hill county; William is next in order; Reuben owns the old donation land claim; and Mrs. Anna Fendall resides in Ashland. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Olds were born three children, but Minnie died at the age of sixteen years and Augusta at the age of two and one-half years, the surviving daughter being Ella, the wife of J. E. Durham, of Portland.

Mr. Olds belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and he and his family are connected with the Grange and Mrs. Olds with the Degree of Honor. In politics Mr. Olds is a Democrat and he belongs to the Indian War Veterans' Association. He is also a member of the County Pioneers' Association and both he and his wife are members of the State Pio- neers' Association, whose meetings they have attended each year for the past eighteen years.

J. B. LAYSON. A well known farmer and native son of Yamhill county is J. B. Layson. representative of one of the pioneer families of this district, and during almost his entire life as- sociated with this locality. He was born near Hopewell, December 31, 1846, a son of Aaron M. and Sarah J. ( Matheny) Layson, natives of Illi- nois, and farmers by occupation.

Aaron M. Layson was also the son of farmers. and was reared to that useful pursuit. In 1842 he removed with his parents from Illinois to Mis-

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

souri, where he lived on the home farm until his marriage with Sarah J. Matheny, and then con- ducted farming independently until 1843. At this early day a journey across the plains was a truly hazardous undertaking, and required an amount of courage and determination hardly realized by those who to-day observe the thrifty west through the windows of a Pullman palace car. Nevertheless, Mr. Layson disposed of his Missouri interests, gathered together his few worldly possessions, and joined an ox train under command of Capt. William Burnett, one of the intrepid leaders to western opportunity. With- out any particular misfortunes the party arrived safely in Oregon, where Mr. Layson took up a donation claim, but failed to prove up on it. Not realizing his expectations here the family moved down into California during the gold excitement of '49, where the father prospected and mined, and also spent considerable time in freighting. In 1851 he returned to Yamhill county, and set- tled on a farm where Hopewell now stands, and after two or three years bought a place known as the D. B. Matheny donation claim, three miles north of Wheatland. Here he was fairly pros- perous, and here died, his wife having pre-de- ceased him during their residence in California.

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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 93

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