Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 104

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman publishing company
Number of Pages: 1064

USA > Oregon > Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.. > Part 104

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Entirely inadequate is a résumé of the life of Mr. Gore without due mention of his father, Emerson E., from whom he inherits many of his forceful and admirable characteristics. He was born in Halifax, Windham county, Vt .. June 20, 1824, and is a son of Ebenezer and Polly (Haven) Gore, the parents also of five other children. Of these, Sabrey is the deceased wife

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of Eben Stancliff, of Phoenix, Ore .; Emory E. is the twin brother of Emerson; Elizabeth is de- ceased ; Orrin is a resident of Oregon ; and Lucy .A. When Emerson E. was four years of age, in 1828, his parents moved to the western re- serve in Ohio, and took up government land upon which they lived until 1840. They then located near Keokuk, Lee county, Iowa, where the father died in 1848, at the age of fifty-six years. Emerson E. made himself useful around the farm, becoming his father's right hand man, and after his death assuming the management of the property. September 20, 1849, he mar- ried Mary E. Gilmore, thereafter continuing to live in Iowa until the spring of 1852. April 27, he started with his family and brother, Emory E., for the coast, equipped with four yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows, being on the road for five months and seven days. In the fall of 1852 he located a claim of three hundred and twenty acres just across the road from where he now lives, three miles south of Medford, and between Medford and Phoenix, where he lived until removing to his present home in 1854. For many years he joined forces with his brother Emory, and with him constructed a sawmill on Bear creek which was successfully operated until 1860. Mr. Gore then bought out his brother, the latter returning to his home in the east, final- ly settling in Lawrence, Kans.

Mr. Gore has made himself an essential part of the agricultural community of Jackson county, has participated in its all around development, and has reared capable and resourceful sons to perpetuate his honored name. His oldest son was born at Jacksonville, Ore., December 3, 1852, was christened Walter S., and was the first white male child born in that vicinity. Mr. Gore pos- sesses marked executive ability, and from time to time has been called upon to settle estates. Ile is well known in fraternal circles, not only as a member, but as an organizer, for he had to do with establishing the first Masonic Lodge at Phoenix. After the delivery of that charter he joined Warren Lodge No. 10, A. F. & A. M. Ile also is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and like his son has been a great worker in the same. Too much cannot be said of his temperate, evenly balanced and altogether successful life, and of the admirable characteristics which have brought him honor and many friends.

GEORGE W. DIMMICK. Among the sub- stantial and prominent business men of Roseburg is George W. Dimmick, the present county treasurer of Douglas county. A native-born cit- izen. he is held in high repute as a man of hon- esty and integrity, and by his excellent charac- ter and straightforward course in life he has

fully established himself in the esteem and con- fidence of his business and political associates, and has won in an eminent degree the respect and good will of the community in which he re- sides. A son of the late Ziba Dimmick, he was born July 11, 1854, in Kellogg, near Elkton, Douglas county. His Grandfather Dimmick was one of the leading farmers of Peoria county, Ill., and on his old homestead the present town of Dimmick was built.

Born and reared in Peoria county, Ill., Ziba Dimmick served in the Black Hawk war, in 1832, enlisting first in the company commanded by Captain Willis, but subsequently being trans- ferred to the company of Captain Dundavis, al- though no record of the transfer was made. In 1849 he was one of the gold seekers that went to California in search of wealth, cross- ing the plains with ox-teams. After mining there for awhile he returned to his old home in Illi- nois. In 1853 he again came across the plains with ox-teams, bringing his family with him, and settling in Douglas county. In February, 1854, he bought out one of the original settlers, Dr. Drew, and located a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres at Kellogg, where he bought a ferry across the Umpqua river, and this is still in existence, and is known as the Dim- mick ferry. October 8, 1855, he enlisted in Com- pany I, Second Oregon Regiment, and served as first lieutenant of his company in various engage- ments of the Rogue River Indian war, his eldest son, H. R. Dimmick, now residing in Elkton, serving as a private in the same company. On being mustered out of service, in February, 1856, he returned to his farm, in Kellogg, and was there engaged in stock-raising and general farm- ing until his death, in October, 1878, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic order, and was a Republican in politics, taking an active part in local affairs, and serving for a time as county commissioner. He was twice married. His first wife, who died at an early age, bore him four children, namely : Mrs. Harriet Cooper, of Kellogg; H. R., of Elkton, Ore .; Daniel H., of Prairie City, Grant county, Ore. ; and T. M., of Marshfield, Ore., who is now serving as state senator. For his second wife he married Jane Hewitt, who was born in Ireland, about twenty miles from the city of Cork. Being left an orphan when quite young, she came with an uncle to Illinois and located at La Salle, where she lived until her marriage. She survived her husband many years, dying April 13. 1901. She was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Of this union ten children were born, namely: George W .; T. V., of Kellogg; Susan M., wife of E. H. Pink- ston, of Oakland, Ore .; Z. L., of Oakland, Ore., a retired merchant, who is now United States

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land commissioner ; R. E., a merchant in Ukiah, Cal .; Rachel E., wife of J. I. Chapman, of Wil- bur, Ore .; Lot S., of Kellogg, Ore .; Mrs. Mary Mckay, of Winchester, Ore .; Mrs. Lucy Lart- reaux, of Garden Valley, Ore .; and Frankie, of Wilbur, Ore.

Brought up on the home farm, George W. Dimmick obtained the rudiments of his education in the district schools of Douglas county. In 1873 he entered Wilbur Academy, then the best institution of learning in southern Oregon, and there pursued his studies for two years. Re- turning to Kellogg, he embarked in the stock business, in which he continued about five years. In 1880 he opened the first store established in Elkton, erecting the building, and putting in a good stock of general merchandise. At the end of eighteen months he sold out to Baker & Em- ery, who were subsequently succeeded by Henry Beckley. Mr. Dimmick again engaged in the stock business at Kellogg, devoting himself to that branch of industry for about eight years. Then purchasing from Mr. Beckley his old store in Elkton, he operated it successfully for three ycars, and then sold out to Beckley & Criteser. Returning to his farm, which adjoined the pa- rental homestead, in Kellogg, he continued his former business of stock-raising and farming. His ranch, which contains six hundred and ten acres of land, lies six miles south of Elkton, on the river. The land is well improved, a part of it being converted into a fine orchard, which he has stocked with a choice lot of apple and prune trecs.

In 1898 Mr. Dimmick was appointed, by the county court, to the vacant office of county treasurer. In April, 1898, at the expiration of the term for which he had been appointed, he was nominated for the same position by acclama- tion on the Republican ticket, and was elected over the Fusion candidate by a majority of one hundred and nine, being one of two candidates clected on the Republican ticket. In 1900 he was renominated, again by acclamation, and was elected by a majority of four hundred and forty- two votes. Being again renominated by accla- mation for county treasurer in 1902, he was re- clected by the creditable majority of eight hun- dred and thirty-five votes, a record in public life which speaks for itself, as the people are the best judges of those who serve their interests. On assuming his present official position, in 1898, he removed to Roseburg, where he has since re- sided. In 1888 Mr. Dimmick was married in Douglas county, to Mrs. Sarah (Woodruff) Otey, a native daughter of Douglas county. They have three children living, Wilda. Lilah Leonard and Georgia V. Politically Mr. Dimmick is one of the leading Republicans of Douglas county, and while living in Elkton served as school di-

rector, and for two years was justice of the peace. Fraternally he belongs to Elkton Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M .; to Oakland Lodge, A. O. U. W .; to the Roseburg Lodge, W. O. W .; and to the Joseph Lane Cabin, Native Sons. In religion he subscribes to the creed of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM B. DRAKE. For more than a quarter of a century a resident of Myrtle Creek, William B. Drake has been, perhaps, more close- ly identified with its industrial advancement and prosperity than any other one man, and to him was accorded the honor of being the first mayor of the village. A native of Tioga county, Pa., he was born February 22, 1832. His father, John Drake, was a native of Pennsylvania and followed the trades of a blacksmith and wagon- maker during his life, at the same time carrying on general farming. In 1838 he removed with his family to Michigan, from there going to Bowling Green, Ohio, where he continued at his trades for a few years. He subsequently became a resident of Whiteside county, Ill., where he lived as a farmer and blacksmith. He married Mary E. Boyd, also a native of Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife far outlived the allotted span of life, he attaining to the age of eighty- seven years, while she lived ninety-three years.

Receiving his early education in the district schools of Michigan, William B. Drake sub- sequently learned the trade of a blacksmith and wagon-maker with his father, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Beginning life for himself in 1855, he worked in different places in Ohio and Illinois. In 1862 he enlisted, as a mechanic, in Company I, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was soon after transferred to Company C, Fif- teenth Veteran Reserves. He took an active part in many of the more important engage- ments of the Civil war, among others being in the battles of Perryville and Danville, Ky., in those at Nashville, Tenn., Liberty Gap, Murfreesboro, Tallahoma and Lookout Mountain, and others of minor magnitude. At the battle of Murfrees- boro, Mr. Drake was so seriously wounded that he was confined in the hospital five months. After an honorable service of three years and six months, he was mustered out at Springfield, III. Returning to the home of his parents in White- side county, he remained until his marriage, the following year.

In 1868 Mr. Drake removed with his family to California, and the ensuing eighteen months worked at his trade at Cowen's station, after- wards living in different towns in California and Oregon. Locating at Myrtle Creek in 1875, he engaged in blacksmithing and wagon-making. and also carried on farming to some extent, and

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for many years was a hotel keeper. In his various operations, Mr. Drake met with unprece- dented success, becoming the owner of valuable town and village property, and erecting one of the finest residences in the place.

In 1866 Mr. Drake married Frances Ritchie, a native of Illinois, and their commodious home is a center of social activity, being ever open to their large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Drake is a strong supporter of the Repub- lican party, and is now serving as marshal of the village. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, of which he is rul- ing elder.

THOMAS N. HUMPHREYS. The indus- trial interests of Douglas county are largely car- ried on by men of energy, practical ability and sound judgment. Prominent among these men is T. N. Humphreys, the present manager of the Myrtle Creek Flour Mills. Progressive, alert, and the possessor of excellent business tact, he has been especially successful in his chosen vo- cation. He is now carrying on a substantial busi- ness, his plant being one of the best in the county, and equipped with the latest approved and modern machinery. A native of Armstrong county, Pa., he was born November 20, 1859. His father, a miller by trade, served four years in the Civil war, spending one year of the time in Andersonville prison. He died at the age of sixty years. His widow, who survives him, is now living in Brookville, Pa.

One of a family of six children, T. N. Humph- reys is the only resident of the Pacific states. After acquiring an excellent common school edu- cation, he learned the trade of a miller under his father's tutorship, remaining at home until attain- ing his majority. Marrying in 1880, he contin- ued his residence in his native state the next five years. Coming then to Oregon in 1885, he located in Lewisville, Polk county, as a miller. Mr. Humphreys subsequently followed his trade in Salem, Ore., for four years, in Foster, Linn county, another four years, afterwards in Doug- las county, being first employed at Myrtle Creek, and then in Canyonville. In 1898 he became head miller of the Myrtle Creek Flour Mills, which he conducted with eminent success until 1901, when he became business manager. These mills, which have a capacity of fifty barrels per day, are run exclusively by water power.

In 1880 Mr. Humphreys married Margaret Yost, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1808. leaving five children, namely : John A., of Linn county : Lester, of Myrtle Creek ; Jesse, of Portland; Sadie, living at home; and Willie. also at home. Mr. Humphreys married for his

second wife Nora Bollenbaugh, who was born in Iowa, and they have one child, a son named Malcolm. Although taking no special interest in politics, Mr. Humphreys invariably supports the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Freemason, and religiously he is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, in which he is serving as deacon.

JAMES LOUIS HANKS. Three and one- half miles north of Klamath Falls lies the homestead of Mr. Hanks, who, in 1877, proved up on and then bought three hundred and thirty acres, but this has since been increased until now his landed possessions aggregate twenty-nine hundred and seventy acres. All of the improvements on the place have been made under his personal direction. His con- stant effort has been to bring the place to a degree of cultivation unsurpassed by any ranches in the county. In common with the majority of Klamath county's residents, stock- raising has been his specialty. On his place he now has thirty head of horses and one hun- dred and fifty head of cattle, principally the Shorthorn Durhams. To furnish feed for the stock he has four hundred and twenty acres in hay and produce, while much of the balance of the land is in range.

On a farm four miles from Decatur, in Macon county, Ill., James Louis Hanks was born February 14, 1829, a son of John and Susan (Wilson) Hanks, natives respectively of Virginia and Grayson county, Ky. John Hanks was a nephew of Abraham Lincoln's mother. The grandfather. William Hanks, was an Irishman and in his native land married a lady who was of Scotch descent, after which he came to America and settled on a farm in Virginia. From there he moved across the mountains to Grayson county. Ky., in com- pany with the Boones, Lincolns and Apple- gates. At the time of removal John Hanks was a mere lad and he grew to manhood in Grayson county, where he was married about 1826. Accompanied by his wife, in 1828 he moved to Illinois and settled in Macon county, where he was one of the very earliest settlers. Taking up a tract of government land, he de- veloped a fine farm out of the wild land and continued to make his home there until his death, which occurred in 1898, at the age of about eighty-seven years. His wife, who was of English descent and member of a pioneer family of Kentucky, died in Macon county, Ill., in 1863, when about fifty-seven years of age. One of their sons, Williami, was a sol- dier in the Mexican war; two others, Grascon and Levi, were privates in the Civil war; while

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an uncle, Benjamin Hanks, was a colonel in the Revolution and fought under General Washington.

The children of John Hanks were as fol- lows : William, deceased ; Melinda, Mrs. A. T. Metlin, deceased ; Felix, deceased ; Emily, Mrs. E. I. Loomis, of Bloomington, Il1., Mary Ellen, wife of G. T. Mannon, of Humboldt county, Cal .; Grascon, who lives near Marysville, Mo .; Levi, a resident of Springfield, Ill. ; and James Louis, who was next to the eldest of the fam- ily group. To anyone familiar with conditions as they existed in Illinois during the early half of the nineteenth century, it need scarcely be mentioned that James Louis Hanks had few educational advantages. Starting west when gold was discovered in California, he crossed the Missouri river May 5. 1850, at St. Joseph, and landed in California on the 20th of Sep- tember. The journey was made with seven wagons and mule teams. After landing at Placerville he went to Rich Bar and began mining. His father, who had accompanied him, returned home in the spring of 1853 via the Isthmus, but he had preceded him thither a year before. Coming across the plains again in the spring of 1853, he settled at Downey- ville and resumed mining. From California he came overland to Oregon in 1859 and set- tled in Douglas county, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres seven miles from Roseburg. From that time until 1872 he re- mained in Douglas county, interested in farm pursuits. On leaving there he took up land six miles north of Klamath Falls, and from there moved to his present place in 1877.

The marriage of Mr. Hanks, September 25, 1871, united him with Mary Jane Purdue, who was born in Missouri, on a farm ten miles from St. Joseph, February 13. 1843. Her father, John Purdue, crossed the plains to California in 1852 and settled in Yreka, but in the same year crossed the state line into Ore- gon, locating in Douglas county, where he re- mained until his death, occupying his home- stead claim on Days creek. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hanks are the following chil- dren: John, residing on the homestead : Mar- ion, on an adjoining farm : Mary Ellen, wife of S. C. Eastmead, of Mono county, Cal .; Linnie, deceased ; Edward and Emma, also deceased ; Affie, wife of WV. D. Hill, of Fort Klamath, Klamath county; Jessie, at home; Louis, a resident of Mono county, Cal .: and William, who is with his parents.

Thoroughly Democratic in his views, Mr. llanks is nevertheless not a partisan, but in local matters believes in supporting the best man, irrespective of party. While Klamath was still a part of Lake county, in 1874 he was

elected county treasurer and held the office for two years. From 1876 until 1882 he officiated as county sheriff, retiring from the office short- ly before the separation of this county from Lake. From 1886 to 1888 he held the office of county commissioner. In these various offices he served with marked fidelity, ready tact and quick intelligence, and his service gave satis- faction to all concerned. In his fraternal re- lations he is connected with Klamath Lodge No. 77, A. F. & A. M., and has passed through the chairs of the lodge. As a citizen, no less than as a stock-raiser, his standing is high, and he is accounted one of the county's most ca- pable men.

REV. PAUL DATIN. As an earnest and conscientious laborer in the interest of the church, and held in high esteem by his parishion- ers, Father Datin has been very successful, and his zealous efforts for the good of the community at Grants Pass, Josephine county, Ore., have been crowned with the best of results. Broad in his views and outspoken in his attitude on the questions that concern the lives and welfare of the people, he is a man whose influence is felt on all sides and whose labors are well planned. Father Datin was born June 28. 1848, in Ver- sailles, France, which was also the birthplace of his father, Jean Datin, who was a lieutenant- colonel in the French army, under Louis Phil- ippe. His mother, Louise Grignon de Mont- fort, was a native of Vendée, France. She and her husband had eight sons and two daughters, of whom the only survivors are Father Datin and the Rev. August Datin, a missionary in the far distant land of China. It is worthy of men- tion that five of these brothers became priests.

Father Datin was the recipient of an excellent education. Completing a classical course in a French university, Coutances Lyceum, he studied philosophy with the Oratorian fathers at St. Lois College, in the province of Marche. After his graduation as Bachelor of Letters and Sci- ences, he studied medicine at Paris for six years. Receiving his diploma, he was appointed surgeon in the French army and served as such during the Franco-Prussian war. He subsequently studied both philosophy and theology with the Jesuit fathers at the Roman college and was or- dained a priest in the Jersey Islands, September 8. 1884. Father Datin began his ministry as professor of letters and sciences in the Jesuit college at Paris, continued it at Poitiers and Canterbury, England, and in 1891 emigrated to America as a missionary. Laboring in different dioceses in the vicinities of Montreal, Manches- ter. Marquette and Davenport, he was trans- ferred to Oregon in October, 1902, and at that

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time was made rector of St. Ann's Church at Grants Pass, where he has labored so success- fully ever since. This church was organized in 1899, and during that year the church edifice was erected, but that was the extent of the im- provements when Father Datin took charge. During his rectorship he has made many and varied improvements. He has induced new members to come into the fold of the church, has established several church societies, and in 1903 built a fine new parsonage. The church grounds although extensive, were wild and unimproved, mostly covered with pine forest, brush, etc., and it is needless to say that it has not been left in stich a neglected state by Father Datin, who has transformed this wilderness into beautiful grounds, containing. a fine garden and inter- spersed with fruit trees, ornamental shrubbery and flower-beds. His work in this line has been very gratifying to himself, as well as to otliers, and although he cleared away most of the brush with his own hands, he did it partly for recrea- tion and physical culture. In addition to his charge at Grants Pass, the old established con- gregation at Roseburg is under his rectorship.

FRANKLIN LAFAYETTE CRANFILL. The most experienced and successful mer- chant of Medford is also one of the earliest pio- neers of the state of Oregon. His family has proved a spur to energy and development ever since it was established here in 1847. It has known no such word as fail, and its undertakings have had the solid superstructure of practicabil- ity and unquestioned financial integrity. Va- riously identified with the industries of the state, one of its most popular and worthy members is the before-mentioned mereliant of Medford, Franklin Lafayette Cranfill. Born in Greene county, Iil., June 2, 1844, he is the second child of four sons and five daughters born to Isom and Matilda (Doyle) Cranfill. natives respectively of North Carolina and near Monmouth, Ky.

Isom Cranfill left the paternal farm in North ('arolina as a young man, and worked for his living in Tennessee. Not long afterward he re- moved to Illinois, where he married, and where he conducted a general store and Indian trading business in Greene county. With a courage rarely found in the men of today, he spent the winter of 1846-7 in preparing to cross the plains to Oregon, an undertaking beset by hideous pos- sibilities, and holding but one chance in a hun- dred of being accomplished. He was one of the first to come by the Platte river and Barlow route, and if he met with any of the mishaps with which the present generation associates the Indian-infested regions of that time, no record has been kept of it. He was probably well

armed, and perhaps a kindly fate guided his oxen in their long and wearisome journey. At any rate, six months of travel brought him to Oregon City, then a hamlet, and he settled on a donation claim three miles from the settlement, on the Clackamas river. Here he engaged in a saw-milling business with Ben Simpson, and in 1856 removed to near Peoria, Linn county, where he engaged in farming and also worked at the carpenter's trade. He was an eminently re- ligious man, and an ordained minister of the Baptist Church. From Linn county he removed with his family to Douglas county, and then to Eugene, where he died in 1877, at the age of seventy years. His wife survived him until Feb- ruary, 1903, at the age of eighty-four years.

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Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 104

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman publishing company Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman publishing company
Number of Pages: 1064