Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 111

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 111

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).

Joseph Reed, the father, was born in In- diana, and was fifteen years old when the family came to Oregon. He took an active part in the Rogue River Indian war, and after- ward became the possessor of one hundred and sixty acres of his father's farm. This same tract was afterward laid out by A. F. Brown into the city of Oakland. Joseph Reed in 1858 went into the cattle business on a range near Walla Walla, but the severe winter of 1861-2 reduced his stock and caused him se- vere loss. Undaunted, he still continued in the stock business for many years, but dur- ing the latter years of his life he sold his farm and retired to Oakland, where he died. He was joined in wedlock with Rachael Pear- son, formerly of Iowa. She was a daughter of G. W. Pearson, who moved from Pennsyl- vania to Iowa, where he followed. his trade as a stonemason. In 1852 he brought his family across the plains with mule teams, and located for a brief time in Oregon City. In 1853 he removed to a permanent location along the Umpqua river, re-engaged at his trade and also followed mining to some ex- tent, and he died in Oakland. Mrs. Reed is still living and resides near Wilbur.

Frank is the eldest of a family of four chil- dren, three of whom are still living, and he is the only son. His boyhood days were spent

in Oakland and in Wilbur, and he was edu- cated in the public schools and in the Wilbur Academy. When he was sixteen years old, he began to make his way in the world, equipped with a good practical education, but entirely without capital. In 1876 he went to eastern Oregon, and entered the employ of a large cattle raiser in Lake county. He continued to work for him and others for some time and as soon as he had saved a little money, he bought some cows, and after brand- ing them F. R., he let them range with other cattle, until he had established his ranch in Silver Lake valley, where he raised both cat- tle and horses. In 1892 Mr. Reed sold his stock and interests in eastern Oregon, and returned to Douglas county. He carried on general farming and stock-raising near Flour- ney valley for three years, after which he lo- cated in Roseburg, as a stock dealer, which has occupied his attention to some extent ever since, and has been very successful. He also drifted into mining, having discovered a cop- per mine in Curry county. He is also inter- ested in the lead mines of that county, where he has sixteen claims of lead. These mines are operated by the Coast Range Copper Com- pany of which Mr. Reed is manager, and they yield a fair profit.

Mr. Reed was united in marriage with M. A. Archambeau, a daughter of highly respected pioneers of Douglas county. They have two children, Ellena and Willetha. In his polit- ical views Mr. Reed has ever been a firm ad- vocate of the Democratic party. He has been a hard worker in legitimate channels, and his success is richly deserved.

SQUIRE LITTLE RYCRAFT. The oldest settler now living in the Alsea valley was also the first to demonstrate his faith in its future by making it his permanent home, and to live here continuously since 1853. That year, memorable because of the covert activity of the Indians and the constant menace to life and property of the courageous pioneers, two of the brothers Ry- craft settled on adjoining farms of one hundred and sixty acres each within a mile of Alsea post- office, and began that life of toil and self-sacri- fice without which little was accomplished in those days. Squire Little Rycraft, who some years ago bought out his brother, George, and now owns the two farms in one body, is the only living member of the family of Joseph and Mary (Hoffman) Rycraft, the parents of nine children. Joseph Rycraft and his wife removed at an early day from their native state of Virginia and located in Butler county, Ohio, whence they emigrated to Tippecanoe county, Ind., when

794

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Squire, their youngest born, was two years of age, he having been born in Butler county, Sep- tember 30, 1828. The mother died in 1832, two years after reaching Indiana, and the father suc- cumbed to a long illness in 1835, at the age of sixty. His life was by no means uneventful, al- though the greater part was spent on a farm, for he served in the war of 1812 as a spy, and in the early days of Ohio and Indiana had a great many lively experiences with the Indians. Al- though Squire L. Rycraft was quite young at the time of his father's death the former remembers a distillery conducted by his father in Indiana, which doubtless furnished a considerable por- tion of the family resources. The farmer and distiller was a Democrat, although it is not known that he took any particular interest in office-holding. Harriet, the oldest of his nine children, is the deceased wife of James Readdy, of Dayton, Ind .; Elizabeth is the deceased wife of Edward Burkhalter, of Clinton county, Ind .; George H. died in Alsea in 1891; John H. is deceased ; Margaret Ann is the deceased wife of Peter Goldsburg, of Dayton, Ind .; Joseph H. is deceased ; Catherine was the wife of L. D. Chis- holm; and Mary Anne died as the wife of Eli Burkhalter.

Left an orphan at the age of seven, Squire Rycraft lived with the other members of his family until able to do for himself. Although he did not sever his home connections, he began to work on surrounding farms at the age of sev- enteen, and in 1850 joined a party bound for the gold fields of California. Having horse instead of ox-teams, remarkable progress was made con- sidering the time and general conditions, little more than three months being spent on the way to the coast. Arriving at Placerville in the fall of 1850, he engaged in mining for a year, and with his gratifying and encouraging little hoard came to the Willamette valley, Ore., in 1851, joining his brother, George H., who had just arrived from Indiana. The fascination of min- ing caused his return to California in the sum- mer of 1852, but by fall he was again in Oregon, where, the following spring, he settled on his present farm, his brother George locating near him, as heretofore stated. Another brother, Joseph, came to Oregon in 1856, and located on a farm about ten miles from Squire L. Ry- craft's home. At present the latter has one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, and has greatly improved upon the efforts of his brothers, who were model farmers and pro- gressive as any during their time. His home is noted for its unstinted hospitality, for the neatness and air of prosperity which distinguish every department of his farm, and for the loyalty and good faith and nobility of the fortunate owner.

Mr. Rycraft would not be the son of his father were he not a stanch Democrat, yet he has never been a candidate for official recognition. As a school director and clerk he has promoted the cause of education in his neighborhood, and his children's steady attendance at school has best evidenced his appreciation of practical men- tal training. Mr. Rycraft married in 1858, near Monroe, Benton county, Sarah Jane Hawley, who was born in Iowa June 14, 1843, a daughter of Chapman and Mrs. (Cazia) Hawley, who crossed the plains in 1848 and located near Mon- roe, Benton county. The following children were born into the Rycraft household : Alma

May, the wife of John Wren, of Alberta, Can- ada; Emma Frances, the widow of Albert Ro- land, of Portland, Ore .; George Hoffman, of Moscow, Idaho; Joseph C., of the Alsea valley ; John A., of Philomath, Ore .; Leona Belle, the wife of Edward Roland, of Medford, Ore. ; Mark P., living at home; Edmie, deceased ; Mildred, the wife of James Longbottom, of Seattle, Wash. ; and Charles A., at home.

LOUIS AUGUSTUS ROBERTS. The pro- fession of the law has at all times and in all places attracted to its practice a large proportion of the keen and capable young men to whom its choice has been possible. Among those who, solely through their own unaided efforts and in spite of many obstacles, have gained a thorough schooling in the law, mention belongs to Louis A. Roberts, of Myrtle Point. He was born in Trenton, Mo., February 14, 1866, and was the eldest of a large family, whose father, John H., is now one of the honored citizens of Myrtle Point. The family history appears in his sketch elsewhere in this volume.

When Mr. Roberts accompanied his parents to Oregon he was a mere child. His education has, therefore, been secured almost wholly in this state. Not satisfied with the advantages offered by the common schools, he studied eve- nings and during leisure hours in the day, thus acquiring a fund of information of inestimable valne to him in his professional career. In ad- dition. he had the advantage of a course of study in Hill's Business College, of which he is a graduate. As a means of livelihood he took up teaching in 1884 and for four years had charge of schools in Coos county. The year 1888 found him in the general mercantile busi- ness at Myrtle Point, as a partner of his father, under the firm title of J. H. Roberts & Son. In 1892 he turned his attention to the real-estate and insurance business, besides holding office as a notary public. It was about this time that he took up the study of law with a view to entering upon its practice. On his admission to the bar,

795

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in 1895, he began active practice, which he has since continued. Besides his private clientele he acts as attorney for the state land board for Coos county.

By his marriage, August 14, 1892, to Mabel A. Benson, a native of Iowa, Mr. Roberts has one daughter, Evelyn Rowena. In his political faith he is a pronounced Republican, active in the local affairs of the party. At present he is a member of the congressional committee of this district, while formerly he held office as president of the county central committee. For six years he was a member of the city council and for a similar period held office as city recorder, both of which positions he filled faithfully and well. Like many of the men in this state, he has stock interests, these being at this writing represented by one hundred and twenty head of feeders pas- tured on fifteen hundred acres of grazing land. His fraternal relations are numerous and im- portant, and include membership in the Knights of Pythias, in which he has been an office-holder, and the Rathbone Sisters; the Ancient Order of United Workmen : Woodmen of the World; In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is connected both with lodge and encampment ; and the Masonic fraternity, in which he is a member of Myrtle Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., Arago Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., and the Order of the Eastern Star at Marshfield.

DAVID RUBLE. A descendant of good old Pennsylvanians, David Ruble is carrying on a profitable business as a stock-raiser and farmer in the vicinity of Waldport, Lincoln county, Ore., and to him belongs the distinction of hav- ing laid out that town. Mr. Ruble was born in Virginia, on the Pennsylvania line, in Monon- gahela county, December 11, 1830. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Irons) Ruble, the latter a native of Philadelphia.

Thomas Ruble was a native of Washington county, of the Keystone state, and was a mill- wright by trade, following that occupation ex- clusively during his active years. He was the inventor of a turbine wheel now used in all mills, and secured a patent for his invention in 1837. His invention has since been improved upon. Mr. Ruble was a resident of Adams county, Ind., at the time he secured his patent, going to Washington in person to attend to it. Upon his return to Indiana he brought with him and introduced the first tomato seed in his locality. Mr. Ruble's death took place September 18, 1857, in Salem, Ore., and he was sixty- three years old at the time of his demise. His wife survived him until July 20, 1870, when she succumbed to disease, dying at the age of sev- enty-five years. She died on the old home place

at Eola, Polk county, Ore. Eight children were born to this esteemed couple, as follows: Eliza Ann, who married Jenkins Cox, both of whom are now deceased; William, of Salem, Ore .; Edna, wife of Alexander J. Rose, of Roseburg, Ore .; Sarah Jane, of Alsea valley; Jeremiah Clark, also deceased; Susanna, wife of Thomas Pasley, of Whitman county, Wash .; and David, the subject of this biography. One child died in infancy.

David Ruble obtained his early education in the common schools, and upon leaving school took up the occupation of his father and learned the trade of a mill-wright and miller. When he was four years old his parents moved to Adams county, Ind., where his father took up land, and upon this farm the family lived until 1841. At that time they moved to Wabash county, Ind., and in 1848 went to Barry county, Mo., where they settled permanently. April 23, 1853, David Ruble and his bride began the long journey across the plains to Oregon, accompanied by a brother, William Ruble. They traveled behind four yoke of oxen and were six months on the way. Captain Smith was in charge of the emigrant train, which consisted of twenty-five wagons. In the fall of 1853 they arrived at Eola Hills, west of Salem, in Polk county, Ore. Mr. Ruble at once took up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles west of Salem, moved on to the place and lived there until 1871, when he sold out and moved to Alsea valley, in Benton county. He purchased a farm three miles north of Alsea postoffice and erected a grist-mill and saw-mill in that vicinity, in ad- dition to which he farmed. He remained there until 1879 and at that time he went down to Alsea bay and took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, where the town of Waldport now stands, and laid it out in town lots, being the founder and promoter of that town. Mr. Ruble has followed farming in that section ever since, and is well-to-do.

April 22, 1853, David Ruble was united in marriage with Orlena Russell, who has proved to be a most desirable companion. Mrs. Ruble was born in Fayette county, Ind., May 28, 1834, and she is a daughter of David and Martha (Moore) Russell. Her parents moved to Barry county, Mo .. when she was sixteen years old, but in after-ycars both parents returned to Indiana and died there. The father passed to his final rest, June 21. 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Ruble have rcared mine children, as follows: Marion, a machinist of Portland: Victoria, wife of Edwin Baldwin, of Corvallis; Arizona, wife of J. A. Glines, of Waldport; Orange Judd, of Alsea valley ; Marshall Wilder, of the same vicinity; Eldorado, wife of D. R. Spencer, residing near ; Arcina, wife of Richard Evans, also of Wald-

796

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

port ; Vina, who still graces the home with her presence ; and Martha, wife of W. S. Hosford, residing near the old home. Mr. Ruble is a stanch Republican in his political convictions, and has served as road supervisor, school director and as justice of the peace. He is very popular among his neighbors.

DRURY MORGAN. The eight years spent by Drury Morgan in Coos county have been among the most satisfactory in his life. Cer- tainly his general farming and dairying enter- prise has netted him more than expected returns, and he has been called upon to assume posi- tions of trust which reflect unquestioned confi- dence on the part of his fellow-townsmen. He has the elements of success and popularity to an unusual degree, and is one of those practical and level-headed thinkers and workers whose opinion and judgment are apt to carry weight in matters of public interest. Not one but sev- eral occupations have tended to give him a broad grasp of business, and he is one of the best judges of fine stock in the vicinity of Coquille, five miles south of which town he lives, on the J. J. Lamb farm, consisting of one hundred and eighty-seven acres, which is fertile and adaptive, being equally fitted for farming, dairying or fruit raising. Since he located on this farm in 1898 he has added to the many fine improve- ments, and his excellent methods are apparent to even the casual observer. Mr. Morgan has one hundred acres of this farm under cultivation, is extensively engaged in the breeding of high grade Durham cattle and registered Poland China hogs, and at present milks from thirty to thirty-five cows.

Born in Jefferson county, Ind., September 22, 1859. Mr. Morgan belonged to a family which settled in the Hoosier state when the farms were few, and while yet the Indians passed that way and regretfully noted the advent of the more thrifty pale-faces. The grandfathers on both sides of the family fought in the war of 1812, and were natives of New York and Kentucky, respectively. The father of Mr. Morgan mar- ried and spent the greater part of his life in Indiana, and finally died on the old homestead which his industry and faithfulness had changed from a wilderness to a fertile and cheerful home. He was sixty-four years old at the time, and is survived by his wife, who now makes her home in the state of California. The five children born and reared on the Indiana home- stead are all living.

At the age of twenty years Drury Morgan left his home and went to Nebraska, where he en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising with such success that he gained a considerable head-

way, from a financial standpoint. Thus en- couraged, on August 15, 1882, he married Laura Yates, a native of the same county as himself, and with whom he had played and attended school as a child. Returning to Indiana for their honeymoon, the young people then removed to California and settled in Solano county, where Mr. Morgan continued his former occupation of farming and dairying for three years. His next home in the west was in Napa county, also in California, and at Yountville he conducted a meat market and general butchering business for eight years. Here also he was successful, and after disposing of his enterprise he located in Humboldt county and lived in the Redwood dis- triet until 1895. In Humboldt county he com- bined the butcher business with lumbering, and found that both occupations netted him more that expected returns. After coming to Coos county in 1895 Mr. Morgan rented a dairy ranch near Coquille, and after a year engaged in a butchering business in the town. Two years later he came to the present farm, which he regards as more promising and pleasant than any he has occupied in the west. Mr. Morgan has taken an active, though not conspicuous, part in local polities since coming to the coast, and in California served as constable in Napa county. He is fraternally connected with the Woodmen of the World, and finds a religious home in the Christian church, of which he is elder, and towards the support of which he is a liberal contributor. Three interesting children, Roy, Ora and Georgia, comprise the younger members of the Morgan household.

HENRY NICE. Salmon fishing is quite an industry on the Pacific coast and the canneries of western Oregon furnish employment for a large number of men. The subject of this bi- ography is the proprietor of a fine salmon can- nery on Alsea river, in Lincoln county, where he has carried on a successful business since 1888. This cannery is devoted exclusively to salmon and has a capacity of from eight to nine thousand cases per season.

Henry Nice was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, and his parents were also Canadians. The son's birth occurred February 10, 1837, his parents being Cornelius and Anne (Betts) Nice, and he is a grandson of Henry Nice. The latter was a fisherman of some note at St. Johns, N. B., his native place, and departed this life in 1866, when eighty-one years of age. On the maternal side the grandfather, Ephraim Betts, was a captain in the English army during the war of 1812, and the great- grandfather, Ezra Betts, was a physician in the same army, during the Revolutionary war. He

797

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was also a Mason of high degree, and in this re- spect he was emulated by his son.

Cornelius Nice was one of eleven children. He, too, was a fisherman by occupation. He was liberal in his political views, and in his religion was a believer in the Episcopal faith. He died in 1872 at St. Johns, aged sixty-three years. His wife survived him for many years, her death taking place in 1899, at Boston, at the age of seventy-nine years. This worthy couple reared a large family which consisted of eight chil- . dren. They are Mary Anne, now deceased ; Eliza, wife of James Prince, and she died at St. Johns in 1902; Amanda, also deceased; Henry ; Susan, of Boston, Mass .; David, of the same state; Harriet, wife of Edward Fails, of Wil- mington, Nova Scotia; and Juliette, wife of Joseph Cox, of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Henry Nice was educated in the common schools of New Brunswick and followed fishing with his father for a few years, prior to en- gaging in ship-building. He learned the latter trade most thoroughly and became an expert at the business, which occupied his attention for many years. March 3. 1869, he left his home at St. Johns en route for San Francisco, going by way of New York city, where he took passage 011 a steamer and went by the Panama route. He arrived at his destination April 3, and spent nearly a year as a ship-carpenter at the Golden Gate. In February, 1870, he went to Port- land on the "Ajax," and for some time followed his trade in that city. He afterward took up fishing on the Columbia river and was among the first to engage in that as a business. He followed fishing there for six years, and later was in the same business on the Rogue river, in Curry county, then on the Fraser river. He finally returned to Portland. The two years fol- lowing he spent in British Columbia, and after his return to Portland he was sent to Yaquina bay as superintendent of the government works there, serving in that capacity for six years, or until 1888. Mr. Nice then built his cannery on Alsea river and has operated it ever since. He also owns twelve hundred acres of grazing land along that river and is engaged in stock- raising. He has a fine residence overlooking Alsea bay, commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding vicinity.

In 1890 Mr. Nice wedded Jessie Livingston Alexander, a native of London, where her birth took place in 1863. Mrs. Nice accompanied her parents to America when she was but eight years old. Two children were born of this union, Jessie Louise, aged nine years, and IIen- rietta, aged twelve months. Mrs. Nice and her husband are Episcopalians in their religious faith. In his political views Mr. Nice is a Re- publican. Like his ancestors, he is a Mason of

high degree. He affiliates with the Blue Lodge of Newport ; the Chapter of Corvallis ; the Shrine and Scottish Rite of Portland and the York Rite of Albany. He ranks among the most prominent and influential citizens of his section and his prosperity is richly deserved.

JOHN A. OLSSON. An expert seaman of broad experience and a pioneer settler in the vicinity of Newport, Ore., John A. Olsson is at the present writing acceptably filling the office of city councilman, and is one of the most ex- tensive land-owners in his section, having been engaged in the oyster business for a number of years.

John A. Olsson was born in the city of Gothen- burg, Sweden, March 20. 1838, and his parents were both natives of the same city. He is a son of Larse and Mary (Lanquist) Olsson. The father was born April 7, 1812, and was foreman in a rope factory in Sweden for many years. He died in 1871. The mother was a trifle older than her husband, having been born September 2, 1810. They reared four sons and one daugh- ter, the subject of this biography being the eld- est child.

Mr. Olsson was cducated in the common schools of Sweden and went to sea when sixteen years old, and was a mariner for a period cov- ering ten years. He sailed first on the brig "Active," which sailed to London, England, to Spain. to Montevideo, South America, to Africa, returning to Liverpool. England, then to Brazil, and finally returning again to England, then to his home in Gothenburg, where he engaged for a time as ordinary seaman. During his many years on the water Mr. Olsson has visited all the im- portant countries in the world, some of them many times. While sailing on the "Sovereign of the Seas," he was in a wreck off the strait of Malacca, en route to Hong Kong. The ship was lost and the crew went ashore in a small boat at Malacca, and soon afterward took passage on a schooner to Singapore, where they stayed three months. Mr. Olsson finally obtained work on a Swedish barque and returned to England. He afterward went to Rio Janiero, South America, and to New York. Returning to England he shipped in the "Goklen Age" to Africa and spent about a year trading with the natives along Bone river. Again returning to Liver- pool he next shipped in the "Mary Lord," around Cape Horn to Acajutla, on the western coast of Central America. and while there par- ticipated in a diving expedition on the "Osber- ry," off the coast. In that boat he made his way to San Francisco and soon afterward entered the employ of the United States government on the "Morning Light," upon which he was a

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 western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 111

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