Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 125

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 125

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ISAAC F. WILLIAMS. The mail contract at Central Point has been under the management of Isaac F. Williams since 1890 and a flourishing livery business has been conducted by the same energetic business man since 1893, In addition, Mr. Williams is known as a most successful hotel man, his well kept and modern hostelry contributing to the well-being of many guests during the course of a year. Energetic and wide- awake, this practical business man has made the most of his western opportunities, and has come to the conclusion that Jackson county offers a fair living to all who possess the requisite deter- mination and good judgment.

Born in Howard county, Mo., February 6, 1853, Mr. Williams comes of farming ancestry, identificd for many years with the state of Mis- sissippi. His father, Isaac B. Williams, was born in the latter state September II, 1831, and spent his earliest years on a farm near Salem. He accompanied his parents to Missouri in 1847, and in 1852 married Dinah C. Jewell, a native of Missouri, but who died in 1859. Isaac F. is one of the four children of this union. Isaac B. Williams married Mrs. Mathilda Martin for a second wife, and of this union there were three children, of whom James R. lives in Portland ; John B. occupies a farm in Sams valley; Au- gusta L. lives in this vicinity. The second Mrs. Williams dying January 6, 1892, Mr. Wil- liams married Mrs. Catherine Fink. Isaac B. Williams lived in several counties in Missouri, and achieved fair success as a farmer and stock- raiser, his good fortune continuing after his re- moval to Oregon in 1875. Locating on a farm ten miles northeast of Central Point, he made that his home until 1889, and has since lived re- tired in this promising little town. From time to time he has interested himself in political under- takings, invariably voting with the Democrats, to whom he owed his early allegiance. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is regarded as a progressive and intelligent farmer and citi- zen.

Isaac F. Williams remained on the Missouri

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farm until his marriage, April 13, 1875, to Lucy McClung, and the following year he brought his wife to Oregon, settling in (Jacksonville, where he engaged in the hotel business for a year. Af- terward he engaged in ranching near Eagle Point until 1890, and then assumed control of the mail route, one of his present responsibilities. At the same time he is telephone agent at this point, and, taken as a whole, his life is a broad and use- ful one, his time being well taken up with his many duties. Politically he follows in the foot- steps of his sire, and has creditably filled several local offices in the vicinity. Fraternally he is conected with Medford Lodge No. 14, K. O. T. M. Mr. Williams is giving his six children an excellent common school education, and all hold out promise of realizing his expectations for them. John, the oldest son, is living at home; Oscar is a resident of Oregon City; Mrs. Ella Roper lives in San Francisco; May is at home ; Lelia lives in Portland ; and Etta is at home. Mr. Williams attends strictly to business, and in the hotel, mail, and agency enterprises, conscien- tiously considers the best interests of his patrons and friends.

EDWIN WEAVER. The Weaver family has been prominently identified with the growth, progress and history of Douglas county, Ore., for several decades, and among its most promi- nent members of the present generation is the subject of this review, who is extensively en- gaged in fruit culture and stock-raising on Myrtle creek, and is one of the foremost citizens in that community. Edwin Weaver was born in Wash- ington county, Ill., April 6, 1848, and is a son of Hans and Harriet (Bigham) Weaver.

Hans Weaver was at one time without doubt the largest land owner in Douglas county, Ore., possessing three thousand eight hundred acres of land all in one body. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and was prominent in every way in his locality, and accumulated a handsome fortune. Through the treachery of supposed friends, he lost the vast sum of $80,000 at one time. He was a native of Dublin, Ireland, where his birth took place, May 22, 1816. When he was but three years old, his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Guernsey county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Young Hans Weaver was sent to the public schools and when a young man, he be- came apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, remaining at home until his marriage August 26, 1841. Mrs. Weaver was born in Ohio, Decem- ber 2, 1822.

Soon after their marriage, the young people went to Illinois, where they continued to reside until 1853 and then came west to the Pacific

slope. They started on their perilous journey in the spring of that year and crossed the great plains with both ox and horse-teams. They had several skirmishes with hostile Indians while en route, but, although a part of their stock was stolen, they experienced no serious difficulty or loss of life from their interference, and reached their desired destination after a journey of about six months. Arriving in Oregon, they settled at once in Douglas county, taking up donation claims of three hundred and twenty acres six miles southeast of Myrtle creek, along the banks of South Myrtle creek. After a four-years' resi- dence there, Mr. Weaver purchased a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, two miles south of Myrtle creek, which was the James Weaver do- nation claim. Upon this farm he made the first improvements and continued to reside there un- til his death in 1888. From the first success crowned his efforts, and he accumulated land with great rapidity. He carried on stock-raising on a large scale, also buying and selling stock, often realizing a handsome profit in that way. At the time of his demise, he was seventy-two years of age, and his wife was seventy-five years old when she died. They reared twelve children, and among those still living are the following : Edwin, the subject of this writing; Robert, of Oklahoma; Isaac, of South Myrtle creek; John R., of Montana; Henry, also a resident of the same state; Cleland, who resides on the home place and whose biography is given elsewhere in this history.

Edwin Weaver received his scholastic training in the district schools, and after leaving school he became apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade in Portland and followed that occupation there for several years. Soon after his marriage in 1875, he opened a blacksmith shop on Myrtle creek, conducting it during the summer, but in the fall of the same year, he moved to a farm in the Mohawk bottoms, which he had purchased, and continued to reside there until 1891. He then moved to the farm where he now resides, about one and a half miles south of Myrtle creek. This was the original E. Malloney donation claim, and since his residence there Mr. Weaver has built a new residence of modern design, and lias also added a complete set of new and sub- stantial outbuildings, having at the present time one of the prettiest and most attractive homes in1 the South Umpqua valley. Mr. Weaver ranks among the prominent men and extensive land- owners in his locality, owning over twenty-five hundred acres of fine land which is among the most productive in Douglas county. He carries on general farming, makes a specialty of raising Berkshire hogs and choice Hereford cattle, be- sides devoting a great deal of time to fruit cul- ture. It is a beautiful sight to see his rich grain-

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fields and orchards along the South Umpqua river. He has about eighty acres of prune and peach trees, and to facilitate handling the enor- mous crops and preparing the fruit for the mar- ket he has a steam dryer, with a capacity of from five hundred to six hundred bushels of fruit per day.

Mr. Weaver was united in marriage with Mar- garet Dyer, a native of Douglas county, and to them have been born the following children : John R., of Montana; Maggie M. Owens, of the same state; Hans, who resides at the old home; Eleanor Jones, who resides in the vicin- ity of Myrtle creek; Frank E .; Moses I., de- ceased ; Addie; Vincent ; Verna ; Effie; Ora; Bes- sie ; Susan ; George D .; and William P.

In his political opinions, Mr. Weaver is inde- pendent. He has held minor offices in Douglas county, but takes little interest in politics. He holds a membership with the Odd Fellows, and has filled all the chairs. He is a man of high principles, upright and honorable in all his deal- ings, and is a citizen whose worth is appreciated at its full value.

JUDGE C. J. TRENCHARD. The geneal- ogy of the Trenchard family in America is traced back to the pioneer history of Maryland, when a family of that name crossed the ocean from Eng- land and identified themselves with the new col- ony. From these ancestors descended Hon. C. J. Trenchard, M. D., who was born in Kent county, Md., July 1, 1827, and in early manhood was graduated from a medical college in Annap- olis. At the time gold was discovered in Cali- fornia he became imbued with a desire to seek his fortune in the then unknown west. In 1849 he came to the coast via Panama and at first tried his luck in mining but failed to discover the hoped-for gold. Believing other parts of the coast region offered better opportunities, in 1850 he set sail from San Francisco for Astoria, and during the trip on a schooner met Miss Marion Muir, who later became his wife.

Settling in Astoria Dr. Trenchard took up the practice of medicine, with which he later com- bined the management of a general mercantile establishment. For one term he served as county clerk of Clatsop county, and at another time filled the office of school director. The most important position to which he was elected was that of member of the first state legislature of Oregon. In the difficult task before these early legislators of placing the new commonwealth upon a firm basis, he bore his part with dignity, intelligence and tact, winning the confidence and admiration of his constituents. In Masonic cir- cles he stood high, and acted as grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. In religion he

was an Episcopalian, and politically always voted with the Democratic party. Had his life been spared to old age, without doubt he would have been further honored with offices of trust and re- sponsibility, for he was a man particularly well qualified to serve in a public capacity, but the promises of the future were cut short by his death, in August of 1867, when he was forty years of age.

Mention has been made of Dr. Trenchard's wife. She was of Scotch birth and lineage, and possessed the qualities which have made that race honored throughout the world. Near the old town of Ayr, in the shire of the same name, she was born March 13, 1826, being a daughter of John Muir, a prominent and practical coal op- erator. In 1847 the family came from Scotland to the Pacific coast, spending six months on the voyage around the Horn, and finally landing on Vancouver Island. A company of capitalists had sent Mr. Muir to this island for the purpose of opening and developing mines. His first loca- tion was at Fort Rupert, but not being successful in finding coal, he went from there to Nanaimo, on the same island, where he met with greater success. For some time he engaged in develop- ing mines at that place, but finally resigned and obtained a grant to a large tract of land on Sooke Inlet, where he engaged in milling and farming until his death. His wife passed away at the same place. Of their family two sons survive, Robert and John, besides their daughter, Mrs. Marion Trenchard. The last-named, when a girl, went from Vancouver Island to California for the purpose of visiting a brother. On the re- turn trip, in 1850, she met Dr. Trenchard, to whom she was married at Cathlamet, Wahki- akum county, Wash. Born of their union were eight children, as follows: Annie M., Mrs. Jor- dan, of San Gabriel, Cal .; C. J., of Astoria, Ore. ; George W., who holds a government position in Victoria, B. C .; Mary A., who was accidentally drowned in 1862: Margaret L., Mrs. Upshur, of Astoria, Ore .; Charles E., who died in 1878; Robert M., who engaged in the dairy business at Salem, Ore., until his death in 1882; and Marion, Mrs. Chutter, of Astoria. The mother, who is now seventy-eight years of age, resides in As- toria, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Upshur.

In the city of Astoria, where he now resides, Judge C. J. Trenchard was born June 4, 1853. When he was fourteen years of age his father died, and he was then obliged to discontinue his studies and assume the support of the family, he being the eldest son. As a worker in saw-mills and logging camps he learned lessons of self-re- liance that have been of inestimable value to him. From 1872 to 1876 he was employed by Mr. West of Westport and at the end of that time he em-

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barked in the mercantile business on Bond street, Astoria, but met with disaster at the very out- set of his career, for the stock of goods was lost by fire, partly uninsured. Returning to clerical work, he continued as a bookkeeper until he was elected county clerk. In 1880 he had been the candidate of the Democratic party for this office, but was defeated by one vote. Two years later he was again nominated, and this time gained the election, which was considered noteworthy, inas- much as the county was Republican. In 1884, 1886 and 1888 he was re-elected, each time by in- creased majorities, a fact which in itself is abun- dant proof of his popularity as a county official. Declining to be a candidate for the county clerk- ship in 1890, Mr. Trenchard retired from the office in July of that year and soon afterward be- came agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Com- pany, also local agent for Meyer, Wilson & Co., wholesale commission shippers. In addition, he engaged in selling policies for fire insurance. In June of 1902 he was elected county judge on the Citizen's ticket, and in July took the oath of of- fice for a term of four years. As county judge his administration is marked by the same quali- ties of promptness and strict attention to duty that characterized his management of the clerk's office. His knowledge of the law surpasses that possessed by many a college-bred lawyer, yet it has been acquired solely by self-culture. Sup- plementary to these qualifications in gaining for him the regard of the people is his remarkable geniality of disposition and courtesy of manner. He is a companionable man, a pleasant conver- sationalist and wins friends wherever he goes. His wife, who shares with him the regard of the people, was Miss Cara Van Dusen, a native of Astoria, where her father, Adam Van Dusen, settled after crossing the plains in 1845. They have only one child, Anita C., who is now study- ing music in Portland.

The fraternal connections of Judge Trenchard include membership in Temple Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M., at Astoria, in which he is past mas- ter ; also membership in the Knights of Pythias, and the local lodge, A. O. U. W., of which he is a charter member and past officer. Reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, he continues his connection with that denomination, and is serv- ing the congregation at Astoria as vestryman, clerk and treasurer of the board. At one time he was chairman of the county Democratic central committee and at another time held office as sec- retary of the state central committee. The Cham- ber of Commerce, which has been an influential organization in extending the commercial rela- tions of Astoria, numbers him among its active workers. From the legislature he received ap- pointment as a member of the board of water commissioners at Astoria, which is one of the

most important offices in this city, and in it, as in his other positions, he has rendered able service.

SILAS JOHNSON DAY. Perhaps no man in southern Oregon is more conversant with the early conditions of the northwest or with the steps that have led up to the early development of its resources, than Silas J. Day, for many years a prominent resident of Jackson county, as a citizen and as a soldier giving the best part of his life toward the upbuilding of this western commonwealth. It would be difficult to say in what line of activity Judge Day has excelled, for his talents are versatile, one of his greatest being his ability to adapt himself to circum- stances, with the true pioneer instinct turning his hand to whatever came in his way-as a soldier in the Mexican war finding his way to the west as early as 1849, where he worked as miner, agriculturist and exponent of the law, being eminently successful in the greater part of his labor.

Judge Day was born in Anne Arundel county, Md., not far from Harper's Ferry, Va., April 3, 1826. He was of Irish ancestry, his great-grand- father having been one of the five brothers who came to the United States in the early history of the country, three of whom located in Mary- land, while two went west. His grandfather, Edward Day, was also a native of Maryland, and lived in Baltimore county for the greater part of his life, serving as county clerk for many years. He owned two hundred acres of fine woodland, in the center of which was situated his home, and also owned some slaves. His death occurred in his native state. Ishmael Day, the father of Judge Day, was born in Maryland, March 20, 1792. He removed from Anne Arundel county to Baltimore county about 1830 and after the Civil war was appointed inspector in the custom house, which position he main- tained until his death in 1874. Before his re- moval to Baltimore county he had acted as man- ager of an iron furnace in Anne Arundel county. In the war of 1812 he served as captain of a company known as the Long Green Rangers, giving his country service to the best of the ability of a citizen well grounded in the principles of patriotism and the duty which man owes to man. In his political convictions he had always cast his vote with the Whig party until it ceased to exist, when he followed the principles into the Republican ranks, always active in the pro- motion of the doctrines which he endorsed. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years was a teacher in the Sunday- school. He was married three times but only had children by his first wife, she being Charity

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Johnson, who was born and died in Maryland. She was the daughter of Matthew Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Maryland and farmed in Baltimore county, his death oc- curring at the age of fifty-six years, after a very successful and active career in his chosen work. To Mr. and Mrs. Day were born thirteen chil- dren, four sons and nine daughters, namely : Edward, who was drowned; Amanda; Silas J., of this review; Mary; Louisa; Adeline; Emily; Cecelia; Rose; Abigail; Clara; Edward; and William, who died young. Mr. Day was also an educator and surveyor in addition to his many other attainments, as well as a horticulturist, owning a fine orchard, in the successful cultiva- tion of which he took great pleasure.

The third child of his father's family, Judge Day secured his education in the private schools conducted by his father and his uncle, learning many lessons which proved of practical value later in life. In 1846 he enlisted in Company E, Second United States Infantry, for service in the Mexican war. While in Tampico he entered the quartermaster's department and was em- ployed in breaking mules. In 1849 he came to California as a soldier and was stationed at Sugarville for the first year, after which he was sent to Camp Far West for duty throughout the second year. When his enlistment had almost expired he was granted a furlough and in 1850 he went to the mines of California, remaining until 1851. In that year he went back to Sacramento for a short time, and from that location to Scott's Bar, during the gold excitement, and a little later was engaged in mining at Yreka. While on a trip to Scottsburg for supplies, with the Gar- field brothers, he met Captain Crouch, who in- formed him that supplies were scarce at Scotts- burg and advised him to go to Oregon City or Portland, so he continued north by way of Salem and Oregon City, arriving in Portland April 15, 1851. No town then, however, occupied the pres- ent site of Portland, and Judge Day was offered ten acres of the land if he would cut the timber. He obtained flour from Colonel Nesbitt, at Rick- reall and various other provisions from the farm- ers, paying fifty cents per pound for butter and a like amount for bacon. He loaded his mules and packed these supplies to Yreka, where he sold the entire outfit. He immediately returned to Canyon creek, Josephine county, Ore., where he engaged in mining for only a short time, when he returned to Sacramento, where he engaged in brick manufacture until the fall of 1852. In that year he once more visited the mines, remain- ing until the spring of 1853. when he was joined by his brother Edward, from Baltimore, with whom he came to Oregon, and they took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres each, lo- cated on Butte creek. This property remained

his home for four years, during which time he served as a soldier in the Rogue River Indian war, enlisting October 10, 1855, in Company G, commanded by Capt. Miles F. Alcorn, his term of service expiring May 13, 1856. He had been twice promoted, first becoming orderly sergeant and later commissioned first lieutenant. Upon the return to peace of the southern county Judge Day became a miner on Jackson creek, where he remained until 1861, for a time there- after working as an employe in the butcher busi- ness in Jacksonville. Later he again became identified with the mining interests, continuing in this occupation until 1870, when he was elected county clerk of Jackson county for a term of two years, so well maintaining the interests of the people that he was chosen in 1874 as county judge. Four years later he was re-elected, his incumbency being in every way satisfactory, dur- ing which he was associated with Robert A. Cook in the erection of the court house, the en- tire cost being but $38,796.53, a wise expenditure bringing about happy results, as the building is one of the best of its kind in the state. In 1874 he was appointed by the state legislature a mem- ber of the board of commissioners appointed to lay out the southern Oregon wagon road. He was elected president of the commission, and to- gether they laid out the road which traversed a distance of three hundred and forty-three miles, terminating in what is now Malheur county. In the execution of his duties he ful- filled the expectations of those who had chosen him to represent their interests. In 1877 Judge Day was chosen by the Grangers of Phoenix to conduct a flour-mill, which duty he performed for one year. On retiring from the bench Judge Day took up, in 1882, an abstract and real estate business, which has since engrossed his entire at- tention.

Judge Day was married in Portland, Ore., in 1871, to Miss Mary McGhee, who was born in Boone county, Mo., in 1841, and four children have blessed this union, of whom Mary Louisa resides in Jacksonville; Edward Melville is lo- cated in Siskiyou county. Cal., in the employ of a saw-mill company; Silas Elmer was killed at the age of sixteen years; and Elsie Cordelia is also deceased. In his fraternal relations Judge Day is identified with the Odd Fellows, being a member of Jacksonville Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F .; Table Rock Encampment, No. 10, and Re- bekah Lodge, No. 4, both of Jacksonville. In 1868 Judge Day was elected grand master of the grand lodge of Oregon, which included what is now Oregon, Washington and Idaho. On his retirement in 1869 he was presented by the officers and members of the grand lodge over which he presided, with a solid gold watch and chain, suitably inscribed, as a testimonial of their

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appreciation of his services. In 1870 he was elected by the grand lodge as a delegate to the sovereign grand lodge which met at Baltimore, Md. In his political convictions he is a stanch adherent of the principles of the Prohibition party. Since 1861 he has belonged to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South, in which he has officiated as trustee for many years. In memory of the early days in which he first came to the state of Oregon Judge Day is a member of the Pioneer Society, of which he was elected secre- tary June 2, 1881, and has continued in office for the twenty-two years since. No man holds the esteem and affection of the people of this community to a greater degree than this well- known pioneer, and by a long life of patient, earnest effort and generous self-sacrifice he is entitled to the honorable position which he oc- cupies.

FREDERICK GEYER. A highly respected citizen of Grants Pass, Frederick Geyer has spent a useful and busy life, and is now living retired from active pursuits. For more than a quarter of a century a resident of Josephine county, he was for many years an industrious, hard-working farmer, and while improving for himself a valuable homestead from a tract of wild land materially assisted in developing the agricultural prosperity of the county and the state. A native of Germany, he was born, in April, 1835, in Breitenbach, Kingdom of Saxony. His parents, Henry and Margaret Geyer, both of whom were born and reared in Saxony, Ger- many, emigrated to the United States, settled in Minnesota, and spent their remaining years in Lesueur county. Four children were born of their union namely: Christian, a resident of Minnesota ; Elizabeth, deceased; Frederick, the subject of this brief sketch; and Guenther, living in Minnesota.

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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 125

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