Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 131

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 131

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thereafter knew no other home. Ten children were born to her and her husband; nine of these children lived to reach manhood and womanhood and seven of them are still living, among them Mrs. Reader, who, like her broth- ers and sisters, was reared in Illinois.

It is a pleasant thing to be able to trace one's family record through long years of change and struggle, but it is doubly pleasant when this record presents the lives of men or women who have achieved some special feat of bravery which forever rendered their name famous. It is just so in the Pauly an- cestry and one illustrious member, John Bap- tiste Pauly, a brother of Mrs. Reader's grand- father, was a member of an astronomical party which was sent by King Louis XV of France to California to observe the transit of Venus,

which took place June 3, 1769, and was an object of interest to all noted astronomers throughout the world. Mr. Pauly was geo- graphical engineer for King Louis and was the only survivor of the expedition, and by his efforts alone were the observations preserved for the benefit of the scientific world. The party set sail for Mexico in September, 1768. After a perilous voyage of three thousand leagues they arrived at their destination on Easter-day, 1769. Eight days later they re- sumed the journey, traveling on mules a dis- tance of three hundred leagues, amid lofty mountains, dreadful precipices and arid des- erts. At last they arrived at the port of San Blas, on the Pacific Ocean, whence they em- barked for California on a brigantine, which the viceroy of Mexico had had prepared. After six weeks' sailing, during which time they had covered one hundred and fifty leagues, they found themselves near the port of San Joseph, which, however, was a very perilous landing. Some of the party wished to wait for a favor- able wind to land at Cape St. Lucas, about ten leagues distant, and while this discussion was going on Mr. Pauley and several others let down the long boat and started out in search of a landing place. After many fruitless at- tempts at disembarking they finally discovered the mouth of an unknown river, and they at last reached the coast, although with the great- est difficulty. They sent the boat back after the rest of their party, landing on the penin- sula May 21, 1769, thirteen days before the epoch of the transit of Venus. After consid- erable difficulty they constructed an observa- tory, and a few days later, on June 3, made the observations for which they had risked their lives. The distressing scourge which was prevalent in that country attacked the party six or seven days after the observation. One by one they buried their companions. Fear- ing that none of the party would survive to tell of their expedition, Mr. Pauley gathered all the papers relating to the object of their voyage and placing them in a casket, addressed it to the viceroy of Mexico. This was to re- turn on the vessel which was to arrive in Sep- tember to take them back to France. The captain of the vessel finally arrived, and the remnant of the party embarked for the return trip. Several of their number succumbed on the way. They landed at Cadiz, Spain, July 21, 1770, and reached Paris on December 5 following. Mr. Pauley sent the observations which they had made in California to the acad- emy, the society expressing the greatest satis- faction with his zeal and services, and pre- sented him to the king and to all the minis- ters.

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C. M. POLEY. As an active and energetic business man whose success can only be attrib- uted to his own superior natural abilities and qualifications, Mr. Poley easily ranks among the most influential citizens of Ashland, Ore., which has been his home for the past ten years. He has been identified with the lumber and farming in- terests in Jackson county for a longer period, having located in that county in 1890, when he left his Illinois home to seek a permanent location on the Pacific slope. A native of Sangamon county, Ill., having been born November 30, 1850, near Auburn, Mr. Poley is the youngest in a family of ten children and was the first in this family to seek a western location. Like many of the most prominent and successful men of the day, he was reared on a farm and attended the ordinary district school. At the age of four- teen years he had the misfortune to lose his father, Joseph Poley, who was among the most influential farmers and stockmen in Sangamon county, Ill. His sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume in the biography of Mrs. J. K. Reader, his sister.

Among the first of the Poley family who set- tled in America was Charles Poley, the grand- father of C. M., and he settled in Kentucky as overseer of a large plantation there. Prior to his removal to this country he was a resident of either France or Germany. Indications point toward the former, as he was highly educated in French, and it is known that other members of the Poley family, or Pauly as it was then written, were known to be residents of France at an early day. An interesting 'story concerning one of these, John Baptiste Pauly, who was geo- graphical engineer to Louis XV. of that country, was discovered a few years ago by Samuel Parks, a nephew of the two Ashland Poleys, while a student in France, and a complete account of the voyage of this engineer and astronomer, who was a great-uncle of C. M. Poley, was published recently in Ashland. He was leader of a party sent to California one hundred and thirty-four years ago by King Louis XV to observe the transit of Venus June 3, 1769, and was the sole survivor of that expedition. A more extended mention of this important historical event will be found in the sketch of Mrs. J. K. Reader, of Ashland.

After the death of his father, young Poley was placed under the care of a guardian and for sev- eral years thereafter continued to remain on the ranch, but he subsequently went into the grain and milling business with a cousin, Jack Welch, in Auburn, continuing in that line of business for several years and at the same time he was largely interested in the coal and tile works in the same city. Like his father, he was prosperous in his business ventures and soon acquired a fine farm

of four hundred and forty acres in Auburn township. In 1890 he went west to Wallowa county, Ore., and was employed in the double occupation of lumbering and farming in the vicinity of Enterprise. Purchasing land in that section, he began raising cereals on the improved part, and, building a saw-mill, he engaged in clearing more land for this purpose, making lumber from the timber as fast as removed. After several years, he sold his interests in that county and in 1893 took up his residence in Jackson county, locating at once in Ashland. En- tering mercantile life, he opened a retail grocery store on North Main street and for a period of four years, a large and profitable business was conducted at that stand under the firm name of C. M. Poley & Son. About that time the real estate business offered many inducements to Mr. Poley and he opened up an office in the city, also dealing in insurance, loans, etc. He transacts a large business in this section, and has a repu- tation for fairness and reliability.

Mr. Poley has been a valuable acquisition to Ashland, as his successful business methods have not only added wealth to the city and aided in its growth, but have assisted in stimulating trade and by so doing offered inducements for others to locate there. In addition to building a fine large residence there, he owns other valuable real estate in the city, and timber lands in various parts of the county, being largely interested in the development of the latter tracts. While a resident of Auburn he was united in marriage with Miss Addie Brown, a daughter of Coswell Brown, a prosperous farmer near Zanesville, Montgomery county, Ill., and their union has been blessed with a family of six children, whose names are Clarence, Montie, Charles, Lora, Har- old and Hazel. The eldest of these, Clarence, is attending the state university of Oregon, and Montie is attending the southern state normal school at Ashland. In religious affairs the fam- ily favor the belief and are members of the Pro- gressive German Baptist Church. In his polit- ical attachments Mr. Poley is a stanch Republi- can, and while living at Auburn and Enterprise served as a member of the city councils.

JOHN FRANKLIN MILLER. The wide- awake, enterprising and progressive merchants of Jacksonville have no better representative than John Franklin Miller, who is ably managing the hardware business established here by his father, the late John Miller, forty years ago. He is a young man of good executive and business ability, straightforward and honest in all his dealings, and in addition to his mercantile inter- ests he is now serving as postmaster. He is a

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native-born citizen, his birth having occurred in Jacksonville, April 5, 1870.

Born in Bavaria, Germany, May 31, 1830, John Miller lived in his native country until twenty years old, acquiring a practical common school education, and learning the gunsmith's trade. Emigrating to the United States in 1850, he located first in New Jersey, where he worked at his trade a few years. Subsequently removing to Burlington, Iowa, he was there employed as a gunsmith until 1860. In that year he came across the plains to Oregon, making the journey with ox-teams, and settled in Jacksonville. Es- tablishing himself in business as a dealer in hard- ware in 1862, he was successfully engaged in this branch of his industry until his death, in 1893. A man of good business energy and acumen, he made judicious investments, and acquired considerable property, becoming sole owner of the Farmers Flat, or Miller mining claim, lo- cated four miles southwest of Jacksonville, and realized a good income therefrom. This prop- erty was sold to a Portland company in 1894, but on account of nonpayment it has again come into the possession of Mr. Miller's heirs, who are managing it with satisfactory results. John Miller was a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and was a member of the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen. In 1855, in New Jer- sey, he married Mary Smith, who was born in Baden, Germany, August 25, 1835, and at the age of eighteen years came with her brother Harry to the United States, locating in New Jersey. Her father, John Smith, a farmer by occupation, was a life-long resident of Germany. Of the union of John and Mary (Smith) Miller, eight children were born, namely: Amelia, wife of Dr. J. A. Callander, of Los Gatos, Cal .; Philip, deceased; Matilda, wife of Dr. J. W. Robinson, of Jacksonville; Philip (the second child bearing that name), deceased; Catherine, who married Edward Scott, and is now deceased ; John F., the subject of this sketch ; Mollie, wife of K. K. Kubli, of Portland ; and Harry, a drug- gist, in San Jose, Cal.

On the death of his father, in 1893, John Franklin Miller succeeded to the hardware busi- ness established in 1862, and has since carried it on with undoubted success. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster, and is now serving his second term, having been reappointed in 1901. He has a very neat and attractive office, it being one of the best kept in the northwest. Mr. Mil- ler is also interested in agricultural pursuits, having a stock ranch of two hundred and forty acres, on which he keeps about fifty head of cat- tle. He has also city property, comprising a business block in Jacksonville.

April 15, 1903, Mr. Miller married Mabel T. Prim, who was born in Jacksonville, a daughter of Charles Prim, of whom a brief sketch will be found on another page of this volume. An earn- est Republican in politics, Mr. Miller uniformly sustains the principles of that party by voice and vote. He is actively interested in the welfare of the city, and has served two terms as city councilman. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Warren Lodge No. IO, A. F. & A. M., and of Oregon Chapter No. 4, R. A. M. He also belongs to P. P. Prim Cab -. in Native Sons of Oregon.

RUSSELL BIGELOW. Among the success- ful miners and agriculturists of Josephine county may be mentioned Russell Bigelow, whose genial nature has won him many friends, and whose practical judgment upon public questions ren- ders his opinion of value in the community. Mr. Bigelow is one of the many native sons of In- diana to contribute to the welfare of Oregon, and in his adopted county he could doubtless find many whose earliest memories were cen- tered around the early history of the Hoosier state. He was born in Wayne county, six miles east of Richmond, September 15, 1824, his father, John, being a native of South Carolina, and his mother, Sarah (Holman) Bigelow, hav- ing been born in the state of Kentucky. At a very early day the parents moved from Ohio to Indiana, and it was their fate to be pioneers of both states, and to cultivate farms hitherto unoccupied by any save blanketed braves and their industrious squaws. They reared a family of ten children, of whom Russell was the third, and in 1851 made yet another change in their home plans, starting for Oregon March 21, 1851, and arriving in Yamhill county, after a tiresome journey with ox-teams, September 26, 1851. The father took up a donation claim south of Dayton, improved it, and lived there until his death in 1889, at the age of seventy- nine years. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1897, at the age of eighty.

Young Russell Bigelow left the Yamhill coun- ty farm in 1862 and located on his present farm of one hundred and seventy-four acres near Will- iams, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and has a comfortable and com- modious home. For the first eight years in the county he engaged in mining, but latterly has cievoted his entire attention to general farming and stock-raising. He was married first to Miss Minilesse Wright, of Indiana, and to them were born five children: William, John, Sarah, Mar- tha, the last three now deceased, and Osburn. His second marriage was to Miss Temperance Schlagel, of Oregon, and of this marriage was

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born Grace, now Mrs. Cowan, of California; Bert, at home, and June, deceased. June 18, 1890, Mr. Bigelow was united in marriage with Mrs. Malinda C. Gibson. No children have been born to them. Osburn Bigelow lives in Will- iams; Grace is the wife of Charles Cowan of California; William resides in the Willamette valley. Before her marriage the present Mrs. Bigelow was Malinda C. Lemmons, born in Jackson county, Mo., February 8, 1842, on a farm near the city of Independence. Her father, Lemuel C. Lemmons, was born in Kentucky Oc- tober 26, 1809, and her mother, Sarah (Mitchell) Lemmons, was born in Tennessee January 30, 1812. There were seven children in the family, two sons and five daughters, Mrs. Bigelow be- ing the third child. Miss Lemmons, now Mrs. Bigelow, married James A. Gibson, January 15, 1861, Mr. Gibson having been born in Lee coun- ty, Va., April 26, 1834. September 27, 1872, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson arrived in Jackson county, Ore., and for two years lived on a farm two miles above Ashland. In 1874 they moved to Joseph- ine county, on Williams Creek, where Mr. Gib- son engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death June 18, 1886. There were ten children born to himself and wife, nine of whom were daughters. Sarah Alice is the oldest of the chil- dren ; Elizabeth Ann is deceased; Josephine Mel- vin; Hannah Malissa; Cora Adeline; Eleanora ; Verda Mabel; and James O. Mr. Bigelow is a Republican in politics, and has been a school di- rector for many years. Himself and wife are among the highly honored residents of their neighborhood, and their home is the scene of broad hospitality, especially during the leisure of the winter season. Both are well informed and entertaining people, with a disposition to look on the bright side of life, and on the good side of their many friends.

CLARK NICKERSON. Numbered among the respected citizens of Josephine county is Clark Nickerson, who has faithfully performed his duties in the every-day affairs of life, and is eminently deserving of the esteem and good will accorded him by his neighbors and friends. He has a pleasant residence in Grants Pass, on J street, between Eighth and Ninth streets, and there he and his estimable wife and helpmeet are passing the golden sunset of their lives, enjoying all the comforts and many of the luxuries of the day. Inheriting from his ancestors a strong love of home and country, Mr. Nickerson served as a brave and patriotic soldier in the Civil war, offer- ing his services, and his life if need be, for the defense of the Union as willingly as did his father. Alexander Nickerson, in 1812, and his grandfather, Elihu Nickerson, in the Revolution-

ary war. A native of Canada, he was born Feb- ruary 7, 1828, in Ontario, near St. Catharine, where he spent the first nine years of his life. His grandfather, Elihu Nickerson, was a pros- perous agriculturist owning a farm in New York state, the place of his birth.

Born and reared in New York state, Alex- ander Nickerson learned the trade of a wagon maker when young, and then settled near St. Catharine, Ontario. He bought land from which he improved a good farm, made and repaired wagons, and in addition was a Methodist min- ister, preaching gratis when his services were re- quired. Moving to La Porte, Ind., in 1837, he worked at his trade as a wagon-maker, also carrying on general farming to some extent, and was pastor of a Baptist Church a part of the time he resided in that city. Subsequently mi- grating to Missouri, he spent his last years in Worth county, dying in the sixty-ninth year of . his age. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Clark, was born near Schenectady, N. Y., a daughter of Asa Clark, and died on the homestead in Missouri. Of their children, five grew to years of maturity, and two survive, Clark the youngest child, being the only one in Oregon.

After completing his early education in the public schools of Indiana, Clark Nickerson be- came familiar with the various branches of agri- culture during the days of his boyhood and youth, and on attaining his majority assumed the charge of the home farm, which he managed sev- eral years. Moving to Worth county, Mo., in 1857, he entered new land, upturned the sod with ox-teams and improved a farm of eighty acres. He served in the state militia as a soldier, and after the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in Company I, Forty-eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Federal army until the close of the conflict, being mus- tered out in August, 1865. While in the army he was stationed a part of the time in Tennessee, and a part of the time at Camp Douglas, Chi- cago, Ill.

Soon after returning from the war, Mr. Nick- erson's health became such that he was advised to try the effects of an entirely different climate, and accordingly went to Osage Nation, I. T., but a year later went to southern Missouri, finding his health but little improved by his sojourn in the Indian Territory. He then moved to Taylor county, Iowa, remaining one year in the mercan- tile business at Blockton. From there he came to Oregon in 1874, and soon found his physical vigor renewed, and himself enabled to resume his former occupation. Taking up land on the Ap- plegate river, in Josephine county, he improved a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, and was there engaged in general farming and fruit rais-

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ing for fifteen years. Locating at Grants Pass in 1889, he embarked in mercantile purusits as senior partner of the firm of Nickerson & Frakes, general merchants, on Front street. Disposing of his interests in the firm in 1892, Mr. Nicker- son purchased a ranch at Sucker creek, and there engaged in dairying and farming. Subsequent- ly selling his farm, he lived first in Kerby, Jo- sephine county, and then in Grants Pass, where he carried on an extensive business as a real estate dealer. He has built several good resi- dences since coming to Grants Pass, and is one of the active and enterprising citizens of the place.

July 18, 1847, Mr. Nickerson married, in Por- ter county, Ind., Sarah Frakes, who was born near Terre Haute, Vigo county, Ind., a daughter of William Frakes. She is of German ancestry, her grandfather, Philip Frakes, having been born on the Atlantic ocean, while his parents were on their way from Germany to America. On at- taining his majority, Philip Frakes settled as a farmer in Kentucky, but afterwards removed to Vigo county, Ind., where he spent his declining days, dying at the age of eighty-two years. He served in the war of 1812. A native of Ken- tucky, William Frakes removed with his parents to Vigo county, Ind., where he engaged in agri- cultural purusits for awhile. Going from there to Porter county, Ind., he carried on general farming, and also had a large pottery, which he conducted until his death, when sixty-three years old. He married Lydia Thatcher, who was born in Ohio, near Cincinnati, where her father, Amos Thatcher, a soldier in the war of 1812, was a prosperous farmer. She died on the home farm in Indiana, in 1870. Of their ten children, nine grew to years of maturity, and six are now living, Mrs. Nickerson being the third child in order of birth. One son, William Frakes, served in the Civil war as a member of the Forty- eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. July 18, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Nickerson celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding at Sucker creek, where they were then living. Mrs. Nick- erson is also of patriotic ancestry, and is herself at all times loyal to her country, and though she did not actually go to war when her husband and brother did, she ran the first forty bullets that Mr. Nickerson carried into service. She is a true Christian woman, and a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Nickerson is a steadfast Republican in politics, and takes an intelligent interest in municipal and county affairs.

DAVID LINN. Esteemed and respected as a pioneer of Jacksonville, David Linn is hon- orably entitled to representation in this biograph- ical work. For more than thirty years he was a prominent merchant and manufacturer, run-

ning a planing mill and carpenter's shop, and dealing in furniture. He is a fine example of the self-made men of our state, honest, upright and straightforward in all of his transactions, and enjoys to the full the confidence of all who know him, be it in an industrial, business, social or fraternal way. A son of William Linn, he was born October 28, 1826, in Guernsey county, Ohio, of old Virginian stock.

A native of Virginia, William Linn removed with his parents to Guernsey county, Ohio. When a young man he was appointed gate keeper on the Ohio National road, and served in that position fourteen consecutive years. Ac- cumulating some money, he purchased land, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a num- ber of years. Subsequently removing to Tus- carawas county, Ohio, he lived there retired un- til his death, at the age of three score and ten years. He was active in politics, and was one of the leading Andrew Jackson Democrats of his day. He married Margaret Gray, who was born about 1800, and spent her fifty-five years of eartlily life in Ohio. Of their family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, David, the subject of this sketch, was the oldest son, and the third child in order of birth.

Educated in the common schools of Ohio, David Linn began to learn the carpenter's trade when eighteen years old, and served an appren- ticeship with an uncle, remaining at home dur- ing the entire time. He was ingenious, and pos- sessed considerable mechanical ability. Leaving home in 1849, he located near Elizabethtown, Ind., where he was an employe in a fanning mill manufactory for a few months. Going to Muscatine, Iowa, in the spring of 1850, he fol- lowed the same business for six months, and then went to Albany, Ill., where he found em- ployment in putting up fanning mills and ma- chinery. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Linn and one of his shop mates came across the plains to Oregon, bringing with them three yoke of oxen, and one cow. After a journey of six months Mr. Linn arrived in Oregon City, where he re- mained but two months. Going to California, he stopped for a time in Yreka, and then pro- ceeded to the Humbug creek, where he was en- gaged in mining for a few months, when he went to Yreka flats, remaining here until June, 1852.

Returning then to Oregon, Mr. Linn became one of the original settlers of Jacksonville, and for a time carried on a remunerative business as a carpenter, erecting many of the earlier buildings in this vicinity. Embarking in busi- ness as a furniture manufacturer and dealer, in 1854, he also opened a carpenter's shop and a planing mill, and carried on a large and flour- ishing business until burned out, in September,

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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 131

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