USA > Oregon > Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.. > Part 133
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The oldest son and third child in a family of two sons and three daughters, Dr. Smith gained his early experience on a farm, but as a youth determined to devote his life to medical science. His plans met with no opposition from his family, who rejoiced rather at his noble ambition and the opportunities afforded for well doing. After going to Moro he met and married Sarah Ellen Diekman, a native daughter of this state, and whose father, Charles Diekman, came from Iowa in 1860. Mr. Diekman settled on a claim in Coos county, where he engaged in farming and dairying, but later moved to Sher- man county, still later taking up his residence in Portland, where he is engaged in dealing in real estate. Lyle C., the son of Dr. and Mrs. Smith, is a bright and interesting child. Dr. Smith en- joys an enviable reputation among his fellow practitioners, and is a welcome addition to the Oregon State Medical Society. He is a fellow of the medical examiners of the Pacific Coast Association Life Insurance Company, and med- ical examiner for the New York Life Company, and other accident and life insurance companies.
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Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters. Dr. and Mrs. Smith are active members of the United Brethren Church. In politics a Republican, he served as councilman while a resident of Moro. The doctor presents claims for recognition be- yond those embodied in his professional acumen and skill. He is affable and optimistic, progress- ive and large-hearted, and is unusually well posted on current and general events.
GEORGE W. SHRUM belongs to the younger generation of men who have taken upon their shoulders the responsibility of caring for the broad acres of sunny hills and fertile dales that their sires and grandsires hewed out of the wil- derness. His father, Thomas Shrum, was a Missourian by birth, and crossed the plains with his parents in 1846, in the customary way of those in early times, by ox-teams. His parents were among the early settlers in Oregon, and had their choice of a large area of fine but un- developed land.
George W. Shrum was born upon the farm which is still his home, November 13, 1869, and was one of seven children born to his parents. He was educated in the public schools of Wilbur and Roseburg, Ore., and after leaving school he began his chosen vocation of tilling the soil, which has occupied his attention ever since, and today, he is a prosperous, careful and worthy representative of Nature's noblest calling. He owns six hundred acres of the choicest land in the vicinity of Glide, on the east bank of the Umpqua river, and carries on general farming and stock-raising. His ranch is seventeen miles east of Roseburg.
Mr. Shrum's union with Alice Wimer, June 30, 1895, resulted in the birth of five children, as follows : Eldred T., Myrtle A., George V., Thomas E. and Mary E. In fraternal circles Mr. Shrumi takes an active part and has a mem- bership in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and Woodmen of the World. He is a hard worker and directs his energies in a manner superior to the ordinary farmer, and is held in high esteem, being regarded as a man of many excellent virtues, who is bound to succeed in life.
REV. WILLIAM A. SMICK. We have the pleasure of presenting to our readers the biog- raphy of one who has been successfully engaged in evangelical work for the past ten years, and one who for a period of twenty years officiated as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Roseburg, Douglas county, Ore. Rev. Smick was born on the famous battleground at Perry-
ville, Ky., October 5, 1845. When about five years of age his parents moved to Bushnell, Ill., and he was reared on a farm in that vicinity, where he also attended public school. This was supplemented by a course in Pardee College, Mis- souri, where he received the degree of A. B. He later attended school at Princeton for three years, where he took a theological course, and at its completion he was ordained a minister of the gospel. In 1873 he took charge of the First Presbyterian Church at Roseburg, Ore., and for twenty years thereafter continued his pastoral work from that point. During this time he did much good work, and organized churches at Oakland, Wilbur and Myrtle Creek, his work extending throughout the Umpqua valley. In 1893 he went to Albany and took up missionary work. He was commissioned to organize Sun- day schools and to do general evangelical work over seven counties in the Willamette valley. He continued that work for nearly ten years, and was very successful.
June 4, 1873, Rev. Smick was united in mar- riage with Helen Godwin, and their family con- sists of four children, as follows: Edith, wife of F. H. Churchill of Roseburg; Lewis H., a merchant at Dixonville; James Philip, an elec- trician for the Southern Pacific Railroad; and Robert F. The latter is attending the Cooper Medical College, and all of these four children were given excellent educational advantages at Albany College.
Rev. Mr. Smick owns three hundred and twen- ty acres in prime condition, nearly three miles east of Roseburg on Deer creek. Upon this he carries on stock-raising and dairy-farming. He has also a prune orchard of twelve years' standing, and the quality of the fruit raised is first-class. He is an esteemed citizen, carrying on his business in a quiet and unostentatious manner, and he has labored long and well in the service of the Master.
ELI P. OLDS. The history of emigration to the west makes note of no braver band of men, women and children than that which left homes of which its members were sure In the east and middle west, and turned their faces towards that which was at best prob- lematical in the year 1844. Captain Black, the leader of the venturesome travelers, a man of heroic mold and great daring, undertook a responsibility which no one now living is inclined to envy him, but which he discharged so valiantly and successfully that his name will always be associated with the greatest of the ox-train captains. Ruel R. Olds was one of the most substantial of the grown men of the company, and his family was destined
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to impress itself upon the civilization of one of the richest and most resourceful parts of the United States. This pioneer was born in New York state, and when a young man married Elmira Perkins, also a New Yorker, with whom he removed to Tippecanoe coun- ty, Ind., then a desolate and sparsely inhab- ited wilderness. Here his son, Eli P., was born, the oldest of his four sons and three daughters, March 7, 1837, and the lad was seven years old when the memorable start across the plains was made.
It is interesting to note that the paternal grandfather of Eli Olds was a sea captain whose skill as a navigator was severely tested while endeavoring to escape the pirates who flourished under direction of Captain Kidd. He was an Englishman, and spent his entire active life upon the high seas. His courage was transmitted to at least two of his sons, the founder of the family in Oregon in 1844, and Judge Olds, for many years a prominent fac- tor in Yamhill county. Ruel Olds and his family were eleven months on the plains, and spent the first winter in Oregon City, in the spring making their way to near Champoeg, Marion county. A year later, after the father had erected a brick kiln, he went to Yamhill county and took up a claim of six hundred and forty acres three miles northeast of La Fayette, which continued to be his home until his retirement to La Fayette, after dividing his property among his heirs. His death occurred in December, 1883, at the age of seventy-five, his wife surviving him until August II, 1885, her age be- ing the same as that of her husband. Mr. Olds was prominent in the early political undertakings of Yamhill county, and served as county treasurer for two years, having been elected on the Republican ticket. His was a brave and capable life, strewn with many kindly acts and much practical success. The children younger than Eli were Nelson H., living in Fairdale, Yamhill county; Mrs. Elzina Stewart of McMinnville; Mrs. Burzilda Messenger, of Grass valley, eastern Oregon ; Emmett, also living in Grass valley; D. J., a resident of South Bend, Wash .; and Mrs. May Serce, deceased.
When Eli Olds left the Yamhill county farm and started out to earn his own living at the age of sixteen, he went to Lagrand, but after- ward returned to the old home in eastern Ore- gon. In the spring of 1872 he permanently located in Tillamook county, and has since made it his home uninterruptedly. He first located on one hundred and sixty acres of land two miles south of Tillamook, on the Trask river, and after five years of general
farming sold out and bought a hundred and forty acres of land in the town limits, forty of which he still owns. He has engaged in general farming and dairying, and at present milks nine cows. He is interested in business in town with his sons, being head of the firm of Eli Olds & Son, managing a paying dray business. Two trucks are kept in operation, and the firm have a large share of the draying trade of Tillamook.
Mr. Olds subscribes to the principles of the Republican party, but he has never felt the in- terest in politics manifested by either his father or distinguished uncle. He was mar- ried in 1858 to Minerva Hess, who was born in Missouri February 14, 1845, and who came across the plains the same year as a babe in arms, her father, Henry Hess, settling in Yamhill county. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Olds, seven of whom are living. Henry occupies a farm five miles east of Tillamook; Alice is the wife of W. J. Smith of Wilson River; Lawrence is working in Hobsonville, Ore .; Lester is in business with his father in Tillamook; Ada is the wife of P. H. Eberman of Seaside, Ore .; and Norman and Vermer are living at home.
EPHRAIM RAYMOND. It is always a pleasure to read of men who have made a success of their lives and who pass their later years se- cure in the love and esteem of their friends. Such a man is our subject, Ephraim Raymond, who is a pioneer settler of his community, having lived there since 1851. He was born August 31, 1823, in Steuben county, N. Y., where his parents carried on general farming and stock-raising until 1833. They had a family of thirteen chil- dren, five daughters and eight sons, of which our subject is the only one still living. The father passed to his rest when ninety years of age, and the mother was sixty years when she died. When Ephraim Raymond was ten years old, he accompanied his parents to Michigan. Here he was educated, first at the district and then at the graded schools, and remained at home until he had attained the age of sixteen years. He then started out to make his own way in the world, and took up the trade of car- penter and joiner, which he followed, in addition to farming until a year ago. In 1849 he left Michigan, and started across the plains with a horse team, but, upon reaching St. Joseph, Mo., was taken ill, and was obliged to return. He lived with a brother in Wisconsin, and later with one in Illinois, until 1850. In company with two brothers, Samuel and Thomas, he again started west with horses, mules, pack horses and a light buggy. The journey was made in safety
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until they reached the headwaters of the Hum- boldt river, where they were attacked by Indians, and in the skirmish following, lost two mules. After being on the road three months, they stopped in Georgetown, Cal., and followed min- ing and prospecting until 1851. In the spring of that year, they reached Oregon by water and settled in Tualitin Plains, where our subject car- ried on his trade for a couple of years. Com- mencing in 1853, for several years, he conducted a pack train and freight line from Scottsburg to Crescent City, Cal., and other California points through to the Rogue river points.
Mr. Raymond was united in marriage in 1854, with Caroline M. Leverich, a native of Indiana, who was reared in Michigan. In 1852 she crossed the plains with her people, having no serious trouble with the Indians. After mar- riage, Mr. Raymond pre-empted a claim on Tual- itin Plains, where he resided several years. In 1866 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on South Umpqua river, which he cultivated and improved for ten years. He then bought his present farm of five hundred and thirty-five acres, where he now lives. Here he carried on general farming and stock-raising, and has made nearly all the improvements upon his farm. Dur- ing the Rogue River war Mr. Raymond suffered a severe loss by having his home and goods to the amount of $3,000 destroyed by fire. Though Mr. Raymond is now in advanced years, he still oversees work on his fine old place.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond were blessed with eight children, among whom are the following: May A., wife of Frank Fate, and Morris C., who reside in the near vicinity; Alma D., wife of Lewis Chapman, of Montana; and Wallace, who manages the farm at home. Mr. Raymond is a prominent man in his locality. He is a Re- publican, and has filled all the minor offices in his vicinity, and was postmaster at Day's Creek for some time. He and his wife have for many years been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is class leader and trustee. He is a fine old gentleman, and those who know him and his worthy wife are proud of the ac- quaintance.
CAPT. GEORGE FLAVEL. On the south bank of the Columbia river, about twelve miles from its mouth, stands the beautiful city of As- toria, Ore., which was founded in 18II as a fur- trading station by John Jacob Astor, after whom it was named. Incorporated a city in 1876, in the very center of the salmon district as it is, both foreign and domestic shipments are made in salmon, lumber, oil, leather, wheat and flour. It is the port which controls the mouth of the Columbia river, and in addition to its splendid
commercial facilities the city has an excellent system of water works, banks, churches, news- papers, good schools, hospitals and railroads. As one who has been especially identified with the growth of this city and who aided in the develop- ment of the place, Captain Flavel will long be gratefully remembered by its citizens, for with- out doubt he was more influential in the up- building of this city than any one else and, al- though he had more extensive business inter- ests in other places he chose Astoria for his home and continued to reside here until his death, July 3, 1893, aged sixty-nine years.
Captain Flavel went to California via Cape Horn during the gold excitement of 1849, in command of a brig, being then twenty-four years old. From San Francisco he went to the min- ing district, and although he prospected there for some time his efforts to accumulate wealth in that way were unsuccessful and he returned to his former occupation as a seaman. As first offi- cer on the Goliath he made his way to the port of Astoria, and to him belongs the distinction of having owned the first pilot boat in that sec- tion. He engaged in piloting as a business and for a number of years thereafter he was the chief owner of pilot boats in that vicinity. Investing his savings in a saw-mill, he endeavored to make a success of that business, but his efforts in that line were unavailing and again he returned to sea life as master, having also retained the own- ership of his pilot boat. Prosperous once more, he was soon enabled to retire from active busi- ness, and afterwards was the principal owner of several steam tugs, the tug and towing business being very successful. As fast as his income increased he invested in real estate in Astoria and built up the business interests of the city. He built the first wharf here, the Occidental Hotel, besides a number of large business houses and fine residences. These not only aided in the growth of the city, but stimulated trade and caused others to become as enthusiastic over the future of Astoria as he was, for he had great faith in the city as a business and commercial center.
Untiring in his efforts and very sagacious, he was a remarkable man for his business ability and perseverance and hence was unusually suc- cessful. Although he retired from the sea forty years prior to his demise, he owned sailing ves- sels which plied between Portland, Astoria and San Francisco. At one time he owned the Jane A. Faulkenberg, which plied between Portland and the Sandwich Islands. By the use of his tugs, which he personally directed on that day, he saved the steamer Queen of the Pacific, which was ashore, supposed to be a total loss. Near Fort Stevens he purchased about eighteen hun- dred acres of land upon which he built a wharf
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subsequently selling out to eastern capitalists, who paid him $350,000 and laid the tract out into city lots, founding a city which they called Flavel.
Broad minded, public-spirited and liberal in the support of schools and churches, he was a Democrat in his political belief but was not a radical partisan. The promoter and principal factor in organizaing the First National Bank of Astoria, he served as president from its or- ganization to the time of his death. He was a member of but one secret society, the Masonic fraternity. His residence, now occupied by his widow, is among the most beautiful dwellings in Astoria. Captain Flavel was united in mar- riage in Clatsop county with Miss Mary C. Boelling, whose parents were pioneer residents of that county, where they located in 1849. Three children were born to Captain and Mrs. Flavel, and they are all residents of Astoria.
ROBERT JOHNSON. Few occupations open to the human race as a means of live- . lihood call for the heroism and self sacrifice to which the life saver is heir. The fireman shares with his brother stationed on the water front the ever present danger and uncertain demands upon his strength and courage, and both are ready at a moment's notice to for- get family and friends, and in the cause of hu- manity, save from devouring flames or treach- erous seas the lives of their fellow-men. On- lookers in these oft-times terrible combats with the elements of flame and water, feel a choking sensation in their throat, and marvel that human nature can rise so high or deport itself so nobly. Singled out, these men of heroic mold present in their lives true cour- age, and this is the case of Robert Johnson, whose life since his fourteenth year has been either on or by the side of the sea, and who is at present keeper of the Coquille river life saving station at Bandon.
This seasoned sailor and experienced light- house and live saving servant in former years touched at nearly every port of importance on the two hemispheres, and possesses a fund of interesting information for which a novel- ist or journalist would be willing to pay a large sum. His ancestors for several genera- tions have followed the sea, setting sail from ports in Sweden, where the family has been known for centuries. Born in Kalmar, April 14, 1868, he is a son of John Frederick Carl- son, a native of the same town, and captain of a vessel on the high seas. Captain Carl- son died in 1901 at the advanced age of seven- ty-five years, while his wife, Caroline, also a native of Kalmar, is living, aged seventy
years. There were three sons and two daugh- ters in the family, Robert being the second child.
At the age of six Robert Johnson was sent to school, attending the same for eight years, when he, as had his ancestors before him, chose the sea as his profession, and at the age of fourteen made his first voyage to the West Indies. On his return he sailed on the Baltic and North seas, later on sailing to deep water ports. In the course of his maritime career he touched at the ports of Liverpool, London, Glasgow, Hamburg, Antwerp, Havre, Malta, Gibraltar, Marseilles, Constantinople, Odessa, Port Said, Suez, Aden, and went through the Red sea to Calcutta, Madras and other ports in India, visiting also Shanghai, and most of the seaport towns of South Amer- ica. He first touched at a United States port in 1884, and located here permanently in 1889. For eight months during 1890 he was in the revenue service on the cutter Richard Rush, and from 1892 to 1894 was one of the force on the lighthouse tender Madrona. In 1894 Mr. Johnson became a member of the life saving service at Fort Point station, off San Fran- cisco, and in 1897 was transferred to Golden Gate station, with the rank of surman No. I. November 12, 1899, he was promoted to keep- er of the Coquille River station at Bandon, and now has seven men under him, and a station supplied with all modern equipments. He is a thorough master of his situation, his many experiences on the deep having given him practical insight into the best methods of life saving. Mr. Johnson has been in many predicaments where just such service as he is giving to others would have been vastly appreciated. He has been in wrecks and been saved by people just as courageous as him- self, and he therefore feels the enormous re- sponsibility which rests upon his shoulders. Once in the Baltic sea a storm swept over his vessel and drove it on a shoal, where the sur- vivors were obliged to wait three days ere help came from the life savers. In the mean- time the vessel was completely wrecked and two of his comrades met a watery grave. He can interest a listener by the hour with ac- counts of his sea-faring life, and one wonders if the immunity from danger which he enjoys for a part of the time in the present, does not seem tame in comparison with the adventure and constant excitement which characterized his earlier years.
In San Francisco, Mr. Johnson married Mathilda Carlson, also a native of Sweden, and who came to the United States several years before her marriage. Two children have been born of this union, Harold Robert and
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Norman Randolph. Mr. Johnson is inde- pendent in politics, is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Lutheran Church.
JUDGE JOHN HUSTON NOSLER. Genial and popular, Judge Nosler occupies a conspicuous place in the early and later his- tory of Coquille. When the infantile propor- tions of the town were hardly noticeable among the hamlets of the county, this pioneer settler foresaw its present thrift, anl recog- nized the promise in its location and natural advantages. After encouraging and assisting with the platting of its site, he added the weight of his influence to stimulating its edu- cational, business and moral development, in- vested in its desirable lots, and placed money in several of its enterprises. He was one of the first to appreciate the advantage of mak- ing it the county seat, and once having deter- mined so bold a project worked unceasingly for the consummation of his laudable desire. That the court house might be located in a community of interests he built a hotel, organ- ized a stock company, and succeeded in plac- ing town matters on a booming basis. In due time he got up the petition, had it pre- sented to the state legislature, submitted it to a vote of the people, secured the passage of the bill, and the town of Empire lost its prestige as the seat of governmental author- ity in Coos county. Possibly at some future time the change might have been wrought, but that it happened when it did, and when conserving the best and most intelligent growth of Coquille, is entirely owing to the energy and determination inspired by Judge Nosler.
The life of this jurist has been of the prac- tical and useful order, and shadows have per- haps predominated over its high lights. He was born in Putnam county, Ind., March 17, 1831, his family having been established in the Hoosier state by his paternal grandfather, John, who came from Germany, lived for some time in Virginia, and became one of the ear- liest settlers of Putnam county. The second John in the family, the father of Judge John Huston Nosler, was born in Virginia in Sep- tember, 1800, and as a young man emigrated to Tennessee, where he learned the mill- wright's trade. In Tennessee also he married Nancy Hibbs, born in that state in 1800, and with her moved to Putnam county, Ind., where he operated a mill and farm. In 1850 he moved his family overland to Polk county, Iowa, and near Des Moines combined milling and farming with his former success. In
1854, while on the way to Iowa, the wife who had borne him four sons and three daughters died in Illinois at the age of fifty-four years.
Judge Nosler is the fourth child in his fath- er's family, and he accompanied the family to Iowa, and farmed there until his twenty-first year. In 1856 he removed to Nemaha county, Neb., where he learned the carpenter's trade and subsequently engaged in building and con- tracting. During 1858 he lived in Indiana, reaching Missouri in 1859, and settling on a farm in Caldwell county. The breaking out of the Civil war found him both busy and suc- cessful, and as became a loyal American, he enlisted in 1862 in the Twelfth Missouri Cav- alry as second lieutenant, and helped to re- cruit his regiment. His discharge from the service took place at the Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Mo .. in 1864, after a military ex- perience along the Missouri river, where the regiment was engaged principally in fighting the bushwhackers. After the war he con- tinued to live in Caldwell county, Mo., where he attained considerable political prominence and where, at the time of his removal to Ore- gon in 1870, he was serving as county judge.
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