Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 141

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 141

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Settling in Yreka, Cal., in 1856, Mr. Russell was employed in the butcher business for four years. Returning to Jackson county, Ore., in 1860 he located on Coleman creek, near Phoenix, where he opened a marble quarry, and put in a marble mill, which was furnished with water power. A year later he went to Canyon City, and while working in a tunnel of the Blue Moun- tain mines was struck by a huge boulder, which shattered his leg, inflicting such serious injuries that he did not get home for eighteen months.

April 14, 1865, Mr. Russell moved with his family to Ashland, where he erected a marble mill, its site being at the rear of the lot now oc- cupied by the Odd Fellows' building. After his accident Mr. Russell had the able assistance of his wife, who had employed her leisure time while he was away in developing her hitherto latent artistic talent, becoming in the time an adept marble carver and sculptor. Quarrying his marble in Josephine county, Mr. Russell had it hauled here with teams until the completion of the railroad as far as Roseburg, when he had it shipped in from the east. He had the honor of erecting the first monuments in Jackson, Jos- ephine, Douglas, Klamath and Lake counties, Ore., and in Siskiyou county, Cal. After his first mill burned he ordered his marble from eastern quarries and continued his business until his death. He had an enviable reputation through- out the country, at the time of his death his name being but the fourth from the top, in re- gard to length of time and financial integrity, in the marble directory of the United States. A generous, public-spirited citizen, he was ever one of the foremost in the encouragement of beneficial enterprises, and was prominent in the building of school houses, churches and public buildings, Mr. Russell served as councilman one term; was

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an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; belonged to the Jackson County Pioneers' Association ; and was one of the leading Prohibitionists of city and county.

May 9, 1854, at the home of the bride, Mr. Russell married Ann Haseltine Hill, who was born in Sweetwater, Tenn., and came across the plains with her father, Isaac Hill, when fourteen years old, and settled in Jackson county, Ore. A more extended history of the Hill family may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection with the sketch of Mrs. Dunn, a sister of Mrs. Russell. Since Mr. Russell's death, Mrs. Russell has conducted the marble business most success- fully, her well-equipped shop being at the rear of her residence. She is one of the pioneer mar- ble workers of the country, and the oldest woman marble worker in the United States. Her work, which is of a superior order, will be found in southern Oregon, northern California, and east- ern Oregon. Among the beautiful and artistic monuments which she has erected in Ashland are the Atkinson, Wagner, Chitwood, Dennis, Tol- man, McCall, Ganiard, Thomas Smith and Rus- sell monuments, all of the inscriptions on same, except last date, being cut by herself. These monuments are truly works of art, and a credit to her good taste and workmanship. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Russell eleven children were born, namely: James B., in the marble business at Yreka; Mrs. Grace Fountain, an artist, living in Portland ; Nellie, at home ; Mattie, wife of Rev. Mr. Boyd, of Woodland, Cal .; Mrs. Mollie Eubanks, a twin sister of Mrs. Boyd, who died in Ashland; Mrs. Hortense Vining, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Mrs. Theodosia Walter, of Port- land; Bertha, wife of O. Winter, of Ashland ; Mabel, an artist, residing in Ashland; Carl, en- gaged in mining in Siskiyou county, Cal .; and Pearl, at home. Mrs. Russell belongs to both the Jackson County Pioneers' Association, and the State Pioneer Association, and is a member, and ex-president, of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union. Politically she is a strong Prohi- bitionist, and religiously she is a consistent mem- ber of the First Presbyterian Church. At Rest Cottage, Evanston, Ill., the last earthly home of Frances E. Willard, may be seen a beautiful picce of Mrs. Russell's handiwork. It represents the badge of the W. C. T. U., the white ribbon bow, carved from marble. It was first exhibited- at the W. C. T. U. booth, at the Jackson county fair, later at the World's Fair, and is now in the memorial room in Rest Cottage.

MATTHIAS JACKSON CHAPMAN. No name in Josephine county is spoken with more respect, or carries with it greater assurance of confidence and esteem than that of Matthias

Jackson Chapman, who has wielded a hammer and anvil for thirty-two years of his life, and who is besides a miner, farmer and stock-raiser, and somewhat of a politician. He came to Ore- gon in the fall of 1872, and soon afterward located on his present farm of two hundred and eighty acres, twenty miles south of Grants Pass, since which time he has been a prominent figure in the agricultural world about him, and has improved his property to its present fine con- dition. There are few public spirited undertak- ings to which he has not lent his aid, and espe- cially has the cause of education profited by his support. As a member of the school board, and as clerk of the same for several years, he has aided in maintaining a high standard of train- ing for the youth of the rising generation, at the same time aiding in establishing the Demo- cratic party on a sound basis in this part of the state.

On the paternal side of his family Mr. Chap- man claims Revolutionary ancestry, his grand- father Chapman, a native of Nova Scotia having shouldered a musket and participated in many of the notable battles of that memorable and history-making period. In time the grand- father moved to Lancaster county, Ohio, where Jasper Chapman, the father of Matthias, was born in 1796, and where he married Mary In- body, born also in Lancaster county, and who lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and three years and three months. The parents located ncar Goshen, Elkhart county, Ind., in 1827, and there Jasper Chapman died in 1831, at the time serving as justice of the peace, which office he had held for many years. There were five children in his family, of whom Sarah Ann, John and Jasper are deceased, while Catherine, the oldest of the children, is the wife of George Wagoman, of Elkhart county, Ind.

The third child in his father's family, Mat- thias J. Chapman was born in Hocking county, Ohio, June 7, 1825, and in 1827 was taken by his parents to Goshen, Ind. There he attended the early subscription schools, held in a log school house a long distance from his father's farm. At the age of eighteen he served a three ycars' apprenticeship to a blacksmith, and has ever since combined blacksmithing and farming as a means of livelihood.

While working at his trade in Elkhart county, Ind., August 20, 1851, Mr. Chapman married Margaret Paulous, born in Elkhart county, June 26, 1831, and with whom he afterward removed to Marshall county, the same state. Mr. Chapman farmed and worked at his trade in Indiana until coming to San Francisco by way of Panama in 1872, and from there he came to Portland by boat, afterward making his way to Jackson county, where he lived for a time, but

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later moved to Josephine county. After taking up his homestead he worked at his trade in Wil- liamsburg and Jacksonville for many years, and also engaged in mining in Josephine county for years. He is the possessor of two hundred and eighty acres of fine farm land, upon which he has partially reared his large family, several of whom accompanied him to the west in 1872. Jasper, Mary and Jane are deceased; John M. lives at LaGrange, Ore .; Alvilda is deceased ; Margaret is the wife of J. K. Reeves of Jackson- ville; George H. lives in the Klondike; Benja- min F. is in Nevada; Irvin is deceased; Luella is the wife of Edward Tryer, of Medford, Ore .; and Saloma Catharine, a milliner, lives at Duns- muir, Cal. Mr. Chapman is a liberal and progres- sive man, and exerts an influence for good in the Dunkard Church of Talent.

JOHN B. CRAWFORD. One of the most active and trustworthy of the younger business men of Josephine county is John B. Crawford, who is identified with two of the leading cor- porations of Grants Pass, the Cleopatra Devel- opment Company, and the Engineering and Investment Company. Well educated and well trained, his mechanical ability was early devel- oped, and he is now an expert electrician and a practical mine operator. He was born in Georgetown, Colo., a son of Col. John S. Craw- ford. His grandfather, Stephen Rollin Craw- ford, came with his family to the United States, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was a successful banker for many years.

A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, John S. Crawford came to this country with his parents. and at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war was a student in the University of Penn- sylvania. Giving up his studies, he enlisted, in 1861, in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry as a private, and served with the Army of the Potomac until the close of the conflict. He was wounded several times, being always if possible in the thickest of the fight. A brave and gallant soldier, he was several times pro- moted, rising from the ranks to the rank of colonel and as such was in command of his regiment. He was President Lincoln's body guard, and served on the staff of General Grant and General McClellan. At the close of the war, Colonel Crawford returned to Philadelphia, and for awhile thereafter was mechanical engineer for the Harrison Boiler Company. Going from there to Colorado, he became associated with different mining companies as mining engineer, being first stationed at Georgetown, and later at different points in that state. Finally going to New Mexico, he bought and improved the Enterprise mine, at Kingston, and having devel-

oped it to some extent, operated it, and also bought, developed and operated the Silver King mine in that vicinity. For the last two or three years Colonel Crawford has been actively inter- ested in the development of the copper resources of Josephine county, which is especially rich in mineral deposits. He was the discoverer of the Cleopatra copper mine, now a group of forty- five claims, containing native and glance copper ores. He is developing this mine by running several tunnels through the property, and has incorporated it under the name of the Cleopatra Development Company. Colonel Crawford now resides in Duluth, Minn., in which the home office of the Cleopatra Development Company is located. He is also consulting engineer for the Duluth Metallurgical Company, who have one of the finest laboratories in the United States. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was one of the first one hundred men that joined the Loyal Legion. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

The only son of his parents, John B. Craw- ford received excellent educational advantages. After his graduation from. St. Michael's College. in Santa Fe, N. Mex., he took up the study of electrical engineering with the Westinghouse Company, in Pittsburg, Pa., remaining with the company a year. The ensuing five years he was associated with the Hartford Street Railway Company as electrician, and then went to Schenectady, N. Y., where he was in the employ of the General Electric Company for a year. Resigning his position in that city in 1902, on account of the serious illness of his father, Mr. Crawford came to Grants Pass, and was placed in charge of the mine. He is now manager of the Cleopatra Development Company, and is meeting with excellent success in this capacity. He is also manager of the Engineering and Investment Company, which was formed to induce capitalists to come to Oregon, to assist in the development of the mines and the improvement of the lands. In politics Mr. Craw- ford is a straightforward Republican, and in religion he is a member of the Episcopal Church.

C. F. CATHCART. A native-born citizen, an ex-sheriff of Douglas county, and the repre- sentative of an honored pioneer family of this section of Oregon, C. F. Cathcart is well deserv- ing of mention in this biographical volume. Until he resigned, August 22, 1903. he was con- nected with the local staff of the employes of the Southern Pacific Railway Company as telegraph operator at Roseburg. where he was highly esteemed for his sterling qualities and char- acter. A native of Douglas county, he was born

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September 25, 1864, at Coles Valley, a son of Edward Cathcart. His paternal grandfather, William Cathcart, removed from Indiana to Oregon in 1853, and settled at Coles Valley, taking up the donation claim now owned by Robert Woodruff. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years. Born in Indiana, Edward Cathcart resided in his native state for a number of years after his marriage. In 1853, accom- panied by his wife and three children, he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to Oregon. Taking up a donation claim at Coles Valley, he followed farming and stock-raising successfully for a score of years. Disposing of his ranch in 1873, he removed to Cottage Grove, where he lived for some time, then went to Portland, which is now his home. Of his union with Rhoda Seaboldt, a native of Indiana, fourteen children were born, nine sons and five dangh- ters, and of these three sons and four daughters survive, C. F., the subject of this sketch, being the only one remaining in Douglas county.

The eleventh child in order of birth of the parental household, C. F. Cathcart, spent the first nine years of his life in Coles Valley, after- wards going to Cottage Grove, where he com- pleted his early studies. Going to eastern Ore- gon in 1880, he secured employment on a cattle ranch in what was then Wasco county, but is now Morrow county, and was there employed in riding the range for five years. Returning then to Cottage Grove, he studied telegraphy, and worked as an extra hand for about a year. May 1, 1886, he was made agent at Cottage Grove, and three years later was transferred to the station at Drain, where he remained as agent. for five years. July 5, 1894, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Douglas county, and five days later, on the resignation of Sheriff D. D. Lev- ins, he was appointed sheriff of the county court, and took the oath of office on July 10 of that year. He served most acceptably for a term of two years, retiring in July, 1896. Immediately 'removing to Astoria, Mr. Cathcart was engaged in the cigar business three years. Resuming his telegraphic work in 1899, he was appointed an operator on the Salt Lake Division of the South- ern Pacific Railway, and June 5, 1899, was transferred to the Oregon Division, becoming operator at Roseburg, where he has since been actively and usefully employed.

At Cottage Grove, Mr. Cathcart married Theodosia Adams, who was born in that town, her father, Oscar P. Adams, being a pioneer resident of Cottage Grove, and one of the orig- inal discoverers of the Bohemia mines. Mr. Cathcart is a warm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and takes great inter- est in local and state affairs. He is a member of Laurel Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M .; of

Umpqua Chapter, R. A. M .; and of Vic Trevitt Cabin No. I, Native Sons, of The Dalles. Mrs. Cathcart is a member of the Christian Church.

NICHOLAS CLINTON, SR. Possessing the trite American spirit of energy and enter- prise, Nicholas Clinton, Sr., has been actively identified with the industrial progress of north- ern Oregon for more than four decades. For the past twenty years he has been a resident of Astoria, and closely associated with the inaugu- ration of many of its most practical and bene- ficial projects. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born May 12, 1833, in Philadelphia, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, James Clinton, one of the honored pioneers of Oregon. His paternal grandfather. William Clinton, a carpenter by trade, was born in Pennsylvania, but spent his last years in New Jersey, dying in Bordentown.

Born and brought up in Philadelphia, James Clinton Icarned the trade of a ship carpenter when young, and followed it throughout the greater part of his active career. Coming to the Pacific coast by way of the Isthmus, in 1849, he worked at his trade in San Francisco, Cal., for three years. Locating in Portland, Ore., in 1852, he opened a ship-yard on the Willamette river, and built the first stern-wheeler used on the river, the boat being named the Clinton. He attained a ripe old age, dying in Portland, in the eighty-third year of his age. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Shepherd, was born in Philadelphia, and died in Portland, Ore. Of their nine children, three grew to years of maturity. William died in Portland; Mary became the wife of C. H. Meussdorffer and died in Portland; and Nicholas is the only survivor of the parental household.

Acquiring a common school education in the Kensington district of the city of Philadelphia, Nicholas Clinton, Sr., began learning the ship carpenter's trade when twelve years old, and worked at it six years. Entering then the employ of Warnock & Libert, in Philadelphia, he served an apprenticeship of three and one- half years at the trade of a stove moulder. Finding inside work unhealthful for him, he resumed his former trade, working first as a ship carpenter for William Cram, and then for Samuel Ratan. In 1859, sailing from New York harbor, he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific coast, accompanying Moses Taylor and Ora Soba. Locating in Port- land, Ore., he entered his father's employ, and was foreman of the shipyard until the death of his father, in 1880. Continuing his residence in Portland, Mr. Clinton immediately started in business for himself as a general contractor,

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and in addition to building wharves did much pile driving and superintended the removal of numerous buildings. He also constructed the first street railway laid in that city, under the superintendence of Benjamin Holliday, laying the old horse-car line on Front street, putting rails from the old railway flat side up, construct- ing the road from Clarendon to South Portland. Removing to Astoria in 1884, Mr. Clinton has there built up an extensive business as a gen- eral contractor, doing much street work, pile- driving and wharf building. He built wharves for several canning companies, the Clatsop Mill wharf, and is now building a large wharf for the Tongue Point Lumber Company, having two pile-driving machines at work in putting in the six thousand piles to be used in its construc- tion.

Mr. Clinton married in Astoria, Sarah J. Ross, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Job- Ross. In 1845 Job Ross started across the plains with ox teams, but he and his family were driven back to the Missouri river by the Indians, and spent the winter there. Proceed- ing on their journey westward the following spring, he made the trip in safety, and settled in Astoria, where he engaged in the hotel busi- ness. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton six children have been born, namely: J. C., county clerk of Clatsop county ; William, Nicholas, Jr., and DeWitt, working with their father; James Ross, of Seattle, Wash .; and Mamie, living at. home. Mr. Clinton is an unswerving Republi- can in politics, and for five years served as superintendent of streets in Astoria.

WILLIAM HARTILL. A wide-awake, hard-working and skilful farmer, William Har- till occupies a place of importance among the more intelligent and prosperous agriculturists of Clatsop county, his well-appointed farm lying about twelve miles south of Astoria, on the Lewis & Clark river. An able business man, noted for his integrity and upright dealings, he is held in high regard throughout the com- munity, respected and esteemed by all. A native of England, he was born September 5. 1853, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, a son of William Har- till, Sr.

William Hartill, Sr., was born in Stafford- shire, England, in 1820, and is now a resident of Yorkshire, England, making his home with one of his daughters. He learned the trade of a nail maker when young, and followed it dur- ing his active career. His wife, whose maiden name was Caroline Falkner, was born in Gran- tham, Lincolnshire, England, moved to Boston, Lincolnshire, after her marriage, going from there to Yorkshire, where she died at the age of

fifty years. Of their ten children, but three are now living, namely : Mary Jane, wife of Joseph Baldwin, of Yorkshire, England; Helen, wife of John Long, also of Yorkshire; and William, the subject of this brief personal notice.

The fourth child in order of birth of his par- ents, William Hartill acquired a common school education in his native town, and as a youth worked for a short time in a woolen mill. At the age of eighteen years he started in life for himself. Crossing the broad Atlantic in a Bos- ton-bound steamer, he subsequently located in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, where he lived four years, being first employed on a farm and later in the coal mines. Crossing the country by rail to the Pacific coast in 1875, he was engaged in coal mining in California for three years. Coming to Clatsop county in 1878, Mr. Hartill located near Seaside, on the Neanicum river, and three years later, in 1880, bought his pres- ent farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres, on the Lewis & Clark river, south of Astoria, about twelve miles. He has since labored with unremitting industry, adding the greater num- ber of the improvements that have been made, having now one of the most attractive and desirable farming estates of the neighborhood. He makes a specialty of dairying and cheese manufacturing, keeping about thirty-five cows, and has built up a thriving and extensive busi- ness in this line.

June 20, 1874, in Pittsburg, Pa., Mr. Hartill married Abigail Roberts, who was born March 4, 1855, in Caerphilly, Wales, and came with her parents to Pennsylvania in 1873. Seven children were born of their union, namely : Mary Ellen, wife of Benjamin S. Olsen, of Bucoda, Wash .; George Robert, deceased ; Caroline, wife of John Tyberg, whose farm ad- joins that of Mr. Hartill: William Charles ; George Edward; Philip, deceased; and Flora- tine A. A stanch Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Hartill evinces a warm interest in local affairs, and has served acceptably as school director, and as road supervisor. Frater- nally he is a member of Clamax Lodge No. 475, W. O. W., of Astoria, and Mrs. Hartill belongs to the Circle.

WARREN H. NARCROSS. The geneal- ogy of the Narcross family is traced to William Narcross, who came from England in an early period of our country's history. Accompanying him were two sons, one of whom settled in Maine. From him descended John Narcross, a native of Maine, and a school teacher by occu- pation. While visiting a brother in Pennsyl- vania he made the acquaintance of the lady who afterward became his wife. For a time

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they resided in Vermont, but later made their home in New York, and as early as 1839 became pioneers of Wisconsin, where they spent their remaining years. They were happy in their mar- ried life and in death were not long divided. When he was seventy-seven and she seventy-six years of age they passed away within two days of each other and were buried in the same grave. In their family were four sons and two daugh- ters. One of the sons of the family, Walter W., was born in Baldwinsville, Onondaga, county, N. H., February 28, 1824, being the youngest of the children. When a boy he attended district schools in New York and Wis- consin, but the knowledge he possessed was aquired less froin text-books than from habits of observation and self-culture. In 1840 he took up a tract of government land near La- Grange, Walworth county, Wis., and there he continued to reside until, feeling the burden of advancing years, he retired from active cares. His last days were spent in the town of La- Grange, where his life came to an end after seventy-two useful and honorable years. In 1849 he married Lucy A. Moore, who was born in New York state, in the town of Millsville, August 4, 1833, and now makes her home at Whitewater, Wis. Of their union were born the following named children: Edward J., of California ; Leonard L., of South Dakota; War- ren H., of Oregon: Zoa E., Mrs. Arnold, of Iowa: Licy A., Mrs. Brown, of Wisconsin ; Sarah, Mrs. Holt, also of Wisconsin; and Justice B., who is manager of a mine in Bisbee, . Oregon. Ariz.

On the home farm near LaGrange, Walworth county, Wis., Warren H. Narcross was born July 22, 1855. Excellent advantages were given him in youth. After having completed the studies of the LaGrange public school, he carried on supplementary studies in Whitewater ( Wis.) Normal School and later was a student in Milton (Wis.) College. His first occupa- tion was that of teaching, which he followed in Newburg, Minn. In 1874 he went to Ida Grove, Iowa, where he taught school for four years. On abandoning that work, in 1878, he entered the employ of the Sioux City Nursery & Seed Company, with whom he remained as field manager for nine years, meanwhile gaining a thorough knowledge of the nursery business in all of its details. His interest in the fruit busi- ness dates from that period and the large fund of information on the subject which he now pos- sesses was acquired during those years of active experience. Before leaving Iowa he was united in marriage, January 22, 1888, with Lola M. Hull, who was born near Logan, that state. Their family comprises four children, Eva G., W. F. Hull, Paul J., and Helen.

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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 141

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