Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 30

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 30

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death of his brother, L. P. Simpson. Mr. Simp- son had decided to build a saw-mill to manufac- ture lumber for deck loads for vessels used in the coal trade-all small single deck crafts-and fitted out the schooner Quadratus with a full complement of material and machinery for the erection of the mill. His brother was on board, having been sent for to take charge of the con- struction of the mill. Arriving at the bar, Cap- tain Butler attempted to cross on an ebb tide, with scant wind, and wrecked the vessel, L. P. Simpson and two other passengers losing their lives. Most of the outfit was lost, but the boilers and engine were recovered from the wreck, and later on material was procured and the mill erected. It was a very primitive affair, consist- ing of an old-fashioned "down-east" sash saw, with a capacity of six to ten thousand feet per day. This was in 1856. About this time a steam tug was procured and placed there for bar serv- ice. This venture was the foundation of the present town of North Bend, which has since de- veloped into a city with two saw-mills, a woolen factory, a sash and door factory, and a ship- building plant, latterly under the management of Mr. Simpson's eldest son, L. J. Simpson. About fifty vessels have been built there, besides many small boats, tugs, scows, etc. The larger vessels consisted of schooners, brigs, barkentines and one full-rigged ship, the Western Shore, which distinguished itself by making two voyages to Europe, one from San Francisco in one hundred and three days, and the other from the Columbia river in one hundred and one days. Wheat car- goes were carried on each trip, and the return voyages were each made in one hundred and ten days with full cargoes of salt and general mer- chandise, with not a dollar asked for as damages to cargo either way, a remarkable fact, consider- ing the fast time made. This ship was built under the supervision of Mr. Simpson's older brother, Capt. R. W. Simpson, and Capt. West McAllop was the master. Before she was three years old she was wrecked near San Francisco by Captain Hotchkiss, having twenty-three hun- dred tons of coal on board at the time. Both ship and cargo were a total loss, with no insur- ance, but no lives were lost.

About this time, 1857, Mr. Simpson estab- lished a packet line of five vessels from San Francisco to Portland, in the days before steam- ships were employed to any great extent in this service. Among the vessels engaged in this trade were the Portland, the Tam O'Shanter, the Webfoot, the Melancthon, and the Whistler, all of which, with the exception of the Whistler, were built in Oregon. For sixteen years he also operated several steam tugs on the Columbia bar in company with Capt. George Flavel. Among the tugs figuring in this service were the

LBinfoon

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Astoria, the Columbia, the Ranger, the Hunter and the Brenham, all of which were built in Ore- gon. Many of the vessels built in his shipyard . on Coos bay were wrecked on the Coos and Umpqua bars. Three of these were raised, placed on the ways, and hauled inside, a distance of nearly a mile, where they were repaired and launched, but at a cost of nearly full value, and in one instance, more than the value.

Mr. Simpson purchased of Tichenor & Byxbee a mill located near Port Orford, built in 1854, but this was completely destroyed by a forest fire, with all logs, lumber, houses, stables, office and tools. So utterly was every improvement wiped out of existence that he never visited the place again, but gave the land to Joseph Nay. In 1860 Willapa harbor, in Washington, also at- tracted his attention, and with the Riddell broth- ers he erected a mill there and named the place South Bend. This place has now grown to quite an important city, having several mills, hotels, churches, schools, etc. He was also the pioneer lumber manufacturer on Gray's harbor, in Wash- ington, erecting the first mill there at a place called Hoquiam, with G. H. Emerson as man- ager. This property was subsequently burned, but was rebuilt on a larger scale and is now one of the most important properties of the Gray's harbor region. There are about a dozen mills and several important towns on this and Willapa harbor, where he has other extensive business connections. At Knappton, Wash., on the Co- lumbia river, he owns a large mill which was erected by Messrs. Knapp and Grant, but which was not a success in their hands, but was altered and added to under the superintendency of M. P. Callender. Several other points in Oregon and Washington have also been exploited by him at various times, notably the Umpqua river, where lie had the first mill on the claim pre-empted by A. C. Gibbs. This was burned down and subse- quently rebuilt under the superintendence of George H. Emerson, and later added to by an- other mill which was built by George S. Hins- dale. This plant was afterwards sold to Knowl- and, Jewett & Co., and is now the Gardiner Mill Company's property. At the present time he is the owner of over forty thousand acres of fine timber land in Oregon and Washington, and has extensive and varied interests in California.

It is a noteworthy fact that at various times Mr. Simpson has suffered loss in more than twenty vessels, which have been wrecked on the Pacific coast and elsewhere, and of six mills, which have been destroyed by fire at different times and places on the coast, and in none of these losses has he been reimbursed by any in- strance. He has often been impelled to say to inquisitive strangers who have been his traveling companions in transcontinental and European

journeys, that his life work has been "getting knocked down and getting on his feet again."

This outline of the career of one of the great- est developers of the most important interests of the Pacific slope, lumbering and shipping, while it barely hints at the gigantic enterprises which he has promoted and fostered during the past half century, will give to the present generation enough of an idea of the almost boundless possi- bilities of this country of marvelous resources to encourage those among them who are ambitious to continue the work so auspiciously begun by this king of pioneers. It is a fact, strongly em- phasized by Mr. Simpson, that abundant oppor- tunities along the lines he has followed still exist throughout the coast country, but those who are familiar with his successful operations must, if they are to succeed in their undertakings, profit by the inspiring example he has set for them, and let integrity, determination, perseverance and eternal vigilance be their motto, and act accord- ingly.

Mr. Simpson was united in marriage in 1875 in Racine, Wis., to Sophie D. Smith, a native of that city. They have become the parents of three sons and one daughter, all of whom are living. The eldest son, L. J., is managing the interests established by his father at North Bend, Ore .; Edgar M. is captain of the barque Chehalis; Harry W. and Edith reside with their parents in San Francisco.

LOUIS JEROME SIMPSON. Whoever labors for the welfare of his community and not solely for his own personal profit is entitled to rank among the progressive and public-spirited men of his region. Such a distinction worthily belongs to Louis Jerome Simpson, a resident of North Bend, to whose upbuilding he is devoting the best abilities with which nature has endowed him. Although Mr. Simpson came to North Bend as recently as 1899, to assume the manage- ment of his father's manufacturing and shipping interests in Coos bay, he has gained a reputation for public spirit and enterprise which in earlier times with less forceful men would have been considered remarkable in a decade.

Born in Oakland, Cal., September 1, 1875, Mr. Simpson bears a name of great commercial im- portance in the west, which was established as early as 1849 by his father, A. M. Simpson, an account of whose interesting life will be found in the preceding sketch. The eldest child in his father's family, Louis J. Simpson was given good educational advantages, first attending the public schools of Oakland, Cal., and later at- tending the military academy at San Rafael, Cal. Subsequently, in 1895, he entered the University of California, but his university career was cut

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short owing to illness, and the following year he took a sea voyage to South Africa, returning the next year much improved in health. His first practical business experience was with the Simpson Lumber Company, as manager of the shipping department at Hoquiam, Wash., which he maintained for a year and a half. In 1899 he came to North Bend, having charge of the Coos bay interests of the firm. The business at this point is extensive, and during the course of the year many ships depart with heavy cargoes bound for the remote countries of the globe.

From his vantage ground of identification with one of the colossal enterprises of the west Mr. Simpson enters with zest into the improvement of everything around him. North Bend, a con- tinuation of the old town, is receiving an impetus in the right direction, and its position as an up- to-date and progressive community is in no dan- ger of being destroyed by ambitious competitors. Its substantial industries and splendid harbor are making it worth while for young and ener- getic men to seek their fortunes within its bor- ders. In 1903 Mr. Simpson organized the com- pany which built the woolen mill at North Bend, and as president of the sash and door factory he wields a wide influence in the lumber inter- ests of the town. He is president of the Coos Bay Chamber of Commerce and vice-president and largest stockholder in the Coos Bay Ice and Cold Storage Company. He takes a keen interest in Republican politics and is fraternally connected with the Masons and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. In keeping with the latter day thought Mr. Simpson is a lover of out-door sports and a believer in physical exercise. With him business is redeemed from its grind and monotony by participation in the happy and recreative opportunities of life. It is chiefly ow- ing to his efforts that the well-equipped ball park maintaining a salaried ball club belonging to the Coos Bay League owes its existence, as well as the fine band which appears on all public oc- casions. Mr. Simpson's popularity and influence are in no wise limited because he was born into a competence, but are enhanced because, having been thus born he yet makes the most of his talents and business ability. In San Francisco, Cal., he was united in marriage with Cassie Hendricks, who was born in Corning, N. Y.

JOHN A. WILLIS, whose reputation as a grower of fine fruit is second to none in his lo- cality, is the proprietor of a fine forty-acre fruit farm adjoining the thriving little town of Myrtle Creek, in Douglas county, Ore. Although Mr. Willis purchased this farm but a few years ago, he has already gained an enviable reputation as

a fruit grower, and has twenty-five acres devoted solely to that industry.

Mr. Willis was born January 25, 1859, on his father's donation claim eight miles east of Rose- burg, Ore. He is the fourth of the eight chil- dren born to Rev. William A. and Virginia C. (Gillmore) Willis, the latter a Missourian by birth. Rev. William A. Willis was one of the leading church workers in western Oregon dur- ing his day, and was a noted evangelist, refus- ing compensation for his services in any way. He was born November 25, 1822, in Kentucky, and was the son of a farmer. When he was seven years old his father mysteriously disappeared and was never heard of again. In 1829, his mother took her children, three in number, and went to Missouri. Some time later the mother and two sisters died, and left the youth entirely alone in the world. He was educated in sub- scription schools, and this foundation was added to and increased by self instruction, and in time he became conversant upon the leading topics of the day. March 13, 1845, he was unit- ed in marriage with Virginia C. Gillmore, who was a native of Missouri, where she was born February 23, 1825. After marriage they con- tinued to reside in Missouri until 1852, and Mr. Willis followed agricultural pursuits. That year they started on the long and perilous journey to Oregon, across desolated plains and almost inac- cessible mountains. The journey was made in the customary way, with ox-teams, and consumed six months. Arriving in Oregon they proceeded at once to Douglas county, where they took up donation claims of three hundred and twenty acres. This land is eight miles east of Roseburg on Deer Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Willis continued to reside there until the former's death in 1891. Mr. Willis was a successful farmer, and was also engaged in stock-raising, being one of the most successful cattle dealers in Douglas county. Some years after settling in Oregon, he took up the ministry and engaged in evangelical work up to a few years prior to his death. This worthy and esteemed couple, who lived in such close com- panionship for so many years, were not long separated even in death. The father laid down the burden of life and entered into his well earned rest, January 19, 1891, death having claimed his beloved companion one day previously. Both were buried in the same grave. A peculiar co- incidence associated with this double funeral was the exact repetition of the occurrence three months later. A couple, who had crossed the plains with Mr. and Mrs. Willis, and who had been neighbors and close friends during their remaining years, died in a similar manner and were also buried in one grave.

John A. Willis is one of a family of eight children, namely, Frank, of Douglas county ;

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Mary C. Lane, of Seattle, Wash .; W. P., of Myrtle Creek; John A., the subject of this re- view; Sarah Adams, also a resident of Seattle ; Ella and Edgar of Idaho, and James, who is de- ceased. Mr. Willis was the recipient of a good education. His public school training was sup- plemented by an advanced course in the acad- emy at Roseburg. He remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, and then, for several years following, was away from home from time to time until his marriage. September 12, 1888, he was united in marriage with Alice K. Mosher, of Roseburg, and they went to housekeeping on the father's donation claim, which continued to be their home until 1901. At that time they moved to Roseburg, and seven months later Mr. Willis purchased a fine little fruit farm of forty acres, immediately adjoining Myrtle Creek. This is their home today, and since their residence there many improvements have been added. Al- though he is a young man just entering his prime, his success has been phenomenal and he has hosts of friends, who wish him continued pros- perity. Like his honored father he is a Demo- crat, and also holds a membership in the A. O. U. W., a beneficiary organization.

HON. CHARLES A. SEHLBREDE, who until recently was one of the foremost attorneys of Roseburg, removed to Portland October I, 1903, and is now a member of the firm of Rapp & Sehlbrede, No. 128 Front street, and has his law office at No. 606 Mckay building, with the Im- proved Mineral Smelter Company, of which cor- poration he is the attorney. As a lawyer and man of business he has acquired a reputation for honesty, thoroughness and foresight in preparing for every contingency, and as a public officer he has served with distinguished ability. A son of Henry Sehlbrede, he was born December 10, 1851, in Louisville, Ky., of German ancestry.

Born, reared and educated in Germany, Henry Sehlbrede immigrated to America as a young man, and settled first in New York city. He af- terwards worked as a bookkeeper in Pittsburg, Pa., going from there to Louisville, where he was for awhile engaged in the commission business. Subsequently removing to Indiana, he purchased land near Jeffersonville, and was there engaged in general farming until his retirement from ac- tive pursuits. He married Marie Meyers, who was born in Germany, and came to America with her parents, settling in Louisville, Ky. She sur- vived her husband, who died in Jefferson, Ind., and is now residing at Sellersburg, Ind., being eighty-three years of age. Of her nine children, eight are living, four of them being sons, namely :. Henry W., of New Albany, Ind .; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; W. C., a dentist at Bill-

ings, Mont .; and Rev. George E., a Presbyterian minister at Pittsburg, Pa.

Brought up on the home farm in Indiana, Charles A. Sehlbrede laid the foundation for his future education in the district school in the county near Jeffersonville. While taking a full course at the New Albany Business College, he also, during his leisure hours, read law with J. K. Waltz. Being admitted to the bar in 1874, he practiced his profession in New Albany for three years. Recognizing the greater opportuni- ties offered a young man in a newer country, he came to Oregon in 1877, settling at Portland. The following spring he opened a law office at Salem, where he remained six years. In 1884 Mr. Sehlbrede removed to Roseburg, where he built up an extensive legal practice, his keen per- ceptive faculties, thorough knowledge of human nature, and his absolute inflexibility in all mat- ters of honor making him a wise counsellor and winning him a host of friends. While residing in Roseburg he took an intelligent interest in municipal, county, state and national affairs, and served in various public offices. He was alder- man one term, city attorney one term, and as a member of the state legislature in 1895 was a stanch supporter of John N. Dolph for United States senator.

In 1898 Mr. Sehlbrede was appointed, by Pres- ident Mckinley, United States commissioner and probate judge for Alaska, with headquarters at Skagway, and served from May, 1898, until De- cember, 1901, when he resigned, and returned to his law practice in Roseburg. Soon after his ar- rival at Skagway the rush to the Klondike region began, and Skagway was filled with a lawless set of people, the noted Soapy Smith holding sway. July 8 they robbed a Swede named Stewart of gold dust valued at $3,000. Judge Sehlbrede is- sued warrants for the robbers, but Deputy Mar- shal Taylor failed to serve them. The citizens were then holding mass meetings in the inter- est of law and order, and in a clash between the citizens and Soapy Smith and his adherents, Smith shot a citizen, Frank Reed, in the right groin, inflicting injuries from which he died in ten days. Reed, in turn, however, shot Smith through the heart, killing him instantly. Deputy Marshal Taylor refused to act, hiding himself, and Judge Sehlbrede was forced to take the law in his own hands, appointed a new deputy, or- ganized a posse, and by Sunday night, forty- eight hours after the affray, the whole gang of outlaws was in jail. At two o'clock a. m., Mon- day, the citizens made a raid on the jail, intending to hang the prisoners. One of the outlaws, Slim Jim, jumped from the second story, and was im- mediately captured by the mob of three hundred on the outside. When Judge Sehlbrede arrived on the scene this mob was preparing to place the

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rope over Slim Jim's head. Making his way through the crowd, Judge Sehlbrede seized the prisoner by the collar, and ordered the men back, but they insisted that they would hang the man first. The judge continued to parley with the crowd until the new deputy marshal, and Cap- tain Yeatman, with a body of United States troops, arrived, and relieved him. About ten of the prisoners were subsequently tried in the old log court house, which was afterwards replaced by one of modern structure, and sentenced for five or more years. The trial and conviction of these outlaws was the beginning of an era of peace in Skagway, and before Judge Sehlbrede resigned his position it had become an orderly city.

At Salem, Ore., Mr. Sehlbrede married Miss I. J. Downing, who was born in Marion county, Ore., a daughter of G. S. Downing, who served seven years as superintendent of the state peni- tentiary. Mr. and Mrs. Sehlbrede have two daughters, Bertha and Emma. Fraternally Mr. Sehlbrede is an Odd Fellow, being a member and past officer of lodge and encampment, and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is also a member, and ex vice-president, of the State Bar Association. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican. Religiously he is a member of the Christian Church.

ADONIRAM J. DALEY. Of the excellent citizens of Jackson county, Ore., who have fol- lowed diversified occupations and who have met with more than ordinary success in the prosecu- tion of each, A. J. Daley certainly deserves more than passing mention. Having early learned the miller's trade, he was profitably engaged at that occupation first in Illinois and afterward in va- rious parts of Oregon, after his removal to the far west. In time he discontinued that business entirely, and for about ten years was interested in the lumber development of Jackson county. Retiring from the latter business in favor of his son, George W., Mr. Daley opened a general merchandise store at Eagle Point in 1902, and, although his experience in that line is somewhat limited, he has a clear comprehension of how a successful business should be conducted and has already proved to be a thorough man of busi- ness, thereby assuring his success in this new venture.

It is a noticeable fact that many of the present citizens of Jackson county were former residents of Ohio, and not unlike many of his neighbors in this respect, Mr. Daley is a native of that state, having been born near Birmingham, in Erie county, January 25, 1834. Reared as he was on a farm, he attended the district school until he attained the age of sixteen years, and

about that time his parents removed to Dixon, Il1., where his intellectual training was com- pleted. There it was that he mastered the miller's trade which brought success to him in after years, and to which his best efforts were devoted in that state until 1864. Believing in the in- creased opportunities of young men in the far west, he accordingly wended his way westward, crossing the great plains behind mule-teams. Ar- riving in the Willamette valley in the fall of 1864, the first winter was spent in Salem, Marion county, Ore., and very soon thereafter Mr. Daley went south to Scio, Linn county, and secured employment in a flouring-mill of that place, con- tinuing in that occupation there for a period of eight years. His identification with Jackson county is traced back to the year 1872, for at that time he was placed in charge of the Butte Creek flouring-mill at Eagle Point, now known as the Snowy Butte mill, which was built that year by his father and Mr. Emery. A few years afterward Mr. Daley purchased the entire mill and a successful business was carried on by him at this place until 1892, when he sold out to ad- vantage, having decided to turn his attention into other channels of industry. As the lumber business seemed to offer the most favorable op- portunities for a business venture, he started a saw-mill in company with his son, George W., and together they engaged in the manufacture of lumber for a number of years, the father finally retiring in favor of the son, and engaging in mercantile pursuits. In 1899 Mr. Daley took a course in Weltmer's School of Magnetic Heal- ing and since that time has performed many wonderful cures in his neighborhood. Several people who were in a hopeless condition, the re- sult of rheumatism, were able to walk without assistance after being treated by Mr. Daley. He has in his possession a number of letters that have been written by his patients who tell of the wonderful cures.

The marriage of Mr. Daley took place when he was but twenty years old, while yet a resident of Illinois, Miss Rachel Peacock becoming his wife, and to them were given six children, namely; Rosetta, wife of W. R. Potter; George W., a resident of Eagle Point ; John, a successful rancher; twins who filled an early grave; and Francis E., who is also deceased. The family are disciples of the Church of God and are deeply interested in all the good work that is aided by this church, giving liberally of their means for its support. In his life as a citizen, Mr. Daley has followed the teachings of the Republican party, but has never aspired to office, although at one time he did consent to run for county com- missioner. He has attained his present prosper- ity in the way open to all by hard work and per- severing endeavors, and as a natural result of his

Poli. Goodspeed

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efforts he has accumulated a large amount of valuable real estate in Jackson county, owning in all, twelve hundred acres of fine land, two hun- dred acres of this tract being rich, alluvial land along Elk creek.

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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 30

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