Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 34

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 34

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When seventeen years old Horace F. Holden left the Sandwich Islands and came to Oregon, traveling throughout the state and finally arriving in Idaho during the mining excitement in 1861- 65. He was in the midst of the Indian troubles of 1855-56, enlisting as private in September, 1855, and serving for six months under Captain Charles Bennett. The various places in which his youth was passed permitted of a broad and liberal education, acquired in the Sandwich Is- lands, in the public schools of Oregon, and at the Willamette University. In the fall of 1856 he spent a couple of weeks in Tillamook county, was well pleased with the opportunities pre- sented, and returned again from the Willamette valley in 1858. Although he located a claim on the Nehalem, he failed to prove up on it, and after about a year spent in Tillamook he turned his attention to ship building, learning the useful occupation from the foundation up. He assisted in the building of the J. C. Champion, and after its completion assumed charge of the vessel, run- ning it for freighting purposes for about three years. He located on his present farm in 1870, and has one hundred and sixty acres four miles southeast of Tillamook City, where he is engaged in dairying and stock-raising. The farm has modern improvements, fine buildings and the latest agricultural implements ; at present he is milking about thirty cows.

A Democrat ever since he was old enough to be interested in politics, Mr. Holden's ability has drawn him into offices of large responsibility, in- cluding that of county treasurer for six years during the troublous times of the seventies. So successful was his service as county commissioner that he was elected for an additional two years, serving in all four years. From 1890 until 1894 he served as county judge and at various times

during the past decade he has been school direc- tor and clerk, also road supervisor. He has al- ways been an advocate of progressive move- ments, particularly of good roads, having assisted in the construction of many miles of the best roads in the country. He likewise has shown a deep interest in the welfare of schools and has always favored liberal appropriations for their maintenance. He has been steward and chief promoter of the Grange of Fairwiew, and has been an active factor in almost every line of public development in this county for many years. May 18, 1870, Mr. Holden was united in marriage with Margaret Ellen Edwards, a native of Keo- kuk county, Iowa, and a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Wallace (Dinsmore) Edwards. Mr. and Mrs. Holden became the parents of three sons and two daughters: Anna B., J. Chester, Hattie Clara, deceased, who became the wife of Fred Stoddard; Verner E., and Arthur E. They are also rearing Letha Marie Stoddard, their grand-daughter. Mr. Holden's family was one of the very first to be represented in this state, and the industry and integrity which found ex- pression in his now aged sire have been dupli- cated and exalted in the life of a remarkably re- sourceful and versatile son.

SIMON BOLIVER CATHCART. To the mathematical mind no occupation offers more in- teresting or fascinating possibilities than sur- veying. Especially is this true in localities of comparatively recent settlement, as in the great timber state of Oregon, where the surveyor must needs follow fast upon the heels of incipient civ- ilization, while the farmer, merchant, lumberman and miner await the decision of his accurate and undisputed mind. One of the oldest and best known in this line in the county is Simon Boliver Cathcart, known as an expert surveyor since 1873. Thirty years association with the geo- graphical knowledge of a given locality must needs supply much information as to its possibili- ties, and this Mr. Cathcart possesses in remark- able degree, as might be expected from a man of his mature and trained intelligence.

Long before the Revolutionary war brought independence to the American Colonies John Cathcart, the grandfather of Simon, came from Ireland and settled in Burke county, N. C. There, August 26, 1797, was born his son, William Cath- cart, who as a young man removed to Tennessee, and from there to Kentucky, in which latter state he married a native daughter, Margaret Sim- mons, born October 28, 1807, in Henry county. Mrs. Cathcart claimed distinguished ancestry, and her family was established in America by a voyager of the Mayflower, whose descendants settled principally in the southern states. Her

Georg Thambrook

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paternal grandfather, John Simmons, died in Orange county, Ind., of which locality he was a very early settler. William Cathcart moved from Kentucky to Crawford county, Ind., and later to French Lick, Orange county, of which he was a prominent resident for many years. A whet- stone manufacturer by trade, he combined this with farming for many years, and at the same time served as probate judge in Indiana for fourteen years. The latter office he resigned in 1852 to come to Oregon, although after starting out he spent the first winter in Page county, Iowa. May 8, 1853, he crossed the Missouri river and arrived in the Willamette valley, Ore., October 4 of the same year. Locating on a farm eight miles northwest of Roseburg, December 5, 1853, he made his home until 1878, devoting his three hundred and sixty acres of land to general farming and stock-raising. His political success was duplicated in Douglas county, and as in Iowa, he served as county judge, his term extending from 1857 to 1858. He always took a keen inter- est in educational matters, and although his own early opportunities were comparatively limited, he realized the value of mental training for the youth of the rising generation. Beginning witli 1878, he traveled through Oregon and California, and his death occurred at Drain, Ore., in 1889, at the advanced age of ninety-two. His home life was a harmonious one, and the wife who aided in accomplishing his success tarried with him until her death in April, 1884.

The youngest son and seventh oldest child in a family of four sons and seven daughters, Simon Boliver Cathcart was born in Orange county, Ind., April 21, 1842, and was educated in the public schools of Indiana and Oregon. He was eleven years old when he came to this state, and eighteen when he engaged in independent stock- raising. In the meantime the Civil war had broken out and he enlisted in the spring of 1865 in Com- pany A, First Oregon Volunteer Cavalry, and served on the plains for a year, doing escort duty. In Vancouver, Wash., in March, 1866, he was discharged from the service, having seen little of the rigors or dangers of military service in the west. In 1871 Mr. Cathcart came to Coos Bay and located on a farm on North Coos river, where he devoted his one hundred and sixty acres to stock-raising. In a bachelor cabin in the wil- derneess he devoted himself to the study of ge- ometry and trigonometry with the singleness of purpose and practical results of the born matlı- ematician, all the time that could be spared from tending his stock being spent in perfecting him- self for a surveying career. In 1873 he was ap- pointed mineral surveyor of this district, and surveyed principally the Black Sand mines, his election as county surveyor following in the spring of 1874. After two years he retired to

private surveying and farming. In 1886 he was elected county surveyor for four years, and again elected in 1892, serving up to the present time.

In 1879 Mr. Cathcart married Dora Landrith, born in Lane county, Ore., April 25, 1855. Cy- rus Landrith, her father, was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Missouri at an early day, and from there crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853, locating in Lane county. He settled on a farm in Coos county in 1860, his land skirting the Coos river and supplying him with abundant means of livelihood. He lived to be seventy-four years old, dying in 1891. Mr. Cathcart has sub- scribed to the principles of the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote, and he is fraternally connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Degree of Honor. He is exceptionally broad minded and well in- formed and counts among his friends people prominent in all walks of life in the state. Mrs. Cathcart is a member of the ladies' auxiliary of the Degree of Honor, having passed the chairs, and is also a member of the Grand Lodge.

GEORGE SHAMBROOK. From 1853. when he first located in Douglas county, until his death, July 12, 1903, Mr. Shambrook was counted one of the county's most valuable resi- dents. Recognizing the excellent quality of the soil here, he determined to make the best use of his farm of nine hundred acres, and besides car- rying on general farming and stock-raising, also raised apples and prunes and large quantities of hops. In this section of Oregon the hop gar- dens are especially thrifty, and are among the best in the world, the yield being two million five hundred thousand pounds yearly. He had forty acres in hops, forty-five acres in apple trees and twenty-five acres in Italian prune trees. He also owned a prune dryer, which greatly facili- tated handling the fruit and preparing it for the market.

George Shambrook was born in 1828 at Cam- bridge, England, and when five years of age was brought to Hamilton, Canada, by his parents, and in that city remained for a period of thir- teen years. He started to carve his own fortune when but eighteen years old, journeying first to Illinois, where he was employed at farm work until March, 1847. Having made up his mind to settle in the west, he crossed the intervening country in that year, stopping a short time at Whitman's Station on the way. He left that place but a few days prior to the Indian massacre there, in which his sister was captured. Oregon City became the place of his abode on reaching the west, and he was employed in a mill until the spring of 1849. Like thousands of others, he became interested in the mining excitement,

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and accordingly went to California, but shortly after his arrival he was taken ill, and in the fall of that same year returned to Oregon City. The following year he opened a butcher's shop, which he conducted successfully until 1853. From this time on Mr. Shambrook was a citizen of Doug- las county. Of the several farms which he operated there his first was a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, which later be- came the property of the county, and was used as a poor farm. By a subsequent purchase, he became owner of one hundred and sixty acres, and until 1880 he made his home there. In that year, however, he took possession of the farm of nine hundred acres on which he resided until his death. His hop gardens were among the largest in the Willamette valley, and the quality and quantity of his hops and fruit were ex- ceptional and were his special pride.

Mr. Shambrook was twice married. His first union was with Nancy Fitzhugh, and was blessed with one child, Austria V., now the wife of Frank Burge. For his second wife Mr. Shambrook married Lucretia Ridenour, a daughter of David Ridenour, who crossed the country in 1853, and settled in Coles Valley, Ore., in 1854, and died in 1897. By the second union there were thir- teen children, of whom the following are living : Mary, the wife of F. W. McKechnie, of Port- land, Ore .; David R., county clerk of Douglas county, a sketch of whom will be found on an- other page of this work; Hannah E., wife of R. W. Evans of Silverton; Jessie L., at home ; Benjamin F., of Portland; Martha E., wife of W. B. Stewart, of Myrtle Creek; and Cecil; George is deceased, as is also John, who was a doctor by profession, but died in 1888, when only thirty-five years of age.

In religious conviction the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church and are regular attendants. As a citizen Mr. Shambrook was highly respected by all his fellowmen and held a place of prominence in his adopted county. His death, which occurred July 12, 1903, was a se- vere blow to the community in which he had re- sided for so many years, but although no longer here, his memory lives, while his many deeds of charity and kindness will never be forgotten by those who knew him.

WILLIAM JOHNSON. The story of the life of William Johnson is not unlike that of many other resourceful easterners, who reached Oregon with few assets of a material nature, yet forced their way to the front by sheer grit and determination. Mr. Johnson has passed through the various stages of pioneer life, has helped to temper the ferocity of the Indians, and has planned and worked as industriously and

wisely for the upbuilding of his adopted state as any who have sought a home and competence within its borders. He was born in Montreal, Canada, February 13, 1828, and through his veins flows the blood of a sturdy English an- cestry. His father, William Johnson, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and in his youth learned the ship carpenter's trade. Immigrating to America at an early day, he engaged in ferry- ing on the St. Lawrence river, and was thus employed at the time of his death, about 1836, at the age of fifty years. His wife, Sarah (Swales) Johnson, was born in Cumberland, England, and survived him for more than half a century, her death occurring in 1892, at the age of ninety years. For a second husband she married Peter Provost, the latter of whom still lives in Canada. There were six daughters and three sons in the family, William being the fourth in order of birth.

The youth of William Johnson was an event- ful one, for his father's death left a large re- sponsibility with his mother, who found difficulty in providing for her nine children. Accordingly William was sent to live with an uncle when he was ten years old, and he soon afterward be- gan an apprenticeship of three years at the coop- er's trade. The news of gold on the coast pene- trated to the fastnesses of Canada, and inspired the cooler headed northerners with as much en- thusiasm as it did the dwellers further south in the states. Mr. Johnson was impressed with the favorable reports which broke in upon his peaceful coopering career, and in 1849 he came across the border, his idea being to arrange for emigration to the coast. For a year he worked at such occupations as same his way, and in the spring of 1850 crossed the plains with horse teams, meeting with few accidents or exciting experiences. He came via Salt Lake City, stop- ping in Hangtown, now Placerville, and mining thereabouts with moderate success until 1855. With his little hoard he traveled across the moun- tains to the mines of eastern Oregon, and there found life and property endangered because of the encroachments of the Indians. As became a loyal miner he joined his comrades in an ef- fort to suppress the troublesome red men, and November 16, 1855, enlisted for service as a private in the Indian war. He served for one hundred and twenty days, and received his dis- charge February 20, 1856. He served as a private throughout the service under Hummison, one of the daring leaders of that memorable campaign1.

For some months Mr. Johnson lived at The Dalles and engaged in ferrying over the Des- chutes river, and in 1857 came to Tillamook county, where he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres on the Trask river.

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In time he added to his land as his interests increased, and he finally came into possession of four hundred and fifty acres, all of which was divided among his children in 1895. He en- gaged extensively in stock-raising and dairying, and so invested his earnings that a small fortune came his way, and is now giving a start to the children who, unlike himself, have not been obliged to fight their battles of life single handed and alone. He married Rhoda Quick, and six of their seven children are living, two sons and four daughters: Lewis is living on the Trask river ; Etta married B. Higginbotham; Jessie married John Embum; Eva became the wife of Henry Leach; Thomas P. also resides on the Trask river; Lottie is single and makes her home with her father. Mr. Johnson is a Social- ist politically, and has held various local offices, including those of road supervisor and school clirector. He is devoted to his children, has done everything in his power for their welfare, and since dividing his property has made his home with them. He is a typical western pioneer, broad in his views and generous in his acts, and of sterling truth and uprightness. Many friends have congregated along his path of life, brighten- ing it with their appreciation of his character, and their joy at his success.

LUTHER B. MOORE. One of the finest and most substantial representatives of the prom- ising young men of Douglas county is Luther B. Moore, who is carefully looking after the important interests of the Southern Pacific Rail- way Company as station agent and train-master at Roseburg. He is a wide-awake, industrious person, possessing excellent executive ability, and by his close application to the duties of his position he has proved himself a thoroughly re- liable man, and one to be depended upon in emergencies. In preparing himself for his pres- ent work Mr. Moore met with seemingly insur- mountable obstacles. Resolving to take up teleg- raphy in his youthful days, he worked on a farm to pay his expenses while studying, batching it in meantime in order to reduce the cost of liv- ing to a minimum, and making the instrument on which he learned to telegraph. He has risen to his present position in the service of the railroad company by strict attention to every detail of business, his general urbanity of manner and will- ingness to accommodate making him a favorite with all travelers on the road. A native of Clin- ton county, Mo., he was born January 9. 1870, near Union Mills, a son of Marcus L. Moore.

Born, reared and educated on an Illinois farm, Marcus L. Moore served in the Civil war as second lieutenant in Company E, Second Illinois

Cavalry. A year after his return from the con- flict he removed to Missouri, locating first in Clinton county, and later in Kansas, buying a farm near Gerard. Coming to the coast in 1878, he was employed in agricultural pursuits at Ven- tura, Cal., for two years. In 1880 he removed to Oregon, and during the next few years he re- sided in different places in this state, including Goshen, Lane county, where he lived two years ; Creswell, which was his home from 1882 until 1883; from 1883 until 1889 carried on farming and stock-raising on the Siuslaw, near Loraine, Lane county ; in 1889 located at Oregon City, re- maining there nine years; and in 1898 engaging in general farming on a ranch but two miles from the city of Roseburg. He was a Republican in politics, and served as county treasurer for one term in Clackamas county. He belonged to Mead Post, No. 2, G. A. R., of Oregon City, and was a Mason, being a member of the blue lodge and Royal Arch chapter. He married Sarah A. Brown, who was born in Illinois, which was also the native state of her father, Luther Brown, a farmer of Belleville, Ill. She is still living, and has three children, namely: W. M., secretary of the Roseburg Union of the Brotherhood of Railway Employes; Luther B., the special sub- ject of this brief sketch ; and J. W., of Roseburg, an employe of the Southern Pacific Railway Com- pany.

At the age of eight years Luther B. Moore moved with his parents to Ventura, Cal., where he continued his studies, attending the public schools. Two years later he came to Oregon, and the ensuing three years attended school three months a year, only, the remainder of the time helping in the care of the farm. At the age of sixteen years he began the study of telegraphy with the old Oregon and California Railroad Company, being at Comstock three months. Then, after working a brief time for the Postal Telegraph Company at Roseburg, he went to Oakland, Ore., where he was manager of the Postal Telegraph office for a year, and for six months thereafter was baggage master. From that time until 1888 Mr. Moore was extra agent, serving at different places along the line between Portland and Roseburg, his first location in that capacity having been at Gervais, December 18, 1887. Being appointed night operator at Junc- tion City in 1888, he served two years, when he was promoted to the office of station agent at Halsey. In 1890 he became agent at Oregon City, where he remained four and one-half years. going then to Junction City as agent, and con- tinuing there three years. On March 29, 1898, Mr. Moore received his appointment as agent and train-master at Roseburg, and served until Sep- tember 12, 1899, when he succeeded Mr. Estes as agent at Grants Pass, remaining there until

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December 7, 1899. He was subsequently agent at Junction City until February 22, 1901, when he was made agent and train-master at Roseburg. Assuming the duties of his office the following day, he has since served with great ability and faithfulness, winning the approval of the com- pany and the respect and esteem of the patrons of the road, and of his fellow-workers. He has much business to attend to, and in its manage- ment he has twelve assistants.

In Junction City, Ore., Mr. Moore married Miss Cora Estella Barton, who was born near Amity, Yamhill county, Ore., and they have two children, Harvey L. and Cora Estella. While a resident of Junction City, Mr. Moore was quite active in public affairs, serving as councilman and school director, positions that he resigned on coming to Roseburg. Fraternally he was made a Mason in the Junction City Lodge, No. 58, and is now a member of Laurel Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M .; he is also a prominent Odd Fellow, being a member, and past grand, of Philitarian Lodge, No. 8, Roseburg, a member of the state grand lodge, to which he was a representative four years; and a member, and senior warden, of the Encampment; and he is likewise a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically he sustains the principles of the Re- publican party. He is one of the members of the Order of Railway Telegraphers. Mrs. Moore is also prominent in fraternal circles, belonging to the Rebekahs, and the Artisans. Religiously she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE W. KEZARTEE. By well-directed toil, persistent energy and wise management, George W. Kezartee has acquired a fair amount of this world's goods, and is a fine representa- tive of the self-made men of Douglas county. For more than a score of years he has been a resident of Roseburg, and during that time has witnessed vast improvements in town, city and county, and has been an important factor in promoting its growth and prosperity. Purchas- ing land in Roseburg, he has erected four most desirable residences, which are a credit to his ability and taste, and an ornament to the city. A son of James Kezartee, he was born March 4. 1845, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, which was also the birthplace of his father. His grand- father, Thomas Kezartee, and his great grand- father. Capt. Thomas Kezartee, were both natives of Virginia. The latter, who sailed the seas as master of a vessel, was lost while on a voyage, his body never being found. Thomas Kezartee removed from Virginia to Ohio as a

pioneer, and having cleared a homestead from the primeval wilderness was there engaged in farming until his death. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812.

Removing with his parents to Ohio when young, James Kezartee continued in the occupa- tion to which he was reared, spending his en- tire life as a farmer. He married Janet McKee, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John McKee, who emigrated from Scotland to America, settling as a farmer in Pennsylvania. She died in Ohio, on the home farm. Of the seven children born of her union with James Kezartee, three are living, George W., the third child in order of birth, being the only one in Oregon.

Brought up on an Ohio farm, George W. Kezartee was reared to habits of industry and thrift. Thrown upon his own resources when a boy, he became self supporting at the age of ten years, from that time forward paddling his own canoe. In 1859 he started for the Pacific coast with a party of forty men, well armed for whatever emergency might arise. This company, commanded by Washington Mont- gomery, drove two hundred and eighty head of fine horses across the plains, traveling by way of Salt Lake, and being one hundred days from the Missouri river to Honey Lake valley, Las- sen county, Cal. This trip was particularly hard for Mr. Kezartee, then a lad of fourteen years, as he rode one horse, led six others, and had to stand guard one half of each night. The party was fortunate, losing but six of their horses on the journey. For five or six years after his arrival in the golden state, Mr. Kezartee worked at mining on the Feather river, and then went to San Francisco, where he learned the miller's trade, heing employed in one mill seven years. Locating in Albany, Ore., in 1870, he was there prosperously engaged in the dray business for ten years. On March 29, 1880, he came to Roseburg as an employe of the old Oregon and California Railway Company, being a bridge carpenter. He afterwards lived in Ashland two' years while working on railroad bridges, but has since resided in Roseburg, where he is carrying on an extensive and lucrative busines as a con- tractor and builder, being a citizen of activity and influence.

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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 34

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