Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 4

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 4

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Since the inception of the movement for hold- ing the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland in 1905, Mr. Fenton has taken a leading part in the formulation of plans for that gigantic enter- prise. As a member of the sub-committee on legislation of the Lewis and Clark board (con - sisting of Mr. Fenton, P. L. Willis and Rufus Mallory), he drafted the bill presented to the Oregon legislature at its session of 1903 and passed by that body. The bill provides that the governor shall appoint a commission of eleven members, who shall work in touch with the Lewis and Clark board; that if the commission and the board cannot agree upon any subject the differences shall be adjusted by the governor, sec- retary of state and state treasurer, whose decision shall be binding on the commission; that $50,- 000 of the $500,000 appropriated shall be used to pay the expenses of making an Oregon exhibit at St. Louis in 1904, and that as much of this exhibit as possible shall be returned to Oregon for the Lewis and Clark Exposition: that the commission shall erect a memorial building in Portland on ground to be donated for the pur-

pose, provided that not more than $50,000 of the state's money shall go for this building, and pro- vided that the Lewis and Clark board shall contribute $50,000 toward the cost of the same structure. The measure further provides that one-half of the total amount of the appropriation shall be available in 1904 and the remainder in 1905, but the commission is authorized to enter upon contracts before this money comes in, on warrants drawn by the secretary of state. It was Mr. Fenton's idea in framing the bill to give the commission as much discretion in the use of the public funds as would safely conserve the inter- ests of the state.

In Monmouth, Ore., October 16, 1879, Mr. Fenton married Katherine Lucas, a native of Polk county, this state. Her father, Albert W. Lucas, a Kentuckian by birth, came to the north- west as early as 1853 and identified himself with the agricultural interests of Polk county. The four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Fenton are named as follows: Ralph Albert, member of the class of 1903, University of Oregon; Horace B., class of 1902, Portland Academy ; Kenneth L., class of 1904, Portland Academy ; and William D., Jr. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Fenton formerly served as trustee. He is a member of the State Bar Asso- ciation, and socially is connected with the Arling- ton and University Clubs, being a charter mem- ber of the latter. His identification with Ma- sonry dates from 1880, when he was initiated into Lafayette Lodge No. 3, A. F & A. M. At this writing he is connected with Portland Lodge No. 55. A. F. & A. M., Oregon Consistory No. I, and Al Kader Temple, N. M. S. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men.

MILTON SUNDERLAND. Back to patri- otic sires on both sides of his family, Milton Sun- derland traces his descent, and unquestionably derived from these same admirable sources the reliable traits of character developed at a later period among the trying pioneer conditions of Oregon. Mr. Sunderland, who is rounding out his well directed retirement in Portland, was born in Mercer county, Mo., June 8, 1842, and was reared in Iowa until his tenth year. His paternal and maternal grandsires followed the martial fortunes of Washington for four years, one of them being a celebrated and most astute spy, who, afterward being captured, was one of two to successfully run the gauntlet and escape. The parents of Mr. Sunderland, mentioned at length in another part of this book, were Benja- min and Elizabeth (Schaffer) Sunderland, na- tives respectively of Tippecanoe county, Ind., and Pennsylvania.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The little log school house in Wapello county, Iowa, where Milton Sunderland gained his first glimpse into book lore, was situated one mile from the paternal farm, and was only pat- ronized by the Sunderland children for a few months during the winter time. A flood appear- ing in 1851 his father decided to run no more risks in the Keokuk district, and an emigration of the family to the west was planned. The ten-year-old lad made himself useful driving loose cattle on the way, and he walked a great many miles of the long distance. The remark- able personality in this part of the great caravan that wound its way over river and plain was the mother of the six Sunderland children, who drove the family carriage drawn by two Cana- dian ponies, each weighing a thousand pounds, missing only one day of such service when once on the way. Also she was a ministering angel to the sick and weary and discouraged, and by her great strength of character and sublime faith in their ultimate good fortune, stimulated them to renewed effort.

After the family located on their permanent section of land, one mile east of Woodlawn, Mil- ton, though barely eleven years of age, made himself generally useful, and materially assisted in grubbing and clearing the timbered land, and preparing the way for crops. About this time the family lived in a rude cabin with a dirt floor, and the inconvenience and loneliness can be ap- preciated only by those similarly placed. Hav- ing reached his majority Mr. Sunderland started for Florence, on the Salmon river, Idaho, his brother accompanying him on the four hundred mile walk. They had three pack horses, and were reasonably successful as miners, and also increased their revenue during the three years later devoted to logging on the Columbia Slough Road. In Portland Mr. Sunderland was inter- ested in the wood business for eleven months, and then returned to the Columbia river district and engaged in the dairy business. Since then he has been dealing in stock on a large scale and has lived on farms in different parts of Mult- nomah county. His last rural residence was on the old Payne place of one hundred and ninety acres, where he engaged in farming until mov- ing to Portland in 1886. This ranch, finely im- proved, and equipped with all modern labor sav- ing devices, passed from the possession of Mr. Sunderland in March of 1901. and with it went the stock, which had the reputation of being among the finest in Multnomah county. At one time he owned as many as nine hundred acres, a considerable portion of which was in the city limits, and was therefore more suitable for resi- dence and business blocks than stock raising. Mr. Sunderland is interested in a coal mine twenty-eight miles south of Portland, in Wash-

ington county, the company having already be- gun to operate the same. In the spring of 1902 Mr. Sunderland built a summer home at Hood River, three-fourths of a mile from the depot, and here the family spend much of their time during the summer.

Various social and other organizations benefit by the membership of Mr. Sunderland, whose genial manner and unfailing tact not only win but retain friends. He is essentially social in his tastes, and is devoted to out-of-door sports, es- pecially hunting and fishing. Politically he has always been a firm supporter of the principles of the Democracy, and for several years served as school director, being an earnest advocate of good schools. For thirty-five years he has been identi- fied with the Orient Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F., and for many years a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Fidelity Lodge No. 4, in which he has passed all the chairs and is a charter member of the Degree of Honor, an aux- iliary of the Workmen. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributes generously of time and means to- wards its maintenance and charities.

His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Stansbery. (A complete sketch of her family will be found in the biography which follows. ) To Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland have been born the follow- ing children : Mary A., a graduate of the Port- land Business College, and now Mrs. Beckwith of Portland; Charles, a graduate of the Portland high school, and now engaged in dairying on the Columbia Slough Road; Ivy M., Mrs. Rowe of Portland; and Bertha, at home with her par- ents.

All his life Mr. Sunderland has been a very busy man, and now that he has retired from active business he well deserves the rest which a long, busy and useful life rewards. At all times he has been ready and willing to give time and means in support of any measure that had for its basis the betterment of the conditions with which the people of Oregon are surrounded. He has never been a man that cared for publicity, pre- ferring to do his part in a quiet unostentatious way. A man with strong domestic tastes, he has found his great happiness within the bosom of his family and all his life he has been a devoted husband and loving father. To such men too much credit cannot be given, for it is to them the great debt of gratitude is due, as they are the ones who have redeemed Oregon from a wilderness and they are the ones that have stood for all that was good and purc.

JOIIN E. STANSBERY. While not one of the carly pioneers of Oregon, Mr. Stansbery was one of the many that crossed the plains with ox

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

teams, encountering all of the hardships and privations incident to the long, tedious trip. A native of Indiana and a son of John Stansbery, John E. was thoroughly familiar with the life of the pioneer. His father was born in New Jersey and settled in the Hoosier state at a very early day. Later in life he removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he lived until death ended his career in this world. Reared on the plains of the great middle west, John E. Stansbery had few advantages, as in those days the services of the boy were too valuable to be wasted in school, and as soon as old enough he was obliged to per- form his part of the farm labors. When a young man he learned the cooper's trade, which he fol- lowed for some years. Later he engaged in farming in the state of his nativity, and in 1852 he started for Oregon, but for some reason, when Jefferson county, Iowa, was reached, the little party tarried. Here he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising until May 3, 1862. Then, in company with his wife and six children, he resumed the trip that had been begun ten years previous. Six months were spent in covering the weary distance and it was on October 15, 1862, that the little band reached Portland. For the first two years they lived on a farm near Hills- boro, while the third year was spent on what was known as the old Quimby place. The next five years were spent on the Whittaker farm, and then a dairy farm of one hundred and sixty acres was purchased in what is now Woodlawn. On this farm he conducted a dairy and carried on general farming up to the time of his death in September, 1881.

His wife, who in maiden life was Miss A. M. Hughes, was born in Charleston, Clark county, Ind., a daughter of William Hughes, a native of Kentucky. The original name of the Hughes family is veiled in obscurity, having been lost track of when the paternal great-great-grand- father was kidnapped from his seaport town in England, and brought to America when a very small lad. In this country he was adopted by a family by the name of Hughes, from whom he took his name. He accompanied them on their removal from Kentucky and remained with them after they took up their residence in Indiana. The paternal grandfather Hughes, also William by name, was a cooper by trade, and after he en- gaged in farming in Indiana he had a small shop on his farm, where he did the work of the neigh- borhood.

John E. Stanshery. the father of Mrs. Sunder- land, married Miss A. M. Hughes, who is still living and resides in Portland. She became the mother of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and nine of whom are now living. Nancy Elizabeth being the oldest : Mary Mar- garet is now Mrs. A. J. Dufur of Wasco county.

Ore .; Susan E. is now Mrs. Windle of Portland ; Rosa Bell married W. D. Zeller of Portland, but now in Dawson; Lucetta became the wife of Jolin Foster, who died January 3, 1901 ; Frances is now MIrs. M. A. Zeller of Portland; J. E. and S. E. are twins and live in Woodlawn ; and Will- iam Grant is living in Dawson. Mrs. Sunderland was reared in Iowa until her fourteenth year, when she accompanied her parents on their re- moval to Oregon. She has a very vivid remem- brance of the long trip across the plains, which to her was a long joyous holiday.

In politics Mr. Stansbery was a firm supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, but he never had the time nor inclination to take any active part in the political struggles, prefer- ing rather to devote his whole time to his busi- ness interests. Fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order, while religiously he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

I. N. FLEISCHNER. The rapid development of manufacturing on the Pacific coast in recent years has brought to the front young men of executive ability and firm grasp of detail. A man of this progressive type is I. N. Fleischner, of the firm of Fleischner, Mayer & Co., Port- land, the largest manufacturers of and dealers in dry goods in the Pacific northwest. Mr. Fleisch- ner is a native Oregonian, having been born at Albany, July 16, 1859. His father, Jacob Fleischner, had settled in Oregon in the early '50s. Coming from Austria when quite a young man, he engaged for a time in merchandising in Iowa, but soon joined in the westward march and crossed the plains to Oregon in an ox-team, which was the only method of conveyance half a century ago. At Albany he began business again and widened his field of operations by mov- ing to Portland in 1860. At present his family consists of himself and wife. Six children were born to this union, of whom two sons and three daughters are living.

I. N. Fleischner was educated in the public schools of Portland, supplementing the high school course by a term at St. Augustine Military College. Benicia, Cal., from which he was grad- nated in 1878. After leaving school, he entered the firm of which he is now a partner. Upon the death of his uncle, Louis Fleischner. he suc- ceeded with his brother to the Fleischner end of the business. At that time the firm was com- posed of 1. N. and Max Fleischner, Solomon Ilirsch, Samuel Simon, and Mark A. Mayer. Mr. Hirsch has since died.

From the time that he first engaged in busi- ness, Mr. Fleischner has been actively identified with every movement for the good of the state

Mariah Failing

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Oregon. He has served the Manufacturers' Association as vice-president and for two years was secretary of the Portland Chamber of Com- merce, the most influential commercial body on the northwest coast. The Commercial Club and other business and social organizations include him among their members. In June, 1903, the city of Heppner, Ore., was partially destroyed by a flood and nearly two hundred and fifty peo- ple were drowned. A great amount of relief was sent from Portland to the stricken people, and Mr. Fleischner was honored by the mayor with appointment as chairman of the relief com- mittee, a position which he filled with signal abil- ity. Mr. Fleischner's firm was one of the largest subscribers to the stock of the Lewis and Clark Fair corporation, which has been formed to hold an international exposition at Portland in 1905 in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the exploration of the Oregon country by the explorers Lewis and Clark. Mr. Fleischner is a member of the board of directors of this cor- poration and chairman of the committee on press and publicity.

Mr. Fleischner is an extensive traveler and has made several trips abroad, taking in Europe, Asia and northern Africa. He is a close ob- server, and his letters and lectures on places he has visited have been greatly appreciated in Portland. Mr. Fleischner was married in 1887 to Miss Tessie Goslinsky, of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Fleischner have one child.

HON. JOSIAH FAILING. In the dawn of her awakening prosperity Portland had her com- manding personalities who manipulated hier re- sources with dexterous hand, and developed whatsoever of lasting good was suggested by her advantages of climate, situation and soil. Such an one was Hon. Josiah Failing, founder of a family of splendid commercial and moral import- ance, and transmitter of traits everywhere recog- nized as the fundamentals of admirable citizen- ship. So fine a mental revelation of Portland's needs, so harmonious a blending of opportunities and accomplishments, suggest to the student of nationalities the country from which he drew his inspiration, especially when he is universally re- called as one of the founders of the public school system of his adopted city. That empire which produced a John Jacob Astor. produced also the house of Failing, and from the Palatinate on the Rhine came the paternal grandfather of Josiah, who settled in the Mohawk Valley west of Al- bany, N. Y., in 1710. This emigrant ancestor had the thrift that is begotten by industry, the. positive purpose born of moral motive and the vigorous mentality that is nurtured and strengtli- ened by upright living, all of which are character-

istics par excellence of the children of the Father- land. Descendants of the establisher of the fam- ily in America continued to live in New York state, and at Canajoharie, Montgomery county, Josiah Failing was born on his father's farm, July 9, 1806.

Shut in by the horizon of the paternal acres, Mr. Failing realized his limitations and was con- vinced that destiny intended him for larger things than were possible in the then circum- scribed life of the agriculturist, and when six- teen years of age he went to Albany, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer to New York. He served his ap- prenticeship and continued to follow his trade until he was forced to abandon it on account of ill health. His next venture was in the trucking business, which he followed for some years. Dur- ing this time he served for several terms as super- intendent of public vehicles of the city. Becom- ing convinced that the west with its undeveloped resources offered better inducements, he deter- mined to seek a home on the Pacific coast, and in 1851, accompanied by his two oldest sons, Henry and John W., he came to Oregon, which was then a territory, and settled in Portland. Two years later he was followed by the re- mainder of the family. At that time the city was in its infancy, but Mr. Failing seemed to have faith in its future and soon after his arrival he organized the firm of J. Failing & Co. The following twelve years were devoted to the active management of this business, at the end of which time he retired.

The pronounced ability of Mr. Failing was bound to receive ready recognition in his new home in the west, and especially were his broad and liberal political tendencies required in shap- ing the future municipal policy of the town. In 1853 he was elected mayor of the city, and during his term of service he wisely directed its affairs from chaos to a semblance of order and stability. He was a delegate to the national convention which nominated President Lincoln for a second term, and to the convention which nominated General Grant. More than any other of the great forerunners of northwestern development he foresaw the advantages of educating the rising generation, and to this end devoted his most strenuous efforts, eventually accomplishing the establishment and management of that system whose present high excellence is attributed to his timely guidance. It is perhaps in this con- nection that Mr. Failing will be longest remem- bered, and no higher tribute could emanate from the hicarts of a grateful posterity, who realize that this large-hearted and clear-minded pioneer saw them in his waking dreams, traversing the byways and lancs accessible to the assimilated intelligence of the world, and -willingly gave of

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his time, his money and his counsel for the fur- therance of his immeasurable desire.

In his religious inclinations Mr. Failing was a Baptist, and he was one of the founders of the first church of that denomination in the city of Portland, which occurred in August, 1860. Al- ways interested in its advancement and well- being he actively promoted its interests, and con- tributed generously to its charities. To live far beyond the biblical allotment was the privilege of Mr. Failing, and to no wayfarer among the stress of a growing city could that "Old age serene and bright and lovely as a Lapland night" descend with greater beneficence. Throughout his days he was distinguished for honesty, in- dustry, and that fine consideration for others which more than any other trait in human nature is responsible for the worth-while accomplish- ments and friendships of the world. He was both a philanthropist and a humanitarian, and his efforts to alleviate the misery around hini were continuous rather than intermittent. His death, August 14, 1877, deprived the city of one of her noblest men. He not only left behind him the heritage of a good name, of substantial public services and unquestioned integrity, but has contributed to the future growth of Portland three sons, Henry, Edward and James F., men of high character and more than ordinary busi- ness ability.

JAMES F. FAILING, for many years a merchant of Portland, and now president of the wholesale hardware firm of Corbett, Failing & Robertson, bears a name forever enshrined among the pioneers of Oregon, and associated with the most substantial development of Port- land, He was born in New York City, March 24, 1842, and of the six children born to Josiah and Henrietta (Ellison) Failing who reached maturity, he is the youngest. His par- ents were natives respectively of Montgomery county, N. Y., and Charleston, S. C. Josialı Failing died in Portland, August 14, 1877, and was survived by his wife until January 20, 1885. Of the children in the family Mary F. is now Mrs. Merrill of Portland: Elizabeth became the. wife of John Conner of Albany, Ore., but is now deceased; Henry is mentioned at length in an- other part of this work: John W. studied medi- cine after retiring from business in 1865. and thereafter practiced near Knoxville, Tenn., up to the time of his death, in January, 1895; Edward is also written of in this work; and James F. completes the number.

When eleven years old James F. Failing came with his brother and mother around the Horn in the ship Hurricane. the journey to San Fran- cisco taking four months. They came at once

to Portland, the trip being made by steamer. The youth was educated at the Portland Acad- emy and Female Seminary, which was the lead- ing school of the state, and in 1860, after com- pleting his studies, began clerking for his brother Henry. January 1, 1871, was organized the firm of Corbett, Failing & Co., Henry Failing and Mr. Corbett being the two principal partners, the other members of the firm being Marshall B. Millard, Edward Failing, James F. Failing as the Portland partners, and Jolin A. Hatt as the eastern partner. With some changes the firm continued in business in Portland until January I, 1895, at which time the corporation of Corbett. Failing & Robertson was formed, consisting largely of the two firms of Corbett, Failing & Co., and Foster & Robertson. The firm carry one of the largest hardware stocks in the northwest, and the business is still located on the east side of Front street, between Oak and Stark streets. Although still president of the company James F. Failing retired from business about two years ago, and is now enjoying a rest from a very active career.

In Albany, Ore., in 1880, Mr. Failing was united in marriage with Jane J. Conner, Mrs. Failing being a native of Albany, and daughter of John and Martha ( Whittlesey ) Conner. Mr. Conner was a pioneer merchant and banker of Albany, who died in Portland February 12, 1902. Mrs. Failing is a graduate of the Albany Colle- giate Institute, and is the mother of five children : Edward J., a graduate of Yale University, class of 1903; Kate Whittlesey, attending school at Waterbury, Conn .: John Conner; Frederick El- lison ; and Henrietta Chase. Mr. Failing is a member of the First Baptist Church of Port- land. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Oregon Historical Society, and the Oregon Pioneers."

EDWARD FAILING. In writing the his- tory of a city or county one must devote con- siderable space to the men who have built up and developed the commercial industry. The pres- ent generation of Oregon owes much to those men, who, by their business ability and perse- verance, have made this one of the greatest states in the Union. Although not a native of Oregon, practically the entire life of Mr. Fail- ing was spent in the city of Portland. It was here he received his educational training and it was here that he first entered the mercantile field. His efforts were well rewarded, and when he died he was able to leave his family a com- fortable competence.

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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 4

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