Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 40

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 40

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Born and reared in Germany, Max Pracht came with his parents to America, and for a while lived in Ohio. During the Civil war he served as a soldier, being connected with the United States navy. He was subsequently commercial salesman for a St. Louis firm for a while, and then settled in San Francisco, Cal., where he traveled for Neville & Co. for a number of years, for about ten years being a member of the firm. Going thence to Alaska, he was engaged in salmon packing at Loring until 1887, when he came to Oregon, locating in Ashland, where he became identified with the Ashland Woolen Mills. Subsequently buying twenty-five acres of raw land, he improved it and set out a large number of fruit trees, establishing the now celebrated Peachblow Paradise orchard, which contains a choice variety of peach trees and other varieties of fruit. As head of the firm of Max Pracht & Sons, lie is carrying on an extensive and remun-

erative fruit business, having his own packing house and shipping principally to Portland and the Sound cities. The products of the Peach- blow orchard are widely and favorably known, having taken premiums and gold medals at sev- eral expositions, including the World's Fair, held at Chicago in 1893; the Pan-American Exposi- tion, held in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1901, and at Charleston, S. C. Under President Harrison Max Pracht served as collector of customs for the dis- trict of Alaska, being located in Sitka. He drafted and secured the passage of the bill estab- lishing the Alaska fish commission, and was aft- erwards fish commissioner in Alaska. He married Mary Winings, a native of Ohio, and of their union three children were born, namely : W. B., of Ashland; Alexander H., the subject of this sketch ; and Charlotte Bronte, wife of A. R. Wilkins, of Dunsmuir, Cal.

Removing with his parents to San Francisco when quite young, Alexander H. Pracht attended the public schools of that city until 1888, when he came to Ashland, where he continued. his studies, completing his education at the public schools. He subsequently assisted in the care of the home orchard until 1891, when he became clerk in the large hotel, The Oregon, which his father owned and managed from 1891 until 1892. Since that time Mr. Pracht has been in the hotel business more or less. Entering the employ of J. A. Gross in 1895, he became clerk at the Depot Hotel, with which he is now connected, and grad- ually worked his way up to manager of the house. In 1901 Mr. Pracht bought out Mr. Gross's interest in the house, which he has since conducted with good success, making it one of the leading hotels of southern Oregon, being es- pecially patronized by transient guests.

In Portland, Ore., October 15, 1899, Mr. Pracht married Miss Susie Martin, who was born and bred in Chippewa Falls. Wis. In politics Mr. Pracht is a firm adherent of the Re- publican party and has served as councilman one term, representing the First ward. Fraternally he is a member of Roseburg Lodge, No. 326, B. P. O. E.

WILLIAM HENRY OWENS. There are few men in Tillamook county so expert in treat- ing domestic animals as William Henry Owens. Since earliest childhood he has been associated with the various kinds of stock from which man derives profit and pleasure, and aside from skill acquired by years of experience, has brought to his humane and landable work that genuine lik- ing which has brought success within his ready grasp. Upon coming to the west Mr. Owens followed farming and veterinary work in Hum- boldt county, Cal., for a time, and in 1889 lo-

&.a. Anderson

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cated upon his present farm, six miles south- east of Tillamook. He has eighty acres of well- improved land, and while engaged in general farming and stock-raising, continues veterinary work to some extent. A model dairy constitutes an important part of the farm, which is fertile and well improved, and fifteen cows are milked for the accommodation of a paying and promis- ing dairy trade.

Of Welsh ancestry on both sides of his family, Mr. Owens was born near Scranton, Pa., June 22, 1837, and is the third of three sons and three daughters born to his parents, Robert and Win- nifred (Thomas) Owens, natives of Wales, both of whom came to America with their parents. Robert Owens was twenty years old when he arrived in America and he located near Scranton, Pa., where he eventually married and reared his family of children. His home life was excep- tionally happy, and the wife who contributed to his well being for so many years fortunately tar- ried with him almost to the last, her death oc- curring at the age of seventy-nine in Oneida county, N. Y., and his one month later, at the age of eighty. Robert Owens was a farmer and vet- erinary surgeon and early devoted his energies to a minute study of the diseases of animals. It thus happened that his son, William Henry, be- came interested in the same line of occupation. and while young in years, gained a fair knowl- edge of the anatomy and peculiar ailments of cows, horses, sheep and other four-footed ani- mals. He was twelve years old when the fam- ily moved near Delta, Oneida county, N. Y., and in the vicinity of the home farm he attended the public schools during the winter season, working hard in the harvest field during the sum- mer time. In 1864 he married Margaret Gib- son, who was born in Canada in January, 1836. Of this union there have been born two children, Nellie, the wife of F. H. Carey, of Rainier, Ore., and William, living with his father on the home farm. Mr. Owens remained in New York until his twenty-sixth year, and then located on a farm near Joliet, Will county, Ill., where he farmed and doctored sheep and cattle. A year later he removed to Iowa, and for a year and a half en- gaged in carpentering, removing then to a farm in Redwood county, Minn. In 1874 he removed to Walnut Grove, that county, where for twelve years he was engaged in the mercantile business. During that time he also served as county com- missioner for three years. For eleven years, or during the terms of three treasurers, he was dep- utized to receive the taxes in the southern part of the county, thus handling many thousand dollars of public money. For eight years, dur- ing the spring and fall seasons, he bought and shipped cattle and hogs to Chicago, Ill., consign- ing his shipments principally to Captain Will-

son, Tomlinson, Fuller & Co., and Harley Green, commission men. Subsequently disposing of his store, he went to California and from there to his present home, where he has entered into the race for wealth with the enthusiasm so typical of the adopted sons of the northwest. Mr.

Owens is a Republican in politics, and has served three years as a member of the school board. For many years he has been identified with the Ma- sons, coming to the Tillamook lodge from the lodge at Walnut Grove, Minn., and for two years was treasurer of his lodge.

EDMUND A. ANDERSON. For more than three decades Edmund A. Anderson has been closely associated with the industrial interests of Marshfield, for twenty-five years of the time hav- ing been employed in the livery business. He is also engaged to some extent in mercantile pur- suits, his business enterprise bringing to his at- tention several lines of industry. Public-spirited, intelligent and capable, he has held municipal offices of importance, in each case serving most creditably and acceptably. He was born May 20, 1842, in Queens county, Prince Edward Is- land, which was the life-long residence of his parents, David and Margaret ( McLaren) Ander- son. His paternal grandfather, who as a sailor made many voyages, was lost at sea. David An- derson was a well known and successful business inan, being engaged in farming and ship build- ing at St. Peter's Bay for many years. He at- tained a good old age, dying at the age of eighty- six years. His wife survived him, dying when ninety years old. Of their ten children, seven were boys, Edmund A., the subject of this sketch, being the seventh child.

After completing his studies in the district schools, Edmund A. Anderson worked with his father on the home farm, and from him learned the trade of a ship builder and carpenter. Mi- grating to the United States in 1868, he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, locating in San Francisco, where he followed his trade for a year. Coming to Coos county in 1869, he was employed in Simpson's ship yard, at North Bend, the first year, after which he worked as ship carpenter in Marshfield. Em- barking in business on his own account in 1878. Mr. Anderson opened a livery stable, which he has since managed most successfully. At that time there were no good highways in this sec- tion of the county, and he opened the first wagon road going out of the city. Beginning business on a very modest scale, he has gradually enlarged his operations, now keeping eighteen head of horses, and up-to-date vehicles of all kinds. He introduced the first buggy into Marshfield, and now keeps a part of it as a relic. In addition

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to his livery business, Mr. Anderson deals in wood, coal, hay, and grain, and keeps on hand a small stock of harnesses for sale, carrying on a large and lucrative trade.

At Prince Edward Island, Mr. Anderson mar- ried Caroline Murray, a native of that island, and a daughter of Murdock Murray, who was born in Scotland, but spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son, six children were born, namely: Emma, deceased; Herbert, in Astoria; Lillie, the wife of J. A. Luse of Marshfield; Annie, the wife of John S. Coke, Jr., attorney in Marshfield; Mar- guerite, a public school teacher ; and Eva. Po- litically Mr. Anderson uniformly casts his vote in favor of the Republican party. He has ever taken a lively interest in local affairs, and has acceptably filled many offices of responsibility. To him is accorded the honor of being elected the first mayor of Marshfield, a position that he held one term ; for many years he was a member of the city council ; and a number of terms he served as road supervisor, in that capacity doing much to encourage the building of good roads. He is a member of Blanco Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., and the Eastern Star Chapter; also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has served officially in lodge, encampment, and in the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs; and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

SAMUEL FURRY will be remembered by many of the oldest citizens of Jackson county, Ore., as a worthy pioneer of that section, who possessed rare skill and judgment in the man- agement of his personal affairs and whose public life was full of commendable points. He was a man who relied solely upon his own ability to make for himself a place in the world. The de- scendant of a worthy Pennsylvania family and himself a native of the Keystone state, Mr. Furry was reared principally in Ohio, whither his par- ents had removed. Some time afterward he went to Henry county, Iowa, and it was while residing there that he married Miss Amelia Barneburg, who still survives him. After mar- riage the young people continued to reside in Iowa until 1860, when they drifted with the tide of cmigration and sought a home in the far west, making the trip in the customary manner, be- hind ox teams.

At that time this section of the country was sparsely populated and much of the land was wild and undeveloped. Settling at once in Jack- son county, Mr. Furry opened a hotel at Phoenix and for several years met with a fair degree of

success in catering. to the desires of the traveling public. Preferring the more independent call- ing of a farmer, he discontinued the hotel busi- ness, and purchasing a ranch in the vicinity, his personal attention was given to agricultural ope- rations on his farm until his health failed a short time prior to his death, in 1899. His po- litical allegiance was always given to the Demo- cratic party, by whom he was elected county com- missioner, member of the legislature, and served in various other official capacities. At his death his large estate was divided among his children and his widow, the latter residing at the present time on the ranch, which is among the best in the vicinity of Phoenix. The children, four in number, are as follows: Fred; Arthur ; Donna, now Mrs. John Graffis, a resident of Klamath county; and Edmona, now Mrs. W. E. Ander- son, who resides near the home place. During his eventful life Mr. Furry seized every oppor- tunity to raise himself to a high plane of man- hood and he was known as a man of probity and fairness, his success being the result of the ex- emplary course he followed throughout life.

DAVID R. SHAMBROOK. Distinguished as a native-born citizen of Douglas county, and as a veteran of the Spanish-American war, David R. Shambrook, of Roseburg, holds a prominent position among the public-spirited and popular citizens of his community. A man of unques- tioned integrity, his influence is felt in business, military, fraternal and political circles, and he is now rendering faithful service as county clerk, a position for which he is eminently fitted by education and training. Coming from excellent English stock, he was born April 19, 1860, in Coles Valley, about nineteen miles north of Rose- burg, in Douglas county, a son of George Sham- brook.

Born in England in 1828, George Shambrook came with his parents to Canada in 1833, and subsequently lived for a few years in Illinois. In 1847, journeying across the plains with ox- teams, he came to Oregon, locating at Oregon City, where he was engaged in the butcher busi- ness for five years. In 1852 he took up a dona- tion claim near Garden Bottom, on the Umpqua river, but subsequently sold that claim, and pur- chased his fine ranch at Coles Valley, where he resided up to the time of his death, July 12, 1903. He made many improvements of value on his land, and was one of the prosperous farmers of that section of the county. His wife, whose maid- en name was Lucretia Ridenour, was born in In- diana, a daughter of David Ridenour. Mr. Ride- nour came with his family across the plains to Oregon in 1853, locating in Coles Valley as a farmer, but subsequently removed to Nevada,

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where he spent his last years. Mr. and Mrs. George Shambrook became the parents of thir- teen children, seven of whom survive, namely : Mrs. Mary McKechnie, of Portland; David R., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Hannah Evans, of Silverton; J. L., of Coles Valley; B. F., of Portland; Mrs. Martha Stewart, of Myrtle Creek; and Maude, living at home. A more complete history of the Shambrook family will be found on another page of this work.

After completing his studies in the district school, David R. Shambrook took a course at the old National Business College in Portland, Ore., being graduated from there in 1880. Re- turning home, he turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, and subsequently purchased, in Coles Valley, three hundred and forty acres of land, from which he developed a good farm, which he still owns. In addition to general farming he carried on stock-raising to quite an extent, being successful in both branches of farm- ing. Being appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Cathcart, he served for two years in that position, and then embarked in the grocery busi- ness as junior member of the firm of Kruse & Shambrook, which was located in Roseburg, on Jackson street.

In 1897 Mr. Shambrook entered Company A, Second Oregon National Guard, and was ap- pointed corporal of his company. On the break- ing out of the Spanish-American war he enlisted in Company B, Second Oregon Volunteer In- fantry, and was appointed color sergeant and provost sergeant, by Colonel Summers. Going with his comrades to the Philippine Islands, hc bore the regiment's colors in every engagement of the long campaign, on his return home de- livering them to the governor. On being mus- tered out of service with his regiment, August 7, 1899, Mr. Shambrook returned to Roseburg, his former home. In 1900 he was nominated for county clerk by the Republicans, and was elected by a majority of thirty-two, for a term of two years, beginning in July of that year. Being renominated to the same office in 1902, by acclamation, he was re-elected, this time re- ceiving a majority of four hundred and ten votes, being again elected for two years.

Mr. Shambrook married, in Coles Valley. Mary King, who was born in Looking Glass Valley, a daughter of Nelson King, a pioneer farmer of Douglas county, who took up a dona- tion claim in that section of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Shambrook have two children, namely : Flossie P., deputy county clerk ; and George F., living at home. One of the most loval Repub- licans of the community, Mr. Shambrook takes a keen interest in local affairs, and never shirks the responsibilities of public office. In 1898 he was serving as councilman from the first ward

of Roseburg, but resigned to go to the Philippine Islands, and at that time was also chairman of the First Congressional Committee of Douglas county. He was made a Mason in Oakland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is now a member of Roseburg Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M., and of Roseburg Chapter, R. A. M. He is likewise a member of the Woodmen of the World; of Joseph Lane Cabin, Native Sons; and of Percy Williams Camp, No. 21, Spanish-American War Veterans, of which he is past commander.

JAMES COSTELLO. As the name indi- cates, the Costello family is of Irish lineage. However, James Costello is of American birth, a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he was born August 26, 1831. It was his father, Michael, who established the family on the west shore of the Atlantic, coming from Queens county, Ireland, and settling on a farm near St. Johns, where he remained until his death. After taking up his residence at St. Johns he married Katharine Steele, a native of that town and one of its life-long residents. Three sons and one daughter were born of their union, of whom the latter and James are the only survivors. In order of birth James was third in the family cir- cle. His education was obtained in the common schools of St. Johns, and on leaving school he became an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, of which he acquired a thorough knowledge.

On coming to the States, in 1852, Mr. Costello settled in Boston, where he followed the carpen- ter's trade for ten years. His next location was New York city, and in that metropolis he readily secured all the work he could manage. Feeling, however, that the west contained possibilities at- tractive to a man possessing the true pioneer spirit, he was not content to spend his entire life in the east, and we find him, after a long and busy life in New York, proceeding to Denver, Col., where he spent the year 1881. During 1882 he came to Portland, Ore., where for three years he remained in the employ of a car manufactur- ing company. Desiring to try his success at ranching, in 1885 he went to Curry county and took up land. Six years later he sold the place and at that time ( 1891) came to Bandon, where he now makes his home. During the earlier period of his residence in this town he took up the occupation in which his early life had been passed and the proceeds of his labor were in part invested in thirteen acres of land within the town limits. In 1897 he erected the Pacific hotel at Bandon, and of this he continued as proprietor for four years, since which time it has been rented. To some extent he has relinquished ac- tive business cares, allowing himself in life's afternoon the leisure for recreation that his

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

earlier years denied. One of his favorite modes of enjoying himself is a fishing trip in the sail- boat which he owns. In his busy life politics has not played an important part. Neither of the prominent political organizations receives his al- legiance, but he maintains an independent atti- tude and votes for the men whom he deems best qualified to represent the people in offices of trust. His family consists of his wife, who was Sarah Kennedy, a native of New York city, and one daughter, Ada, at this writing a stenogra- pher in Portland, Ore.

DANINA BANANI PROVOST. The mayor of Ashland, who has been identified with the history of Oregon since 1870, is a descendant of an ancient French family and was born near Montreal, Canada, February 26, 1852. He was one of four sons, the others being Moses, a farmer in the Northwestern Territory; Julian, a general merchant at St. Paul, Marion county, Ore .; and Peter, a retired merchant residing in Ashland. The father, Benjamin, a native of Montreal and the son of a Canadian farmer, followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in his native land at sixty-six years of age. In early manhood he married Favi Leonard Favrost, a member of an old Montreal family of French extraction; she survived him many years, dying in 1902, at ninety-three years of age.

During boyhood years D. B. Provost was a pupil in the national schools of Canada. In 1867 he went to Troy, N. Y., and a few months later worked his way to Savannah, Ga. In the spring of 1870 he came west to California, and in the fall of the same year settled in Oregon, where for three years he rented a farm near Gervais, Marion county, on French Prairie. Removing from there to Yamhill county, in 1874, he em- barked in the meat business at Bellevue and con- tinued in the same enterprise until 1890. Mean- while he bought and improved farm lands, and owned eight hundred acres of fine valley land, all under excellent improvement, and situated a few miles north of Sheridan. In 1893 he dis- posed of all of his possessions in Yamhill county and came to Ashland, where he built and now occupies a comfortable residence on the hill. Soon after his arrival he became a member of the firm of Kenney & Provost, owners of the finest hardware store in the town. Later he pur- chased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1902, when he sold out to his nephews. While conducting the store he learned the tinsmith's trade and did a large busi- ness in that line, also established an important trade in plumbing. During the early days of his residence in Oregon he learned the carpenter's

trade and did some work in house-building, but since then he has given little attention to that trade, except in superintending the erection of buildings for himself. Possessing mechanical ability of a high order, he is an expert worker with tools and understands the putting together of machinery of all kinds.

The industry with which Mr. Provost is now especially identified, the Ashland iron works, is an incorporated company, of which he is presi- dent and treasurer, and which owns a plant thor- oughly up-to-date in every respect. In addition to his duties as an officer of the company, he is now filling the office of mayor of Ashland, to which he was elected on the Democratic ticket, in December, 1902, taking the oath of office in January, 1903, for a term of one year. A promi- nent member of the Democratic local ranks, he has rendered efficient service not only as a mem- ber of the county central committee, but also as a member of the state central committee. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. Physically and mentally, he is sturdy, vigorous and robust. That he possesses a fine constitution was proved by an experience he met with in the summer of 1903. While help- ing to pull out the rods from an old oil well, by some means he was struck by the cable, which hurled him through the air and landed him fif- teen feet away, with his head against a pile of lumber. Those who hastened to his side feared life would be extinct and were relieved to find that, though unconscious, he still breathed. He was carried to his home, where he lay for four weeks and two days before regaining conscious- ness, but his strength then came back to him rap- idly and he is now apparently none the worse for his dangerous experience. Among the people of Ashland he is held in the highest esteem, as a man of the utmost integrity, an able administra- tor of civic affairs and a successful business man.

JOHN GEORGE RAST. For nearly four decades John George Rast, late of Roseburg, was prominently identified with the industrial prosperity of Douglas county, and occupied an assured position among its most esteemed citi- zens. Possessing energy, sound judgment and excellent business tact, he was quite successful in his active pursuits, and did his part in promoting the highest interests of town and county. He was born in the Canton of Luzerne, Switzerland, May 10, 1838, and died at his home in Rose- burg, Ore .. December 8, 1898, his death being a loss to the community as well as to his im- mediate family and friends. His father, Joseph Rast, emigrated to America with his family dur- ing the '40s, and located at St. Louis, Mo .. ,

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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 40

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