Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 46

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 46

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At the Albion mines, in Nova Scotia, in 1850, Mr. Holland married Sarah Skidmore, who was born in Dudley, Staffordshire, England, May 12, 1833. and died at Marshfield, Ore., March 25, 1902. Her father, Joseph Skidmore, a native of England, emigrated with his family to Nova Scotia, and after working a few years in the coal mines at Albion, removed to Frostburg, Md., where he spent his remaining days. Five children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holland, namely: Anna, wife of Robert Simpson, of North Bend, Ore .; Nellie, wife of William Ross, of Marshfield; Thomas D., who is engaged in boat building and manufacturing in Marshfield; William Wallace, a boat builder ; and Parker B., also engaged in boat building. Politically Mr. Holland is an unswerving Re- publiean, always loyal to the interests of his party. Fraternally he is a member of Blanco Lodge, No. 48, 1. F. & A. M. In all public matters he has given liberally of his means and influenec, and in his younger days was one of the publie spirited men of Marshfield. although he now lives retired from the cares of business.

FRANCIS M. SHEARER. The thriving lit- tle town of Garibaldi has a full quota of live, energetic and persevering business men, among whom Francis M. Shearer occupies a position of note. For nearly a score of years he was an active assistant in promoting the agricultural prosperity of Tillamook county, but is now prominently identified with its mercantile in- terests. A man of ability, integrity and true worth, he is widely known, and much esteemed as a man and a citizen. He was born in Page county, lowa. February 28, 1853, a son of the late William Shearer.

Born in North Carolina, February 13, 1830, William Shearer eame of excellent Scotch an- cestry. When a young man he located in Iowa as a pioneer, buying land in Page county, where he broke up and improved a farm. In 1864 he came with his family to Oregon, erossing the plains with oxen, and being five months and

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five days on the way. Locating in the Chehalem valley, Yamhill county, he remained there until the following spring. Removing to Forest Grove, Washington county, he bought land about one and one-half miles from the village, and was there engaged in farming for several years. Trading his ranch for land in Klickitat county, Wash., he moved up there with his family, con- tinuing his independent occupation in that local- ity until 1898. Returning to Oregon in that year, he settled in Multnomah county, and was a resident of Montavilla until his death, Jan- uary 29, 1899. He married Nancy C. Johnson, who was born January 30, 1836, in Indiana, and they became the parents of five children, all boys, Francis M. being the eldest child.

Spending the days of his boyhood and youth in Iowa, Francis M. Shearer obtained his early education in the pioneer district school, and while yet a lad assisted his father on the farm. Coming with his parents to Yamhill county, Ore., in 1864, then eleven years old, he still re- members many incidents of the memorable journey hither. Being strong and rugged, he helped clear and improve a homestead in Wash- ington county, Ore., and in Klickitat county, Wash. At the age of seventeen years he began work as a wage-earner, following any remunera- tive employment. Coming from Washington to Oregon in 1883, he located in Tillamook county, not far from the city of Tillamook. Purchasing a ranch of fifty acres, he built up an extensive and profitable dairy business, which he carried on until 1899. Selling out his dairy interests in that year. Mr. Shearer removed to Gari- baldi, erected a store, and embarked in business as a general merchant. In this occupation he has met with undoubted success, his trade being large, and his patrons numerous.

In 1883 Mr. Shearer married Sarah F. Lati- mer, who comes of substantial English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer have three children liv- ing, all at home, namely: Otto, August M. and Christie. Mr. Shearer is an unswerving Demo- crat in politics, and has rendered good service to his adopted town as school director and as road supervisor. He is interested in fraternal and social circles, being a member of Golden- dale Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Goldendale, Wash., and is a Patron of Husbandry, belonging to the grange at Greenville, Ore.

JOHN EMMITT. Throughout Douglas county, Ore., where he had resided for nearly half a century, Jolın Emmitt was widely known. A man of sterling worth and excellent judgment, he was a leader in many of the plans put forth for the development of the country, and in the early '50s was instrumental in the erection of

many district schools and laying out roads. He was born October 12, 1825, in Northumberland county, Pa. When fourteen years of age he re- moved with his parents to the prairies of Illi- nois, the family making their home in Logan county, and it was in the district schools of that county that John Emmitt gained his knowledge of books. He continued to make his home in Illinois until his removal to the west, this change of location occurring in the spring of 1852. His equipment for this six months' journey consisted of one wagon, five yoke of oxen, two cows and one horse. Arriving at Coles Valley, Douglas county, Ore., he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres and at once erect- ed a one-room log cabin, 14x16 feet. It was in this cabin, on the banks of the Umpqua river, that the family made their home for fourteen years. In 1866 Mr. Emmitt built the more modern house now occupied by his widow.

In Illinois, September 17, 1847, Mr. Emmitt was united in marriage with Caroline Thomp- son, a native of Tennessee, born April 29, 1827. Accompanied by her parents she went to Illinois in 1831, making her home in Logan county un- til her removal to the west with her husband in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt became the parents of twelve children, four of whom are deceased, William and Louisa, who died of cholera while the family were crossing the plains, and Emma and Enos. The other children are as follows : Robert, a resident of Klamath county ; John F., a United States marshal in Nevada; Willie Ann, the wife of Joseph Churchill, of Coles valley; Ella, who is living on the home place; Edward E., a rancher of Coles valley; Rose, who man- agcs the home ranch; Jane, the wife of Joseph Coffman, of Milton, Ore .; and Kitty, now Mrs. Edward Von Pessl, of Cleveland, Ore. Although well. along in years Mrs. Emmitt is spending her days in comfort and ease on the old home placc and is enjoying the freedom from care which is her just reward after a life of toil and hardship known only to the pioneer.

Mr. Emmitt added to his original acreage from time to time as his means permitted, and at the time of his death, December 6, 1901, owned eighteen hundred and sixty acres. Not only was this property highly cultivated and improved, as those terms are generally understood, but the en- tire tract was at all times kept in the finest con- dition and made to yield abundantly. Aside from general farming he also raised considerable stock, meeting with excellent success in this department of agriculture. Politically Mr. Emmitt was a Re- publican, and as an evidence of the confidence which his fellow citizens vested in him was his election to the state senate for two terms, 1884-85 and 1886-87. During the early days he also served as justicc of the peace.

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RIAL BENEDICT. No country stopping place in Jackson county is better known than that of Rial Benedict, who has occupied his present farm since 1859, and during all that time has kept open house for the travelers from Crescent City to the Rogue River valley. In the early days this hospitable little tavern fur- nished refreshment to both man and beast in much larger numbers than at present, for all of the freighting passed along the road in front of it, and glad indeed were the tired wayfarers to ac- cept the good cheer and hear the friendly greet- ing of the genial host. Distances seemed longer then, and roads were rough, houses far apart, and friendly voices rare. Hundreds were seek- ing to establish homes, and the difficulties were great, especially in transporting household goods and farm machinery. Naturally Mr. Benedict played an important part in this settlement, and knew almost everyone who came into the wild country.

Mr. Benedict is not only a pioneer of Oregon, but he was also a pioneer of DeKalb county, Ill., removing there from his home in Genesee county, N. Y., where he was born March 21, 1822. In Illinois, which he reached overland, and by canal, he purchased government land at $1.25 an acre, and having one hundred and twenty acres, it took him quite a while to clear it. Nevertheless, the ten years spent here were prolific of good results, and he also established a home after his marriage with Mary J. Cougle, also an early settler of Illinois. Reaching there in the spring of 1842, Mr. Benedict lived on his farm until the spring of 1852, when he sold out and outfitted with ox-teams to cross the plains to Oregon. His journey was a fairly pleasant one, and upon arriving at Oregon City, he went at once to Corvallis, where he ran a hotel until December, 1854. He then moved to the Applegate road and ran a hotel there during the winter of 1854 and until the spring of 1855, and by this time had changed his mind as to the great possibilities of Oregon as a place of residence. Returning to Illinois for the purpose of making it his permanent home in 1856, he remained there until 1859, and then, yielding to the longing which had never forsaken him since he stepped from the Panama steamer, made his way up the Mississippi river to his former home in Illinois. Again purchasing ox-teams and wagons, he crossed the plains with even fewer troublesome experiences than before, and in the fall of 1859 purchased his present farm of four hundred and fifty acres skirting the Applegate river, at Applegate postoffice, and fourteen miles from Jacksonville. He has car- ried on general farming and stock-raising in connection with the running of his hotel, and no man is better or more favorably known in

these parts. Everyone has a kind word to say of the venerable and genial Rial Benedict, and all are glad to stop and pass the time of day with the man who has done so much for the com- fort and happiness of hundreds of travelers.

Mr. Benedict has missed few of the experi- ences which were characteristic of the early days. During his first sojourn in Jackson county he had considerable trouble with the Indians, and actively participated in the Rogue river war of 1855-56. Indians often came to his hotel during those times, but it was always his policy to treat them kindly, and endeavor to promote a good feeling between them and himself. His life has been a comparatively peaceful one, possibly for the reason that he looks on the bright side of life and thus wins to himself brightness and esteem, and many of the comforts and pleasures of life.

WILLIAM IRA VAWTER. The bar of Jackson county numbers among its success- ful members William Ira Vawter, who has been in continuous practice in Medford since 1891. Aside from his professional interests Mr. Vawter is deeply interested in financial matters, being president of the Jackson County Bank. Mr. Vawter, who comes of pioneer parentage, on both sides of his family, represents the third generation in the state, and was born in Linn county, Ore., March 24, 1863. His mother, Sarah A. (Finley) Vawter, crossed the plains from Missouri with her parents in 1846, his father undertaking the same hazardous journey in 1852.

From the drudgery of the Linn county farm Mr. Vawter stepped into an active student life at the University of Oregon in 1880, and while in the law department spent a portion of his time teaching county schools. Soon after his graduation in 1886 he was appointed principal of the public schools of Eugene, remaining in that position for two years. In 1888 he entered the world of finance and founded the Jackson County Bank at Medford, and for the past twelve years has served as the honored president of one of the substantial and reliable monetary in- stitutions of this part of the state. Since his first voting days Mr. Vawter has been a stanch upholder of Republican principles, but has stead- fastly declined to range himself with the office- seekers of his county. For years he has been prominent in the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in 1896 was elected grand master of the state lodge of Oregon, in 1897 being elevated to the position of sovereign grand representative, which he held two years. He has taken an important part in the delibera- tions of this august fraternal organization, and the esteem in which he is held by his fellow

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members adds to the universal estimate merited by his high character, his profound intellectual attainments and his public spirited efforts as a citizen of the great northwest.

In 1889 Mr. Vawter was united in marriage with Etta M. Hill, of which union two sons have been born, Vernon Hill and William Ira, Jr.

JOHN HAMLIN. Inheriting from his New England ancestors those sturdy characteristics that go toward the making of a brave soldier and a good citizen, John Hamlin, a highly es- teemed resident of Roseburg, has proved him- self a worthy descendant of his honored fore- fathers, some of whom fought in the early co- lonial wars, while others served in the Contin- ental army. Inspired by patriotic ardor, he, too, fought for his country's honor, serving in the Civil war, and winning for himself an honorable record for gallantry and fidelity. He has since been equally faithful on life's battle-field, per- forming the duties required of him as a man and a citizen in an exemplary manner. A son of Simeon Hamlin, he was born June 18, 1840, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, not far from Eurics- ville. He comes of English descent, the immi- grant ancestor of the family to which he belongs, one James Hamlin, having come from England to Massachusetts in 1639, settling in Barnstable.

There his descendants lived for many genera- tions. Some of them served in the old Pequot wars, and at a later time some were soldiers in the Revolution. During the Civil war there were two hundred Hamlins in the service, some spelling their name as it is here written, others spelling it Hamblin, Hamblen, Hamlyn, or Ham- lyne. Asa Hamlin, the grandfather of John Hamilin, was born in Barnstable, Mass., being of the seventh generation from James Hamlin, the immigrant. He served in the war of 1812, be- ing a scout at Lake Champlain. He was then a resident of Grand Isle, Vt., and employed as a tanner. He afterwards removed to Ohio, where he continued his chosen occupation until his death.

A native of Grand Isle, Vt., Simeon Hamlin began his active career as a farmer in Ohio. In 1845 he removed to Wisconsin, locating near Fort Winnebago, now Columbia, and there con- tinned in agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In May, 1854, he migrated still farther westward, settling in Madison county, Iowa, as a pioneer farmer. Improving a homestead, he resided there until his death, in 1871, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a Republican in poli- tics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Eleanor Thompson, a na- tive of Pittsburg, Pa., and a daughter of John G. Thompson, an Orangeman, who was born in

County Down, Ireland. He emigrated to Amer- ica when young, and for several years thereafter was a school teacher in Pittsburg. Removing from there to Ohio, he located first in Belmont county, then in Tuscarawas county, where he improved a farm, later residing in Gallia county until his death. He was a Presbyterian in re- ligion. Of the union of Simeon and Eleanor (Thompson) Hamlin nine children were born, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, name- ly : John, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Eliza- beth Cochran, of Iowa; Josephus, a resident of Madison county, Iowa; Columbus, who served in Company H, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, died August 16, 1863, at Memphis, Tenn .; Seth, of Lincoln coun- ty, Kans .; Mrs. Martha Kirk, of Iowa; Robert F., living in Winthrop, Ark .; and Mrs. Hannah Hurst, who lives near Aspen, Colo. One daugh- ter, Hulda, died in Iowa. The mother also died in Iowa in the year 1900, aged seventy-three.

Taken by his parents to Wisconsin when but five years old, John Hamlin had very limited school advantages in that pioneer country, the sessions in the old log schoolhouses being neces- sarily short. In 1854 the family removed to Madison county, Iowa, where he gave material assistance in breaking up and improving a farm, while in the winter terms he attended the district school. July 26, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and the following September was mustered in at Des Moines. Going south to Missouri and Arkan- sas, he was engaged with his regiment in many skirmishes, afterwards taking part in the bat- tles of Magnolia Hill, Jackson, Champion Hill and in charge of Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg and Milliken's Bend. He then ac- companied his regiment on the Feche expedition to western Louisiana and on returning marched from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Fort Es- peranza on the east end of Matagordo Island. After patrolling the Mississippi and its tributar- ies for several months, he took part in the siege and capture of Mobile, Fort Spanish and Fort Blakeley. In June, 1865, he went with his regi- ment to Galveston, Texas, thence to Columbus, Texas, where he was stationed until July 24. Proceeding to Harrisburg, he was mustered out, and returned to Davenport, Iowa, where, in August, 1865, he received his honorable dis- charge. Although Mr. Hamlin participated in every skirmish, raid and battle of the company and regiment, serving as fourth sergeant, he was never wounded, and was never in the hospital.

On returning from the scene of conflict, Mr. Hamlin engaged in farming and teaching in Madison county, Iowa, until 1869, when he re- moved to Labette county, Kans., where he con- tinned in those occupations. In 1874 he was ad-

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mitted to the bar, and a short time later migrated to California, settling in San Luis Obispo, where he was engaged in stock-raising for three years. Resuming his profession, he established a large law practice there, and was justice of the peace four years, and police judge two years. In May, 1889, Mr. Hamlin came to Roseburg, Ore., where he continued his professional labors for a number of years, being very successful as an at- torney. For six years he was also justice of the peace. In January, 1903, he removed to his farm, which adjoins Brookside addition, being but three-fourths of a mile from the heart of the city of Roseburg. He has twenty-two acres of fine farm land, on which is a productive orchard, and five hundred acres of range land, which he de- votes to the raising of cattle, a branch of indus- try in which he is keenly interested.

March 11, 1867, Mr. Hamlin married, in Mad- ison county, Iowa, Miss Mahala J. Thomson, a native of Marion county, Ohio. Her father, Edmund B. Thomson, was born in Ohio, and reared to farming purusits. He afterwards re- moved to Iowa, locating first in Johnson county, then in Madison county, where he is now living, a hale and hearty man of eighty-four years. He is of Scotch descent. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Charlotte Morse, was born in Ohio, and died in Iowa, in 1901. She came from the same family that produced S. F. B. Morse, of telegraph fame. Of their nine chil- dren, four grew to years of maturity. One son, Edwin, served in the Civil war as a member of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He subsequently died in Sumner county, Kans. Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin have four children, name- ly : Capt. F. B., whose sketch will be found on another page of this volume ; Emma E., a teacher in the Failing School, Portland; Edmund T., a farmer in Roseburg; and James L., an employe of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. Mrs. Hamlin is now principal of the Glendale pub- lic schools. Mr. Hamlin is a stanch Republican in politics. He is a member, past commander, and now adjutant of Reno Post, G. A. R.

WILLIAM C. HILDEBRAND. A leading merchant of Roseburg, W. C. Hildebrand is one of its most substantial business men, and an im- portant factor in promoting its advancement and prosperity. As a citizen he is held in high re- pute, and by his excellent character and straight- forward business course in life has fully estab- lished himself in the esteem and confidence of the community, winning an extensive and lucra- tive patronage in this vicinity, his large depart- ment store containing a fine assortment of gen- cral merchandise, everything excepting groceries and hardware being kept in stock. A native of

the Mohawk valley, he was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery county, N. Y., March 2, 1869, a son of W. C. Hildebrand, Sr., who was born in the same place. His paternal grandfather, Charles Hildebrand, was born, reared and edu- cated in Germany. Coming to this country, he settled in Montgomery county. N. Y., where he worked as a carpenter and builder.

Growing to manhood in Canajoharie, N. Y., W. C. Hildebrand, Sr., served throughout the Civil war, enlisting in the Forty-third New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a non commissioned officer. Locating in Waverly, N. Y., in 1871, he was there engaged in the boot and shoe trade for a number of years. Remov- ing from there to St. Lawrence, S. Dak., he took up a homestead claim of four hundred and eighty acres, and embarked in the stock business. Com- ing to Roseburg, Ore., in 1891, he established himself in the mercantile business as a partner of his son, W. C., Jr., with whom he was as- sociated eight years. Selling his interest in the firm in 1899, he removed to Reno, Nev., where he is now carrying on a substantial mercantile trade. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Julia Detmer, who was born in Canajoharie, N. Y., and died in South Dakota in 1885. Her father, Augustus Detmer, was born in Germany, and settled in New York state, where he was a large bridge contractor. Of the union of W. C. Hildebrand, Sr., and Julia Detmer, four children were born, namely: W. C., Jr., the special subject of this sketch; Harvey A., of Chamberlain, S. Dak. ; Byrle, wife of J. G. Smith, of Roseburg, and Frank, who died at the age of six months.

Having acquired a practical education in the public schools of Waverly, N. Y., W. C. Hilde- brand, Jr., removed with his parents to South Dakota in 1883, and there worked on the home farm and attended the district school. In 1889 he went to San Francisco, where he was em- ployed as solicitor for a dairy firm for two years. Locating in Roseburg in 1891, he formed a co- partnership with his father, and opened a store of general merchandise in Taylor & Wilson's block. Putting in a stock valued at $1,500, their sales at first amounted to $6 per day. The trade increasing with unprecedented rapidity, the stock was proportionately enlarged, new goods being constantly added, and prior to the removal of the firm into its new quarters in the Caro block the sales amounted to $22,000 a year. The partnership being dissolved in 1899, Mr. Hildebrand has since continued the business alone, and is meeting with characteristic success. He has gradually en- larged his business, having now one of the largest stores in Southern Oregon.

Mr. Hildebrand married, in Roseburg, Miss Jennie Culver, who was born in Bandon, Ore.,

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a daughter of S. J. Culver. Mr. Culver was born on the plains, while his parents were en route to Oregon, journeying with ox-teams. He was for many years a prominent stockman of Bandon, where he still resides, a respected and esteemed citizen. Mrs. Hildebrand died, in Jan- uary, 1902, in San Francisco, leaving one child, Robert Hildebrand. She was a woman of re- finement and culture, and a valued member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Hilde- brand is an Independent Democrat. He takes great interest in municipal affairs, and is now serving as alderman, representing the third ward. He is chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and a member of the Judiciary Committee, and of the Committee on Expense and Accounts. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is chan- cellor ; of the Woodmen of the World; and of the Artisans, of which he is now treasurer for the third term.

WINFIELD SCOTT CONE. More than to any other man who has actively participated in its upbuilding, Bay City owes its present pros- perous condition to the business ability and re- sourcefulness of Winfield Scott Cone. This pro- moter and lumberman, whose active life has been principally spent within the sound of mills and falling trees, and who probably possesses as ex- tensive a knowledge of the lumbering output of America as any other citizen in this part of the country, is the heir to sterling and rugged char- acteristics, inherited from an ancestry which never failed in courage in times of danger, and buckled on its armor in nearly all of the war crises in this country.

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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 46

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