Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 50

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 50

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Mr. Bayley's first experience in the west was as a farmer and stock-raiser on Lost river, Kla- math county, but unfortunately he failed to de- rive expected benefit from the outdoor exercise, and in December, 1887, sold his farm and re- moved to Lakeview. In 1894 he was elected justice of the peace on the Republican ticket, and since has held the office continuously, with the exception of two years. He served as city recorder for one term, and has held other offices within the gift of this community. Mr. Bayley undertook his real estate and collection business in May, 1902. August 19, 1863, at Washington Court House, Ohio, he was united in marriage with Lucy Parrott, born in Fayette county, Ohio, October 14. 1839, and of which union three chil- dren have been born, all of whom are well estab- lished in life, and reflect credit upon their prac- tical and admirable home training. Kate, thic only daughter and oldest child, is the wife of S. C. Beach, of Portland, while Harry is the United States land receiver of Lakeview and is also en- gaged in the mercantile business, and Loren is superintendent of the water company of this town. Mr. Bayley is a member of the United

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Brethren Church, and for years has been a gen- erous contributor thereto. He is a man of scru- pulous integrity, of wide general information, and of keen sympathy with those who struggle ineffectually against the difficulties of life.

HENRY MCDERMOTT. Worthy of men- tion among the industrious and public-spirited citizens of Tillamook is Henry McDermott, a watchmaker by trade, a traveler in several states of the Union, and a resident of this town for twenty-four years. Born in Huntingdon county, Pa., February 10,. 1840, Mr. McDer- mott is a son of Barnard and Ellen (O'Con- nor) McDermott, natives of County Roscom- mon, Ireland, and reared and married in the mother country. Barnard McDermott was a master iron-worker, and after locating in Lockhaven, Clinton county, Pa., he was fur- naceman in the ironworks at that place, later on following the same occupation in Hunting- don county, where he retired from active life in 1859, and died some years later. His wife also died in Huntingdon county, after rearing a family of three sons and two daughters, Henry being the third child.

In his youth Henry McDermott learned the watchmakers' trade, and thus fortified for the future he turned his attention temporarily to labor having more of the element of specula- tion, and in Allegheny and Lawrence coun- ties, Pa., engaged in speculating in oil lands. In 1868, however, he developed an enthusiasm for the west, and made his way to Montana, spending a year at Helena and Deer Lodge. In the Puget Sound country he engaged in lumbering at the mouth of the Snohomish river, but not meeting with expected success went to California in 1871, and there con- tracted and got out ties for railway building. Mr. McDermott's liking for the west was of slow growth, else he would have hardly re- turned to the east as soon as he did, making the journey from California to Montana on horseback. At Grass Valley he stopped and ran a steam threshing machine for about four months, then went on his way, reaching Penn- sylvania in 1873. After visiting all of his peo- ple he returned in the spring to Minnesota, and in Brainerd ran a steam pump for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. In the meantime he suffered from impaired health, and in search for that which he had lost he made a trip to Florida, spending a winter in Orange City and along the Indian river.

In 1881 Mr. McDermott traveled from Flor- ida to Bentonville, Ark., and the following fall came to Oregon, visiting Jacksonville, Portland, Ore., and Stevens county, Wash.,

remaining in the latter place about nine months. He then located in Tillamook, which has since been his home, and after two years had elapsed, fitted up a little steamer called the "Minnie Miller," and ran the same during the summer time. Beginning with 1883, he engaged in a general merchandise business for ten years, and during that time served as county treasurer six years, elected thereto by his Republican constituents. In 1893 he sold out his merchandise business and turned his attention to his trade of watchmaker, which he has since followed. Mr. McDermott has in many ways indicated his preference for and faith in his adopted town, not the least forci- ble being the investing of his money in unin- cumbered town property. He owns several store and residence lots, besides a large store building. Mr. McDermott has taken all of his travels alone, for he is still a bachelor, and devoted to his trade, his books, and his few intimate friends. He is not a member of any society or church, but this is not to be con- strued into want of sociability, for Mr. Mc- Dermott is both genial and entertaining, and during his travels from the extreme east, to the extreme north, south and west of the United States, he has picked up a valuable fund of information, with which he pleasantly regales those who drop in to have a little chat with him.

ROBERT W. BULLARD, postmaster of the little town which bears his name, also conducts a general merchandise store at Bullards, Coos county, Ore., and oversees work on his ranch adjoining the town. He was born on November 26, 1857, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and comes of good old stock. His paternal great-grand- father was among the first settlers in St. Louis and laid out what is still known as Bullard's ad- dition to that city. He was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Bullard's grandfather was a native of the state of New York and was a mer- chant by occupation.

J. H. Bullard, the father of Robert W., was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., November 13, 1833, and was a farmer. He remained at home until he was married to Charlotte Van Valken- burg. a native of New York state and of Mohawk-Dutch descent, her people being for- merly natives of Holland. Mr. Bullard's father and mother lived in New York until 1856, when they removed to Iowa and made their home there until 1877. Going west, they next settled in Arago, Ore., on Coquille river. Here the father died at the age of fifty-three years, but the mother still lives, and resides in Fruitvale, Cal. This worthy couple had four children, three of

Alexander Stauff

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whom are still living: Robert W .; Mrs. Emily Bundy, of Fruitvale, Cal .; and Mrs. Millie E. Brandon, of San Jose, Cal.

Robert W. Bullard attended the district school and afterward remained at home until he had attained his majority. He then took up the oc- cupation of teaching and was occupied thus for eight years. He next engaged in salmon-fishing and packing where he now lives, and has made that town his home ever since. In 1892 he took up general merchandising and built a good two- story frame store-building and also a residence nearby. As before mentioned, Mr. Bullard has a ranch of one hundred and thirty acres close to Bullards, and oversees the general farming and stock-raising. Melinda A. Hamblock became Mr. Bullard's wife, April 3, 1883. She is a native of Oregon and has had six children, all of whom are still at home. They are as follows: Warren W., Pearl A., John Chester, Lawrence, Christina and Frank O. Mr. Bullard takes an active inter- est in politics. He is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace for four years, as well as having held other minor offices. He has been postmaster for the past eight years and is thor- oughly trusted by all. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and is considered one of the representative men of his section.

ALEXANDER STAUFF. One of the most active public-spirited men of Coos county, Ore., is the subject of this review, who has filled vari- ous positions of trust. He is now engaged ex- clusively in dairy farming at his fine country home at Arago, where he settled soon after the Civil war. Mr. Stauff was born in Germany, April 20, 1839, and his parents were of the same nativity. His father emigrated to the United States with his family in 1840, settling in Balti- more, where he followed the tailor's trade for a livelihood. He lived to be over eighty years old, and his wife over sixty.

Mr. Stauff was next to the youngest in a fam- ily of six sons. He received his scholastic train- ing in the Zion school of Baltimore, from which he was graduated. Soon afterward he took up the tailor's trade, and in a very short time was advanced to clerk in a manufacturing establish- ment and subsequently rose to the position of superintendent. He finally left the east and set- tled on the Coquille river, in Oregon, where for a time he taught school, and was afterwards em- ployed in the sawmills and logging camps of that section.

During the Civil war Mr. Stauff enlisted in Company A, First Oregon Cavalry, under Cap- tain McCall. His company was mustered into

service at Eugene, and soon afterward served as an escort to Pengra's surveying outfit, which surveyed the old military road to Boise City, the route thither being sketched by Mr. Stauff. The principal duty of his regiment was guarding the frontier, and it was mustered out of service at Vancouver, Wash., having seen no active fight- ing. Mr. Stauff returned to Coos county and took up a homestead claim near Arago on the Co- quille river. His land was all covered with heavy timber, but lic now has about sixty acres under cultivation. He has improved his farm in many ways, having at the present time a large resi- dence, modern in design, and a substantial barn, 60x70 feet, with a splendid set of out-buildings. His home place is known as Cold Spring farm, on account of a fine large, never-failing spring of clear, cold water located upon it.

January 1. 1875, Mr. Stauff was united in marriage with Mary Isaacs, who was born in California in 1858. They went to housekeeping on Cold Spring farm, which has been their home ever since. Soon after his marriage Mr. Stauff entered political life and is still actively inter- ested in public matters. He was appointed as- sessor of Coos county in 1875.and in 1876 he was elected to the same office on the Republican ticket and served two years. In 1878 he was elected county clerk of the same county and was re-elected to the office in 1880 and 1882, serv- ing three terms in all. In 1884 he was appointed deputy sheriff and served two years. In 1886 he became deputy collector of the port of southern Oregon, filling the office for four years. In 1890 he was employed as tallyman for the Southern Oregon company, and during the time he filled that office he lived in Empire, returning to Cold Spring farm in 1896. During the same year he was a candidate for representative, but was de- feated. Since then Mr. Stauff has devoted his attention almost exclusively to dairy-farming, and at the present writing has about twenty fine milch cows.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stauff, namely : Alice J., wife of T. J. Hall, of Marshfield; Ernest A., deceased : Charles .A., also of Marshfield : Edward E., who died at the age of fourteen; William H .; James A .; and May R. Fraternally Mr. Stauff is allied with Blanco Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., of Marsh- field, and Arago Lodge No. 48, I. O. O. F., of Empire. He is past master of the latter. ln his religious inclinations he is liberal, favoring the Unitarian belief. He is among the most pop- ular citizens in his locality and possesses the confidence of his neighbors to an unlimited de- gree. Mr. Stauff has always taken a deep in- terest in educational matters and is now serving as clerk of the school district.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

SAMUEL K. SYKES. Closely identified with the mercantile interests of Roseburg is S. K. Sykes, a successful hardware merchant and a citizen of prominence. Industrious, energetic, possessing excellent executive and financial abil- ity, he has built up a prosperous trade in his line of goods, through his own exertions accumulat- ing a competency. A native of Oregon, he was born March 19, 1869, in Portland, a son of Sam- uel Sykes.

Born and reared in Leeds, England, Samuel Sykes immigrated to America when a young man, and located at first in Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked for a short time at his trade of a brewer. In 1862 he crossed the plains with an ox-train, locating at Portland, Ore. Purchasing a city lot lying between Clay and Columbia streets, he built a brewery, which, in 1873, was burned to the ground, entailing a loss of $30,000, on which there was no insurance. He afterwards removed to Eugene, going from there to Corval- lis, where he was engaged in the brewery business for seven years. Settling in Roseburg in the spring of 1885, he lived here retired from active pursuits until his death, July 17, 1895. He mar- ried Adelia Karrigan, who was born in Liver- pool, England. She came to this country when a girl, and for a few years was in the employ of Jolin Wentworth, of Chicago, Ill. She survived her husband, and now resides in Roseburg. Of her four children, three are living, namely : Mrs. F. M. Ziegler, of Portland; Samuel K., and J. H., a well-known painter of Roseburg.

Receiving his education in the common schools of Eugene and Corvallis, S. K. Sykes remained at home until 1883, when he began working at the butcher's trade, continuing thus employed two years. Coming with his parents to Roseburg in 1885, he began at once to care for himself. The first cighteen months he worked for Jacob Bitzer, and the following season was engaged in fishing. Engaging in the hardware business in 1888, Mr. Sykes was associated with Sheridan Brothers as clerk for five years, and was afterwards in the employ of that firm's successors for nearly as long a time. Going then to Eugene, he was in the employ of Frank L. Chambers, hardware dealer, until the spring of 1897. Returning then to Roseburg, Mr. Sykes embarked in the hard- ware business on his own account, beginning with a small capital, and stocking a room, which was only 18x40 feet, with hardware and sport- ing goods. Paying strict attention to the details of his business, and being honest and square in all of his dealings, he has met with signal success in his undertakings. Building up an extensive and lucrative trade, he has been forced to enlarge his quarters, having now a store 40x100 feet, and three large warehouses in the city for stor- ing his goods. In addition to the general line of

hardware, of which he has an exceptionally fine stock, Mr. Sykes deals in wagons, carriages, and all kinds of agricultural implements and tools, carrying a fine line of Bain wagons, Racine buggies, McCormick harvesters and implements, and J. I. Case threshers and steamers.

Mr. Sykes married, in Roseburg, in 1896, Miss Lulu McCurdy, who was born in Gilliam county, Ore., and they have two children, namely : Lealı Arline and Maxine. Fraternally Mr. Sykes is a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Wood- men of the World. He is also a member of Gen. Joseph Lane Cabin, Native Sons. For seven years he was a member of Umpqua Hose Com- pany, No. I, and for three years he served as city treasurer of Roseburg.

JAMES TRIMBLE. Distinguished as a na- tive-born son of Oregon, and as a man of indus- try, probity and high moral principles, James Trimble, of Grants Pass, enjoys to a high degree the respect and esteem of his fellow-men, a trib- ute which is universally bestowed upon all who worthily deserve it. During his active career he has labored with great fidelity, and by his earnest endeavor has achieved success in the industrial world, and now, as head of the firm of Trimble & Cook, is actively identified with the largest and most complete blacksmith business in southern Oregon. A son of the late Robert Trimble, he was born April 13, 1857, in Canyonville, Douglas county. On the paternal side he is of Irish an- cestry, his Grandfather Trimble having emigrated from Ireland, the country of his birth, to Pennsyl- vania, where he was subsequently engaged in business as a blacksmith.

A native of Pennsylvania, Robert Trimble learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, with whom he worked a few years. As a young man he migrated first to Iowa, then to Missouri, from there coming, in 1852, to Oregon, making the trip across the plains with ox-teams. In the spring of 1853, having spent the previous winter in Portland, he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres in Douglas county, four miles south of Canyonville, and one mile north of the Rock Point toll bridge. He cleared and improved a ranch, and on his land, which bordered upon the old overland stage route, he built a smithy, which he operated in connection with farming. During the Indian wars and troubles of 1855 and 1856 he placed his family in Roseburg for protection, and took an active part - in the engagements and skirmishes with the red men. Disposing of his farm in 1865, he re- moved to Canyonville, where he erected a shop, and was employed at his trade for five years. Lo- cating in Josephine county in 1870, he bought

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land about ten miles north of what is now Grants Pass, on Jump-off Joe, and there, about a monthi later, erc he had time to make any improvements, he died. He married Clementine Packard, who was born in Iowa, and died, January 15, 1903, in Grants Pass. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and lost an arm in battle. Of their union ten children were born, namely : Eurydice, wife of Judge Garrett Cockett, of Jo- sephine county ; Henry, who died in this county ; William, a blacksmith, in Oregon City ; Midissia, who married T. M. Roe, and died in Grants Pass ; James, the subject of this sketch ; Mack, a black- smith at Bridal Veil; Caroline, wife of B. A. Wil- liams, of Grants Pass; John, engaged in lumber- ing on the Columbia river ; Charles, a blacksmith in Grants Pass; and Mary, wife of C. D. Wil- liams, of Oregon City.

Coming with his parents to Josephine county in 1870, James Trimble worked on the home farm for two years after his father's death, and subsequently was employed in different places in this county. Working at various times with his brothers, he learned the blacksmith's trade, and at the age of twenty years went to Ellsworth, Nev., where, in partnership with Napoleon Cha- telie, he ran a smithy for two years. The ensu- ing year he worked at his trade in Bodie, Cal., afterwards being engaged in blacksmithing at Smith River, in Del Norte county, Cal. Eight years later Mr. Trimble located in Josephine county, Ore., and for seven years was blacksmith for the Sugar Pine Door and Lumber Company. In 1888 he established himself as a blacksmith in Grants Pass, on I street, and was successful from the first. In September, 1901, owing to the de- mands of his trade, he built a larger plant, hav- ing now a shop 34x70 feet. With his partner, Mr. Cook, he is carrying on a very extensive and lucrative business, being head of the firm of Trimble & Cook, doing a general line of black- smithing work, but making a specialty of horse- shoeing.

At Smith River, Cal., in 1882, Mr. Trimble married Martha Purdy, a native of Ontario, Can- ada, and they have three children, namely : Wil- liam, a blacksmith, is also book-keeper for the firm of Trimble & Cook; Claud and Mabel. Po- litically Mr. Trimble sustains the principles of the Republican party, and fraternally he is a member of Grants Pass Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M .; of Reames Chapter No. 28, R. A. M .; and of the Woodmen of the World.

THOMAS FREDERICK CROXTON. One of the pioneer families of Oregon is that of which T. F. Croxton is a leading member. It was founded in America by his grandparents, who came from Staffordshire, England, and settled in

Illinois while his father, Thomas, was a mere child. In 1849 Thomas Croxton crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in pros- pecting and mining. Two years later he returned to Illinois via Panama and at once made prepara- tions to bring his family to the far west. Just before they started his mother died. Accompan- ied by his wife, seven children and his father, hc started across the plains with horse and ox- teams. The trip consumed six months and was marked by a bereavement in the death of his father just before they arrived in Portland. His body was buried on the Big Sandy and the family proceeded to their destination, wintering in Salem. In the spring of 1853 they arrived in Douglas county and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres fifteen miles west of Roseburg, on Ten Mile Prairie. A log house was at once put up for the protection of the fam- ily. Soon afterward the Rogue River Indian war broke out and Mr. Croxton bore a part in subduing the savages. In 1857 he removed to Josephine county and took up new land on the Rogue river, one and one-half miles west of what is now Grants Pass. From there in 1862 he went to Dry Diggings on the Rogue river, where he was successfully engaged in placer mining.

The old Grants Pass stage station became the property of Mr. Croxton in 1864, and here he es- tablished the stage station and the postoffice, of which he was the first postmaster. It may read- ily be imagined that he was a very busy man, for he not only had charge of the station and office, but also ran a hotel and conducted a farm com- prising about four hundred acres. In 1866 he lost his wife, Hannah ( Box) Croxton, a native of England. The following year he went as a minister to Coos Bav and for almost a year was pastor of the church at Marshfield. For this work he had been fitted by years of study and by the ceremony of ordination as a Methodist Epis- copal preacher, having preached occasionally in Josephine county. However, not long after he entered upon the work at Marshfield his health failed. and in 1868 he left there, intending to hasten home, but death overtook him at his sis- ter's home on Ten Mile Prairie. In politics he was a Republican, but not an office-seeker and never active in partisan matters. His family comprised four sons and three daughters, name- ly : Margaret, wife of J. P. Tuffs, whose sketch appcars elsewhere in this volume; Walter, a miner, who died at Portland in April, 1902; Sarah, Mrs. E. Dimmick, of Portland: Lavina. Mrs. Fender, who died in California; T. Fred- erick, the subject of this article; Alfred, who makes his home in Spokane; and Henry, a farmer living near Grants Pass.

At Springfield, Ill., Thomas Frederick Croxton was born May 23, 1850. When seven years of

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age he accompanied the family from Douglas to Josephine county, where he was a student in the district school and Wilbur Academy. At eigh- teen years of age he returned to Ten Mile, Doug- las county, where he worked at farming. A later venture was in the mines of Dry Diggings, where he remained for two years. In 1873 he purchased one hundred and forty acres three miles west of Grants Pass, where he erected necessary buildings, set out an orchard of twenty- five acres, and engaged in raising stock and in general farm pursuits. Since coming to Grants Pass in 1899 he has sold this valuable farm. At this writing he is engaged in contracting and building, and among other structures has built five houses for himself in this town. Most of these lie still owns. While still a young man he became familiar with carpentering and has fol- lowed the occupation more or less ever since, so that he is thoroughly equipped for careful, ac- curate and reliable work at the trade.

The marriage of Mr. Croxton took place at Looking Glass, Douglas county, Ore., October 4, 1876, and united him with Miss Emma I. Cran- fill, who was born in Oregon City and grew to womanhood in the Willamette valley. The only child of their union is Osyth Ione, who received an excellent education in the Grants Pass high school and the University of Oregon. The fam- ily attend the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Croxton is a deacon and leading member. Like his father, he is a pronounced Republican, yet not a politician, and has held no offices, aside from that of county commissioner, which he filled for four. terms.

STIAN DANIELSON. Mr. Danielson is at the present writing a successful dairy farmer, re- siding six miles east of Bandon, Coos county, Ore. During his life, he has followed various occupations, such as carpenter work, boat-build- ing, saw-mill work, etc., and has shown himself to be a man of marked ability and enterprise. He was born near Arendal, Norway, March 26, 1843, and at the age of sixteen had the misfortune to lose by death his father, a miner by occupation.

Stian Danielson received his early training in the district school, and when a young man took up the trade of a carpenter. He followed this trade in his native place until 1865, the date of his departure for America. He arrived safely in the United States, and for the next three years he followed carpenter work on board ships, going from New York to San Francisco. He was a good workman and was master carpenter of eight or ten ships, while thus engaged. Mr. Danielson settled in Coos county in 1868, his first work being as carpenter in a saw-mill on Coquille river, near Bandon. Shortly afterward he pur-

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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 50

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