Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 52

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 52

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J. FRED SCHROEDER claims the distinc- tion of having brought the first Jersey cattle into the Coquille valley, and he owns one of the finest country homes in Coos county, although at this writing he is living a retired life at Coquille. He was born September 15, 1844, in Baltimore, Md., and is a son of Henry Schroeder, whose biog- raphy is found elsewhere in this history in con- nection with the record of the life of the Hon. J. H. Schroeder.

Mr. Schroeder was educated in the public schools of his native city, and came west to Ore- gon with his parents in 1859. He remained at home until 1864 or 1865 and for some time was engaged in beach mining with his brother. De- cember 24, 1866, he married Mrs. Mary (Perry) Grant, who claims to be the first female white child born in Oregon, her birth having taken place on the Clatsop plains in 1843. Her first husband, T. L. Grant, was a cousin of Gen. U. S. Grant. A remarkable coincidence in the history of the Schroeder family is that three brothers married three sisters, which is a rare occurrence in any family.

Mr. Schroeder and his bride went to house-

keeping on the Malcolm donation claim, which is located south of Coquille on the Coquille river. This farm contains two hundred and twenty-five acres. At the time he purchased it it was all wild land, but one hundred and fifty acres are now under cultivation. As Mr. Schroeder is a fine carpenter and has followed that trade for inany years in connection with farming, he took considerable pride in constructing the buildings on his farm, which as regards improvements ranks among the best in Coos county. His farm is devoted to general farming, dairying and stock-raising, and as has been said, he imported the first Jersey cattle in his section.

In July, 1903, Mr. Schroeder moved into Co- quille and he expects to live in retirement the remainder of his days. He is a Democrat in his political inclinations, and has taken an active interest in political affairs, having filled several minor offices in his vicinity. His family consists of five children, namely: Clara, wife of Capt. L. Snyder, of Coquille; Albert, who follows ranching on the home place, assisted by his brother, Frank; J. Finley, of Marshfield; and Eva, who resides with her parents at their home in Coquille. Mr. Schroeder is among the most influential and progressive farmers in Coos county.

CHARLES A. ELLIOTT. A native-born son of Oregon, and a representative of one of the early families of Tillamook county, Charles A. Elliott was reared on a farm, and following the occupation of his ancestors, he has since devoted his attention to the pursuit of agricul- ture. A man of enterprise, industry and thrift, he has not only been successful in his chosen occupation, but his personal character is such that he enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides. He was born March 31, 1868, in Portland, Multnomah county, Ore., a son of Jacob S. Elliott.

Of Scotch-German descent, Jacob S. Elliott was born in Genesee county, N. Y., January 12, 1830, and died January 18, 1903, on his home- stead, in Tillamook county, Ore. When a young man he served an apprenticeship at the machin- ist's trade, at which he subsequently worked in Tennessee, and in Adrian, Mich. Coming across the plains to Oregon in 1861. he brought his family and all his household effects with horse- teams, being six months in performing the journey. After working as a machinist in Port- land for ten years he moved into Tillamook county in 1871. Taking up a homestead claim of two hundred and forty acres, lying four miles north of Tillamook, he improved a productive ranch, and was there engaged in general farm- ing until his death. One of the organizers of

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the Bay City Presbyterian Church, he was num- bered among its most active members, for many years serving as an elder. He married, in Nash- ville, Tenn., Jennie S. Winters, who was born in Liverpool, England, came to New York state when twelve years old, and is now living with her son, Charles A. Elliott, in Tillamook, a smart, active woman of seventy-nine years. Of their union eight children were born, three sons and five daughters.

The youngest child of the parental household, Charles A. Elliott grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving but limited educational ad- vantages in the pioneer district school. Trained to agricultural pursuits by his father, he has become a systematic, skillful and thorough-going farmer, and a capable business man. He has one hundred and eight acres of the old home- stead, subject to his mother's life dowry, and is carrying on general farming, making a special- ty of dairying. In this line of industry Mr. Elliott has been quite successful, his dairy con- taining cows of mixed breed.

In 1891 Mr. Elliott married Mabel Brown, who was born in Yamhill county, Ore., Novem- ber 15, 1878, and they have one child, Harry C. Politically Mr. Elliott is a sound Republican in his views, and though not an office-seeker has served as school director. Fraternally he is one of the leading Odd Fellows of this section, be- longing to the Bay City Lodge, in which he has passed through all the chairs, and having, in 1901, served as a representative to the Grand Lodge: and is a member of the Tillamook Lodge of the Woodmen of the World. Religiously he belongs to the Bay City Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Elliott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Tillamook.

DAVID FATE. Of all the classes of men who have helped to accomplish the redemption of the western country, to turn its latent resources into channels of practical usefulness and estab- lish here an empire to command the respect and admiration of the whole United States, the agri- culturist has built the most substantially and lastingly. While the miner moves his pick from place to place, and the merchant tarries for a comparatively short time, the intelligent land- owner settles down upon his own, combines his personality and industry therewith, and in time becomes a bulwark of enormous strength and in- fluence. Douglas county lays claim to a fair share of exceedingly enlightened and progressive pioneers, whose best years and most mature abilities have been expended in its service, and who will live in its history as examples of suc- cess worthy of emulation. Of these, David Fate holds an honored place, and although now living

retired at Days Creek, he has improved more than one farm in the west, and made his home for forty years on one finely improved farm four miles northeast of the town. The youth of Mr. Fate was such as to intensify cither the good or bad in his nature. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, July 1, 1823, and was left an orphan at the age of ten years. Those having his future in charge bound him out to one Jesse Taylor, a farmer living twelve miles north of Lancaster, Ohio, with whom he lived until attaining his majority. Bereft of the gentle care and sym- pathy which are molding factors in every boy's life, he nevertheless developed into a strong, re- liant youth, with great hope in the future, and the will to do, no matter what the obstacles be- fore him. Having acquired an extensive knowl- edge of horses he engaged in buying and selling them for a time, and afterward applied himself to learning the blacksmith's trade. During the Mexican war he enlisted in Capt. John R. Dun- can's mounted cavalry, which regiment was de- tailed to guard the United States mails between Comargo and Monterey, Mexico. Fifteen months later he was mustered out at Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward was employed at railroad con- struction. He also worked at cooper manufac- turing, and in the spring of 1849 purchased a ranch in Jackson county, Iowa, upon which he lived for eight months. Moving to Minnesota, he engaged in the lumber business, and also drove the first stage coach between Stillwater and St. Panl. In 1850 he returned to Ohio and married Mary Ann Ward, born in Warren county, Ohio, and with her settled on the farm upon which he had formerly lived in Iowa. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Fate crossed the plains with horse-teams, and while the journey was a comparatively peaceful one, he had one encoun- ter with the Indians, which resulted in the death of several of the latter. They were on the road about four months, and spent the first winter in Clackamas county, in the spring of 1853 remov- ing to Douglas county, and taking up three hun- dred and twenty acres six miles east of Rose- burg. Several years later Mr. Fate bought what was known as the James O'Neil donation claim on Days creek, which he improved from the wild, and which remained his home for forty years. Feeling that he had spent his share of years in hard work, he purchased his present place of twenty-nine acres in the village of Days Creek, and has one of the pleasantest homes in the town. The superintending of this small place gives him just enough exercise, although the contrast between the present and past is marked indeed. Formerly he was one of the most extensive breeders of fine stock in the county, and had a farm which must necessarily have taxed the ingenuity and strength of the

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most hardy and industrious. Mr. Fate believed in progressiveness in agriculture, and his farmi conformed to modern standards as regards buildings, implements and general improve- ments.

The Republican party has found a stanch ally in Mr. Fate, who has held most of the local offices in his vicinity, and had the honor of being chairman of the first Republican convention con- vened in Douglas county in 1857. His family consists of six children, to all of whom he has · given a practical common school education, and started upon their respective careers with ma- terial assistance. Mrs. Fate died in 1898, at the age of seventy years, five months and eight days. She was a woman of fine character and great kindness of heart, in whom her children and hus- band found a sympathetic friend and wise coun- selor. The oldest daughter, Mrs. Theodosia Stephens, lives in Oakland; Frank lives on a farm nine miles southeast of Days Creek ; B. H. owns a farm four miles southeast of the town ; and Remick occupies the old Fate homestead. The integrity and public-spiritedness of Mr. Fate are proverbial, and he is generally conceded to be one of the representative men of his time and place. October 10, 1903, Mr. Fate was united in marriage with Mrs. Martha F. Bassler, a native of Montgomery county, Ill., the daugh- ter of Rev. Andrew J. and Sarah F. (Young) Sitton. Mrs. Fate came to Oregon December 31, 1901.

Mr. Fate is a veteran of the Mexican war and was one of a party of volunteers who escorted Major Bragg out of the Mexican territory.

ANDREW JACKSON CHAPMAN. Of the many industries pursued by the people of west- ern Oregon, the raising of live stock is one of great profit, as is also the raising of sheep and the Angora goat, many farmers spending years in this one occupation or business. The Angora goat, so valuable for its hair, flesh, etc., thrives well on the rocky, barren slopes which are to- tally unfit for crops of any kind and they can take care of themselves in places where horses or cattle could not long exist. One of the most ex- tensive farms in western Oregon is owned by the gentleman named above, who in partnership with his brother, John J. Chapman, owns nine hundred acres of land and attends not only to the raising of many fine cattle, but makes a spe- cialty of the Angora goat.

Andrew Jackson Chapman is a native of Douglas county, Ore., his birth having occurred December 2, 1860, at the homestead farm on the East Umpqua river, about seventeen miles from the city of Roseburg. He is a son of Andrew Johnson Chapman. A more complete sketch of

the Chapman family will be found in the sketch of John Chapman. He was scarcely two years of age when the family moved to Canyonville, where he spent some years. His boyhood days were spent in acquiring an education from the common schools of the county and until he reached manhood he continued to reside near Wilbur. At the age of twenty-two years, in 1882, he started in life for himself, locating in Yakima county, Wash., where he remained until 1884. Upon his return he took charge of the farm lie now owns with his brother, John, and engaged in his present business, which has proved to be a profitable venture. In the fall of 1903 he leased his portion of the farm for five years.

January 26, 1886, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Minnie Gillam, and their union has been blessed with two children, namely, Cecil and Madge Marie, who is deceased.

In political circles Mr. Chapman may ever be found in the Republican party. In his fraternal affiliations he belongs to the Woodmen of the World. As an industrious, honest man, he has many friends who wish him continued success in the future.

ISAAC L. BOYLE was born in Tazewell county, Va., March 24, 1818. At a very early date he accompanied his parents to Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. As was the custom in those early days, he re- mained at home assisting his parents until he at- tained his majority and then left home to make his own way in the world. He went west to Iowa, ran a star route for four years and was en- gaged in various other occupations for several additional years. In 1849, when the gold excite- ment was at its height, he went to California, crossing the plains by ox-team. The trip con- sumed about six months' time and unlike many, they were not molested by the Indians. For about three years Mr. Boyle engaged in mining and prospecting, and being fairly successful, came to Oregon in 1852, and took up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres, about five miles east of Canyonville, in the South Umpqua valley. Building a log house, the first in the vicinity, he engaged in cultivating the soil. Two years afterwards, in 1854, he was joined in mar- riage with Phoebe Thruslı, a native of Missouri, who had crossed the plains with her parents in 1852. The young people went to housekeeping on thic donation claim near Canyonville and their log cabin was soon replaced by a substantial frame house, also the first in that vicinity. For six months Mr. Boyle served as scout in the Rogue River war, as a member of Capt. Joseph Barnes' spy company, mounted volunteers of

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Oregon. At the termination of that invasion the company was mustered out of service and Mr. Boyle returned to his farm. With the exception of two years spent in the hotel business in Can- yonville he has continued to live there ever since. On account of his advanced years he is now practically retired, living in comfortable circum- stances.

Mr. Boyle and his estimable wife have reared a family of nine children, six of whom are still living, namely: Joseph L., who resides on a part of the home farm and whose sketch follows; Emma, now Mrs. Howard, of Baker City; Lee and Jeff. both residents of Baker county; Wal- ter, a citizen of Canyonville; and Ida, who still brightens the home place with her presence. Mr. Boyle is a Democrat and has ever taken an active part in the political issues of our land. He and his worthy wife are highly esteemed throughout Douglas county.

JOSEPH L. BOYLE was born on the home place near Canyonville, March 7, 1861. He fin- ished the common-school course in the district school and then attended the State Normal at Monmouth. When he became of age he left home. and for a short time was employed with Wells, Fargo & Co. Subsequently, in company with his brother, he rented a ranch in the vicinity of his home and carried on a successful business for about six years. December 25, 1886, marks the date when Mr. Boyle became a benedict, his marriage with Della Jackson being celebrated at that time. They went to housekeeping on the Stenger place, which was their home for three years. They then moved to Canyonville, where they continued to reside until about 1891, taking up their residence at that time on a part of the home place, where they still reside. Mr. Boyle rents the old homestead of nearly three hundred acres of choice farming land and carries on gen- eral farming and stock-raising. His land is very fertile and well improved. He has thirty-seven acres in choice fruits and a fine herd of Here- ford cattle.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyle, as follows : Mary Grace, William Clifford, John Thurman, Mildred Ruth, Joseph Wayne, Lawrence and Lewis Conrad. While a resident of Canyonville he served four years as deputy assessor and was justice of the peace for eight years. Along with many excellent traits he in- herits from his father a strain of true Demo- cratic spirit, with which is commingled a true spirit of patriotism. Mr. Boyle is prominently connected with a number of fraternal orders. lle became a Free Mason and has held all the chairs of Canyonville Lodge No. 72. A. F. &

A. M., and at the present writing he is serving as master of the same lodge, having held office continuously since 1885. He also affiliates with Riddles Lodge, No. 71, K. P., Gen. Joseph Lane Cabin No. 15, Native Sons of Oregon, of which he is commander ; and of the Eastern Star, of which he is worthy patron. Mr. Boyle is very influential in his township and commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

GEORGE W. COX. As an example of one who has been a lifelong farmer and who has dis- tinguished himself by special adaptability to his vocation the gentleman named above ranks high. He is an ideal farmer and rancher in the vicinity of Roseburg, Ore. Mr. Cox is a native of Clay county, Mo., where he was born January 21, 1837. He is one of eleven children born to James and Sarah (Tanney ) Cox. Of their chil- dren, six are deceased, as follows: Emily J., who died young; Evelyn, who died on the plains aged seven; Nancy A., wife of Edmund Gage, she died in 1873; John N., who died in 1890; James B., who died in 1887; and Mary E., who was the wife of James M. Dillard. Those still living are Jacob P., a farmer on Deer creek ; George W., the subject of this narrative; Sa- mantha C., widow of S. W. Barker, of California ; Alexander C., a resident of Union county, Ore. ; and Amanda, wife of F. W. Dillard, of Rose- burg.

James Cox. the father of George W., moved from Clay county to the Laplatte Purchase in Missouri, being the first settler of that section. Later he moved to Andrew county, which was his home until 1852. He then crossed the plains with ox-teams and after a journey of six months arrived in Polk county, Ore. In the spring of 1853 he located in Douglas county, on North Deer creek, and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. Erecting a log house of two rooms, he engaged in clearing the land and cultivating the soil, and it is worthy of note that the log house built by him is still standing.

When the final summons came to lay down the burden of life and enter into rest, May 1, 1891. he was seventy-six years of age. His beloved wife, who bad accompanied him in a befitting manner through all trials to prosperity, passed to her final rest just three days after the death of her husband. The latter left a valuable estate of seven hundred and thirty acres. He was a mem- ber of the Christian Church and was a sturdy, hard-working man, well liked by all.

George W. Cox spent his boyhood upon his father's farm and when fifteen years old removed to the place which is still his home. By inherit- ance and by his own exertions he has acquired a

J. G. Mason.

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farm of large dimensions, and has lived here mainly ever since, where he carries on general farming and stock-raising. His homestead farm contains one hundred and sixty acres of fine arable land, and in addition he has an interest in his father's donation claim.

REV. SAMUEL C. MOORE. As a pioneer of Douglas county, a prosperous agriculturist, a worthy minister of the gospel, and a man of un- blemished character and reputation, the late Sam- uel C. Moore is especially deserving of honorable representation in this biographical work. Lo- cating in 1853, ten miles south of Roseburg, on the farm now owned and occupied by his widow, he continued his residence here until his death, in 1878, being engaged in farming and preach- ing. During his residence here he was active in building up a good home for himself and family, and was influential in inaugurating and maintain- ing enterprises of benefit to the general public. In his ministerial labors he did much to advance the good of the community, and as a man of integrity and worth he established himself in the confidence and esteem of the entire neighborhood.

Born April 8, 1827, on a farm in Monroe county, Tenn., Mr. Moore, whose father was a minister as well as a farmer, removed with his parents to Iowa, as early as 1845. Remaining at home until 1851, he came with his brother, James Moore, to Oregon, being six months in crossing the plains. After spending the winter in the Willamette valley, he went, in the spring of 1852, to California, where he was engaged in mining for a year. Returning to Oregon in 1853, he located about ten miles south of Roseburg, buying a squatter's right to three hundred and sixty acres of land lying on the Umpqua river. In 1856 Mr. Moore enlisted in Company B, Sec- ond Oregon Regiment, and served for six months in the Umpqua River Indian war. After being mustered out, he resumed his farming operations, adding to the improvements he had previously begun. He erected a substantial dwelling house and good barns and outbuildings, rendering his estate one of the most desirable in the locality. In 1870 Mr. Moore was licensed to exhort, and in 1875 was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and thenceforward hic was engaged in farming and preaching until his death, in 1878. Although Mr. Moore had no special charge, he preached throughout the coun- ty wherever his services were needed, being pop- ular with all and beloved by everyone. He was very prominent in local affairs, one of the leading Democrats of the neighborhood, and held several town offices.

February 7, 1855, Mr. Moore married Mary J.

Mccullough, who was born August 17, 1833, in Illinois, and came with her parents, William and Nancy (Johnson) Mccullough, to Douglas county, Ore., in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Moore became the parents of nine children, and of these only two sons are living, namely: William, of Oak Grove, Ore .; and Samuel E., residing with his mother on the home farm. With the excep- tion of eight years spent in Roseburg in order to give her children good educational advantages, Mrs. Moore has resided on the homestead since the death of her husband. With the assistance of her son Samuel, she carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising, and pays considerable at- tention to the culture of fruit, having a fine orchard of forty acres. The original area of the farm has been added to by purchase, and now contains eight hundred acres of farming and range land. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. William Moore, the eldest son, was appointed postmaster of Roseburg, during the administration of President Cleveland, and served four years. In 1893 he removed to his present farm at Oak Grove, where he still resides, an esteemed and respected citizen.

LEWIS ASH is one of the successful farmers, as well as law-abiding citizens of Douglas county, Ore., and has been reared to agricultural pursuits. His father, a life-long farmer, reared seven children, and finally laid down his life at the age of sixty-three years, in Pennsylvania. where he spent his active days. Lewis Ash was born in Bedford county, Pa., January 7, 1836. Educated in the near-by district school, he re- mained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He then left the parental home and pro- ceeded to Iowa, finding employment on a farm. where he worked two years. In 1859 he visited Pike's Peak, during the gold excitement. hoping to make his fortune, but met with disappoint- ment and continued west to California. Mining and prospecting occupied his attention there until 1861. At the beginning of the war of the re- bellion, in 1861, Mr. Ash enlisted as a private. in Company D, Fourth Regiment, California Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Placerville. Soon after this the regi- ment was sent north to relieve the one stationed in Oregon, and for over three years was kept there, guarding the frontier. There were a few minor engagements with the Indians in which this regi- ment participated. Three years and one month after enlisting they were mustered out at Van- conver, Wash., having served faithfully and well. Shortly afterward Mr. Ash removed to Jacksonville, Jackson county, Ore., and there for

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thirteen years he mined with success. In 1879 he purchased one thousand and ninety-four acres of fine land two and a half miles east of Riddles. This farm was known as Mitchell place. He now owns one thousand and fifty-four acres of his original purchase, all in one body. Mr. Ash has a beautiful place, with all the modern im- provements, including his fine dwelling and his barn. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of Hereford cattle. He also has on his farm a placer mine, which he operates in connection with his agri- cultural work.

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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 52

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