Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 54

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 54

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farm. John H., the oldest of the boys, lives in the city of Portland, and Agnes is the wife of Dr. Charles Hines, of Forest Grove, Ore. Mr. Devlin is a Republican in politics, and with his family is a member of the Catholic church.

EMIL DE ROBOAM. That success, the goal of the young and ambitious, and the satis- faction of those older grown, is denied to few of the children of men, is believed at least by those who have won it fairly and honestly, sparing neither their hands or their brain. A justifiable pride brightens the lives of the men who have rightly gauged their opportunities, and who, in the last half of their lives see substantial evi- dences of their thrift and enterprise. Such a man is Emil De Roboam, a self-made man of whom his fellow-agriculturists in Jackson county may well be proud, and who illustrates in his life the advantages of industry and moral rectitude.

A native son of France, Mr. De Roboam was born at Saint Foy, department of La Grand, De- cember 25. 1852, a son of St. Luke and Mary (Conquari) De Roboam, natives of the same lo- cality. St. Luke De Roboam was reared on a farm, but later became a government employe, working with that zeal and conscientious appli- cation so characteristic of the French citizen. Frugality, another national trait, enabled him to save money, and with his gains he set up house- keeping in a small way, rearing a family of four children, of whom Emil is the oldest. Samuel, the second son, lives in Jacksonville, this county ; Salita is at present in the Klondike; and Naomi made her home in New York City, where she died in October, 1903. The father of these chil- dren sustained the loss of his wife in 1870, and the same year brought his family to the United States, settling in Jacksonville, Ore., where he established the hotel business in which he is still engaged. In 1873 he married for a second wife Henrietta Schmidling, a native of Prussia. Mr. De Roboam is a Republican in politics, and one of the progressive and well known upbuilders of Jacksonville.

As a youth Emil De Roboam learned the tailor's trade in his native land, but after coming to the States with his father he turned his atten- tion to learning the trade of wagon and carriage making, which he followed for about thirteen vears. In 1888 he purchased a ranch of six hun- dred and forty-two acres of land one and a half miles east of Jacksonville, known as the Bellin- ger donation claim, and which at that time pre- sented slight encouragement in the way of mod- ern improvements. Since his occupancy he has replaced one frame dwelling with another, and erected large barns and convenient outhouses, supplying himself with late machinery, and di-

recting his efforts toward making of his farm a pleasant home and paying property. He is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and finds his land adapted to general produce, to gar- dening and fruit. He is also interested in another great resource of the county, owning a placer mine near his home which is yielding more than expected returns. For the past sixteen years he has held the position of superintendent of the county poor, caring for the county's wards on his own farm. No more progressive man than Mr. De Roboam is aiding in the upbuilding of his neighborhood. He was one of the chief pro- moters of the rural free delivery, supporting it in the face of great opposition. He is prominent in political undertakings, having espoused the cause of the Republican party soon after landing in America. His standing as a man and citizen is strengthened by association with some of the most prominent fraternal organizations in the country, including the Jacksonville Lodge No. IO, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs ; the Encampment ; the Jacksonville Lodge No. 2, A. O. U. W .; and the Jacksonville Lodge No. I, I. O. R. M. March 25, 1875, Mr. De Roboam married Rosa Schmidling, a native of San Francisco, and of this union there have been born the following children : John, living on Evans creek; William E .; Mrs. Annie Bell Ingam, of Jacksonville, and Mabel Mary, living at home. Mr. De Roboam is personally popu- lar and well liked, and has made many stanch friends during his residence in the west.

CLAUS KLEINHAMMER, Western Ore- gon has a well established reputation for her food products, especially her fine fruits, and so, in giving the lives of the representative men of this section, we should be loath to omit the name of the well-known gentleman who is the subject of this sketch, for he takes a foremost place among the progressive and practical fruit-growers and farmers of Jackson county. A native of Han- over, Germany, he was born October 24, 1832, and his early mental training was received in his native land, where he continued to live until he reached the age of fourteen years. He then went to sea as a cabin-boy on board a sailing vessel from Hamburg, and in the course of time the vessel upon which he sailed landed at New York, where Mr. Kleinhammer determined to remain. Securing employment at a wholesale grocery house, the three years following his ar- rival in that city found him packing goods, etc., in that establishment, and about that time he, like many others, yielded to an intense desire to try his fortune in the far-distant land of Cali- fornia. The trip to the Golden Gate was made via the Nicaragua route, and for several years

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after his arrival in that state he followed pros- pecting and mining with fair success. In 1860 he came to Oregon, and for a number of years thereafter he was identified with the Sterling mines of this region. Purchasing a one-fourth interest in the Dutch Boys' claim, he opened up and developed this mine, which was successfully operated by him until 1883, when he disposed of his interests, and the same is now owned by Portland parties. Mr. Kleinhammer then in- vested his money in a ranch of one hundred and forty-three acres, two miles south of Medford, and turned his attention to farming pursuits. On this farm he has since lived, making improve- ments that reflect credit on his good judgment and progressiveness. In 1890 he planted twenty- five acres in orchards, and subsequent plantings have increased the number of acres to forty-five, twenty-five acres being standard varieties of win- ter apples, twelve acres in pears, all fine, bearing trees, and many choice varieties of other kinds of fruit are to be found in his orchards. Quite a good deal of attention is also given to general farming, especially to hay-raising, twenty-five acres of his splendid farm being devoted to rais- ing alfalfa, which is profitably grown in that sec- tion.

The home ties of Mr. Kleinhammer began in 1863, when he married Miss Mary A. Saltmarsh, and to them; have been born the following seven children : Fred, Catherina (who is now Mrs. Sam Van Dyke), Ida, Arthur, Augusta, William and Frances. The family enjoy the esteem of the entire community. In his political views Mr. Kleinhammer is a Republican, but has kept aloof from politics, having been too busy a man to take any active interest in the oft-occurring elections.

ROBERT L. COE. The Coe family is of English origin, but has been represented in America ever since the days of the Mayflower. One of the first of the name to drift from the old associations in Massachusetts was Luther Coe, a native of that state and a pioneer of Richland county, Ohio, where he developed a farm from the primeval wilderness. Among his children the most distinguished is Miss Emily M. Coe, the founder of the American Kindergarten sys- tem in New York city. His son, Danvers L., was born in Massachusetts and grew to manhood in Ohio, where for a time he conducted agricul- tural pursuits in Norwalk and later conducted a farm in the northeastern part of the state. He was busily engaged in the development of his land until his death, which occurred at forty-nine years of age.

The marriage of Danvers L. Coe united him with Eliza Hanna, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish lineage. Her pa-

ternal grandfather was a Pennsylvanian and an early settler in the vicinity of Cadiz, Ohio, where her father, Robert Hanna, was born and reared. As early as 1818 Robert Hanna and his wife left Cadiz and journeyed on horseback to Richland county, where he built a log cabin in the woods and undertook the arduous task of clearing a homestead from the thick growth of timber around the place. As yet few men had been brave enough to settle in the midst of those 'in- hospitable surroundings, and he was one of the very earliest settlers, but as civilization advanced people began to flock in and establish their pio- neer homes in such locations as were offered.

In the family of Danvers L. and Eliza (Hanna) Coe there were eleven children, eight of whom attained mature years and are now liv- ing. The third of these is Robert L. Coe, of Grants Pass, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, February 1, 1859. The other members of the family are as follows: Frank A., of Muncie, Ind .; James F., who occupies the old homestead in Ohio; Jennie, wife of R. B. Love, of Woos- ter, Ohio; Maggie, Mrs. O. M. Clay, of Massil- lon, Ohio; Mary, who is interested in the mer- cantile business with her brother at Grants Pass; Hattie, wife of C. I. Lee, of Kansas City, Kans .; and Mattie, wife of Dr. E. S. Depew, of Fruit- vale, Cal.

On the home farm one and one-half miles from Wooster, Ohio, Robert L. Coe passed the years of youth. When he was fourteen his father died and he, being the eldest son, assumed the management of the farm, which he superin- tended until he was twenty-one. During the five following years he engaged in mercantile pur- suits with R. B. Maxwell, an extensive merchant at Mansfield, Ohio, and there he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of every detail connected with the business. After a year with Sturdevant & Martin in the same city, he secured a position as traveling salesman for the Western Suspender Company of Mansfield, and as their representa -. tive he traveled through New England, New York and Pennsylvania for eighteen months. The year 1887 found him in Hastings, Neb., where he was employed by A. J. Unna, a pros- perous merchant. During August of 1888 he settled in Grants Pass, Ore., where he has since made his home. Here he opened the first store north of the railroad track, located back of the present site of the First National Bank. A few months later he obtained a lease of the opera house and moved his stock there, where he con- ducted an extensive business for six years. Meantime the demands of the trade grew to such an extent that he found his quarters too limited, and to accommodate his increasing patronage, in 1898 he built a brick block, 50x100, and opened a department store that is the finest es-

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tablishment of its kind in southern Oregon. In addition to the retail trade, a large wholesale business has been established and shipments are made to smaller towns throughout the state. The business is conducted under the name of R. L. Coe & Co., two sisters being his partners. It has been their aim to avail themselves of every modern facility and improvement. Electric lights not only add to the beauty of the store, but ren- der the selection of goods an easier task for cus- tomers. The method adopted for wrapping par- cels and returning change is the most accurate and expeditious in use at the present day.

In Wellington, Ohio, Mr. Coe married Miss Clara Barden, a native of that city; they have three children, Albert, Pauline and Luther. The family are connected with the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Coe is a trustee. At one time he was president of the Grants Pass board of trade and is still actively identified with the organization. His fraternal relations include membership in the Woodmen of the World and the Masonic fraternity. After coming to Grants Pass he was made a Mason in Grants Pass Lodge No. 84, raised to the 'Royal Arch degree in Reames Chapter No. 28, and made a Knight Templar in Malta Commandery No. 4, later be- coming a charter member of Melita Commandery No. 8, in which he holds office as warder.

OLIVER PERRY COSHOW, JR. Enjoy- ing the benefits of a large and lucrative legal practice, Oliver Perry Coshow, Jr., of Roseburg, is one of the 'leading citizens of his community, and one of the most respected and accomplished members of the State Bar Association. He is a man of strong personality, inspiring his clients and associates with the greatest confidence in his judgment and uprightness, and his decisions are invariably acknowledged to be wise and just. One of Oregon's native sons, he was born Au- „gust 14, 1863, in Brownsville, Linn county ; his father, Oliver P. Coshow, Sr., was born at Con- nersville, Ind., while his grandfather, Robert Coshow, was born in 1808, in Kentucky. The immigrant ancestor of the family came from France to the United States with LaFayette, and served in the Revolutionary war, afterwards set- tling in Virginia. Robert Coshow was one of the earlier settlers of Indiana, where he cleared and improved a farm. He subsequently removed to Iowa, from there following his children to Oregon, where he spent his last years, residing the greater part of the time in Salem.

Going with his parents to Iowa when a boy, Oliver P. Coshow. Sr., was for some time em- ployed as a clerk in Davenport, and later helped carry the chain used in surveying Rock Island, Ill. Crossing the plains with oxen in 1851, he

drove a team for R. B. Cochran, who settled at Coburg, Lane county. Mr. Coshow afterward took up a donation land claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Brownsville, and at once began the improvement of a homestead. He sub- sequently embarked in business as a general merchant, continuing until 1864, when he re- moved to a farm near Harrisburg. In 1868 he returned to Brownsville, where he was actively and prosperously engaged in general mercantile pursuits until sonie time in the 'gos, when he retired from active business. He was one of the original incorporators of the Brownsville Woolen Mili Company, with which he was actively con- nected until 1878, when he disposed of his inter- ests in the factory. He has achieved much suc- cess in his busy career, being the owner of sev- eral farming estates, and is now one of the most esteemed citizens of Brownsville, being an intelli- gent, honest and upright man of seventy-two years. In 1855 and 1856 he served in the Rogue River Indian war as a member of the company commanded by Captain Keeney. Fraternally he is a Mason, and in religion is a Baptist. He mar- ried Sarah E. Cochran, who was born in Put- nam county, Mo., and died March 6, 1903, in Brownsville, Ore. Her father, William Coch- ran, was born in Kentucky, but became a pioneer farmer of Missouri, locating there when young. In 1847 he came across the plains with his fam- ily to Oregon, for two years thereafter residing in Clackamas county. In 1849 he took up a do- nation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Brownsville, becoming one of the original set- tlers of the place. Breaking up the land, nc made substantial improvements, and in the course of time accumulated large wealth, being one of the most successful men of his community. His brother, Hon. R. B. Cochran, who, like himself, was prominently identified with the Democratic party, served as a member of the state legisla- ture. Of the union of Oliver P., Sr., and Sarah E. (Cochran) Coshow, ten children were born, namely : William L., a farmer and stock-raiser, at Silver Lake, Ore .; Mrs. Sophronia A. Howe, of Eugene; R. H., secretary of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Company, at Salem, Ore .; James N., of Brownsville; Mrs. Mary E. Franzen, of Portland; Oliver Perry, Jr., the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Mrs. Sarah E. Chap- lin, of Seattle, Wash .: Ida E., wife of George C. Stannard, of Portland; George H., secretary of the Brownsville Woolen Mill Company, at Brownsville ; and Kate, wife of A. B. Cavender, of Brownsville.

Reared in Brownsville, Oliver Perry Coshow, Jr., attended first the public schools of that town, afterward continuing his studies for a short time in the Portland High School, after which he was a student in the State University at Eugene for

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three years. Leaving school on account of the illness of his father, he had charge of his father's store at Brownsville for one year. On July I, 1886, he became secretary of the Brownsville Woolen Mill Company, retaining the position un- til the dissolution of the company in 1889. Hav- ing previously studied law, Mr. Coshow then en- tered the office of Hon. J. K. Weatherford, at Albany, and in October, 1890, was admitted to the bar. Beginning the practice of his profes- sion in Albany, he remained there a year or more, in 1892 removing to McMinnville, where he was in partnership with O. H. Irvine for five years, while there serving as deputy district attorney. Coming to Roseburg in 1897, Mr. Coshow has since built up a large legal practice in this city, becoming one of the leading attorneys of Doug- las county. He is also attorney for the First National Bank of Roseburg, and for the Gardner Mill Company, and a stockholder and director of the Thomas Kay, Woolen Mill Company at Salem.

While living in Brownsville, Mr. Coshow mar- ried Miss Libbie Kay, who was born in Allen- dale, Polk county, a daughter of Thomas Kay, Sr., an Oregon pioneer, one of the earliest woolen manufacturers of the state, and the founder of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Company, of Sa- lem. Mr. and Mrs. Coshow are the parents of five children, namely : Elizabeth Kay, Minnie Hazel, Leonore Dale, Bertha Leone, and Oliver P. Fraternally Mr. Coshow was made a Mason in Brownsville Lodge No. 36, and is now a member of Laurel Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M., of which he is worshipful master ; was made a Royal Arch Mason in Bayley Chapter No. 7, and now belongs to McMinnville Chapter, R. A. M .; is a member of Temple Commandery No. 3. K. T .; belongs to Al Kader Tempie, N. M. S., in Portland; is a member of the Woodmen of the World; and of the United Artisans. He is also a member and ex-president of the Gen. Josepli Lane Cabin. Native Sons of Oregon ; and is sec- ond vice-president of the Grand Cabin of Ore- gon.

GEN. A. M. CRAWFORD. Among the citi- zens of eminence in Douglas county is Gen. A. M. Crawford of Roseburg, a talented lawyer, and the attorney general of Oregon. He is exception- ally well equipped for the high position which he holds, not only by his natural gifts and tempera- ment, but by his knowledge, skill and integrity. A native of Cannonsville, Delaware county, N. Y., he was born January 29, 1853, a son of James Nelson Crawford. He comes of sturdy Scotch ancestry, his paternal great-grandfather having been born in Scotland. After receiving his edu- cation at the University of Dublin, Ireland, he

emigrated to the United States, settling as a pioneer in Delaware county, N. Y., where he be- came a large landholder, and one of the foremost citizens of his times. His son, Alexander Craw- ford, the general's grandfather, served in the Revolutionary war, enlisting when a boy. He was subsequently engaged in general farming in Delaware county, N. Y., and also carried on an extensive business as a lumberman.

James Nelson Crawford, a life-long resident of New York state, continued through life as a tiller of the soil, owning a good farm in Dela- ware county, where his death occurred, at the age of seventy-eight years, in 1884. He married Joanna Owens, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., and now resides in Sidney Cen- ter, that county. Her father, Major Owens, a farmer and lumberman, served in the New York militia as major of his company. The eight children of the parental household all grew to years of maturity, and six are now living, Gen. A. M. Crawford being the second child.

Brought up on the home farm, General Craw- ford acquired his early education in the little "red school-house" of his ancestors, with its lim- ited accommodations. He subsequently entered Walton Academy, which he attended for several years, paying his college expenses by teaching school between terms. Taking up the study of law while in school, he later read with Sen- ator and Capt. M. W. Marvin, of Walton, N. Y., until 1878, when he was admitted to practice law at Binghamton, N. Y. Very soon after that event he made a trip to Kansas, but did not like the prospect well enough to locate in that state. Returning to New York, he remained at home until 1880, when he came to Oregon by way of San Francisco, from that city proceeding to Coos bay, and then to Marshfield. Coos county, where he began the practice of his profession. Locating in Roseburg, Douglas county, in 1890, General Crawford has since built up a very large and lucrative general law practice in this vicinity, and is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of this section of the state. In 1890 he was ap- pointed receiver of the United States land office, at Roseburg, by President Harrison, and held the position four years, at the same time continu- ing his legal practice.

General Crawford is a stanch Republican in politics, and ever ready to advance the interests of his party. In 1897 he served as a representa- tive to the Oregon state legislature, but declined to be a candidate the ensuing year. Receiving the Republican nomination for attorney general of Oregon in 1902, he was elected by a majority of more than fifteen thousand votes, for a term of four years, beginning January 13, 1903, when he took the oath of office.

General Crawford married, in Douglas county,

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Ore., Florence Watson, who was born in this county, a daughter of James Watson, who came to Oregon as a pioneer in 1853. The general and Mrs. Crawford have one child, a son named James Watson Crawford. Fraternally the gen- eral is a member of Blanco Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., of Marshfield; of R. A. M., of Rose- burg; of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past officer ; and of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Eiks. He is also a member of the State Bar Association, and an ex-chairman of the Republican County Committee. Mrs. Craw- ford is a member, and past officer, of the Eastern Star, and belongs to the Episcopal Church.

F. F. PATTERSON. Occupying a position of prominence among the leading men of Rose- burg, F. F. Patterson is widely and favorably known as the foremost contractor and builder of this part of Douglas county, and a large property owner. In his office he employs an architect to furnish and perfect plans, and in the filling of his contracts he keeps thirty men busily em- ployed. Beginning life as a tow-boy on the canal when he was so small that his only way of get- ting astride the horse was to run the animal alongside a bridge, and then clamber on, he has gradually worked his way upward. He is a man of unbounded energy, push and ability, three characteristics that dominate the true American, and to these his prosperity is due. A son of Dar- win Patterson, he was born January 25, 1849, in Peoria, Ill. His paternal grandfather, who was born in one of the eastern states, was a farmer by occupation.

Born in. New York state, Darwin Patterson was a sailor in his earlier life. Taking up his residence in Peoria, Ill., he ran the first boat launched on the Illinois and Michigan canal. He was afterwards engaged in the coasting trade in New York state for awhile. Subsequently re- moving with his family to Minnesota, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Rochester, and while living there served as alderman. In 1897 he came to Oregon, and was a resident of Roseburg until his death. He married Sarah Hull, who was born in Illinois, and now lives in Roseburg. Of their union three children were born, namely: F. F., the subject of this sketch ; Eugene, a resident of Wisconsin ; and V. S., a painter in Roseburg.

Brought up in New York state, F. F. Patter- son was a tow-boy on the Erie canal from the time he was seven years old until thirteen. Go- ing then on a coasting vessel, he was made mate at the age of sixteen years, and placed in charge of the vessel Catalina, a one-hundred-ton schooner. Retiring from nautical pursuits in 1865, he went to Rochester, Minn., where he

served an apprenticeship at the bricklayer's trade which he followed in that city until 1872. The ensuing eleven years he was employed as a builder and contractor in Minneapolis, and from 1883 until 1884 was a contractor at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Becoming a residentof Eugene, Ore., in 1884, he continued his chosen occupation, and during the time he lived there built the Masonic Temple, Bailard Hall, Hoffman House, the Hen- derson, Elie, Patterson and Wilson buildings, and others of less importance. Locating in Rose- burg in 1891, Mr. Patterson has since filled many important contracts, erecting all of the brick buildings excepting three that have been put up, in addition building the court house, the opera house, city hall, the Sheridan and Hamilton buildings, the McClallen and Jones hotels, and the principal residences of the city. He has here acquired considerable wealth, owning twelve city residences, and some business property, and is a stockholder in the Roseburg Water Company, the Douglass County Oil Company, and the Building and Loan Association.

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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 54

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