Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 58

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 58

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Educated in the public schools of Greene coun- ty, N. Y., and in Greenville academy, Jolin

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Charles Campbell was taken from school at four- teen years of age and apprenticed to the car- penter's trade. Four years later he started for the Pacific coast. In 1858 he set sail from his native city of New York (where his birth had occurred December 21, 1839). On his arrival in the city of Panama he secured work and re- mained there for three months, when he pursued his way to San Francisco. During the summer of the same year he landed at Yreka, and in No- vember arrived in Jackson county, Ore., where he began mining on Evans creek and later on Foote's creek. After operating a placer mine for three winters, in 1862 he bought a claim at Florence, Idaho, but soon afterward went to Boise, and in the fall of the same year returned to Oregon, spending the winter in Portland. The spring of 1863 found him in Josephine county, where he first mined on Rogue river, later on Galice creek, and then at Dry Diggings. The winters were spent at the mines, while during the intervening summers he worked at his trade in Josephine and Jackson counties. During 1876-77 he mined on Louse creek. At the time of the building of the railroad, in 1883, he was employed to erect buildings at Grants Pass, and when the railroad was completed he continued in the contracting business.

On the present site of the Odd Fellows' build- ing Mr. Campbell built a frame store and in it, as a member of the mercantile firm of Campbell & Tuffs, he conducted an extensive business for nine years. At the expiration of that period the business was disposed of and he turned his at- tention to banking, as an officer and the first pres- ident of the First National Bank of Grants Pass. From the opening of this institution in 1890, he has been a director therein, was for four years president and now holds the office of vice-presi- lent. Meantime he has superintended the erec- tion of the building occupied by the bank, also the Josephine hotel, Masonic Temple, the ward school, and his own comfortable residence which stands in the midst of a lawn of two acres on Sixth street.

The marriage of Mr. Campbell occurred near Grants Pass in 1875 and united him with Miss Lucinda Dimmick, daughter of Joseph and Com- fort Dimmick. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one daughter, Kate A., now the wife of J. Henry Booth, of Roseburg, Ore. Mrs. Campbell was born in Illinois, and in 1852 she accompanied her father across the plains to Benton county, Ore., the journey being made with ox-teams. In their religious connections Mr. Campbell and his wife are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a trustee. His identifica- tion with Masonry dates from 1886, when he was initiated in Grants Pass Lodge No. 84. He also holds membership in Reames Chapter No. 28, R.

A. M., and Melita Commandery No. 8, K. T. Politically his affiliations have always been with the Republican party, which he has represented as a delgate to state conventions, as a member of the county central committee and as a member of the congressional committee for the first congres- sional distriet. During 1889 he was mayor of Grants Pass for one terni.

ELAM BUTTS. Conspicuous among the sturdy, thriving agriculturists of Tillamook coun- ty who have attained success in their useful vo- cation by shrewd foresight, good management and sheer persisteney in one line of effort, is Elam Butts, of Tillamook. A son of William Butts, he was born August 17, 1847, in the south- ern part of Indiana, on the Ohio river. He comes of old Virginia stock, his grandfather, Am- brose Green Butts, having been a native of the Dominion state. He subsequently removed to Kentucky, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death.

Born in Pulaski, Ky., May 16, 1819, William Butts was ordained as a Methodist minister when a young man, and according to the customs of that denomination has dwelt in many places. His first location was in Crawford county, Ind .; his next pastorate was in Washington, Iowa, where he remained from 1850 until 1855; the ensuing fifteen years he resided in Kansas, being a farmer and minister, and preaching in different places in the eastern part of the state, including Atchison and Ottawa. Coming to the coast in 1871, he filled the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Santa Rosa for a few months, in the fall of that year removing to Tillamook, where he preached for some time. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits, taking up one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Nestucca river, near Hebo, where he has since resided, being now a venerable man of four score and four years. He has withdrawn from the Methodist Church, and is now a strong Spiritualist. He married Char- ity Willey, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Elam Willey, who removed from New York, his native state, to Indiana, and was afterwards engaged in farming on the Big Blue river, near New Albany, Ind., also owning and operating a saw and a grist-mill. He spent his declining years in Allen county, Kans., dying at a very advanced age.

The oldest of a family of three sons and four daughters, Elamı Butts was educated in the com- mon schools of Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, com- pleting his early education at Baker University, in Baldwin, Kans. At the age of nineteen years he began life's battle on his own account, and was engaged in teaming in Kansas until 1872. In that year, in order to take advantage of the

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cheaper lands of the Pacific coast, he emigrated to Oregon, locating at Tillamook, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, adjoin- ing the town on the north. In 1876 he removed to the Nestucca River valley, and was there pros- perously engaged in stock-raising and dairying until the spring of 1902, having a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres. Disposing of that farm, he purchased a farm of forty-one acres three and three-fourths miles south of Tillamook, which he is carrying on successfully and is im- proved with new buildings. While a resident of Kansas Mr. Butts served in the Civil war, enlist- ing February 4, 1864, as a private in the Six- teenth Kansas Cavalry, and was engaged princi- pally in fighting General Price and his troops. While guarding prisoners at West Quincy, Ili., he was accidentally shot through the right hand by a carbine ball, which left him a cripple, and he now draws a pension of $14 a month. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

In 1873, in Tillamook, Mr. Butts married for his first wife Catherine Moran, who was born in California, and died on the home farm, near Til- lamook, leaving no children. Mr. Butts married a second time, in Lincoln county, Ore., Margue- rite Mulkey, a native of Benton county, Ore. Her father, the late Solomon Mulkey, removed front Kentucky, the state of his nativity, to Missouri as a pioneer, and from there crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853. Locating in Benton county, he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, not far from Philomath, and there spent the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Butts are the parents of six children, namely : Della J., the wife of Darwin Shaw; May, Zella, Pliny, Richard and Clara, all of whom, with the exception of Mrs. Shaw, are at home. Politically Mr. Butts is a firm Republican, sustaining the principles of that party by voice and vote.

HON. ROBERT A. EMMITT. Ten miles southwest of Klamath Falls lies the valuable farm which is the home of Mr. Emmitt and the scene of his activities. His original purchase consisted of only one hundred and twenty acres, but he now has eleven hundred and sixty acres, in three dif- ferent tracts. All of the improvements have been made under his personal direction. It is said by those able to judge that no farm in the entire county has finer buildings or better improve- ments than his. More than five hundred acres have been placed under cultivation, while the bal- ance is utilized as a range for his cattle, of which he now has about one hundred and fifty head.

A descendant of Irish ancestry, Robert A. Em- mitt was born in Logan county, Ill., May 29, 1850, and is a son of John and Caroline ( Thomp- son) Emmitt, and a grandson of Samuel Emmitt,

who died at Mount Pulaski, Ill., in 1869. His father, who was born on the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, married Miss Thompson, who was born in Tennessee in 1829, and they became the parents of twelve children, Robert A. being the eldest of the eight now living. William and Louisa are deceased; John F. is United States marshal at Carson City, Nev .; Willie Anne is the wife of Joseph S. Churchill, of Cole's Valley, Douglas county, Ore .; Emma is deceased ; Ella lives with her widowed mother at the old home- stead in Douglas county; Edward E. is also a resident of Cole's Valley; Rose is at home; Enos is deceased ; Cenira Jane married J. H. Coffman, of Milton, Umatilla county, Ore .; and Kittie Ruth is the wife of Edward Von Pessel, of Cole's Valley.

Born in September of 1827, John Emmitt spent his youth and carly manhood in Logan county, Ill. While living there he became acquainted with Miss Thompson, who had accompanied her parents from Tennessee to Illinois. They were married in 1847, and five years later crossed the plains to Oregon, making the journey with ox-teams and consuming six months in reaching Oregon. September of 1852 found them in Douglas county, where they at once took up a donation claim. This place continued to be the father's home until he died, December 6, 1901, and since then his widow and some of her chil- dren have remained there. The property lies fif- teen miles northwest of Roseburg in Cole's Val- ley. During his residence in Douglas county the father was chosen to represent his district in the state senate, where he served efficiently from 1890 to 1894. After the Civil war he joined ranks with the Republican party, to which he al- ways afterward adhered.

The earliest recollections of Robert Albert Em- mitt are associated with the donation claim in Douglas county, whither he was taken in in- fancy. As a boy he attended the country schools in Cole's Valley, where he gained an education sufficiently thorough to enable him to teach school. In addition he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. On coming to Klamath coun- ty, June 4, 1875, he settled ten miles southwest of Klamath Falls, where he pre-empted one hun- dred and sixty acres. In 1880 he sold out and bought a portion of his present property near Keno. While living in Douglas county he was married May 6, 1875, to Flora Leslie, who was born in Fountain county, Ind., October 27, 1858. Her parents, Josiah and Mary (Lebo) Leslie, were natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsyl- vania, the former of Scotch-Dutch lineage, the latter of Pennsylvania-Dutch extraction. Her father died in Indiana in 1866, when more than fifty years of age. Four years after his death his widow, accompanied by their two children

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(of whom Mrs. Emmitt is the younger ), came to Oregon and settled near Roseburg, Douglas county. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt, namely : Kittie, deceased ; Georgia, wife of Henry Gidding, of Klamathon, Siskiyou county, Cal .; Mabel, deceased; Ivy and Charmion, both at home.

Like his father, Robert A. Emmitt is a stanch Republican. For more than twenty years he held office as justice of the peace in Plevna pre- cinct, Klamath county. From 1886 to 1888 he served as county commissioner. In 1898 he was a member of the state board of equalization from the first judicial district. A further honor came to him from his party in 1900, when he was elected to the state legislature as joint represent- ative from Klamath, Lake, Crook and Wasco counties. At the expiration of his term he was re-elected by a fair majority, a fact which in it- self testifies as to the satisfactory nature of his service as a legislator. Fraternally he is con- nected with Linkville Lodge No. 110, A. O. U. WV. His farm lies near the village of Keno, which is his postoffice, but he is well known through all of southern Oregon, and indeed has many friends in many parts of northern Califor- nia, where he is known as a capable stock-raiser and enterprising legislator.

JOHN F. BARKER is numbered among the most influential citizens of Douglas county, Ore .. and is today one of the most prosperous and suc- cessful merchants of Roseburg. He is a de- scendant of a distinguished family from the state of Maine, on the paternal side, and from an eminent Massachusetts family on the maternal side. He first became a citizen of Oregon in 1876, coming from the east by way of New York and the Isthmus of Panama. After prospecting for a few years he began work in a general mer- chandise store at Roseburg, and soon afterward started in business for himself. He opened a grocery store on Jackson street, three doors south of his present location and began in a small way, with a stock valued at $1,000. From time to time he enlarged his business and increased his stock to suit the demands, and in 1887 he built a more commodious storeroom and moved to his present location. This has been enlarged from time to time as he extended his trade into different chan- nels, and at the present time Mr. Barker has the distinction of carrying the most complete line of queensware in the city, as well as the largest line of agricultural implements. He lias a double storeroom, one 24x100 feet. and the other 20x60 feet, both fitted with galleries. He also has two warehouses ; the one at the depot is 70x90 fect ; and in 1895. when he first began handling agri- cultural implements, an additional warehouse was

built on Main street, 30x90 feet.' He represents some of the largest wholesale firms in the United States, among them the Mitchell-Lewis, of Wis- consin; and Warder, Bushnell & Glessner of Chicago, manufacturers of the Champion bind- ers, mowers, etc., the J. I. Case plows and farm implements, and others too numerous to men- tion.

J. F. Barker was born April 7, 1857, in Skow- hegan, Somerset county, Me., and is a son of George and Harriet (Dudley) Barker, the former of the same state. The paternal grandfather, William Barker, was a tiller of the soil in Maine and some members of his family took active part in the Revolutionary war. The Barker family are of English descent, and George Barker, the father, was a manufacturer of edged tools in Maine in the early part of his life, but afterward went to Douglas, Mass., as superintendent of the Douglas Ax Works. His useful life was ter- minated when he was but forty-two years old. Mr. Barker's mother was a native of Douglas, Mass., and she also descended from a prominent English family, who settled in Dudley, Mass. She was the daughter of John Dudley, a weil-to- do merchant and also a hotelkeeper in Douglas. She survived her husband many years and died in Portland aged sixty-two years. She had three children, namely : Charles, a merchant in Provi- dence, R. I .; J. F., and Harriet, who died in the cast.

When Mr. Barker was nine years old, the fam- ily moved to Douglas. Mass., and he was sent to the public schools of that city. This was supple- mented by a normal course at Providence, R. I. When seventeen years old, he began clerking in Southbridge, Mass., and for three years was thus engaged. In 1876 he came to Oregon, first vis- iting San Francisco and Portland. He then came to Roseburg, but remained only a short time. Returning to Portland, he worked two years in the commission house of Oscar Kilbourne. In 1878 he began prospecting on the Umpqua river and spent two years in placer-mining, but was not successful. Mr. Barker then returned to Rose- burg and settled there permanently. After work- ing two years in the general merchandise store of Caro Brothers, he embarked in business for himself, as before mentioned. He has a large patronage and has been most successful, and now owns a lot of valuable real estate in addition to his fine residence, which he is building on Cass street. He has extensive farm interests. He owns two hundred and forty acres on Deer creek, where he carries on general farming; and four hundred and eighty acres on Roberts creek, util- ized as a cattle ranch. He also has sixty acres in Edenbower which is laid out in acre tracts. He is quite largely interested in timber land, mostly on Cow creek, and in the bottoms.

Joseph & Churchill

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In 1885 Mr. Barker was united in marriage with Annie E. Jones, a daughter of Isaac Jones, a pioneer of Douglas county. They have a fam- ily of three children, Zela V., Hattie C., and Clifford C. Like his father, Mr. Barker is an unswerving Republican, and has filled various minor offices. He served one term as city alder- man and several terms as a member of the school board. He is a valued member of the Board of Trade, and in fraternal circles he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks, and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodges. He is a man who is deservedly popular among his associates and acquaintances, and at all times treats everyone with never-failing courtesy.

JOSEPH L. CHURCHILL, who since 1887 has served efficiently as postmaster of Coles Val- ley, has led a life of variety and interest. His valiant service as a soldier in the Civil war was followed by his early arrival in the west, where he has taken an important part in the history of the vicinity in which he resides, helping in the management of town and county affairs, and be- ing especially interested in the schools, where the younger generation receive their life's training. Silas Churchill, the father of Joseph L., was born in New Lebanon, N. Y., and was twice married. His first union was with Clara C. Avery, and his second marriage united him with Cornelia Lynde, a native of Hartford, Conn., who became the mother of six children, four daughters and two sons. All remained in the east except Joseph L., and with the exception of one sister, he is the only child living. Alfred died in the army as the result of an injury received at Knoxville. Silas Churchill was a farmer by occupation, a Re- publican in politics, and both himself and wife were identified with the Presbyterian Church, and both passed away in New Lebanon.

Joseph L. Churchill is a native of New York, and was born in New Lebanon Janu- ary 30, 1840. Until he arrived at the age of sixteen years he continued to live in his native place. At this age, however, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered a drug store to learn the business. At the end of three years he returned to his home, and in April, 1862, enlisted as a volunteer in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, to serve in the Civil war. As a private he was mustered into service at Hud- son, N. Y., and was sent to Baltimore, where his regiment guarded the property of the railroads for two months. Later he served under General Wool at Harrisburg in engagements near and around that city, and then was put under General

Banks. As the war progressed, Mr. Churchill was sent to New Orleans and saw active service in the first engagement of Baton Rouge, near the city. His regiment was started on a six hun- dred mile march directly following this battle, and during the entire march he did not remove his arms or equipments. They arrived at the Red river, ascended it to Cain Hill, and partici- pated in the battle there and at Alexander. After that Mr. Churchill was so seriously ill that he was in the hospital Orleans for seven months, and when able to leave joined his regiment at New Orleans, but on account of disa- bility was soon discharged from the service. This was in 1865, and when he arrived at home in De- cember he was in poor health. After the battle of Alexander, and while Mr. Churchill was in the hospital, his regiment participated in the campaign of Port Hudson, and later returned to Virginia in time to take an active part in the battle of Cedar Creek, October 15, 1864.

When he had recovered somewhat from the effects of his illness, Mr. Churchill started for San Francisco, as the physicians had told him a change of climate was necessary. He had de- termined to spend the remainder of his life in the west if the country was favorable, and after residing nearly a year in California, in June, 1866, he located in Douglas county, near Rose- burg, and for three years dealt in stock there. He then took his stock north to Colfax, Wash .. expecting to make a large profit on them. Bunch grass and white clover grow in such abundance in the eastern counties of that state that grazing is the chief purpose to which the inhabitants put the land. But Mr. Churchill was not so fortu- nate as some, and in the year spent in the north lost almost all of his stock. As it did not prove a successful venture, he returned to Coles Valley and for a year rented the Day ranch, then pur- chased his present farm, two miles from Umpqua Ferry, clearing it and making improvements un- til it became one of the most thrifty looking places in the valley. He carries on general farm- ing and raises stock successfully, making a specialty of raising Polled Angus cattle, which arc valuable for meat-producing qualities. He has two hundred and eighty-five acres, two hun- dred acres being valley land. and used only for grazing purposes.

In 1872 Mr. Churchill married Willie Ann Emmitt, a daughter of John Emmitt, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this his- tory. They have only one child, Frank, who still makes his home with them. Mr. Churchill cast his first vote for Mr. Lincoln and is still a supporter of the Republican party. He served twelve years as justice of the peace of Coles Val- ley, for fifteen years was on the board of super-

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visors, and for thirty years served as a school di- rector. During the summer of 1867 he taught school in Coles Valley, and later taught in the French settlement for two terms. Since 1887 he has been postmaster of Coles Valley, and in the various positions of trust which he has been called upon to fill is known as a man in whom can be placed full confidence.

HON. JOHN HAHN. No country on the globe has afforded greater opportunities to the poor than our own, many an industrious and thrifty young man having risen from a condition of comparative poverty to a position of affluence and influence. Prominent among this class is Hon. John Hahn, formerly one of the leading boot and shoe dealers of Astoria, who came to this country without money and without friends, and by persistent energy and prudent management has accumulated wealth, and gained the good will and friendship of a host of people, among whom are many men of eminence and ability. A native of Germany, he was born April 21, 1846, at Hesse-Cassel, which was also the birthplace of his parents, Philip and Magdalene (Court) Hahn. The father was for many years a non-commissioned officer. and was afterward in the employ of the government, having charge of the House of Correction at Ziegenhain, where his death occurred. The mother died in Hesse-Cassel. She bore her husband four children, three daughters and one son, and of these one daugh- ter is now living in New York.

Going with his father to Ziegenhain when a child of four years, John Hahn was there educated, attending the public schools of that place. Sailing from Bremen in 1860 on the "Clara," he arrived in New York city after a voyage of eight weeks and two days. On the first day out he was robbed of the small sum of money he had, and of all his papers. The loss of the latter proved very serious, as among them was one containing the address of an uncle upon whose help he depended. Having lost the address, he at once began hunting for work in the great city, and soon found employ- inent in a tailor's shop, where he worked as an apprentice for two years, receiving no re- muneration excepting his board. Becoming discouraged and disgusted with that trade, he took up cigar-making, which he followed two years or more, the last year being foreman of the shop. In 1864 he tried to enlist in the Union army, offering his services to his adopted country, but, failing to pass the physi- cal examination, he was not accepted. At the time of the cigar-makers' strike in New York,

his funds grew low, and as he could find noth- ing to do, he made cigars which he sold on the street. Being taken ill in 1865, he was advised by his physician to give up cigar- making. Entering a clothing manufactory, Mr. Hahn then learned the trade of a trim- mer, and was subsequently employed by the firm of Davis & Jackson, at 59 Murray street, . and was afterward trimmer and collector for Miller Brothers, of 749 Broadway. In August, 1867, Mr. Hahn enlisted in Battery H, Fourth United States Artillery, and was stationed first at Governors Island, then at Arlington Heights, going thence to Fort McHenry, Bal- timore, and from there to North Carolina, where he was engaged for awhile in hunting the Ku Klux Klan, his headquarters being at Ruffin. Receiving his honorable discharge from the army in 1870, Mr. Hahn went to Baltimore, but being unable to find employ- ment he re-enlisted in his old regiment and battery, and again went to North Carolina, being stationed at Raleigh. The ensuing two years he hunted the Ku Klux, traveling through North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. In 1872 he accompanied his regi- ment to California. In the fall of that year he came with his comrades on the "Ajax" to Astoria, and was stationed at Fort Disap- pointment, now Fort Canby, until the break- ing out of the Indian war, when his regiment was sent to Quiniault, Wash. Returning to Fort Disappointment at the end of six months, he was afterward stationed there until honor- ably discharged from the service, October 1, 1875.

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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 58

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