Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 60

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 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Dysinger was united in marriage with Ida Sovern, formerly of Dayton, Ore., and they have one child, Treaves. In politics Mr. Dy- singer is a stanch Republican, and has made many handsome contributions to campaign funds. In social circles, he is allied with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The reli- able firm of which he is a member has made a reputation which is known throughout the state, and too much cannot be said in praise of its members, for in all their dealings, honesty and uprightness stand out prominently, as their large patronage goes to prove. Their mills are fitted out with the latest devices and machinery, and they find a ready market for the output.

ALEXANDER MARTIN, SR. Although a resident of Oakland, Cal., for a long period Mr. Martin has had important financial and commer- cial interests in Klamath Falls, Ore., and num- bers among his friends some of the leading citi- zens of southern Oregon. Identified with the history of the Pacific coast regions since 1853, he is a native of Illinois, born in Scott county, March 17. 1835, his parents being Samuel and Susan ( Sisson) Martin, natives of Ohio county, Va. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Mar- tin, immigrated to America from Ireland and settled in Virginia, where he followed the trade of jeweler and watchmaker. The maternal grandfather, Lewis Sisson, was a native-born American and by occupation a farmer. The gencalogy of the Sisson family is traced to Germany.

During 1832 Samuel Martin took his family from Virginia to Illinois and settled in Scott county, where he entered a tract of government land and became a pioneer farmer. On that homestead he died in 1844, aged sixty-six years. Afterward his widow continued to live on the same place until her death, which occurred in 1866, at the age of almost seventy years. In their family were three sons and six daughters, namely: Maria, who married A. M. Henderson, both now deceased ; Frances, Mrs. Charles Lewis, also deccased; George, who for twenty years officiated as clerk of Scott county, Ill., but is

448

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

now living in Nebraska; Sarah, Mrs. Ephraim Lewis, deceased; Eliza, Mrs. William Crabtree, deceased; Alexander ; Martha, Mrs. James Ho- sac, of Nebraska; Samuel, of Harvard, Neb .; and Susan, who married William Cahn, of Kan- sas.

In the days when Alexander Martin, Sr., was a boy schools were few in number and crude in their method of instruction. Hence his educa- tional opportunities were meagre. At an early age he learned the blacksmith's trade. In . the spring of 1853 he started for the west, crossing the Missouri river on the 12th of May and the Klamath river, seventeen miles from Klamath Falls, on the 29th of August. The entire trip consumed four months and was made with ox- teams. After spending the winter in Jackson- ville, Ore., in the spring of 1854 he went over- land to California and followed his trade at Sacramento. Returning to Oregon in the spring of 1855, he took up work at his trade in Jack- sonville. During 1865 he returned to Illinois and visited relatives and friends. The spring of 1866 found him again in Jacksonville, where he embarked in the general mercantile business with J. T. Glenn and John S. Drum under the firmi title of Glenn, Drum & Co. The business was conducted under that name until 1869, when Major Glenn purchased the interests of the other owners. A later venture of Mr. Martin was as superintendent of the line of stages owned by the Western Stage Company and running from Portland to Lincoln, Cal. The work was difficult and the duties of the superintendent responsible, for he was obliged to take the over- sight of four hundred head of horses owned by the company, engage suitable drivers and see that the stage reached Portland daily.

In 1872 Mr. Martin bought Major Glenn out and thus became a member of the firm of White & Martin. The following year he had a contract for transporting troops and supplies from the end of the railroad at Roseburg into the lava beds. In 1874 he sold out to Reames Bros., and in 1879 removed from Oregon to California, and has since made his home in Oakland. However. he has continued his commercial and financial interests in his old home state. During 1880 he became a member of the mercantile firm of Reames, Martin & Co., at Klamath Falls. In 1886 C. S. Moore bought out the interest owned by Mr. Reames and the store has since been conducted under the name of Reames, Martin & Co., Thomas Reames at present holding an interest in the enterprise. Another important business which owes its inception to Mr. Mar- tin is the Klamath County Bank at Klamath Falls, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 and has since taken a place among the conservative and substantial finan-

cial institutions of southern Oregon. Frater- nally Mr. Martin was at one time connected with the lodge and chapter of Masonry, but is not now affiliated with the organization. He is a member and holds the office of an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland.

June 24, 1857, Mr. Martin married Elvira M. Gass, who was born in Virginia March 3, 1839, and died at Jacksonville, Ore., March 3, 1878. Her father, Thomas Gass, died in the east and in 1853 her mother brought the children to Oregon, settling in Jackson county. The family of Alexander Martin, Sr., and his wife consisted of five children, namely: Ida, wife of Dr. G. H. Aiken, of Fresno, Cal .; Alexander, Jr .; William, a dentist having his office on Mar- ket street, San Francisco; George, a dentist, now residing in Berlin, Germany; and Elvira, wife of F. H. Woodward, of San Jose, Cal.

THOMAS WILSON. The family represent- ed by Mr. Wilson of Myrtle Point originated in Scotland, whence his father migrated to Ireland and settled on a farm four miles from Derry, dying there at the age of about forty years. After his death his widow, Mrs. Nancy Wilson, came to the United States in 1852 and settled on a farm in Kenosha county, Wis. About 1857 she removed to Iowa and established the family home on a farm seven miles east of Bradford. However, the following year she changed her place of residence to Freeborn county, Minn., where she .had a stock farm. On returning to Iowa in 1862 she settled on a farm six miles west of Bradford, on the Cedar river, and there died when sixty years of age. Of her five sons and three daughters the youngest was Thomas, a native of Ireland, born August 1, 1847. With the other children he accompanied his mother to America, where slie received such education as country schools then afforded.

In company with a brother, Andrew, in 1864 Mr. Wilson crossed the plains to Walla Walla, Wash., where he secured employment in the har- vest fields. The next year was largely spent in the mines of Eagle creek. During the fall he harvested in the Willamette valley. During 1866 he removed to California and for ten years had various interests, working as a farm employe. operating a stcam threshing machine, etc. Be- ing a natural mechanic, he was especially help- ful in the care and repairing of farm machinery. In 1875 he went to Humboldt county, Cal., where he carried on a general farming and dairy busi- ness. When he returned to Oregon in 1884 he settled near Myrtle Point, purchasing sixty acres at the forks of the Coquille river, and later add- ing to his possessions hy the purchase of eighty

Chas b. b. Rosenberg

451

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

acres one mile from that place. In December of 1902 he bought thirteen acres at Myrtle Point, also five acres adjoining that tract, and within the city limits, where he now makes his home. On his home place he keeps six cows, besides having fifteen cows at the dairy on the Coquille river, and he continues the dairy business, sell- ing butter to customers in town. He has always been a believer in our free educational system and has given his district faithful service as school director for three terms. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion is of the Dunkard faith.

The marriage of Mr. Wilson took place in Humboldt, Cal., and united him with Lydia Ellen Simmons, who was born near Albany, Ore. When six months of age her father died and afterward her mother was again married. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson comprises the following children : James Alexander, of Myrtle Point; Emma May, wife of J. H. Johnson, of Gravelford, Ore .; William Thomas, also a resi- dent of Gravelford; Ada Elizabeth, deceased ; George Washington, Nancy Ellen, Millie Ma- tildia, Grover Cleveland, Mamie Inez, and Eva Elizabeth. The family are highly respected in the best circles of their home town and have many friends throughout all this region.

CHARLES C. C. ROSENBERG, M. D. During the seventeenth century, at the expiration of the Thirty Years' war and after the death of Gustavus Adolphus, an officer of the German army bearing the name of Rosenberg went to Sweden with the army from his native kingdom of Wurtemberg and founded the Swedish branch of the Rosenberg family. From him de- scended Mauritz Rosenberg, a native of Stock- holm, and by occupation a lumber manufacturer. Removing to Finland, he built the first steam saw-mill in that country, this being located at Bjorneborg on the Gulf of Bothnia. His son, Capt. Gustavus Adolph Rosenberg, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, accompanied the family to Finland, where he, too, engaged in the manufac- ture of lumber, remaining there until his death. By his marriage to Eva Nyburg, who died in Sweden, he had two children, Charles Conrad Constantin and Walter, the latter a resident of Escanaba, Mich., where he follows the machin- ist's trade.

In Tammefors, Tevastehus, Finland, Charles C. C. Rosenberg was born October 16, 1859. As a boy he attended the gymnasium at Abo, Fin- land. During the progress of the Turko-Rus- sian war he entered the Red Cross service of the Russian army and there became interested in the science of medicine, the study of which he pros- ecuted after the close of the war. In 1880 he

was graduated from the Medical and Surgical College at Helsingfors, Finland, with the degree of M. D. For the following six years he held a commission as surgeon, with the rank of captain, in the Wasa Battalion of the Finnish Guard. Later he entered the Russian Imperial Maria Fredonia Hospital in St. Petersburg (the army hospital) where he remained for two years. He also had the privilege of attending the Army Medical College in the same city.

October of 1889, found Dr. Rosenberg in the United States, where he opened an office at Har- bor, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and there con- ducted a general practice for two years. His first knowledge of Oregon was gained in 1891, when he settled in Astoria. Six months later he crossed the bay to Frankfort, Wash., and there conducted a general practice for seven years, re- turning in 1900 to Astoria, where he now makes his home. His extensive practice in medicine and surgery is not confined to his home town, but extends to different points in both Oregon and Washington.

To keep abreast with every discovery in thera- peutics has always been an ambition of Dr. Rosenberg. In the pursuit of this purpose he took a course of lectures in the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, from which he was gradu- ated in 1898. The following year he was grad- ulated from the National College of Electro- Therapeutics at Lima, Ohio, with the degree of Master of Electro-Therapeutics. In 1900 he was graduated from the Chicago School of Psychol- ogy with the degree of D. P., and in addition he is a graduate of the American School of Mag- netic Healing at Nevada, Mo. His knowledge of pharmacy was gained in the Ohio Institute of Pharmacy at Columbus, from which he was graduated in 1899. It may be readily under- stood that, with the advantages offered by all of these institutions he has gained a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of his profession and kindred sciences. Indeed, he knows no happier hours than those spent in diagnosing intricate forms of disease and conquering them by his skill and knowledge. In 1900 he was appointed on the staff of St. Luke's hospital, at Niles, Mich., with which he is connected as corre- sponding physician. He is also an honorary member of the staff of the World's Electro-Med- ical Institute at Columbus, Ohio, and is a mem- ber of the American Medical Union. The varied nature of his studies may be inferred from the fact that he has won the degrees of M. Ch., M. D .. M. E., Ph. G., D. M. and D. P.

While in Ohio Dr. Rosenberg married Mrs. Maria (Ladwa) Reane, who was born in the city of Wasa, Finland, and by whom he has one child. Aune. By her first marriage Mrs. Rosen- berg has three children, Einar, Theodore and

452

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Olga. In his fraternal relations the doctor is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Degree of Honor, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors, Eagles, and Red Men, Tribe of Pocahontas. Besides being one of the most active workers in the Finnish Co- operative Workingmen's Association, he holds office as its secretary. He is a member of the American Labor Union and secretary of the Columbia Federal Union, of which he is also state organizer. Since youth he has been a student of mankind. His wide travels have taken from him any narrowness of mind that might be associated with isolation. Though in- tensely loyal to the land of his birth, he is never- theless a cosmopolitan, and all men he regards as his brethren. It is his belief that the highest happiness of mankind can never be attained until socialistic principles are brought into actual prac- tice, and he is an ardent defender and disciple of Henry George.

Those unfamiliar with Dr. Rosenberg's energy might infer that the practice of his profession and the duties connected with membership in numerous organizations would leave him no leisure time for participation in other affairs, but we find these do not represent the limit of his activities. In addition, he is editor and pub- lisher of the Lannelar, a Finnish newspaper, six- column quarto, published weekly, and containing news of interest to Finnish people in the United States and Finland. Subscribers to the paper are to be found in every state of our own land, besides a large list in Canada. While a specialty is made of items of news, yet Dr. Rosenberg has a higher ideal than this in publishing the paper, for he endeavors, through its columns, to inspire higher aims and motives among la- boring men and broaden their range of thought and aspiration. In him the laborer has a friend, one who realizes his difficulties, sympathizes with his needs and understands the many prob- lems that confront him. Those who know Dr. Rosenberg most intimately assert that, while his successful medical carcer is a source of gratifi- cation to him, he appreciates no distinction more highly than to be known as the "friend of the laboring man."

JAMES L. LOVELL. The proprietor of the Scow Bay Iron and Brass Works is one of the well-known business men of Astoria, whither he came for the first time in 1889. His connec- tion with the plant of which he is now the head dates from 1900, when he leased the foun- dry. In March of 1903 he bought the plant, and at once began to remodel and improve the same, since which time he has carried on an extensive business in the manufacture of iron

and brass castings of all kinds, his specialty be- ing steamboat, sawmill and logging work. The plant has a large capacity and its usefulness is further enhanced by the pattern shop in con- nection therewith. Employment is furnished to a number of men, varying from six to ten. There are two cupolas with a capacity respec- tively of five and fifteen tons, also one of brass with a capacity of one-half ton.

Of English birth and descent, Mr. Lovell was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, December 25, 1852, and was next to the youngest in a large fam- ily, six of whom are now living. His father, Charles Penton Lovell, who was a pattern-maker and cabinet-worker, came to America in 1868 and settled in Chicago, where two years later he was joined by his family. From that time he engaged in pattern-making until his death, which occurred in Chicago. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Ellen Green, was born in England and died in that country. When twelve years of age James L. Lovell left school and became an apprentice to the trade of a pattern-maker. Two years later he was ap- prenticed as a moulder in the foundry of Tux- ford & Son. When his father sent for the fam- ily, he started for the United States, landing in New York city May 30, 1870, off the steamer City of London. Then he proceeded direct to Chicago, where he promptly secured work, at $40 per week, on the abutment of the Omaha bridge made by the Boomer Bridge Company in Chicago. For eighteen months he worked there, without loss of time. Later he followed his trade in different cities of the north, south and west. June 18, 1874, he arrived in Virginia City, Nev., where he was employed for five months. Later hc was engaged in the building of the city hall at San Francisco, after which he worked for three years at his trade in Mill City, Nev. Subsequent to this he was manager of the Man- hattan Silver Mining Company's foundry at Aus- tin, Nev., for thirteen and one-half years. For three years he then followed his trade in San Francisco and Placerville, after which he came to Astoria in 1889 and started the Scow Bay Foundry Company, with D. H. and John Welch as partners. The company was incorporated with Mr. Lovell as president and under his ex- perienced guidance the works were built and operated. In 1897 he disposed of his interest in the business and returned to Placerville, Cal .. where he leased and operated a placer mine for two and one-half years. On his return to As- toria he resumed his connection with the foundry, of which he is now the sole owner.

While living in Austin, Nev., Mr. Lovell mar- ried Miss Rose Anita Watson, who was born and reared there, and has the distinction of being the first white female child born in that town.

453

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Her father, William Watson, was a blacksmith by occupation and followed his calling after iden- tifying himself with the pioneers of the west. Four children comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lovell, namely: James Watson, a moulder with his father; Sherman, who acts as book- keeper for his father; May and Violet. Though loyal in every respect to the country of his adop- tion, Mr. Lovell is not a partisan, and aside from voting the Republican ticket takes no part in politics. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Astoria and fraternally is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Eagles.

JUDGE THOMAS SMITH. Among the brave and courageous pioneers who have been prominently identified with the advancement, growth and prosperity of Douglas county there is perhaps not one that is looked upon with more respect than Judge Thomas Smith, of Roseburg, who has the distinction of being the oldest living male settler of the Umpqua valley. A son of George Smith, he was born February 12, 1824, in Henley, Oxfordshire, England, where he spent the first six years of his life.

Born in Reading. England, George Smith learned the trade of a shoemaker in his native country, living there several years after his mar- riage. Emigrating with his family to America, in 1830, he lived for a year in Rochester, N. Y., afterward spending three years in Euclid, Ohio, not far from the city of Cleveland. Re- moving thence to Laporte county, Ind., he pur- chased land, and was there engaged in general farming and shoemaking for a number of years. Starting for Oregon in 1852, to join his oldest son, Thomas, who had previously settled in Ore- gon, he was stricken with cholera while on the way, and died at St. Joseph, Mo., being then in the sixty-second year of his age. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Perrin, continued the journey with her children, arriving in the fall of that year. She was born in Oxfordshire, England, and died in Eugene, Ore. Of the nine children she bore her husband, seven grew to years of maturity, and six came to Oregon, name- ly: Thomas, the special subject of this sketch; William, a dairyman, who died in Eugene, Ore .; Michael, Ernest and Fanny, all residing in Grangeville, Idaho; and Marion, who died in Idaho.

Coming to this country with his parents when a small lad, Thomas Smith received a limited common school education, and at the age of eleven years began to assist his father in the pion er labor of clearing and improving a home- stead in Indiana. Industrious and economical,

he accumulated some money after attaining his majority, and in 1847, impelled by the adventur- ous American spirit that led so many to seek new homes in the far west, he came to Oregon, travel- ing the long journey from Indiana with ox- teams, as was customary in those days. Leaving his home in Indiana, April 9, 1847, the company with which he traveled come up the Platte river, past Laramie and Fort Bridger, making several cutoffs and divergences in order to evade dust and get more grass for the cattle, and arrived in Eugene, Ore., October 26, of that year. Locat- ing in Lane county, just across the river from Eugene, Mr. Smith remained there until May, 1849, when he removed to Douglas county, locat- ing on the north fork of the Umpqua river, about four miles from Winchester. In the spring of 1850, in company with John Akin, he established the Winchester Ferry, which he operated from 1850 until 1865, when he sold out. In the mean- time, in 1851, responding to the call of Gov. John P. Gaines for volunteers to assist in sub- duing the savages, who were making a great deal of trouble throughout the territory, he went with his regiment to the Rogue river country, where he remained until the government made a treaty with the Indians.

Mr. Smith also worked at the carpenter's trade, erecting some of the first houses in Win- chester, and erected the first frame building in Roseburg, for Mr. Musgrave, the original owner of the old Roseburg claim. In 1865 he em- barked in agricultural pursuits, in the course of time acquiring a large amount of land, having a farm of sixteen hundred and fifty acres near Winchester and another containing one thousand and sixty acres. Devoting a large portion of his time and land to sheep-raising, he dealt princi- pally in Merino sheep, heading his fiock with the best grade to be procured by paying $500 for a buck, and $975 for three ewes. For many years Mr. Smith carried on a very extensive and lucrative business in this line of industry, con- tinuing until 1887, when he sold out, and located in Roseburg, where he has since lived practically retired from active pursuits, although he has done some building in the city. While living in Winchester he was influential in public affairs, serving as county judge from 1874 until 1878, and was a member of the first board of county commissioners. He assisted in organizing Doug- las county in 1853.

In Yoncalla valley, Judge Smith marricd Arethusa Emeline Lynn, who was born in Mis- souri, and came to Oregon in 1850, with her mother, her father having died of cholera while crossing the plains. Judge and Mrs. Smith have ten children living, namely: George Daniel, of Grangeville, Idaho, proprietor of Wilkes Hotel; Lynn, a stockman, in Utah; Lee, a stock-raiser,

454

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at White Bird, Idaho; Nathan, a resident of Lakeview, Ore .; Ralph, who is engaged in the logging business at Hoquiam, Wash .; Mrs. Mary Ann Rohrer, of Coquille City, Coos county, Ore .; Thomas, of Glendale, Ore .; Arethusa Emeline, liv- ing at home; Ellen V., formerly assistant post- master at Roseburg, is now attending a business college in Portland; and Mrs. Grace D. Mathews, of Roseburg. Politically Judge Smith is a Re- publican, and a zealous advocate of the princi- ples endorsed by his party. He was postmaster at Winchester from 1854 until 1860; was justice of the peace one term; and for one term he served as president of the State Agricultural Society. Fraternally he was made a Mason at Winchester Lodge in January, 1858, and is now a member of Laurel Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M.

JUDGE MILTON BERRY. The thriving city of Ashland has been particularly fortu- nate in the selection of its municipal officers, prominent among whom is Judge Milton Ber- ry, who has served as city recorder since 1889, and for the past ten years has been justice of the peace. As a soldier in the Civil war he had an excellent military record, and as a pub- lic official he devoted his entire time and en- ergy to the duties of his position, being mind- ful of the best interests of the city and its peo- ple, and always just and impartial in his decis- ions. A son of James Berry, he was born January 13, 1837, in Cass county, Ill., near Virginia, of pioneer ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Berry, spent the earlier part of his life in Virginia, the state in which he was born and reared, living there a number of years after his marriage. Subsequently re- moving to Illinois, he was engaged in tilling the soil until his death at the age of eighty years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 60

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