Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 61

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 61

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Born, reared and educated in the Old Do- minion, James Berry settled in Cass county, Ill., purchasing land near Virginia, where he improved a homestead, and was for many years actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He took great interest in political affairs, and for many terms served as county clerk. Although a man of strong men- tal and physical vigor, he died at the early age of fifty years, his death being caused by ty- phoid fever. He married Sarah Taylor, who was born in Kentucky, and died in Illinois at the age of fifty years. Her father, Peter Tay- lor, a farmer by occupation, removed from his native state, Kentucky, to Illinois, settling in Cass county, where he spent his last years. Of the six children born of the union of James and Sarah (Taylor) Berry, five are now living,

Milton being the only one on the Pacific coast. One son, James, now a resident of Iowa, was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the regi- ment with his brother, Milton, the special sub- ject of this sketch.

Living on the home farm until eighteen years of age, Milton Berry obtained his pre- liminary education in the district schools, afterwards entering the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, where he was graduated, June, 1861, with the degree of A. B. He was subse- quently principal of a graded school in Ma- coupin county, Ill., for a year. Responding to his country's call for volunteers, he enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at Camp Butler as first ser- geant of his company. Sent directly to Mem- phis, Tenn., he took part in the siege of Vicks- burg under command of General Sherman. Subsequently, while on a raid from Memphis, in June, 1864, he was captured by General Forrest's cavalry and taken to Andersonville prison. December 1, 1864, he, with other pris- oners, was transferred from Andersonville to Savannah, Ga., where he was exchanged. Go- ing by boat to Annapolis, Md., he was taken to the hospital in that city, being unable to join his regiment on account of the hardships of prison life. Being afterwards removed to the St. Louis hospital, he remained there un- til the close of the war, when, in May, 1865, he was mustered out of the service.

Returning immediately to Cass county, Ill., Mr. Berry resumed his professional labors, and taught school in that part of the state for several years, afterwards being engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until 1882. Coming in that year to Oregon, he was engaged in teaching for two or three years, first in Salem, then in Albany, going from there to Gervais, in 1884 coming to Ashland, where he taught school one term, and has since been a resident. Elected city recorder in December, 1888, he took the oath of office in January, 1889, and has served continuously since, having been re- elected each succeeding year. In 1890 he was chosen justice of the peace, and with the ex- ception of four years has since held this posi- tion. A stanch and true citizen, Judge Berry always uses his influence to promote the best interests of the city, and well deserves the esteem and favor in which he is held by all.

In Cass county, Ill., Judge Berry married Mary Hansford, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Dr. F. F. Hansford, now a prominent physician of Independence, Mo. Two children have blessed their union, name- ly : Maude, a graduate of the Southern Oregon Normal School, and Eugene C., living at home.

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Politically the judge is a strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and socially he belongs to Burnside Post No. 23, G. A. R. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now serv- ing as chairman of its board of trustees.

MAJOR CHARLES E. WORDEN. The genealogy of the Worden family in America is traced back through twelve generations to Peter Worden Ist, the founder of the race on this side of the Atlantic, who on being granted a patent by King Charles to land on Cape Cod, Narragansett bay and intervening points, es- tablished his home on his new possessions. Peter Worden was born in Wales in 1568 and died in 1638. Descending several generations we find that Thomas Worden was a captain in the Revolutionary war and endured the hardships of that memorable winter at Valley Forge. The captain's son, Seth, was a large land owner and a colonel in the war of 1812. On the maternal side he was the grandson of the founder of the Seth Thomas clock works at Waterbury, Conn., of which he was the owner as early as 1798. However, during that year he exchanged the plant for one-half town- ship of land where now stands the town of Liverpool, Ohio. Thither he moved with ox- teams in 1802.

On the Ohio homestead was born Seth Thomas Worden, a son of Colonel Worden. His birth occurred March 30, 1828. At an carly age he began to study medicine, becom- ing a student in the Cleveland Medical Col- lege. In December, 1861, he removed his fam- ily to Fulton county, Ohio, and there for forty years he was an influential and successful phy- sician. In addition to his private practice le acted as president of the board of pension ex- aminers, and county physician seventeen years and for eight years held the office of coroner. In politics he was a stanch Republican, in re- ligion an earnest and lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally a member of the Masonic chapter, in which he was high priest, and Toledo Commandery No. 17, K. T. His death occurred in Ohio, July 1, 1901.

When a young man Dr. Worden married Jane Prichard, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., in 1832, and now resides in Toledo, Ohio. Her father, S. C. Prichard, who was of Scotch descent, owned a cotton factory in Cayuga county, but about 1845 he sold the plant and removed to Liverpool, Ohio. There he was intimately associated with the town's business interests and also did considerable

loaning of money. In the family of Dr. and Mrs. Worden there were two children, Charles E. and Mary W. The latter, who resides with her mother, is the widow of W. H. Gavitt, a well-known Ohio attorney, who died in 1899.

On a farm adjoining Liverpool, Ohio, Charles E. Worden was born May 22, 1849. When nineteen years of age he left home and went to the Isabella reservation in Michigan, among the Chippewa, Ottawa and Tawas In- dians. His education had been that of the grammar schools, supplemented by attendance upon the high school at Niles City, Mich. However, possessing much native ability, he was quick to master the language of those tribes of Indians with whom he associated. His business was that of trading for furs. When the Indians had been allotted lands he secured employment with Russell Sage and the McGraw Company in buying pine lands from the Indians for lumber purposes. Janu- ary 22, 1871, he married Emma C. Crowley, who was born in Erie county, N. Y., in June of 1851, being a daughter of a Civil war sol- dier who moved to Michigan in 1867 and set- tled near Mount Pleasant; while living there he was for years treasurer of Isabella county. His death occurred in Clinton county, Mich., about 1898.

In 1871 Major Worden started the first drug store in Isabella county, Mich. A year later he sold out and returned to Ohio, where he settled at Delta and engaged in buying West Indian staves for a company in Portland, Me. A subsequent business venture was the real estate, loan and brokerage business, which he conducted until May of 1894. Under an ap- pointment by the government as allotting and special agent by the department of the interior for the Klamath, Modoc and Piute Indians on Klamath reservation, he came to Oregon in 1894. On the completion of the work, in the fall of 1897, he settled in Klamath Falls, of which he has since been a resident. In this city he has engaged in buying and selling real estate, has platted two additions to the town and has erected an elegant residence on the hill above the city. In his family there are two children. His son, William S., who at- tended the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, has been principal of the Klamath Falls public school for five years. The daugh- ter, May C., is taking a special course in music at the University of Oregon.

During his special work for the government Major Worden laid out Klamath agency and named all lots, platted the agency, named all the streets, laid out parks and cemetery, set apart all school lands, named and numbered all Indians, and perfected the census roll for

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all records. At this writing the work is still conducted upon the basis that he established. As a Democrat he has borne an active part in party affairs and has been chosen to render services of a responsible nature. From 1890 to 1894 he served as chairman of the state congressional committee in Ohio. In 1892, at the state convention, he was made vice-presi- dent of the district at Cleveland. At the lay- ing of the corner stone of the capital centen- nial celebration, in 1893, he represented the district of Toledo in Washington. Among other services he has been a delegate to na- tional conventions. In 1898 he was nominated from the first judicial district of Oregon, being then a member of the state central committee, as a member of the state board of equalization or land appraisers, but suffered defeat. It

might well be a matter of pride with him that he has reached as high honors as Masonry can bestow. He is identified with Klamath Lodge No. 77, A. F. & A. M .; Siskiyou Chapter, R. A. M., at Ashland; Wauseon Council No. 64, at Wauseon, Ohio; Malta Commandery No. 4, K. T., at Ashland; Oregon Consistory No. I, thirty-second degree, at Portland, and Knight Commander of the Coat of Honor, Su- preme Council of the World, at Washington, D. C., which is the highest honor in the order.

While many citizens of Klamath Falls have surpassed Major Worden in point of years of residence here, none have surpassed him in devotion to the city's welfare, in active con- tributions to its advancement, in connection with various important enterprises, among others, as one of the founders of the First National Bank, and in fulfilling every duty that falls to a public-spirited citizen. His resi- dence in the town has been helpful to all those interests that enhance local prosperity, and in many respects it may be said that Klamath Falls has no citizen more progressive than Major Charles E. Worden.

CHARLES ELMER REYNOLDS. Among the successful business men of whom Tilla- mook is justly proud may be mentioned Charles Elmer Reynolds, a resident of the town since 1888, and since coming here iden- tified with agriculture, carpentering and build- ing, furniture and undertaking, real estate and local political service. A selfmade man in the truest sense of the word, Mr. Reynolds is indebted for his education to his own efforts, for experience has been the stern teacher from whom he has received his most impressive les- sons in life. His youth was spent on a farm in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he was

born February II, 1840, and where his father, Samuel Reynolds, combined farming and local preaching in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Previously Mr. Reynolds had lived in both Erie and Livingston counties in his native state, but his last days were spent in Catta- raugus county, where he died at the age of sixty-five. His wife, formerly Eliza Hoyt, was also born in New York state, and lived to be fifty-eight years old. Of the eleven chil- dren, seven of whom are sons, Charles Elmer is the seventh. The children of Samuel Rey- nolds were obliged to work hard in their youth. for the family was a large one, and local preaching in those days was not a remunera- tive occupation. There were too many sons at home to eke out a livelihood on a farm of moderate size, and Charles Elmer decided to start out for himself directly after the death of his father. He was seventeen at the time, a strong, willing lad, full of grit and deter- mination, and already convinced that relia- bility and integrity were to be his chief stock in trade. He farmed and logged, with the re- sult that he laid by a little money, and he was hard at work when the country was precipi- tated into the throes of the Civil war. Enlist- ing in Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Re- serves, he served four years and participated in forty-seven battles, his regiment being con- nected with the Army of the Potomac. At the battle of Fredericksburg, where he was wounded in the leg and neck, and was in a hospital for a short time, when he again joined his command, and was with Grant in the Wil- derness and before Richmond and Petersburg, his regiment being on the front line at Appo- mattox when Lee surrendered, April 9, 1865. Mr. Reynolds came back to Harrisburg and was discharged July 15, 1865, having served in the army four years two months and twen- ty-three days. Although so many years have passed, this veteran vividly recalls all the cir- cumstances connected with the great contests, several of which will go down in history as among the greatest in the world. Some chance bugier sounding taps, some reminder of friend with whom he tented or fought or marched, and Mr. Reynolds has at his tongue's end a fund of interesting reminiscences to which it is a delight to listen. After the war Mr. Rey- nolds located in Wisconsin, living first in St. Croix and afterward in Pierce county. He was quite successful as a farmer and carpen- ter, and became interested in Republican poli- tics, being elected to several local offices. He served both as school director and road super- visor several terms.

In 1882 Mr. Reynolds returned east, visiting New York and Pennsylvania, and then re-

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turned to his former home in Wisconsin. After locating in Tillamook, in 1888, he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land for farming, and one hundred and eighty acres of timber land, four years later taking up a homestead near the town of Tillamook. While managing his property he worked also at his trade, and perceiving a scarcity of certain enterprises of which his fellow-townsmen had not been quick to avail themselves, he selected that of furni- ture and undertaking, and started a business in 1902. The following year he purchased his present furniture store, which is one of the best in the county, and the varied and com- plete stock of which is valued at $4,000. Mr. Reynolds also has the agency of the White Bronze Monuments. While his business is comparatively new in the town, he is already receiving a gratifying trade. He has invested considerable money in town property, and be- sides his store and house owns three resi- dences, which he rents.

Twice married, the first wife of Mr. Rey- nolds was formerly Clara Bennett, who was born in Pierce county, Wis., and died in the state of Pennsylvania. Of this union there were three children, of whom Frederick and Minerva are deceased, and Myrtle is the wife of H. C. Borland, of the Vandergraft Roller Mill Company of Pennsylvania. Since coming to Tillamook Mr. Reynolds has married Lizzie Clark, who was born in Illinois, and afterward removed to Wisconsin with her parents. Miss Clark and Mr. Reynolds were friends in Wis- consin, and she joined him here in June, 1889, the marriage taking place the following month. Mr. Reynolds is a broad-minded, prac- tical business man, well posted on current events, and eminently sociable and kindly in disposition.

THOMAS V. FERR. The life of Thomas V. Ferr has been one of unusual interest through the many changes of location which he had made before settling in Winant, Lincoln county, where he is profitably spending the evening of his days. He is of Italian birth, having been born in the province of Cagliari, Isle of Sardinia, January 13, 1838. His parents were Pasquale and Kath- erinc (Vane) Ferr, both of whom were natives of the same locality. The father was principally engaged in farming throughout his life of fifty years, also owning a coast vessel, the training upon which evidently gave his son a taste for a seafaring life. Both father and mother died in the country of their birth, being the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom one son, Francis, is now a resident of New York city.

Thomas V. Ferr was the third child of his father's family, and was early trained to a practi- cal life. He was not given the advantages of an education, the responsibility of self-support becoming his at the age of sixteen years, when he left home and entered upon the life of a sailor. For the ensuing twelve years he trav- eled in almost every section of the world. He first went to Antwerp, and from there to Ber- lin, Germany, when he sailed for New York city, safely reaching his destination, though short- ly afterward, on a trip to St. John's, New Bruns- wick, he was shipwrecked and for three days experienced the greatest dangers and hardships. From St. John's Mr. Ferr went to Adrassin, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, returning to New York city, when in 1860 he went to South America and afterward returned to Boston with a cargo of cotton, touching at the ports of New York and New Orleans, and later journeying to Liverpool, England. He then made a trip to India, and after returning to Liverpool again crossed the Atlantic to America, touching at Quebec, then back again to Belfast and Liver- pool, for about five years following plying be- tween the chief cities of Canada and England. Later he made a trip to Calcutta, returning then to Germany and England, after which he went to Alexandria, Egypt, and brought back a cargo of linseed to Germany. After once more visiting England Mr. Ferr came to San Francisco, Cal., and from there went to Becky's Isle, where he was shipwrecked for three months and experi- enced again the greatest dangers of a sea-faring life. The little band was finally rescued and car- ried to Honolulu, from which port Mr. Ferr embarked for San Francisco, leaving the latter city for Mexico for a period of about six or seven months. He then returned to San Fran- cisco and with a schooner came up to Yaquina bay, Ore., after a cargo of oysters. This was January 16, 1866, and since that date Mr. Ferr has made this community his home. Interested in the object of the expedition at that time, he has since become identified with the oyster in- dustry on the coast. He is now the owner of two acres of oysters here and is also largely engaged in salmon fishing, owning one hundred and thirty-six acres of valuable land lying along the coast, the product of which he ships to Portland, both in the form of fresh and smoked fish. That he has prospered in his efforts is shown by his holdings, now owning both busi- ness and residence properties in Newport as well as a pleasant home on the bay.

In 1869 Mr. Ferr married Jane Craigie, who was born in Idaho. Her father, James Craigie, was born in the Orkney Isles, and came to thic United States with the Hudson Bay Company. He came west with the company to Idaho and

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while there assisted in erecting Fort Boise. In 1866 he came to Oregon and located in Salem, where he engaged in farming for some time, when he came to Yaquina bay and entered land. His death occurred in Newport, Ore., in 1897, when he was in his eighty-fourth year. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferr were born the following children : Emma, the wife of V. D. Boone, of this vicinity ; Albert, who died at the age of thirty-one years; Daisy, at home; Hattie, the wife of Edward Seidler, who has charge of the bathhouse in Newport; Rose, the wife of John Backus, of Waitsburg, Wash .; Rena, an educator, who lives with her parents; Roy; Francis and Marguerite, also at home. Mr. Ferr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Toledo, Ore., and in his political relations he is a Republican. Hle has always taken an active interest in educa- tional affairs in the community, having served for many years as school director, a · position which he now holds. Mr. Ferr is one of the reliable and substantial men of the community and as such enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

CALIF NEWTON DREW. A hero of the Civil war, and one of the respected residents of the city of Tillamook, Calif Newton Drew, who is now living retired from active pursuits, was one of the organizers of this, his adopted town, and has been active in promoting its industrial growth and prosperity. His experiences have been varied and interesting, and he has ever kept his eyes open to what is going on around him in the world, availing himself of all possible sources of information. A genuine Yankee, pos- sessing the New England habits of thrift and industry, he has been quite successful in his un- dlertakings. A son of George Drew, he was born December 25, 1845. in Washington county, Me. His grandfather, Pelgrim Drew, born either in Rhode Island or New Jersey, served in the Revo- lutionary war, and the officer's sword that he wore while in the army now belongs to one of his descendants. He was a farmer, and a kinsman of Daniel Drew.

A native of Rhode Island, George Drew learned the trade of a machinist in Boston, Mass., and afterwards lived in Maine, first in Machias, and at a later period in Whitneyville, where he was foreman in a round-house. Retiring from the railway service, he turned his attention to farm- ing, and died at an advanced age in Northfield, Me. Ile married Sarah Jane Lingley, who was born in England, and died in Whitneyville, Me. HIer father, John Lingley, a native-born English- man, was chief gardener for King George III

at the time of the Revolutionary war, and when this king left the throne he gave to his head gardener one thousand acres of land lying on the St. Johns river, in New Brunswick. Re- moving with his family to New Brunswick, Mr. Lingley resided there until his death at the age of ninety-seven years.

The oldest son, and second child, of the par- ental household, which consisted of five children, C. N. Drew obtained his early education in the common schools, and subsequently attended the East Machias and the East Washington acade- mies. Abandoning his studies at the age of fifteen and one-half years, he enlisted in Company K, Sixth Maine Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Third Brigade of the First Divi- sion of the Sixth Army Corps. With his regi- ment he participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, serving under Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Mead and Grant. He had a hard time while in the army. He was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, at the engagement at Williamsburg he received a buckshot wound in the right arm, and at Cold Harbor lost two of the fingers of the right hand and the use of the entire left arm. For a time Mr. Drew was general orderly for General Han- cock, and did scouting duty, holding a major's commission. Resigning that position, he returned to the ranks, and served as a private until dis- charged. September 27, 1864, on account of phys- ical disability.

Being unable to perform manual labor when he first returned from the war, Mr. Drew at- tended school in Portland, Me., two years, and then went to Northfield, Me., where he assisted his father in the lumber business. In 1871, on account of ill health, he went to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in logging for a time, being mill inspector on the west branch of the Susquehanna river. Seeking the salubrious cli- mate of the coast, he migrated in 1872 to San Francisco, Cal., where he worked in a box factory for a year. The following three years he spent in Gualala, Cal., and then, in 1876, settled at Point Arena, Mendocino county, Cal., where he was successfully engaged in the sad- dlery business for nine years. In 1885 Mr. Drew came to Oregon, locating in Tillamook county. Buying one hundred and seventy acres of land lying about one and three-fourths miles west of the city of Tillamook, he lived there as a farmer for three years. He also took up a pre- emption claim, and in 1890 removed into the city, where he has since lived retired. When he first came here the residents were conserva- tive, not caring to encourage immigration, and Mr. Drew was practically a pioneer of the place and the forerunner of a substantial tide of emi- gration. Ile is a Republican in his political

A Laram de

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affiliations, and has ever been interested in public matters. He was one of the first board of school directors of the city of Tillamook, and assisted in the distribution of the school tax, and has also served seven years as city recorder, being elected six years consecutively, and for many years was chief of the fire department.

At Point Arena, Cal., November 29, 1883, Mr. Drew married May Jones, who was born in Trinity county, Cal., a daughter of David Jones, who was a sea-faring man in his early life, serv- ing as first mate of a vessel. Mr. Jones was born in Peekskill, N. Y., and is now living in California, whither he emigrated in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Drew have three children, namely : Wilber Howard, Frankie Malinda and Lelia Helen. Mr. Drew is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and belongs to the Presby- terian Church.

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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 61

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