Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 65

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 65

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In 1898 Mr. Stewart built a fine residence in the Cascade mountains, on the Upper Rogue river, surrounded by thirty acres of orchard, and fitted with every modern improvement. He lias taken an active part in the business life of Med- ford, and in 1899 was one of the organizers of the Bank of Medford, owning the bank build- ing and serving as the president of the concern for two years, and is now its vice-president. The bank is one of tlic solid financial institutions of the county and is incorporated for $50,000. Mr. Stewart is encouraging fruit-growing in his children, and his son William is one of the large fruit-ranchers of Jackson county. One child, Junie I., dicd at the age of twenty, and three daughters, Mrs. A. J. Weeks, of Oakland, Cal., Mrs. H. M. Crowell and Mrs. D. R. Hill,

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are living. Mr. Stewart is a Democrat in po- litical affiliation, and fraternally is a charter mem- ber of Blue Lodge No. 103, A. F. & A. M. of Medford.

HIRAM LAMPHERE. Another promi- nent agriculturist and stockman in the vicinity of Scottsburg, Douglas county, Ore., is the above-named gentleman, who has already lived beyond the average years allotted to man. He has resided on the Pacific slope for more than half a century and is a veteran in the art of farming. Mr. Lamphere was born October 18, 1826, in Genesee county, N. Y. When twelve years of age his parents journeyed west and set- tled for a time in Waukegan, Lake county, Ill., on a farm, and it was there that the son was edu- cated for the battle of life. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, the trip occupying six months' time. He went into the mines in north- ern California and during the first winter chopped wood and mined alternately, as occasion required. He followed this for six years, and for a change, engaged in ranching in the Con- sumne valley for a few years. By this time his savings had accumulated considerably and he purchased a ranch in the same valley, which was his home for many years. He subsequently went into Mendocino county, remaining there for four years, and in 1878 settled in Oregon. Here he purchased a ranch of several hundred acres in the Umpqua river valley, but recently sold three hundred and forty acres of this land. His home farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, and is finely located three miles east of Scotts- burg. It is particularly adapted to stock-raising, of which Mr. Lamphere makes a specialty.

In 1880 Mr. Lamphere was united in marriage with Edna Baker, and they have three children- Julia Edna, Grace A. and Gladys. In his polit- ical principles Mr. Lamphere has ever been a supporter of the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He has a long span of years to look back upon and he sees them well filled with unremitting toil that has not been without its redeeming features. Now that he and his wife are comfortably settled for their declining years, their many friends wish for them and theirs continued peace and content- illent.

JAMES S. LANGLOIS. Twenty-seven ycars ago, on August 12, 1876, James S. Langlois came to Cape Blanco Lighthouse, off the coast of Curry county, and ever since has kept the lights in order that seafarers might be warned of danger. November 2, 1872, his faithfulness to duty had already won recognition from his

superior, C. H. Pierce, and from then until 1883 he served as first assistant at what is one of the most important stations along the coast. Suc- ceeding to the position of head keeper of the sta- tion, he has made his name an honored and trusted one, and through the stress and loneliness of an isolated existence has preserved that even- ness of disposition and kindness of heart so ad- mired by his friends and associates. Mr. Lang- lois inherits his liking for the sea, and his pa- tienee with its tantalizing and dangerous moods. His father, William, who was born in England, spent many years of his life on ocean craft, and it was while in the port of San Francisco in 1846 that he determined to leave the sea and lead a less exciting and adventurous life. For some months he lived and worked with Spanish land-owners in the vicinity of San Francisco, and in 1847, shortly after the discovery of gold, he went to Sutters Mills, and made considerable money. With the proceeds of his mining expedition he- settled on a donation claim of a section in the fall of 1867, his farm being near the present site of the town of Silverton, Ore., where his son, James S., was born April 29, 1848. In 1849 he re- turned to the mines of California, and in 1854 came to Port Orford, where he engaged in a mer- cantile business for about a year, later moving his family to the beach near the lighthouse, where he mined for a season. His next home was on a ranch in the vicinity of Dairyville, where his death eventually occurred.

Leaving home at the age of fourteen, in 1864, James Langlois worked on a farm for a year, and in 1865 enlisted in Company A, First Oregon Cavalry, for three years. During the service he was stationed at Fort Klamath, and from there went upon expeditions in the frontier service in different parts of Oregon and Idaho. After his discharge at the end of eighteen months he was variously employed in Albany, Salem and Jack- sonville, and afterward devoted himself to haul- ing freight from California to Oregon. He then came to a farm near Dairyville and engaged in the cattle business, afterward clerking in a store at Coos Bay for a year. Mr. Langlois' next ven- ture was a sheep industry in this county, but it proved disastrous, and he sought employment with the lighthouse service with which he has since been connected. He has two assistants.

February 12, 1873, Mr. Langlois married Miss Elizabeth A. Rudolph, and of this union six children have been born : William, following his father's example, is lighthouse-keeper at the Til- lamook Rock Lighthouse; James M., born in 1878, is a member of the Life Saving Service of Coquille River Life Saving Station, Ore .; Oscar R., born February 16, 1880, is living at home ; Mary G., born November 3, 1882, is also at home; Idclia G., born April 8, 1884, died April

ROBERT SMITH.

MRS. SUSAN A. SMITH.

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5, 1889, at the age of five years ; and Audrey E., born January 6, 1898, is living at home. Mr. Langlois is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Episcopal Church. Fraternally he has long been identified with the Masons, and from the Coquille Lodge No. 68, was transferred to the Bandon Lodge No. 50. He is also a mem- ber of the Occidental Chapter No. 45, O. E. S.

ROBERT SMITH, another of the pioneer set- tlers of Douglas county, needs no introduction to our readers, his close intimacy with the Ap- plegates having rendered his name distinguished as well as theirs. February 18, 1822, his birth occurred in Covington, Va., and he lived in his native state until he attained the age of eighteen years, when he accompanied his parents to St. Clair county, Mo. Settling on a farm they car- ried on agricultural pursuits until 1843, and then Robert Smith sought a home on the Pacific slope. The trip overland was made in company with the Applegates, and the first few years of his residence in that country were spent in the beautiful Willamette Valley, as he made his home principally with the Applegates.

Mr. Smith took an active part in the Cayuse Indian war and was sergeant during that strife. In 1848 he went to California on horseback and engaged in prospecting on the American and Feather rivers, but not meeting with the success he anticipated, he returned to Oregon in 1849. In 1850 he proceeded to Douglas county and took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, and the following spring his mar- riage took place with Susan Applegate, a daugh- ter of Charles Applegate. Mrs. Smith was born May 25, 1831, and soon after marriage she and her husband moved to their farm, taking up their abode in a cabin which had only one room, was without a floor and had but one window and door. The first summer Mrs. Smith cooked out of doors, having neither a fire-place nor a stove. This rude cabin sheltered the family for several years, and was then replaced by a substantial resi- dence.

Mr. Smith was a man who had many excellent traits of character, and possessed rare ability as a farmer and stockman, and from the first his success was assured. At the time of his de- mise, May 5, 1888, he owned eleven hundred and fifty acres of land, which was mainly utilized in stock-raising.

To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born the fol- lowing seven children: Richard, who resides in Spokane, Wash., being associated with J. E. Case & Co .; Fanny, wife of Edward Johnson, of

Colfax, Wash .; Frank F., a rancher near Col- fax; Jerome, who resides on a part of the old homestead farm; Ellen, wife of L. E. Warner, who also lives on a part of the home ranch; Al- bert, a citizen of Marshfield, Ore .; and Elmer, who is cashier of the Railroad Bank, in Pendle- ton, Ore. After the death of her husband Mrs. Smith continued to reside on the farm until 1893, and then moved to Yoncalla to spend her de- clining years. She is a lady of many estimable qualities.

GEORGE KING. The present county com- missioner of Lincoln county is a man of excep- tional worth and ability, and one justly entitled to the prominent position which he holds in the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He was born in Yorkshire, England, March 19, 1844, the de- scendant of a family native to that locality for many generations. His parents, Peter and Ann (Walker) King, were farmers in Yorkshire, where the death of each occurred, the former in 1884, at the age of ninety-one years, and the latter in 1886, at the age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of five sons and three daughters, of whom the sixth in order of birth was George King, of this review.

Mr. King was educated in the common schools of England, in which country he remained until he was twenty-three years old, when he came to the United States. He first located in Kent county, Mich., where he engaged in logging for two years, after which he removed to Pine coun- ty, Minn., and continued in the same employment. In September, 1871, he came to Portland, Ore., where he remained for two months, shortly after his arrival in the west becoming employed in the building of lighthouses, in which work he contin- uted until 1873. After leaving Portland he went to Yaquina bay and later to the Coos bay coun- try. In the fall of 1873 he returned to Yaquina bay, and the following year engaged in oyster fishing, an industry which has remained profitable to him throughout the years since. He now owns two acres of oyster beds, from which he takes a hundred and fifty sacks of oysters each season. In addition to this property he also owns five hundred acres of land in Lincoln county, where he has made his home since 1874.

The marriage of Mr. King occurred in Ya- quina, Ore., and united him with Rachel Craigie, a native of Washington, and of this union were born four children, named in order of birth as follows: Elizabeth C., who became the wife of John A. Shermer, of this vicinity ; Burl W .; Nellie Violet; and Mary Gladys, the last three mentioned being members of the parental home. In his religious affiliations Mr. King is a

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member of the Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is prominent, being identified with the Masons as a member of Blue Lodge No. 85, of Newport ; and Ferguson Chapter No. 5, of Corvallis. Politically Mr. King is a Republican, and at vari- ous times has been called upon to serve his party in local offices. In 1902 he was elected county commissioner of Lincoln county for a term of four years, and his discharge of the duties since assuming the responsibilities of the position has been such as to retain the respect and esteem of the citizens of the community. He has also served as justice of the peace, and from 1880 to 1888 was employed on the construction of the government jetties at South Beach, in the capac- ity of engineer. He has always taken an active and helpful interest in educational movements and has faithfully served as school clerk for many years.

JOHN THORP LAYTON. The claims of John Thorp Layton upon the consideration of his fellow residents of Jackson and Josephine counties rest upon his more than ordinary abil- ity as a miner and prospector. The mining camps of this part of the state have long been familiar to him and of whom it may be said he has operated with a comparatively sure hand, and while making rapid progress, has proceeded with extreme caution in his investments. Today he is the fortunate owner of the Ferris Gulch and Williamsburg mines, both placer claims which have been in active operation for more than forty years, and about thirty miles of mining ditches. He is further represented among the stable and upbuilding enterprises of the county by the Layton Hotel at Grants Pass, erected by himself and J. W. Howard in 1889, and now the sole possession of Mr. Layton, being one of the well patronized hostelries of this part of the county. Mr. Layton owns eight hundred acres of mineral and agricultural land.

Lincolnshire, a maritime county of England, and next to Yorkshire on the north, the largest in the country, has been the ancestral home of the Laytons for many generations. Here the present miner of Josephine county was born at Bourne, May 16, 1831, his father, William, being a native of the same place, and born January 29, 1799. His mother, Mary Ann ( Pears) Lay- ton, was born a few miles distant from Bourne, ahout 1800, and died in 1855, after rearing a family of eight children, of whom Charlotte and Jolin T. are the only survivors. William Layton, who was a farmer for a portion of his life, died in 1872. John T. was educated in the public schools of Lincolnshire, and in time served an apprenticeship of four years in a hardware es- tablishment.

In July, 1849, Mr. Layton bade adieu to his native land and shipped in the bark Jane Dixon as common scaman, sailing around the Horn to San Francisco, which he reached in January, 1850. Leaving the vessel, he engaged in boating and fishing on the Sacramento river and San Francisco bay until the spring of 1851, after which he took passage from San Francisco and came to the mouth of the Umpqua river in Doug- las county. Landing at Gardiner, he made his way through southern Oregon to the mines at Yreka and Scott river, northern California, re- maining in the locality until August 1, 1852. He then came to Jackson county, Ore., and worked in the mines around Jacksonville until 1858, thence to Williamsburg, Josephine county, where he engaged in trading and mining with fair success. In 1877 he located on his present farm, taking it up as a homestead, and proving up in due time.

Naturally, Mr. Layton suffered inconvenience because of the Indian encroachments in the early days, and the call to arms for protection against the foe found him ready to do his share in suppressing the trouble. August 8, 1853, lie enlisted in the company of Capt. John F. Miller, as a private, and served for thirty days, and October 13, 1855, he enlisted in Company F, commanded by Capt. A. S. Welton, being mus- tered out of service November 13, 1855. While living in Jacksonville, February 13, 1856, Mr. Layton was united in marriage with Mary T. Nail, born in Missouri in 1840, and whose an- cestry is spoken of at length in the sketch of George T. Baldwin, of Klamath county. Of this union there were five children, of whom the oldest died in infancy; Charlotte is also de- ceased ; Lola is the wife of John Bailey, of Wil- liams Creek, Josephine county ; Mary is the wife of II. A. Stephens of Tacoma, Wash .; and Ida is deceased. Mrs. Mary T. Layton died Decem- ber 20, 1864. For a second wife Mr. Layton married August 18, 1866, Harriett F. Doak, who was born in Illinois, and who had one child, Wil- liam, now a resident of Oroville Cal. His sec-

ond wife was divorced in 1868. For a third wife Mr. Layton married, November 8, 1871, Theresa Moore, born on Spencer creek, Lane county, Ore., April 24, 1852. She became the mother of the following children: Edward, liv- ing at Applegate, Orc. ; Rose, deceased ; Ella, the wife of C. E. Smith, of Grants Pass ; Florence, the wife of Myron Wilbur of Deer Park, Wash .; Lester, living on William's creek, Josephine county ; Lena, at home ; Cora, deceased ; and Jcs- sie and Any, at home. Since becoming a citizen of this country Mr. Layton has thrown his po- litical sympathies with the Democratic party, but has always been averse to office holding. Fra- ternally he is connected with Warren Lodge No.

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10, A. F. & A. M., of Jacksonville. Mr. Layton has led an industrious and well directed life, and has been interested in mining nearly fifty-three years. He has established many warm friend- ships in the course of his coming and going in the west, and is known for his generosity, his liberal mindedness, and his enthusiastic advocacy of the climate and resources of the state of Ore- gon.

CHARLES WILSON. That part of Russia known as Finland has been the native home of some of the most industrious, enterprising and respected residents of Clatsop county. Note- worthy among this number is Charles Wilson, a prominent and popular citizen of Astoria. En- dowed with mechanical ingenuity and skill, he has developed his natural tastes and talents in that line, and has been identified with the build- ing up of many of the foremost industries of this part of the state. He was born May 7, 1861, in Gamla Carleby, Finland, which was also the birthplace of his father, Wilhelm Kankkonen. His paternal grandfather, Gustav Kankkonen, a native of Gamla Carleby, was master of a vessel, and while on a voyage was drowned in the North Sea, his ship being wrecked.

Learning the miller's trade when young, Wil- helm Kankkonen built a flouring-mill at Pyha- jaki, and operated it for a number of years, giv- ing it up at a time of great financial depression. He subsequently worked as a contractor and carpenter, and also as a ship-builder, resuming work in which he had previously been engaged. As a boy and youth, he was an expert in the use of tools of all kinds, and when but eighteen years old built a full-rigged ship. He still resides in Finland, a hale and hearty man of seventy-six years. He is a man of great integrity, and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. He married Breta Ripe, who was born in Kalvia, Finland, sixty-seven years ago, and of the eight children born of their union, six are living, four being residents of America, namely: Charles, the special subject of this sketch, has had his surname changed from Kankkonen to Wilson ; Franz, of Astoria; Fritzof, a carpenter and builder, of Astoria; and Milga, wife of Leander Lebeck, of Astoria. Franz Kankkonen served in the army of Finland for three years, and sub- sequently assisted in the building of the govern- ment railway through Finland, being the me- chanical engineer in its construction. Emigrat- ing to Oregon in 1893, he has since been asso- ciated in business with his brother Charles as a contractor and boat builder, and is general fore- man of the Fishermen's Union Company.

Brought up in his native land, and attending school in his earlier years, Charles Wilson be-

gan to learn the trade of a boat-builder when twelve years old, afterward working for his father and uncle a number of years. Coming to America in 1879, he lived a short time in Muskegon, Mich., and was subsequently em- ployed in lumbering and building in Whitecloud, Mich. Migrating to Oregon in 1883, he helped build the old Washington cannery in Astoria, now owned by Tallant & Grant, and then em- barked in the fishing business. Having his own nets, he has since fished more or less every sea- son, excepting in the year 1902, when he erected the Taylor school building, and built the launch "Elk." He is a man of executive ability, and was one of the organizers of the Fishermen's Co-operative Packing Company of Astoria, of which he has been the president, and one of the directors, since its incorporation. This company erected the Union Fishermen's Co-operative can- nery, and also built a warehouse, and the net racks in Upper Town. In 1887 Mr. Wilson be- gan working at his trade of a boat-builder, and in one winter built thirty-five fishing-boats, and two gasoline launches. He has also carried on a good business in contracting and building, as senior member of the firm of Wilson Brothers taking all kinds of building contracts. In 1893 Mr. Wilson accompanied by his family, visited his old home in Finland, and after spending nine months with his parents and friends returned to Astoria.

Mr. Wilson married, in Astoria, Susan Nie- mela, who was born in Finland, and came to this country with her father, Olaf Niemela, when but six years old. Her parents settled in Clatskanie, Ore., where Mr. Niemela is still engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of six children, namely: Fritzof, Jalmar, Fannie, Ellen, Martha and Adolph. Po- litically Mr. Wilson is a strong Prohibitionist. In the spring of 1903 he was appointed council- man from the First ward, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Jaltrom, and is a member of the committees on wharfs, water- fronts, health and police. He is a member of the Finnish Brotherhood, and of the Fishermen's Union. He belongs to the Finnish Lutheran Church.

JUDGE GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH. When Judge George Washington Smith stepped from the gang plank of an Isthmian steamer in San Francisco December 15, 1862, his available cash assets consisted of $15. He was married, was partiai master of the blacksmith trade, had considerable experience in the saw-milling busi- ness, and was not yet twenty-four years old. Today he is representative of the conservative, well-balanced, initiative, and financially strong captains of industry of the west, many years

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of his strenuous life having been devoted to the agricultural and mercantile upbuilding of Kla- math county. At present, ill health compels his residence in Phoenix, Ariz., during the winter time, but a part of each summer finds him in his Klamath Falls home, where he is surrounded by the friends and interests which make his exist- ence an enviable and worthy one.

Born in Louisville, Ky., July 7, 1839, Judge Smith inherits his Teutonic traits from the pa- ternal side of his family, his great-grandfather having emigrated from Germany to Virginia at an early day. On the maternal side he claims Welsh descent, although his mother, Emily (Wells) Smith, was born in South Carolina. His father, Benjamin Franklin Smith, was born on the Virginia plantation, and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade. Besides Judge Smith, who was the fourth child, and the oldest of the seven living children, there were twelve children in his father's family, of whom Emiline is the wife of W. E. Litten, of Weeks, Mont .; E. B. lives in Salem, Mo .; Alice Gray is the wife of Michael Litten, of Washington county, Mo .; Sarah Josephine is the widow of Benjamin F. Bubb, of Santa Clara county, Cal .; Jane is the wife of Gideon Northcutt of Washington county, Mo .; and Cynthia is the widow of Ed- ward Young, of San Francisco.

Returning to his former home in Washington county, Mo., to which his father moved at a very early day, Judge Smith saw, in 1898, the same little log school house which he attended as a boy. Thus are landmarks retained in the south and east, which in the west would be swept away before the march of incessant advancement. Con- temporary with these school days the lad worked at blacksmithing with his father, eventually em- barking in the saw-milling business with the older man. June 20, 1869, he married Margaret Delmar, of French-Scotch descent, who was born in North Carolina, from where she removed with her parents to Missouri as a child. Two years after this marriage, the father of Mr. Smith was killed in the Washington county saw-mill, and the son succeeded to both the management and ownership of the business. Owing to the de- pression in trade incident to the Civil war, he sold the mill in 1861. and in October, 1862, left Missouri for New York city, where he em- barked for California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Arriving in San Francisco with the $15 before mentioned, Mr. Smith went to Vir- ginia City and completed his trade, following the same after his removal to Santa Clara county in 1865. Previous to 1879 he combined general farming and working in a shop on his land, and in that year removed to Siskiyou county, where for five years he was president and superintend- ent of the Scott River Ditch & Mining Company.

In 1883 he sold his interest and moved to Kla- math county, purchased the Linkville Hotel, re- modelled and refurnished the same, and placed it on a paying basis. In 1885 he purchased seven hundred and sixty acres of land three miles east of Klamath Falls, combining the management of this property with his hotel, and adding yet another responsibility in 1886, in the shape of a general merchandise store. The only one of this trio of interests to escape the conflagration of 1889 was the farm, which owed its immunity from destruction to its remoteness from the burning town. The hotel and store were rebuilt and started upon eras of usefulness, but in 1892, two years after its completion, the hotel was reduced to ashes. The merchandise business was disposed of in 1901, although Mr. Smith still retains possession of his farm, owning at the present time, eight hundred and eighty acres in his large farm, and three hundred and twenty acres seven miles southeast of the town. One mile from Phoenix, Ariz., to which he removed in June, 1902, he owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in the Salt River valley.

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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 65

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