Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 75

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 75

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trading and speculating in horses. He bought and drove horses to California, where he sold them at a profit, and in this way more than forty thousand horses passed through his hands. In time he acquired much useful knowledge concerning horses and soon grew to be an expert in their selection, and with keen judgment and ready tact he was soon able to distinguish between the good and bad points in each animal that he examined.

It was not until some years later that Mr. Stephenson purchased a ranch near Applegate and began ranching pursuits, but since then he has bought and sold many different farms, speculating to some extent in real estate. Sell- ing some farms, he rented others devoted to stock-raising principally. He conducted' a livery stable at Ashland for two years, and selling out he went to California, opened a similar business at Oakland, but after one year, on account of ill health, he sold out and returned to Ashland, where he again opened a livery stable and carried on a profitable busi- ness for five years. About this time he was injured in a runaway by getting caught in a wheel, and had one of his legs broken in three places. Although obliged to use crutches for three years, he finally recovered and conducted a stable at Lakeview for one year. He then returned permanently to Ashland and since then his attention has been given to buying and selling horses and speculating in real es- tate, and to-day he is one of the largest real estate owners in the section. He owns seven fine residences in the city, besides the Ashland Ilouse, Johnson buildings and other valuable business property. He also owns thirty-seven acres on the boulevard and three hundred and eighty acres adjoining the city on the north, lying along Bear creek, two hundred acres of it being fine farming land; and a one hundred acre farm near Phoenix.

The home ties of Mr. Stephenson began Sep- tember 12, 1855, when his marriage with Miss Lucinda E. Grace was consummated in Janes- ville, Wis. Mrs. Stephenson is a native of Chatham, N. H., and her father, Thomas Grace, was a sturdy Vermonter, but in carly manhood followed farming pursuits in New Hampshire, afterward settling in Wisconsin, where he died. Her mother was, before mar- riage, Parmelia Emerson, a daughter of Dan- iel Emerson, formerly of Maine. Mrs. Grace was also born in Vermont, and her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for a livelihood. The beloved mother died in New Hampshire and she and her husband were blessed with a family of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity and four of them are still living.

Educated as she was in the schools of New Hampshire, Mrs. Stephenson continued to live in that state until after the death of her mother, when her father settled in Wisconsin, her marriage taking place there as previously mentioned. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ste- phenson consists of four children. Of these Elmer, the eldest, is a resident of the state of Washington; Carrie is now Mrs. Riggs, and resides in Ashland; Lottie, the third child, died when thirty-four years old; and Emma, the youngest, still graces the home with her presence. Fraternally, Mr. Stephenson is al- lied with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, his wife also affiliating with the Re- bekah or auxiliary lodge, and in his political convictions he is a Republican, but has never sought office.

JOHN W. LENEVE. The Coquille Ice & Cold Storage Company, of which John W. Leneve is secretary and treasurer, is one of the substan- tial business enterprises of Coos county, although its era of usefulness dates only from 1902. The plant is equipped with the latest in modern appli- ances, and has a capacity of twenty tons a day, its product reaching a large trade in both the town and county. In connection, a creamery is maintained which has no superior in a locality famous for its model dairy enterprises. Daily shipments are made to Portland, San Francisco and points in this and the surrounding states, and no better brand of butter reaches an exacting and thoroughly satisfied patronage. The creamery although in operation only a few months reduces nine thousand pounds of milk to three hundred and fifty pounds of butter daily. The partner in the business is C. Romander, and both men have an exhaustive knowledge of the occupations in which they are meeting with well-merited success. John W. Leneve is a native son of Oregon, and was born near Parkersburg, Coos county, April 25, 1867. His father, Dr. Samuel L. Leneve, his mother, Elizabeth ( Wiley) Leneve, and his paternal grandfather, Samuel L. Leneve, were born in Vermilion county, Ill., and the latter, a successful farmer, lived to the advanced age of cighty years. Dr. Samuel L. Leneve married in Vermilion county, Ill., and in 1851 brought his family to Oregon with ox-teams, being nine months on the way, and experiencing great trouble with the Indians. Temporarily locating in Portland, the family moved to Myrtle Creek, in the spring of 1853, and engaged in a general merchandise business until 1861. Dr. Leneve then started a drug business in Coquille, and at the same time practiced medicine to some extent, having devoted his leisure for many years to that profession. He lived to be seventy-six years old,

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his death occurring in 1901. His wife, one year his junior, and at present seventy-five years of age, is still making her home in Coquille.

· The seventh in a family of five sons and five daughters, John W. Leneve was educated in the public schools, and in 1888 started upon his self- supporting career as a merchant in Coquille, pur- suing the occupation with moderate success for ten years, or until 1898. As a, relaxation from business cares, accompanied by his family he spent the following four years in travel through- out California and the Sandwich Islands, re- turning to Oregon in 1902, and becoming inter- ested in his present lucrative business. In Co- quille Mr. Leneve married Kittie Cox, a native of Oregon, born on a farm in Douglas county. Her father, William Cox, was also born in this state, and from Douglas county removed to Curry county, farming and mining near Port Or- ford for twenty-five years. He still resides here and is known as an energetic and forceful man and prominent Democrat. Lanson, the only child in the Leneve home, is a bright and promising child, and the pride of his fond parents.

Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Leneve has voted the Democratic ticket, and has held many positions of trust in his community. He has served in the city council several terms, has been city recorder for one term, and at the time of engaging in the ice business resigned the posi- tion of deputy county clerk, under Mr. Hazard. He is fraternally connected with Chadwick Lodge No. 68. A. F. & A. M. of Coquille, and the Wood- men of the World, in which he has passed all- of the chairs. Mr. Leneve is a pushing, energetic business man, and any effort in which he en- gages is bound to profit by his firmly established reputation for painstaking and conscientious ef- fort.

HON. HENRY BECKLEY. This history of Western Oregon would be incomplete indeed if no mention were made of one of Douglas coun- ty's most prominent citizens, Hon. Henry Beck- ley, who recently died at The Dalles, -while en route to Missouri. One of the most extensive ranchers in the vicinity of Elkton, and for many years a successful merchant in the town whither he had removed, he won the confidence and es- teem of his fellow-citizens and was early recog- nized as one of the solid citizens of that place. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and possessed great force of character, and was fcar- less in the expression of that which he believed to be right. He was born in Switzerland coun- ty, Ind., January 4, 1833, and in 1840 removed

with his parents to Polk county, Mo., where he grew to manhood on a farm and remained un- til 1853. It was in the latter year that he came to Oregon, crossing overland with a team of oxen, and going directly to Yoncalla, Douglas county. His first winter in the west was spent in the mines at Yreka, Cal., and he met with fair success as a miner.

In 1864 Mr. Beckley married Mary M. Wood- son and the young people began housekeeping on a ranch two miles from Elkton, on the Ump- qua river. Mrs. Beckley was born in Benton county, Mo., and is a daughter of Jesse and Verlena (Linn) Woodson. She crossed the plains with her parents in 1850, and the family spent the first winter at Portland, proceeding to Douglas county in the spring of 1851, and settling at Yoncalla. Mrs. Beckley has had thir- teen children, ten of whom are still living, all married except four sons. John William was born March 30, 1865; James H., November 20, 1866; Verlena M., August 9, 1868, and married Philip Pinkston; Charles L. was born Novem- I, 1870; Pitzer W., August 28, 1872; Mary J., June 6, 1874, and married Orange Mattoon ; Jesse L. was born May 10, 1876; Clyde P., May 5, 1882; Claude R., April 4, 1884; and Orval S., August 20, 1888.

Mr. Beckley and family continued to reside on the farm where he settled soon after marriage and he carried on farming and stock-raising, in which he was very successful, and from time to time added to his land until he had acquired fifteen hundred acres in one tract and one hun- dred and eighty acres in another. In 1873 he organized a company with a capital stock of $20,- 000 and built the Elkton Saw and Flour Mills, and afterwards bought the mills outright, operat- ing them successfully until they were destroyed by the flood. In 1870 he was elected county commissioner of Douglas county, and was instru- mental in securing many needed improvements. In 1876 he was chosen by his party to represent its interests in the legislature and served one term. In 1892 he was nominated and elected state senator and at the close of his first term he was re-elected. In politics he was always a Democrat, and filled each and every position to which he was elected in a capable, conscientious manner. In 1895 he retired from farm life and moved into Elkton, where he had been engaged in mercantile life successfully for eight years, and where he also served as postmaster. The foregoing goes to prove that Mr. Beckley was an active and energetic business man, and his great success is attributed not only to his su- perior natural abilities, but also to his fidelity, honesty and integrity. His demise was mourned by a large concourse of friends.

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JEFFERSON WILSON. It is said by some of the most prominent men of our day that energy and perseverance are sometimes better than abil- ity, and that in order to succeed a man must have a definite ambition and by close application of thrift and industry, avoid wasted energy and thereby increase his chance of success. Mr. Wil- son has exalted ideas on this subject and for the whole of his life his mind has been centered on agricultural pursuits in his native state, Oregon. Of English extraction, born September 4, 1858, near North Yamhill, Yamhill county, and a son of Thomas and Margaret Anne ( Dodson) Wil- son, Jefferson Wilson was one of a family of six children. Of these two died in infancy and since then death has claimed another, Charles Elmer. One brother, Simpson, resides at Trail creek, in Jackson county, Ore., and one sister, Mary E., married George McDonald, and resides in Lan- gells valley.

The beautiful Willamette valley offered many inducements to the home-seeker in the early days. and among those who took up their residence there was Thomas Wilson, who located in Yam- hill county, which continued to be his home until 1868. Removing at that time to Klamath coun- ty, then a part of Jackson county, the father took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Langells valley, seventeen miles south- east of the present site of Bonanza, and turned his attention to stock-raising. Among the first to locate in this valley, he took an active part against the Indians in the Cayuse war, and it was while serving as a volunteer that he lost his hear- ing, and was thus afflicted for life; this sad af- fliction and a complication of diseases proved in after years too great a strain for even his strong constitution, causing his mind to give way and his subsequent removal to an asylum at Salem, Ore., was a matter not only of necessity, but of deep regret to his many friends and sorrowing rela- tives. His death took place at that institution in November, 1902, in his seventy-sixth year, and he was preceded to the grave many years by his wife, who was probably a native of Iowa and passed to her final rest about 1872 in Klamath county.

The story of Mr. Wilson's life is briefly told. for he is modest and unassuming, and of his achievements he will speak but little. By his faithful attendance at the common schools of Jackson county a good education was secured, and this was greatly added to by self-tuition. Ar- riving at manhood's estate, he became interested in the stock business with his father, and in a comparatively short time proved to be a compe- tent assistant with a special aptitude for the bus- iness to which he has devoted the best years of his life. The stock business held inducements for him above all others, and he devoted his en-

ergies assiduously to the success of this branch of agriculture, until 1902, selling his stock at that time and engaging in hay-raising for the market. Soon after his marriage Mr. Wilson homesteaded. a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of the old home place, and today he is the proud owner of both farms. Many good im- provements made by him are evidences of his suc- cess and thrift, and one hundred acres of his land is devoted to the cultivation of wild hay, which is profitably grown in that section.

The home ties of Mr. Wilson began September 13. 1882, by his marriage in Jackson county with Jenerva Obenchain, a daughter of Bartley Oben- chain, a prominent farmer near Central Point, Ore., where he located in 1862 upon the farm which is still his home. While en route to Ore- gon with his family, the birth of Mrs. Wilson took place, she being one of a family of eight children. The family unite in worshiping at the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Wilson is a devout member. Mr. Wilson's loyal- ty to the cause of education is shown by his six years' service as a member of the local school board. In his political attachments he is an un- swerving Democrat, but his strict attention to his business has excluded politics to a great ex- tent.

WILLIAM J. VIRGIN. Standing second to none among the leading men of Ashland is Wil- liam J. Virgin, proprietor of the Ashland Mills. Noteworthy for his energetic enterprise, keen in- telligence and good business ability, he has estab- lished a large and successful industry, manufac- turing a superior grade of flour, which he has placed upon the market under his especial brand "Virgin's Best." In the different cities, towns and states in which he has resided, he has al- ways been regarded as a man of integrity and honor, and is held in high respect by the com- munity in which he is now a member. A native of England, he was born in Taunton, Somerset county, October 20. 1848.

Born in Devonshire, England, John Virgin, father of William J., was engaged in farming and hotel keeping in Somerset county for a number of years. He subsequently resided for a time in Chard, England, from there emigrating to this country. Locating in Michigan, he lived near the town of Hawley until his sudden death, which was accidental, being caused by a fall from a wagon. Until that time, although in the seventy- second year of his age. he had been strong and vigorous. He belonged to a family noted for its longevity, his father having lived seventy-eight years, while his mother attained to the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. He married Ann Vincent, who was born in Devonshire, Eng-

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land, and died in Michigan. Of the ten children that blessed their union, all grew to years of ma- turity, William J. being the eldest child.

Brought up in his native land, W. J. Virgin worked on the farm as a boy, obtaining his educa- tion at a night school, supported by subscription. Entering the employ of his uncle, Thomas But- ler, of Chard, when fifteen years old, he served an apprenticeship at the miller's trade, becoming an expert stone dresser. Receiving a letter from his uncle Henry Vincent, urging him and his brother to come to Portsmouth, Ohio, he sailed from England for New York on the City of Bos- ton. Subsequently, while on the way from Cincin- nati to St. Louis, he stopped at Vanceburg, Ky., where he secured work as a stone dresser, receiv- ing $3 per day for his labor, which he considered good pay for a boy of eighteen years. A year later he went to Michigan, locating in Oakland county, where his uncle was living. The ensuing year he worked in the Clarkston Mills, and the following four years resided in Greenville, Mont- calm county, where he was first employed in the Partlow Mills, and later in the Middleton Mills. Removing to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1872, he worked for Pillsbury Brothers, and for Governor Washburn. Going from Minneapolis to Board- man, Wis., he entered the employ of Johnson & Brother, and after helping them build a new mill in Richmond, Wis., he was admitted into part- nership with them as junior member of the firm of Johnson Brothers & Virgin. For twenty years this firm carried on a large and profitable busi- ness, running both the Boardman and the Rich- mond mills. In 1886 Mr. Virgin made his first trip to the Pacific coast, and was so pleased with the country that he made a second trip in 1890, visiting Tacoma, Wash. Coming to Ashland, Jackson county, Ore., in 1891, he, in company with Mr. Jacobs, purchased the F. Roper Mills, and the following year moved his family to this city. In 1893 R. P. Neil bought out Mr. Jacob's interest in the business, the firm name being changed from Jacobs & Virgin to Virgin & Co. Two years later Mr. Virgin bought out his part- ner, and has continued the business alone until the present time. He also owns, in company with A. A. Davis, the Central Point Mill, having a half interest in it. Mr. Virgin has greatly enlarged his mill, which was built in 1852, remodeling it, and increasing its capacity from thirty barrels to seventy barrels a day. He has an excellent water privilege, having the priority of water right from the Ashland creek.

In Greenville, Mich., Mr. Virgin married Ores- ta Goodsall, a native of Allegheny county, Pa., and of their union three children have been born, namely : Mrs. Grace Drake, of Ashland ; William, who entered the United States navy in July, 1902, is now on the cruiser Reno, in Japan; and

Claudie, who died in her twentieth year. A stanch Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Virgin served as councilman in Richmond, Wis., and is always interested in local and national af- fairs. In religion he is a member of the Episco- pal Church.

GEORGE LUCAS CHASE. Since coming to Klamath county in 1885 Mr. Chase has made his home on a tract of land which he purchased at the time of his arrival and which comprises more than four hundred acres. At the time of purchase no improvements whatever had been made. The land was in its original primeval con- dition, covered with a thick growth of forest trees and sage brush. The task of clearing was no small one, but he began the work cour- ageously and continued it faithfully, and as a result of his tireless exertions now has two hundred and twenty-five acres in excellent con- dition for cultivation. The remainder of the property is utilized for the pasturage of his stock. Of recent years he has become interested in the breeding and raising of Hereford cattle and now has one hundred and twenty-five head. In addition to his home farm he owns two hun- dred and twenty acres in Siskiyou county, Cal., twenty-two miles distant, and this land is also used mainly for a stock ranch.

A native of San Francisco, Cal., born July 24, 1854, George Lucas Chase is a son of George Washington Chase, who was born in Utica, N. Y., of English descent. The latter about 1830 married Susan Vanderhiden, by whom he had the following children: Jacob, deceased ; Sallie, wife of R. O. Dewitt, of Yreka, Cal .; George L., of Oregon; and Ella, wife of Stewart Merrill, a photographer in San Francisco, Cal. In 1850 George W. Chase crossed the plans to California and engaged in mining in Shasta county, where he met with more than ordinary success. Pleased with the prospects offered by the west, he returned east for his family, who accon- panied him to San Francisco in 1851. He left them in that city and went to Siskiyou county, Cal., where he engaged in mining several years. Other enterprises also engaged his attention. He was employed to carry the Wells-Fargo ex- press from Yreka over the Scotts mountain into Shasta county, making the trip with pack mules. Later he took up the stage business and con- ducted a line from Yreka into the mining camps. For two terms he served as treasurer of Siski- you county, and meanwhile also conducted a general mercantile business at Yreka. Subse- quently he resumed work as a miner and while thus occupied, in 1867, when fifty-five years of age, he was accidentally drowned in the Klamath river in Siskiyou county. His sudden death was

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mourned by relatives and friends. He was a man of exemplary habits, genial temperament and companionable disposition, and had a host of warm friends among his circle of acquaintances. From the time of the organization of the Repub- lican party until his death he never failed to support its principles. Fraternally he was a Mason and Odd Fellow, and took an active in- terest in both of these orders. After his death the family continued to live in Yreka, and there his widow died in 1873, when sixty-four years of age.

On account of the death of the father, the support of the family fell upon George L. Chase and his brother when they were still mere lads. For this reason his educational advantages were less thorough than he would have wished, yet by reading and observation he has acquired a knowledge more valuable than many a college graduate possesses. In youth he worked for a time at the blacksmith's trade, but did not find it congenial. During the Modoc war he was em- ployed as a teamster, having charge of the trans- portation of troops and supplies for the' govern- ment forces. After the war he engaged in driv- ing a stage from Yreka, and later from Carson City, Nev. On coming to Oregon in 1878 he was employed in driving a stage from Cole's station to Rocky Point on the Rogue river below Gold Hill. When he resigned that position he came to Klamath county and settled on the farm that is still his home. At Roseburg, Ore., May 3, 1882, he married Annie Little, who was born at Jacksonville, this state, being the daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Jackson county. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Chase are nine chil- dren, viz .: George, Maggie, Jacob, Eva, Ray, Nina, Carroll, Donald and Mabel.

The Republican party has received the support of Mr. Chase ever since he attained his majority. For years he held the offices of road supervisor and school director, in both of which he rendered important service. While living in Yreka he was actively identified with the Presbyterian Church of that place and still holds his membership with the same congregation. In fraternal relations he is a member of Linkville Lodge No. 110, A. O. U. W.

FRED D. WAGNER. Prominent among the native-born citizens of Jackson county is Fred 1). Wagner, who is widely known throughout southern Oregon as editor, business manager. and one of the proprietors, of the Ashland Tid- ings, a bright and newsy journal, published semi- weekly, and having an extensive circulation in Jackson and surrounding counties. A man of culture, energy and ability, he has gained a posi-

tion of influence in the community in which he resides, and is justly recognized as one of the leaders in civic affairs. He comes of German stock, the immigrant ancestor of that branch of the Wagner family from which he is des- cended having been cne Philip Wagner, who was born in Germany, but came to the United States prior to the Revolution, and settled first in Vir- ginia, going from there to Pennsylvania as a pioneer. A native of Ashland, Ore., Mr. Wag- ner was born October 9, 1868, a son of the late Jacob and Ellen (Hendrix) Wagner, and in a sketch of his father, which may be found else- where in this work, further parental and ances- tral history appears.

After leaving the public schools, Fred D. Wag- ner pursued his studies at the Ashland Acad- emy and then entered the University of Oregon, at Eugene, where he was a pupil from 1886 111111 1888. Prior to this time, by working when- ever at leisure, he had learned the printer's trade in the office of the Ashland Tidings, and on leav- ing the University Mr. Wagner accepted a posi- tion on this paper, with which he has since been connected, and since 1895 has owned a half in- terest and is editor and business manager. The Ashland Tidings was established as a weekly paper in June, 1876, being founded by James Sutton, a prominent journalist of southern Ore- gon, and was the first newspaper published in Ashland. Mr. Sutton sold out to Capt. O. C. Applegate, who owned it but a brief period, sell- ing it in 1879 to W. H. Leeds. Mr. Leeds was sole publisher and editor of the paper until Jan- mary 1, 1895, when he accepted the position of state printer, and disposed of a one-half interest in the journal to Mr. Wagner, who is junior member of the firm of Leeds & Wagner. In January, 1894, the Tidings became a semi-weekly paper, and is now a seven-column folio, devoted to the advancement of the agricultural, commer- cial and industrial interests of southern Oregon, and is a strong exponent of Republicanism. Un- der the editorship and management of Mr. Wag- ner its circulation has largely increased, and its influence is felt throughout a large territory. Its printing department is now thoroughly equipped and has in connection with it a good job-printing office, where work of a superior order is quickly and well done.

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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 75

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