Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 84

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 84

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Philip Wagner, Mr. Wagner's paternal grand- father, was born and bred in Germany. With two of his brothers, Peter and John, he emigrated to America in colonial days. Peter and John were soon lost track of, but Philip Wagner settled in Rockingham county, Va., where he married Margaret Andrews. He subsequently removed with his family to Pennsylvania, going thence to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life.

One of three children of Philip and Margaret Wagner, Jolın Wagner was born in old Virginia, April 16, 1779. Going with his parents to Penn- sylvania, and then to Ohio, he settled perma- nently in the latter state, where he was engaged during his active life in agricultural pursuits. April 17, 1806, he married Esther Crull, by whom he had eleven children, three of whom came to the Pacific coast, namely: Mrs. Delilah McConnaha, who resided in California until her death; Isaac, who settled in Salem, Ore .; and Jacob, the special subject of this brief sketch, and the seventh child in order of birth of the parental household.

Reared on the homestead in Ohio, Jacob Wag- ner attended the district school when young, and as a boy and youth was trained to agricultural pursuits. Before attaining his majority, he turned his footsteps westward, going first to Indiana, where he worked as a farm laborer. Mi- grating to Iowa, he was employed in carpentering and building in Louisa county for a number of years. In 1850, while yet unmarried, he started across the plains with an ox-team train, and after a tedious journey of six months arrived at Ore- gon City, where he had a severe attack of moun- tain fever, narrowly escaping death. Subse- quently going to Astoria, he looked over the country in the vicinity of the Columbia river,

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but not especially pleased with the outlook, he returned to Oregon City, where he worked at the carpenter's trade a few months. Going over- land to Siskiyou county, Cal., in the spring of 1851, he was employed in mining in the Yreka distriet for about a year, his experiences being decidedly varied.

Settling in the Rogne River valley, Ore., in the spring of 1852, Mr. Wagner took up a dona- tion elaim of three hundred and twenty acres on the little stream that was subsequently named in his honor, Wagner creek. On this tract of land, lying about five miles north of Ashland, near the site of the present village of Talent, he was successfully engaged in farming and stock- raising for ten years. He took an active part in subduing the Indians in the troubles of 1853, when Fort Wagner was built on his farm as a rendezvous for his family and neighbors. No- vember 10, 1855, during the Rogue River In- dian war, he enlisted in Company D, Second Oregon Mounted Volunteers, and served under Colonel Williams until receiving his honorable discharge from the army, May 15, 1856. He was brave and fearless, working in the fields oftentimes with his gun at hand, and had several narrow escapes from the treacherous redskins, at one time being saved from death by the kindly interception of some Indians whom he had be- friended.

In 1857 Mr. Wagner bought an interest in the Ashland Flour Mills, but continued his farming. In 1858 he went east by way of the Isthmus, and in the fall of 1860 took unto himself a wife. Sailing with his bride from New York, he came by way of Panama to Red Bluffs, Cal., thence by stage to Fort Wagner, where he continued the improvement of his farm. Moving to Ash- land in 1862, Mr. Wagner assumed the manage- ment of the Ashland Mills, of which he had con- trol the ensuing twenty-six years, the plant be- ing the only flour mills in the Rogue River val- ley for several years. He was in partnership with different persons, but was most of the time the principal owner and business manager, being associated with E. K. Anderson, Capt. John Mc- Call, W. H. Atkinson, and others. At the same time Mr. Wagner, who was a man of great busi- ness enterprise and ability, was interested in the Ashland Woolen Mills, in mining property, and in mercantile pursuits, and was, without doubt, one of the best known men of southern Oregon and northern California, becoming acquainted with the farmers through his wheat buying, and with the merchants and commission men through whom he sold flour. On account of failing health he sold the Ashland Mills in 1884, and subse- quently hought the Soda Spring ranch, lying ten miles southeast of Ashland, and removed there, taking charge of the hotel. Hc engaged in the

stock business while there, and largely developed the fine spring on the ranch. His hotel was the stage station on that route, and was a most pop- ular house of public entertainment. The waters of the spring were found rich in mineral proper- ties, and are now in charge of Mr. Wagner's son, J. M. Wagner, who bottles it, and sells it under the name of the Siskiyou mineral water. Returning to Ashland in 1887, Mr. Wagner lived retired from active pursuits until his death, as above stated.

August 25, 1860, in Muscatine county, Iowa, Mr. Wagner married Ellen Hendrix, who was born in Wayne county, Ind., a daughter of Henry D. Hendrix. Grandfather Hendrix was born and reared in Pennsylvania, but as a young man lived for a few years in Ohio, then settled per- manently in Indiana, where he followed general farming until his death. A native of Ohio, Henry Hendrix moved with his parents to In- diana, where he followed the independent occu- pation to which he was reared. Subsequently becoming a pioncer of Iowa, he cleared and im- proved a fine farm in Muscatine county, where he was profitably engaged in stock-raising for many years. He attained the venerable age of eighty-nine years, and was respected and es- teemed by all. He was a man of upright prin- ciples, honest and square in all his dealings, and was a valued member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Theodosia Willetts, was born in Indiana, and died, when but thirty-seven years old, in Iowa. Of their seven children, three came to Oregon, namely : Charles ; Mrs. Angeline Rock- fellow; and Mrs. Wagner. Charles Hendrix crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850, but after residing here two years returned to his old home in Iowa, and remained there permanently. Mrs. Rockfellow came to the Rogue River valley in 1850, and settled at Colestin, Jackson county, where she lived many years. She subsequently made her home in Washington, although her death occurred in Oregon City, Ore. Mrs. Wag- ner was but three years old when she removed with her parents to Muscatine county, Iowa, where she was reared and educated, attending first a subscription school, and later Mount Pleasant Academy. She is now living in Ash- land, beloved and respected for her pure heart and noble character. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner seven children were born: Nettie, a graduate of Ashland Academy, is now the wife of W. H. Leeds, who was state printer front 1894 until 1902, and is now a resident of San Diego, Cal .: John Marshall, who was educated at the University of Oregon, and is now pro- prietor of the Siskiyou Mineral Water Company, married Anna Anderson : Fred D., also educated at the University of Oregon, is editor and pro-

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prietor of the Ashland Tidings; Mabel E., a grad- uate of the Ashland high school, is the wife of A. E. Kinney, a hardware merchant in Redding, Cal .; Ella died at the age of eight years; Jes- sie, who completed her early education at the state normal school, is the wife of T. W. Miles, a prominent educator of Bakersfield, Cal .; and J. Ernest died at the age of three and one-half years.

In public affairs Mr. Wagner took a keen and intelligent interest, and served his fellowmen in many positions of trust and responsibility. In 1862 he was elected to the Oregon state senate, and during his term of four years attended three sessions of the legislature, one being the special session called to ratify the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States. He was subsequently county commissioner for Jackson county, serving one or more terms. He was a stanch Republican in his political views, and ever true to the principles of his party. He was a charter member, and at the time of his death the oldest member, of Ashland Lodge No. 23, A. F. & A. M .; and was a member, and ex- president, of the Jackson County Pioneer Society. A man of deep religious convictions, he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mrs. Wagner also belongs. Mrs. Wagner is one of the charter members of Alpha Chapter No. I, O. E. S., of Ashland.

JOHN PETER RANZAN. As one of the largest and most successful hop-growers of Jo- sephine county, John Peter Ranzan, of Grants Pass, is intimately associated with the horticul- tural interests of this section of the state, and is an active promoter of one of its leading industries. On the paternal side he comes of substantial Ger- man stock, and has inherited in a large measure those habits of industry and thrift that are ever characteristic of the native born citizens of the Fatherland. A son of the late Capt. John P. Ranzan, he was born May 4, 1874, in the Sa- moan Islands, where he spent his very early childhood years.

A native of Hamburg, Germany, Capt. John P. Ranzan was there reared and educated. Becom- ing interested in a seafaring life when a young man, he sailed the seas for many years, filling all the offices on shipboard from the lowest to the highest. As captain of his own vessel, he was engaged in the merchant marine service of Ger- many, and traded extensively with the Samoan Islanders. On account of illness, caused by a slight paralytic stroke, he disposed of his vessel and engaged in farming. Immigrating with his family to the United States in 1877, he bought land in Alameda county, Cal., and was there en-

gaged in raising fruit and grain for seven years. Coming to Oregon in 1884, he located in the Rogue River valley, about seven miles west of Grants Pass. Purchasing one hundred and eighty acres of land, he established the first hop ranch in that valley, and in its management was quite successful. He died in 1901 in a San Fran- cisco hospital, at the age of seventy-one years. He was a stanch Democrat in his political views and was a member of the Catholic Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Jennings, was born in the Samoan Islands, and died in San Francisco. Of the seven children born of their union, three sons and four daughters, John Peter was the oldest child.

Coming with his parents to this country when about three years old, John Peter Ranzan was educated in the common schools of California. Brought up on a ranch, he became especially in- terested in hop growing while assisting his father, and at the age of twenty-two years em- barked in the hop business on his own account. Beginning on a modest scale, he bought sixty acres of land near Grants Pass, and from the very beginning was fortunate in his venture. He has gradually enlarged his operations, and has now a ranch of two hundred and sixty acres, from which he gathers on an average sixty-five thousand pounds of hops each year. Mr. Ran- zan has acquired other property of value, being interested in mines in Josephine county, and own- ing in Grants Pass eighteen lots adjoining his residence estate, which contains six lots of valu- able land.

Mr. Ranzan married, in Grants Pass, Dor- othea V. Mallory, a daughter of Enos Mallory, and they have two children, Leona and Arthur. Possessing the courage of his convictions, Mr. Ranzan is independent in his political affiliations, voting irrespective of party prejudice. As a man of honest integrity and worth, he is held in high respect throughout the community. His family are members of the Bethany Presbyterian Church.

MAX WEISS. Business men represent- ing every branch of industry have been at- tracted to the Pacific slope, and the above- mentioned gentleman is the proprietor of a large brewery and ice plant at Roseburg, Ore., where he located in 1898, and in the interven- ing years he has built up a large and lucrative trade, and has agencies in Ashland and Grants Pass. His plant covers one block of ground and furnishes employment for a number of the citizens of Roseburg. It is fitted with the latest and most improved machinery and the water supply is furnished from a well of great depth. The brewery has a capacity of five

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thousand barrels per year and the ice plant, a capacity of six tons per day. The product of this immense plant finds a ready market in southern Oregon and northern California, and is disposed of at wholesale rates only. The plant is one of the most complete and up-to- date establishments of its kind in southern Oregon, and enjoys a patronage in keeping with its magnitude.

As the name indicates, Mr. Weiss is of Ger- man parentage and is himself a native of Ger- many. He was born at Ensberg, Wurtem- berg, near Stuttgart, February 1, 1863. He is a son of Christopher and Ernestine Weiss and both parents are still living, but have never left their native land. The father is the pro- prietor of a brewery at Ensberg, his native place, and several of his children also reside there. They are parents of five children, as follows: Emma, who is now Mrs. Stauffer, ot Ensberg; Max, the subject of this biog- raphy ; Bertha, who is now Mrs. Rennstich, of Bucks county, Pa. ; Herman and Albert. The latter two are merchants in Ensberg. Mr. Weiss was reared in his native city and at- tended the common schools. When he was fourteen years old, he went into the brewery and began learning his trade under his father's direct supervision. He applied himself to his work diligently for three years and then spent some time traveling. He visited various prov- inces of Germany, and the cantons of Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland. Returning home, he entered the German army and for two years studied military tactics in the fourth di- vision of the third regiment of the regular in- fantry. In 1886 Mr. Weiss crossed the ocean and became a citizen of the United States. Then began a series of wanderings from place to place before a desirable and permanent lo- cation was found, and during this time he was employed as a brewer for different companies in several of the large cities of our country. He was located at Philadelphia for two years; at Cincinnati for two years; at Marquette, Mich., for one year ; and at San Francisco for ten months. In the fall of 1890 he went to Victoria, British Columbia, and was in the em- ployment of the Victoria Brewing Company for a period of four years. In 1898 he came to Roseburg, Ore., bought out an old company, remodeled the plant, put in new machinery and established his present large and well pay- ing business. From time to time he has im- proved and enlarged his plant. His marriage with Miss Bloberg, of Victoria, British Colum- bia, was solemnized in 1897, and they have two daughters, Clara and Emma. Mr. Weiss is justly considered one of the progressive citi- zens of Roseburg. He is a member of the

National Brewers' Association, and also affil- iates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Foresters of America.

MARVIN S. WOOD. When the war broke out between the north and the south Mr. Wood was among the first in his section to respond to our country's call for troops, and in 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company F, Eleventh Michigan Infantry, and rendered valiant service during that bitter conflict. His company was first sent to Louisville, Ky., and afterward to Bardstown, Ky., where they win- tered, losing about sixty men out of the regi- ment with small-pox and measles. The first active engagement in which he participated was at Stone River, and at the battle of Chick- amauga, on September 20, 1863, he was wounded by a minie ball, which passed through the lower jaw, penetrating the left shoulder, through which it also passed, coming out below the shoulder blade. Taken at once to the field hospital, his wounds received atten- tion there for six weeks, when he lived on less than quarter rations, and he was subsequently removed to the hospitals at Chattanooga, Bridgeport and Nashville, Tenn. When first taken to the hospital the doctor said there was "no use doing anything for that fellow." The nurse heard them say this, but did not repeat it to the patient until three weeks afterward. It was not until January 19, 1864, that he was honorably discharged as being incapacitated for further service on account of disability. Although he went into the service as a private he was discharged as a corporal. Mr. Wood has every claim to be classed among the most honored members of the G. A. R. organization of Central Point, in the vicinity of his old home place, and it was his pleasure to attend the grand encampment of this organization at San Francisco in 1903.

Born in Erie county, N. Y., October 8, 1836, and taken while young to St. Joseph county, Mich., Mr. Wood was principally reared on a farm near Sturgis prairie. He commenced work in his own behalf when seventeen years of age, hiring out by the month to do farm- work, and his time and energies were spent in this line of work until his enlistment in the army. Returning home from the war and again turning his attention to farming pursuits for several years, in 1868 he was persuaded to come to Oregon by a brother who had pre- viously located here. The trip was made by water via the Isthmus of Panama, and soon after his arrival in Oregon he engaged in farm pursuits upon a homestead claim his brother had taken up some time before in Jackson

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county. This farm was subsequently pur- chased by Mr. Wood, who continued to reside there until 1901, when he relinquished the farm in favor of his eldest daughter and her husband. During the long residence on this farm, he had made many fine improvements on the place.

Politically Mr. Wood is a stanch Repub- lican, and he has served one term as school director and filled the office of road supervisor in 1871. Mr. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Susan Griffith, and to them three children have been born. The eldest of these, Ora, married Thomas Henderson, and resides on the old home farm. The two younger chil- dren, Mamie and Walter, brighten the home with their presence and are able assistants to their parents.

GEN. JOSEPH LANE. In the personal memoirs of distinguished citizens connected with the early history of Oregon, few will be perused with the same degree of interest as that of the late Gen. Joseph Lane, the first territorial governor of Oregon, who will be remembered by many of the older citizens as a man who had a military record excelled by few, and whose public life was full of commen- (lation and above reproach. With each suc- ceeding year the haze of obscurity removes more and more from our view the fast disap- pearing landmarks of the past, and oblivion sprinkles the dust of forgetfulness on men and their deeds. It is with pleasure that the pub- lishers of this history chronicle the achieve- ments of General Lane, and assist in preserv- ing the record of his useful life.

General Lane descended from a prominent English family, who settled in Virginia in the carly days of its history, but subsequently re- moved to North Carolina. Several members of the family, including his father, John Lane, participated in the Revolutionary war, and from these General Lane received his fighting proclivities. He was born December 14, 1801, and while still young his father removed to Kentucky, where the young lad grew to man- hood. He was married at a very early age. and soon thereafter moved to the state of In- diana. He became a politician at the age of twenty and took an active part in the politics of that state. He was elected to the state legislature and had just passed his twenty- first birthday when the session was called. Ile was re-elected several times and further honors were thrust upon him by his election to the state senate in 1846. He resigned the senator- ship in favor of a military carcer. At the be- ginning of the war with Mexico he enlisted

in a company of Indiana volunteers, was elected colonel, and later appointed brigadier general, and immediately marched to the seat of war. He fought with great distinction all through the war, and was breveted major- general for gallantry. During the various en- gagements in which he participated he received two gunshot wounds, but neither was of a se- rions nature. At one time a horse was shot from under him and he was wounded, and the other wound was received at the battle of Buena Vista while fighting under General Taylor. Immediately after returning from the war with Mexico, General Lane was ap- pointed governor of Oregon by President Polk, and was the first territorial governor of that territory. He received his commission August 18, 1848, and set out from Indiana for Oregon via New Mexico, Arizona and Califor- nia. He arrived in Oregon City on the third day of March, 1849; organizing his forces, he issued his proclamation that night, and as- sumed the duties of the first executive of Ore- gon territory under a Democratic administra- tion. His first official act was the taking of a state census, which, when completed, showed eight thousand seven hundred and eighty-five Americans and two hundred and ninety-eight foreign citizens. June 18, 1850, believing that he had been relieved by the appointment of his successor, he resigned the office in favor of the latter. June 2, 1851, he was elected by the Democrats as a delegate from Oregon to congress to succeed Thurston. In 1853 he was again appointed governor of Oregon by President Franklin Pierce, and qualified for office. He only served three days, however, and then resigned to run again for delegate to congress as the candidate of the Democratic party. The election was held on June 6, 1853, and he was again successful in being elected. Immediately after his election, before proceed- ing to Washington, he was appointed a briga- dier general of the volunteer forces and went to southern Oregon to suppress the hostile In- dians. He was wounded in the engagement at Table Rock, but took an active part against the Indians in the subsequent invasions of 1855 and '56. At the June elections in 1855 and '57 he was successfully re-elected Demo- cratic delegate from Oregon to congress. On July 8, 1858, Oregon having adopted a consti- tution preparatory to being admitted as a state, General Lane was elected one of the first United States senators from Oregon, taking his scat in the United States senate, and hav- ing the oath administered February 14. 1859. His term of office expired March 3. 1861, but in the meantime he was nominated for vice- president of the United States with John C.

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Breckenridge, who was a candidate for the presidency.

In 1851 General Lane took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, two and a half miles north of Roseburg, in Douglas county, and afterwards bought a ranch eleven miles east of Roseburg, on Deer creek. This ranch contained two thousand acres and he owned it for years, but it was purchased in after years by his son, Simon R. In the mean- time General Lane built a handsome residence on the banks of the South Umpqua river, and it was there his closing years were spent. He was also interested in the mines at various times. In his religious views he was a de- vout Catholic and his family was reared in the same faith.

In early life General Lane was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Hart, and they had ten children, viz .: Mrs. Melissa M. Barlow, who died in Jackson county ; Nathaniel H., who died in Portland ; R. B., whose death took place in Indiana in 1849 at the age of twenty- three years ; Joseph, a retired citizen of Myrtle Creek; Mrs. Mary V. Shelby, of California ; Simon R., a retired citizen of Roseburg ; Mrs. Emily Floed, of San Francisco; John, a resi- dent of Pierce City, Idaho; Mrs. Winifred Mosier, of Portland, and La Fayette, deceased. The latter was a prominent attorney of Rose- burg. He served one term in the state legis- lature and one term as a member of congress. His demise took place in 1896.

General Lane was a genial, kind-hearted man and was greatly beloved by his friends: He was the leader of the Democratic party in Oregon, and had great influence with Demo- cratic politicians in that state. As a politician he had no superior in his day and generation. At the beginning of the war of the Rebellion bis sympathies were openly with the South, but he remained on his farm in Douglas coun- ty, near Roseburg, during the entire war, and died there in April, 1881, greatly mourned by a wide circle of friends.

E. T. STAPLES. Although a new comer in Ashland, Mr. Staples has assumed an important place in Jackson county, as vice-president and general manager of the Ashland Manufacturing Company, which has a monthly payroll of $6,000. He became associated with this plant in Oc- tober, 1902, when hc purchased an interest in the company and at once became its general manager. The company is extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and operates two saw-mills; one is located near Ayres Spur, on the Southern Pacific Railroad on Neil Creek, and has a capacity of twenty-five thousand feet

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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 84

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