Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 85

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 85

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per day; the other mill is one mile above on the same creek and has a capacity of forty thousand feet. The mills are fitted with the most improved machinery and modern appliances, being up to date in every respect. The company owns three thousand acres of adjacent timber land which will furnish material to operate the plant for a long time. In addition to the saw mills, the company owns a large planing mill in Ashland, with a capacity of twenty thousand feet per day. They also manufacture boxes, moldings, etc., and do general mill work.

E. T. Staples is a native of Sidney, Cham- paign county, Ill., and is the only child of Will- iam P. and Matilda (Samson) Staples, the lat- ter a native of Posey county, Ind. Her parents were pioneers of the Hoosier state, but subse- quently moved to Champaign county, Ill., where they spent the remainder of their lives and where Mrs. Staples died. The paternal grandfather, John N. Staples, was born in Connecticut. He went to New Orleans in early manhood, but shortly afterward went to Chicago, Ill., being among the early pioneers of that city, where he finally died. He was by trade a brick manu- facturer, but for some years he was engaged in the abstract business. He was thus occupied at the time of the great Chicago fire which ren- dered over ninety-eight thousand people home- less. Mr. Staples and his partner succeeded in saving all their abstract books. But for the saving of these records, many people could not have claimed their land in the vast district cov- ered by the fire. John N. Staples continued in the real estate business all his active life and died at the advanced age of eighty-nine.

William P. Staples was a native of Tennessee, but was reared principally in Champaign county, Ill., where for many years he followed farming on a large scale, and acquired a large tract of land. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army in an Illinois regiment and served through the Civil war. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., after the termination of the war. Returning to his home, he re-engaged in agriculturai pursuits, but finally retired.

E. T. Staples was born April 26, 1858, and his boyhood days were spent attending school. He completed the courses in the public and high schools of Sidney, and at the early age of eight- een years began teaching in the prairie state. In 1881 he went to Nebraska, and continued to follow his chosen profession until 1884. About that time he engaged in banking. being asso- ciated with the Belle Creek Valley Bank, m Washington county, Neb., until 1890, when he went to Minneapolis as secretary and treasurer of a real estate and loan company. In 1893 he went to Boise City, Idaho, and engaged in min- ing, and while there he superintended the con-

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struction of several plants. In October, 1902, he came to Ashland and assumed his present im- portant position with the Ashland Manufactur- ing Company.

Mr. Staples was married in Arlington, Neb., to Miss Katie Hammer, a native of that city and a daughter of Simon Hammer, a pioneer farmer of that state. He now resides in Red Bluff, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Staples have one child, Charron M. In fraternal circles, Mr. Staples affiliates with the Knights of Pythias of Fremont, Neb .; the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Boise City, Idaho; and the Masons of Minne- apolis, Minn. Since taking up his residence in Ashland, he has proved himself to be a most en- ergetic and enterprising business man and worthy of the highest appreciation.

NATHANIEL LANGELL. A review of the lives of the retired citizens of Medford must necessarily renew one's confidence in those homely and straightforward attributes which our forefathers were wont to regard as essential to business and personal success. Few among those pioneers have depended solely upon mining and kindred speculative enterprises, but have toiled earnestly at soil cultivation, at stock-raising, at plodding busi- ness, and in conscientious political service. Among these may be mentioned Nathaniel Langell, who came to the state in 1854, and who with his father and brother has caused the name to be associated with substantial de- velopment, while he has personally impressed his worth as a citizen and prominent business man upon the people of Oregon.

Mr. Langell is of French descent, and his family was established in Nova Scotia so long ago that no record has been kept of the emi- grant. His paternal grandfather, George, was born there, as was also his father, Joseph, and his mother, Achsah (Bigney) Langell. The latter died in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1840, when her son Nathaniel, the third child of her four sons and two daughters, was nine years old. Joseph Langell learned the ship-carpenter's trade in his youth, and followed that vocation for two or three years in Buffalo, N. Y., to which place the family removed at an early day. The journey to Buffalo was a trying one for the family, for the grandfather, George Langell. died on the way in a canal boat, leav- ing his family in straitened circumstances. In 1841 Joseph Langell located in Michigan, and shortly afterward became a journeyman boat- builder and repairer. plying his trade at vari- ous boat-building places on the Great Lakes, and in time locating in Morocco. Ind., where he engaged in general merchandising. In 1854

he came with his two sons, Nathaniel and Arthur, to Jackson county, Ore. The father and sons together purchased three thousand acres of land in what is now known as Langell valley, in Klamath county, one-half of the tract being owned by Nathaniel. His family made their home, however, in Jacksonville, where Nathaniel conducted a boot and shoe store and repair shop, his father and brother attending to the stock-raising in the valley. In 1880 Nathaniel disposed of his share of the realty to his brother. The father passed away in 1879, and his son Arthur died in 1894, after an association of many years with his brother Nathaniel.

In 1876 Mr. Langell was appointed deputy internal revenue collector for this district and served six years, and after completing his term became interested in the cattle business, engaging therein for many years. In 1898 he was appointed forestry supervisor and served in that position for three years. After the expiration of his term of service he settled down to a retired life in Medford, where he has many friends, and where he is held in the highest esteem. The far-sightedness and practical results of Mr. Langell's political serv- ice are worthy of special mention, and have been characterized by the thoroughness and good faith shown in his business and other associations. In 1872 he was elected to the state legislature from Jackson county on the Republican ticket, and during the session was chairman of the committee on mining and state institutions, and assisted by his vote and influence in electing Senator John H. Mitchell to his first term in the United States senate. In 1896 he was again elected to the state legislature, but did not serve, owing to the failure of the body to organize. He has been a member of the county central and state committees, and for many years was president of the city board of Jacksonville. Fraternally he is a Mason, identifying himself with the order in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1852. He is now identified with Warren Lodge No. 10. of Jacksonville, of which he was at one time master.

June 7. 1858, Mr. Langell married, in Jack- sonville, Loretta Jane Hensley. a native of Missouri, and a daughter of William Hensley, a native of Franklin county, Mo., and an Ore- gon pioneer of 1853. Mr. Hensley spent his first winter in Salem, in the meantime making inquiries regarding desirable land, and in the spring of 1854 settled in Jackson county, tak- ing up three hundred and twenty acres of land on Butte creek. In 1858 he removed south to California, and is at present making his home in Tehama county, aged eighty-seven, while

E. G. Bessey

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his wife is eighty-five years of age. Notwith- standing the years that have passed over his head, Mr. Hensley is enjoying health and strength, and is making the most of a small ranching enterprise.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Langell, six of whom are living, three sons and three daughters. In order of birth the children are: Eliza, the wife of former Judge W. C. Hale, of Grants Pass; Mary L., the wife of State Treasurer C. S. Moore, of Salem ; an infant, deceased; Addie, deceased; Frank B., deceased; Arthur T., engaged in the stock business in Klamath county; Harry N., de- ceased; Jessie C., the widow of G. J. Farns- worth; Frederick, making his home in Mon- tana ; and Harry N. (the second child to bear that name), engaged in ranching in Klamath county.

ELMER L. BESSEY. In Brockton, Mass., October 27, 1863, occurred the birth of Elmer L. Bessey, the owner of the Bessey Creamery, and a prosperous dairy farmer and stockman of Coos county, Ore. Although still a young man, he has risen to a position of prominence and influ- ence in his community. His father, Hansard N. Bessey, was a native of Maine and a shoe-maker by trade. Later in life he was appointed fore- man of a shoe factory in Coatesville, Pa., and continued in that business until 1873, when the factory was destroyed by an explosion in which he received serious injuries, resulting in his death a few days later. He left a wife and three children, who are still living. They are Mrs. Nabel Neagley, who lives at Milton, Pa .; Ever- ett, who resides near the Coos river; and Elmer L., of this review. The mother died at the age of fifty-one years.

Elmer L. Bessey attended the public school, living with his mother until he was fifteen. He then started out for himself, finding work on a farm in Maine, where he worked by the month for four years. In 1883 he journeyed to Cali- fornia, where he was employed in a saw-mill un- til 1885. At that date he removed to the south- ern part of the state and engaged in fruit raising for two years, at which time he canie to Coos county, Ore., and purchased a ranch of four hun- (red and eighty acres, sixty-five of which are under cultivation. It is situated on the South Fork of Coos river, fourteen miles east of Marsh- field. He has made all the improvements upon this farm, among them being a neat modern dwelling and commodious barn. Here Mr. Bes- sey carries on general farming, dairying and stock-raising, making a specialty of Holstein cat- tle. In 1893 Mr. Bessey, in partnership with his brother, built the Bessey Creamery. This was

operated jointly until 1898, when our subject bought his brother's interest and has since had full ownership. The location of this creamery has made his already valuable place much more so, and Mr. Bessey has been known to refuse $12,000 for his ranch.

Clara Guptill, a native of Humboldt county, Cal., became the wife of Mr. Bessey April 25, 1885. Mrs. Bessey is a daughter of Erastus W. and Mary (Averill) Guptill, both natives of Maine. Mr. Guptill removed to California in 1857 and his wife in 1863, and they were united in marriage in Humboldt county, that state, in 1863. Since 1888 they have resided in Coos county, on property adjoining that of Mr. Bessey. Mr. and Mrs. Bessey have been blessed with three children : Warren G., born in 1890; Alden E., born in 1897; and Ruth Olive, born in 1903. Mr. Bessey is an active politician and has served as road commissioner and school director, having been elected by his Republican constituents. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and also to the ladies' auxiliary of the latter. In the prime of life, he has many bright years before him, and bids fair to make a success of his under- takings.

GEORGE BROWN. A merchandising en- terprise of Eagle Point which dates its origin back to the old frontier days and has cour- ageously withstood the financial storms ever since, is that owned and managed by George Brown & Sons. Although the present dis- penser of general wares has been in possession only since 1885, the store has been in his fam- ily for many years, and were its counters and shelves given the power of speech they could accurately record the history of every individ- ual and happening almost since the first set- tler arrived on the scene. This popular and well patronized store is therefore a landmark in this section of the country and has done as much to build it up as any other agency here- abouts.

George Brown was born near the great cathedral town of York, England, June 5, 1833. a son of Richard Brown, a native of England and a farmer by occupation. He married Ce- cilia Mary Thompson, also a native of Eng- land, who died in Jacksonville, Ore. Of the ten children born to Richard and Cecilia (Thompson) Brown, two are now living, George, the special subject of this sketch, and William M. The latter lives in Revelstoke, British Columbia, where he is conducting the Victoria hotel. Aside from the latter busi- ness he is interested in mining, and for ten years he was a member of parliament in

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British Columbia. George Brown was eight years old when the family came to America and located on government land near Racine, Wis. Three years later the father died, leav- ing the widow and children in a new country in rather limited circumstances. All of the sons sought employment as soon as their strength permitted, but altogether the prospect in Wisconsin was not of an encouraging na- ture, and George decided to go to Chicago, 111., to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1852 his two brothers, Robert H. and Henry R., arranged to cross the plains to Oregon, con- fident that they stood as good a chance as any to make a livelihood on the Pacific coast. At the end of their journey they separated upon different missions, Henry coming to Jackson county in 1853 and settling on a donation claim, while Robert, a carpenter by trade, found work in Portland and Astoria. While in Astoria he built the first wharf that was erected in that place. He later came to Jack- sonville, in 1856, and after following mining for a year went to the Frozen river and the Caribou country, in the latter place becoming manager for a large mining firm. Returning to Jackson county, he engaged in a merchan- dise business for a couple of years, and then started the general store now owned by his brother George.

In the meantime Henry R. had become estab- lished on a ranch in Jackson county, but in 1859 he returned to the east. In the spring of 1860 he drove a band of brood mares across the plains, bring with him his mother and the rest of the family, including George. Return- ing to the farm, Henry Brown at once resumed the duties which he had laid down upon start- ing for the east some months previously. For seven months George Brown was engaged in the butchering business in Jacksonville, and later became interested in mining near Jack- sonville, also becoming the owner of a claim in Rich Gulch, which he operated with fair success for about four years. He then worked at his trade in Jacksonville for many years, and in 1885 bought his brother Robert's store, which he has successfully conducted ever since. His interest in mining has never waned, and he is also extensively engaged in stock-raising on a farm of five hundred acres in Jackson county. Few men have exceeded him in a steady rise to success, for he possesses shrewd and practical judgment, and is cautious in whatever he undertakes. No one in the town has more stanchly supported the Republican party or been called upon to fill more positions of trust and responsibility. For six years he was chairman of the County Republican Cen- tral Committee and six years a school director. Mr. Brown is genial and obliging, studies the

individual preferences and desires of his patrons, and maintains an up-to-date and thor- oughly equipped general store.

December 13, 1858, George Brown married Mary Jane Tinker, a daughter of Hon. James Tinker, a native of England, where Mrs. Brown was born, but when three years old was brought to America by her parents. The Tinker family located in Wisconsin near the Brown home. Mr. Tinker was one of the first to take up the temperance cause in England, and in this country continued the good work. During the latter part of the '4os Mr. Tinker, in company with the famous "Birmingham blacksmith," made a tour of the principal cities of America, and at the time of the Crystal Palace in London they went to England. Mr. Tinker lectured throughout Scotland, and while there visited John McMillen, a brother of his wife, and who at that time was the principal of Edinburgh College. It is worthy of note that Kirkpatrick McMillen, grandfather of Mrs. Brown, was the inventor of the first bicycle, and Mrs. Brown's mother was the first lady to ride a bicycle. Mr. Tinker was a Republican in politics, and took an active interest in the welfare of his chosen party. At one time he represented his district in the Wisconsin legis- lature, and also served as county treasurer and county clerk, besides filling other important positions. During the war he served as pro- vost marshal. All in all Mr. Tinker was a great orator in the cause which he had aided for so many years,, and was indeed a noble man, honored by all with whom he came in contact.

To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born eleven children, ten of whom are living: Emily, now Mrs. William M. Holmes, of Central Point ; Sarah, Mrs. James T. Guerin, of Portland ; Royal G., at home ; Cecilia, Mrs. S. B. Holmes, of Eagle Point; Frank, who is interested with his father in the store; George, who was acci- dentally killed when sixteen years old by the premature discharge of a gun while on a hunt- ing expedition ; Cora, the wife of Dr. W. B. Officer, of Eagle Point ; William H., a partner in the store with his father; Lottie, the wife of Paul Van Scoy, an operator now in Nevada ; Merritt, at home ; and Bessie, the wife of J. H. Carlton, of Eagle Point.

II. M. SHAW, M. D., C. M. The ancestry of the family represented by Dr. Shaw, of Aslı- land, is traced to England, but has been iden- tified with American history ever since the first settlement of Massachusetts. Moses Shaw, who was a native of the Old Bay state, founded the family in Nova Scotia, where he

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engaged in the milling business and also cul- tivated a farm. Agricultural pursuits also en- gaged the attention of his son, David, and his grandson, Isaiah. The last-named was the father of Isaiah Shaw, Jr., who in early years taught school, but during his maturer years has followed farming pursuits in Berwick, where he still makes his home. A man of up- right character, he has endeavored to exem- plify in his daily actions the doctrines of the Baptist Church, of which he is a faithful mem- ber. His wife, Levicy Ellen Messenger, de- scended from an old Massachusetts family, but both she and her father, William Henry Mes- senger, were natives of Nova Scotia. She is still living at the old Berwick homestead, and one of her sons, Isaiah, also resides there, while the other son, H. M., is a practicing phy- sician in Oregon. The last-named was born at Berwick, Kings county, Nova Scotia, Oeto- ber 18, 1870, and grew to manhood on the home farm. When eighteen years of age he took up school-teaching, which he followed for a year. The money thus earned assisted in de- fraying the expenses of one year's attendance at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Sco- tia, where he completed the studies of the freshman class. Having meantime decided to enter the medical profession, in 1891 he matri- culated in McGill University, from which he was graduated in 1895, with the degree of M. D., C. M.

Upon the expiration of his medical course Dr. Shaw took a special hospital course in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he had the ad- vantage of considerable experience while act- ing as house surgeon in the Victoria general hospital. While there he met and wooed Miss Mattie Brown, who was a student in the uni- versity. On leaving Halifax he went to Nei- hart, Mont., where he remained for a year. Returning to Nova Scotia in 1897, he was there united in marriage with Dr. Mattie Brown. Shortly afterward they came to Ore- gon and engaged in practice at Fossil, Wheeler county, where he served as county coroner for one term. April 15, 1902, they returned east and took up post-graduate work in McGill University, after which, in October of the same year, they opened an office in Ashland for the practice of medicine and surgery. Both are members of the Baptist Church and con- tributors to movements of a religious and charitable nature. In fraternal relations Dr. H. M. Shaw is a member of Ashland Lodge No. 23. A. F. & A. M .; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fossil; the Modern Wood- men of America; Knights of the Maccabees ; Modern Maccabees; the Order of Pendo and Fraternal Brotherhood, in which he is examin-

ing physician. Along the line of his profession he is connected with the McGill University Alumni Association, and the Southern Oregon Medical Society. He was formerly actively identified with the Nova Scotia Medical So- ciety, in which he still retains an honorary membership.

MRS. MATTIE SHAW, M. D., C. M. From a very early era in the world's history the healing art has attracted to its practice some of the brightest masculine minds of every age, but only within a comparatively re- cent period has the profession been open to women. The advancement made by women and the change in public sentiment are no- where more evident than in their present high standing in the science of therapeutics, as il- lustrated by the successful careers of many women physicians in different parts of the country. Within this class mention belongs to Dr. Mattie (Brown) Shaw, who is engaged in professional work at Ashland and stands side by side with her husband, Dr. H. M. Shaw, in possessing a broad and thorough knowledge of medicine and skill in its practice.

Miss Mattie Brown was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and was next to the youngest among seven children, six of whom are now living. Her father, WV. V. Brown, was born in Nova Scotia, being the son of Charles Brown, a lifelong farmer of that peninsula, and he himself followed agricultural pursuits, but also gave some attention to the practice of the law. At this writing he holds office as queen's magistrate. The family of which he is a member traces its lineage to Scotch-Irish forefathers. His wife bore the maiden name of Emma Wyman and was born in Yarmouth, of English extraction. All of their children were given good educational advantages. At an early age their daughter, Mattie, displayed the possession of exceptional ability, and this they endeavored to nourish and train by giv- ing her the advantages of study in the Acad- emy at Yarmouth, after which she graduated from Horton Collegiate Academy at Wolfville, Nova Scotia. At the age of seventeen she entered Dalhousie University and took the regular course in the medical department, from which she was graduated in 1897, with the degree of M. D., C. M. Meantime she had enlarged her professional knowledge through a year's study in Boston, Mass., three months of which were passed in Brookline hospital and nine months in the Maternity hospital in Boston. Immediately after graduating she was married, June 19, 1897, to Dr. H. M.

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Shaw, and they have one son, Victor Bayard, who was born July 5, 1901.

In matters pertaining to the medical pro- fession Dr. Mattie Shaw has ever shown the deepest interest. Besides her private practice she is examining physician for the following lodges at Ashland: Ladies Order Tents of the Maccabees, Royal Neighbors, the Order of l'endo and Women of Woodcraft. Since com- ing to Oregon she has been affiliated with the Southern Oregon Medical Society, in addition to which she is a member of the Dalhousie University Alumni Association.

CURTIS JOHNSON. For many years Cur- tis Johnson represented the successful and en- terprising western farmer in Tillamook coun- ty, and his death, January 2, 1901, removed from a field of great usefulness one of that pioneer band who trailed civilization across the plains, and set it up in the wilderness of the timbered northwest. Mr. Johnson was eighteen years old at the time of this memo- rable ox-team journey in 1850, and he brought with him, besides youth and hope, that ster- ling worth which is the heritage of the old families of historic Massachusetts. He was born in that state May 7, 1832, and grew to man's estate in the vicinity of his father's, Waterman Johnson's, paper mill. The father was a man of progressive ambitions, and after living for a time with his family in Ohio, set out across the plains to Oregon, locating on a farm in Yamhill county.

After his marriage in Yamhill county, to Maryette Perkins, Mr. Johnson removed to Douglas county in February, 1856, and set up housekeeping near Gardiner, within sight of the Pacific ocean. His farm comprised three hundred and twenty acres of land adapted to various produce and stock-raising, and he was fairly successful in turning it to profitable ac- count. Nevertheless, his judgment approved of other parts of the state, and after selling his farm he located a pre-emption claim on the banks of Buell creek, in Tillamook county, where he lived until 1898. His next home was the place of forty acres now occupied by his widow, four and a half miles south of Tilla- mook City, where he engaged in stock-raising and dairying. On these respective farms, all of which were greatly improved by Mr. John- son, thirteen children were born, six sons and seven daughters, eight of whom are living. H. B. is living at home; Willard is in West Virginia : Alvin lives in Tillamook; Lamb is at home ; Orvilla is the wife of John Holgate of Spruce : Hull ; Sadie ; and Russ. Mr. John- son was a stanch Republican all his voting life.

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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 85

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