Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 91

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 91

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In Jackson county, Ore., in April, 1886, Dr. Songer married Belle B. Slade, who was born in Yreka, Cal., where her father came in 1848, with a troop commanded by Colonel Baker. Dr. and Mrs. Songer have one child, Frederick Slade Songer. Politically the doctor is a stanch Republican, interested in local and national af- fairs, and for ten years served as city physician of Ashland. He was a charter member of the Centennial Medical Society of Illinois, and also belonged to the Wayne County Medical Society of that state. He is one of the charter members of the Southern Oregon Medical Society, in which he has served as president; a member of the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association.

GEORGE W. CROWSON. As manager of the Ashland Fruit and Produce Association and one of the representative hardware merchants at Ashland, Jackson county, George W. Crowson is prominently connected with the leading com- mercial industries of this thriving city. A man of business energy and stability, he has achieved well-merited success in the agricultural, horti- cultural and mercantile line, and is numbered among the influential citizens of his adopted town and county. Of English ancestry, he was born April 23, 1856, in Oberlin, Ohio, a son of George Crowson.

A native of England, George Crowson's birth occurred in Leicestershire, in 1836. Living in his native land until twenty years of age, he then emigrated to the United States, settling in Ohio, where he worked at first as a farm hand, re- ceiving $8 per month wages, and boarding him- self. Subsequently removing to Minnesota, he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment of volunteer militia and served during the Civil war on the Indian frontier. Afterwards purchasing land at St. Charles, Winona county, Minn., he was there successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits 1111til 1888. Coming then to Ashland. Ore., he purchased land, set out an orchard, and, in addi- tion to his fruit business, was for several years a well-known real estate dealer of this locality. In 1902 he removed to San Francisco, Cal., where he has a pleasant home. He is a Repub- lican in his political views, and while in Ashland served one term as councilman. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, while in religion he is a inember of the Episcopal Church. He married

Mary Palmer, who was born in England, and died in Minnesota, in September, 1876. Of the children born of their union, three sons and two daughters are living, George W., the subject of this sketch, being the oldest child. One son, James E., resides in St. Charles, Minn., and an- other son, Frank H., is a resident of Ashland, Ore.

Taken by his parents to Minnesota when an infant, George W. Crowson received a limited education in the district school, and as a boy worked hard on the farm, remaining at home un- til attaining his majority. Then, after work- ing out by the month for two seasons, he mar- ried, in 1879, and settled in South Dakota, tak- ing up a homestead claim in Moody county. After proving up his claim, Mr. Crowson re- turned to St. Charles, Minn., and was there en- gaged in the grocery business a number of years. Going to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1886, he opened a grocery store which he managed successfully nearly two years. In April, 1888, he located in Ashland, Ore., and at once embarked in mercan- tile pursuits, dealing in groceries, flour and feed at the old Blue Front grocery. Building up a substantial trade, he continued there until 1893, when he turned his attention to the shipping of fruit and produce. He also bought timber land, which he grubbed out, devoting seven acres of it to the raising of peaches, in which he has been fortunate. He was one of the promoters of the Ashland Fruit and Produce Association, and since its incorporation has been a stock- holder and its manager. This is one of the strongest organizations of its kind in this vicin- ity, handling ninety per cent of the fruit and produce shipped from Ashland in the season of 1902, shipping forty-two car loads of peaches and many car loads, each, of other kinds of fruit and produce, the shipments of the associa- tion in the year 1902 amounting to eighty thou- sand packages. In the fall of 1903 Mr. Crow- son purchased the hardware business of W. N. Grubb & Son and is now one of the leading mer- chants of Ashland. Since purchasing the busi- ness he has increased the stock fully fifty per cent and now carries a complete line of goods.

In St. Charles, Minn., Mr. Crowson married Miss Wealthy Wilbur Gallop, a native of Tou- lon, Ill., and they have two children, Winefred Young and Nellie Edith. The son is now in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. During the war in the Philippines he served in Company B. Second Oregon Volun- teer Infantry, and an account of the regiment will be found in sketch of Gen. Owen Summers. Politically Mr. Crowson is a steadfast supporter of the principles advocated by the Republican party, and for one term represented the third ward of Ashland in the city council. He is

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active in business circles, and belongs to the Ash- land Board of Trade. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Knights of the Maccabees, of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, of the Royal Neigh- bors and the Fraternal Brotherhood. In his re- ligious views he is very liberal, making the Gold- en Rule his motto.

WILLIAM HENRY NOBLE. One of the respected residents of Marshfield, Coos county, is William Henry Noble, now living somewhat re- tired from the activities of business in his finely located and pleasant home in that city. He has spent a useful and busy life, and by his industry, thrift, prudent management and wise investments has acquired a considerable estate, owning valu- able property in both town and country. A son of Curtis Noble, he was born April 26, 1844, in Arkansas, near Little Rock.

A native of the Empire State, Curtis Noble was there reared and educated. He subsequently lived in different parts of the Union, moving first to Tennessee, thence to Arkansas, in 1848 going to Jackson county, Mo., afterwards residing in both Henry and Bates counties, of that state. Possessing natural mechanical ability, he turned his hand to almost anything, being a good car- penter, a fine machinist, and for a number of sea- sons was employed in agricultural pursuits. Not liking Missouri well enough to make it his per- manent abiding place, with his family he crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1852, and spent the first year thereafter in Jacksonville, Ore. Com- ing to Coos county October 3. 1853, he was one of a company of forty men who located Empire as a town site. Taking up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres at Coos City, he began the improvement of a farm, living on it until his death, in the spring of 1857, at the age of sixty-seven years. He served in the Indian war of 1855 and 1856 under Captain Harris, guarding his own house, at Jacksonville, from the attacks of the Indians. His first wife died in early womanhood, leaving no children. His sec- ond wife bore him nine children, one of whom, Katherine, now deceased, was the first white giri married in Empire. He married for his third wife, in Tennessee, Margaret Harrison, who was horn in that state eighty years ago, and is now living in Empire, Coos county, where she is a large property owner. She has the distinction of being one of the first white women to locate in Empire, and of her eight children, Emma, now Mrs. Saunders, of Empire, was the first white child born in the town ; another daughter, Louisa, whose death occurred in 1854, was the first white child that died in this section of the county.

The second child of the parental household, William Henry Noble, obtained a very meager

education in the pioneer schools of Coos county. At the age of eleven years he began earning his own living, working at anything he could find to do. Going to Del Norte county, Cal., in 1862, he worked in the copper mines a year. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, First Oregon Cavalry, and was engaged in skirmishing and frontier fighting until his honorable discharge from the service, July 28, 1866. The following fifteen years Mr. Noble was employed in pile driving and wharf building in partnership with W. H. S. Hyde, the next ten years being engaged in log- ging on his own account. Since 1901 he has lived somewhat retired, in Marshfield, although he does some contracting, the remainder of his time being devoted to the care of his personal property and his real estate. In Marshfield he owns seven or eight good building lots, and has four fine residences which he rents, from these deriving a good income. He also owns a valu- able ranch of thirteen hundred acres of bottom and hill land, lying about twenty miles north of the city.

Mr. Noble was married, in Oregon, to Mary E. Rhodes, a native of this state, and they are the parents of seven children, namely : Harrison C., Nellie B., wife of Frank Bowern, a ranchman of Coos county; Herbert, Charles, William H., Claude and Frank A. Politically Mr. Noble is a tried and true Democrat, and quite active in local affairs. For seven years he served as city marshal of Marshfield and for a number of terms was school director, serving in the country dis- tricts.

MRS. MARY MINERVA (HILL) DUNN, of Ashland, is the widow of the late Patrick Dunn, a pioneer of prominence, and a much es- teemed citizen, whose death, July 29, 1901, was a cause of general regret. A daughter of Isaac Hill. Mrs. Dunn was born in Sweetwater, Mon- roe county, Tenn. She comes of Revolutionary stock, her great-grandfather, Abner Hill, who was of English ancestry, having served as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Her grand- father, Joab Hill, a native of Virginia, was colo- nel of a regiment in the war of 1812, and after- wards settled in Tennessee, where he owned and managed a large plantation. Going from there to Missouri, he located near the town of Athens, and there spent his remaining days.

Born and rcared in old Virginia, Isaac Hill moved with his parents to eastern Tennessee, later going to Missouri, residing there about a year. Rcmoving from there to Iowa, his home was near Dubuque for about two years. Subse- quently, with a brother from Missouri, and his mother, he came with ox-teams across the plains to Oregon, arriving in Clatsop county, Ore., in

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the fall of 1849. The following winter he built a mill on Clatsop plains, which he operated for a few months. Crossing the mountains to Cali- fornia in the spring of 1850, he was engaged in mining in Yreka and Humburg, remaining in Sis- kiyou county about one year. Starting east for his family in 1851, he went through the Rogue River valley, where he was attracted by a fer- tile tract of land that he decided to take up at a later time, but when he returned to the valley he found it had been taken by Patrick Dunn, whom his daughter afterwards married. Leaving Ten- nessee with his family February 14, 1852, Mr. Hill procceded by water to Alexander, Mo., and thence to near to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he pur- chased a traveling outfit, including three wagons, and about fifteen yoke of oxen. Subsequently buying one hundred head of cattle in Iowa, he started across the plains April 14. 1852, for Ore- gon, taking the old Oregon trail. With great foresight he had previously secured from an em- inent physician of St. Louis a medicine chest, and a prescription for cholera, which proved so effectual in curing incipient cases of the dread disease on the journey that he was called by the company Dr. Hill. Arriving in Marion county October 14. he spent the winter in Salem and in the spring of 1853 came to the Rogue River val- ley by the Indian trail. Taking up a donation claim, he improved a farm, and embarked in the dairy business. During the first stimmer, he milked forty cows, made cheese and butter, re- ceiving for the latter $1 a pound, while salt sold in 1851 and 1852, for $16 a pound. During the Indian war that followed, he served as captain of a company, and was twice obliged to keep his family at Fort Wagner, the refuge of the set- tlers at that time whenever the Indians became hostile. He had a large ranch of six hundred and forty acres, and was actively engaged in its management until his death, from cholera, in 1864. He was the first man in the Rogue River valley to raise tobacco. On his original claim is located the Hill Soda spring, and the Hill Butte. He was a Democrat in politics, served as justice of the peace many years, and was a member of the Baptist Church.

Mr. Jill inarried Elizabeth Fine, who was born on the French Broad river, in North Caro- lina, September 11, 1806, and died in Ashland, Ore., at the age of seventy-three years. She was a daughter of John and Mary ( Lee) Fine, and a consin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee were natives of Virginia, and Mr. Lce was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. 1 lill became the parents of six children, namely : 1.a Grande, who came to California with the forty-niners, and died, in 1886, in Ashland, Ore. ; John, who was accidentally drowned in the Mis- souri river, at Omaha, in 1852; Cicero, a mer-

chant, who died in December, 1902, in Portland ; Mrs. Martha Gillette, of Ashland ; Mary Minerva, now Mrs. Dunn; and Mrs. Ann Haseltine Rus- sell, of Ashland.

February 23, 1854, on the Isaac Hill donation claim Mary M. Hill was. united in marriage with Patrick Dunn, one of the early settlers of Ash- land. Born in County Wexford, Ireland, March 24, 1824. Mr. Dunn came with his parents to America, and was educated in Philadelphia, Pa. His parents, Patrick Sr., and Jane ( Toole) Dunn, removed with their seven children, of whom Pat- rick was the youngest child, from Philadelphia to Illinois, and settled on a farm near Edwardsville, where both spent their remaining years. In 1850 Patrick Dunn, excited by the wonderful stories regarding the gold discovery in California, start- ed for the Pacific coast. Joining the miners on the Salmon river, he nearly lost his life from starva- tion and exposure the following winter, the campers being snowed in, and for many weeks cut off from all supplies. As early in the spring as he could possibly get over the mountains, Mr. Dunn came to Oregon, locating in Jackson coun- ty. Taking up a donation claim of four hundred and eighty acres, about four miles south of Ash- land. he improved one of the finest and most pro- ductive farms in this part of the state. With his neighbors he took part in the Rogue River In- dian wars, and on one occasion while going with a party to interview a few Indians commanded by Sambo, of "Old Jo's" band, in order to make a treaty if possible, he received a severe wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. Mr. Dunn was very successful in his business operations, acquiring a handsome property. In addition to his home ranch, he also owned five hundred acres of land just above his homestead, and had a large interest in the Jack- son County Land Company, and he also owned an extensive ranch near Lakeview.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dunn five chil- dren were born, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Van Sant, of Ashland: Mrs. Amy Willetts, whose death occurred in Jackson county in 1883; Ottil- la, wife of Stewart Caldwell, of Ashland ; George W., living on the home farm; and Mrs. Ella D. Rice, of Asliland. Politically Mr. Dunn was a steadfast Republican, and filled many places of responsibility and trust with credit to himself, and to the honor of his constituents. In 1854 and 1855 he was a representative to the territorial leg- islature ; in 1864 he was county assessor ; in 1872 he was elected county clerk ; and he also served as county commissioner. Fraternally he was a Ma- son, belonging to the Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter. He was buried in the Ashland cemetery with Masonic honors, the services at the grave being conducted by Ashland Lodge, of which he was a member. Mrs. Dunn belongs to

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the Jackson County Pioneer Association, and the Oregon Pioneer Association, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Like her husband, she is a strong advocate of the principles of the Re- publiean party.

ALONZO F. BROWN. It is with pleasure that we introduce to our readers this gentleman, who has the distinction of having laid out the town of Oakland, Ore., and is without a doubt the most extensive landowner in that locality, as he owns about six thousand acres. He owns the Cooper ranch of nine hundred acres, and another near it of four hundred and thirty-four acres. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres on Ca- lapooia creek, five hundred and seventy-six acres along the Umpqua river, nearly six hundred acres near Elkton, four hundred and eight acres five miles north of Oakland, seven hundred and fifty- five acres east of Oakland, and another ranch of nine hundred and thirty-seven acres. He raises horses, cattle and sheep on a large scale, and rents out a great deal of his land.

Mr. Brown is a native of New Hampshire, and at the early age of fourteen years he started out .to make his way in the world, and the only extra clothing he possessed was in a pocket-handker- chief. Going to Boston he found employment in a private club for about six months, afterward commencing work in a boot and shoe store, carry- ing bundles and selling goods. The first year he received $1.50 per week, and waited on the table to pay for his board ; the second year he received $3 per week ; and the third year $5 per week. He then went into a men's furnishing store in the same city and before the year was out he was taken in as a partner, on the credit plan, but after trying that one year, he sold out. He subse- quently assisted his brother for a time in New York city, and then went to Saratoga Springs and again engaged in the men's furnishing and tailor- ing business, which occupied his attention until the spring of 1859. He then came overland to Oregon, and the first year of his residence here he farmed on shares with his brother, H. G. Brown, near Elkton. He then located in Rose- burg for a short time and then turned his atten- tion to farming. He rented a ranch of six hun- dred and forty acres near Roseburg, and carried on farming and stock-raising for two seasons, but the severe winter of 1861-2 reduced his stock to one cow, and caused him to quit ranching. The following year he went into the mines at Flor- ence, making the trip overland in a buggy : from the latter place he proceeded to Florence, Idaho, and worked in the mines for $to per day. A lit- tle later. in company with D. W. Stearns. now of Oakland. he invested in a pack-train and took mining supplies into the mines for several years.

Returning to Douglas county he then purchased about four hundred acres of land, two miles southwest of Oakland, and upon this he lived three years prior to returning to Idaho, where for two years he conducted a store at Elk City. In 1871, when the railroad was built, Mr. Brown saw a chance of making a fine investment. He purchased seven hundred and thirty-six acres for a town site and laid out the town of Oakland, realizing an enormous profit on the sale of town lots. He is, therefore, the founder of that city. From 1872 to 1874 he was railroad agent at Oakland, and in the spring of 1875 he purchased the genral store of Sol. Abrams and carried on a successful business there for eighteen years.

Mr. Brown has been married twice. His first marriage took place in 1854 and Ada M. Lam- kin, of Boston, became his wife. This marriage resulted in the birth of six children : Minnie, who died at fifteen years of age; Edgar L., who died aged three; Frederick A., of Los Angeles, Cal .; William H., a rancher of Douglas county ; Charles, a stockman, also of Douglas county ; and Joseph H., a druggist in San Francisco. The mother of these children died in May, 1888, and some time afterward Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Addie E. Smith. One child was born of this union, but it died in infancy.

Mr. Brown is unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, and at one time he was mayor of Oakland, having also been recorder and a member of the school board for a number of years. In his religious belief he is allied with the Presbyterians, being at present writing an elder in the church of that denomination, having fillca that office for twenty years. In 1866 he became a Mason and has affiliated with that order ever since, being now a Royal Arch Mason of Rose- burg Chapter. At the present time Mr. Brown devotes his entire time to looking after his own business interests. In addition to his ranches he has ten tenement houses in Oakland.

JASPER N. RINEHART is a highly es- teemed citizen of Ashland, Jackson county, and stands foremost among the successful ag- riculturists and stockmen of his section. At the present writing he is acceptably filling the position of city councilman from the third ward, but is otherwise living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of his early industry. The Rinehart family is of German descent and originally came from England to America. The progenitors of the family in this country were three brothers, one of whom was the grandfather of Jasper N. These brothers set- tled in Philadelphia, where Mr. Rinehart's grandfather followed the shoemaker's trade. The other two brothers were able-bodied men

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and as such they took up the defense of our country in her war for freedom. Their fate is unknown, but it is supposed they perished in the Revolutionary war. The grandfather afterward moved to Tennessee and located on a farm near Memphis, where Lewis Rinehart was reared, although a Pennsylvanian by birth.

Jasper N. Rinehart was born November 20, 1848, near Oskaloosa, Iowa, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Ellis) Rinehart, whose marriage took place in Tennessee. Shortly afterward, they removed to Illinois, but later located near Oskaloosa, Iowa, and were among the carly settlers of that place. In 1854 they started across the plains in wagons drawn by oxen, six months later landing near Eugene, Lane county, and soon afterward purchased a farm in that vicinity. In 1870 they moved into Union county, buying land near Summerville, where they spent their declining years. The father passed to his final rest in 1881, aged eighty years. The beloved mother survived him for many years and died when she had at- tained to the age of ninety-four years. Both parents were consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, and were es- teemed for their sterling qualities. Their fam- ily consisted of eight sons and five daughters, as follows: John, who died in Union county ; Mrs. Polly Ann Ratliff, who died in Iowa; Mrs. Barbara Edwards, who died in Lane county ; George, a stockman in Gilliam county ; Mrs. Louisa Duncan, who died in Lake county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Jasper, who died in Union county ; J. H., an ex-member of the legislature and successful miller and banker of Union county ; F. M., a stockman of Gilliam county ; Henry, an ex-member of the legisla- ture, now a stockman of Union county ; L. B., who is also engaged in the stock business, in Yakima, Wash., and is an ex-state senator; W. E., a stockman of Idaho; J. N., the subject of this narrative; and Sarah, who is married and lives in Gilliam county.

Jasper N. Rinehart was reared to farm life and his carly mental training was obtained through attendance at the district schools. In 1854 he accompanied his parents to Oregon, and completed his education in the Eugene schools. In 1870 he went into Union county and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of wild and undeveloped land. After plowing his land he hauled rails ten miles to fence it in, and engaged in raising wheat and other cereals. He followed this line of work for a period of thirty years and was very successful. In 1900 he sold this farm in Union county and purchased a fine place on Fairview street in Ashland, which is still his home. Upon this

he built his present fine residence, which is surrounded by ample grounds of about an acre and a half. However, he still owns a ranch, twelve miles east of Ashland, on Dead Indian road, where his son George carries on cattle- raising.

Mr. Rinehart chose for his wife Catherine Neville, and their marriage being solemnized at the home of the bride in Union county. Mrs. Rinehart is a native of Iowa, and was born in Wapello county, a daughter of E. T. and P. J. (McGuire) Neville. Mr. Neville set- tled in Union county, Ore., in 1871, following farming and stock-raising, and served one term as county commissioner. Three children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart. Edward, the eldest, was accidentally drowned when a youth of sixteen years; George, pre- viously mentioned, conducts his father's ranch ; and Stella is at home with her parents. The family worship at the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, of which they are members and in which Mr. Rinehart is serving as trus- tee and steward. In politics he is a pro- nounced Prohibitionist and believes intemper- ance to be the greatest evil in our fair land.

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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 91

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