Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 97

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 97

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Brought up in Missouri, and educated in the public schools, Frank Heberlie remained beneath the parental roof-tree until fifteen years old, when he began business for himself. Acquiring a good knowledge of the carpenter's trade, he followed that occupation in Missouri until 1891, when he came westward in search of more advantageous opportunities for hettering his financial condi- tion. Locating in Chico, Cal., he was engaged in carpentering and building in that city for two years. Embarking in business for himself in 1893, Mr. Heberlie established the Chico Steam Laundry, which he conducted with profit for three years. Selling out in 1896, he located in Ashland, and three years later, in 1899, opened his present establishment, the Ashland Steam Laundry, which he has since managed in a man- ner highly creditable to himself, and to the emi- nent satisfaction of his numerous patrons. Be- ginning work on a modest scale, he has twice been forced to enlarge his quarters, and has now one of the finest and most modernly equipped plants of the kind in this section of the county. His building is now 72x52 feet, and is furnished with a steam engine, a large boiler, and all the neces- sary machinery and implements for the handling of fine laundry work. He has built up a fine business, his patronage extending southward as far as Sisson, Cal., and as far north as Med- ford, Ore. In the filling of his orders, Mr. Heb- erlie employs ten hands, and his delivery wagon is one of the best and most attractive in the city.

In Missouri, in 1896, Mr. Heberlie married Josie Cheesbrough, a native of Ste. Genevieve county, Mo., and they have one child, Bernard Heberlie. Mr. Heberlie is a charter member of the Oregon and Washington Interstate Associa- tion of Laundrymen, and is a member, and the master, of Ashland Lodge No. 45, I. O. O. F.

EDWARD LISTER. The family of which Edward Lister is a representative in former years owned large estates in the north of Ire- land. His father, William, who was born there, was the son of an extensive land owner and large linen manufacturer, but on being left an orphan came to America and never

Mf d. Sturges and wife

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afterward claimed his heritage in the old coun- try. Settling in the Province of Quebec, Can- ada, he improved land and became the owner of three valuable farms at Lakefield, where he is still making his home, at the age (1903) of eighty-eight years. In religion he is a believer in the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church. For a wife he chose Mary Ann Bat- tie, who was born on the ocean, in American waters, while the family were crossing from the north of Ireland to Canada. Her father, Edward Battie, was a farmer and followed that occupation in Argenteuil county, Quebec.

In a family of nine children, five of whom are living, Edward Lister is the oldest sur- vivor. He was born in Argenteuil county, Que- bec, Canada, March 22, 1847, and remained on the home farm until he was fifteen, when he went to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and drilled for a year. Later he served in the British army during the Fenian raid and a few years ago, in recognition of his faithful service at that time, he was awarded a medal. After an ex- perience of two winters in the lumber woods of New Hampshire he decided to remain in the United States and proceeded as far west as Michigan, where he remained during one winter. In 1865 he went to Carson City, Nev., and engaged in contract lumbering, acting as foreman for eleven summers.

On coming to Oregon in 1877 Mr. Lister took up a homestead in Josephine county four miles south of the present site of Grants Pass, which at that time did not boast of a single house. Seven and one-half years were spent on the farm, when he sold the property and bought eighty acres north of Grants Pass. From that place he moved into Grants Pass in 1888 and bought a one-half interest in a livery business. A year later he bought out his partner and took into partnership J. L. Calvert, with whom he continued for fourteen years, but in 1903 purchased Mr. Calvert's interest and has since conducted the business alone. In addition he has been interested in placer and quartz mining. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and in religion is a Methodist. The Republican party and its candidates receive his stanch allegiance. As the representative of the south ward he served for one term in the city council. In 1898 he was his party's choice for county sheriff and in the election received a majority of three hundred and sixty. The duties of the position were so ably and intelligently discharged that in 1900 he was re-elected by a majority of four hundred and sixty. On the expiration of his second term, in July of 1902, he was solicited to ac- cept a third nomination, but declined. His

marriage took place in Alpine county, Cal., and united him with Miss Clara A. Jacobs, a native of Indiana. Two sons were born of their union, namely: Ernest H., who held the position of deputy county sheriff for six years ; and Arthur W., a student in the College of Dental Surgery at Portland, where he is a member of the class of 1904.

MELVIN DEWITT STURGESS is a pioneer of pioneers who came to the coast in 1847, and has passed through about all of the experiences common to the settlers in the early days. Blessed with a stout heart, willing hands and a determin- ation to succeed, he has availed himself of what- ever opportunities presented themselves and since 1859 has been located on his present farm on Applegate creek, onc of the finest properties in that part of Jackson county. Mr. Sturgess was born on a farm in Allegany county, N. Y., De- cember 15, 1825, and though seventy-eight years old, gives every evidence of many more years of activity. In 1837 he accompanied his parents to Stark county, Ill., and when eighteen years old removed to Bureau county, the same state, where he earned $6 a month and board as a farm hand. During the winter season he applied him- self to cutting cord wood, receiving fifty cents a cord, or seventy-five cents per hundred. Notwith- standing these meagre wages he managed to save money, and after crossing the plains in the spring of 1847 he had some means with which to start life anew in a new country.

Mr. Sturgess secured the position of driver with the ox train in which he reached the coast, and on the way met with many interesting ex- periences. Dangers multiplied as they gained the heart of the Indian country, but they escaped serious difficulty with Indians, good health also being the portion of the majority of the travelers. Arriving at The Dalles, they left their wagons, and Mr. Sturgess helped drive the cattle across to Vancouver, in the meantime subsisting on roasted potatoes without salt. Arriving in Polk county December 2, 1847, he soon afterward took up a claim of three hundred and twenty acres two and a half miles southeast of Dallas, where he erected a hewed log house of one room, living therein until the spring of 1849. Rumors of gold in California penetrated this sparsely settled country, and in 1849 he became one of a party of eighteen men to outfit with wagons and a year's provisions for the journey across the mountains. Upon starting out the party camped upon the present site of Jacksonville, and upon reaching California mined on the Yuba and Feather rivers until the follow- ing September. Owing to failing health Mr. Sturgess then returned to Oregon, coming from

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San Francisco to Astoria in a sailing vessel, the trip occupying six weeks. That winter he en- gaged in running a boat from Astoria to Port- land, and in the spring of 1850 returned to his ranch in Polk county, where he lived until 1857. For the following two years he ran a general store at Wilbur, Douglas county, later managed a hotel for a time, and in 1859 took up his present farm, which was a squatter's claim. At the pres- ent time he owns one hundred and five acres of land and is engaged principally in general farm- ing and sheep-raising. His farm is well supplied with improvements, and its owner has kept pace with the times, adopting such innovations as ap- peal to his practical common sense and good judg- ment.

In March, 1849, Mr. Sturgess married Eliza Burbank, of which union three children were born, of whom Alonzo L. lives in Klamath coun- ty; Wallace is in San Francisco; and Emma is deceased. Mrs. Sturgess died in January, 1861, and in October, 1865, Mr. Sturgess married El- mira McKee, who was born in Missouri, and crossed the plains in 1860. Of his second mar- riage there were three children: Orvilla D., of Grants Pass; De Witt, living at Steamboat Springs, Nev. ; and Oscar L., who died at the age of sixteen.

ALEXANDER BREMNER. Of Scotch- Irish ancestry, Mr. Bremner inherited indus- trious qualities and upright principles, and as a skilled mechanic he has attained a reputation for thorough and excellent work. Especially is this the case since taking up his residence in Astoria, Ore., in 1885. He assisted in or- ganizing the Pacific Iron Works in 1900, a firm which does a successful business in that locality, and of which he is secretary. This plant is equipped with the latest and best im- proved machinery, such as trip-hammers, planing lathes, etc., and is operated by elec- tricity. All kinds of blacksmithing are done by this firm, who make a specialty of logging- camp work. Although so recently incorpor- ated, their trade reaches over a wide expanse of territory and present prospects point to a still greater expansion of the business.

A native of Huron county, Canada, born May 13, 1862, Mr. Bremner is a son of Andrew and Jane (Patterson) Bremner, the former a native of the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and the latter born in the northern part of Ireland. Both parents are still living, well advanced in years, but hale and hearty. The father came to America when nineteen years old, took up his residence on new and unimproved land in Canada, where he improved a farm and has continued to follow agricultural pursuits ever

since, being now over eighty years old. In their religious convictions the parents are firm believers in the Presbyterian faith, and of the seven children born to them, six are now liv- ing, Alexander and James being the only ones to settle in the United States. Reared as he was on his father's farm in Canada, young Bremner strove to obtain an education by dili- gently attending the common schools. When he had reached the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade in Listowell, serving a four years' apprentice- ship. He then secured employment at his chosen occupation in Saginaw, Mich., and in the logging camps and cities thereabouts for several years, but finally returned for a time to his Canadian home. Building a blacksmith shop in proximity to the Canadian Pacific workshops, he made a specialty of logging work, and at that time only a trail existed there. About 1885 Mr. Bremner located in Astoria, Ore., and, in partnership with Mr. Freeman, he built a blacksmith and wagon- shop on Twelfth and Duane streets, and for a number of years carried on a profitable busi- ness from that stand. Being a man of progres- sive ideas, he readily adopted new plans which promised any real advance in his business, which increased to such an extent that the old stand was not commodious enough, and was sold. Soon afterward Mr. Bremner be- came associated with H. C. Harrison and the Pacific Iron Works was the result of their combined efforts.

The marriage of Mr. Bremner took place near his old home in Canada and Miss Laura Barker, formerly of Ontario, was the lady of his choice. Their beautiful residence on the hill in Astoria is located in one of the most attractive spots in the city, and the family worship at the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political attachments Mr. Bremner is a Republican, but does not allow politics to in- terfere with business. He affiliates with but one secret society, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, a beneficiary organization.

MARSHALL WINCHESTER SIMPSON. A fine example of the sturdy, energetic and per- severing pioneer settlers of Oregon, Marshall W. Simpson, of Elk City, has been an important fac- tor in developing and advancing the agricultural, industrial and mining interests of Lincoln county. A man of great natural ability, business energy and skill, he has been a promoter of many bene- ficial enterprises, and by his well directed efforts has acquired a fine property, being a large land- holder, an extensive stock-raiser and a share-

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holder in different mines in this and other locali- ties. A native of Arkansas, he was born July 13, 1838, a son of Isaac M. Simpson, who was born in Georgia, January 4, 1813, and spent a few years of his earlier life in Tennessee, moving thence to a farm in Lawrence county, Ark., in 1844 going into the mountainous districts. Starting across the plains with ox-teams in April, 1845, he arrived in Polk county, Ore., in November of that year. Taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres on the Luckiamute river, he improved a valuable home- stead, on which he spent his remaining years, passing away July 11, 1887. He married Martha Jackson, who was born eighty-eight years ago, in 1815, in Tennessee, grew to womanhood in Alabama, and now resides on the home farm, in Polk county, Ore. Of the four children born of their union, three are living, namely : Marshall W., the special subject of this brief sketch; Mrs. Eliza Loughary, of Polk county ; and Isaac, also a resident of Polk county.

Educated in the common schools of Polk county, Marshall W. Simpson was reared to agricultural pursuits on the parental homestead, which he helped clear and improve. Of this early home he has three pictures, which are among his most cherished possessions. In the first one, taken in 1846, stands the old log cabin in which the family first lived, and in the door- way his mother is standing. Another picture, taken in 1860, shows the frame house, which replaced the pioneer log structure, and the other picture is a representation of the present sub- stantial and commodious farm house and its en- vironments. Being presented, at the age of twenty-one years, with four hundred acres of land in Polk county, the gift of his father, Mr. Simpson was there engaged in general farming for seven or eight years. Removing to Yaquina in 1866, he purchased a feed stable and hotel, both of which he managed successfully for a quarter of a century, at the same time having charge of the postoffice. On squaring up ac- counts with the latter department he had ten cents coming to him, and the check which he received for this amount he still holds. Mr. Simpson has since been actively engaged in stock-raising, and owns five hundred acres of land adjoining and including the town site of Elk City. Recently he has been prospecting for coal on his land, with fair prospects for success in the operation, the vein, which is within one hundred feet of Yaquina bay, extending along the railway track, being from five to ten feet in thickness, and evidently rich in mineral prop- erties. He also has mining interests in northern California, owning shares in the Monmouth Ledge gold mine, which a company is now de- veloping, and, with a partner, has mines on

Buxton creek, at Cape Nome, Alaska. As a stock-raiser, he keeps about forty head of cattle, ninety goats, and large numbers of hogs, being one of the large and successful agriculturists of his community.

In Polk county, Ore., in 1859, Mr. Simpson married Joicey A. Bevens, who was born in De- Kalb county, Mo., and crossed the plains, in 1854, with her father, H. J. Bevens, a pioneer farmer, who located first in Polk county, and then in Yaquina, where he spent his declining years. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Simpson seven children have been born, namely: Hettie; Marcus B., deceased; O. C., deceased; Oliver, deceased; Arthur, deceased; William E. and Francis. Mr. Simpson was one of the active participants in the Cayuse Indian war, serving one hundred and forty days, in 1856, being sta- tioned in Washington, and taking part in the battles in Grande Ronde valley, and at Walla Walla, where he and his comrades, one hundred in number, fought fourteen hundred Indians. Politically Mr. Simpson is a Democrat, and has served as school director, and as road supervisor. He is a famous fisherman, and a most noted hunter, an expert in the use of rod and gun.

CAPT. FRANK B. HAMLIN. Among the prominent citizens of Douglas county men- tion is due Capt. F. B. Hamlin, of Roseburg, who is now serving as superintendent of the public schools of Douglas county. Patriotic and public spirited, he served with bravery and distinction in the Spanish-American war, be- ing a faithful and efficient officer of the regi- ment with which he was connected. He was born November 5, 1868, in McPherson, Madi- son county, lowa, a son of John Hamlin, and a descendant of one of the early colonial fam- ilies of New England, the immigrant ancestor of that branch of the Hamlin family to which he belongs having emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1630. His paternal grand- father, Simeon Hamlin, removed to Ohio at an early day, and was afterward a pioneer settler of Iowa.

A native of Ohio, John Hamlin removed with his parents to Iowa, settling in Madison county. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years and three months, being sergeant of his company. Removing to Labette county, Kans., in 1869, he settled near Oswego, where he resided until 1876. About this time the family removed to San Luis Obispo county, Cal., settling upon a ranch known as "The Huesna," where Mr. Hamlin engaged in stock-raising for four years. Later he removed to the city of San

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Luis Obispo, and there engaged in the practice of law until 1889, when he located at Rose- burg, Ore., where he continued in legal prac- tice until 1902. Retiring then from his profes- sional labors, he has since lived on his farm, which is located about a mile from Roseburg. Although he is keenly alive to the issues of the day, he has never taken an active part in polit- ical matters, but while a resident of Kansas, California and Oregon served as justice of the peace. He married Mahala J. Thompson, who was born in 1846, in Ohio, a daughter of Edmund B. Thompson, an early settler of Iowa. Four children have been born of their union, namely : Frank B., the subject of this review ; Mrs. Emma E. Richards, a teacher in the Port- land schools; Simeon Edmund, a farmer and stockman, living near Roseburg; and Jay L., of Roseburg.

Removing from Kansas to California with his parents in 1876, Captain Hamlin received his early education in the schools of San Luis Obispo, being graduated from the high school of that city in 1887. The ensuing two years he taught school in that locality. Coming to Douglas county, Ore., in December, 1889, he taught one term in the Oakcreek district, after which he spent a year as a teacher in Looking Glass valley. The following four years he served as principal of the Wilbur schools, and then accepted the principalship of the schools of Roseburg, a position that he re- signed when he went to the Philippine Islands. Always interested in military affairs, Profes- sor Hamlin enlisted, June 15, 1893, as a private in Company A, Second Regiment Oregon National Guard, being a charter member of the company. From the ranks in 1895 he was elected captain of his company. Receiving his commission from Governor Lord he faith- fully maintained the dignity of his rank until the breaking out of the Spanish-American war in 1898. Subsequently he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company B, Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry, and went with his regi- ment to the Philippine Islands, where he made an excellent record for bravery and fidelity as a soldier. At the battle of Malabon he was appointed battalion adjutant to succeed Lieu- tenant Brazee, who was wounded in that en- gagement, and subsequently served on the staff of Major Percy Willis, with the rank of lientenant. He was later appointed to serve as regimental adjutant, which position he filled until the return of the regiment to Ma- nila. During the regiment's last expedition in the Philippines Captain Hamlin was again battalion adjutant, and served under Major Willis until mustered out of service, August 7, 1899.

When he left Roseburg for the Philippine Islands Captain Hamlin was the Republican nominee for county superintendent of schools, and on election day, while he was at Honolulu, he was one of the two candidates on the Re- publican ticket to be elected. Not able to qual- ify, however, he did not serve in the office. On returning to Roseburg he resumed his professional work, teaching in the South Deer creek district. In 1900 he was again the Re- publican nominee for county superintendent of schools, and being elected, by a majority of four hundred votes for a term of four years, assumed the responsibilities of the office in August, 1900, and has since performed the duties devolving upon him with fidelity and success. Marked improvements in educational methods are apparent, and Douglas county has the distinction of being one of the three coun- ties that have introduced the district library system into their schools. Captain Hamlin has one hundred and thirty-four schools under his supervision, scattered over a territory of five thousand square miles.

In Looking Glass Captain Hamlin was united in marriage with Miss Cressida Will- iams, who was born in that town, a daughter of Peter Williams, an early settler of that place. The Captain and Mrs. Hamlin are the parents of two children: Virgil L. and John Nellis. Politically Captain Hamlin is a stanch Republican, ever true to the interests of his party and the people. Fraternally he is a mem- ber and manager of the Woodmen of the World; a member and regent of the Royal Arcanum; and a member and past master artisan of the United Artisans. He is also a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans, belonging to the Percy Willis Camp, of which he was the first commander.

OLIVER BURSELL. Handicapped at the outset of his career in America by an utter igno- rance of the language or customs of the country, and by the absence of the wherewithal to smooth his way until getting a fair start in the business world, Oliver Bursell has forged his way to the front with the ablest of his Swedish country- men, and is leading a life of comfort and useful- ness on his fine farm near Central Point. This enterprising farmer and stock-raiser was born in Thedalles, Sweden, May 13, 1844, and comes of a long-lived ancestry, his forefathers having de- veloped strong constitutions through tilling the soil and leading frugal, self-denying lives. His father lived to be eighty and his mother eighty- four years old, and the parents devoted their energies to farming, rearing their family of children in ways of usefulness and honor.

Eli K. anderson

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All his life long Mr. Bursell has been a stu- dent, and in earlier years improved every oppor- tunity to broaden his knowledge that he might make a successful teacher. He left the home farm at the age of nineteen and taught until his twenty-fourth year, and March 1, 1868, married Sarah E. Johnson, a country woman born in the vicinity of his father's farm. The young peo- ple at once began to make plans for emigration to the United States, and finally embarked with their worldly possessions on a sailing vessel, reaching New York city July 4, 1868. Mr. Bur- sell at first lived in Rock Island, Ill., and found employment in a saw-mill. He was sadly in need of the position, for he reached Illinois with just $4 in his pocket, and without knowing the meaning of more than half a dozen English words. After leaving the saw-mill he worked on a farm near Rock Island for three years, and in 1873 removed to Nebraska, of which he had heard much, but where he failed to realize his expectations. In 1874 he engaged at the carpen- ter's trade, and liked it so well that he devoted nine years of his life to fine cabinet and general building work.

Upon arriving in Oregon in the spring of 1883 Mr. Bursell worked at his trade about four months in Portland, and the same year came to the Rogue River valley, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land, devoting it to general farming and stock-raising. He made practically all of the improvements on his land, made of it a paying investment, and disposed of it in 1898 with gratifying profit. The same year he purchased his present farm of three hun- dred acres five miles northwest of Medford, and which was formerly known as the Chambers do- nation claim. The farm already showed evi- dences of industry and good management, but Mr. Bursell has found it to his advantage to re- model the buildings of his predecessor and to build a modern barn 52x60 feet in dimensions. At the present time he owns five hundred acres of land in this vicinity, four hundred and forty- five of which are under cultivation. Each year has proved better than the one before, and Mr. Bursell is more than satisfied with the lay of his land and with its productiveness. Last year his grain fields averaged forty-six bushels to the acre. His knowledge of carpentering has been of immense use to him in making the improve- ments on his place, and has necessarily lessened the expense attached to the changing of the character of the buildings. He is a mechanical genius, and many things which seem complicated to others are accomplished with comparative ease by this gemal knight of the saw and ham- mer.

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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 97

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