Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 99

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 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ty and bought one hundred and sixty acres of government land adjoining Coquille on the south- east, and continued to make that his home until his death, in 1900. He was a man of leading characteristics, and was prominent and popular in his neighborhood.

Twelve years of age when he came to Oregon, Joseph Allen Collier had already received a fair common school education in the public schools of lowa, having attended three months each winter for four years. In Oregon he worked on a ranch and in the woods until 1882, and during these well remembered and happy years he gained his reputation as a hunter of prowess and fearlessness. He was the second son and third child of ten in his father's family, and at a very early age was taught to look out for himself. In 1882 he started a general merchandise business in Coquille, and later bought out a hardware store, which was burned out in 1892, leaving him practically nothing with which to start again. At the time he engaged in ranching and carpen- ter work, the latter having been learned from his father, who was an expert in his line. At the present time he owns fifteen acres of land near town, where he has a comfortable home, a fine garden, and some stock, and he also owns sev- cral valuable town lots. Many buildings here- abouts have been constructed by him, and his work bears evidence of both skill and thorough- ness. From 1891 until 1895 he mined intermit- tently on Johnson creek, but he was not success- fil, and so has come to regard mining as at best problematical.

Mr. Collier has evidenced his public spirit in many ways, one of the most worthy being in con- nection with the organization of the Occidental Waterworks, the first in the history of Coquille. He has encouraged education, philanthropy, and general development, and is known as one of the most helpful and practical of the locality's up- builders. As a Democrat he has been president of the town council for many years, and has served as school director for many more. Fra- ternally he is a member of Chadwick Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A. M., of Coquille. Since settling in Coquille Mr. Collier married Amelia R. Robin- son, who was born in Hancock county, Ill., in 1849, and who died here in 1897. leaving a son, David, now living with his father.

WILLIAM TURPEN. There are compara- tively few men in the west who have spent thirty years in logging camps, yet such has been the experience of William Turpen, who finds gen- uine enjoyment in his work, and feels thorough- ly at home in his close association with the sen- tinels of the western forests. This well-known and successful manager of logging camps is a

715

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

native of Andrew county, Mo., and was born on a farm, November 29, 1837. For twenty-two years his life was uneventful as are the lives of the majority of farmer lads, and he devoted his time far more to hard work than to schooling or recreation. Yet in after years he developed an appreciation of education, and through his own efforts made up in large measure for the want of opportunity in his earlier days.

For several days the youth had listened to re- ports of gold and rich lands in the far west, and in 1859 the opportunity came to him to find out for himself how much truth lay in the stories which had charmed his lonely hours. Crossing the plains in an ox-train he had the usual ex- periences, but fortunately escaped illness or in- jury at the hands of the Indians. He worked during the winter on a ranch in Josephine coun- ty, Ore., and then went from Eugene, Ore., for John Bratton to Shasta county, Cal., with a drove of cattle, remaining here until 1862 employed on a cattle ranch. The following year found him at the John Day mines in Nevada, and in 1863 he began to work in the logging camps of Coos county, finally purchasing an interest in one of the large and paying camps. Since then he has known no business life save that of the occupa- tion which is one of the greatest resources of Oregon, and which has made fortunes for hun- dreds of men who were willing to work and save and hope.

In 1893 Mr. Turpen was elected justice of the peace at Empire, and since 1895 has served as recorder of this city. These offices came to him through the esteem in which he is held by his friends. He married in 1872, Alice Stokes, a native daughter of Forest Grove, Washington county, Ore., of which union there were born six children, three of whom are living. Laura is the wife of C. M. Byler of North Bend ; Alice is studying to be a trained nurse at St. Thomas Hospital, San Francisco, and William S. is en- gaged in the hotel business at North Bend. Ed- ward S., who died in the prime of life, was much respected and honored by all who knew him; he was bookkeeper for Mr. Simpson of North Bend. Mr. Turpen's political affiliations are with the Democratic party.

HON. STEPHEN M. NEALON. The trav- els of Mr. Nealon have taken him through many portions of the United States. Born in the east, trained to business life in the south, a traveler through many states during the period of his service in the Civil war, and a student of condi- tions in various parts of the Pacific coast region, he has since 1883 made Oregon his home and is an enthusiastic believer in the opportunities of- fered by this state to young men of industrious

habits and ambitious temperaments. During the year of his arrival in Oregon he purchased a ranch of two hundred acres at Table Rock, Jack- son county, and here he has since engaged in raising stock and general farm products. In ad- dition, for five years he held office as postmaster of Table Rock, and in 1895 was a member of the state legislature, to which he had been elected on the Populist ticket.

In Fairfield county, Conn., December 26, 1841, Mr. Nealon was born, and there the first fifteen years of his life were uneventfully passed on a farm. He then went to Atlanta, Ga., and be- came a clerk in his uncle's store there, remaining until May of 1862, when the progress of the Civil war and his own ardent northern sympa- thies rendered it advisable for him to return to his old home. During February, 1864, he en- listed as a private in Company H, Eighth Con- necticut Infantry, and was mustered into service at New Haven, whence he was ordered to Ports- mouth, Va., and assigned to the Eighteenth Army Corps. Among the engagements in which he participated were those at Walthall Junction, Fort Darling or Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Bermuda Hundred near the James river. From the 15th of June until September he participated in the siege of Petersburg, after which with his regiment he crossed the James river and attacked Fort Harrison in front of Richmond. With the very first of the troops they marched into Rich- mond, April 3. 1865, and saw the old Confeder- ate capital given into the hands of Federal sol- diers. A month later he was transferred to Lynchburg and engaged in patrol duty until Dc- cember 1, 1865, when he was mustered out at Hartford, Conn., as first sergeant of his com- pany. During the entire period of his service he was never wounded. Twice, however, he was captured by the enemy, both times being at Dru- ry's Bluff within one-half hour.

Shortly after his discharge from the army Mr. Nealon returned to Atlanta. His uncle, who had been a strong Union man, aroused the dislike of his neighbors by his outspoken sentiments, and was murdered in Atlanta. Under the service of the government Mr. Nealon acted as deputy revenue collector and assistant assessor of Geor- gia, in Macon, Savannah and Atlanta, continuing in that capacity until 1881, when he removed to St. Louis. A year was spent there in the mer- cantile business, after which another year was passed in the Santa Clara valley in California. where he thought of settling. However, not finding a suitable opening, he came on to Ore- gon and bought the ranch where he has since made his home. As might be expected of one who served so valiantly in the Union cause, he takes a deep interest in the Grand Army of the Republic and enjoys meeting with those who,

716

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

like himself, suffered the hardships of forced marches and sanguinary contests on southern battle-fields. At one time he was honored with the office of commander of the post at Central Point, of which he is still a leading member. During the twenty and more years of his resi- dence in Jackson county he has won the confi- dence of his associates and gained an influential position among the citizens of southern Oregon.

LUDVIG AGREN. Some men's lives are quietly passed among the peaceful environ- ments of their homes, while others meet with such thrilling experiences on land and sea that the record of their wanderings seems more like a startling romance than a true biography. Among those who have met with adventures and disasters in their eventful career, and whose travels have extended to all parts of the globe, is Ludvig Agren, a well-known resident of Alder Brook, a suburb of Astoria. A native of Sweden, he was born June 9, 1843, in Land- skrona, where his parents, Erick and Ce- cilia (Pearson) Agren, spent their entire lives. He is the youngest child in a family of five, of whom but one son and one daughter survive, and is the only one that ever came to America.

Reared and educated in his native town, Ludvig Agren was confirmed at the age of fif- teen years, and at once began life as a sailor, for a number of seasons being employed on a coasting vessel. In 1862 he began making ocean voyages, going then to London, from there to Fort Elizabeth, thence down the At- lantic coast, round Cape of Good Hope, through the Indian ocean to Algoa bay. On the return trip the vessel was disabled and put in at the Cape of Good Hope for repairs. From that port he sailed for New York City, where he left the ship, and made a trip to West Indies. July 12, 1864, Mr. Agren en- listed in the United States navy, and was first assigned to the receiving ship North Carolina, and afterward to the sloop Susquehanna. Be- ing taken ill while on the latter vessel he was sent to the Marine Hospital, Williamsport, and after his recovery was again assigned to the receiving ship. A short time later he was transferred to the man-of-war vessel, Talla- poosa, which was ordered to look out for block- ade runners between Fortress Monroe and Hal- ifax, Nova Scotia. The vessel becoming dis- abled, it was taken to the Boston navy yard for repairs, and then sent to Key West, Fla .. in search of blockade runners. Chasing up the rebel cruiser Stonewall into the Havana harbor, the vessel dared not leave its port, and rather than fall into the hands of the

Tallapoosa surrendered to the Spanish govern- ment.

Receiving his discharge from the' navy in December, 1865, in Galveston, Tex., he was for awhile employed in the construction of a railway near Houston, after which he lived first in Galveston, and then in New Orleans. He was subsequently engaged for a brief time in cutting staves on the Washita river, and then went to St. Louis, from there continuing northward to Chicago, Ill. After sailing on the lakes for two seasons Mr. Agren returned to New York City, and after making several business trips to the West Indies was engaged in the coasting trade until 1868. In the fall of that year he shipped on the vessel H. H. Taylor, which was heavily loaded with railroad iron, and sailed around Cape Horn for San Francisco, being five months on the way. From there Mr. Agren sailed on the Sumatra, via Honolulu, for China. Arriving at Hong- kong while the Franco-Prussian war was in progress, he left his vessel, and for eighteen months was engaged in the coasting trade, being on a German coaster. Subsequently shipping on the Montrosa, a Boston ship, he went to Manila, where, refusing to work on account of ill treatment, the entire crew were confined in jail, Mr. Agren remaining for four- teen days, when he was exchanged, and put on another vessel, the Golden Fleece, on which Mr. Agren sailed by way of Good Hope cape to New York City, where he was paid off. Shipping then on the barque Fannie, he made a voyage to Buenos Ayres, and then went on the schooner Harry Bluff to the West Indies on a trading trip. Going then on a barque to Florida, he left the vessel when he struck port, not even stopping to take his clothes, and sailed for Philadelphia, where he was stricken with chills and fever, and taken to a New York hospital for treatment.

After his recovery Mr. Agren made several voyages on the Atlantic, going to Port Royal with lumber, sailing the Spanish Main to Santiago de Cuba with a load of salt, and bringing back sugar to Philadelphia, and then going to Portland, Me. Subsequently sailing on the brig Helen M. Rowley, he started for Mobile, Ala., but on account of fever left the ship at Key West, and returned to New York. Going to Cleveland in 1873 he sailed on the lakes for awhile, and then returned to New York, and from there to New Orleans. Ship- ping there on board the Hattie N. Gove, he went to Spain, visiting the ports of Barcelona and Cadiz, and taking a cargo of salt to Glou- cester, Mass., where he was paid off. The following three years he was engaged in fish- ing off the Newfoundland banks. In. 1876 he

RF: lisaamy

719

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

took out naturalization papers in Boston, Mass.

Coming to San Francisco, Cal., in the spring of 1877, Mr. Agren made trips to Umpqua and to Coos bay, and was then for fourteen months second mate on the Orient, which ran between San Francisco and Portland, Ore. Taking passage on the Great Republic in the spring of 1879, the vessel was wrecked on the bar of the Columbia river, April 19, 1879, but all of the eleven hundred people on board were saved, coming ashore at Astoria. The follow- ing summer Mr. Agren was employed in fish- ing, and the next winter worked at Cascade Locks. Continuing as a fisherman for a num- ber of years, he became a stockholder in the Scandinavian Packing Company in 1882, and was afterward made one of the directors of the company, and at a still later period served for one year as president of the company, when, in 1898, it sold out to the combine, but Mr. Agren still retains stock in the organiza- tion. Later he became interested in salmon packing in Alaska and subsequently purchased stock in the Alaska Packing Association. He continued his fishing operations, in which he was very successful, until 1890, when he sold out his entire outfit, and is now living retired in Alder Brook.

In 1884, in Astoria, Mr. Agren married Maria Sophia Thompson, who was born in Aland, Finland, and came to Oregon in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Agren have two children, name- ly: Arthur L., and Victor J. Politically Mr. Agren is a Republican, and from January, 1899, until January, 1902, was a councilman, repre- senting the third ward of the city. Fraternally he is a member of Astoria Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Astoria Lodge, A. O. U. W. He be- longs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he is one of the trustees.

REUBEN F. MAURY. No name in Jackson county is more familiar to the students of its history than that of Reuben F. Maury, familiarly known as Colonel Maury. This pioneer of 1849 has won his success in the west, and as a mer- chant, miner, farmer, and all around promoter of peace and prosperity, commands the respect of all, and the good will of every one with whom he has had to do. Mr. Maury's life has been laid along practical and progressive lines, and at no time has the visionary or vague found placc in his plans or desires. He was born on a farm in Bath county, Ky., May 23, 1821, and the les- sons there learned have followed him through life and inspired him to do his best in whatever capacity he has been called upon to serve. His father, Mathew, was born in Albemarle county,

Va., November 25, 1777, and was of French descent, his ancestors being early settlers in the south. June 17, 1812, he married Susan P. Fry, also born in Virginia, and continued to make his home in Kentucky until his death, September 4, 1860. His wife died December 3, 1857.

Reuben F. Maury received his preliminary education in the public schools of the vicinity of Louisville, Ky., and when eighteen years old en- tered the postoffice at Louisville as a clerk, re- maining in that position for about nine years. In 1846 he enlisted as a private in Company A, First Kentucky Infantry, for service in the Mex- ican war. He served for one year and rose to the rank of second lieutenant, participating in the battle of Monterey. In the spring of 1849 he started with a party of young men from Louis- ville with ox-teams, his destination being the gold mines of California. Leaving Independ- ence, Mo., May 1, 1849, he reached the Sacra- mento valley, September I, the same year, and at once began to mine and prospect along the Am- erican river. Not feeling sufficient confidence in mining to depend upon it solely as a means of livelihood, he took up a claim in the Sacramento valley about three miles below Sacramento City in the fall of the same year, but sold the same in May, 1850, and returned to mining for about a year. He then started a freighting business from Sacramento to the mines, and in 1852 came to the Rogue River valley, Ore., and continued to freight with fair success. His course lay be- tween Scottsburg, Crescent City and the mines, and although he was successful in his undertak- ings, he sold out his business in 1854, and with Benjamin T. Davis engaged in a general mer- chandise business in Jacksonville. Disposing of the store in 1859, he assisted in organizing the First Oregon Volunteer Cavalry, of which he was appointed lieutenant colonel by President Lincoln, later being advanced to the rank of colonel. He served about four years in all, the duty of the regiment being to guard the settlers on the frontier. He was mustered out in Van- couver, and after returning to Jacksonville, en- gaged in mining for about nine years.

January 16, 1856, Mr. Maury married Eliza- beth Chambers, who was born in Ohio, the daugh- ter of Aaron Chambers, who crossed the plains in 1852, and took up the donation claim upon which Colonel Maury and his family now make their home. With his wife he moved to this farm in 1875, and at present owns one hundred and thirty-three acres of land. one of the most desirable properties in the county, upon which he has made many fine improvements. Colonel Maury has engaged for years in general farming and stock-raising, also in raising small fruits and vegetables. He is very successful, and is one of the most prominent and influential men in this

720

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

valley. Everything about him appeals to the sincere appreciation of his intelligent neighbors, and he represents all that is substantial, reliable and noble in character and attainment. He is a stanch Democrat, but has preferred rather to work for his friends than himself, steadily refus- ing most of the offices tendered him. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maury : Lawrence P., of Coquille City; Gillis M., of Crescent City ; Mary P., and Henry C., both at home; and Sallie M., the wife of J. Cowgili, of California. Mrs. Maury died in 1878. The Maury farm is one of the most hospitable in Jackson county, and thither come the hosts of friends which this genial and always entertaining host has gathered on his successful life journey.

WILLIAM H. BARKER. The canning of salmon is one of the chief industries of Oregon, where it has had a steady and natural growth for upwards of thirty years. It has developed into an immense business, and is carried on in a seemingly perfect manner, the various pack- ing companies having an unlimited capacity, regulated only by the supply of fish and the demands of the trade. One of the prime movers in the establishment of this great in- dustry was William H. Barker, of Astoria, junior member of the firm of George & Barker. When Mr. Barker came to Astoria, in the fall of 1872, but three small canneries were in existence on the coast. The first was the Wil- liam Hume cannery, at Eagle Cliff, the first factory erected on the Pacific coast ; the second was operated by George W. Hume, and the third one, the John West cannery, at West- port, was given up a number of years ago. In 1873, when Mr. Barker embarked in the business, the proprietors of the canneries owned both boats and nets, and hired men to fish, paying them from $40 to $50 per month. Later they paid nine cents per fish, afterwards giving thirteen and two-thirds cents a fish. Where the fishermen owned their own boats they received twenty cents apiece for fish weighing from twenty to sixty and seventy pounds. The price has gradually risen, how- ever, and the men now demand five and six cents a pound for salmon. There were at one time about forty canning factories along the coast, but since the consolidation and organi- zation of the various companies the number has been reduced to sixteen on the Columbia river.

A native of Manchester, England, Mr. Bar- ker was born July 24, 1853. Ilis parents, Ambrose and Sarah (Westerdale) Barker, were both born in Yorkshire, England, the Westerdales being a family of especial prom- inence. They reared a family of ten children,

eight of whom still live in England, while William H. and his brother Frederick are residents of Astoria. Emigrating to the United States in 1870, William H. Barker located first in New York, but from time to time moved a little farther westward, in 1873 becoming em- ployed in a salmon cannery on the Columbia river. Going to Westport, Ore., in 1873, he was employed in the John West cannery 1111- til 1874, when he accepted a position in the factory of R. D. Hume, at Bay View, and later, in the fall of 1876, went to Rogue river with R. D. Hume. From 1878 until 1881, he was superintendent of the Kinney Cannery, in As- toria, and the following four years had charge of the cannery of the A. Booth Packing Com- pany. Embarking in business on his own ac- count in 1885, Mr. Barker formed a partner- ship with George H. George, and engaged in packing salmon on the Columbia river, under the present firm name of George & Barker. As business increased the cannery was en- larged, and in 1895 was consolidated with three other canneries, and incorporated under the name of the Eureka & Epicure Packing Company, this being the first consolidation on the river. Mr. Barker was made superintend- ent of the company's plant, which was suc- cessful from the start. In February, 1899, the Elmore, Kinney, Hawthorn, Cook, Fisher- men's, Seeborg, Aberdeen Packing Company, Columbia Canning Company, and the Eureka & Epicure Company consolidated, forming the Columbia River Packers' Association. The officers of the association were A. B. Ham- mond, president; S. Elmore, vice-president ; and George H. George, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Barker was made superintendent of the canneries, a position for which he was espe- cially fitted, and under his wise supervision a large business was carried on. The company enlarged its operations, building a factory near Cascade, on the Columbia river, and one at Nushagak, Alaska. In Astoria a large cold- storage plant was erected, having a large capacity for curing and freezing salmon. This company has an immense trade, handling fifty per cent of the salmon packed on the rivers of Oregon and Washington. In 1901 Mr. Barker resigned his position as superintendent of the company's plants to look after his own inter- ests in the incorporated firm of George & Bar- ker, of which he is president and manager. This firm has recently built a large cannery at Point Roberts, Wash. Mr. Barker is still one of the directors of the Columbia River Packers' Association.

Mr. Barker married, in Astoria, Orpha Beard, who was born in Wyoming. while her parents were crossing the plains. Her father died soon after his arrival in Oregon, while his

721

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

family continued their residence in Astoria. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are the parents of five children, namely: George Westerdale, who was educated in the Leland Stanford Univer- sity, in California, is employed in the Astoria National Bank; Nellie Westerdale was grad- uated from the Anna Wright Seminary, in Tacoma, Wash .; William; Frederick; and Mary Louise. A straightforward, uncompro- mising Republican, Mr. Barker takes an active interest in municipal affairs, and has served one term as councilman, and for a number of years has been a member of the school-board. For several years he was a member of the Republican county committee. Actively inter- ested in the welfare of Astoria, he does all in his power to further the interests of his adopt- ed city and is one of the leading members of the Chamber of Commerce, and of the Push Club. Mrs. Barker belongs to the Congrega- tional Church.

CHARLES E. HASARD. The record of Mr. Hasard's life reveals unusual activity, and the success which he has attained reflects great credit on his general business ability. In 1896 he laid the foundation of his large general merchandise business at Drain, Ore., by commencing on a small scale, increasing his stock gradually. In 1898 he built a brick building 25x65 feet, his trade having increased to such an extent as to demand more room for a complete stock. This store is well stocked with an assortment of goods best suited to his locality, and in addition Mr. Ilasard has a large warehouse, used for storing farm machinery.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of western Oregon, containing original sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present.., Part 99

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