USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, 1900-1901 > Part 64
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JOHN L. KRUSE.
Mr. Kruse first saw the light of day on a Clackamas county farm situated about nine miles west of Oregon City, July +, 1853. His parents, John and Iantha Kruse. were pioneers, the former coming west in 1850-he died in 1898-and the latter, a daughter of Joseph C. and Mary Geer, crossed the plains with her parents in 1847. She is still alive. Mr. Kruse follows farm- ing for an occupation. in which he has been contentedly successful. Though quiet and unobtrusive, he takes great interest in legis- lation. At home he is looked upon as one of the pillars of the public schools, in which he secured his education, and of which he has been a director, in the district in which he lives, for twenty years. He was first elected a representative from Clackamas county in 1898, and served during the spe- cial session of that year and during the ses- sion of 1899. In June, 1900, he was re- elected for another term. In politics he is a republican. His father was a represen- tative from the same county in 1887. Mr. Kruse chose for a life companion a Miss Lonesa Elligsen. a native of Canada. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Kruse is related to Governor T. T. Geer, and also to representative Irwin S. Geer.
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
EDWARD F. LAMSON
Is a native of Oregon, and was born up near Willamina, Yamhill county, Septem- ber 19, 1850. His parents were Jeremiah and Hellen M. Lamson, pioneers of 1847. Members of his family have taken a promi- nent part in the public affairs of the state, besides being valuable factors in its in- dustrial life. The father of our subject was a member of the nrst state senate (sup- posed) of 1858, and of the special session of 1859, also a member of the house in 1866. His brother Henry W. Lamson, also represented . Yamhill county in the house during the sessions of 1891 and 1893. In 1898 our subject was elected from the same county to the house, attending the special session of that year and the session of 1899. In 1900 he was again elected repre- sentative. All of the family have been republicans since that party was born- the father was formerly a whig.
From 1890 to 1894 Mr. Lamson served as Indian agent at the Grand Ronde Indian agency by appointment of President Har- rison. The old donation claim of his par- ents, on which he was born, is now his property. It is well improved, and, besides the golden grain raised by him, he devoted great interest to the raising of fine stock. He was married in 1875 to Miss Hellen Burgess, a native of Missouri. They have a family of three sons.
ALBERT R. MATTOON,
Republican representative from Douglas county, was born in Clackamas county, Ore- gon, in July, 1853, of Welsh and English parents. riis early education was received in public schools. Later he attended Mon- mouth college, but was compelled to give up school on account of failing health and eyesight. After leaving school he was trav- eling salesman for a large machinery and implement company which position he filled for fifteen years. In 1885 he was made general manager with full control of a large and prosperous business for Staver & Waik- er, at La Grande. This position he held until 1888. In that year he was nominated for state senator and made an active can- vass against J. H. Raley, a popular man, in strong democratic counties, and was beaten by only four votes. In the fall of 1893 he moved with his family to Douglas county, locating upon a farm near Looking Glass, where he has since resided. In 1898 he was nominated for representative, but was defeated. In the county convention of 1900 he was again made the unani- mous choice of the republicans for repre- sentative, and was elected by a large ma- jority. His parents were Runa and Eliza A. (Trullinger) Mattoon. pioneers of 1847. Mr. Mattoon is married. his wife being formerly a Mrs. M. J. Knight. They have two sons.
D. A. M'ALLISTER.
Mr. McAllister was born in Coles county, Illinois, February 6, 1842. In that state he acquired his schooling in the public schools of that day. Not being very healthy, he was advised to come west, and in 1862 he came to Oregon, settling the Grand Ronde valley, where he has since resided. He was a penniless youth when he reached this country, having worked his way across the plains. He immediately began as a wage worker and saved his money until he was able to take up a claim of 160 acres. He improved this as fast as he could, work- ing between times to sustain himself. He is now the owner of nearly a thousand acres of land and has it stocked with thorough- bred Durham cattle and is also a breeder of fine horses. He has been a prominent fig- ure in the politics of the democratic party in that portion of Oregon and has served in both branches of the legislature, as joint senator from Union and Wallowa counties during the sessions of 1892 and 1893, and as representative from Union at the special session of 1898, the regular of 1899, and was re-elected to the present house in 1900. His wife was a Miss Nancy Moe, a native of Michigan, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1864. They have six children, five sons and one daughter.
THOMAS H. M'GREER
Is a native son of the golden west and was born therein, near Mount Diablo. December 12, 1851. His parents were Kentuckians and crossed the plains in 1850. He was edu- cated at the public schools of San Fran- cisco and at Brayton's college, Oakland, after taking a business course at Heald's business college in the Bay City. In 1878 he removed to Oregon, locating at Ante- lope, where he engaged in merchandising for some years and then began farming and stock raising, giving the most of his atten- tion to the latter occupation. Politically he is a republican, and as such was first elected to the legislature in 1894 as joint representative from the counties of Sherman and Wasco. During the session just closed he served as joint representative from the counties of Crook, Klamath, Lake and Was- co, to which position he was elected in 1900. His wife was formerly a Miss Josephine Murphy, also a Californian. Their family consists of four sons and one daughter. Their grandson is probably the only Ore- gonian whose grandparents were both born in California.
IVAN M'QUEEN.
Mr. McQueen is a native of Iowa, having been born in that state in 1866. He lived on a farm until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to town, the better to obtain an education. He graduated from the Rock Rapids, Iowa, public schools in
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1882; then attended the business depart- ment of the Upper Iowa university at Fay- ette, graduating therefrom in 1884; then attended the Hull Educational Institute, at Hull, Iowa, graduating in 1887. He taught school at intervals while gaining an edu- cation, and in November, 1887, having just turned 21 years of age. he was elected su- perintendent of schools for Lyon county, oeing re-elected in 1889. In 1692 he came to Oregon, locating at Lorane, Lane county. Since then his time has been about equally divided between school teaching and farm- ing. He is a republican, and was first elected to represent Lane county in 1898, and was re-elected to the present house in 1900.
NORMAN MERRILL
Was born on a farm in Columbia county, December 25, 1851, and the parents to whom this welcome Christmas gift came were Joseph and Elizabeth Merrill, pioneers of 1847. They first settled near Portland, but in 1848 went to Columbia county remain- ing there until the time of their decease. Mr. Merrill secured nis education in the public schools, and upon attaining his ma- jority began farming. afterwards taking up logging and lumbering therewith. He was married to a Miss Edith VanBibber, a na- tive daughter of the state of Washington, whose parents, John and Rhoda R. VanBib- ber, came across the plains in 1845. They have two daughters. Mr. Merrill was first elected representative from Columbia coun- ty in 1893, again in 1897 and was elected to the session just closed in 1900. Po- litically he is a republican.
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GEORGE MILLER
Is a native son of Oregon and Benton coun- ty born, the date of his birth being Feb- ruary 13, 1863. His parents came across the plains with the emigration of 1852. they being J. Henry and Mary J. Miller. They were not, however, married until after reaching Oregon. The father of the latter lost his life on the plains through injuries received in an encounter with troublesome Indians. Our subject acquired his educa- tion in the, public schools located near his father's farm, remaining at home assisting his father until 1880. when he went to East- ern Oregon. In 1882 he located at Doug- las station. situated on the Heppner branch of the O. R. & N. railway, where he con- structed and operaten a large warehouse and engaged in merchandising. remaining thus employed until 1896. when he removed to Arlington. where he now resides. At this latter place he is engaged in the mer- cantile trade. doing a very successful busi- ness. His wife was a Miss Edith Muir, a native of Illinois, and who came to Oregon
in 1884. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Politically Mr. Miller is a republican and by that party was elected joint representative in 1900 from the counties of Gilliam, Grant, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler.
CHARLES B. MONTAGUE.
The life of this pioneer is one which is most interesting, and we regret that our space precludes giving it in full. He was born in Argyle, Scotland, June 4, 1830, and came with his parents to the United States in 1847, who settled in the eastern states. Our subject, however, drifted west after at- taining his majority, coming to California. In 1854 he went back to his native heath to enlist as a soldier in Britain's army. which was about to depart for the scene of hostilities between that power, as an ally of Turkey, against Russia. He was com- missioned lieutenant of the famous cavalry regiment, the Scots Greys, commanded by Sir Collin Campbell, and participated in the battle of Balaklava, witnessing the charge of the light brigade, and other engagements. After being discharged, he traveled for two years over the world, returning to Cali- fornia in 1856, and then came to Oregon in 1858, where he has since resided, with the exception of a few years spent in Alaska in government service, during which time that portion of the Union was surrendered to this government by Russia in exchange for war vessels. Mr. Montague was mar- ried, first, to Miss Martha Peebler, in 1852. Six children, three sons and three daught- ers were born to this union. Mrs. Monta- gue died June 24, 1878. He was again married to Mrs. Priscillia Redpath, eldest daughter of Dr. N. Ostrander, of Olympia, a pioneer of 1852. Politically Mr. Montague is a democrat. He was elected representa- tive from Linn county on the democratic- peoples ticket in 1900.
C. W. NOTTINGHAM.
C. W. Nottingham was born in Sanga- mon county. Illinois, June 29, 1848. He was brought up on a farm. When he be- came of age he engaged in farming and stockraising. He came to Oregon in 1881. and engaged in manufacturing lime on Pu- get Sound, and also had a house in Port- land to sell the product. In 1884 he sold his interest in the manufacturing part of the business. Mr. Nottingham is now presi- dent of Nottingham & Co., dealers in build- ing material, in Portland. In politics Mr. Nottingham is a republican. He was nomi- nated on the citizens ucket for representa- tive from Multnomah county last June, and received the highest vote cast for renre- sentative. He was married in 1813 to Miss Georgia Pallett. They have five children.
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
GEORGE M. ORTON,
One of the representatives from Multno- mah county, is a descendant of Thomas Or- ton, who emigrated to this country from England in 1640, anu settled in Windsor, Conn. He was the third child born to N. S. and Frances R. Orton during their ox- team trip from Wisconsin to Oregon, which extended over a period of more than five years, arriving in Portland in November, 1864, at the age of four months. The fol- lowing year his parents moved to The Dalles, where they remained until 1873, when they moved to Freeport, Washington. Here seven years of Mr. Orton's life was spent on a farm. In December, 1879, he returned with his parents to Portland, and attended the public school. He began his career as a printer in Portland in October, 1881, following the various branches un- til in December, 1887, he accepted the po- sition of foreman of the West Shore. In October, 1894, he became associated with the Multnomah Printing Co., and since Sep- tember, 1896, has been business manager of that concern. Mr. Orton was married in 1888 to Miss Katie Briethbarth, oldest daughter of H. A. Briethbarth, an Ore- gon pioneer of 1852, and the result of the union is three bright girls. He was elected representative on the citizens ticket in 1900.
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JOHN M. POORMAN
Is a native of Sangamon county, Illinois. having been born there April 20, 1854. He was educated at the Weslyan University. at Bloomington, from which he graduated in 1873. He came to California in 1874, following the occupation of railway em- ployee. From there he came to Oregon, and from 1877 to 1883 he was superintend- ent of the Woodburn branch of the South- ern Pacific. In the latter year he entered the Bank of Woodburn as cashier, in which avocation he is at present engaged. He became identified with the state militia in 1893, and in 1898 went to Manila in com- mand of his company, participating in all battles the Second Oregon was engaged in. His wife was a Miss Lida McMillan. daugh- ter of B. F. McMillan, an old pioneer. Mrs. Poorman was born in Washington county, Oregon. They have four sons, the eldest of whom saw military service with the Sec- ond Oregon in the Philippines. Mr. Poor- man is a republican. and on such .ticket was elected to represent Marion county in the house.
LEVI B. REEDER,
The speaker of the house, was born in Woodford county, Illinois. September 7, 1865. In March, 1874, with his parents, he removed to Linn county, Oregon, re- malning there until 1879, when another re-
move was made to Umatilla county. His father was a farmer and the son contin- ued under the paternal roof, with the ex- ception of teaching two terms of school. until the fall of 1884, when he entered the Oregon State Normal School and Chris- tian College at Monmouth, at which piace he spent three years, returning home each summer to work on the farm, graduat- ing at both institutions in 1887. In 1888 he entered the literary department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Harbor, and in the fall of 1889 he began a legal course in the same institution, graduating in 1891, and since then has been practicing his pro- fession, beginning at Colville, Wash., con- tinuing there until January, 1895. While living here he was elected, in 1892, prose- cuting attorney of Stevens county, serv- ing two years. In the spring of 1895 he returned to Umatilla county, locating at Pendleton, where he has since resided. In 1898 he was elected representative to the legislature, serving during the special ses- sion of that year and during the regular of 1899. In 1900 he was re-elected, and upon the convening of the present session, was elected speaker of the house. He was married in July, 1890, to Miss Laura L. Zieger, of Illinois. They have one daughter.
OTTO SCHUMANN,
Representative from Multnomah county, was born in Germany, November 22, 1855. His youth and early manhood were spent in his native city, and there he secured a . good education and acquired the trade of carver in stone and marble. From 1876 to 1878 he served in the German army. When he was exempt from military duty he attended the architectural colleges at Holzminden and Munich. He came to the United States in 1881, remaining in the east until 1883, when we removed to Ore- gon. Mr. Schumann was nominated on the citizens legislative ticket without his knowl- edge or consent, and was induced to ac- cept only after his friends nad insisted that he do so. He made no canvass, but at- tended strictly to his private business dur- ing the campaign ... He was a member of the engineer corps. O. N. G., from 1892 to 1897, and was one of the crack shots of the regiment. He was married in 1884 to Miss Agnes Giboni. They have one child, a son.
JOHN SHIPLEY.
Representative Shipley, of Multnomah county, was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. De- cember 14, 1850. He received his education in the public schools of that city, and then occupied himself as an accountant with some of the leading business houses located there until 1873. when he came to Oregon. He first settled in Dayton, Yamhill county,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
accepting employment again in the counting room. Here he met and was united in mar- riage with Mollie L., the daughter of an Indian war veteran, Capt. W. S. Powell, a pioneer of 1852. The mother of Mrs. Ship- ley was a Miss Nellie M. Hill, prior to her marriage with Capt. Powell. Her father was Henry Hill, founder of Independence, Polk county, who crossed the plains in 1847. Mr. Shipley removed to Portland in 1887, and engaged in the grocery and feed business, Capt. Powell being his part- ner. His family consists of wife, one son and a daughter. Politically he is a demo- crat, but was elected to the legislature on the citizens ticket.
ISAAC M. SIMPSON.
.Among the native sons of Oregon who have taken a leading position in its welfare, is the one whose name is the caption of this brief sketch. He was born on a farm in Polk county, April 23, 1857, his parents being Isaac and Martha Simpson, pioneers of 1845. His first schooling was in the log school houses of that day, and lat- terly in the more modern ones. He has always been identified with farming inter- ests, and besides the growing of cereals, gives attention to hop and fruit culture, fine stock raising and dairying interests. Near his palatial farm home is located Simpson station on the valley line of the S. P. Co.'s railroad, which was named after him. While he prefers to remain on his farm, he has made investments in the towns near at hand, being a stockholder in the City Bank at Dallas, the Independence Na- tional at Independence, and the Polk County Bank at Monmouth, being also a director in the latter. He was county commissioner for one term of Polk county, and was elected joint representative from Polk and Lincoln counties, on the democratic-peo- ples ticket in 1900. His wife was formerly a Miss Tabitha Morrison, who crossed the plains with her parents, Barney and Jem- mima Morrison, in 1863, the journey being made with ox teams. Mr. and Mrs. Simp- son have one child, a very promising son.
HENRY A. SMITH,
A native of Ohio, and was born in that state November 24, 1838. At the age of twelve he went with his parents to Indiana and settled on a farm. where he received his education, going some two miles to the little log school house, when the occa- sional school was taught. In 1867 he went to Michigan where he remained for some time and then removed to Minnesota. In
these states he followed lumbering until 1890, when he came to Portland, Oregon. where he has since continued to reside. his business being that of real estate and insurance. He was married while living
in Indiana to Miss Harriet Bissikummer, being but twenty years of age at that time. They have had five children, but four, how- ever, are now alive. He was elected rep- resentative from Multnomah county on the citizens ticket in 1900. Politically he is a democrat.
GEORGE L. STORY,
Was born in Manchester, Massachusetts, in 1833. He came to Portland, Oregon, in 1851 and engaged in the drug trade soon afterwards. This avocation he followed until 1855, when he removed to San Fran- cisco and embarked in the wholesale paint and oil business. In 1862 he returned to Portland where he has since resided. For some years he was engaged in mining en- terprises in Idaho, and in 1870 again estab- lished himself in the paint, oil and glass business, this time in Portland, which, how- ever, he discontinued upon his election to the office of county clerk in 1874. He has been a member of the city council sev- eral terms; city fire commissioner, and rep- resentative to the legislature from Mult- nomah county in 1885, 1891 and 1901. He is a republican.
MATTHEW STEWART.
Mr. Stewart was born May 11, 1839, and is a native of Pennsylvania. He secured his education in that state, but did not com- plete a collegiate course on account of the breaking out of the rebellion. In 1861 he enlisted in the One Hundredth Pennsyl- vania volunteer infantry and served four years fighting for his country and its flag. Being mustered out, he was elected aud- itor of Lawrence county. In 1870 he re- moved to Washington county, Kansas. en- gaging in school work there for eleven years, serving as county school superin- tendent four years of the time. In 1SS1 he came to Oregon, teaching in this state for two years, when he removed to Tacoma, Wash., and taught in the schools of that city for four years. He was elected school superintendent of Pierce county three terms. In 1893 he removed to Jackson county, Or., where he still resides, living on a farm near Talent. In 1898 he was elected representative from Jackson coun- ty, and in 1900 was re-elected to the same position. He is a republican.
JOHN A. TALBERT.
Mr. Talbert was born in Pettis county, Missouri, in 1848. He crossed the plains with his parents, Francis and Amanda Tal- bert, in 1852. They located in Clackamas county upon a donation claim near Mil- waukie, remaining thereon for about twenty years. when they removed to Clackamas station. At this place Repre- sentative Talbert now resides with his fam-
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ily, consisting of a wite, who was formerly a Miss Emma Davis, and three daughters. He was deputy sheriff of Clackamas county from 1879 to 1882, and afterwards deputy assessor for two years. He is now in the employ of the government and state fish hatcheries. He is a republican, and by that party was elected to the lower house of the legislature at the election of June, 1900. Mr. Talbert was educated in the public schools, and among his teachers he re- members many who have since so inter- woven their lives with the upbuilding of Oregon that their names and deeds will never be forgotten.
ASA B. THOMPSON.
An Oregon boy, born in Pendleton July 15, 1870, his parents being Oscar F. and Almira (Atwood) Thompson, the former of whom crossed the plains in 1850 and the latter in 1858. Mr. Thompson acquired his education in the public schools and grad- uated in a business course at the Portland Business College in 1891. His occupation is that of farmer and stockman, and his farm is one of the best in Umatilla county. He was married, February _8, 1898, to Miss Carrie A. Stanfield, a native doughter of the state. Her parents, Robert N. and Hat- tie T. Stanfield, were also pioneers, Mr. Stanfield coming in the same train that our subject's father did, and was for some years associated with him in the livery business at Pendleton. One child - a daughter-has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. He is a republican in politics, and was elected as joint representative from the counties of Morrow and Umatilla on that ticket in 1900.
M. E. THOMPSON,
Representative from Multnomah county, was born near Oberlin, O., June 28, 1859. His early education was received in the public schools of Oberlin, from which he graduated in 1STS. He then entered the preparatory department of Oberlin college, and completed the classical course in 1883. In April, 1884, he came to Oregon, and en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Albina. At the end of three years, he sold out and spent a year in visiting the east. . He returned to Oregon and entered in the real estate and insurance business with J. P. Menefee, at Alpina, which part- nership continued until about the time of the consolidation of Albina with Portland, when Mr. Menefee retired from the firm, and Mr. Thompson moved to Portland proper, where he is in the same business. being general agent for Oregon of the North American Insurance Company. He is also a trustee of the Patton Home, and secretary for Oregon of the National Chil- dren's Home Society. He was married,
April 8, 1888, to Miss Clara G. Menefee. They have four children. two boys and two girls. He was elected representative on the citizens ticket. Politically
he is a republican.
DANIEL M. WATSON,
Representative from Multnomah county, was born on his father's farm in Monroe county, Iowa, October 3, 1851. His family was among the pioneers of the Hawkeye state. After remaining on the old home- stead until he attained his majority, Mr. Watson embarked in coal mining in South- ern Iowa, where he developed some of the best coal lands west of Pennsylvania. But financial success did not satisfy the in- herited pioneer spirit within him, and in 1886 he came to this coast. For the past six years he has been interested in the restaurant business in Portland, his brother, W. F. Watson, being his partner. He has also taken time to carry on contracting in heavy drilling for water for railroad and farm supply. He has made a success of life, and has assisted others to do the same. He has always been a large employer of labor, and now has over 60 persons on the payroll of his restaurant. Politically he is a democrat. He was elected representative on the citizens ticket in June, 1900. His wife was formerly a Miss Annie M. John- son, a native of Iowa. They were married April 25, 1880, and their family consists of one child, a daughter named Delta, who is now in Paris for the purpose of getting a musical education.
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