The Oregon native son, Vol. I, Part 37

Author: Native Sons of Oregon; Oregon Pioneer Association. cn; Indian War Veterans and Historical Society
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Portland, Or. : Native Son Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1252


USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 37


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Mr. Holman attended the public schools und afterwards the Willamette university, at Salem, and in 1865 graduated with honors at "thio Wesleyan university. After graduation : Ohio Wesleyan university Mr. Holman entered and graduated from the Albany law whool. New York, in 1866, ex-Governor W. P' Lord and Colonel N. B. Knight. now of Salem, being classmates: was admitted to the 'ar by the supreme court of Oregon in the 'all of 1866, being the first Native Son to 'cceive a certificate of admission in Ore- con. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Holman com- enced the practice of law in Salem, with Mr. J. J. Shaw, under the firm name of shaw & Holman. In 1868 he enjoyed the !. tinction of being the first Native Son Fected to the Oregon legislature. In 1870 .e was elected a delegate to the republican national convention, held in Philadelphia. For eight years he was manager of the Pio- 'rer Linseed Oil Company. of Salem. For + number of years "> was connected with the wholesale drug establishment of Hodge. Puis & Co., and later with Whittier, Fuller A Co .. of Portland. In 1802 he removed to L'tah, representing Pacific coast lumbering interests, in which he is now largely inter- ved. besides being engaged in large mining perations, which have proved exceedingly 'emunerative, he now being president of and Me of the largest stockholders in the Great Banca Mining Company, the leading divi- Und-producer of Silver City, Utah. In 1869 r married Miss Emma H. Rounds, of Salem,


Or., daughter of Dr. Nelson Rounds, presi- dent of Willamette university. Two children bless the .union, Mrs. T. W. B. London, of Portland, and Phelps R., now sojourning with his mother in Europe.


JOHN CORSE TRULLINGER.


The subject of this sketch was born in Fountain county, Indiana, July 29, 1828. In April. 1838, his father, Daniel Trullinger, moved to Mt. Pleasant, Ia., where John C. received his early education. In 1843 his father moved to Davis county, in the same state. Here he partly improved two small farms; but in 1846-47 they decided to move to this state. They made up their outfit dur- ing the winter of 1847-48. and on the first of April in the latter year started for the great West. They crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph and camped on Muskito creek. about April 15, and there waited a few days for the arrival of emigrants in sufficient numbers to increase the party to proportions that would insure its safety in crossing that wide waste known as "the plains." One-half of the party, thus augmented, was bound for Califor- nia, headed by Captain Wambo, who was elected captain of the entire expedition. Upon reaching a point near Salt Lake, the com- pany was divided, one-half going in the direction of California and the other heading for Oregon; the "Oregon" party electing as captain old man Crook. The expedition reached Oregon City on the 15th day of Sep- tember. 1848. The family of Daniel Trullin- ger consisted of himself and wife and ten children. After reaching Oregon City, John C. embarked in the shoe business, but soon sold out and joined his father, who had set- tled on a farın in Marion county. In the following spring he and his brother Gabriel joined their fortunes, and together started for the mines of California, where they sold their ox team and located on the north fork of American river. John C. mined on the north. middle and south forks of American river. At Coloma he quit mining and bought out a miners' store, which he conducted a short time, then sold out and went to San Fran- cisco. January 1, 1850, he left San Fran- cisco for his home in Oregon, on the schooner G. H. Montague. After reaching his destination, he moved to Milwaukie. He and his brother Gabriel were equally inter-


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ested in a large warehouse on the river front. which they sold to Whitcomb, Torrence, Kel- logg Company. John C. then settled on Fanno creek and engaged in farming. His was the first timothy sown in Oregon. Subse- quently he built a saw mill and flouring mill, which he sold in 1863 to A. A. Durham. He then bought the Oswego mills and townsite, between Portland and Oregon City, and man- aged that property until the latter part of 1869, when he sold out to the Captain Joseph Kellogg Company. He then moved his fam- ily to Forest Grove. Placing his children in school at that place, he went to Boston, where he built a turbine water-wheel, and, going to Lowell, to Emerson's water-wheel testing works, he had his wheel tested, and succeeded in obtaining from it 76 per cent. of working power. Having bought the Cen- terville flouring and saw mills, near Forest Grove, of Ulysses Jackson, he operated them until 1877, when they were burned. In 1875 he bought property in Astoria, where he sub- sequently built the West Shore mills, the present property covering twelve acres, and containing. besides the mills, warehouses, wharves, barns and electric light station. During his experience in the lumbering busi- ness he built, on the Walluskie creek, three and one-half miles of standard-gauge rail- way track, with fifty-six-pound rails. and em- ployed about 150 men.


In December, 1885, he commenced the con- struction of an electric light plant in As- toria, from which the city is lighted. Mr. Trullinger has held various offices of public trust in Astoria and Clatsop county. He was mayor of Astoria from 1886 to 1888, and previous to that was a member of the city council. In December. 1891, he was elected president ofthe board of police commission- ers. In Ju:'e. 1892, he was elected by a large majority to the state legislature. He was one of the organizers of the republican party in Oregon, in 1856, and has never since de- parted from the faith.


He was married in 1853 to Miss Hannah Boyles. Eight children were born to them. six sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living. At the date of this sketch Mr. Trullinger's large business interests are wholly with his two sons and his wife. Mr. Trullinger is president of the West Shore Mills Company, and of the Astoria Gas Light


Company. They have a perpetual franchise from the city for light-poling; also a fran- chise for gas works and lighting, embracing the right to lay mains. His sons, Perry .A. and John H. Trullinger, and Hannah Trullin- ger compose the Astoria Gas Light Com- pany, as well as the West Shore Mills Com- pany, the latter of which includes the Eler- tric Light Company.


ELIOT WEIDLER ORDWAY.


Eliot Ordway was born in Portland. Or .. February 13, 1879, and died of typhoid fever on the transport Rio de Janeiro, bound from Manila to San Francisco, September 24, 1898. after a protracted illness. His remains were embalmed on board the ship and brought home for interment in Lone Fir cemetery. Young Ordway was of a serious nature for one of his years, and was possessed of fine sensibilities. A noble character gave him a manly bearing, and endeared him to all who knew him; never quarrelsome, but, always bright and cheerful, carrying sunshine with his smile wherever he went. At an early age he entered Bishop Scott academy, and took his place in the ranks of the cadet organiza- tion; but rapidly worked himself up to the position of captain of company B. In De- cember, 1897, he joined company H of the Oregon National Guard. As the clouds . war gathered, he was fired with patriotic en .- thusiasm, and. when asked if he was going. universally replied: "Why, of course I am." He was among the very first to offer his sery- ices to his country. On the 16th day of May. 1898, he marched through the streets of Port land, and left with the gallant 'Second Oregon for the Philippines, where he participated in the battle and capture of Manila, although a: the time sick, and should have been in ti: hospital, where he was taken immediately a: ter the battle. On the voyage he played the piano a great deal, and exerted himself con- tinually to entertain his comrades, all of whom appreciated his efforts. While in camp his musical talents were in constant dem.s and freely given for religious services, why he attended regularly and often. During 1 ::- brief service in the field. his military train. ing attracted attention, and he was made act- "ing corporal. and would have been further ad- vanced had his health not failed. A lette! received from his grandfather, Captain Janne .


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11. McMillen, was full of patriotic fervor, and .", writing to his mother soon afterwards his nome impulses were shown by the words:


Tell grandpa I will try to do my sliare to- wards upholding the honor of our country." He was universally and devotedly loved by Month officers and men, who waited upon him with a woman's tenderness. and did every- thing possible for his care and comfort. Chaplain Gilbert, in writing to his stricken mother, said: "I have never known a finer hoy." and added: "You will never know the depth of sympathy all the soldiers ieel for you." It was hoped when the transport sled he would be benefited by the voyage; reach home in safety. and rapidly recover under a mother's careful nursing. Such hopes were in vain, however, as he died the second day out. He was first of the Second Oregon brought home for burial, and the services at Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, where his mother had attended Sunday school, were attended by over 2,000 persons, many of whom could not enter the building. The floral tributes were profuse and diversified, that of Bishop Scott academy, a wreath of laurel and palm, tied with the school colors, being lowered into the grave. Another, of a boat and the flag, sent by the Chinook Cruis- ers, a boat club of which he was treasurer, was beautiful and appropriate. . An eloquent discourse was delivered by Dr. Eliot. for whom he was named, and who married his parents. In closing. the choir rendered "Spirit Voices," of which both words and music were written by the deceased's mother. Bishop Scott battalion acted as- an escort of honor, and a squad of soldiers from Vancouver bar- racks fired a parting volley over the grave. The services were attended by the Oregon Emergency Corps and Red Cross Society, General Beebe and staff. G. A. R .. and bat. tery A. Mrs. Ordway has recently written the following lines. 'entitled "My Soldier's Return":


Walk in, my soldier so brave and true, Your room is cheery and bright:


Well stored with the treasures of youthful days.


And the bed that is snowy white.


And here on the table are pictures Oi faces beloved of yore,


And books that you read with eager joy, Ere you sailed to that foreign shore.


And here is mother's blessing and love- Oh, God! Do I hear aright?


"The ship has sailed over harbor bar, Your soldier's safe home in God's light;


"In a land where no war cloud e'er darkens The light of its low-bending skies,


He has pitched his tent, and is resting With the loved ones in Paradise."


Oh. the longing of the soul 'till God calls me. How impatiently here I wait For his joyous hand-clasp and the greeting, As we meet at the heavenly gate.


When such mothers bless the land, breath- ing patriotic love into the hearts of their children, can nations wonder why Americans welcome death in defense of home and flag?


MRS. DAVID STEEL.


Mrs. David Steel was the first president of the temporary organization, and is now the first past grand president of the Grand Cabin of Native Daughters of Oregon. She was born in Lafayette, Or., February 25, 1854. Her parents (Dr. William Weatherford and wife) crossed the plains in the old-fashioned "prairie schooner," drawn by ox teams, in the year 1852, stopping for a while in Salem, moving from there to Lafayette, and then to Portland, in the summer of 1854. Her father first located on the northeast corner of Third and Salmon streets. but a few years later built a more modern residence on the north- west corner of Second and Salmon streets, where, in the year 1877, she was married. Her father died in 1880, and her mother, a venerable and greatly respected pioneer, is still living with her. Mrs. Steel is a highly respected lady, with rare executive ability, and will do much to unite the splendid womanhood of this state that can lay claim to early Oregon ancestry.


MRS. SARAH ELIZABETH BRIGHAM.


Mrs. Brigham (nee Adams) was born in Weston. Or .. March 30, 1874. Shortly after the death of her mother. which occurred in 1880. she was adopted by Hon. John S. White, a pioneer of 1845, a prominent and influential citizen of Umatilla county, who was a member of the constitutional conven- tion from Washington county. Her educa- tion was obtained at the public schools of


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Pendleton, and at the state normal school of Weston. On May 19, 1891, she married Mr. F. H. Brigham, who is at present con- nected with the United States general land office, as examiner of surveys. Mrs. Brig- ham is a true type of Oregon home-builders. and is the mother of two children. to whom her life is devoted. When the Native Daugh- ters of Oregon effected a temporary organiza- tion last spring, she was among the first to lend a helping hand, and when the first Subordinate Cabin was instituted, in Port- land, "Eliza Warren's Cabin, No. 1," she was elected first vice-president. which office she now holds, with the respect and confi- dence of every member of the order.


HON. JOSEPH SIMON.


Mr. Simon was born in Germany in 1851, and came to America with his parents when but one year old. In 1857 the family moved to Oregon, where it has remained ever since, in the city of Portland, where Mr. Simon's education was secured, in the public schools. In 1872 he was admitted to the bar. and for many years has been a member of the firm of Dolph, Mallory & Simon. He was elected to the city council in 1877. and served as a member of that body three years. In 1878 he was elected secretary of the republican state central committee. and managed the state campaign that year. He was elected chair- man of that committee in 1880, 1884 and 1886, and had charge of both state and national campaigns those years. In 1892 he was chosen a delegate to the national republican conven- tion in Minneapolis, and was there selected as a member of the national republican commit- tee from Oregon. He was elected to the state senate from Multnomah county in 1880, 1884. 1888, 1894 and 308. Had he served out the term for whichi, de was last elected. he would have served twenty years as a member of that body. He was elected president of the sen- ate at the sessions of 1889. 1891. 1895 and 1897. and at the special session of 1898. On October 8, 1808, he was elected to the United States senate as a republican. receiving the full strength of his party. Sixty-four votes were cast for him, out of a total membership of the legislature of ninety. He was chosen to fill a vacancy that had existed since March 4, 1897, and his teri of office will expire March 4, 1903.


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MRS. MARGARET F. KELLY.


Margaret F. Kelly (nee Fitch) was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, March 22, 1827. With her parents she moved to Clarke coun- ty, Illinois, at the age of 18, where her father died; and she, being the second child of a family of nine, assumed largely the responsi- bility for the support of the family. In 1852. fabulous stories of untold wealth in California created a fever in the neigborhood, and she joined a company of emigrants bound for the gold fields. After a few weeks' travel, the man in whose wagon she had passage was unfortunate in having one wagon break down, and all of the load of two wagons had to be condensed into one, so there was no room for Miss Fitch, but a kind soul in the person of Lucern Besser offered her a chance to work her way by assisting himseli and wife, who found her invaluable, as she ministered to the sick, prepared meals, and either drove loose stock or an ox team all the way. When the train reached a point in the road that branched off to Oregon, they .de- cided to come to this state, because of the Indians being bad on the California road. She arrived in Portland during November. 1852, a stranger in a strange land. but. after a few weeks' romantic acquaintance, she was married to Hampton Kelly, January 30. 1853. and has been a devoted wife and mother. She is blessed with a genial disposition, liberal to a fault, very sacrificing. a ministering angel to the sick; she has brought relief to the dis tressed and sunshine to many a pioneer home. Well may her child en rise and call her blessed. The wagons were put on rafts at The Dalles, and floated down the Columbia.


Mrs. Kelly still lives to enjoy the fruit- of her labors. She is the mother of nine children, five of whom are living. She joined her husband in his public enterprises. and often made sacrifices beyond her ability. to forward the work of church or school. whose influence can only be measured in eternity.


HAMPTON KELLY.


Mr. Kelly was born in Pulaski county. Ken- tucky. April 16. 1830, and crossed the plains with his father, the Rev. Clinton Kelly. in 1848. He received his education in the com- mon schools. He was a great reader, and


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roughly familiar with political. social and How- topics. Oregon was yet a territory en le came. and. taking advantage of the matton land act, he secured a tract three .. . cast of Portland on the Powell Valley „d. but. on account of the scarcity of water. Ned to buy a part of the Edward Long : nation claim, where there was a never-fail- x spring. In 1856 he took his wife and one add on horseback to a new home. when . tre was only a trail through the thick A . wuls. where is now a part of the city of Portland, and macadamized 'roads and bicycle : aths prevail. A few years later he engaged " the saw mill and box manufacturing busi- " .... which he followed for 12 years. He was tive in various enterprises of benefit to the community, especially in the building of hool houses and good roads. He contrib- .: od largely to the Willamette University, the "Mest educational institution on the coast. He served the public acceptably as school rector and road supervisor. Mr. Kelly was a willing assistant to poor men struggling to ert a home. He was a decidedly original 'enius in mechanics.


MIr. Kelly was converted 1849. and with his Her brother Plympton were the first persons to join the First Methodist church of Port- und. Rev. J. L. Parrish. pastor. He and his brother Archon made the shingles for that hurch. They were dovetailed and made by and. He hanled the sills and helped to raise the building. He also grubbed stumps on Front street with the late W. S. Ladd.


In January, 1852. he married Margaret Fitch ndl settled three miles Cast of Portland.


Ile loved the church in which he lived and :bored nearly half a century, and gave lib- rally to church building funds. He finally built a church edifice on a portion of his land :n Wasco county, and deeded it to the church. · ing he wanted to stand as a witness to hrs sons of liis fait'f in God. In home life he Was a liberal and careful provider.


In 1880. on account of failing health, he re- moved to Wasco county, where he engaged in wk raising and farming. where his declining wir. were spent, and where he died October INS, leaving a widow, four sons and one daughter. to mourn their loss.


GENERAL OWEN SUMMERS.


General Summers went to the Philippine islands in command of the Second Oregon


infantry, United States volunteers, who sailed from San Francisco May 25, 1898. in the first expedition sent from this country to aid Ad- miral Dewey in holding his conquests. Pre- vious to his appointment as colonel of the Second Oregon, he held the same position in the First regiment, O. N. G. From the day the Second Oregon landed at Cavite, June 30. 1898, until it embarked for the return voyage. July 14, 1899. it held important positions in every military movement of the United States troops. It furnished two companies-A and D-to take part in the demonstration that resulted in the capture of Guam islind, the other landing troops being 40 marines from the cruiser Charleston.


On August 13, when the final assault was made on Manila, the Second Oregon, under Colonel Summers, was chosen for the com- mand to land on the water front. While the Olympia, Petrel. Raleigh and Calao were re- ducing Fort San Antonio Abad, and the grim monitor Monterey quietly pulled up alongside of the much-vaunted battery of Krupp guns in front of Manila, the Oregon men were tightening their belts for hard work. For- tunate for them. the white flag was hoisted over Manila before General Merritt found it expedient to send them against the terrible batteries and high walls. From August 13. 1898. until March 13. 1899. Colonel Summers commanded all or a portion of the walled city, where the Spanish prisoners were kept. and the arsenal and treasury located. the mem- bers of the regiment patrolling the district.


When the Filipino insurrection broke out. February 4. the Oregon men were in the walled city. There it was expected the full force of treachery would be directed, so as to surprise and capture needed arms and ammu- nition. In the narrow, tortuous alleys and high old stone structures, it was feared that a terrible fight would take place. Here the Oregon, Twenty-third infantry and Minneso- ta men were stationed, and to their credit it is reported that never was there an insurrec- tionary movement within the jurisdiction. When it was seen that the natives were too cowardly to rise inside the city. Oregon men were subjected to the severest test of the war- to wait while the battle raged about theni. That firing line of fourteen miles encircling Manila, with the big guns of the cruisers at either flank, sent up a crackling, roaring noise


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that told of fierce carnage, and to hear it without taking a full part, racked Oregon breasts as they never suffered before.


Aggressive work against the insurgents in March brought the Oregon men and their commander to the front. In the week's cam- paign with General Wheaton's flying column, up the Pasig, they were in every fight. With the beginning of the big Malolos campaign, the Second Oregon was drawn back from the Pasig, and on the day of the first bloody ad- vance toward Malolos, held the pivot of the long line at Malabon. The work of the regi- ment that day was ahead of the achievement of any one regiment for a single day during the war. Later General Summers commanded a provisional brigade composed of the Ore- gon and Minnesota troops, cavalry and artil- lery, in General Lawton's Rio la Pampanga campaign, the brigade forming the advance guard of the column all the time, and fighting almost every day for a month and a half. .Just before departure, the regiment took part in the Morong campaign, where its work called out excellent comments.


General Lawton urged that Colonel Summers be pro- moted to brigadier-general for many instances of gallantry. The president gave him a brevet brigadier-generalship, which title he held when mustered out of the service.


MRS. D. H. STEARNS.


Mrs. Stearns was born at Scappoose Bay, four miles from St. Helens. Oregon territory. Her father. Joseph Stoughton, was a des- cendant of the Massachusetts . Stoughtons, who founded the town of that name, near Bos- ton. In the 'sos he left New England, and, braving stormy Cape Horn in a sailing ship, landed at St. Helens, the then metropolis of Oregon. ¿ After two or three years spent in preparing'à pioneer home in the dense forest, he returned to Vermont, to claim the lady for whom he had been home-making. Miss Elizabeth Ann Hibbard. a village favorite, from an old New England family. Soon they embarked for their future home, sailing by steamer from New York to the Isthmus of Panama, which they crossed on the backs of trusty mules. From the opposite side they


the true meaning of "love in a cottage," their being a log house, where A. Ella, the second child, was born. After a few years the fannk moved to Washington territory, where the greater part of her younger life and schoo days were passed.


In 1881, a spirit of adventure, which mu have come from the veins of her pioneer par ents, was gratified by the undertaking. with trusted friends. of a sea trip. Retracing th course traveled by her father so many year before, she rounded Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. The first ports made, four and one half months after leaving Portland, were Fal mouth and Liverpool, in England. Next. trip to and around the Cape of Good Hop was made, cruising one year in the East In dies, Japan and China. In this latter country at Shanghai, she enjoyed a two months' stay with old friends, at the United States con sulate-Judge and Mrs. O. N. Denny, nov of Portland. Their only child, wife of United States naval officer, living at the con sulate, was a schoolmate in Vancouver, Wash. and happy indeed was the reunion. so iat from native land. Returning to New York from where her parents sailed so many years before, she bade farewell to her shipboard home and friends, and spent the ten iol lowing months in New England, visiting scenes of her parents' childhood days. and returning to Oregon and Washington af ter a three years' absence. She is the only survivor of that pioneer family. this formerly numbered six. In 1887 she married Mr. D. H. Stearns, and settled in Portland where she has resided ever since. Mr- Stearns is a prominent member of the Woman's Club, of which she at one time acte as secretary. She is a leader in social cir- cles. and, being possessed of rare executive ability, was unanimous choice of the mem- ents, was gratified by the undertaking wit !: first president of the first subordinate cabin. : position she now holds, with credit to her- self and with the confidence of all Native Daughters.




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