The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 102

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072

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John F. Munford received his education in the public schools of Missouri and California. He remained at home until 1864 when he

enlisted for service in the Civil war and re- inained in the army for nine months. In 1865, after he was mustered out, he returned to Missouri and remained until 1867 when he crossed the plains to California where he engaged in farming for four years. He met with success in that state and continued his residence there until 1871 when he came north to Oregon, settling on the north fork of the Coquille river in Coos county. He later took up a homestead claim on Hall creek of one hundred and sixty acres and began its cultivation. On this farm he now lives. He is counted among the prosperous citizens of the section. He has one of the model properties on the Coquille river and his work is of the practical and systematic kind which always results in success. His farm comprises two hundred acres, some of which is highly improved and developed. He has twenty acres planted in grain and one hundred acres in fine grass and pasture. He has made extensive improvements on the outbuildings, has fenced and tiled his land and installed efficient machinery. In his work of development he has always been actuated not only by regard for his personal prosper- ity but also by consideration of the growth and welfare of the section in which he resides, and he has gained his reward in the re- spect and esteem accorded him by his fellow citizens. He has a fine residence on one of the most valuable properties in Myrtle Point and he owns eleven lots in Bandon, Oregon.

In 1878 Mr. Munford was united in mar- riage to Miss Juliet Benham, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of Peter Benham who came to Coos county in 1875 and re- sided in this section until his death. Mrs. Munford's mother passed away in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Benham were the parents of eight children: Juliet; William; Jefferson; Ste- phen; Eliza J .; Ellen; Elizabeth; and Frances, who passed away at the age of two years. Mrs. Munford received her education in the public schools of California and remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Munford are the parents of four children, three of whom died in infancy. Their son Robert, who is at home was born in 1886 and received an efficient business education.

John F. Munford is democratic and keeps well informed on current questions and is- sues, although he never seeks public office. He and his wife affiliate with the Church of the Brethren. Mr. Munford is regarded in Coos county as one of its most representa- tive citizens. By hard work, honesty and business ability he has made his land pro- ductive to the highest extent. His carnest and indefatigable labor has been guided al- ways by sound business judgment and sup- plemented by keen sagacity and he is num- bered among the substantial agriculturists of his community.

ROBERT JOHNSTON is living on one hun- dred and sixty acres of land on the east arm of Ten Mile lake, four and one half miles from Lake Side. He was born in Sheffield, England, September 18, 1844, and is a son of Robert and Mary E. (Roland) Johnston.

J. F. MUNFORD AND FAMILY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

The father was born in the north of Ireland and the mother in England. They were mar- ried in the latter country and came to Amer- ica in the '40s, settling in New York city, where the father worked as merchant tailor. Robert Johnston's parents died in New York city. Eleven children were born to them, of whom three are living: Thomas R., a resident of New York; Mary E., who makes her home in the same state; and Robert, the subject of this review. Of the other children in the family, one died in England and the remainder passed away and are buried in New York city.

Robert Johnston received his education in the common school of New York and learned the trade of painting and graining in his youth. He followed this occupation for some time but in 1862 enlisted in Company C, One Hundred Fifty-fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, which was known as Michael Coch- ran's Irish Brigade. He was eighteen years of age when he entered the army and he served for three years. He was promoted sergeant April 1, 1865, and participated in the battles of Suffolk, Virginia; Spottsyl- vania; North Anna; Strawberry Plains; Petersburg; Deep' Bottom; Ream Station; Boyden Plank Road, and Tolopolamy. He was also present at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered. He was wounded in an engagement and now draws a pension. His father and an elder brother were also in the Federal army and both served for three years during the war. When Mr. Johnston was dis- charged he returned immediately to New York city where he followed the occupation of painting until he met with an accident which prevented him from engaging any longer in this line. He then studied to become an optician and he followed this line of activ- ity for seven years in New Jersey and Penn- sylvania. In 1875 he came west and settled in North Dakota where he remained for twen- ty-one years. During this period he was identified with the drug business for some time and later followed his old trade of painter and grainer. He came to Oregon in 1896 working at his trade in that state until 1911 when he proved up one hundred and sixty acres of land on Ten Mile lake, four and one half miles from Lakeside and upon this he is now living with his family.

In 1896 Mr. Johnston was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Bockhorn, a daughter of Abraham and Annie M. Bockhorn. Mrs. John- ston was born in Finland and came to America in 1892. She was one of fourteen children, only three of whom are still living: Gustava, the wife of John Quist, of Massachusetts; Anna L., the wife of A. Anderson of Finland; and Emma, the wife of the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the par- ents of one son, Theodore A., who was born at Grants Pass, Oregon, in 1902, and is now attending school in Coos county.

In his political affiliations Mr. Johnston is a firm republican and believes in the principles and policies for which that party stands. He does not take an active part in public affairs and has never sought office for himself. He still follows his occupation of painting and Vol. IV-28

cultivation and improves his land. He has many friends throughout this district who hold him in high esteem as a progressive and enterprising man.

EDGAR C. RAYMOND was prominently identified with railroading in Coos county for many years and has the distinction of having been the first conductor on the first incorpo- rated railroad in the district. He is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of fine farm land and makes a specialty of dairying and stock-raising. He was born in East Fal- mouth, Massachusetts, October 13, 1857, and is a son of Newell and Celia (Bradford) Ray- . mond, both natives of Plymouth, Massachu- setts. Mrs. Newell Raymond was a descend- ant of Governor Bradford, who was the first executive of Massachusetts in colonial times and her family have always been residents of that state. Mr. Raymond's mother died when he was a child and his father passed away in Massachusetts in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Newell Raymond were the parents of six children: Mrs. Leander Baker of Massachusetts; two sons who died in infancy of typhoid fever; Mary, who passed away at the age of twenty years; Joseph, who died when he was eighteen years old; and Edgar C., the subject of this sketch.

Edgar C. Raymond received his education in the public schools of Massachusetts. He laid aside his books at an early age and worked at various occupations until he started as a blacksmith apprentice in New Bradford, Mas- sachusetts, when he was seventeen years old. He remained in this line of activity until he was twenty when he enlisted in the United States army and served for five years. He received his discharge at the Vancouver bar- racks at Washington and went immediately to British Columbia where he prospected for coal for some years. He then worked upon the construction of a telegraph line in Canada and was active in this connection for a short time. He moved to Arizona but came almost immediately afterward to Coos county, Ore- gon, locating in this district in 1890. He im- mediately became identified with railroad work, first as member of a construction gang and later as conductor on the Coos Bay, Rose- burg & Eastern line. This was the first in- corporated railroad in Coos county and Mr. Raymond was its first conductor. He retired from railroading in 1901 and worked at lum- bering until 1905 when he bought the one hundred and sixty acre farm which he now owns. He later took up a homestead claim of eighty acres and added this land to his ~ holdings. He is now engaged in the operation of two hundred and forty acres and makes a specialty of dairying and stock farming. He gives his personal supervision to these branches of activity and carries them on along most modern and scientific lines. The products of his dairy are noted for their cleanliness, pur- ity and the sanitary conditions under which they are made, and they obtain a ready sale on the market. He is the owner of a fine herd of graded cattle and has a number of thoroughbred horses.

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In 1895 Mr. Raymond was united in mar- riage to Miss Lillie Dunham. She was born in Marshfield, Oregon, and is a daughter of Far- rel and Margaret Dunham, the former a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ireland. Mrs. Raymond's parents came to Oregon from Iowa in 1872 and settled at North Bend where her father placed the first machinery in the first sawmill of the district. He followed logging at Coaledo for twenty years and was active in this capacity at the time of his death in 1893. His wife's death had preceded his and occurred in 1891. Mrs. Raymond is one of seven children: Mrs. Joseph Fox of Bandon, Oregon; Robert, who died in 1911. at the age of fifty-one years; Mrs. Lockwood of Santa Rosa, California; Mrs. Beusch of Santiago, California; Mrs. Mills, who makes hier home in Sumner, Oregon; Azarialı, who is in business in Bandon, Oregon; and Lillie, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are the parents of two children: Blanch I., born January 16, 1896, who is attending school; and Jack L. N., whose birth occurred March 9, 1897, and who is a student in the public schools of Coos county. Mrs. Raymond was the only one of her family who was born in Oregon. She received her early edu- cation in the public schools of California and Coos county and has always been a loyal citi- zen of her native state.

In his political affiliations Mr. Raymond is a consistent democrat but takes little active part in public affairs and has never been an office seeker. . His only fraternal relation is with the Order of Red Men. He gives most of his time and attention to his large dairy and his growing stock business and is one of the enterprising and prosperous farmers of the district. He is improving his land in an intelligent way along lines which are scien- tific and progressive.

CAPTAIN PETER E. OLSEN, of Empire, Coos county, is sole owner of the schooner Rustler, used in Pacific coast trade. He was born in Norway, May 12, 1879, a son of In- gebrigt and Helena Olsen, in whose family were four children: Wilhelmina, the wife of John Peterson, of Empire, and the mother of five children; Mary and Annie, who live with their mother in Empire; and Peter E.

The father died in Norway in 1898 and Captain Olsen afterward came to America alone, settling at Empire, where he engaged in shipbuilding, having previously learned the ship carpenter's trade at North Bend, Oregon. He followed that business for five years, at the end of which time he built a gasoline launch which he named the Elmore, and operated on Coos bay in the passenger serv- ice for four years. He then sold his boat to the Umpqua Packing Company after which he built a larger launch and engaged in deep sea fishing and in selling the products of his efforts between Coos bay and Rogue river. He continued in that work for three years and is still the owner of the boat although it is not now in service. He afterward had a still larger boat which he built and named the Coaster, but eventually he gave up fish- ing and engaged in coast trade successfully.

He operated that boat for a year and a half, when he sold out to the Klamath River Can Company and became the owner of a large gasoline schooner of thirty-nine gross tons, which he put in service January 18, 1912, in the Pacific coast trade. This boat is equipped with the latest improved machinery and uses two fifty horse power engines of recent design. It is also equipped with sails. This schooner, called the Rustler, is winning for Captain Olsen a liberal share of the public patronage in the shipping interests of the district.

Captain Olsen is liberal in his political views, not holding strictly to the principles of any party but voting as his judgment dic- tates. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he is well known in Empire, where he has made many friends.

JAMES WILLIAM JUDD is a native son of Oregon and has always been interested in its commercial and agricultural development. He is the owner of a teaming business in Lake- side. He was born in Coos county, Oregon, November 7, 1878, and is a son of J. W. and Saralı (Dobkins) Judd, the former a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter of Iowa. In their family were six children : Johni W., who is operating a farm in the state of Washington; Rena, the wife of Edgar Travis, of San Francisco, California; James William; Eva, the wife of Harry Scott, of Seattle. Washington; Alice, who married Edward Archer, of Portland, Oregon; and Myrtle, now Mrs. Ned Galloway, of North Inlet, Oregon.

James W. Judd received his education in the public schools of his native state and was reared at home until he was fourteen years of age. His father was in the timber business in Coos county since he came to Oregon at the age of thirty-three and his son followed the same line of activity for seventeen years. He then came to Lakeside, where he entered the teaming and freight business, operating be- tween North Slough and Lakeside. Mr. Judd built the residence in which he resides at the time when he moved from Marshfield to Lakeside and it is a most pleasant and hos- pitable home. He has built up by strict in- tegrity and activity along business lines an enterprise which is doing much to promote the commercial prosperity of Lakeside.

In 1904, Mr. Judd was united in marriage in Douglas county to Miss Edith Noel, a native of Oregon and a daughter of John and Emma (Morehead) Noel, in whose family were ten children namely: Glen, of Gardiner. Oregon; Ray, of Marshfield; Ralph. of Gardi- ner; Edith, the wife of our subject; Eugenia, who is a resident of Marshfield; Margie, who married Harry Graham, of Gardiner: Lloyd. who makes his home with his parents in Coquille; Ethel and James, deceased: and Leigh, who is manager of the Elmira Lumber Company, of Elmira, Oregon. Mrs. Judd re- ceived her education in the Oregon public schools and remained at home until the time of her marriage. She and her husband became the parents of three children: Owen, who was born January 25. 1905, and who is attending

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school; Everett, born June 22, 1906; and Eu- gene, whose birth occurred on March 7, 1908.

Politically Mr. Judd is a firm republican and always votes the party ticket. He is intelligently interested in public affairs and eager to promote the welfare of his native section but he has never sought office for himself. He is known in Lakeside as one of its most enterprising and representative citi- zens. He is at the head of a rapidly growing and developing business founded upon his qualities of strict honesty and well tested integrity. The progress of any section of the country depends upon the individual success of its citizens. Mr. Judd realizes this fact and welcomes his personal prosperity as an addition to the development and upbuilding of his native state.

HON. ROBERT A. EMMITT. As road su- pervisor of Klamath county the Hon. Robert A. Emmitt is giving the major portion of his time to the establishment of good roads and the improvement of the already established highways of this section of the state. He has filled a number of other public offices and as a legislator has aided in forming the laws of Oregon. He has also figured prominently in agricultural circles as one of the extensive land owners of this part of the state and the course which he has pursued in every relation of life is one which commends him to the confidence and high regard of his fellow townsmen.

Mr. Emmitt was born in Logan county, Illi- nois, May 29, 1850, and from the age of two years has resided continuously in Oregon. He humorously puts it that he brought his par- ents with him at that time to this state. He is descended from Irish ancestry and is a son of John and Caroline (Thompson) Emmitt. His grandfather, Samuel Emmitt, died in Pulaski, Illinois, in 1869. The father, John Emmitt, was born on the Susquehanna river, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 20, 1825, and when fourteen years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the family home being established in Logan county, where John Emmitt at- tended the district schools. He continued to live in that state until the spring of 1852, when he started with his family for the far west, his equipment for the six months' journey consisting of a wagon, five yoke of oxen, two cows and a horse. He arrived in Coles valley, Douglas county, where he secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres on which he built a one-room log cabin fourteen by sixteen feet. In that dwelling on a bank of the Umpqua river the family resided for fourteen years and in 1866 Mr. Emmitt built a more modern residence. He continued to cultivate the old home farm until his death, December 16, 1901. The place is situated five miles northwest of Roseburg, in Coles valley, and has since been occupied by his widow and the other members of the family. Prominent in politics, John Emmitt served as a member of the state legislature from 1884 to 1888, being an advocate of the republican party's principles from the time of the Civil war. In Illinois, on the 17th of

September, 1847, he wedded Caroline Thomp- son, who was born in Tennessee, April 29, 1827. She went to Illinois with her parents in 1831, settling in Logan county, where she remained until she accompanied her husband to the west. From time to time Mr. Emmitt added to his original holdings until he was the owner of eight hundred and sixty acres at the time of his demise and in addition to general farming he carried on stock-raising, meeting with gratifying success.

The earliest recollections of the Hon. Rob- ert A. Emmitt have to do with the old dona- tion claim in Douglas county. He was eleven years of age when he first saw a clock, his father returning home from the city with the timepiece. When it struck the hour at night Mr. Emmitt got up to see what the trouble was. His parents resided in Oregon for two years before they had a cook stove in their house, as it was necessary to ship all freight around Cape Horn. They were here twenty- five years before the father owned a spring wagon and there was no farming machinery during the early period of their residence in this state. The pioneer must depend largely upon his own labor for everything and for one winter the Emmitt family had only such flour as was ground in a coffee mill.

As a boy Robert A. Emmitt attended the country school in Coles valley, displaying such aptitude that he was soon able to teach school. He also learned and followed the carpenter's trade. On coming to Klamath county on June 4, 1875, he settled ten miles southwest of Klamath Falls, where he pre- empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, cultivating that tract until 1880, when he sold it and bought other property. To this he added as his financial resources increased and soon was the owner of eleven hundred and sixty acres in three different tracts. All of the improvements upon the land were made under his personal direction and he placed . more than five hundred acres under cultiva- tion while the remainder was utilized as a range for his cattle. He continued to culti- vate and improve this land until September, 1907, when he leased his holdings near Keno to renters and came to Klamath Falls. He had surveying contracts with the United States government and spent about four months in that work. In 1906 he was defeated for the office of county judge on the republican ticket. In February, 1908, he was appointed postmaster of Klamath Falls and took charge of the office on the 9th of March, resigning after three years and seven months' service. Since January, 1912, he has filled the office of road supervisor of Klamath county by appointment of the county court and now gives the greater part of his time to the supervision of the roads, although he still has ranching interests which he supervises to some extent. While he was postmaster he was ordered to Washington, D. C .. to take an examination preparatory to the estab- lishment of the first postal savings bank in Oregon. Klamath Falls was designated as the location for the first postal bank and Mr. Emmitt became the first postal banker in the state. His trip to Washington was the

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only time that he returned to the east since coming to this section when two years of age.

On the 6th of May, 1875, Mr. Emmitt mar- ried Flora Leslie, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, October 27, 1858, a daughter of Josiah and Mary (Lebo) Leslie, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively, the former of Scotch-Dutch and the latter of Pennsylvania Dutch lineage. The father died in Indiana in 1866 and four years later the mother, accompanied by her two children, came to Oregon, settling near Roseburg. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt: Kitty Jane, deceased; Georgia, the wife of Henry Gedding, of Siskiyou county, California; Cora Mabel, deceased; Ivy, the wife of K. D. North, of Klamath Falls; and Charmion, the wife of W. P. Johnson, also of Klamath Falls. There are five grandchil- dren, Mrs. Gedding having two sons and a daughter and Mrs. North and Mrs. Johnson each having a son.

Mr. Emmitt is a consistent republican and for more than two decades held the office of justice of the peace in the Plevna precinct of Klamath county. From 1886 until 1888 he was county commissioner and in 1898 he was made a member of the state board of equalization from the first judicial district. Further honor came to him through his party when in 1900 he was elected to the state legislature from the district comprising Kla- math, Lake, Crook, and Wasco counties. On the expiration of his term he was reelected and during his service in the legislature stanchly supported various measures and movements which he deemed beneficial to the community at large. Fraternally he is con- nected with Linkville Lodge, No. 110, A. O. U. W. His interest centers in this district and he is an enthusiastic champion of Oregon, of which he has practically been a lifelong resident. That state has given him good op- portunities but in return he has given it loyalty and devotion manifest in practical efforts for the upbuilding of the district in which he lives.

P. J. LINDBERG is prominent and well known in the general contracting business in Port Orford and is also an active factor in various other important enterprises. He has built during the thirty years of his residence in Oregon, almost all of the business and residence structures in Port Orford, as well as many farm buildings in this and various other parts of Curry county. He was born in Sweden, September 25, 1851, a son of Eric Adolph and Johanna Lindberg, both of whom died in their native country. He is practi- cally self-educated, having received very lim- ited school advantages in Sweden. When he was fourteen years of age he began to earn his own living, following the sea as a sailor for a number of years and visiting over half the countries of the world. He spent three years in Chile, South America, and long periods at various ports, finally landing in San Francisco, California. For one year he sailed out of this port and then learned the carpentering, bridge-building and plumbing trades, which he followed in California for a

number of years. In 1882 he came to Port Orford where he has since followed the con- tracting and building business, founding a distinct and well deserved success upon effi- ciency, industry, and well directed labor. He is the only contractor in the village and erected most of the principal buildings. He has also been active in the construction of barns, and other farm buildings and has ex- tended his field of labor throughout all of Curry county. He is also engaged in the undertaking business in Port Orford. His home is a fine modern residence equipped with all conveniences and of pleasing design.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 102

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072