The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 107

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

USA > Oregon > The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912 > Part 107

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).

Thirty-three years ago he began the de- velopment of his ranch at Adams Point. two miles east of his present location on Tule

708

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

lake. When he took up his abode on his present place, twenty-four years ago, it was a desert claim, covered with sage brush, which he grubbed up through his own labor. He has erected thereon a beautiful modern resi- dence abont two and three-fourths miles east of Merrill and has set ont a grove of English poplars. This land is now all under ditch and constitutes one of the valuable ranch properties of the district. There are good improvements upon his place. He makes a specialty of handling horses and cattle, hav- ing from four to five hundred head of horses and about the same number of cattle. Few men know how to handle as well as he does wild horses and break them in for farnı work or driving. He was actively interested in the first annual Rodeo held at Klamath Falls on the 31st of May and the 1st and 2d of June. 1912, for which purpose he fur- nished fifty of the eighty head of horses used. He attended to the corralling and catching of the horses for the riders and he today catches and breaks a wild horse with the same ease which he did in earlier man- hood. He started out in life as a cowboy, empty-handed, and he is today one of the prosperous residents of southern Oregon, yet at all times has been liberal with his means. His beautiful home is the abode of a warm- hearted hospitality and its doors are ever open for the reception of friend or stranger alike. He kept open house for many years when there was no hotel in this district and any guest at his home at the present time is most heartily received and royally en- tertained. In addition to all of his other business projects Mr. Adams assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Mer- rill and acted as its president for six months but he did not desire to continue in the office and at the present time is serving as a director.

Mr. Adams has been married twice. On the 3d of May, 1888, he wedded Miss Fannie E !. Steele. who was born in Nevada, in 1865, and was reared in Reno, a daughter of Wil- liam Steele, who was one of the pioneers in the reclamation of this country through irrigation. It was through his work in that connection that Mr. Adams met him and ul- timately became a member of his family through his marriage to his daughter. In 1900 Mr. Adams was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. who died on the 8th of May of that year, leaving three sons: Wil- liam Walter, who is married and resides on his father's timber culture claim near Mer- rill; and J. Frank and Robert Steele, both at home. On the 11th of August, 1902, Mr. Adams wedded Miss Martha Cardwell. who was born in Jackson county, Oregon, March 7, 1866. She had formerly been a school teacher and was a friend of the first Mrs. Adams. making her home with them for some time. There is one child of this mar- riage, John Martin.

Mr. Adams was reared a democrat but takes only a citizen's interest in politics. He holds membership with various fraternal organizations, including the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Workmen and the Hoo Hoos. He

has a wide acquaintance with men of state and national reputation, has led an ex- emplary life, is a gentleman in every respect and commands the highest regard and con- fidence of all who know him. He never uses liquor or tobacco and has ever en- deavored to follow the golden rule, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him. All acknowledge his worth as a man and citizen. What he has done for his sec- tion of the state cannot be overestimated. He was instrumental in bringing a Bohemian colony of about eighty families to this dis- triet and located for them a town site, called Malin, giving the land for that purpose. He has disposed of about three sections of land to these settlers, requiring a small payment down and allowing them long time to make their payments. He shows that he has con- fidence in their integrity and willingness to meet their indebtedness and his confidence in few cases has been betrayed. As the years go on the worth of his work will be more and more highly appreciated. He certainly deserves all the success that has been his and the honor and regard which are freely accorded him.

EDWIN EPHRAIM STRAW, M. D. In every town and city there are men who by the consensus of public opinion are placed in the rank of the most enterprising and useful citizens. To this distinction Dr. Straw is justly entitled among the citizens of Marshfield, this state. He was born Feb- ruary 28, 1877, in Wythe county, Virginia, and is a son of Dr. John B. and Nancy Mar- garet (Ward) Straw. His paternal grand- father was of German extraction and a na- tive of Pennsylvania and the grandfather on the maternal side was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The family of his mother were Vir-

ginians, whose ancestors for many genera- tions had maintained their home and family name among the very earliest of the settlers of the Old Dominion, dating far back to the first of the English settlements. To the par- ents of Dr. Straw twelve children were born: Mary Virginia, deceased; Nancy Margaret, also deceased; Dr. J. Robert, who died at the age of forty-three years; Isaac J., who is engaged in ranching at Klamath Falls, this state; Ella, the wife of William Roneberg, of San Francisco, California, and the mother of four children, Bessie, Clarence C., Charle- ton S. and Robert H .; James W., who is en- gaged in dairying at Klamath Falls, Ore- gon; Henry W., of Klamath Falls, who is engaged in the timber business; Dr. William R .. who has passed away; Charles F., of Oklahoma, who is married and has five chil- dren; Lula, deceased; Edwin Ephraim, the subject of this sketch; and Walter W., de- ceased.

Dr. Straw was reared at home and edu- cated in the public schools, and after having passed through all of the grades he became for two years a student at the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, after which he took up the study of medicine and became a pupil of the Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee, from which he was

709

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

graduated on March 28, with the degree of M. D., in the class of 1898. Immediately following his graduation he established him- self in the general practice of medicine at Ashland, Wisconsin, where he remained for one year, after which he removed to Klamath Falls, this state, and at that place was oc- cupied in the pursuit of his profession for two years, at the end of which time he re- moved to Marshfield. In December, 1901, he opened his office and has since been giv- ing his entire attention to the general prac- tice of medicine, in which he has attained an enviable degree of success. His financial rating is very high and his holdings in real estate and other property are extensive in Marshfield and various other parts of Coos county.

Dr. Straw was united in marriage on the 19th of April, 1907, to Miss Sara Lakeman, a daughter of William and Annie (Barrie) Lakeman, who were natives of California. Dr. Straw is affiliated with the democratic party and is 'now serving his fourth term as mayor of Marshfield. He was first elected to that office in 1905, since which election he has been returned for three consecutive terms. He has been a member of the state board of health and was the marine hospital surgeon for two years and at present is a member of the state naval board. Dr. Straw has made a record for personal success and useful citizenship in Marshfield, such as to place him among the influential and highly respected professional and business men of this portion of the state of Oregon. His natural and acquired abilities have been de- voted to the welfare of the people and the general uplift and improvement of society. He is a man whose influence is readily ob- tained whenever a measure of public inter- est presents itself which seeks the further advancement of the interests of the people.

JULIUS LINCOLN POOLE, who is a native son of Oregon and a western man by birth, training and preference, is conducting the Midland Hotel in the town of Midland in a manner that has made the hostelry well patronized and popular. His birth occurred at Canyonville, Douglas county, on the 8th of April, 1862, his parents being Napoleon Bona- parte and Sarah (Cordwell) Poole, the former a native of Kansas and the latter of Nashville, Tennessee. They were married in the state of Tennessee and in 1849 crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon City. Mr. and Mrs. Poole each took up a donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres in the South Ump- qua valley, where they have continued to reside to the present time. The former has devoted his attention to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising throughout his entire business career. Our subject is one of a family of nine children, the others be- ing as follows: W. P., who is known as the wealthiest gold miner in British Columbia; James Washington, who is a resident of Adel, Lake county, Oregon; Albert J .. who inakes his home in Idaho; John W., of Salem, Oregon, who is a section boss manager in the service of the Southern Pacific Rail-

road; Desty, who is the wife of John Scott and lives in California; Andrew, a forest ranger of Douglas county; Vernon, who lives at home with his parents in the Ump- qua valley, in Douglas county; and Uma- tilla, the wife of Fred Bomanbrake, who fol- lows the profession of teaching in Douglas county.

Filled with the spirit of adventure, Julius Lincoln Poole ran away from home when a youth of eleven years. He came to the Klamath country and on to Fort Harney, where he worked for wages during a period of two years. In 1881 and 1882 he drove a stage from Crow Hollow to Heppner, a dis- tance of one hundred miles. Subsequently he went to Corvallis and then returned home. Later he made his way to the Harney valley and was employed as cook for the buccaro crew of Henry Levens, the present sheriff of Harney county. Going to Washington, ne was there married, in 1891, to Miss Anna Sampson, who was born in California, in 1878. and is a daughter of Joseph Sampson, living in the Sacramento valley of Califor- nia. Following his marriage Mr. Poole was employed as a cook by L. W. Myers in the inines of Washington during the greater part of a period of nine years. Making his way to Douglas county, he operated a rented ranch for two years and then removed to McCloud, California, where he was employed by Mrs. P. Hearst to haul rock for a sum- mer resort on the McCloud river. Subse- quently he again returned to his father's home and engaged in ranching. He next came to Fort Klamath, Klamath county, and purchased a ranch of J. Wheeler but even- tually sold out. For a few months he then conducted a saloon at Klamath Falls. In November, 1911, he came to Midland and rented the hotel which he is now conducting. Perhaps no one business enterprise or in- dustry indicates more clearly the commer- cial and social status of a town than its hotels. The wide-awake, enterprising vil- lages and cities must have pleasant accom- modations for visitors and traveling men and the foreign public judge of a community by the entertainment afforded to the stran- gers. In this regard the Midland Hotel, of which Mr. Poole is proprietor, is an index of the character and advantages of Midland, for the hostelry will rank favorably with those of many a larger place, and its genial proprietor neglects nothing that can add to the comfort of his guests.

Mr. and Mrs. Poole are the parents of three children, as follows: Bessie, who is the wife of Winter Knight, of Douglas coun- ty; Albert Vernon, still at home; and Alice.

CHARLES F. McKNIGHT is a resident of Marshfield, this state, where he is engaged in the general practice of law. He was born in Marshfield, Coos county, on the 23d of Feb- ruary, 1876, and is a son of William and Mary (Wright) Mcknight. His father was born near Richmond. Virginia, and emigrated to California in 1849. After spending two vears in the Golden State he removed to Oregon in 1851 and located near Salem and

710

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

later he removed to Douglas county and in 1865 he settled on this south fork of Coos river, where he purchased the right to the De Cues donation claim, a body of land consisting of three hundred and forty-six acres. William McKnight followed farming during all his life and during the years in- tervening between 1865 and 1898 was en- gaged in that occupation in the development and operation of the farm which lie pur- chased on the Coos river. He died on Sep- tember 8, 1898. His widow is at present the owner of that beautiful farm and is now living, at the age of sixty-eight, at Marsh- field, this state. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse and Margaret (Hare) Wright and with her parents emigrated to Oregon in the year 1847. Jesse Wright, the father of Mrs. William McKnight, passed away on the plains on the way here, in 1847, and the mother and children located their liome near the present site of Eugene in Lane county, where they continued to live for about two years. Mrs. Wright was again married to John Loose and they later moved to Benton county and took up six liundred and forty acres of government land between them, where they continued to re- side until about 1858, when they removed to Douglas county and remained there until the early '60s when they came to Coos coun- ty and continued to live liere until they passed away. Mr. and Mrs. William Mc- Knight were united in marriage in Douglas county, May 1, 1859, and to them were born five children, as follows: Mrs. Fannie Haz- ard, the widow of S. H. Hazard; Mrs. George W. Loggie, who is a resident of Bellingham, Washington, where her husband operates one of the largest lumber and milling plants of that section; Mrs. C. A. Metlin, of Marsh- field, engaged in the hotel business in that city; Mrs. E. W. Dean, who is deceased, as is also her husband; and Charles F., of this review.

The last named was reared at home and received his education in the public schools of this state and after graduating from the high school of Marshfield became a student of the State Agricultural College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1898, after which he became a student of law in the office of S. H. Hazard of Marsh- field and in the month of October, 1900, was admitted to the bar. Immediately follow- ing his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with S. H. Hazard and continued to be associated with him in the general practice of law until the time of Mr. Haz- ard's death, which occurred in 1901. Since that time Mr. McKnight has continued alone in the practice of his profession. His duties in the general course of practice have been in the different courts of Oregon and the United States court at Marshfield. Mr. Mc- Knight is the owner of his beautiful residence property in Marshfield and also of other valu- able business and residence properties in that city and is extensively interested in farm lands in other portions of Coos county.

On the 4th of October, 1911, Mr. McKnight was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Ann

Spangler, who was born at Independence, Oregon. The early years of her life were spent at Corvallis, where she resided until the time of her marriage. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Spangler, wlio were among the early pioneers of this state and are now deceased, her father's death having occurred January 22, 1912, and that of her mother in May, 1908, at Corvallis. To Mr. and Mrs. Spangler were born three children: Mrs. L. L. Porter, of Oregon City; Martin L., of Oakland, California; and Mrs. Lulu Ann McKnight. The last named has the distinction of being a regular graduate of the State Agricultural College. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Charles F. McKnight is affiliated with the democratic party. He does not seek political preferment of any kind but devotes liis en- tire attention to the practice of his profes- sjon. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of Marshfield and has filled all the chairs therein. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. McKnight is one of the trusted and competent attorneys of Marshfield, devoting his entire attention to the interests of his profession. He is a man of public spirit, interested in the wel- fare and advancement of the community in which he lives. His large and increasing practice has in no sense disassociated him from the social life of his city, and his in- fluence and help are always forthcoming in the promotion of any public measure in- tended for the betterment of his state and county.

SIVERT E. AASEN, recognized as an ex- pert agriculturist of Coos county and as a man whose wise management of his farm has contributed to the expansion of the dis- trict, was born in Norway, May 15, 1846. His parents lived and died in their native coun- try and had ten children, all of whom re- mained at home with the exception of our subject. Sivert Aasen crossed the Atlantic to America in 1871, settled in San Francisco and for one year followed the sea, making that city his headquarters. He had been a sailor for about fifteen years in his native country and was familiar with the details of navigation. His residence in Coos county dates from 1872 in which year he came north to Oregon and bought land on Hall creek, six miles below Myrtle Point. His original purchase comprised one hundred and sixty acres and upon this property he lias since resided. He began its cultivation immediately and has at the present time one of the highly improved and cultivated tracts of land in the district. At one time he purchased forty acres which he added to his homestead, but he sold eighty acres to his son and now has a well improved and prosperous farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Aasen follows general farming and his years of experience have won him success.

In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Marie L. Bagge, who was born in Norway

S. E. AASEN AND FAMILY

713

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

December 28, 1843, and came to America with her brother in 1873. She married our subject in San Francisco, California, and with him came to Coos county. Mrs. Aasen's par- ents both died in Norway and her brother and two sisters are living in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Aasen have seven children: Mary Magdaline, born in 1874, who is the wife of Henry K. Fredenberg, of Hall creek, Oregon, by whom she has five children, Rosa A., Henry L., Gussie M., Edward and Hilda. Edwin, born in 1878, who is foreman of a log- ging camp; Lewis, born March 11, 1880, who married Miss Alice Everden, of Rock Creek, Oregon, and who is farming on a part of his father's farm; John L., whose birth occurred on the 29th of November, 1881, who married Miss Amy Kelly, of Coquille, Oregon and is in partnership with his brother Edwin in the lumber business; Sigwell A. and Magnor T., twins, the former a resident of California and the latter of Coos county, where he is living on the homestead claim with his wife who was in her maidenhood Miss Charlotte Hill, and his two children, Elda M. and Alton; and Olaf H., born October 6, 1884, who is aid- ing his father in the operation of the home farm. All the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Aasen received their education in the public schools of Coos county and with their parents they attend the United Brethren church.

Sivert E. Aasen is an enterprising and in- telligent agriculturist. The success which he enjoys is the natural result of well directed labor along progressive lines, aided by per- sonal experience in the details of his occu- pation and supplemented by a business sagac- ity and integrity of a high order.

ALEXANDER JOHNSON enjoys the dis- tinction of having originated and organized the Finnish Grocery Company, of which he is president and general manager. This new business venture is established in Marshfield and since its organization has been a grati- fying success. He was born September 5, 1877, in Finland and settled in Marshfield on June 24, 1895, going direct to that place from his native country. In his parents' family were twelve children, only four of whom are living, namely: William and Ru- dolph, both of whom reside in Finland; Hannah, who is the wife of William Strang, of North Bend, Oregon, and the mother of one child, Electa; and Alexander, of this review.

Alexander Johnson started in life for him- self at the age of fourteen years, his first occupation being that of farm laborer, and in that employment he continued for a period of three years, after which he came to Marshfield, his brother having preceded him to that place about three years previ- ously. On reaching Oregon he found em- ployment in the logging camps in that por- tion of the state and continued in that oc- cupation for three years. He later was en- gaged in various positions for nine years, at the end of which time he engaged in the café business to which he devoted his at- tention for four years. He then sold out

and entered the life insurance business as agent for the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Johnson's residence is at No. 567 North Second street, Marshfield.

In 1904 Mr. Johnson was united in mar- riage to Miss Alma Carlson, a daughter of Victor and Sophia (Ledsley) Carlson, both natives of Finland, Mrs. Johnson's birth, however, having occurred in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of a son, Mel- vin, who was born in 1906. Mr. Johnson is not affiliated with any political party, pre- ferring to give his support to the candi- date who in his judgment represents the best interests of the people. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and belongs to the Suami Lodge, a Finnish organization, and is also a member of the Foresters of Amer- ica. He is one of the successful and en- terprising business men of Marshfield and is a man whose integrity in business affairs is always to be relied upon.

WILLIAM W. HOLLAND is one of the most respected citizens of Marshfield, in Coos county. He is a native of Oregon, his birth having occurred in this county January 19, 1865. He is a son of David and Sarah Hol- land, natives of Scotland and England re- spectively. David Holland emigrated to Nova Scotia in the year 1830 and from that country removed to Maryland in 1850, where he continued to reside until 1859. He then removed to Oregon, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and on reaching this state he purchased a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres located near Myrtle Point. Upon that property he es- tablished his home and in the following spring suffered the misfortune of having his entire improvements, together with all of his personal property, destroyed by the floods which covered a large section of the territory in which he had located. Imme- diately after this disaster he went to the East Port coal mines near Marshfield and worked in them as superintendent for a period of ten years. He purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land across the bay from Marshfield in 1872 and two years later disposed of that property and established himself as a butcher in Marshfield. In that business he continued for two years, during which time his wife purchased an interest in the Blanco Hotel at Marshfield. In 1880 he also became interested in that hostelry. He and his wife were associated in conduct- ing that property from 1886 until 1896 when they retired from active business and main- tained their residence in Marshfield until the time of their deaths, his demise occur- ring in 1908 and that of his wife on the 25th of March, 1902. In their family were five children: Mrs. Simpson, of North Bend, Ore- gon; Mrs. Ross, of Marshfield; Thomas D., of Seattle; William W., of this review; and Parker B., of Marshfield, who is engaged in operating a ranch of four hundred and thirty- seven acres located near Bandon, of which he and his brother William W. are joint owners.

714

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

William W. Holland was reared in his father's home and received his early educa- tion in the public schools, while later le completed a course in the Rhode Island Busi- ness College and was honorably graduated from that institution. He remained at home during the life of his parents and at the age of twenty-two years became an apprenticed shipbuilder in Marshfield, continuing until he had mastered the trade. In 1890 lie es- tablished himself in the boat-building busi- lless at Marshfield and has so been engaged for the past twenty-two years, during which time he has confined his operations largely to the building of boats of various tonnages and capacities for use on the bay and the rivers of this state. To Mr. Holland belongs the distinction of having constructed the first gasoline launch ever built in Marshfield. As a builder of boats he enjoys a reputation second to none in his state and his establish- inent is one of the largest of its kind in Coos county. He is the owner of a half in- terest in four hundred and thirty-seven acres of ranch land near Bandon, has large inter- ests in various business enterprises in Marslı- field and in the surrounding country and is the owner of his beautiful residence located on one of the desirable residence streets of that city.

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.

The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 107

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