The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 108

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

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Mr. Holland is a member of Blanco Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M., at Marshfield, the Fraternal Union and the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Marshfield. He is unmarried and by his associates and friends, who are widely distributed throughout Coos county, he is highly esteemed for his integrity and for his upright and consistent life.

ANDREW ANDERSON is the owner of a valuable farm three and one half miles up the Coquille river from Coquille, Oregon, and is bringing to its cultivation a well seasoned knowledge of agriculture the acquirement of which had its beginning when he labored as a boy upon his father's farm. He was born in James county, Iowa, September 6, 1866, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza (Bar- nard) Anderson, the former a native of Scot- land and the latter of England. The par- ents were married in Canada and lived in that country for a number of years before they removed to Towa. In that state the father bought land and carried on an agri- cultural enterprise until 1873 when he re- moved to Arkansas and followed farming for seven years. In 1880 he moved to Kan- sas and six years later to Oregon where he bought land on the Coquille river and was active in its development and operation un- til his death, March 14. 1908. He had sur- vived his wife for seventeen years. her death occurring in 1891. They were the parents of a number of children, four of whom are still living: Annie, the wife of Mr. Gambol, of Canada; William, of Coos county; Thomas, who resides in Bandon, Oregon; and Andrew, the subject of this sketch.

Andrew Anderson received his education in the public schools of Kansas and Coos coun- ty, Oregon. He lived with his parents until after his father's death and was identified

with agricultural pursuits from early boy- hood. When he grew to maturity he entered into partnership with his father in the oper- ation of the home farm and came into sole ownership of the homestead when his father died. The farm comprised at that time one hundred and twenty acres and to its im- provement and development Mr. Anderson gave his entire time and attention. He has since added eighty adjoining acres and is thus the proprietor of two hundred acres of the most fertile and productive land in Oregon. His holdings are located three and one half miles above Coquille on the Coquille river.

Andrew Anderson is a democrat, giving a general allegiance to the party, but he re- serves the right of following his individual judgment in all political issues. He is a member of Coquille Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F. His record in agriculture is commendable. He has shown himself thoroughly conversant with the details of general farming, and his life has been honorable and happy because it has been useful and upright.

DAVID C. KINDRED. David C. Kindred, living at Hammond, has for the past three years been in the service of the govern- ment. His birth occurred in Clatsop county, Oregon, on the 15th of August, 1862, his par- ents being B. C. and Rachel (Miller) Kin- dred, natives of Indiana and Kentucky re- spectively. The father was born in 1818, while the mother's natal year was 1821. They celebrated their marriage in Missouri and left that state in 1843, settling near Portland, Oregon, where Mr. Kindred car- ried on general agricultural pursuits for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Clatsop county, taking up a do- nation claim comprising a section of land which is now the site of the town of Ham- mond. He remained on the property until called to his final rest in 1904. In 1903 his farm was laid out in town lots and all except sixty-six were sold, these being still owned by members of the Kindred family. Our subject owns the improvements on the old . homestead property. His mother passed away in 1898. She had twelve children, as follows : Henry, who is a resident of Seaside, Ore- gon; Nancy. the wife of H. F. Fisher, of Hammond, Oregon; James, living in Warren- ton. Oregon; Julia, the wife of Captain J. W. Babbage, of Astoria, Oregon; Amelia, the wife of C. W. Holt, of Portland, Oregon; Amanda, the wife of William Madison, of Portland, Oregon; Rosetta, the wife of Frank Cunningham, of Hammond, Oregon; Sarah, the wife of Willis Mudd, of Hammond. Ore- gon: William, who makes his home at Toke- land. Washington; Mary, who is the wife of Frank Mudd and resides in the Lewis and Clarke river territory; David C.,of this re- view; and Joel, who was accidentally shot when a youth of nineteen.

David C. Kindred began earning his own livelihood at the age of nineteen and for a period of eighteen years followed steamboat- ing on the Columbia river. In 1908 he en- tered the government service and since that

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time has been connected with the engineer- ing department in the improvement of the Columbia river. He owns a handsome resi- dence and other property in Hammond and also has property in Portland.

In September, 1896, Mr. Kindred was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Foster, who was born in Michigan on the 12th of October, 1859, her parents being James and Mary Annis (Snyder) Foster, natives of New York. Both passed away in Michigan, the demise of the father occurring ten years prior to that of the mother. They had nine children, namely: A. M., the wife of B. F. Casey, of Michigan; Jane, the wife of C. A. Wilson, of Hammond, Oregon; Mrs. Kindred; Mrs. Minnie Marsh, who resides in Marshall, Michigan; Polly, Clara, Georgia and Jesse, all of whom are decased; and one who died in infancy.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Kindred are devoted and faithful members of the Episcopal church. The former has always resided within the borders of Clatsop county and en- joys an enviable reputation as one of its prosperous and esteemed citizens.

GEORGE WRIGHT WARREN, one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens of Warrenton and Clatsop county, is identified with financial interests as the' vice president of the Astoria National Bank and is the chief executive officer of the mercantile concern conducting business under the name of Ross, Higgins & Company at Astoria. He is also well known as a stockman of Warrenton and has extensive landed inter-' ests. His birth occurred at Astoria, Ore- gon, on the 11th of October, 1880, his par- ents being Daniel K. and Sarah (Eaton) Warren, the former a native of Bath, New York, and the latter of New Hampshire. Their marriage was celebrated at Prince- ton, Illinois. In 1848 Daniel K. Warren came west with his brother, his parents hav- ing died in the east. He crosed the plains in 1852, was married on his return to Illi- nois and once more came to Oregon, set- tling at Knappa, where he made his home for ten years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Astoria and einbarked in the mercantile business, conduct- ing an establishment of that character for · four years. Subsequently he removed to Warrenton, where he purchased a large tract of tide land and reclaimed it by a series of dikes, making it very valuable. He was like- wise interested in several steamboats and served as the president of the Astoria Nation- al Bank, the president of the Astoria Sav- ings Bank and the president of the Astoria & South Coast Railroad. His demise occurred. on the 3d of September, 1903, and thus the community lost one of its leading and most highly respected citizens. He was one of four sons, his brothers being as follows: Phineas C., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; John F., who was extensively engaged in the lumber busi- ness and who died at Knappa, Oregon; and George W., who was accidentally killed at his logging camp in the '70s. The mother of

our subject has attained the age of seventy years and makes her home at Warrenton. She has four children, as follows: Lulu, the wife of H. C. Thompson, who is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at Portland; Maud W., the wife of C. R. Hig- gins, who is the assistant cashier of the Astoria National Bank; George Wright, of this review; and Frederick L., who is en- gaged in the insurance and real-estate busi- ness at Astoria and is also a director of the Astoria National Bank.

After leaving high school George W. War- ren attended the Portland Academy for three years. Subsequently he began business as a raiser and shipper of stock at Warrenton, Oregon, and has been identified with that line of activity to the present time. He is also connected with mercantile interests as the president of the firm doing business under the name of Ross, Higgins & Company al. Astoria. He is likewise the vice president of the Astoria National Bank. His property holdings are extensive and valuable. He owns twelve hundred acres of tide land at Willapa Harbor, Washington, has several tracts in Oregon and owns the town site of Warrenton in connection with the family es- tate. Mr. Warren is widely recognized as one of the leading citizens of his native county and has earned for himself an envia- ble reputation as a careful man of business, his prompt and honorable methods having won him the deserved and unbounded con- fidence of his fellowmen.

On the 1st of March, 1906, Mr. Warren was united in marriage to Miss Florence E. Baker, a native of Nebraska and a daughter of Charles G. A. and Ruth Baker, who were born in New York and Nebraska respectively. When their daughter Florence was still but a child they removed to Sacramento, Cali- fornia, where Mrs. Baker passed away in January, 1903. Mr. Baker then went to Seattle, Washington, where for a short time he acted as manager of a hardware com- pany. Subsequently he took up his abode in San Francisco, California, where he is now the manager of the commission firm of May- dwell & Company, dealers in iron. He has attained the age of forty-seven years. Mrs. Warren, a graduate of the Annie Wright Seminary of Tacoma, Washington, is the older of the two children, her brother being Russell M., of Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Warren is a republican in politics but does not desire office as a reward for his party fealty. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. A young man of unfailing courtesy and unfeigned cordiality, he has won the friendship and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.

ROBERT ALEXANDER HUME, one of the most extensive dealers in building materials in the northwest and largely interested also in their manufacture, was born in Placerville, Eldorado county, California. September 16, 1862, a son of John and Martha (Hixon) ITume, the former a lawyer by profession. Robert Alexander Hume completed his edu- cation in St. Augustine College at Benecia,

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California, and afterward became junior clerk in a law publishing house. Since May, 1883, he has been a resident of Portland, ar- riving in this city in the year in which he attained his majority. Since that time close application to business, determined purpose and progressive methods have promoted his advancement until he is today one of the largest dealers in building materials in the northwest. He has been engaged in this busi- ness for several years, during which period be has continuously extended his trade re- lations and as a manufacturer of building materials he is also widely known.

Mr. Hume has attained high rank in Ma- sonry, belonging to Portland Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M., while in Oriental Consistory, No. 2, S. P. R. S., he attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. He likewise belongs to the Woodmen of the World and to the Royal Arcanum and also holds membership in the Commercial and Apollo Clubs. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. While a republican in politics he does not hold to what have be- come known as the Rooseveltian principles. He is preeminently a business man, alert and enterprising, bending his efforts to the de- velopment of the business, which, in its ex- tensive propositions, stands as a monument to his ability and perseverance.

WILLIAM CONSTANT LEEVER. Com- mercial, agricultural and mining interests claim the attention and demand the energies of William Constant Leever, who has grad- ually worked his way upward toward suc- cess, employing modern and progressive busi- ness methods which have commended him to the confidence and patronage of the general public. He is closely associated with com- mercial and financial circles in Jackson coun- ty and at the same time is one of the politi- cal leaders of Central Point, where in office he has made a most creditable record, ever placing patriotism before partisanship and the welfare of the community before per- sonal aggrandizement. He is proprietor of a hardware store at Central Point and is also president of the Pearl Mining Company. His birth occurred upon his father's claim two miles west of Central Point, April 4. 1858, his parents being William T. and Eliz- abeth M. (Constant) Leever, the former born in Ohio, February 27, 1829, and the lat- ter near Springfield, Illinois.

William T. Leever, the father, was edu- cated in the schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward engaged in teaching in that state. In 1853 he made the long journey across the plains to Oregon but was not so long a period upon the way as many travelers as he drove horses and was thus able to cover the dis- tance in three months. He first took up his abode on a farm near Scio, in Linn county, and engaged in teaching in one of the little old-time log schoolhouses. In 1854 he re- moved to Roseburg, where he followed teach- ing for a year, and in 1855 he arrived in Jackson county, becoming identified with the ' educational interests of this district. At

length, however, he concentrated his ener- gies upon agricultural pursuits, purchasing, in 1856, a ranch of three hundred and twen- ty acres near Central Point. With char- acteristic energy he began the development of that property which he brought under a high state of cultivation and on which he continued to make his home to the time of his death, on the 2d of March, 1903. He was ever a loyal and progressive citizen and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted for service as a member of Company A, First Oregon Volunteer Infantry. He was made first sergeant and did duty under Cap- tain William V. Rinehart until honorably discharged, on the 23d of November, 1864. He was principally engaged in frontier ser- vice, fighting the Indians and conducting emi- grants to points of safety upon their ar- rival from the east. He was stationed at different times at Fort Boise, Fort Harney, Vancouver and at other places in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, remaining through- out his life a patriot in his devotion to the country and her welfare. His political alle- giance was always given to the republican party and his religious faith was evidenced by his membership in the Baptist church, in which he served as a deacon. He mar- ried Elizabeth M. Constant, a daughter of Isaac Constant, who was born in Virginia and in his early boyhood days went with his parents to Kentucky. Subsequently he be- came a resident of Sangamon county, Illinois, and there enlisted for service in the Black Hawk war in 1832. In 1849 he made the trip across the plains to the northwest and helped to cut the timber for the first gristmill in Oregon City. In. 1850 he returned to Illinois for his family and in 1852 once more came to the Pacific coast country, securing a claim one-half mile east of Central Point. Adding to this property from time to time he even- tually became the owner of eight hundred acres of land which he devoted to general farming and stock-raising. When in Illinois he had become a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and during the Civil war lie stanchly advocated the Union cause. He did not be- lieve in oppression of or injustice to the In- dians any more than he did to the negroes of the south and, about 1884, when he came to know Major Lipton, of Indian war fame, he. refused to help him in fighting peaceful In- dians. In fact, he always was a friend of the red men and was successful in his deal- ings with them. That they had perfect con- fidence in him is shown by the fact that at the outbreak of the Rogue river war Chief Sam dispatched a special messenger-his fa- vorite daughter Mary-to Mr. Constant, as- suring him of the safety of himself and family. should they desire to continue on the home farm. Mr. Constant was a mountaineer and scout. and took the first white party to Crater Lake, in Klamath county, now a na- tional park. He died in January, 1890, and thus passed away one of the picturesque figures in the history of Oregon. As stated. his daughter Elizabeth became the wife of William T. Leever and to them were born

W. C. LEEVER

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ten children. The mother passed away at Central Point in 1901.

William Constant Leever was reared upon the ranch, remaining with his parents until he had attained his majority. He then went to western Washington and was engaged in the drug business in that district for some time, being associated with a physician at Renton, Washington. He afterward made his way to Port Blakeley, where he worked in the lumber mills for a few months. In 1883, how- ever, he returned to southern Oregon and was employed on the construction of the Oregon & California Railroad until May, 1884. In that year he returned to Central Point, where he has since lived. He has taken an active interest in the upbuilding of the town and has greatly promoted its welfare and prog- ress through his individual business inter- ests. He was engaged in the grain and lum- ber trade for four or five years and he also clerked in the hardware store of J. C. Sheridan for three years. On the expiration of that period he bought out his employer and has conducted the hardware business on his own account since May 1, 1893, or for nineteen years, having a well appointed establishment, filled with a large and well selected line of shelf and heavy hardware. He owns the business block, in which he carries on his hardware store and which is located on Pine street. He was also an orchardist of this part of the state for a number of years and he is now well known as a dealer in cement. Moreover, he is actively associated with fi- nancial interests, being a director of the Cen- tral Point State Bank and its vice president. He is also president of the Pearl Mining Com- pany. His insight is keen, his discrimination sound and his energy has brought him prom- inently to the front in business connections.

Mr. Leever is also a recognized leader in political circles. The republican party finds him a stanch advocate and he has been a member of the city council more than half of the time since the incorporation of Central Point. He was also president of the council, was elected the second mayor of the town and remained in that office for three years. In that connection he exercised his official prerogatives in support of many progressive public movements. During his administration a. first-class municipal water system was in- stalled, covering about eight miles. A sewer system was also inaugurated, which in its ramifying lines covers ten miles. This is known as the storm and sanitary sewer sys- tem and covers the entire corporation limits. Eleven blocks were also paved during his ad- ministration, which continued until the 1st of April, 1912, when his third year in office expired. He is at this time a candidate for county commissioner. His official connection with Central Point has been of the utmost value to the city and even those opposed to him in his political views have naught but words of praise to speak of his administra- tion.

On the 13th of July, 1887, Mr. Leever was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Arm- strong, a native of Jackson county and a daughter of Reuben Armstrong, living in

Susanville, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Leever have been born four children, but Ward and Amy, the second and third of the family, have passed away, the former at the age of seventeen years, and the latter at the age of eight. The surviving children are Wayne and Earl Constant. Mr. Leever holds membership in the Christian Science church, and has at- tained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Central Point Lodge, No. 135, A. F. & A. M., also to the Knight Templar Commandery and to the Mystic Shrine. He is ever loyal to the teachings of the craft and exemplifies in his life its beneficent purpose. Over the rec- ord of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil and at all times he is actuated by a spirit of progressiveness that never entrenches on the rights or privi- leges of others but seeks the good of the ma- jority.

EARL C. WILSON, the superintendent of the Home Telephone Company at McMinn- ville, has been identified with telegraph and telephone interests throughout his entire business career. His birth occurred in Great Bend, Kansas, on the 22d of October, 1880, his parents being Frank D. and Nellie (Fausel) Wilson, the former a native of Al- liance, Ohio, and the latter of Quincy, Illi- nois. In 1876 Frank D. Wilson removed from the Buckeye state to Kansas, locating at Great Bend, where he has resided contin- uously since. He dealt in cattle throughout his active business career and is still the owner of six hundred and forty acres of wheat land. Though now living retired, his invest- ments are extensive. He held the office of sheriff for four years and acted in the ca- pacity of chief of police for eight years. The great-great-grandmother of our subject was still alive when the latter was five years of age, so that five generations of the family were living at that time. The demise of Mrs. Nellie Wilson occurred in 1901 and her remains were interred at Great Bend, Kansas. She was the mother of two chil- dren: Earl C., of this review; and Dillon, who acts as wire chief of the Bell Telephone Company at Wichita, Kansas.

Earl C. Wilson was graduated from the high school at Great Bend when a youth of seventeen and subsequently spent one year in a business college at Wichita, Kansas. Since putting aside his text-books he has been connected with telegraph and telephone interests, first spending two years at Great Bend. Subsequently he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company, representing that corporation as assistant foreman from Topeka, Kansas, to La Junta, Colorado. Returning to Great Bend, Kansas, he was connected with the Postal Telegraph- Cable Company for one year. Again becom- ing connected with the Western Union Tele- graph Company, he represented them at En- terprise, Kansas, for six months and later spent a year in their service at Rapid City, South Dakota, while for a similar period he remained at Wichita, Kansas. Subse- quently he was sent to the city of Oklahoma to do construction work and afterward spent

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six months in Iowa, then going to Kansas City, Missouri. He was in the service of the Bell Telephone Company in Missouri and Kansas until 1907 and then came to Portland in the interests of the Home Tele- phone Company, remaining in that city for one year. He then spent six months at In- dependence, Oregon, and for a similar period again worked at Portland. At the end of that time he came to McMinnville to take charge of the plant of the Home Telephone Company and has acted in the capacity of . superintendent continuously since. Mr. Wil- son owns stock in the concern, which is now erecting a new plant. He also owns two resi- dence properties in Portland and is widely recognized as a prosperous and enterprising young citizen.

At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Wil- son was united in marriage to Miss Frances Hereford, a native of Clinton, Missouri, by whom he has a son, Carter E., a lad of five. In politics he is independent, support- ing men and measures rather than party. He attends and supports the Congregational church, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Knights of Pythias at McMinn- ville and he likewise belongs to the Triple Tie at Fort Scott, Kansas. All through his life lie has been actuated by a spirit of prog- ress, regarding no position as final but rather as a point from which he can work up to higher things.

RANSOM DAYTON WILLIAMS, one of the representative agriculturists and substantial citizens of Scotts valley, owns a ranch of one Inndred and twenty-one acres which he leases and devotes his attention to the operation of a farm of three hundred acres as a renter. He was born in Douglas county, this state, on the 14th of April, 1865, the day Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. His parents were George L. and Mary (Harris) Williams, the former a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Howard . county, Missouri. In 1854, when but sixteen years of age, George L. Williams came to Oregon on a vessel which rounded Cape Horn. The mother of our subject crossed the plains in company with her mother in 1852, her father who had planned the trip to Oregon, having passed away and having been buried the day before they began their journey. George L. Williams, who came direct to Doug- las county, was fairly well educated for a youth of his years and after continuing his studies here for one or two terms he began teaching. following that profession for several years in the Yoncalla valley and becoming one of the well known instructors of that

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 108

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