The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 11

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

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His son. Albertus Larrowe, whose name in- troduces this review, pursued his education in the public schools and on starting out in business life on his own account became engaged in merchandising in New York city. He afterward removed to the middle west and for ten years was connected with the wholesale grocery trade in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1910 he arrived in Portland and became interested in the Peninsula Iron Works. which were established by J. C. Murphy and W. A. Bennett, under the name of the Mod-

ern Machine Works, in November, 1909. They employed about three men and something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that employment is now given to from twenty-five to forty men. On the 1st of March, 1911, the name was changed to its present form. On the 1st of April of the preceding year Mr. Larrowe had be- come secretary and treasurer, having pur- chased Mr. Murphy's interest. The company does a general foundry, machinist and black- smithing business, drawing a large trade from Portland and the Columbia river valley.

In 1910 Mr. Larrowe was married to Miss Helen Maginnis, of Duluth, Minnesota, and they now have one child, Albertus Eugene. In politics Mr. Larrowe has ever been an earnest republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He does not seek nor desire political office, however, but has served for two terms as a member of the school board in district No. 2 and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He belongs to St. Johns Com- mercial Club and the company of which he is a representative has a membership in the United Metal Trades Association. Mr. Lar- rowe is recognized as a self-made young man of unusual business ability and enterprise. He is what is known in modern parlance as a good mixer; in other words, he has attract- ive social qualities which render him pop- ular and at the same time he is ever appre- ciative of the good points in others. He has made steady progress in his business career since starting out in life on his own account and he is now one of the leading factors in the development, management and control of a business which is proving a valuable asset to industrial and commercial circles. It is not that parasitical kind that feeds upon a community, giving nothing in return. but is one of the moving vital forces in industrial upbuilding and constitutes a tangible evidence of the energy, determina- tion and progressiveness of Mr. Larrowe and his fellow officers.

ORANGE SYLVESTER COLEMAN has a large and attractive residence, which stands in the midst of one hundred and twelve acres of good land, of which he has brought about seventy-five acres under cultivation, the place being located four and a half miles from Myrtle Point, in Coos county. Dairy- ing and the raising of apples are also features of his place and in a word the owner stands as one of the foremost and representative agriculturists of the community. He was born in California in 1856 and is a son of William M. and Mary (Bearden) Coleman, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. They were married in the lat- ter state and removed to Nevada, whence in 1849 they came to California. making their way to the gold fields. The father engaged in the hotel business in that state for some years and afterward took up his abode upon a farm. Both he and his wife have passed away. Mrs. Coleman having died when . her son O. S. Coleman was but four years of age. this being in 1861. In the family were

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

six children: Angeline, who died leaving a large family; James, deceased; Amanda J., the wife of Henry Garner, of Kerby, Oregon; Elias S., of California, who is married and has five children; Orange S .; and Katinka, now Mrs. France of Ellensburg, Washington.

The usual experiences of the farm boy fell to the lot of O. S. Coleman during the period of his minority. When twenty-one years of age he left home and went to Moscow, Idaho. Near there he took up homestead and pre- emption claims and lived in that locality for six years, devoting his energies to farming. He then came to Ashland, where he lived for a year, after which he removed to Coos county and in the meantime disposed of his three hundred and twenty acres of land in Idaho. On coming to Coos county he invested in one hundred and sixty acres on the north fork of the Coquille river and, although this was an undeveloped tract when it came into his possession, he has cleared much of it and has carried on the work of improvement until he now has a good property. He has also purchased another place of one hundred and twelve acres, on which he erected the large fine residence that he now occupies. He sold the old place and lives on one of the more recent acquisitions, and he has on both places seventy-five acres of cleared and cultivated land. However, his attention is largely given to dairying, for which purpose he keeps twenty-five cows. He has three orchards on the two places, mostly planted to apples, and in 1911 he packed and shipped more apples than 'anyone else in the county. He also makes a specialty of raising fine poultry and he raises fine horses and cattle. In fact, every feature of his business indicates that he follows progressive methods, that his standards of farming are high and that he is winning success by reason of sound judgment, unfaltering enterprise and progress- ive methods. All the features of a model farm of the twentieth century are found upon his place and it is one of the most attractive properties in Coos county.

On the 29th of May, 1881, Mr. Coleman was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Luper, a native of Washington county, Arkansas, and a daughter of James and Mary (Taylor) Luper, both of whom were also natives of Arkansas. Mrs. Coleman was their only child and by her marriage she has be- come the mother of five children: Florence Dell, who was born July 14, 1882, and is the wife of James L. Guerin, of Myrtle Point, Oregon, by whom she has one child, Chrystle; William M., who was born February 2. 1885, and is a successful school teacher of Coos county, where he was educated, supplement- ing the usual branches of learning with the mechanical course; Myrtle L., who was born June 19, 1887, and is the wife of James Hall, of Gravel Ford, Oregon, by whom she has one child. Leslie G .; Arthur F., who was born July 10, 1892, and is now attending school; and Lester Ray, who was born March 27, 1902, and is also in school. Mr. Coleman has ever been a stalwart champion of the cause of education and has provided his chil- dren with good opportunities in that direr-

tion. He has been a director of the Gravel Ford Academy and was also a school director in his home district. His political faith is that of the republican party, and his religious belief , that of the Seventh Day Adventists church. His home is pleasantly situated four and a half miles from Myrtle Point on the Dora road and he is well known in the com- munity, his sterling traits of character win- ning for him the high regard of a circle of friends that is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.

JOHN HOBBS. A pioneer of Oregon who has evidenced in his life all that is vital and forceful in the meaning of that word is John Hobbs who, after an active life spent in agriculture is now living in hon- orable retirement in Glendale, Oregon. He is one of the sturdy band of early pioneers of the state who crossed the plains with ox teams over prairie and undeveloped wilder- nesses, encountering hardships and perils, and opened up one of the greatest sections in America. During his active life he con- tinued the work which he had so ably begun by intelligent development of farm lands in Polk and Douglas counties and has won the rest from arduous labor which he is now en- joying. He was born in Missouri on Decem- ber 4, 1838, and is a son of James and Mary (Burns) Hobbs, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ireland. The father was a farmer in Missouri for a num- ber of years and followed this occupation until the time of his death in 1845. He had survived his wife four years, her deatlı having occurred in 1841. John Hobbs is one of seven children born to his parents. He remained at home until the death of his parents and then went to live with his brother and. pursued his education in the public schools until he was eighteen years of age. In 1858 he joined the caravan under Colonel Morrison, crossing the plains as a member of the quartermaster department. The journey was taken in the stirring and eventful period immediately following the Mountain Meadow massacre. This occurred during the Indian war of 1857-58 when a large number of gentile emigrants were at- tacked by the combined forces of the Mor- mons and Indians. The warfare culminated in the massacre at Mountain Meadow where all the pioneers and their wives were killed and only small children were spared. The caravan with which Mr. Hobbs was iden- tified went from Camp Floyd to the massacre grounds under the leadership of Lieutenant Price. They gathered up thie destitute chil- dren and took them to Fort Leavenworth. Kansas. Mr. Hobbs resumed his journey in the same year and spent some time in Colo- rado. He went from there to Oregon with horse teams, landing in the eastern part of the state in 1864. He settled in Polk county and after a short period spent in the mines bought a farm which he improved and operated for twelve years. He brought his property to a highly improved condition and finally sold it in order to come to Douglas county. Here he bought land and followed

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

agriculture until 1909 when he definitely abandoned his labors and bought property in Glendale, Oregon, where he now resides.

In 1866 Mr. Hobbs was united in marriage to Miss Victoria Hardison, a native of Ore- gon, and to their union were born seven chil- dren, Alice, Charles, Lottie, George, Dessia, Lee and Mary. In his political views Mr. Hobbs is a consistent democrat and has served as justice of the peace for two years. He is seventy-four years old and can look back upon a long and active life. His career included a period of development in the history of northwestern America and it is his greatest satisfaction that he found him- self equal to bearing his part in the evolu- tion by constant labor along progressive lines.

WILLIAM H. EGAN, one of the leading agriculturists and influential citizens of Ma- rion county, is the proprietor of Mount View Farm. consisting of five hundred acres of land eight miles north of Salem. Practi- cally his entire life has been spent in the Sunset state and for more than a quarter of a century he was here identified with educational interests as a school teacher. He is a native of Watertown, Wisconsin, his birth having there occurred on the 24th of November, 1850. His father, Patrick Egan, was born in Ireland, and when six years of age was brought to the United States by his parents, who made their home in Boston, Massachusetts, for four years. On the ex- piration of that period they established their · home in the town of Nelson, New Brunswick, in British North America. It was there that Patrick Egan, at the age of twenty-one years, married Miss Catharine Canty. The young couple resided in New Brunswick for five years, at the end of which time their at- tention was called to the fact that Wiscon- sin, with her virgin soil, offered splendid in- ducements for the energetic and fearless to build up new homes. Accordingly they launched their fortunes with the new state, locating on a farm near Watertown. After improving the place and bringing it up to the standard of the farms at that date they disposed of the property and took up their abode in Watertown, where they remained until the spring of 1852. Fully appreciating the improvements in climatic conditions be- tween New Brunswick and Wisconsin, they resolved to go still farther west and link their fortunes with the great Oregon coun- try. In 1852, therefore, daring the dangers of that long journey, they started across the plains with ox teams. Like' other emi- grants of that year, they suffered many priva- tions, sickness and even death, losing their little daugliter Margaret. They finally reached their new home on the banks of Mary river, near the present site of Philomath, in Benton county, and named their farm The Valley of Ease. In 1857 they removed to French Prairie, in Marion county, and purchased a large farm near the present site of Waconda on the Oregon Electric rail- road, where Patrick Egan died at the ad- vanced age of ninety-one years. He was

cheerful. progressive, artistic. conservative and notably temperate throughout his long life, never using tobacco nor any beverage stronger than tea. He was a devout com- municant of the Roman Catholic church and a strict member of Father Mathew's Tee- total Temperance Society, having taken the pledge at the age of twenty-one years and faithfully preserving it for seventy years.

Mrs. Catharine (Canty) Egan was born in Clonokilty, County Cork, Ireland, in the vear 1812. She came to America at the age of nineteen years and located in the town of Nelson in New Brunswick, British America, where at the age of twenty-one she gave her hand in marriage to Patrick Egan. Being a woman of unusual energy, she cheer- fully joined him in the journey to Wiscon- sin and later, feeling that "westward the Star of Empire takes its way" and that new and beautiful homes were offered to those who had the courage to brave the dangers of the trip, she nobly joined her husband in all the privations of emigrant train and pioneer home. Although born in luxury and case, she readily adapted herself to the hard- ships of pioneer life and by her beautiful example of resignation and fortitude cast a ray of sunshine on the rugged pathway of inany a discouraged emigrant. Her cultured mind and artistic hand served as strong sup- ports against the disappointments and ills of border life. She became the mother of seven children, as follows: Michael J., John T., James, Mary A., Margaret. William H. and Ellen M., of whom James, Mary A., and Margaret are deceased. Mrs. Catharine Egan was a member of the Roman Catholic church from early childhood, to which she faith- fully clung through every reverse of fortune. She was also a scrupulous member of Father Mathew's Teetotal Temperance Society, hav- ing taken the pledge at the age of twenty- one and keeping it faithfully until her death. which occurred at the age of eighty-two years.

William H. Egan, whose name introduces this review, was in his second year when brought to this state by his parents. Re- garding his youthful days he writes as fol- lows: "I owe my early training and educa- tion to my mother, who from my early child- hood insisted upon lessons at a certain allotted time each day and endeavored to keep the hour as promptly as possible, often leaving a task half done to hear my lessons. Owing to the fact that schools were distant from our pioneer home, my education con- tinued in her hands until I was nine years old, when I entered my first public school- a good fifth grade pupil." After completing the graded-school course he attended high school at East Salem, later studied in Mc- Minnville College and subsequently received special training in several private schools. He early manifested a studious nature and well fitted himself for the educational work which later devolved upon him. At the age of twenty years and six months he started out for himself with a capital of ten dollars, securing employment as a cutter of black pole rails at a wage of sixty-five cents per hun-

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

dred, with the understanding that he pay his own board and that he need work only until a better opportunity offered itself. After cutting one hundred rails he was offered a better position at a dollar and a half per day and board, and soon received two dollars and board as a mower, reaper and header driver. In the fall he used half of his earn- ings in speculation and utilized the remain- ing sum in continuing his education. Secur- ing a teacher's certificate, he opened his first school in Mission Bottom, Marion county, Oregon. In connection with his duties as an instructor he also devoted considerable time to athletics, becoming so proficient that he could leap from a falling horse without re- ceiving even a scar. "On one occasion," he writes, "while riding rapidly, my horse turned turtle. While he was doing so, I sprang from the saddle, lit running and was only struck on the boot by the horse's hind hoof. On another occasion, near the present site of Waconda, I was riding across a long eight-foot bridge. While in the middle an outside stringer broke. The bridge, horse and myself started down. I leaped from the saddle to the horse's head and then to solid footing, while the horse and broken section of the bridge fell into the ereek below. I believe every boy and girl should be taught athletics for health, brain power and bodily safety."

Mr. Egan continued as a school teacher for twenty-six years with no intermission except the two years during which he held public office. With the exception of one year, he spent the entire period of his service as an educator within a radius of seven miles of his home, and he is justly proud of the fact that during the twenty-six years he never missed even a quarter of a day on account of illness. In the discharge of his duties during this period he spent much time in the saddle, riding more miles than meas- ure the circumference of the globe. Since reaching man's estate he has also directed agricultural investments, has bought and sold acreage and has made much unimproved land profitable and productive. For the past five years he has directed the business incidental to the supervision of over one thousand acres. He is a strong believer in diversified farming and has always maintained that the farmer should be a student, keep abreast with the times, educate his children to the best of his ability and make them realize that there is no education or energy wasted on a well diversified farm. His home place, consist- ing of five hundred acres and known as Mount View Farm, is in Marion county, eight miles north of Salem, on the Salem and Champoeg road and also on the Oregon Elec- tric railroad. This property is farmed on the diversified plan and on it may be found commercial orchards of peaches, pears, prunes and apples, fields of hops, grain and hay, large gardens of beaver dam and upland, to- gether with all kinds of live stock.

On the 27th of December, 1886, at Salem, Oregon, Mr. Egan was united in marriage to Miss Julia B. Coffey, a daughter of James and Johanna (Horrigan) Coffey. Mrs. Egan

was born in Salem, Oregon, on the 21st of October, 1868, and received her education at the Sacred Heart Academy of that place, being graduated from that institution in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Egan have three chil- dren, as follows: Albert J., Marguerite C. and Homer W.

Politically Mr. Egan is a democrat, but his patriotism has always transcended par- tisanship and he believes that it is the duty of every American citizen to uphold and extol the government and to exercise his right of franchise in correcting its mistakes. Notwithstanding the fact that Marion county is a republican stronghold, he was elected county clerk in 1892. Two years later he was a candidate for reelection and, though receiving double his party's vote, met defeat in the republican landslide of 1894. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, while fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, the Grangers and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His residence here covers a long period and he has always stood for that which is progressive in citizenship, cooperat- ing in various plans and measures for the material, social, intellectual and political progress of the community. His life has at all times been upright and honorable and the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.

WILLIAM ABERNETHY is one of the venerable citizens of Forest Grove, having attained the age of eighty years. Much of this period has been spent in Oregon and in the improvement of his business opportuni- ties here he has won success that now en- ables him to live retired. His birth occurred in New York city, September 16, 1831. His father, George Abernethy, was also a na- tive of the American metropolis, born Oc- tober 7, 1807, and there he acquired his edu- cation. In early manhood he wedded Anne Pope, who was born in Plymouth, England, September 10, 1811. Their wedding was celebrated in New York, January 21, 1830, and the remains of both now rest in River- view cemetery of Portland, Oregon, the fa- ther having died in that eity May 2, 1877. The mother, however, passed away in New York city, April 30, 1884, but hier remains were brought back to this state for inter- ment. In the family were two children, the younger being Annie Abernethy, who be- came the wife of General H. C. Hodges, of the United States army who is now retired and lives in Buffalo. New York. His wife passed away in Washington, D. C., April 31, 1911. General Hodges is a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and was sta- tioned first in the Indian Territory and later in Vancouver, Washington, where he served as adjutant of the Fourth Infantry. Sub- sequently lie. was transferred to California and afterward to Philadelphia.

Few residents of Oregon have resided within the borders of this state for a longer period than William Abernethy, who came to the northwest in 1840 when but nine years of age, landing at Vancouver, Washington, on

WILLIAM ABERNETHY

MRS. SARAH F. ABERNETHY

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

the 1st of June, 1840, after having made the long voyage around Cape Horn on the ship Lausanne. His father came to the Pacific coast as secular agent of Methodist missions and was stationed first at Salem and after- ward at Oregon City, assisting in building the Methodist church at the latter place. He also erected the first brick store in Oregon City, it being the second brick building in the entire state. He was very prominent as a factor in the early progress and up- building of this section of the country and was chosen the first provisional governor of Oregon Territory for two terms of four years. That he filled the office most capably is indicated by the fact that he was re- elected while on a trip to the Sandwich is- lands. Following the expiration of his sec- ond term and his retirement from office, he owned and operated the Linn City (Oregon) Works, a flour mill and saw mill, and when that business was burned out he turned his attention to the commission business in Port- land, where he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty- six years of age.

Brought to the northwest in his early boy- hood, William Abernethy largely acquired his education in Willamette University. Later he went to California. in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in that state. He next made his way to New York city, where he spent three years as a student in the James McEllicott School. He next became a stu- dent in the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, in which he spent three years, and later matriculated for a three years' course in the scientific department of Yale University, completing his studies within the classical walls of that old institution in 1853. In the same year he returned to the Pacific coast, making his way to Oregon City, after which he began farming at Green Point. He next went to Portland, where he engaged in assaying for George Collier Rob- bins, of that city. He subsequently spent a year at The Dalles and another year at Boise, after which he returned to Portland, where he established a packing business and bag factory. Here he suffered losses through fire, the factory being totally destroyed, after which he removed to Abernethy Heights, near Oswego, Oregon, where he lived for about a quarter of a century, and then sold his prop- erty there, comprising one hundred and sixty and a third acres, to a syndicate. This is now one of the most beautiful residence dis- tricts in the vicinity of Portland. For a year thereafter he resided in the Rose city, and in August, 1891, removed to Coos county, where he continued until 1904. In that year he came to Forest Grove, where he still resides, resting now in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil and the hand- some competence which he has gained through his investments.

On the 25th of June, 1863, Mr. Abernethy was married to Miss Sarah F. Gray, who was born November 25, 1843, at the mission near Salem, Oregon. Her father. William H. Gray, was born in New York state in December. 1810, and came to Oregon in Vol. IV-4

1836, with Dr. Marcus Whitman, engaging in missionary work. In early life he had been apprenticed to the cabinet makers' trade and later had studied medicine for three years, but ill health forced him to abandon his stu- dies and go to the mountains. It was at this time that he associated himself with the Amer- ican Board of Missions and this led to his re- moval to the Pacific coast. When he sev- ered his connection with the missions he went to Clatsop Plains where he rendered medical aid to those in need of such service. At length he went east to buy sheep for him- self and farmers in that locality. He brought the sheep across the plains to Portland, where he put them on flat boats to be taken to their destination, but a storm came up and wrecked the boats, so that all of the sheep were drowned, Mr. Gray thus losing every- thing that he had for he invested his entire fortune in the sheep. He at once sought em- ployment in other ways, accepting anything that he could find to do in order that he might properly care for his family and re- trieve his fortune. Going to Astoria he built a house and kept boarders. Later he removed to Fort Hope, on the Frazier river in British Columbia and built a sloop, after which he engaged in freighting between Fort Hope and Fort Yale, remaining at that point for two years, or in 1859 and 1860. He after- ward built a sloop called the Sarah F. Gray, which he brought down the Columbia river. In July, 1861, he went to Portland and aft- erward to The Dalles and engaged in freight- ing on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Again he turned to Astoria and took up his abode upon a farm where his wife died, while he passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. Kamm, in Portland.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 11

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