USA > Oregon > The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912 > Part 115
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George M. Jones continued a resident of Missouri until 1859, when at the age of twenty-one years he crossed the plains to California with ox teams. He first worked for wages on a farm and later began the cultivation of rented land. In the spring of 1864 he went to Idaho with his uncle, driv- ing a band of sheep, and in that state he worked in the mines until the fall of 1865, when he came to Oregon, settling in the Wil- lamette valley, twelve miles below Salem. For a year he was employed on a ranch and then spent a year in Cottage Grove, making rails and working in a 'sawmill. In the spring of 1867 he went to Idaho with sheep in company with J. H. McCarty, with whom he continued to be associated for several years, and in partnership with whom after three years he purchased a bunch of cattle. They traveled back and forth between Idaho and Nevada with cattle for a number of years and in the spring of 1876 Mr. Jones came to the Chewaucan valley. In 1884 he settled on a homestead on the river and is still the owner of that property. In the fall of 1895 he bought a ranch of seven hundred and eighty-seven acres, three miles south of Paisley. He has eight hundred
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acres in the ranch where he homesteaded. He also owns a tract of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining the home place and one hundred and sixty acres two miles south of his homestead, together with two tracts in the mountains comprising eighteen hundred and fifteen acres, and a ranch of four hundred and eighty acres. Thus, in all he has about forty-three hundred acres of land in Lake county. He ran cattle until 1911, when he sold eighteen hundred head and retired from that business. He is one of the best known stockmen and ranchers of southern Oregon and his business ability is evidenced in the success which has come to him as the years have gone by. He has worked earnestly and diligently, has displayed keen sagacity in controlling his interests and is now com- fortably situated in life as the result of his energy and perseverance. He stands high in the regard of his fellow townsmen and merits the confidence accorded him.
On July 9, 1878, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Mrs. Florence (Avery) Johnson, who was born in Illinois, March 5, 1845, and crossed the plains with her par- ents, Joseph and Martha Avery. There are two children of this marriage: Frances J., who is the wife of W. B. Snyder, of Lake- view, sheriff of Lake county; and Anna F., at home. George M. Jones is a Master Ma- son and has always been loyal to the teach- ings of the craft. He is a large, fine looking man who bears his seventy-four years lightly. For more than a half century he has remained upon the Pacific coast and in the different localities in which he has lived has borne his part in the work of public progress, while at the same time he has con- trolled his business affairs in a manner that has gained for him a place among the pros- perous residents of southern Oregon.
MAJOR MORTON TOWER is one of the distinguished and respected citizens of Em- pire and is at present filling the office of collector of customs. He was born in Massa- phusetts, February 23, 1840, and is a son of Isaac and Minora A. (Brackett) Tower, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont. In their family were seven children of whom four are living. Adelia is the widow of Seth Mann of Free- port, Illinois, and has one child, Ida. Ella, the widow of Stillman S. Mann, of San Fran- cisco, California, has two children, Charles S. and Fred A. Charles W., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Marshfield, Ore- gon, is married and has three children: Jay B., Isaac R. and Nellie B. Morton, who com- pletes the family, is the subject of this re- view.
Morton Tower was reared at home and re- ceived his early education in the public schools. After passing through the lower grades he was graduated from the high school at Randolph, Massachusetts. At the age of twenty he engaged in the jewelry business at Boston and was thus occupied for one year. On the 17th of April, 1861, he en- listed in the Union army and was mustered
into service in the Fourth Battalion of Rifles, Massachusetts Militia, in which he served for three months. On July 16, 1861, he re- enlisted in the army and as sergeant of his company was mustered into service in the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and remained in active duty until September 30, 1864, at which time he received his hon- orable discharge. During his time of service he was promoted to the rank of second lieu- tenant, then first lieutenant and later to that of captain of his company, after which he was brevetted major, holding that rank at the time when he was honorably mustered out of the army. He was wounded at the battle of Bull Run and also at the battle of Fredericksburg, and was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, and was confined in Libby Prison. He has the distinction of having been one of the one hundred and nine men who tunneled their way from the cellar of the old prison underground for some dis- tance, reaching the surface at a point suffi- ciently far from the prison to give them a chance for liberty. . Of the one hundred and nine officers who made their escape he was one of the fifty-three who succeeded in reach- ing the Union line. At the close of the war, being in a disabled condition physically, he devoted much of his time to travel in various parts of the country. In 1874 he settled at Empire, where he has since continued to re- side. For six years after establishing his home in Oregon he was employed in the United States engineering corps and was later appointed deputy collector of customs and continued as such until 1902, when he was appointed collector of customs and has since held that position, devoting his entire time to the duties of his office. He is one of the real-estate owners of Coos county and is the owner of the very fine residence, in which he lives, at Empire.
On February 23, 1869, Major Tower was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Loudon, a native of England and a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Lawson) Loudon, both of whom were born in Scotland. Mrs. Tower emigrated with her parents to Amer- ica and with them settled in Boston in 1850. Major and Mrs. Tower are the parents of a son, Morton L., who was born in Boston, Jan- uary 5, 1870, and who married Cornelia Smith, a native of New York, but whose parents are now residents of San Francisco, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Morton L. Tower have been born three children: Gladys, born at Coos Bay, November 5, 1896, who is a student in the high school at San Francisco; Ella Gwynedde, born October 20, 1897, who is at- tending school at Eureka, California; and Cornelia M., born October 27, 1908. The fa- ther of these children received his elementary education in the public schools of Coos Bay, Oregon. He later pursued a scientific course in engineering in a San Francisco college, from which he was later graduated. At the age of eighteen he entered the services of the United States government and is at present a member of the engineering corps and as- sistant engineer in the United States army, department of engineers.
MORTON TOWER
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Major Tower is a loyal member of the re- publican party. He is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and a man who as an officer for many years in the United states service has earned the respect of his fellow officers and comrades in the field. He now holds one of the most responsible posi- tions in the gift of the government as col- lector of customs and is a man identified with every public measure intended to improve the conditions of the people in his county and state.
GEORGE A. WOLF, who since January, 1911, has owned and conducted a hotel at Sandy, Clackamas county, was born in Penn- sylvania, August 4, 1858. His parents were Michael and Susan (Solada) Wolf, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, of Ger- man ancestry. They always made their home in their native state, where the father passed away, June 7, 1892, and the mother, November 17, of that year. The father was a butcher and an extensive stock dealer. In their family were eight children: Mary, who is the wife of James Solada, of Gratz, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Charles Keener, of Denver, Colorado; Susan, who married Frank Ritzman, of Pennsylva- nia; George A., of this review; Louisa, who is Mrs. Edward Wolfgang, of Pitman, Penn- sylvania; Kate, who is Mrs. Harvey Fideler, of the same state; Alice, who is the wife of Newton Schminky, of Sandy, Oregon; and Amanda, who died at the age of six months.
George A. Wolf grew to manhood in his native state, receiving a common-school edu- cation, and later took a business college course. When twenty-two years of age he took up coal mining in his native state and spent seven years in that work at Turner and Williamstown. He then followed vari- ous occupations for two years, after which he engaged in the produce business at Gratz and in that vicinity for seven years. Subse- quently he learned the mason's trade and stone-cutting, at which he worked until 1900, when he removed to the state of Wash- ington settling at Stella, where he was em- ployed in the lumber woods for one and one-half years. Afterwards he came to Ore- gon and purchased near Dover one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he re- sided until January, 1911. He improved his farm and now has sixty acres under a high state of cultivation. At the present time he owns and conducts a hotel in Sandy, meeting with excellent success. Also he owns other business property here, has some factory lots and is a stockholder in the Clackamas County Bank. He is interested in horses and owns a share in a thorough- bred stallion.
On December 27, 1879, Mr. Wolf wedded Miss Ellen Cerby, who was born in Penn- sylvania. a daughter of Henry and Sarah Cerby. Both parents were natives of Penn- sylvania and have always made that state their home. The mother is still living there but the father passed away in 1878. In their family were ten children: Frank, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania; Ellen, deceased, who
was Mrs. George A. Wolf; Savilla, who be- came the wife of Newton Baughman and passed away in 1886; Elizabeth, who mar- ried George Foust and both are now de- ceased; John, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania; Edward, of Center county, Pennsylvania; Polly, the wife of Canara Artz, of Kansas; Charley, of Herndon, Pennsylvania; Malinda, the wife of George Wolf; and Cora, who is the wife of Israel Byerly. Mrs. Wolf passed away April 5, 1892, leaving five children: Esther, who is Mrs. Irwin Brown, of Barton, Oregon; James, of Dover, Oregon, who oper- ates his father's farm; Edward, at home; Sallie, the wife of Elmer Umholtz, of Penn- sylvania; and Grace, who lives in Portland. On the 23d of December, 1893, Mr. Wolf again married, his second union being witlı Mary Wedle, who was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in which state her parents still reside. She is the second in order of birth in a family of eight children. The others are: Kate, who is the wife of Thomas Green, of Perry, Pennsylvania; Augusta, who is the wife of Felix Lesher, of Perry; George, of Pitman, Pennsylvania; Thomas, of Allen- town, Pennsylvania; Annie, the wife of Donald Herb, of Pennsylvania; and Harry and Enis, both of whom reside with their parents.
In his political views Mr. Wolf is a re- publican and he has always taken an active interest in local party issues. He has been a member of the city council of Sandy ever since this town was incorporated and has given much attention to the interests of edu- cation and served on the school board for several years. In his business affairs Mr. Wolf is recognized as a man of high ability, executive force and keen discernment, who has carefully placed his investments and is capably managing them. He is meeting with much success in the hotel business by reason of his honorable methods and his earnest desire to please his patrons.
ADOLPH LINDROS is numbered among the intelligent and active farmers who are so largely responsible for the development and progress of Coos county. He was born in Finland in 1876, and is a son of K. A. and Hannah Lindros. His parents were natives of Finland and to them six children were born: Kusta B., who married in her native country and is still residing there; Carl F., a resident of Finland; Adolph, the subject of this review; Edward V., who lives with his family in Corvallis, Oregon; and Hannah and Sana, both deceased.
Adolph Lindros was educated in his native country and remained at home until he was fourteen years of age. He was born upon his father's farm and worked in a general mer- chandise store for four and one-half years before he came to America. He settled in Michigan and was active in various occupa- tions for a year and a half. In 1897 he came to Oregon and settled in Marshfield where he worked in the government employ, helping in the construction of the jetty at the mouth of Coos bay. After six months he hired out as a farm laborer on Ten Mile
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lake and worked in the employ of others for one year. He afterward spent three years in the timber business and then took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Lakeside. He proved up his right to the land and engaged in farming, at the same time being active in timber cruising. He now devotes his entire time to general farming and dairying. He gives special at- tention to the care of his cows and keeps a large herd for milking. He has made all necessary improvements on his land, has cleared fifteen acres and has installed mod- ern farm machinery. His land is three miles from Lakeside on North lake and is known as one of the best improved properties in that district.
Mr. Lindros was united in marriage on March 11, 1905, in Coos county, to Miss Annie Nieminen, a daughter of John Niem- inen, a native of Finland, who now resides in California. Mrs. Lindros is one of two children born to her parents, the other being Oscar, who resides in Coos county, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Lindros have been born six children: Sima W., born December 14, 1905, who is attending school in Coos county; John E., born December 24, 1906, who is also attending school; Lizzie M., born in 1908; Carl William, born in 1909; Leo whose birth occurred in 1910; and Jennie, who was born in 1911.
Adolph Lindros gives his allegiance to the republican party and is a firm believer in the principles of that organization. He has never sought political office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to the work of his dairy. He is a devout member of the Lutheran church. In developing into a beautiful and highly cultivated farm a tract of wild brush country land Mr. Lindros has shown a steadfastness and a dominating ambition which are characteristic of the Finnish nation and which have been leading influences in the development and progress of Coos county.
E. B. RAMSBY, of Klamath Falls, was born in Lagrange county, Indiana, near Li- gonier, June 11, 1848, his parents being R. C. and Mary (Reynolds) Ramsby, who were natives of Ohio and were married there, after which they removed to Indiana. In 1868 they came to Oregon by way of New York and the isthmus route and settled on the Molalla prairie near Oregon City, where they made their home until 1873. At that time they removed to Silverton, Oregon, and in 1896 went to Portland, where the father passed away in April, 1909, at the age of seventy-six years. The mother still resides in Portland at the very advanced age of eighty-four years. Mr. Ramsby was sheriff of Noble county, Indiana, for eight years, filling that position during the Civil war. He was engaged in the stage business while in Silverton, running a stage line from that place to Portland by way of Damascus. In 1880 he was elected sheriff of Marion county for a term of two years and while residing in Silverton was also elected to the state legislature, in which he served for
one term. Politically he was a republican, stanch in his advocacy of the party principles but never countenancing underhand methods in the attainment of success.
E. B. Ramsby is the eldest in a family of four sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet living. He made his home with his parents until 1870 but when only fourteen years of age enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company B, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, which was attached to the Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. He served for two years and eleven months or until the close of the war and took part in all the en- gagements with his company. He claims to be the youngest Civil war veteran that car- ried a gun and he was not only the youngest but the smallest member of his company. He enlisted as a musician but was mustered in as a regular and his comrades of the regi- ment nicknamed him Babe. He was indeed the babe and pet of the company and was allowed many privileges not accorded to others. He also did his full share of the fighting, his bravery and loyalty being equal to that of many a soldier of twice his years.
When the war was over Mr. Ramsby re- turned to his parents on the 25th of July, 1865, and came with them to Oregon. In 1870 he married Sophia Woodcock, who was born August 6, 1852, and is a native of this state, her parents being W. D. and Alice Anna Woodcock. Mr. Ramsby started out in the business world with his father and for sev- eral years they conducted a stage line. In 1876 he left Silverton and went to The Dalles and in 1883 he removed to Grant county, Oregon. He was then engaged in the live-stock business until 1887, when he went to John Day and was engaged in break- ing horses until 1890. He then returned to Portland and for two years was foreman of the city stables. He next purchased a livery stable in Barlow, Oregon, but sold out in 1896 and came to Klamath Falls. For a number of years he was engineer at the flouring mills at Merrill and for three years he was on the police force at Klamath Falls. For the past four years he has been engaged . in the express business here and thus a life of activity and usefulness continues, in which he has accomplished much that he has undertaken. He is the owner of a fine home in the Hot Springs addition and is accounted one of the representative residents of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsby be- came parents of a son and daughter: Carey M., of Klamath Falls; and Myrtle, who is the wife of S. E. Martin, of Merrill, Ore- gon. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsby hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and are earnest, consistent, Christian people whose well spent lives have gained them high re- gard. He is a lifelong republican and fra- ternally is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, thus keeping in close touch with his comrades of the Civil war. There are indeed few men of his years who can claim to have been actively connected with the long, sanguinary conflict which estab-
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lished the Union on a firmer basis than ever before. The same spirit of loyalty has been manifest throughout his entire life in all of his relations to the community.
CAREY M. RAMSBY, game warden of the sixth district of Oregon and a resi- dent of Klamath Falls, was born in Clack- amas county, in the Willamette valley, April 3, 1874, and is a son of E. B. Ramsby, whose sketch precedes this. He acquired a common-school education and in early life worked at various occupations. He was en- gaged in the hop business for a time and in 1897 he came to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he conducted a blacksmith shop for four years. He then worked as a miller in the employ of Martin Brothers until May 1, 1912, when he was appointed game war- den for the sixth Oregon district and now devotes his entire time and attention to the duties of the office. He has real-estate in- terests in Klamath Falls and is well known in various public connections. His political allegiance is always given to the republican party and his fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Elks lodge, of which he is a char- ter member. He was also connected with the Klamath Falls Military Band for about ten years.
On the 30th of May, 1901, Mr. Ramsby was married to Miss Elizabeth Martin, a daughter of Thomas Martin, and their two children are Martin Ephraim and Myrtle Elizabeth. Both E. B. and Carey Ramsby are well known in southern Oregon and have gained many warm friends in this part of the state.
FRANK K. HUBBARD, who resides on his twenty-seven acre fruit farm on the hill overlooking Falls City, Oregon, was born in Pleasant Hill, Pike county, Illinois, July 6, 1844. He is the son of the Rev. David and Mary L. (Thurman) Hubbard, the former a Baptist minister, who died in 1868. David Hubbard was twice married. He first mar- ried Hanah Morru, and to them ten children were born, only one of whom, Mrs. Jane Venable, of Wasco, Oregon, survives. His second marriage was to Mary L. Thurman, and to them the following sons were born: I. W., deceased; G. W .; Frank K .; E. B .; D. P .; J. C .; and James R. The daughters were, L. R .; I. E .; and Mary, deceased. Rev. Hubbard left his home and charge at Pleasant Hill, Illinois, for the west, April 18, 1853, with a family of six children. As there were about thirty wagons in the train, the journey across the plains was particu- larly free from Indian attacks, the only trouble being the occasional efforts of ma- rauders to steal the stock of the travelers: The following November the party arrived in Oregon City and David Hubbard immedi- ately took up a claim, where Clackamas Sta- tion now stands. After remaining there for two years he came to Polk county and lo- cated on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, one mile southeast of where Falls City is now situated. At all
times he was much interested in schools and devoted much time to their welfare in addi- tion to his regular duties as a minister. He acted as minister to the people throughout this section and for a time had a charge at Dallas.
Frank K. Hubbard received his education in the pioneer schools of Oregon, spelling, arithmetic and the third reader comprising the curriculum. In those early days there were few opportunities for an advanced edu- cation. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he began farming on his own account on the Luckia- mute river, eight miles east of Falls City. After living there for about two years he returned to the homestead and remained with his mother for about a year and a half.
On the 10th of October, 1869, Mr. Hub- bard was united in marriage to Miss Mina C. Alderman, who was born in Dayton, Yam- hill county, April 5, 1851,. a daughter of A. L. and Mary Alderman. Mr. Alderman crossed the plains in early manhood and his wife came west in the early '40s. After their marriage they made their home in Yamhill county during the remainder of their lives.
After his marriage Mr. Hubbard moved to Yamhill county in 1870 and engaged in agricultural pursuits for eight years, remov- ing at the end of this time to Falls City, where he purchased one hundred and eighty- two acres of raw land, one and one-half miles northeast of the town. He cleared and improved this land until it is now one of the finest ranches around Falls City, a task which called for determination and indefati- gable labor. He made this place his home until he retired from agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale and purchased the twenty-seven acres, upon which he now re- sides and which is looked upon as the most attractive fruit farm and residence in Polk county. As a reward for the hard labor he has persistently carried on, he has this home, a place where comfort and pleasing sur- roundings are the first consideration.
In politics Mr. Hubbard is a republican. He has twice been elected mayor of Falls City and has served as a justice of the peace. Since 1869 he has been a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and Mrs. Hubbard are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Hubbard's life rec- ord shows how much may be accomplished, when effort and courage are directed along progressive and practical lines, even though the obstacles to be overcome are very great.
WILLIAM F. WALKER, who owns and conducts the only undertaking parlors in Springfield, was born at Pleasant Hill, Lane county, in May, 1879, and is a son of Albert Shields and Sarah (Higgins) Walker, the father a native of Missouri and the mother of Massachusetts. The parents are both mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work.
Reared at home, the preliminary educa- tion of William F. Walker was received in the public schools of this city. After laying
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aside his text-books, he worked at various occupations, before establishing himself in the undertaking business. He is a graduate mortician, having pursued his course in the establishment of J. P. Finley & Son at Port- land, and he also took a course of lectures under Professor W. P. Hohenschul, of Iowa City, Iowa, and is in every way qualified for the duties of his profession. In 1907, Mr. Walker opened his present place of business, which is the only establishment of the kind not only in Springfield but in this immediate vicinity. He carries a complete line of caskets, and his hearses are appropriately fitted up. Mr. Walker is in every way qualified for the duties of his vocation and is highly thought of in his community. He owns a very pleas- ant residence in the city and a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant county, this state, which is covered with a good growth of commercial timber.
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