The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 12

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

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Abernethy were born thirteen children of whom three died in early life: George Henry, who passed away at the age of ten years; Mary, who died at the age of one year; and Priscilla, at the age of three years. The others are: Anna May, the wife of B. W. Starr, of Tacoma, Washington, in the office of the Shasta Lim- ited; Caroline A., the wife of the Rev. H. F. Burgess, of Sunnyside, Washington; William Gray, who was in Alaska for eleven years and is now a mining engineer living in Ta- coma, Washington; Edwin P. S. A., who is running a mill in Coos county; Violet O. G., the wife of Bennett Swanton, a lawyer of Marshfield, Oregon; Daisy S. F., who is the twin sister of Violet and the wife of Archie Hahn, of Whitman College, of Walla Walla, Washington; Pearl Dunning, the wife of M. C. Miller, of Dora, Oregon; Frances Mary, the wife of A. T. Hahn, a mining engineer with the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company of Portland; Camilla D., at home; and Mizpah I .. the wife of Virgil E. Waterman, of Welches, Oregon.

· Such in brief is the history of William Ab- ernethy, yet it tells little of his real experi- ences for he lived in this state long before its admission to the Union. At the time of his arrival here the major part of the great forests was uncut, the natural resources of the state were unimproved and the Indians

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

far outnumbered the white settlers. Here and there a little settlement was to be seen and the seeds of civilization planted by the early residents have born rich fruit. Mr. Ab- ernethy has not only been an interested wit- ness of all the changes which have occurred as the years have gone by, but has ever borne his part in the work of public improvement and upbuilding.

WILLIAM WOOD is well known at Bon- anza and in Klamath county as a dealer in horses. He owns a large feed shed and livery barn and is meeting with success in his undertaking. His birth occurred in Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, his natal day being May 1, 1859. His father, William Wood, Sr., was born in Scotland and after arriving in the new world was married near the birth- place of his son William, in Wisconsin, to Miss Lucy Hawkins, a native of the state of New York. Her people were pioneer settlers of Wisconsin and Willam Wood, Sr., also located there at an early day. Both he and his wife continued to live in that state until called to their final rest and he followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for the support of his family, which included ten children, all of whom are yet living with the exception of one daughter.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for William Wood in his boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields with his father during the sum- mer seasons and in the winter months at- tended the public schools. He was about twenty-five years of age when, in April, 1884, he left Wisconsin and made his way to Truckee, California, there remaining until the fall of 1887, when he came to Klamath county, Oregon. He settled on a ranch two miles from Dairy and engaged in its cultiva- tion until 1907, when he took up his abode in Bonanza, although still supervising his ranching interests until April, 1912, when he sold his land. He is now engaged in the saloon business and also deals quite exten- sively in horses, owning about thirty head of draft horses and running stock. He has a large barn in addition, conducting a feed, sale and livery business. He is also the owner of a large residence which his wife conducts as a rooming house.

In August, 1908, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Mrs. Etta Vincent, a widow, with one daughter. To this marriage has been born a daughter Thelma, now three years of age. Mr. Wood votes with the republican party and is interested in its success. While residing at Dairy he served as constable for many years and at the present writing he is deputy sheriff. He has also for many years been identified with the school board of Dairy. He is greatly interested in the upbuilding and progress of Bonanza and is a member of the Commercial Club.

H. L. CLOPTON, postmaster at Bonanza. was born November 9, 1870, in Missouri, and is the eldest of the five children of Thomas J. and Mary M. (Potter) Clopton, the former

a native of Missouri, and the latter of Ken- tucky. They were married in Missouri and in 1874 removed westward to Idaho, where they lived for two years. They were after- ward residents of the Willamette valley of Oregon until 1881, when they settled at Brownsboro, Jackson county, Oregon, and in 1888 came to Bonanza. The father died in Klamath Falls in 1893, when forty-three years of age, and the mother now makes her home in Berkeley, California. He followed merchandising during the greater part of his life, thus providing for his family of five chil- dren, namely: H. L .; C. O., living in Merrill; Kate, the wife of Richard Wells, of Roseville, California; Margaret, who is with her mother; and Percy, also at home.

H. L. Clopton remained at home until his father's death, or until 1893, and during that period acquired his education in the country schools. He started in life on his own account in 1893 as a dealer in cattle at Bonanza and was thus engaged until 1897, when he turned his attention to general merchandising, fol- lowing that business until 1910, when he lost all in the great fire that swept over the town. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster at Bonanza. which position he now fills. He is also the owner of four hundred acres of land four miles east of the town which is constantly increasing in value as the district becomes more thickly settled.

On the 5th of April, 19.03, Mr. Clopton was married to Miss Bertha M. Nichols, who was born at Bonanza, Oregon, October 3, 1880. and is a daughter of D. B. Nichols. They are the parents of three children, Carol, Ruth and Lyle. In politics Mr. Clopton is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He is recognized as one of the local leaders of his party and for three or four years has served as a member of the city council, in which connection he has exer. cised his official prerogative in support of many progressive public movements. For fourteen years he has been clerk of the school board and he is interested in the various plans and projects for the benefit of educational work here. His name is on the membership roll of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Rebekah lodge of Bonanza, and he is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. cooperating in the progressive work of that organization, whereby the advantages and resources of this district are exploited and trade interests promoted.

WILLIS EDWARD NEELY, whose home place is a visible evidence of a life of well spent activity. started out in the business world empty-handed and step by step has reached his present position as one of the sub- stantial and progressive ranch owners of Coos county. He was born in Josephine county, Oregon, August 9, 1870, and is a son of Ed- ward and Zilpha (Mays) Neely. The parents crossed the plains in 1852 from Illinois, of which state they were natives. They made their home in Illinois until they determined to remove to the northwest. in which year

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

they took up their abode in Lane county, near Eugene, there residing until 1867. In that year they became residents of Josephine county. The father served in the Rogue river war of 1855-56, and in 1872 he went to Doug- las county, where he lived for two years. He then came to Coos county, settling near Fair- view. In different localities he shared in the work of pioneer development and improvement and his life was an element of value to the community. He died July 4, 1898, and is still survived by Mrs, Neely who makes her home with her son Willis. In the family were three children: John C., who died leaving a wife and one child, Florence, their home being near Fairview in Coos county; Willis; and Arthur Lee, of Coquille, Oregon, who has two children, Alvin and Ivan.

The experiences that fell to the lot of Willis E. Neely in his boyhood and youth were such as usually come to those who live upon the frontier. He started out in business life for himself in 1891 at the age of twenty- one years by leaving the farm and taking up a homestead. In the meantime he had ac- quired a good education by attending the dis- trict schools and the academy at Coquille, and when twenty years of age he began teaching in the district schools of Coos county. Before this time he had worked in the woods at log- ging and at different occupations and for dif- ferent people. For eight years after attain- ing his majority he continued to engage in teaching school and alternated his educational work with employment in the woods and at logging. He also availed himself of oppor- tunities for improving his homestead. For four years he was employed in a sawmill, but in more recent years he has concentrated his energies entirely upon agricultural interests. After selling his original homestead he pur- chased, improved and resided upon a number of farms before buying his present place of eighty acres, which he has since greatly im- proved. There are modern equipments upon his farm, together with good buildings and the latest improved machinery.

Mr. Neely was married in 1892 to Miss Leonora Bennell, a native of Tillamook coun- ty, Oregon, and a daughter of Edward and Louisa (Griner) Bennell. She was the eldest of their nine children, the others being: Net- tie, the wife of Andrew Lilquist, of Rochester, Washington; Edna, the wife of Alfred Carl- son, of Seattle, Washington; George, who is living in Redlands, California; Lloyd and Victor, who make their home in Shelton. Washington; Ernest, deceased; Fay, also of Shelton; and Garry, who has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Neely have become the parents of five children: Alva, born in 1893; Sylvia, born in 1896; Myrtle, born in 1898; Elmer, born in 1899; and Mildred, whose birth occur- red in 1902.

Mr. Neely is a socialist in his political views but has never been an office seeker. Since 1898 he lias held membership in the Woodmen of the World. His home is near the Fairview bridge, not far from the town of Fairview. and its pleasant location and excel- lent improvements render it one of the attrac- tive features of the landscape. Working earn-

estly and persistently year after year Mr. Neely has made steady advancement in a business way, and the success he has attained is well merited.

COLONEL FRANK H. TRUE is one of the organizers of the Home Building and Realty Company of Klamath Falls, an organization somewhat unique in its purposes and plans for the development and improvement of the city whereby monthly payments will insure to the purchaser the property that he desires. The commercial spirit is not all that lies back of this organization. It was planned with the view of aiding the home-seeker and thus up- building the town. In formulating the policy of the company and executing its plans Col- onel Frank H. True has proved himself an enterprising, progressive and far-sighted busi- ness man. He was born in Janesville, Wis- consin, February 26, 1854, his parents being Frederick D. and Mary E. (Goodrich) True, both of whom were natives of New York. They were reared in that state but were mar- ried in Wisconsin and the father passed away in Rock county, Wisconsin, November 20, 1863, at the age of forty years and ten months. The mother long survived, her death occurring in Mitchell county, Iowa, June 25, 1901 when she was seventy-seven years of age. All through his life Frederick D. True had engaged in farming. He attempted to join the army in 1862, enlisting as a sharp- shooter with the United States troops, but was rejected because of weak lungs. This was a very great disappointment to him for he knew that he was a fine shot, having been most skillful as a hunter, and his patriotic devotion to his country made him desire to use his skill in defense of the Union cause. It was not an unmanly thing, therefore, that tears came to his eyes when he learned that he would not be accepted. In his family were four children: E. Fred, now living in Los Angeles, California; Charles who died in infancy; Frank H .; and William H., who died in infancy.

Frank H. True resided in Rock county, Wis- consin, until August, 1876, and pursued his education in Milton College of the town of Milton, being graduated with the class of 1871. He then entered mercantile circles on the 1st of November, 1871, as a clerk at Edgerton, Wisconsin, and was thus employed until he started in business on his own account as proprietor of a store at Osage, Iowa, in 1879. He carefully managed his interests there until November, 1887, and during that period served as a member of the staff of Governor William Larrabee. Prior to his removal to the west he also attended the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1876, In December, 1887, he became a resident of San Diego, California, where he engaged in dealing in real estate. In 1892 he removed to San Francisco, where he began business as an appraiser and real-estate and loan agent for the Renters Loan & Trust Company of San Francisco, in which position he continued for twelve years, or until 1904. He then entered the real-estate business at Los

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

Angeles, California, and operated in property there until August 12, 1907, when he secured a patent of a process for the manufacture of common mill shavings into fuel and formed a corporation for the manufacture of that fuel under the name of the Economy Fuel Company of Phoenix, Arizona. The business was capitalized for one million dollars and five hundred and twenty-five thousand shares were issued. At the present time Colonel True is president of the company and owns a controlling interest in the stock. He also owns a half interest in the Scott Shavings & Sawdust Company of Los Angeles, California, which controls a majority of all shavings and sawdust at Los Angeles and at San Pedro.

On the 8th of February, 1912, Mr. True removed to Klamath Falls and organized the Home Building and Realty Company, of which he is now secretary and a member of the executive committee. This company is capi- talized for two hundred thousand dollars, with one hundred thousand dollars fully sub- scribed at this date. He has been instru- mental in interesting a number of capitalists in investments in Klamath Falls and while one of the more recent additions to the citi- zenship here, he is recognized as one who is doing much for the upbuilding of the dis- trict and the promotion of its commercial and industrial activity. He has the utmost con- fidence in this wonderful country and is a most active and helpful member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, in which he was appointed to the membership committee immediately after joining the organization.

On the 1st of May, 1877, Colonel True was united in marriage to Miss Hattie M. Annis, of Osage, Iowa, who is a native of Orleans county, Vermont, and is a daughter of Dr. Annis. They have one son, Dr. Herbert F. True, who is practicing in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear and throat. He was educated at the Uni- versity of California and was graduated from the Medical College of Southern California in Los Angeles. He afterward pursued special courses in McGill College at Montreal, Can- ada, in the Royal Ophthalmic College of Lon- don, England, and in Vienna, Austria, where he completed a course on the eye, ear, nose and throat. After traveling for fourteen months on the continent he returned to America and has since practiced in Los Angeles. He was born in Osage, Iowa, August 14, 1879, and is most prominent for one of his years.

Colonel True although a resident of this district for a comparatively brief period, has become both prominent and popular in Klam- ath Falls and southern Oregon. He is yet in the prime of life and looks ten years younger. He keeps in close touch with the spirit of progress and enterprise resulting in the rapid upbuilding of this section and is a firm believer in its future. Colonel True has always been deeply interested in politics and manly outdoor sports. While in Milton College he was captain of the baseball team in 1869, 1870 and 1871. He has made many records in athletic circles, especially in con- nection with the Caledonian Scotch games

at Madison, Wisconsin. Ilis political alle- giance has always been given to the republi- can party and he is a warm admirer of Robert M. La Follette, the distinguished Wisconsin statesman. In 1889 and 1890 he spent two years in lower California and Mexico, during which period he acted as explorer for the International Company and was also ap- pointed guide for Kate Field during her last trip to that country. Few men are more familiar with the history of the west during the past quarter of a century. He has been an interested witness of all that has occurred and marked its growth and development and at all times has been in the forefront among those who are seeking substantial results that shall be factors in the upbuilding of the Pacific coast country.

JOHN REYNOLDS, M. D. Dr. John Rey- nolds, a physician of Salem who in the long years of practice has demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the intricate prob- lems which are met in the efforts to restore health and check the ravages of disease, has practiced continuously in Salem since 1874. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 2, 1837, a son of Lloyd and Eliza- beth (Glass) Reynolds, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father and mother removed to Washington county, Ohio, later in life and their deaths occurred in that locality. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom survive.

When John Reynolds was but three years of age his parents removed from Columbiana county, Ohio, to Washington county and it was in the later place that he was reared and educated. After receiving the education which the common schools of Ohio offered he took up the study of medicine at the age of nineteen years under his father, who was a general practitioner. After having completed the medical course at Miami Med- ical College, he began practice at Beverly, Ohio, and remained there until 1874, when he came to Salem. He is one of the oldest practicing physicians in the city and has proven his skill and ability. From the out- set of his professional career his labors have been attended with success viewed from both the professional and the financial stand- points. He has ever been most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and seldom if ever has been at fault in anticipating the out- come of a disease. He has not specialized in any particular field but has continued in the general practice of medicine and has kept in touch with its advancement by giv- ing careful attention to the research and in- vestigation which have been undertaken by the members of the medical fraternity. Without at any time neglecting the duties of his vocation he has interested himself in agriculture to the extent of overseeing the forty-nine acre fruit farm which he owns one mile north of the city limits of Salem. He has brought this property under a high state of productivity and it is planted to prunes, pears and cherries. His real-estate investments also include several valuable pieces of property in Salem.

DR. JOHN REYNOLDS

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

In 1860 Dr. Reynolds was married to Miss S. A. Truesdell, a . native of Washington county, Ohio, and a daughter of J. M. and Adelia Truesdell, both of whom were born in Ohio and are now deceased. To Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds five children have been born: Mary E., who is residing at home and is teaching in Willamette University; Kate D., who is married to John Goltra, of Portland, Oregon; L. T., who is a fruit grower in Marion county; J. W., an attorney of Port- land; and Harry B., deceased.

In politics Mr. Reynolds is a republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- coln. His professional duties have brought him into close relations with many house- holds and in all he commands the high re- gard and love of those to whom he has min- istered. His life work has indeed been one of broad usefulness and in every relation he has lived up to the high ideals which he has set for himself.

HENRY A. STRONG. Whatever success has attended the efforts of Henry A. Strong is attributable entirely to his own labors. He has recognized the possibilities of this region and knows that patient, persevering effort will transform it into a rich agricul- tural district. He is, therefore, devoting his energies to farming, truck gardening and stock-raising and, working diligently day by day, he is meeting with a fair measure of prosperity. He was born in Josephine county, Oregon, July 16, 1870, and is a son of Louis and Catherine (Wimer) Strong, both of whom are natives of Missouri. They were married, however, in Iowa, to which state they had re- moved with their respective parents in child- hood days. Unto them were born twelve children: James Frank, of Myrtle Point, Ore- gon, who is married and has a family of seven children; William J., also living at Myrtle Point; Lucy, the wife of E. W. Jones, of Myrtle Point, by whom she has four children; Henry A .; Louis M., of Arago, Oregon, who is married and has four children; Viola, who is the wife of Seldon Warner, of Myrtle Point, and has five children; Eugenia, the wife of William Floyd, of Riverton, Oregon, by whom she has five children; Alice A., the wife of C. L. Neil, of Ruckles, Oregon, and tlie mother of one child; J. C., of Myrtle Point, who is married and has two children; and Evan, Ralph and Eva, all deceased.

Upon his father's farm in Josephine and Coos counties Henry A. Strong spent the days of his boyhood, youth and early man- hood to the age of twenty-four years. He was educated in Josephine county but had no special advantages. After putting aside his text-books he remained at home and assisted his father until three years after he had attained his majority. He then went to work in a gold mine in Josephine county, where he spent seven months, and at the end of that time he rented a tract of land and engaged in dairy farming and in raising grain. For a year he lived upon that place and then rented another farm for a period of four years. He next bought thirty-nine acres of land situated about two miles from.

Myrtle Point on the Dora road and he has made practically all the improvements upon the property save the erection of the resi- dence. He now has seventeen acres under cultivation and raises green food for cows and also garden truck. He has likewise planted an orchard and year by year he is adding to the productiveness of his land through the careful cultivation and develop- ment of his fields. He also raises blooded stock, including fine horses and Jersey cows. In addition to his home place he has a tim- ber claim about twelve miles from Myrtle Point and it is figured that there are four million feet of timber on the claim of a second growth. His business interests are of a character that contribute to public progress as well as to individual success and what he accomplishes represents the fit utili- zation of the innate talents which are his.

On the 9th of September, 1894, Mr. Strong was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Berry, a native of Oregon, and a daughter of John and Mary (Warner) Berry, the for- mer born in Ireland and the latter in Indiana. In that family were eight children: Mary E., deceased; John, living in Fort Klamath with his wife and two children; Olive, who is the wife of B. C. Shull, of Myrtle Point, and has eight children; William L., living in Allegany, Oregon; Alfred E., of Alaska; Mrs. Strong; Horace, of Prosper, Oregon, who is married and has two children; and Laura E., the wife of H. A. Schroeder, of Myrtle Point, and the mother of two children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Strong have been born three children: Clarence H., born July 12, 1898; Bertha E., November 25, 1901; and Andra B., September 22, 1907.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Henry A. Strong has voted for the men and measures of the democratic party. He has served as a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and also to the Grange and is a citizen whose interest in the welfare and upbuilding of the commu- nity is deep and sincere. He recognizes some- thing of the opportunities which are to be found in this section and at all times bends his efforts toward the improvement of the region which he has selected as his home, knowing that here as elsewhere, earnest and intelligently directed labor will be rewarded with substantial results.

BENJAMIN ROBERT PATTERSON is the junior member of the drug firm of Patterson & Son, which is doing a satisfactory business in Heppner, Oregon. He was born in Hornells- ville, New York, January 28, 1874, a son of J. H. and Rebecca (Griffiths) Patterson, both of whom are living. The father came to Heppner in 1883, by stage from Montana. He entered the employ of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company as a locomotive engi- neer and was the first engine driver on the Heppner branch of that road, in the service of which he remained for twenty-one years. In 1889 although still on the railroad com- pany's payroll, he engaged in the drug trade

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 12

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