The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 120

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

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Xavier Arzner was the first to come to the United States, arriving in 1886, and the other sons came with their father in the spring of 1887. The three eldest learned blacksmithing in the old country with their father. Gabriel has retired from that busi-

JOHN WEST

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

ness and is conducting a ranch, while Xavier and his brother Joseph still continue to follow blacksmithing. Xavier Arzner started his present shop immediately after his arrival in partnership with James Gibbs, the busi- ness being conducted under the firm style of Arzner & Gibbs, for one year. Follow- ing the arrival of his brother the firm of Arzner Brothers was formed in 1887 and has maintained a continuous existence to the present time. They own a shop on Main street, opposite the courthouse, and are do- ing general blacksmithing and wagon making and all kinds of general repair work in that line. During the past three years they have been dealers in blacksmiths' supplies and their business has reached large proportions. They own a tract of seven hundred and sixty acres of land in Goose valley, about twelve miles northwest of Lakeview. All of the Arz- ner brothers are republicans and Xavier has served as a member of the city council for four years, giving active aid to many pro- gressive movements which lie deemed bene- ficial in municipal affairs. Fraternally he is a Mason, a United Workman and a For- ester and is also connected with the Eastern Star and the Degree of Honor.

In 1896 Mr. Arzner was married to Miss Belle Pratt, who was born in Santa Cruz, California, April. 5, 1870, but was reared in Lake county, Oregon. She is a daughter of C. C. Pratt, who was killed in an automo- bile accident in 1911. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Arzner are five in number: Lena May; Ivan and Evan, twins; Cecil; and Robert Lee. For more than a quarter of a century Xavier Arzner has resided in Lake- view, taking a helpful interest in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the town and to its business advancement. The record which he has made for diligence and relia- bility has brought him high regard and he is justly accounted one of the representa- tive citizens of Lake county.

JOHN G. REED. No history of the settle- ment and development of Linn county would be complete without the record of the life of John G. Reed, who as a boy of fourteen, crossed the plains with ox teams and set- tled in this section in pioneer times. His mature life has been closely identified with agricultural interests and today he is one of the most extensive land owners in the county and active in the management of his property, although he is past the age when most men retire. He was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, August 31, 1838, a son of James N. and Hester (Morgan) Reed, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Reed moved to Iowa and were among the early settlers in that state. The grandfather of our subject followed the contracting and building business and erected for Jonathan Morgan one of the first houses in Burlington. Three generations of the Reed family were represented in the emi- grant train which in 1852 crossed the plains from Iowa to Oregon and the uncle of our subject was the first man to succumb to the

plague of cholera which raged upon the trails. Arriving in Linn county Mr. Reed's parents and grandparents took up donation claims and the elder people died upon their prop- erty some years later. The father of our subject, however, operated and developed his land until 1857 and then sold it and moved to eastern Oregon and finally to Washing- ton, where he took up a large tract upon which he resided until his death when he was eighty years of age. His wife survived him for three years. In their family were eight children, five of whom are still living.

John G. Reed was fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Linn county. After one year's schooling he be- gan active life for himself, obtaining a posi- tion as a driver of an ox team between Ore- gon and California. He made several trips in this capacity, bringing each time quan- tities of fruit into California, where he ob- tained twenty-five dollars a bushel for ap- ples. For some years after this he engaged in mining and finally in 1860 began his agricultural career, buying one hundred and twenty acres of land near Albany which he developed and improved for twenty years. At the end of that time he disposed of his holdings and purchased three hundred and twenty acres on the Santiam river, four miles above Lebanon, which he has operated since that time.

Under his management it has become one of the finest farms in the district and is a model in every particular for other agricul- tural enterprises, being equipped with finė barns and outbuildings and every variety of farm machinery. This property, however, forms only a small portion of Mr. Reed's extensive holdings. He owns besides one hundred and fifty acres near Maxwell, large tracts in Olympia, Washington, and fine resi- dence property in Lebanon.

In 1859 Mr. Reed was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bond, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Tray- lor) Bond. Mrs. Reed's father went to Cali- fornia alone in 1850 and three years later returned to Illinois and brought his entire family to Oregon. After spending one winter in Marion county they removed to Linn county, where the father bought land seven and one-half miles east of Albany. This property he developed and improved for a number of years along systematic and scien- tific lines, constantly adding to his holdings until he possessed seven hundred and forty acres of the finest and most productive land in Oregon. He died upon this farm in 1890 at the age of seventy-two and his wife sur- vived him until 1896. Both are of fine old southern stock, the father a native of Ten- nessee and the mother of Kentucky, and they can trace their descent in a direct line to Revolutionary times. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Bond became the parents of five children, two of whom are still living, namely: Mrs. Reed and Albert Bond, a farmer of Linn county. Dr. B. F. Bond died in Dallas, Texas.

Mrs. Reed is a fine example of the best type of pioneer woman. For forty years

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she practiced medicine and did work of in- estimable value in relieving the hard condi- tions of that early time. The scope and extent of her interests and activities may be judged from the fact that in 1880 she served as census enumerator and takes an active interest in the various charitable movements of the community.

Mr. and Mrs. Reed became the parents of four children: Austin N., who is operating the donation claim in Linn county taken up by Nathan Bond in pioneer times; Effie, now Mrs. E. M. Bodwell, of Lebanon; Elizabeth Reed, now Mrs. Dr. M. J. Denny, who pre- vious to her marriage taught school and is a graduate physician; and Clifton N., the youngest son, who met an accidental death when fourteen years of age.

Mr. Reed is a member of Spring Bank Grange, No. 409, Patrons of Husbandry, and Mrs. Reed is a Daughter of the American Revolution, the Maccabees and the Women's Relief Corps. He spends most of his time in his comfortable home in Lebanon but is active in the supervision of his extensive farm lands. A long and useful career as a farmer in a country to which he came as a pioneer has brought him into important relations with agricultural interests and his activities have been powerful forces in pro- moting development and progress. Although seventy-four years of age he seems yet in his prime in spirit and interests, for his in- tegrity, force of character and business abil- ity are still as powerful as they were in the beginning of his career and they have made his name honored and esteemed wherever it is known.

EDGAR BAKER BARRON is one of the well known stock men of Jackson county, being the owner of sixteen hundred acres of ranch and argicultural land located near Ash- land where he is successfully engaged in sheep-raising. He was born on his father's home ranch in Jackson county, Oregon, Jan- uary 25, 1859. and is a son of Hugh Frank- lin Barron. More extended mention of the parents is made in another part of this work in connection with the review of Major Hugh F. Barron.

Edgar Baker Barron was reared in his parents' home and received his early educa- tion in the public schools and also at the Ashland Academy. From the early years of his manhood he was associated with his father in the cattle-raising business but for the past four years he has been interested in the sheep industry. He is the owner of sixteen hundred acres of good land, located near Ashland in Jackson county.

Mr. Barron was united in marriage in No- vember, 1886, to Miss Stacey Payne, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Payne, who are residents of Ashland. To Mr. and Mrs. Barron one child has been born. Austie Alice, who is the wife of A. R. Brown. who is engaged in the butcher business in Ash- land.

Edgar Baker Barron belongs to the republi- can party but has never sought political preferment. He is a member of Ashland

Lodge, No. 944, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is one of the successful and highly esteemed citizens of his section of the state.

EVERETT BLANCHARD CURTIS is ex- tensively engaged in fruit cultivation on forty-seven acres of land in Coos county and. is also successful in the operation of a mod- ern and sanitary dairy. He was born in Searsport, Maine, in 1855, and is a son of Samuel and Eliza (Griffin) Curtis, both na- tives of the same state. Mr. and Mrs. Sam- uel Curtis were well known in religious circles of their native city and gave their allegiance to the Methodist church. They were the parents of nine children: Emma A., the widow of E. D. Nickels of Maine; Ben- jamin F., Samuel and Elizabeth, all of whom are deceased; Henry G., who maintains his residence in Searsport, Maine; William B., who is postmaster of Marshfield, Oregon, and of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work; Everett Blanchard, the subject of this sketch; Clifton, a captain of a sea vessel sailing from San Francisco; and Samuel, the second of the name, who is now deceased.

Everett Blanchard Curtis was educated in the district schools of Searsport, and re- mained with the parents until he was twenty- five years of age. When his father died he took entire charge of the management and direction of the home farm and operated it in the interests of his mother for some years. In 1880 he left Maine and came to Leadville, Colorado, where he followed min- ing in that city and its vicinity for three years. He later removed to Idaho, where he took up a homestead claim in Custer county, cleared and developed the land and brought it to a high state of cultivation. He was extensively engaged at this period of his life in breeding, feeding and selling live stock of all kinds. He became an expert judge of values in this direction and owned some of the finest cattle in the state. For twenty- three years he resided in Idaho upon his original claim and his agricultural operations were rewarded by prosperity and success in all lines. He made extensive improvements upon the three hundred and twenty acres which he owned in Idaho and was responsi- ble for the irrigation of his entire tract. He sold out at a good price and removed to Coos county, where he located on Larson's inlet. He purchased one hundred and seven- ty acres of unimproved land and began its cultivation. He developed and expanded his holdings along modern lines, built model barns and outbuildings, diked in his property from the rising tides and made the land fertile and productive. At the end of three years he disposed of his holdings and came to Myrtle Point, where he bought forty- seven acres of stump land. He cleared his property and gave his entire. time and per- sonal supervision to its cultivation and im- provement. He now has one of the finest farms in this section of the country and does sanitary dairying on a large scale. He has most of his land under cultivation in fruit

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trees of all sorts, suitable to the soil and climate. He now has four hundred trees planted upon his holdings and every year extends his activities along this line. nie is interested in local real estate and his judi- cious investments in Marshfield town lots have added considerably to his income.

On January 22, 1910, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage to Miss Laura Rich Curtis, his cousin, and a daughter of Libeans and Jane (Porter) Curtis. Mrs. Curtis' parents were natives of Maine and reared a large family of children, only three of whom are living: Eben, a seal captain, with headquarters at Alameda, California; Joseph P., a resident of Everett, Massachusetts; and Laura, the wife of our subject.

In his political views Mr. Curtis is a con- sistent republican of the progressive wing and always votes the party ticket, believing its policies and principles most conducive to public welfare. He never seeks public office and his one term as county commissioner in Idaho was served under protest. He is af- filiated with the Grangers but beyond this has no fraternal connections. His farm is situated one and one-half miles from Myrtle Point, Oregon, on the road leading to the old Lee ranch and is recognized throughout Coos county as a model agricultural property. Mr. Curtis is one of the many farmers near Myrtle Point, whose individual activities, directed along modern lines of development and expansion, are vital forces in making agriculture a progressive science.

JOEL VAIL. When Joel Vail died upon his farm in 1907, Oregon lost a sturdy pio- neer in its settlement, . and agricultural interests of Linn county were deprived of an eminently successful representative. For al- most fifty years he had been identified with farming in this section and was probably one of the most important forces in the de- velopment of the industry. He was born in Ohio in 1828, one of a family of five children, all of whom have passed away.

Joel Vail received his education in the public schools of his native state and was twenty-four years of age when he came to Oregon. He settled near Hillsboro in 1852 and a short time afterward came to Linn county, where he took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Sodaville, whereon he resided for five years. At the end of that time he moved to Lane county and taught school in that section for some time, returning in 1866 to Linn county, where he took up a homestead claim a few miles northeast of Sodaville and developed and improved it until his death in 1907. He cultivated this property along systematic and practical lines, built barns and other necessary structures and made general im- provements, keeping always in touch with modern advancement. He owned at the time of his death two hundred acres of fine land and was numbered among the substantial and deservedly prosperous farmers of the district.

In 1857 Mr. Vail married Miss Mary E. Lee, who was born in Iowa in 1839, a daugh-

ter of Philester and Eliza A. (Burge) Lee, natives of New York state. Their marriage occurred there and they later went to Ohio and from there proceeded to Illinois, whence they removed to Iowa, where they lived until 1847. In that year they crossed the plains to Oregon with ox teams and from The Dalles took boat to Portland, where they spent the winter. In the following spring they located on a farm east of the city and there remained until 1848, when they moved to Tualitin plains. A short time afterward Philester Lee went to the gold fields of Cali- fornia and spent one year in mining, but re- turned at the end of that time to his farm near Salem. Afterward he moved into the city and opened a dry-goods store, which he operated until 1852, when he sold out his interests and moved to Linn county. Here he proved up a donation claim upon the place where the village of Sodaville now stands and developed his three hundred and twenty acres for a number of years. Disposing of his holdings in the latter part of the '70s, he retired from active life and made his home with his daughter Mrs. Vail until his death, in 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee were born eleven children, four of whom are still liv- ing, namely: Mary E., the wife of our sub- ject; Mrs. Lucinda Matthews, of Sweet Home, Oregon; Norman, a resident of Junc- tion City; and Mrs. Sarah Hoge, of Grants Pass. Mr. and Mrs. Vail became the parents of eight children, five of whom are deceased. Those who survive are F. N .. Mrs. Kate Stevens and Fred L. Mrs. Vail is residing upon the homestead. She is a member of the Christian Adventist church, of which re- ligion her husband was a devout adherent.

Mr. Vail gave his allegiance to the repub- lican party and while never active as an office seeker was yet intelligently interested in the growth and advancement of the sec- tion to which he came as a pioneer. He was seventy-nine years of age when he died. His earlier career was active, useful and valuable, his old age was a benediction to all who came in contact with him. and his entire life was an encouragement to his as- sociates and an example well worthy of emulation by the young.

HENRY A. CANFIELD, JR., M. D., is one of the most progressive physicians in Drain, Oregon. and brings to the practice of his profession youthful energy, a comprehensive scientific education and all the most modern ideas along medical and surgical lines. He was born in Watkins Glen, New York, April 6, 1887, and is a son of Henry A. and Mary E. (Murphy) Canfield, both natives of New York state. His father's birth occurred in Bath and the mother's in Watkins Glen. They were married in the latter city and lived there until 1892 when they removed to Los Angeles, California, where they re- mained until the fall of that year. They spent the years from 1893 to 1896 as resi- dents of Florida and subsequently removed to Phoebus, Virginia, where they resided until 1898. In that year they went to Seattle, Washington, where they have since

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made their home. Henry Canfield, Sr., is a fire inspector for the Lumbermen's Indemnity Exchange of Seattle and is one of the promi- nent business men of that city.

Dr. Canfield received his early education in the public schools of California and Florida. He is a graduate of the Seattle high school which institution he left with the class of 1907. He early determined to make the practice of medicine his life work and in pursuance of this ambition entered the office of Dr. M. E. A. McKechnie in Seattle and studied under that able tutor until the fall of 1907 when he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Oregon, at Port- land. He was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1911. Previous to this time he had served for five months as interne in the Fannie Paddock hospital at Tacoma, Wash- ington, and following his graduation held a similar office in the Good Samaritan hospital at Portland. The practical experience which he gained in these institutions is of great value to him in his present practice. Dr. Canfield opened an office in Drain, Oregon, and started upon the practice of his profes- sion. During the short time in which he has been active in this line he has demonstrated his ability as a practitioner and has built up a lucrative practice. He is recognized as one of the most promising of the younger physicians in Drain and his success is the inevitable result of his expert knowledge and his conscientious work.

Dr. Henry A. Canfield is a republican but has never sought public office, preferring to give his entire attention to the work incident to the building up of a large professional practice. He is identified with Drain Camp, No. 259, Woodmen of the World and holds membership in Pacific Circle, No. 20, Women of Woodcraft. He is a devout Episcopalian and a regular attendant at church. In the medical profession he has already attained a degree of success for which he might well be envied by an older man. Thorough effi- ciency in the groundwork of attainment in medicine and is the underlying secret of Dr. Canfield's success.

MRS. DORA MAY SALTMARSH is the widow of Arthur B. Saltmarsh, who died October 21, 1911. Mrs. Saltmarsh was born in Ohio on the 21st of November, 1864. She is a daughter of Arthur Poole, who emi- grated at a very early date to California, making the journey in company with a train consisting of fifteen wagons. After spend- ing one year in California he removed to Ashland, Oregon. Mrs. Saltmarsh was reared in her father's home and educated in the public schools of the district in which her parents lived. She was married at Jackson- ville, Oregon, April 10, 1886, to Arthur B. Saltmarsh, whose birth occurred at Sterling, Oregon, on the 25th of February, 1861. He was an active and successful farmer and in addition to his agricultural interests he was also engaged in packing supplies throughout the settlement adjacent to his home. Unto him and his wife were born five children,

namely: Osie; Lee; Dean; Glenn; and Ottie, who died in infancy.

Mrs. Saltmarsh makes her home on one hundred and twenty acres of excellent ranch land, having personal charge of all of the development work and business interests con- nected with this property. Since the death of her husband she has bravely shouldered the additional burdens that have fallen to her lot and in the conduct of her affairs has proven herself to be a competent and suc- cessful business woman. She is held in high esteem throughout the community in which she resides and is closely identified with the social betterment of the people.

THOMAS J. COYLE is the son of an Oregon pioneer and has been in the state since he was two years of age. His entire active life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits in Linn county and his success in farming has been closely connected with the development of the section. He was born at Peoria, Illinois, in 1845, a son of Reuben S. and Hannah (Carroll) Coyle, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. Their marriage occurred in the latter state and they lived upon a farm there until 1847, when they came west to Oregon, settling four miles south of Lebanon, in Linn county. Here the father took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres and developed and improved it until the death of his wife in March, 1870. At that time he moved to California, where he died in January, 1888. In their family were nine children, three of whom are still living, namely: T. J., of this review; John H., a resident of Lebanon; and Mrs. Emmeline Klum, of Portland.

Mr. Coyle was only two years of age when he came with his parents to Linn county and consequently his education was received in the public schools of the district. After he was eighteen years old he spent two and one- half years in California and then returned to Linn county, to assume charge of the operation of the homestead, upon which he has lived continuously since that time, with the exception of three years spent in rais- ing stock, east of the Cascade mountains. His farm comprises one hundred and ninety acres of the family homestead and three hundred and sixty acres which he has added to it. Of this property two hundred acres are tillable and under cultivation and the entire tract is improved and in excellent condition. Mr. Coyle does general farming but specializes in raising stock, having ob- tained some local prominence as a successful breeder.

Mr. Coyle has been twice married. His first union occurred in January, 1868, when he wedded Miss Ann E. Kirkendall, who was born in Missouri. She died twenty-seven years later and in 1897 Mr. Coyle was united in marriage to Mrs. Annie Merriam, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Philander and Jane Hazen, who were both born in the eastern part of the United States. In their family were five children: Harry, deceased; Mrs. Coyle; James, of Iowa; Amelia, the wife of Thomas Chesshir, of Linn county;

MR. AND MRS. A. B. SALTMARSH

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and Mrs. Mary Wilson, of Crook county. Mrs. Coyle has two sons: Wilber Merriam, born in June 1888, who is residing in Linn county; and Jerry Jefferson Coyle, born February 23, 1898, who is attending school. Mrs. Coyle is a member of the Evangelical church.

Mr. Coyle is independent in his political views and votes for the man whom he con- siders best fitted for the office without re- gard to party affiliations. He is a member of the Grange. Although he has never been active politically in the sense of office seek- ing, probably no man has done more in his private capacity to promote growth and ad- vancement. The nature of the activities to which he has devoted his life has made him an important factor in development, and his progressive agricultural methods and straight- forward standards have made this influence useful and beneficial.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 120

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