The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 123

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

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H. A. Cox gives his allegiance to the re- publican party but is not an office seeker. He and his family are adherents of the Quaker religion and he is a member of the Grand Army post of Bandon. He has many friends in this section, who respect him for the qualities of industry and discrimination which have marked his business career and for his personal characteristics which gain him the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

JOHN M. COOL. Northwestern America is a land of opportunity and its present and future are, to a large extent, in the hands of its young men. An example of what true western energy can accomplish is found in the career of John M. Cool, cashier of the Drain State Bank. He was born in Roulette, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1888, and is a son of Norman D. and Jane (Morgan) Cool. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and was a successful carpenter and builder until 1890, when he entered the hardware business in Costello, Pennsylvania. He was identified with that line for seven years and at the end of that time removed to Galeton, Penn- sylvania, where he conducted a store until 1906. In that year he came to Drain, Ore- gon, and was one of the organizers of the Elk Creek Lumber Company, with which enterprise he was identified for about a year. He subsequently sold his interest in it and purchased the mercantile business of

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

T. E. Bledsoe, which he has since conducted. His wife is a native of New York state and was married in Pennsylvania. She is a de- vout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which institution her husband is also identified. Norman D. Cool is superin- tendent of the Sunday school affiliated with that church and has done efficient work in this line. He is one of the prominent busi- ness inen in Drain and was active in the founding and organization of the Drain State Bank, with which his son is now iden- tificd. He has never given up his connec- tion with that institution and is its vice president.

John M. Cool was reared at home. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Galeton, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of the high school of that city. He came to Oregon with his parents and entered the Central Oregon State Normal School at Drain. When he completed his studies at that institution he was appointed assistant postmaster of Drain and he served in that capacity for four years. His bank- ing career began in January, 1910, when he was appointed cashier of the Drain State Bank. He is, at the present time, doing accurate, systematic and intelligent work in this position, and his well known trustworth- iness is his most valuable asset. A banking institution is almost entirely dependent upon the integrity of its employes and officials and Mr. Cool has never misused the confi- dence reposed in him.

In November, 1910, Mr. Cool was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mires, of Drain, a daughter of Benton Mires, a leading mer- chant in that city, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Cool has been born one child, Norman M. John M. Cool is a stanch republican and is intelligently interested in political affairs although he has never been a candidate for public office. He is a mem- ber of Drain Camp, No. 259, W. O. W., and is active in the affairs of that organization. Mr. Cool has used his opportunities worthily and well and although yet a young man, has attained a gratifying degree of success.

J. FRANK STANDISH is one of the well known, enterprising citizens of North Bend, where he is engaged in the lumber business, being the owner of a one-fourth interest in the North Bend Lumber Company, of which he is the superintendent. He has the dis- tinction of being a direct descendant of Miles Standish, the famous captain of the Ply- mouth colony. His birth occurred at Glens Falls, New York, November 22, 1863, and he is the son of John H. and Emeline (Day) Standish, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New Hampshire. They were the parents of three children. Miles, who is married and has one child, Allan, resides in California. J. Frank is the subject of this review. Mattie A., the youngest of the family, who was educated in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is now engaged in kinder- garten work in Munich, Germany.

J. Frank Standish was reared at home and received his early education in the pub- lic schools of Michigan. He started in life for himself at the age of eighteen years, at which time lie took up work with a railroad company in Muskegon, Michigan, and con- tinued in that occupation for a period of three years. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper for a lumber company and in that work he continued to be engaged for three years, after which he established him- self in the abstract business, with which he was connected for one year after which time he sold his interests in the business. He was then employed as traveling salesman for a large flour mill for one year and then moved to Wisconsin, where he found employ- ment as a superintendent in one of the large lumber companies of that state and continued for one year to give his attention to that business. He then moved to Seattle, Wash- ington, and engaged in the lumber business there for a short time, after which lie took up his abode in California and was there employed by a large lumber concern with whom he remained for a brief period and for the twenty years following was employed by various lumber concerns throughout the Pacific coast states, during which time he built a number of sawmills. In September, 1909, he settled in Coos Bay and there pur- chased a one-fourth interest in the North Bend Lumber Company and has since given his entire attention, as superintendent of the company, to the interests of the busi- ness.

Mr. Standish was united in marriage in January, 1885, to Miss Evalyn C. Mason, a native of Indiana, as were also her parents, to whom four children were born: Truman, a resident of Indiana; Tillie, the wife of a Mr. Sagert, of Indiana; Flo, the wife of Judd Frazee, a resident of Indiana; and Evalyn, the wife of the subject of this re- view.

To Mr. and Mrs. Standish three children have been born: Helen M., born July 1887, who is a graduate of the Portland high school and has a business education; James H., who is in the employ of the government in the Philippine Islands; and Margaret, who is attending school in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Standish is affiliated with the democratic party but has never sought political prefer- ment. His wife is a member of the Baptist church and Mr. Standish is a member of the Masonic order. J. Frank Standish is one of the successful business men of North Bend, where he is highly esteemed for his enter- prising and public-spirited activities in all measures intended to improve the business, educational and religious conditions of the people of the city in which he resides.

THAD S. STIPP, who lives on the Molalla road, three miles west of Molalla, is the owner of one of the best improved ranches in Clackamas county, where he successfully engages in general farming and stock-rais- ing. A native of Oregon, his birth occurred at South Salem, on the 2d of June, 1866. his father being Hezekiah Stipp. The father

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

was born on Christmas day, 1821. In 1855 he came overland to Oregon, filing on a donation claim upon which he settled. He resided here for a number of years, engaged in agricultural pursuits but later in life re- tired from active work and made his home for a time with his children. He was liv- ing in Oregon City at the time of his death, which occurred at the venerable age of eighty- four years. The mother, a Miss Goldsmith, who was a member of a family of four- teen children, crossed the plains from Illinois, her native state, to Polk county, Oregon, with her parents, the father dying en route. Here she met and subsequently married Mr. Stipp and they became the parents of the following children: John, who died at the age of nineteen years; James; Thad, our subject; Lina; Clifford; May; and Ada, who is de- ceased. The mother passed away in 1877.

The first four years in the life of Thad S. Stipp were passed at South Salem. The fam- ily then removed to Lane county, where they resided for a year, after which they became residents of Waldo. At the end of a year they left the latter place and returned to Lane county and there the mother passed away, when our subject was eleven years of age ... Thad Stipp remained at home for about a year thereafter, when he went to live with Sam Howard. He remained a member of that household for a year, after which he went to work for ranchers in vari- ous parts of the county, following this occupation until he was in a financial posi- tion to buy a place for himself. As he be- came self-supporting when he was a lad of thirteen years, Mr. Stipp is entitled to much credit for what he has achieved, his success being entirely attributable to his own ef- forts. He began in a small way, first buying five acres of timber land which he grubbed and prepared for cultivation by hard and con- sistent labor. Later he added to his tract another two acres, the purchase price of which he earned by grubbing. He applied himself closely to his undertaking, using intelligence and good judgment in the direc- tion of his endeavors, and soon extended the boundaries of his farm by the addition of forty acres and later of three and a half, while his last purchase was a five-acre tract, which he grubbed from raw timber land. His land is under high cultivation and Mr. Stipp specializes in raising high-grade stock, mak- ing a specialty of Jersey cattle, meeting from this source with gratifying financial returns. During the period of his ownership he has judiciously expended a portion of his funds in improvements and is now the owner of a well equipped and highly improved farm- ing property. Three years ago he erected a fine barn forty by seventy-six feet, fitted with twenty-six boxing and patent stanchions, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. He has also recently finished an eleven-room modern residence, piped for running water and equip- ped with an acetylene lighting system, as well as all other conveniences and comforts deemed essential in the homes of the present day. It is one of the finest farm houses in the community and the second in the county

to be provided with an acetylene lighting system, its erection necessitating an outlay of thirty-five hundred dollars. Mr. Stipp takes a great deal of pride in his ranch and has provided ample barns and outbuildings for the protection of his stock, vehicles and machinery and also grain. He is a man of progressive ideas and his place is fully sup- plied with all implements and modern ap- pliances that will save labor or expedite the work.

In 1898, Mr. Stipp married Miss Helen Case, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Morton and Emily Case who reside a half mile from the home of their daughter. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Stipp numbers four, as follows: Gladys, Inez, Homer and Vesta.

The family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Stipp is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Molalla Lodge, No. 184, while his political support is given to the republican party. Mr. Stipp is highly regarded in the community where he resides, his enterprise and energy not less than his fine principles and upright conduct winning him the respect of all who make his ac- quaintance. Self-reliant and efficient, his success is recognized by all who know him as the well merited and highly deserved reward of tireless energy and determination of purpose.

GEORGE T. SEARS is numbered among those who have passed over the Great Di- vide, but whose memory lingers and will continue to abide with their loved ones on earth, like a halo of blessing and encourage- ment. His widow, Mrs. S. Ann Sears, is widely known in Lane county and resides in the beautiful family residence in Creswell, where her husband died, and the fourteen hundred acre farm near that place, which he left and which the widow owns is now operated by the son, George Ralph Sears.

George T. Sears was born September 10, 1844, in Arkansas, a son of Carroll Jackson and Jane (Carter) Sears. The parents were both natives of Tennessee but removed from that state to Arkansas in early life, con- tinuing to make their home there until in 1852, when they removed to Oregon and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, two and a half miles northeast of Cottage Grove. The father fol- lowed farming and stock-raising and, be- ing a man of ability and thrift, was success- ful in his business and enjoyed an excellent reputation. He lived on the Oregon claim until the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1901, the mother having passed away in 1890. To the parents six sons and three daughters were born, namely: James, of Cottage Grove; George T., of this re- view; Sarah, who died in infancy; Sarah Ann, the wife of James Jones, of Pendleton, Oregon; David W., of Woodburn, Oregon; John H., on the old homestead at Cottage Grove; Lewis, residing at The Dalles, Ore- gon; Charles W., also on the old homestead; and Amanda J., who first married John Southwell, by whom she had five girls and two boys, and after his death, which oc-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

curred February 18, 1904, wedded, in 1910, George Ganger, of Pendleton.

Mr. Sears remained with his parents on the home place until he attained the age of twenty-six years. He was then married and took up farming on his own account. Pos- sessing energy and business ability, by wise management he increased his holdings from time to time and improved his farm until it became one of the finest properties in Lane county. He paid special attention to stock-raising and was successful in that line of endeavor. He continued improving the farın from year to year, getting it contin- ually into a better state of cultivation and adding to his holdings until at the time of his death the fourteen hundred acre farm, on which he passed away, was splendidly de- veloped and improved.

Mr. Sears was married September 18, 1870, to Miss S. Ann Wallace, who was born in Platte county, Missouri, April 15, 1844, a daughter of John N. and Sarah E. (Hamil- ton) Wallace. Her parents were both na- tives of the south, the father being born in North Carolina in 1809 and the mother in Tennessee in 1808. Their wedding was celebrated in the latter state, January 6, 1829, and after living there for two years they removed to Randolph county, Missouri, and later to Platte county, that state, where they remained until 1850, when they settled in Davis county, Iowa. They remained in the latter state until 1864 and then mi- grated to California and after residing there for three years came to Lane county, Ore- gon, in 1868, settling near Cottage Grove. The father lived there for six years and then returned to California, where death overtook him, June 7, 1882. His wife only survived until the 17th of August, following. The father was an agriculturist, although. by trade a brick mason, and spent considerable of his time at his trade. To them eleven children were born, namely: Mary F., the wife of John Bunch, of Stockton, California; Charles H., of Cottage Grove; William M., deceased, of Centerville, Iowa; John C. and Joseph B., who passed away in Cottage Grove; Francis F., who died in infancy; M. T., living in Deuba, California; Sarah A., who became the wife of Mr. Sears; Nancy M., who married Joseph Osborne, of Stock- ton, California; Benjamin C., of Cottage Grove, who is deceased; and Lucy C., who died at that city when nineteen years of age.

George T. Sears, who since his eighth year was a resident of Lane county, residing all that time on his farm near Creswell, was one of the most valued, respected and be- loved citizens of the community. Although his extensive business interests monopolized his time to a great degree he gave consider- able attention to civic, political and social matters, so that he not only was a very suc- cessful business man who by his own en- deavors built up a fortune, but he was also identified with those interests which make for the highest class of citizenship. Through- out his business career he pursued a policy of strictest integrity and his word was at

all times considered as good as his bond. He made and kept many friends who deeply felt the loss caused by his death, and who will continue to cherish his memory and count themselves as fortunate for having been known as his friends. In his political views Mr. Sears was a democrat and took great interest in politics although he was never an office seeker. He greatly believed in the good work of churches and assisted them in many ways although he was never connected with any religious organization.

PUNDERSON AVERY. No citizen of Cor- vallis has so long resided here or is better acquainted with its history than Punderson Avery. His business interests have been of a character that have largely contributed to its prosperity and advancement, and his record has at all times been such as has won for him the good-will and confidence of those with whom he has come into contact. Suc- cess has crowned his intelligently directed efforts and at one time he was actively and extensively engaged in the manufacture of flour but is now giving his attention merely to the supervision of his investments. He was born in Stark county, Illinois, in 1843, a son of J. C. Avery, who was the founder of Corvallis and is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He was four years of age when the mother brought her three children to the northwest, the father having preceded them and prepared a home for them in Benton county. He had secured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres and it was upon this land that the city of Corvallis was laid out.

On the old homestead there, Punderson Avery was reared and as his father was the first merchant of the town he, too, early became connected with merchandising. In the meantime he had pursued his early edu- cation in the district schools and he after- ward became a student in the Baptist Col- lege at McMinnville. He afterward spent eight years in his father's store but in 1872 removed to Lake county, where he engaged in the cattle business, having a large ranch on which he herded his cattle. He also put up hay and feed for the market. He spent fifteen years in the Chewaucan valley of Lake county in the cattle business, be- ginning with a small bunch of cattle-not more than one hundred head-but when he retired from the business he was the owner of fifteen hundred head of cattle and fifteen hundred acres of land. His father had been made one of the commission of three, to select a site for the state agricultural college and they had made choice of the meadow land in Lake county. While looking over the state they gained considerable knowledge concerning favorable locations and the reports which Punderson Avery heard concerning Lake county, its rich fields and its promising future, decided him to remove to that' dis- trict. He bought one thousand acres of the college land which he fenced and im- proved. He was living there at the time of the Modoc war and he and other settlers of that locality built Fort Chewaucan, which

PUNDERSON AVERY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

they occupied for four months or until the trouble with the Indians had subsided.

In 1887 Punderson Avery disposed of his business interests in Lake county and re- turned to Corvallis, where in 1889 he estab- lished a mill, forming a partnership with Mr. Smith and Mr. Rickard. They built the Benton County Mills and five years later the business was incorporated under the name of the Benton County Flouring Mills Com- pany, of which Mr. Avery became president. The mill was erected in 1889 and has since been operated by steam power, the plant having a capacity of two hundred and twenty barrels per day. From the standpoint of excellence their output was unequalled in the state and they received the highest award at the Oregon state fair in 1902 and again, in 1903, on the Benton and Snow Fall brands. They also won other prizes at dif- ferent times and their manufactured product included not only wheat but also graham flour and cereals. The capacity at the outset was one hundred barrels but this was in- creased with the growth of their trade and, improving their property, they became owners of one of the largest and best mills in the northwest, thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and operated according to most modern methods. In 1906, however, Mr. Avery sold his flour mill here and lives now as a retired capitalist. In addition to his milling business he has been the owner of two fine farm properties in Benton county devoted to the raising of grain and stock, one comprising four hundred acres a mile and a half south of Corvallis, while the other of three hundred and twenty acres is about twelve miles south of the city. Mr. Avery and his brother have also laid out two addi- tions to Corvallis which are now attractive districts of the city.

It was here in December, 1864, that Mr. Avery was married to Miss Elizabeth Mobley, a native of Missouri, who accompanied her parents to California in early life, and in 1860 came with them to Benton county, Oregon. Her father, William Mobley, was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have become the parents of five children: Chester, engaged in the cattle business in Klamath county; Clarence W., who is a graduate of the Ore- gon Agricultural College and is now manager of the sawmill near Weston, Oregon; Mat- tie, the wife of Professor Fulton, of Cor- vallis; and Grover and Virgil, both residing on their father's farm near Corvallis.

Mr. Avery has not only figured promi- nently in business circles but has also been a political leader of his community. In 1870 he was elected treasurer of Benton county and served for one term. He was long a member of the city council and for a number of years was its president. He has always been a democrat and for many years acted as chairman of the county central com- mittee and has served on the state com- mittee. He also was a member of the upper house of the Oregon legislature. He belongs to the Oregon Pioneer Association and to the Corvallis Business Men's League. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian

church. One of his public acts worthy of mention is that he succeeded in getting mountain water for Corvallis while a mem- ber of the state senate. Previous to that time the town was supplied with river water but now an excellent system brings pure mountain water into the city. He remem- bers the first federal court held in Benton county, as it was held in his father's home by Judge C. C. Pratt, and the only ones present were his mother and her children, the judge and Jo Meek, United States mar- shal. The business transacted was the sale of an old boat on the river near Oregon City. Not only by reason of his long resi- dence but also of the value of his public services and his creditable business record, Mr. Avery is accounted one of the foremost residents of Benton county, honored and esteemed alike by all who know him.

HENRY S. POPPELBAUM learned the banking business thoroughly in his native country of Germany and has spent most of the eight years of his residence in America, engaged in that line of work. He was born in 1877 and is a son of William Henry and Caroline (Hesse) Poppelbaum, both natives of Germany. The father came to America some time ago and was active here as a sea captain for many years. Both of our sub- ject's parents are deceased. In their fam- ily were six children, namely: William and Hans, residents of New York; Thomas, who has been in business in Oklahoma for twenty years; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Adelle, who resides in New York city; and Marie, deceased. All were educated in the public schools of Germany, and finished the high-school course in that country. They could read and write English before they came to America.

Henry S. Poppelbaum left his native coun- try in 1904. He had learned the banking busi- ness in Germany and followed it in that country for some time. When he arrived in America he settled first in New York city, where he entered the employ of a German importer, with whom he remained for a short time. He spent the next two years in the grocery business and then took up banking. In the course of about three years, he was identified with three different finan- cial institutions in New York; the National City Bank; the Phoenix National Bank; and Hollgartner & Company, bankers. When he came west he settled in Portland, Ore- gon, and his first employment in that city was with the Portland Trust Company. He remained in this connection for a short time and then removed to Hood River, Oregon. Here he spent a short period and then re- turned to Portland to take a position in the United States National Bank of that city. He resigned that, to go to Medford, where he remained for about one year, before re- moving to Oklahoma, where he was employed in the First National Bank of Watinga. He remained in that connection for about one year and then came to Lakeside, Oregon, where he settled on a rented farm of two hundred and eighty acres and where he now

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 123

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