The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 124

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

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

lives. His home is located on an arm of Ten Mile lake, and he has practically retired from active business life. He gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never sought public office. He belongs to the Lutheran church and is active in the af- fairs of that organization. During the time of his residence in New York, Mr. Poppel- baum acquired much valuable property on Long Island but is selling his holdings in the east to invest in Oregon land, believing that property in a new and rapidly developing country offers the best investment oppor- tunities. He is actuated in his operations by a desire for the welfare of his adopted section and by a loyal belief in the future of Coos county.

J. QUINCY WILLITS. Throughout the greater part of his life Professor J. Quincy Willits has engaged in teaching music and yet has always figured prominently along other educational lines, being the present superintendent of schools of Lake county. Ability to impart clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he has acquired has been one of the potent elements in his success. At all times he has held to high standards, progress being his watchword. He makes his home in Lakeview, hundreds of miles separating him from his birthplace, for he was born in Center township, Cedar county, Iowa, about three and a half miles southwest of Tipton, on the 26th of May, 1852. He is a son of Amos and Sarah Ann (Thornton) Willits, both of whom were na- tives of Indiana. Left an orphan, at an early age, his father went to Iowa in his boyhood and there met Sarah A. Thornton, who was taken to that state by her parents in 1836. Both grew to maturity in Iowa, were there married and resided in that state until 1875, when they came to Oregon, settling in Jackson county. The mother died in Ashland in 1898, the father surviving until 1899. The latter followed farming in Iowa but after coming to the northwest operated a sawmill and carried on a lumber business in Ashland.

J. Quincy Willits, the fifth in the fam- ily of five sons and three daughters, came to Oregon in 1875, when a young man of twenty-three years, taking up his abode in Ashland. Nine years later he came to Lake- view. In the acquirement of his education he attended Cornell College, at Mount Ver- non, Iowa, and in the spring of 1875 he was a student in the Chicago Musical College. He began teaching school when eighteen years of age and has since been identified with educational interests, both as a teacher and as superintendent. For four years he fol- lowed the profession in Cedar, Tama and Muscatine counties of Iowa, and for nine years he taught in Jackson county, Ore- gon. For six years he was teacher in the schools of Lakeview and he also taught in other parts of Lake county. He is now county superintendent of schools, to which position he was first elected in 1898. He has altogether served for more than ten years, having been elected for a term of two years, and then for two terms of four years

each, while in October, 1911, he was ap- pointed to fill a vacancy. He has taught all of the time when not acting as superintend- ent and part of the time while the incum- bent in that position. At this writing he is the republican nominee for the same office and the record he has already made would indicate that no more capable official could be chosen. He believes that the work of the teacher should be characterized by prog- ress, so that the pupil may be better fit- ted for the responsibilities and duties of later life, and that each year may bring him a clearer understanding of what life means; that the individual should recognize, that he is a factor in society to which he has obligations, and that he has opportunity for use of individual effort which, intelli- gently directed, should bring success. Pro- fessor Willits has always been deeply in- terested in music and has cultivated his tal- ents in that direction. Moreover, he has been a teacher of both vocal and instrumental music, during the greater part of his life, and for more than a quarter of a century has played with the band at Lakeview to a greater or less extent. He is today the veteran teacher of Lake county, no other inember of the profession having been so long actively engaged in that profession as he has.

Professor Willits has been married twice. In 1877 he wedded Amy L. Dunn, a native of Jackson county, Oregon, who died in 1883. In 1887 he married Minnie L. Whorton, a native of Lane county, Oregon, and they have three children: Docia L., who was graduated from the state normal school with the class of 1908, and has been a teacher for part of two years; Leland, at home; and Hallie May, seven years of age.

Professor Willits votes with the republican party and is a firm believer in its principles. He served as justice of the peace for one term. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World, and is appreciative of the social amenities of life, enjoying the companionship of peo- ple of kindred tastes and interests. His home is the center of a cultured society cir- cle and because of his broad reading and study, and his high ideals, association with him means elevation.

JOSEPH B. WILSON. The name of Wil- son has stood in Douglas county, since early pioneer times, for honor in business and for fairness and integrity. The career of Joseph B. Wilson has not detracted in any way from the luster of a worthy and lion- orable name. He is one of the most ex- tensive owners of ranch land in Douglas county and is applying modern and scien- tific methods in the cultivation of the soil. He was born on the old Wilson donation claim in the Yoncalla valley, Douglas county, Oregon, August 6, 1871. He is a son of Wil- liam H. Wilson, one of the most prominent pioneers of Oregon and a dominating element in the upbuilding of the state. A more ex-

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tended review of the life of William Wil- son appears elsewhere in this work.

Joseph B. Wilson was reared to sturdy, rugged and honorable principles. He was educated in the common schools of Douglas county and from the time he reached major- ity was employed by others in various occu- pations in that district. In 1897 he went to Astoria, Oregon, and served as engineer in the employ of the war department for seven years. He was subsequently asso- ciated with the police department of As- toria, for five years. At the end of that period he again took up engineering and worked in the employ of others until Feb- ruary, 1911, when he returned to the Yon- calla valley and located on his farm of one hundred and thirteen acres. Eighty acres of Mr. Wilson's present holdings are a part of his father's original donation claim and thirty-three acres formerly belonged to the Robert Cowans tract. Mr. Wilson acquired his land in 1900 and it is now one of the most valuable farms in the Yoncalla val- ley. He brings to the cultivation of the soil a thorough and scientific knowledge and a keen love for farm life. His land is op- erated along progressive lines and his suc- cess is the result of his efficiency.

In 1901 Mr. Wilson was united in mar- riage to Miss Fannie F. Wagner, of Drain, Oregon, a daughter of John Wagner, who came to this state from Iowa at an early date.

Joseph B. Wilson is independent and un- prejudiced in politics and always votes for the best man regardless of party affiliations. He is a member of Beaver Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F. of Astoria and is active in the af- fairs of that organization. He is one of the substantial and influential men of the Yon- calla valley and his career is influencing its development. The work which his father began by conspicuous pioneer work, he is carrying on, in a quiet and unassuming but none the less useful way.

FRED MOSER is a native of Switzerland and entered the creamery business, in which he is at present engaged in Coos county, as a natural step following his activities in connection with his father's dairy in his native country. He owns and operates forty acres of rich land and in connection with this line of occupation is successful as pro- prietor of a general store and as postmaster of the village of Gravel Ford. Mr. Moser is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Moser) Moser, both of whom were natives of Switzerland. He is one of ten children born to his parents, eight of whom are still liv- ing. The surviving members of the family are Annie, Fred, Lena, John, Frank, Herman, Ernest and Elizabeth, all of whom were born and reared in Switzerland. The father died in his native country in 1898.

Fred Moser was reared upon his father's farm and received his education in the pub- lic schools of his native country. He early acquired familiarity with the details inci- dent to the operation of a modern and sani- tary dairy by assisting his father in his

leisure hours. He served an apprenticeship in the creamery business in Switzerland and attended an agricultural college in that country, which he attended two years. When he laid aside his books he established an in- dependent creamery, which he operated suc- cessfully for one year before he journeyed to Italy, in order to take charge of a cream- ery in that country. His knowledge gained by personal experience and by study along technical lines was an invaluable asset to him in his early career as it aided and pro- moted his progress. When he returned to Switzerland he was not satisfied with his already splendid attainments in agricultural details and took a special course of study in the dairy business for one year and a half. In 1893 he came to America and set- tled first in Idaho, where he remained only a few months. He went to California where he worked at different occupations, spend- ing most of his time, however, in the dairy business until 1894, in which year he came to Oregon and Washington. After a few months' residence divided between those two states he again returned to California. In 1895 he made his second journey to Oregon and established a creamery near Myrtle Point. He rented a farm in this vicinity and was successful in general agriculture in con- nection with butter and cheese making. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Moser came to Gravel Ford, where he bought his present cream- ery and forty acres of land which he im- proved and cultivated. In 1900 he added to his activities by opening a general merchan- dise store and in 1907 was appointed post- master of the village. Mr. Moser's creamery has grown and expanded along scientific and progressive lines. Founded as it is upon ex- pert knowledge and efficient and sanitary methods, its development has been a mere matter of time. It owes its growth entirely to the energy, activity and straightforward policy of Mr. Moser. He makes a specialty of fine grade cheese and sells his product in Portland and San Francisco. In the opera- tion of his enterprise his wife assists him and her able efforts have added greatly to its success.

In 1895 Mr. Moser was united in marriage to Miss Ida Segessenman, a native of Switzerland and a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Luthy) Segessenman, who were also natives of that country. Mrs Moser is one of seven children, namely: Lena and Feronia, both residing in Switzerland; Jacob, who lives in Chicago; Elizabeth, who has passed away; Emma, a resident of Cali- fornia; Christ, also deceased; and Ida, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Moser's marriage occurred in Oakland, California, and to their union have been born four chil- dren: Clara, born in 1896, who is attend- ing the Gravel Ford Academy and preparing herself for a commercial career; Frank, born in 1898, who is attending school; and Annie and Ernest, whose births occurred in 1901 and 1904, respectively, and who are in school.

Politically Mr. Moser is a republican, be- ing firmly convinced of the honorable prin-

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ciples of that party. His religious affilia- tions are with the United Brethren church, of which he is a member. In this organiza- tion he also serves as superintendent of the Sunday school. He holds membership in the Grange and that constitutes his only fra- ternal affiliation. He is widely known throughout Coos county as a man of exem- plary character, and as a man of wide ex- perience and special knowledge he has at- tained rapid and well deserved success. The honorable business principles upon which he has founded his enterprises have distin- guished his policy from the beginning and have made his activities in the commercial world and his life as a private citizen a credit and honor to liis community.

EMERY S. BARZEE is a son of one of the pioneer settlers of the American northwest and is a true westerner. He was born in a tent in Utah and spent his early boyhood amid the primitive scenes common during the set- tlement of Oregon. He was for many years prominent in agricultural circles of Marion county and is now living in a beautiful home in North Bend, where he is well known and is popular with his many friends. He was born a half mile from Sulphur Springs, Utah, on August 18, 1861, and is a son of Clark B. and Mary Ann (Stewart) Barzee, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Phil- adelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Clark Barzee were married in Iowa, where they resided for a short time before they removed to Kansas. They subsequently returned to Iowa and spent some years in that state. In 1861 they crossed the plains to Oregon, making the journey with ox teams in Buchanan's train. They located in Jefferson City and in 1867, the father purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land eight miles south of Salem, on the state road, and cultivated his holdings until 1900, when he retired and moved with his wife and family to Turner. Here the mother died on December 28, 1906, and was survived by her husband until Feb- ruary 27, 1910. They were the parents of twelve children: Francis S. and William, both of whom are living in Portland, Ore- gon; Emily, who died in infancy; Amanda S., the deceased wife of Joseph T. Robert- son, of Salem, Oregon; Charles, who makes his home in Portland; Emery, the subject of this sketch; Emerson, the latter's twin brother who lives in Corvallis; Louis and Lucy, twins, the former a resident of Mon- tana and the latter the wife of William Seig- mond, of Salem; Ellis, who married Harry Arnold, of Spokane, Washington; Elmer, a resident of Moro, Sherman county; and Ada, who married B. B. Herrick, who was county surveyor for Marion county for seventeen years.

Emery S. Barzee received his education in the district schools of Marion county, Ore- gon, and remained at home until his mar- riage, in 1881. In that year he engaged in farming upon his father's holdings and re- mained there for two years. At the end of that time he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and fifty-five acres in Linn county, Oregon, which he improved and oper-

ated for about seventeen years. He special- ized in stock-raising and had a fine herd of graded cattle. He carried on agriculture along scientific and modern lines and made his farm one of the model properties of the district. He sold his land in 1899 and spent two years traveling with his wife. In 1901 he settled in Coos county upon the site where the town of North Bend now stands. Here he worked as a carpenter and in various other capacities for two years and then pur- chased four town lots upon which he built the beautiful home in which he is residing.

On October 9, 1881, Mr. Barzee was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Caywood, a na- tive of Knox county, Indiana, born Noi- vember 23, 1861. Her parents were Moses E. and Martha A. (Crooks) Caywood, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana. They were married in Vincennes, Indiana, where the father died on January 2. 1863. The family continued to reside in that city until 1876, when Mrs. Caywood and her daughter, the wife of our subject, came to Oregon, in which state the mother died on January 24, 1910. She had two children: Mrs. Jennie Barzee; and a daughter who died in infancy. Mrs. Barzee is the mother of one daughter, Lela May, born October 7, 1885. Lela May Barzee received her early education in the public schools of Coos county and supplemented that, by a course in a normal school. She later became the wife of Max Timmerman, a launch builder of Marshfield, Oregon. Emery S. Barzee is a republican but reserves his right to vote for the men whom he considers best fitted for the offices to which they aspire. He takes no very active part in political affairs and has never sought public office. Mr. Barzee is one of the substantial and progressive citi- zens of North Bend, interested in its progress and eager for its development, and always ready to give what aid he can to promote its municipal growth.

EDWARD H. LENOX is a native of Ore- gon and a grandson of one of the very earliest pioneers in the state. He has en- gaged in farming in Douglas county and has also been bookkeeper in a business house in Roseburg. He has now abandoned both occupations and is serving his second term as county clerk, gaining the respect and es- teem of his constituents and fellow citi- zens by reason of the able and effective way in which he discharges the duties of his of- fice. He was born on the 15th of August, 1866, fifteen miles west of Portland on the old Lenox homestead, and is a son of David and Sarah I. (Campbell) Lenox. The family was founded in Oregon by the grandfather of our subject, who crossed the plains with ox teams in 1843 and settled first near Hills- boro, where he purchased the claim, which is now known as the Joe Mecke farm, upon which he lived for a short time. He later took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres and carried on general agricultural pursuits upon this property un- til a short time before his death. He passed away in eastern Oregon at an advanced age.

Hart's

MR. AND MRS. E. S. BARZEE

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He was among the early settlers in this state, coming here from Missouri. He was a native of New York and spent some time in that state, in Illinois, and in Missouri, be- fore finally settling in Oregon. The father of our subject was eight years of age when he crossed the plains with his parents. He grew up on the homestead and cultivated the soil until 1878, when he removed with his family to Douglas county, Oregon, resid- ing there until his death which occurred on the 9th of June, 1897. He was a native of Illinois, having been born in that state, March 24, 1835. His wife also came from Illinois and her parents lived in that state in early pioneer times. She came to Ore- gon with the family of James Smith, mak- ing the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Upon their arrival James Smith purchased a large portion of the David Lenox donation claim and farmed upon this prop- erty for a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. David Lenox were born five children: Edward H., of this review; David H., who is well known in business circles of Rose- burg; George F., of San Francisco; Charlotte I., who married Oscar Agee of Meadows, Idaho; and Clara Edith, the wife of P. C. Ream, who is in business in Ontario, Ore- gon. The mother of our subject passed away in January, 1879, at Looking Glass, Oregon, and some time afterward David Lenox was again married. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret A. Bolsinger of Looking Glass, Oregon, and to this union was born one daughter, Leona C., who married J. J. McDonald of Marshfield. Mr. Lenox's sec- ond wife died in May, 1890, at Roseburg, Oregon.

Edward H. Lenox was educated in the public schools of Washington and Douglas counties and graduated from the Portland Business College in 1885. He worked upon his father's farm until about 1891 when he went to Portland in order to accept a posi- tion as bookkeeper in a mercantile establish- ment of that city. After a short time he resumed farming upon a tract of land nine miles south of Roseburg and was successful as a general agriculturist until the fall of 1900 when he moved into the city and be- came a bookkeeper for the Roseburg Lum- ber Company, following this line of occupa- tion until July, 1904, when he was appointed deputy county clerk and served two terms with ability and efficiency. In July, 1908, he was elected county clerk and was re- elected in 1910 and is now discharging the duties of his office in an able and straight- forward and systematic way.

On July 2, 1891, Mr. Lenox was united in marriage in Roseburg to Miss Emma J. Benedick, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Benedick, natives of Ohio, who came to Oregon about the year 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Lenox have been born five children: Eva May, whose birth occurred in Portland, in September, 1892; Elbert L., born in Brockway, in July, 1895; Osmond, born in Brockway, in July, 1898; Ray, whose birth occurred in the same city, in Septem- ber, 1901; and Lucile M., who was born in Vol. IV-34

Roseburg on the 6th of August, 1905. Mrs. Lenox gives her allegiance to the Presby- terian church and is well known in religious circles of this city.

In politics the subject of this review is a consistent democrat and is actively and in- telligently interested in the progress and welfare of the state, where he was born and reared, discharging the duties of the office which he holds, in a manner which reflects credit upon his ability, efficiency and public spirit.

ALBERT SHIELDS WALKER, who is suc- cessfully engaged in the real-estate and in- surance business in Springfield, is one of the well known pioneer residents of Lane county, where his family has resided for fifty-nine years. He was born in southwestern Mis- souri, on the 1st of January, 1846, and is a son of William and Mary (Shields) Walker, who were born, reared and married in Georgia, where they passed the first fifteen years of their domestic life. At the end of that time they went to eastern Tennessee, subsequently locating in southwestern Mis- souri. They resided in the latter state for seven years, and at the expiration of that period, in 1852, started across the plains to Oregon. When they reached the Kaw river in Kansas they met some returning emi- grants from Oregon and California, who re- ported that they had experienced much dif- ficulty in crossing the plains, owing to the prevalence of cholera and other contagious diseases. In consequence thereof Mr. and Mrs. Walker decided to abandon their journey for that year and returned to Missouri for the winter. The next April, however, they again started westward, making the jour- ney without experiencing any particular dif- ficulties, other than those encountered by the majority of the travelers who took the overland trail, but they had the misfortune to lose the greater part of their stock. They never saw a house from the time they crossed the Missouri river until they reached Lane county, where they arrived in :the month of October, 1853. The father imme- diately filed on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres eight miles south of the present site of Springfield, which he cultivated for four years. He left this claim in 1857 and went to Eugene where he opened a drug store. Three years later he disposed of his store and invested the pro- ceeds in a farm, and he also sold part of the lot where the First National Bank now stands and bought sixty acres of land in the river bottom adjoining town. He retained this latter property for twelve years, when he sold it and bought two hundred acres at Pleasant Hill, this state. He located upon this place in 1871 and remained there for ten years removing to Springfield in 1881. He died the same year and was survived by the mother who passed away in April, 1882. Of their children three are now living: Eliza A. the wife of Robert Robe, of Brownsville, Oregon; Tryphenia L., who married William Tiffany, of Eugene, and Albert Shields, our subject. Those deceased are: Hugh M., Mat-

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thew E., Mary J., Margaret, Amelia, Martha and one who died in infancy.

Albert Shields Walker was only a child of six years when he accompanied his parents to Oregon, receiving his education in the common schools of this state. After leaving school he learned the blacksmith's trade, and he was also trained in farm work, having as- sisted on his father's rauch during his boy- hood. He left home at the age of twenty- two, at which time he was married, and be- gan his independent career as an agricultur- ist. His parents lived with him during the latter years of their lives. For ten years he operated a ranch at Pleasant Hill, this county, but later located in Springfield, where he opened a blacksmith and carriage shop, which lie conducted for twenty years, but at the end of that time he disposed of his business and established a real-estate and insurance office here. He has ever since continued in this business and has met with very good suc- cess, having handled nearly every piece of property in the town. He has acquired ex- tensive realty interests in both the residence and business portions of the town, and also owns the place where he lives, one of the attractive properties of the community. Mr. Walker has been associated in business with his son, Herbert E., until quite recently, but is now alone.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 124

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