The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 135

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

father arrived later. They were married in Polk county, that being the second union for both of them, and there Mr. Jones se- cured a donation claim. This he later sold, after which he removed to Yamhill county, where his death occurred. His wife died in Arizona. Mrs. Smith came to Benton county in the year 1885, and she and a sis- ter, Mrs. Eliza Ingersoll, of Spokane, Wash- ington, are the only surviving members of a family of five children born to their par- ents. Mr. Jones had been a strong repub- lican and conducted the postoffice at Bridge- port, Polk county, during and for some time after the war.

For twenty-five years Mr. Smith has been a Master Mason, and is a worthy exemplar of that order. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has ever done all in his power to further its influ- ence. He also served as a member of the city council of Corvallis for four years. At one time he was his party's choice for sheriff but was defeated, and on the 1st of January, 1906, was elected county comissioner, having served continuously since, his present term expir- ing on the 1st of January, 1914. In that capacity lie is laboring earnestly for the bet- terment of conditions existing throughout the county and many improvements owe their existence to his untiring efforts. He will always be remembered as the promoter of the steel bridge project in Benton county, for through him the new steel county bridge across the Willamette river at Corvallis has been erected. at a cost of seventy thousand dollars. It has been during his term of of- fice that all of the steel bridges of the county have been built, there now being in use four such structures, while two more will be completed in 1912. Having the interests of his county truly at heart, he has not only labored earnestly to conserve her welfare in various directions but has proven himself a true exponent of progress, doing all in his power to further its promotion along ma- terial lines. In private life he is guided by sterling qualities and in every relation of life has been found true to upright prin- cipals and honorable manhood.

SAMUEL HARDMAN. Almost two-thirds of a century ago, when Linn county was still but a wild and sparsely settled region, Samuel Hardman took up his abode within its borders and assisted in the work of pio- neer development. He was a leading factor in the building of Albany and throughout his active business career was identified with general agricultural pursuits, follow- ing both farming and stock-raising. In his demise the community lost one of its most, respected and honored pioneer settlers and his record well deserves a place in its annals. He was born in Ohio in 1818 and was reared to manhood on his father's farm in that state. He was married at the age of twenty- four years, and he and his wife spent the first six years of their domestic life in In- diana. In 1847, having determined to es- tablish their home in the far west, they crossed the plains with ox teams and after

arriving in Oregon took up a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres in Linn county. This property, on which Mr. Hard- man spent the remainder of his life, and which is now in possession of his widow, is six miles northeast of Lebanon, on tlie Le- banon and Scio road. Our subject found the place wild and primitive but resolutely undertook the arduous task of cultivation and improvement and transformed it into highly productive and valuable farm. a In connection with the cultivation of ce- reals he devoted considerable attention to stock-raising and ranches of his business won well deserved success. He was deeply interested in matters per- taining to general welfare and ever placed his aid and influence on the side of public progress and improvement. He assisted in the building of schoolhouses and roads, helped to erect and organize a large flour mill in Albany and, as above stated, took a leading part in the upbuilding of that town. His widow owns three hundred and twenty acres of excellent farming land in Linn county and its cultivation claims the atten- tion of her son Riley. She is eighty-nine years of age but has retained her faculties in a remarkable degree and is wonderfully active in both mind and body.

On the 8th of September, 1842, Mr. Hard- man was united in wedlock to Miss Mary Backus, a native of Ohio, by whom he had the following children: Benjamin and Chris- topher, both deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Isaac Long, of Albany, Oregon; Riley, who married Miss Ellie Overholser and is the father of four children; Clarence, who has passed away; Alva, living at Cazadero, Ore- gon; Ethel, who lives at home and attends high school; Walter, who is likewise attend- ing school; Clay and David F., both of whom are residents of Portland, Oregon; Clinton, who makes his home at Albany, Oregon; and Sarah E. and Mary E., both of whom are deceased.

Samuel Hardman gave his political al- legiance to the republican party but his as- pirations were not in the line of public of- fice holding. He was a devout member of the German Baptist church and exemplified its teachings in his daily life. His widow has been a resident of Linn county for six- ty-five years and is well and favorably known here, having gained the friendship and esteem of all with whom she has come into contact.

HENRY C. HEDRICK. One of the most enterprising and successful of the many practical and progressive farmers who are making Douglas county, Oregon, one of the most fertile and productive sections in the northwest, is Henry C. Hedrick, culti- vating four hundred and forty-eight acres of land in Tin Pot valley and meeting with a measure of success which has been contin- uous since the beginning of his agricultural career. Mr. Hedrick was born in Oregon City. Oregon, on October 31, 1852. and is a son of John and Louisa (Jackson) Hedrick, of whom

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further mention is made elsewhere in this work.

He was reared at home and educated in the district schools of his native county and in Wilbur Academy. He completed his stud- ies when he was twenty years old and im- mediately began active life for himself, rent. ing land in Tin Pot valley which he at once began to improve and cultivate. His success was rapid from the beginning. The first year his income from his farm amounted to one thousand dollars, which at that time was a remarkable sum. After one year in Tin Pot valley Mr. Hedrick removed to the Hard- scrabble district where he purchased eighty acres of land which formerly belonged to the Swearingen estate. To this his father added twenty adjoining acres, thus mak- ing his farm consist of one hundred acres of the finest land in Douglas county. He brought this to a high state of cultivation and was successful in this venture as he had been in his first. In 1882 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land nine miles north of Drain and made this property his home until 1902 when he bought four hundred and forty-eight acres in Tin Pot valley, where he is now residing. During the ten years of his occupancy he has made his farm one of the most attractive and pro- ductive places in the district. His methods are practical and he carries on his pursuits along efficient and progressive lines.

On July 1, 1877, Mr. Hedrick was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Putnam, a daughter of Charles F. Putnam, and to this union have been born seven children: Nellic, the wife of William Taylor, of Douglas coun- ty; Mabel, who married John Swearingen, of Tin Pot valley; Eva, the wife of L. C. Ap- plegate, of Gold Hill, Jackson county; Roy, who is farming in the Tin Pot valley; Ada, who married Leroy Redford, of Tin Pot val- ley; Gertrude, the wife of Horace Whitney, who is identified with the government for- estry service in Jackson county; and Lulu, at home.

Mr. Hedrick is a republican in his politi- cal views and intelligently interested in local affairs. His wife is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an intelligent and efficient farmer, interested in his work and desirous of improving it and has added something year by year to his own prosperity and to the methods of practical and productive agriculture.

A. LEFEVER. For the past seventeen years A. Lefever has been devoting his en- tire time and attention to the operation of a fine farm of one hundred and four acres, which he owns, located three and a half miles from McMinnville. He is the eldest child born to A. and Rosalie (Jarvis) Lefever, his natal day being the 7th of May, 1849. The father, who passed away in 1886, spent his entire life in Canada, in the army of which country he served for a time during his early manhood. Later he engaged in milling and subsequently became the owner of a plant of his own, which he operated

until his death. The paternal grandfather was born and reared in France and upon attaining his manhood joined the army, re- maining in the service until he came to America. The mother of our subject was a native of Canada and there she died more than forty years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Lefever were born five children, the other four, in order of birth, being as follows: Rosalie, the wife of David Lefever, of Mas- sachusetts; Julia, who married B. Schumalle, also of Massachusetts; Joseph, who is a resident of Marquette, Michigan; and Jerry, who is living in Rhode Island.

A. Lefever was given but a meager school- ing, as at the age of thirteen years he left home and became self-supporting. He joined a railroad construction crew and remained with them for three years, at the end of which time he crossed the border into the United States, locating at Marquette, Michi- gan, where he worked on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. In 1870 he removed to Minnesota and during the succeeding two years was employed on the Northern Pacific. His next removal was to Portland, this state, where he located in 1877, and during the fol-, lowing year he worked for Joseph Gaston, constructing the narrow gauge road from Dayton to Sheridan. At the end of that time he removed to Dayton and was engaged on the line from St. Joseph to Corvallis and in 1880 he worked on the railroad between Woodburn and Coburn. In 1881 he took the contract for the construction work on the road between Roseburg and the Siskiyou mountains, which he completed in three years, and then helped to finish the narrow gauge road to Portland, working at this until 1886. He then withdrew from railroading and again took up his residence in Dayton, turn- ing his attention to agricultural pursuits. He bought a ranch in Yamhill county, which he still operates, later removing to his pres- ent place. During the long period of his occupancy Mr. Lefever has wrought extensive improvements on his ranch, which was noth- ing but brush land when he settled here. He engages in general farming, making a specialty of hop-raising, and is meeting . with most gratifying returns from both occupations. Although progressive he con- ducts his operations along practical lines, giving his personal supervision to every branch of the work. His acreage is mostly beaverdam land and it all lays well, having good natural drainage. Mr. Lefever is a self-made and practically a self-educated man, having begun for himself at an age when the majority of lads are hardly deemed capable of directing their lives. His train- ing has been in the hard but most excel- lent school of practical experience, having brought him into contact with people of all classes and enabled him to become familiar with a large portion of the country. He has always been an observant man, who was ready to learn and has applied himself dili- gently and painstakingly to the performance of every undertaking. Such success as has rewarded his efforts is highly merited, for he has always worked toward a definite

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purpose, all of his energies being directed toward the same end.

In 1872 Mr. Lefever was united in mar- riage to Miss Phoebe Blake, who died in Dayton in 1885, and unto them there were born three children: Jennie, the wife of Ennis Alderman, a farmer of Dayton; Min- nie, the wife of Thurston Daniels, of Los Angeles; and Phoebe, who married Samuel Sutton, of Malheur county, Oregon. In 1887 Mr. Lefever married Miss Claretta De Ford, who was born in Yamhill county and is a daughter of George and Jane (Croddy) De Ford. The parents were both natives of Franklin county, Indiana, the father of French and the mother of German extraction. They crossed the plains to Oregon with wagon and ox team in 1866, settling on a claim near Wheatland, Yamhill county. The - father, who was a carpenter, in connection with the cultivation of his ranch, worked at his trade. He was killed in 1883 by falling from a building which he was constructing at Dayton, but the mother had preceded him in death many years, passing away in 1869. The family of Mr. and Mrs. De Ford num- bered eight, as follows: Lucinda, who is living in Portland; Elizabeth, who died in the '60s; Leonard, a carpenter and builder of Portland; Charlie, who was drowned at the age of twenty-five; Lucile, the wife of Charles Franklin, of Spokane; Mrs. Lefever; and two, who died in infancy. Mrs. Lefever was reared in this county, obtaining her education in the schools of Dayton, and re- sided at home until her marriage. To Mr. Lefever and his second wife have been born three children: Rosalie, who was graduated from the high school and married Orville Andrus, of Sherwood, Oregon; Robert A., who is still at home; and Viels, who is at- tending school.

In matters of faith Mr. Lefever was reared a Roman Catholic'and his wife is a Protest- ant. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Odd Fellows, and formerly he was also affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, his con- nection with the two former organizations be- ing with Dayton lodges. In his political views Mr. Lefever is independent, never hav- ing identified himself with any party, but always casting his ballot in support of such men and measures as he deems best quali- fied to protect the interests of the majority. He deserves much credit for the degree of prosperity he has attained, his success being entirely attributable to his own efforts and his intelligence in directing his various under- takings.

MARTIN STANOVICH is foreman for the Lindenberger Company, Inc., operating a cold storage plant. He was born in Dalmacia, Austria, on the 6th of January, 1865, a son of Antony and Margaret Stanovich, who were natives of the same land, where they continued to reside until called to the home beyond, the father passing away in 1894 and the mother in 1899. They had a family of five sons and two daughters, of whom Martin and his brother Jacob are residents

of the new world, while the others are still in Austria.

An uneventful boyhood, with comparative- ly little opportunity for advancement, awak- ened in Martin Stanovich a desire to secure better advantages than were afforded him in his native land, and in 1890 he came to America, first settling in Clifton, Oregon. There he worked in the fisheries for six years, after which he went to Astoria where he established a cooperage plant, which he con- ducted for four years, having previously learned that trade in his native country. At the end of that time he accepted employ- ment in the cold storage plant of the Linden- berger Company, being made foreman, which position he still fills. That he has made substantial advance along the road to pros- perity is indicated by the fact that he owns a fine home in Astoria and also other resi- dence property which he rents.

On the 19th of August, 1895, Mr. Stano- vich was married to Miss Johanna Vucetich, who was born in Austria and came to America with her parents in 1894. In her parents' family were nine children of whom seven are still living, four being residents of the United States. These are Dalmacia, Mrs. Stanovich, Angelina and Dominik. To Mr and Mrs. Stanovich have been born eight children: Antony, born in 1896; Dominik, born in 1897; Martin, in 1898; Maggie, in 1899; Amanda, in 1901; Eva, in 1905; Jack, in 1907; and Francis, in 1909. The family attend the Catholic church and Mr. Stano- vich is a member of St. Nicholas Order at Astoria. Martin Stanovich believes in re- publican principles and while he keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day is not an office seeker, preferring that his attention should be given to business affairs and other interests of life.

JAMES H. STOCKER is a native of Penn- sylvania but has spent practically all his life in the west. He enlisted in a Colorado regiment for service in the Civil war, ranched in Kansas for a number of years, spent one winter in California and is now following general farming in Douglas county, operat- ing one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved and developed land. Mr. Stocker's birthi occurred on December 25, 1836. He is a son of Anson and Abigail (Dowdney) Stock- er, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father went to Luzerne county, Pennsylva- nia, when he was a young man, and was married in that district. He settled on a farm and was prosperous as· an agricultur- ist for a number of years. His holdings were located in Luzerne county part of that district being later cut off to form Wyoming county. He lived upon the division line for a number of years and died at an advanced age. His wife's death also occurred upon the Pennsylvania farm when she was well past her eightieth year.

James Stocker received his education in the public schools of his native district. His residence in the west dates from 1859, in

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which year he left home and went to Colo- rado where he was snecessful as a rancher in Fremont county. In 1862 he enlisted in the Third Colorado Volunteer Infantry but was later transferred to the Second Colorado Cavalry, in which regiment he served with ability and distinction until the close of the war. He received his honorable discharge late in 1865, having spent some time in fron- tier service after the cessation of hostilities. Following his discharge he went to Kansas, where he ranched with much success for seven or eight years. From Kansas he went to the Pacific coast with the intention of locating in Oregon. He, however, spent one winter in California, and in the spring of 1875 resumed his journey northward, locat- ing in the same year on his present farm on Elk creek, two and one-half miles west of Drain. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land and has since been successful as a general farmer. He has improved and cultivated his soil and increas- ing harvests repay his labors every year. He brings to his work all the most modern and progressive methods and his success is the natural result of efficiency.

In 1869 Mr. Stocker was united in mar- riage to Miss Matilda Dunn, a native of Ohio, who was a resident of Kansas at the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Stocker have been born four children, two of whom are living: Arthur, who is a ranch- man on Elk creek in Douglas county; and Thea, the wife of Harvey Taylor, who makes her home with the subject of this sketch.

In his political views Mr. Stocker is a re- publican and always votes the party ticket although he never seeks public office. He is one of the sterling and substantial citizens of Douglas county and seeks his success in the field of labor which has repaid his prac- tical methods and his unflagging industry by constantly increasing his prosperity. His farm is a credit to his own progressive ways and to his business judgment, and is also a valuable addition to the resources of the state.

MRS. ELIZA KEPPINGER occupies a beautiful new residence on the farm which she owns, five miles southwest of Gervais in Marion county. It was in this county that she was born on the 12th of February, 1854, her parents being John and Rhoda (Pressley) Savage, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. She spent her girlhood days at home, acquiring her educa- tion in the public schools, and was carefully reared in such a manner as to qualify her to take charge of a home of her own when she reached womanhood and was married. On the 16th of September, 1869, she became the wife of John W. Brooks who arrived in Oregon when sixteen years of age and was employed on a farm until after his marriage when he and his wife removed to her father's farm. They became the parents of nine children: Edward, who was born October 30, 1870, and is a resident of the Wallowa val- ley, Oregon; George, who was born March 11, 1872, and is deceased; John T., who was

born September 3, 1874, and is living at home with his mother; Charles H., who was born February 2, 1876, and is a resident of Polk county, Oregon; Louis N., who was born De- cember 6, 1877, and makes his home in Vic- tor, Montana; William A., who was born January 20, 1879; Mrs. Pearl Herring, whose husband is chief dispatcher for the Oregon Electric Railroad and resides in Portland; Robert, who was born April 8, 1886, and is a resident of Polk county; and Albert, who was born March 23, 1888, and died January 23, 1889. Mrs. Brooks obtained a legal sep- aration from her husband in January, 1888, and on the 10th of June, 1894, she became the wife of Nicholas Keppinger, who was born in Minnesota of German parentage. He came to Oregon with his father and mother when ten years of age, and is at present en- gaged in farming on his wife's property of fifty acres. They are pleasantly located here, having a fine residence, and the farm, thoroughly cultivated by Mr. Keppinger, is principally devoted to hops. It presents a mnost neat and attractive appearance, and everything about the place indicates careful supervision and progressive methods. Mr. and Mrs. Keppinger are well known in this locality and have an extensive circle of warm friends.

LOUIS P. RAPP, orchardist, farmer, stock- man and land speculator, is today one of the prominent citizens of Douglas county and active in many of the representative in- dustries of the section. He owns five hun- dred acres in his home farm and one hundred and sixty in Klamath Falls and his life has been spent in agricultural pursuits and en- terprises which are affiliated with it in Ore- gon. He is a native of California, having been born in Sonoma county, March 5, 1861, and is a son of Godfrey and Nancy (Schoon- over) Rapp. the former a native of France and the latter of Virginia. The father came to the United States when he was still a boy and with an older brother, Philip Rapp, located in Rochester, New York, where he learned the wagon-making trade. He worked at this line of occupation in Rochester up to 1845, when he removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where his marriage occurred. He crossed the plains three times and was one of the forty-niners to the California gold fields. He returned to Muscatine, Iowa. and in 1856 made his second trip to California. bringing his wife with him. He owned at this time the land where the town of Healds- burg is now located and here he built the first general store conducted in that section and gave his personal attention to it. In 1861 he again returned to Iowa and took up a homestead claim near Fort Dodge, where for three or four years he followed general farming. He later moved to Kansas. where he bought railroad land on the old Joy road. In 1872 he went to Texas but after two years spent in that state re- turned to Kansas, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 1875 they started upon their third journey west, locating in Oregon in the same year. Here the father

JOHN SAVAGE

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took up a homestead in Douglas county, on the Umpqua river, where lie resided until his death. His wife has also passed away.

Louis P. Rapp was reared at home and attended the Oregon public schools. His early life was spent in aiding his father in his work on the farm and on reaching manhood he continued this association in agricultural pursuits and in stock enterprises, their operations being very successful. After the death of his father Mr. Rapp acquired the greater part of the homestead farm, which comprises three hundred and forty acres. He has ever since that time bought and sold other lands and is now the proprietor of five hundred acres in his home farm and one hundred and sixty acres in a ranch at Kla- math Falls. He has been an extensive specu- lator in farm lands and has owned large tracts at different times. He is counted among the successful and representative men of his district and is a factor in state expan- sion. He has of late years been interested in orchard propositions and has twenty-five acres of his own planted in fruit trees.

Mr. Rapp is a republican in his political beliefs but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of Umpqua Lodge, No. 37, I. O. O. F. It is his ambition to be scien- tifically efficient, and to cultivate his hold- ings and operate his enterprises according to modern ideas. His knowledge of agricul- ture is guided by business talent of a high order and is directed by standards of integ- rity and honor.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 135

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