The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 136

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

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CHARLES WILLIAM ALLEN, operating in the insurance and real-estate field on his own account, in which connection he has con- tributed largely to the development of Port- land, was born in Richmond, Illinois, in 1848, a son of W. M. Allen, who established his home in Richmond in 1836. He was born in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia, and became one of the pioneer settlers of Illi- nois, arriving in that state only four years after it was decided by the Black Hawk war that the white race were to be supreme in that portion of the Mississippi valley. In 1849 he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, where he remained for about seventeen years, or until 1866, when he returned to Illinois. He afterward became a merchant of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and two years later removed his store to Sac City, Iowa, where he re- mained until his death, which occurred when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy- five years.

When the father went to California the family remained in Illinois. Charles W. Allen is now alone surviving of the two children born to his parents. He was reared in his native state and at the time of the Civil war joined the United States army, enlisting in Company D, One hundred and Forty-first Regiment Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He then returned home and afterward removed from Illinois to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where his father was then engaged in merchandising. Later the family went to Sac City, Iowa, Vol. IV-37

but Charles W. Allen remained there for only two years. He was elected sheriff of Sac City but resigned the position in order to come to the west. He eventually made his way to California in 1871 and lived in that state for about thirteen years, or until 1884, when he removed to Ogden, Utah, where he worked on the railroad. In the railroad service he accepted a minor position but gradually worked his way upward, by ca- pability and faithfulness, to the position of conductor. He was in the service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at the time he determined to retire from that busi- ness. He then removed to Portland and here became connected with an insurance concern. He was also in charge of the . Fletchenner estate, under Mr. Arnold, who was the administrator. He continued in that connection for twelve years and since then has been engaged in the insurance and real-estate business on his own account. He has become thoroughly familiar with prop- erty interests and values in Portland and now has individual holdings on Salmon street and elsewhere in the city. He has accumu- lated no inconsiderable property holdings himself and deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in the course of his busi- ness career, for he started out in life empty- handed and has worked his way upward entirely through his own labors.

Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Hattie J. Fee, who was a daughter of O. Fee. Her father's family numbered six chil- dren, who are still living: James, who was at one time a district judge of Oregon and is now located in Pendleton, this state; Peter, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Portland; Nellie, who is the wife of Mr. Langtry, and resides in the city of Washington; Mrs. Carrie Warner, of Cali- fornia, whose husband is a nephew of Sen- ator Warner of Missouri; Mrs. Salisbury, of Waterloo, Iowa; and Mrs. Allen. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen, of whom the younger, Florence, died at the age of seven years and seven months. The son is Harry, of Portland, who has completed the high-school course here and is attending business college. He is associated in the real-estate business with his father.

Mr. Allen gives his political support to the republican party but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, ex- ercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures which he deems will further the interests of the community and country at large. He holds membership with the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintains pleasant relations with those who, like himself, marched upon southern battle- fields and defended the old flag during the darkest hour in the history of the country.

JACOB EDISON. Much of the progress and advancement of the northwest must be attributed to the thrift, energy and deter- mination of purpose which characterize its Scandinavian citizens, whose diligence and perseverance have largely contributed to- ward the agricultural, industrial and com-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

mercial development of the country. To this class belongs Jacob Edison, whose birth occurred in Norway on the 31st of December, 1863, his parents being Edis J. and Eliza- beth (Jacobson) Johnson. To them were born eight children, all of whom, with the exception of our subject spent their entire lives in the Norseland. Their order of birth is as follows: John, Johan, Adolph, Gertrude, Elina, Ovedes, Nels and Jacob, our subject. The mother passed away in 1870, but the father still survives at the venerable age of ninety-four years.

Jacob Edison was reared and educated in liis native land, continuing to reside there until he was twenty-seven. Much attracted toward America by the wonderful stories he heard regarding the opportunities and advantages to be found here, he in 1890 crossed the Atlantic, with the United States as his destination. He located in Astoria on the 28th of July of the same year, and for four years thereafter engaged in fishing. At the expiration of that time he joined a fishing excursion to Alaska, in which coun- try he spent three years. Returning to Astoria in 1897 he devoted his energies to carpentry work and contracting, having ever since been identified with these occupations. He has met with a most unusual degree of success and now owns a fine residence in Astoria in addition to a hotel property and an interest in various other enterprises.

Mr. Edison's plans for a home of his own had their culmination in his marriage in 1896 to Miss Hulda McLean, also a native of Norway. She emigrated to the United States in 1894, locating in Astoria. Her parents and the other members of her family have since come to this country, becoming residents of this city. Mr. and Mrs. McLean are the parents of six children, in the follow- ing order of birth: Mamel; Anton; Raider; Hulda, now Mrs. Edison; Annetta; and Ade- lina. To Mr. and Mrs. Edison have also been born six children, of whom three survive: Evald, who was born on the 6th of April, 1899; Hilbert, born in June 1900; and Bergald, whose birth occurred in 1905. The deceased members of the family are: Evald, who died at the age of eighteen months; Hulda, who died in infancy; and Sigurd, whose death occurred at the age of six years.

The family affiliate with the Lutheran church of which both Mr. and Mrs. Edison are members. He is also a member of the Scandinavian Benevolent Society of As- toria and the Sons of Norway, while he gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but does not participate in municipal affairs. During the period of his residence in the United States Mr. Edison has, on the whole, been very successful and has had no occasion to regret his removing to this great republic.

R. C. COFFEY, M. D., physician and sur- geon of Portland, is a native of North Caro- lina. Determining upon the practice of medi- cine as a life work, he attended the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville and was graduated therefrom in 1892, after which

he sought the opportunities of the north- west, locating for practice in Moscow, Idaho, where he remained for five years. He then removed to Colfax, Washiington, where he spent two years, and afterward came to Portland, where he has practiced through a decade, giving his attention exclusively to surgery.

He is an cx-president of the Idaho State Medical Society, an ex-secretary of the Wash- ington State Medical Society and in 1908 was honored with election to the presidency of the Oregon State Medical Society. He is a member of the Western Surgical Associa- tion and Southern Surgical Association and thus keeps in close touch with the advance- ment that is being made by the profession.

Dr. Coffey married Miss Clarissa Ellen Coffey, and they have three children, Jay R., Wilson Boone, and Robert Mayo. The Doc- tor belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Royal Arcanum.

ALEXANDER E. CULVER has lived in Jackson county only since 1911, but has dem- onstrated his right to be classed with the enterprising and progressive citizens who are bending their energies toward the develop- ment of the rich mineral resources of this part of the state. He became identified with mining here in 1910, and is now secretary of the Pleasant Creek Gold Dredge Mining Com- pany. He was born in La Salle, Illinois, October 25, 1859, and is a son of A. W. and Elizabeth E. (Mitchell) Culver, both of whom were natives of Ohio, in which state they were also reared and married. The grand- father, John D. Culver, was a native of Ver- mont and became a civil engineer in the em- ploy of the United States government, do- ing much surveying and other engineering work in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illi- nois. While thus engaged he discovered some persimmons said to be poisonous but he thought he would try the fruit and was the first white man to eat a wild persimmon. He died in Galesburg, Illinois, when eighty- six years of age, at which time · his grand- son, A. E. Culver, was a lad of twelve years. His son, A. W. Culver, was one of the pioneer settlers of California, arriving at Oakland in 1849. Three years later he returned to Ohio and resided in that state and also in Mis- souri until he once more became a resident of Oakland, California, about twenty years ago. He died in 1906 at the ripe old age of eighty years and his wife passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1910. He was a black- smith and followed that trade for about thirty years.

Alexander E. Culver was the eldest in a family of two sons and three daughters and spent his youthful days in Ohio, Missouri and Kansas. He became a resident of California in 1885, settling first in Los Angeles, whence he removed to Siskiyou county, where for twenty-three years he was engaged in the lumber business, meeting with good success in his undertakings. In 1908, however, he sold his sawmill and leased his planing mill to renters. In 1910, he made investment in mining interests in Jackson county, Oregon,

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

and the following year took up his abode in Woodville. He now devotes his energies entirely to mining and is secretary of the Pleasant Creek Gold Dredge Mining Company.

In 1899 Mr. Culver was married to Miss Eva Nelson, a native of Nevada county, Cali- fornia, and a daughter of Ole Nelson, a lum- ber man, now residing in Siskiyou county. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have four children, Mariam, Nelson, Albert and Eleanor. Mr. Culver belongs to the Masonic fraternity and also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has held a few public offices, including that of justice of the peace and served on the republican central committee of Siskiyou county, California. He was one of the first Johnson men in that county, being a warm friend of the gover- nor. He closely studies the vital and sig- nificant problems of the day and his energy and labors have always been effective forces for progress in the community in which he has lived.

WILLIAM P. SNOOK is a general decorat- ing contractor, who has made his home in Portland since the spring of 1888 and during the greater part of the time has carried on business independently and successfully. He was born in England, March 12, 1865, and his parents, James W. and Mary J. (Peddle) Snook, were natives of the same country, where they were reared and married. The father died in 1885 and the mother still lives in England. In their family were twelve children: John, who resides in England; Richard, deceased; Sarah, the wife of Wil- liam Cowell, of England; Annie, the wife of William Sherer, a resident of that country; William P., of this review; Thomas, who makes his home in Indiana; James and Alfred, deceased; and Elizabeth, Edith, Jessie and Thirza, all of whom make their homes in England.

In his native land, William P. Snook spent the first sixteen years of his life and then crossed the Atlantic to Canada with his father, who came to the new world for a visit. The son, however, remained on this continent. He began to learn painting and decorating in England and after settling in Canada followed his trade there for about three years. He was not content, however, to remain in Canada, believing that there were better business opportunities elsewhere, so he removed to California, where he worked at his trade for about two years. He came to Portland in the spring of 1888 and since that time has made his home in this city, believing that no better opportunities could be had in his line of work than are here offered. In the fall of the year of his arrival in Portland he was married. For two years he worked in the employ of others and then engaged in business on his own account as a general decorating contractor. He first started in Portland, but twelve years ago re- moved to Sunnyside, then a suburb of the city. In that district he has since maintained an office and lias done much work as a painter and decorator. He has ever kept in touch

with the advancement made in his line of endeavor and his efforts have brought him well merited success. He has invested in property here, and is the owner of two resi- dences and some unimproved lots.

On the 13th of August, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Snook and Miss Bessie Hopkins, a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Day) Hopkins, both of whom were natives of England. Her father removed to Canada at an early date and about 1895 settled in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Snook have become the parents of four children. Ethel, born September 13, 1890, attended high school and also pursued a business-college course. Rita, born in February, 1893, attended the public schools and graduated from the high school in Portland. She is now preparing herself to become a teacher of English literature. Bessie, born in 1896, is a high-school student. William E., born in January, 1901, is pursu- ing his education here.

William P. Snook is a liberal-minded man and one who forms his opinions independ- ently. His support of any measure indicates his firm belief in its power to accomplish good for the community. He votes as his judgment dictates and not according to party leadership. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and also with the Independent Order of Foresters. He can truthfully be called a self-made man, for he has been both the architect and builder of his fortunes. His energy has been unfaltering, 'his deter- mination unabating, and through the wise use he has made of time, talents and oppor- tunities he has gradually worked his way upward and is now classed with the substan- tial business men of his adopted city.

JOHN A. GAMBLE. One of the energetic and successful young business men of Astoria is John A. Gamble, who was born in this city on the 13th of June, 1885, a son of Daniel and Annie (McMullen) Gamble. He is of Irish extraction, his paternal grand- parents and maternal grandfather having been natives of the Emerald isle, but his father was born in Columbus, Ohio, and his mother in Astoria, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble were married in this city and here they have ever since resided, the father hav- in been identified with sawmill work and at the present time he is general manager and superintendent of the Astoria Box Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gamble three children were born: Harry E., who is an engineer on ~ a government patrol boat; John A., our sub- ject; and one, who died in infancy.

Astoria has always been the home of John A. Gamble, who obtained his education in the public schools, following which he was .identified with various activities, engaging in business for himself at the age of twenty- three years. He began as a contractor for steel and concrete work, but has since ex- tended the scope of his activities and now takes the entire contract for the erection of buildings and also constructs bridges. He has met with excellent success in his under- takings, being recognized as one of the most

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

competent men in his line in the city. He and his partner have but recently completed the erection of an exact reproduction of old Fort Astor, the centennial of which was celebrated in August and September, 1912.

Mr. Gamble continues to make his home with his parents. He is a member of the Foresters of America, and, politically, he is a republican, but not an aspirant to public office. His future, as gauged by his past and present, looks most promising, his busi- ness being well established and thriving and giving high assurance of growth and develop- ment.

JAMES E. REDFORD engages in general farming and stock-raising one and one-half miles from Dorena, where he owns a ranch of three hundred and thirty acres. He was born in Saginaw, Oregon, on the 15th of January, 1867, and is a son of Edward P. and Sarah Martha (Cochran) Redford. The father passed the early years of his life in Missouri, whence he crossed the plains to Oregon in 1850, locating in Lane county. He first settled eight miles east of Cottage Grove, but he subsequently went to Coburg and three or four years later he removed to Saginaw and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he has ever since lived. He was the eldest in a family of six, the other members being as follows: James W., who was killed in a runaway; Amanda, the deceased wife of Charles Coch- ran; Elizabeth, of Oakland, California; Pene- lope; and George, who was killed by the James boys in California. The mother of our subject, who also came from Missouri, is of Irish extraction and is the eldest of the seven children born to John and Letitia (Powers) Cochran. In order of birth the others are as follows: Winnie, who is mar- ried and resides at Spray, Oregon; Lucia, who married Milton McMurray, of Eugene; Mary, who first married Ben Wallace and is now the wife of William Canady; Robert, deceased, formerly a farmer at Cottage Grove; John M., who engages in farming at Colfax, Washington; and Katharine, formerly the wife of Mike Conley and now married to Joseph Perkins. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Redford numbered nine: Walker William, who died at the age of about thirty years; Amanda E., who died in girlhood; Emma L., the wife of L. D. Scarbrough, of Creswell; John M., who is ranching in the vicinity of Creswell; Letitia E., the wife of Webb Nor- fleit, a cabinet-maker at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; James E., our subject; Ida Belle, who married Albert Stocks, a lumberman of Cot- tage Grove; and George E. and Mary E., both of whom are deceased. Mr. Redford served in the Rogue River war in 1855 and 1856 and is now on the government pension list.

James E. Redford has always lived in Lane county, to the public schools of which he is indebted for his education. In common with the majority of lads who are reared in the country he early began to assist with the work of the ranch and care of the stock and thus by the time he had attained his maturity he was an agriculturist of ex-

perience fully capable of assuming the man- agement of a place. Upon attaining his ma- jority he rented one hundred acres of his father's farm which he cultivated for a year. At the expiration of that time he removed to Dorena and rented five hundred and twelve acres of land. Eighty of this was planted to grain and the remainder was in pasture, and here for three years he engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising. He next settled on a quarter section of land belong- ing to his wife, but after twelve years resi- dence there, he traded it for about three hundred acres located near Creswell, paying the difference in price. The same year he disposed of the latter place and returned to Dorena, where he bought one hundred and sixty-one acres, thirty of which was under cultivation. He lias since extended his ranch by the purchase of another two hundred acres, all timber with the exception of thirty acres, while he filed on an adjoining eighty, making his holdings aggregate four hundred and forty-one acres. He has since sold one hun- dred and eleven acres of his ranch, ten of this being cleared and the remainder pasture. One hundred and twenty acres of his hold- ings is under cultivation and he has an ad- ditional sixty cleared and is using it for pasturage. Mr. Redford is raising grain on eighty acres of his land, such as can be used in the feeding of stock, as he makes a spe- cialty of raising cattle, hogs and sheep.

In March, 1889, Mr. Redford was united in marriafge to Miss Ella R. Chrisman, who is the second in order of birth of the three daughters born to N. P. and Malissa C. (Brown) Chrisman. The eldest member of the family is Lucinda J., the wife of Oliver Veatch, a real-estate dealer, of Cottage Grove; while the youngest is Clara L., who married R. F. Martin, a ranchman in the vicinity of Yamhill, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Redford have one son, Edwin P., who was born on the 13th of August, 1898, and is now attending school at Dorena.

At the age of twenty years Mr. Redford united with the Presbyterian church of which his wife is also a member. In politics he is a democrat, and although he has never prominently participated in public affairs, he is always willing to assume his share of public responsibility and served for fifteen years as school director and for two as su- pervisor of roads. He enjoys a favorable and extensive acquaintance among the citizens of this community, where he has become known as a man of upright principles and the highest integrity.

FRANK BUSCH, residing in Astoria, is prominently connected with stock-raising and dairying in northwestern Oregon, being the owner of a valuable ranch of one hun- dred and twenty-four acres. He was born in Chicago, September 17, 1874, his parents being Ulrich and Anna (Hizer) Busch, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1861 and first settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where he en- gaged in the brewing business. He was thus identified with manufacturing interests for

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

a long period, but spent his last days in Germany, where his death occurred in 1889. His widow still survives him and is living in Berlin, Germany. Unto them were born nineteen children, of whom five are living, namely: Edward, who is located in St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. Lillie Myer, a widow, who is living with her mother in Germany; Otto, also a resident of St. Louis, Missouri; Frank, of this review; and Mrs. Paula Kley- dorff, of Germany.

Frank Busch spent his youthful days in Chicago and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. The attractive tales which he heard concerning the northwest and the busi- ness opportunities to be secured on the Pa- cific coast led him to make his way to Ore- gon in 1895, at which time he settled at Astoria. About four and one-half miles from that city he purchased a dairy ranch, known as the Sunflower Dairy Farm, comprising one hundred and twenty-four acres of rich and productive land. He has been very suc- cessful in the conduct of his dairy and in the raising of stock and is now the owner of a large herd of cattle known as Dutch Belted cattle. There are only two herds of this breed in the United States, the other being near Boston. Mr. Busch has found this cattle well adapted for the uses to which he puts them and the product of his dairy finds a ready and profitable sale.

In 1902 occurred the marriage of Mr. Busch and Miss Dorothea F. Preis, who was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and is a daughter of John and Sarah Preis, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Australia. The father has passed away but the mother is still living in her native land. Mrs. Busch was one of a family of ten children and by her marriage has become the mother of one son, who was born on the ship Manuka, while they were crossing the ocean. His natal day was June 6, 1904, and he was given the name of Frank M. Manuka Busch. The parents hold membership with the Catholic church and Mr. Busch also be- longs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and to the Moose and Foresters orders. His political indorsement is given to the republican party and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he is able to cast an intelligent ballot in support of the prin- ciples in which he believes. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the northwest, for here he has made steady progress along business lines and is now numbered among the substantial as well as respected citizens of Astoria.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 136

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