The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 137

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

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WALTER MATHEY, who resides three miles east of Salem on the Fruitland road, is one of the sturdy and thrifty men whom Switzerland has contributed to the state of Oregon. He was born on January 19, 1863, his parents being Gelin and Adaline (Hugnin) Mathey, both natives of Switzerland, where they resided until they came to the United States in 1897. The father had been a watchmaker and agriculturist in his native

land and when he came to Oregon he again engaged in agricultural pursuits and con- tinued at this occupation until 1911, when he removed to Salem at the age of seventy- eight years to live retired. Mrs. Mathey passed away in March, 1911. To this union four children were born, namely: Walter, who is the subject of this sketch; Bertha, who is the wife of Henry Gaquet and re- sides in Marion county; Edmond, who is a resident of Orenco, Oregon; and Minnie, the wife of Louis Marchand, of Salem.

Walter Mathey received his education in Switzerland and in addition to the common branches studied French and German. He also did military duty for a few months. His home was on the French border and during the Franco-Prussian war he fre- quently heard the roar of the cannons from the adjacent frontier. Before coming to the United States, in 1887, he learned the watch- maker's trade but instead of following it en- gaged in farming. After arriving in this country he engaged in agriculture for two years in Kansas and then came to Oregon, being employed in Salem for a few years and, subsequently, in 1891, purchasing twenty-five acres, three miles east of Salem, where he has since resided. In cultivating this property Mr. Mathey has made use of the advanced and effective agricultural meth- ods of his native land and has increased the earning capacity of the soil to its maximum.

In 1891 Mr. Mathey was married to Miss Alice Roth, a native of Switzerland and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Roth. To Mr. and Mrs. Mathey two children have been born: George, whose birth occurred on the 15th of April, 1894; and Alice, who was born January 19, 1899. They are both attend- ing school and residing at home.

In politics Mr. Mathey retains an inde- pendent attitude, voting for the man or measure which in his opinion will be most effective for good government. He has never sought office and does not hold membership in any lodges or social organizations, his farm requiring his whole attention. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mathey are members of the German Methodist church of Salem and their noble qualities of character and upright life have given them a high standing in the community.

CASPER DRILLING, a resident of War- renton, now in the government employ, was born on the Atlantic ocean en route from Germany to Portland, Maine, on the 23d of April, 1857. He is one of eight children, all of whom are living, born to John and Mary Drilling, natives of Germany. Upon their arrival in America the parents first located at Portland, whence they removed, after a few months residence, to Buffalo, New York. They lived in the latter city for three years and then went to Michigan, where for some time the father was engaged in the grain business. Withdrawing from this he re- turned with his wife and family to the fatherland and after a lengthy visit they once more embarked for the United States. The return journey was a very sad one for

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the family, as the father died a few days from port and was buried at sea. The mother with her family proceeded to Michigan, where a few years later she, too, passed away.

When Casper Drilling was a lad of nine years his eldest brother took him to Ger- many, where he remained for two years and went to school. Upon his return to the United States he located in Buffalo, New York, for three years, completing his educa- tion and learning the cabinet-maker's trade. At the end of that time he went to Michi- gan, where he served out his apprenticeship and followed his trade for several years. In 1869, with his eldest brother, who was a blacksmith, he came to Portland, Ore- gon, and for two years thereafter worked at his trade. He then went to Carroll county, Iowa, to engage in the grain business, with which he was identified for four years. De- sirous to see more of the country he spent the next two years in traveling in dif- ferent parts of the United States. In 1894 he came to Clatsop county and bought a ranch. He now owns three ranches south of Warrenton, all of which are steadily increas- ing in value. For the past twelve years Mr. Drilling has been serving the public-in the capacity of cement walk inspector.

In 1891 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Drilling and Miss Mary Ready, also a native of Germany. To them have been born two sons: Carroll, who is a student in the high school; and Otto, who is also at- tending school.

Mr. Drilling is identified with several fra- ternal organizations and, politically, he is a republican. In his trade as cabinet-maker he has achieved a remarkable reputation, his craftsmanship being of a very superior quality and being awarded first premium on work which he exhibited at Chicago.

FRANK L. BEAMIS. One of the finely im- proved and valuable farms of Washington county stands as a monument to a life of industry, perseverance and thrift on the part of Frank L. Beamis, one of the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of his local- ity. He claims Oregon as his native state, his birth having occurred in Greenville, Washington county, on the 31st of July, 1870, a son of Jonathan and Celestine (Grospean) Beamis. His parents, the father a native of Jefferson county, New York, and the mother of Belfort, France, were married in Louisa county, Iowa, in 1855 and in 1859 came to Oregon, locating in Washington county. Here the father purchased what was known as the Smith donation claim consisting of one hundred and sixty acres and to its cultivation and development he devoted his remaining days, passing away in 1895. His wife, however, still survives at the age of eighty years, and now makes her home with a daughter in Washington county, with whom she has resided since her hus- band's death. Their family of seven chil- dren consisted of the following: Mary, the wife of A. S. Dudley, of Portland, Oregon; Emma, who married D. W. Rainwater, of

Washington county, Oregon; Ellen, the wife of Albert Friday, also of this county; Marian, Warren, and Malinda; all now de- ceased; and Frank L., of this review.

The last named acquired a good education in the public schools of Washington county while he received a thorough practical train- ing under the direction of his father on the home farm, in the work of which he as- sisted until twenty-five years of age. He then started out in the business world on his own account and, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared, purchased one hundred and seventy-six acres of the old homestead, upon which he began farming independently. He now has a finely improved tract, seventy- five acres of which are in an excellent state of cultivation, constituting one of the choice farming properties in this district. He early recognized the fact that labor is the basis of all success and with him perseverance, dil- igence and integrity have constituted the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the prominent position which he now holds among the representative agriculturists of Washington county.

It was on the 6th of March, 1897, that Mr. Beamis was united in marriage to Miss Louise Schlup, who was born in Switzerland on the 1st of January, 1873, a daughter of Samuel and Christina Schlup. Her parents, who were also natives of the land of the Alps, came to America in 1881 and first lo- cated at Mansfield, Ohio, where they lived until 1894. In that year they came to Wash- ington county, Oregon, taking up their abode upon a small farm here, which remained their place of residence until they were called from this life, the mother passing away in 1904 and the father in 1906. In their fam- ily were seven children, namely: Alice, of Washington county; Elizabeth, the wife of Charley Rose, of Portland; Mary, who mar- ried Melvin Carter, of San Mateo county, California; Mrs. Beamis; Bessie, the wife of Martin Day, of Portland; and John and Fred, both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Beamis was born a daughter, Florence, on the 28th of February, 1898, who passed away on the 22d of October, 1906.

A study of the political situation of the country early led Mr. Beamis to give his allegiance to the republican party and lie has since supported that organization at the polls, although the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He has preferred to concentrate his efforts upon his own affairs and, placing his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of energy and wise management, he has steadily progressed in the business world until he today ranks high among the suc- cessful and prosperous agriculturists of the community.

JAMES C. LANDRITH is one of the re- spected citizens of Coos county where he is successfully engaged in farming on a ranch located nine miles from Marshfield on the south fork of Coos river. He was born in Coos county, October 6, 1884, and is the son

MR. AND MRS. JAMES RICHMOND

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

of C. L. and Jennie (Richmond) Landrith. The paternal grandfather was Cyrus Landrith, one of the pioneers of Oregon who crossed the plains with ox teams at a very early day in the history of this state and made his first settlement in Eugene. He later took up a preemption claim in another part of Lane county where. he lived for some years and then removed to Coos county where he pur- chased a ranch of three hundred acres includ- ing some meager improvements, located on the north fork of the Coos river. There he established his home and continued to live during the remaining days of his life, which closed in 1892. He was affiliated with the republican party and was justice of the peace for a number of years and a member of the Masonic lodge. To Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Lan- drith ten children were born: Benjamin, who is deceased; Delia, the deceased wife of S. Applegate, of The Dalles, Oregon; George, Joseph and Oliver, all deceased; Martha, who is the wife of H. Crow, of Lorane, Oregon; Katherine, the deceased wife of Frank Bridges, who is also deceased; Dora, the wife of S. B. Cathcart, of Marshfield, Oregon; C. L., the father of the subject of this review, and Isaac, both deceased.

C. L. Landrith, the father of the subject of this review, was born in Lane county and was united in wedlock in Coos county to Miss Jen- nie Richmond. The parents of Mrs. Landrith emigrated from Scotland to America, in 1872, and settled in Missouri where her father was engaged in the mercantile business for four years, after which he with his family re- moved to Coos county in 1876, and settled upon a farm located on the Coos river and there continued to live until the time of his death which occurred February 14, 1906. Mrs. Landrith was the only child born to her parents and her father's ranch was located across the river directly opposite the home of the father of C. L. Landrith, who later became her husband. Her mother closed her earthly life July 27, 1911.

To Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Landrith five chil- dren were born. James C., is. the subject of this review. Roy A., who was born March 4, 1886, resides at home with his mother and is engaged in the operation of the home ranch containing one hundred and sixty acres, of which seventy acres are in cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising potatoes and con- ducting on his place an up-to-date dairy in- dustry, using in his business thirty selected dairy cows, from which he receives a maxi- mum of ninety-eight dollars each per an- num, including the stock increase and milk used for dairy products. The ranch is lo- cated on the north fork of Coos river nine miles from Marshfield. Helen was born May 31, 1888, and has been engaged in teaching for the past four years in the high school at Marshfield. She is a graduate of the State Normal School at San Diego, California, and at present is further pursuing her studies at the State University of California, at Berke- ley. Blanch, who was born October 18, 1890, pursued a full course at the Corvallis Uni- versity and is now engaged in teaching in Douglas county. Phillip, who was born Au-

gust 7, 1892, is a student in the San Diego Commercial College at San Diego, California, and is preparing himself for a business ca- reer.

James C. Landrith was reared in his par- ents' home and received his early education in the public schools of the district in which he lived. In 1910 he was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Myers, the daughter of George and Helen (Gates) Myers, both of whom were natives of Michigan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Landrith one child has been born, George James, whose birth occurred on the 22d of June, 1911.

Mr. Landrith has always been identified with the cultivation of the home ranch lo- cated on the north fork nine miles from Marshfield, but at the time of his marriage he purchased the farm owned by George Myers. He is now actively engaged in diver- sified and dairy farming. He is a man highly respected among his associates and one of the well know and influential citizens of Coos county.

E. L. MARTIN is a prosperous business man of Turner, engaged in general merchan- dising, and in public affairs has also been prominent, serving as mayor and having at different times filled other official positions. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, May 11, 1874, a son of H. H. and Catherine (Denis) Martin, both natives of Illinois. The father is a carpenter by trade and he and his wife still live in Iowa. The grandfather, C. V. Martin, canvassed the state of Illinois for Abraham Lincoln at the time of his election and later went to Washington to receive the appointment of master mechanic of the navyyard, a position which he held until the time of his death and which is now held by one of his sons. An interesting heirloom that has descended to E. L. Martin is a lamp from the old stagecoach of Abraham Lincoln. In the family of H. H. and Cathe- rine Martin were seven children: L. D., who resides in Salt Lake City and is one of the best architects west of the Rocky moun- tains; G. W., who is an architect in San Francisco, California; Clara, the wife of T. C. McClary, a practicing physician of Exeter, Nebraska; H. T., who is an architect in Kansas City; Clive, deceased; E. L., of this review; and one, who died in infancy.

E. L. Martin was reared in Kansas, where he attended the public schools and learned the machinist's trade, an occupation which he followed for twenty-two years. He came to Oregon in 1890, locating in Portland, where he remained three years. Subsequently he removed to La Grande, where he remained two years. The next four years were spent in Salem and he then located in Turner, where he has been engaged in the general mercantile business for the past four years. He has a well appointed store and his close application, honorable business methods and earnest desire to please his patrons have been the strong and forceful factors in the attainment of his success. He owns a half- section of land situated eight miles from

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Turner and owns an entire block in Turner, where he has a beautiful home.

In 1897 Mr. Martin was married to Miss Clara Watson, a native of Idaho, and they liave one child, Aileen, who is ten years of age. In politics Mr. Martin is a republican and he takes an active interest in public af- fairs. He is mayor of Turner, has been state central committeeman for three terms and has held various other positions. In his ad- ministration of municipal affairs he seeks the welfare of the majority and indorses all measures for practical reform, progress and improvement. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He lias filled all of the chairs in the local lodge of Masons and is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Salem. Both lie and Mrs. Martin are identified with the Eastern Star, an order in which she has filled most of the offices, and both are also members of the Maccabees. Mr. Martin has been through all the chairs in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows of Turner and was district deputy grand master for one year. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are both earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church and the high esteem in which they are held by all their acquaintances is due to their upright lives and their efforts at all times to assist in advancing public welfare.

WILLIAM MATTHEWS. The Yaquina Bay News is one of the flourishing news- papers of the western part of Oregon and its editor and proprietor, William Matthews, is recognized as a man who thoroughly under- stands his calling and fully appreciates his responsibilities. He was born in the north of Ireland in 1870, a son of John E. Mat- thews, who was a native of Glamorganshire, Wales. The father was educated at the cele- brated military college at Sandhurst, on the river Thames near London, England, and served in the British navy and army for twenty-seven years. After his retirement lie crossed the ocean with his children and subsequently went to Iowa and western Kan- sas. He came to the northwest in 1890 and spent a short time at Tacoma. Washington, whence he removed to Newport, Oregon, where he established his home. In 1893 he founded the Yaquina Bay News but retired from active labors about a year later. He died at an advanced age, February 23, 1909. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Anna M. Evans, passed away when he was in his infancy.

The youngest of a family of six children, William Matthews was brought to America in charge of a nurse when he was about three years old. He received his educa- tion in the schools of Canada. Iowa and Kansas but, being a man of good observation and of receptive mind. he has gained a large amount of information not to be found in books. He engaged in newspaper work un- der his father and since the age of twenty- four has been in charge of the office, which his father opened at Newport. The paper is issued weekly and under efficient manage- ment is a faithful index of the progress of

this section. The office is supplied with all modern printing facilities and turns out a good line of high-class job work.

Mr. Matthews is a valued member of the Fraternal Union, the only organization of that character to which he belongs. He gives his carnest support to the republican party and is remarkably well informed as to its principles and as to the political move- ments throughout the country and world. His religious belief is indicated by mem- bership in the Episcopal church, the denom- ination in which he was reared. He is a man of mental capacity, fine social characteris- tics and thorough training in a business for which he seems eminently adapted. No citizen is more loyal to the interests of his county or state, and he is fully entitled to the esteem in which he is held by people of all political faiths in Lincoln county.

H. C. ANDERSON is a self-made man whose advancement has resulted entirely from his industry, determination and un- faltering purpose in overcoming all the difficulties and obstacles which obstructed his path to success. He was born in Den- mark, on the 27th of April, 1871, and is a son of J. P. and Mary (La France) Ander- son, who were likewise natives of Denmark where they resided until 1877, coming to the United States when their son, H. C. Ander- son, was a lad of six years. They first made their way to Texas in which state they lived for a year and a half, and at the expiration of that period removed to Osage county, Kansas. The year 1889 witnessed the re- moval of the family to Portland, Oregon, where the father was killed in a street-car accident in 1893, the car running through a draw-bridge. His widow is still a resident of Portland. In their family were ten children, seven of whom are living.

Reared under the parental roof. H. C. An- derson was a young man of eighteen years when the family became residents of Ore- gon. He remained at home until he attained his majority, but in the meantime began to earn his living as an employe of the San Francisco machine shops. He is . today a skilled machinist and engineer. His close application to the duties assigned him enabled him to thoroughly master the work and he gained a comprehensive knowledge of not only the practical features of the business but also the scientific principles upon which it is founded. In 1893 he removed from Portland to Seaside where he has re- sided continuously since and has throughout the years been chief engineer for a large lumber company.

On the 29th of April, 1896. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Godwin, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children. Eva Mary. Laura E. and Arthur J., all of whom are yet at home. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Episcopal church. H. C. Anderson belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity. being worshipful master of Lodge No. 137. A. F. & A. M. He has taken the degrees of capitular Masonry and is a

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member of the Royal Arch chapter. His wife is connected with the Order of the East- ern Star, in which she is now serving as ma- tron. Our subject is also affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees and is serving as one of the officers of the local lodge. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias. H. C. Anderson votes with the republican party and has been some- what prominent in the local organization, serving for one term as a member of the city council of Seaside. His interests are varied and his support is given to every movement which has the indorsement of the best citizens. While born across the water, there is no more loyal resident of Oregon than this adopted son.

WEBSTER HOLMES is one of the public- spirited and enterprising citizens of Tilla- inook, where for twelve years he has been identified with the legal fraternity. A son of David J. and Mary E. (Lewis) Holmes, his birth occurred in Polk county, Oregon, on the 7th of December, 1867. His father is a native of Pike county, Illinois, having been born there about 1840, while the birth of the mother occurred in Oregon in 1848. In both lines Webster Holmes is descended from the early pioneers, representing the third generation of both families to have located in the state. His paternal grand- parents crossed the prairies from Illinois in 1848, settling in Polk county, Oregon, on a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres, which was acquired from the govern- ment. Owing to the great tracts of unoc- cupied land, the size of the ranches and the few inhabitants, the early settlers had little or no social life. Had it not been for the difficulties and dangers to be encountered on the return trip, doubtless many would have returned to the east, whence they came as at times the loneliness, hardships and pri- vations seemed an exorbitant price to pay for a home. David J. Holmes was reared on a large ranch amid the surroundings of pioneer life. Upon attaining manhood he turned his attention to various activities, having been engaged for a while in mining and stock-raising, while he subsequently en- tered public life. From 1870 to 1874, he was county clerk of Polk county, and in 1884 he was appointed superintendent of an Indian school, being identified with this po- sition for six years. In 1893 he entered the general surveyor's office, where for five years he held the position of transcribing clerk. He has now retired from business activi- ties, and he and his wife make their home in Salem. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were born four children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are: Frank, who is living in Salem; Estella, the wife of Joseph Fontaine, of La Grande, Oregon; and Eleanor, the wife of Armon Chunkweiler, of Victor, Montana.

The entire life of Webster Holmes has been spent in his native state, his early edu- cation having been acquired in Polk county. Later he attended Dalles Academy and Wil- lamette University at Salem, as well as the

State Normal School at Monmouth, Oregon. After the completion of his preliminary edu- cation he decided to adopt the law for a vo- cation and entered the office of his uncle, W. H. Holmes, of Salem, a partner of Judge B. T. Bonaham. There he applied himself to the mastery of legal lore, being admitted to the bar on the 4th of October, 1893. Dur- ing the first year of his professional life ' he engaged in practice in Portland, locat- ing subsequently in Salem, where he remained until February, 1909, when he removed to Tillamook. Mr. Holmes devotes his energies to general practice, and during the period of his residence in Tillamook has more than once given practical demonstration of his skill and ability in elucidating abstruse legal technicalities. He has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice, being known as one of the capable representatives of his profession in the town.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 137

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