The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 138

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

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Mr. Holmes was married on September 13, 1891, to Miss Emma Williams, a native of Portland and a daughter of P. C. Williams, for many years identified with sawmill and inercantile interests of the state. To them has been born one daughter, Ruth, who has graduated from the high school and is now at home.

His political prerogatives Mr. Holmes exer- cises in the support of the men and measures of the democratic party, but has never been an office seeker. He is president of the Til- lamook County Commercial Club, an organ- ization of one hundred and fifty of the town's most enterprising and public-spirited citi- zens, whose motive is to promote the gen- eral civic interests. His relationship with the various members of his profession, Mr. Holmes maintains through his identification with the Marion County and Tillamook County Bar Associations. He is one of the progressive citizens of Tillamook, where he is held in high esteem and is recognized as a man of keen foresight, clear judgment and business sagacity.

HOMER MASON, who since 1910 has held the office of judge of Tillamook county, is a native of the state, his birth having occurred in Salem, June 4, 1869. He is one of six children born to J. C. and Martha J. (Tom- linson) Mason, the father a native of Can- ada and the mother of Kentucky. The father, who survived for many years after the death of the mother, was a contractor and builder and spent his latter years in Seattle, Washington, where he passed away. Their family, of which our subject is the sec- ond in order of birth, was as follows: George L., who is living in Seattle; Homer; Minnie, who is deceased; Albert, who is living in New Mexico; and Charles and Jessie.

Various activities have engaged the at- tention of Homer Mason, who obtained his preliminary education in the common schools, after the completion of which he took a com- mercial course in the Capital Business Col- lege of Salem, where he was reared and edu- cated. For ten years thereafter he was iden- tified with clerical positions. At the expira- tion of that period he was the successful

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

candidate for clerk of Tillamook county, holding this office from 1898 to 1904. Hav- ing acquired a ranch he then retired to his homestead and for a year thereafter devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. He traded his land at the end of that time for an interest in a dry-goods business in Tilla- mook, that was incorporated under the name of the Mason-Pennington Company, under which it is still conducted. Commercial ac- tivities absorbed the entire time and atten- tion of Mr. Mason during the next five years. · He then disposed of his interest in the busi- ness and again entered public life. He was elected judge of the county in 1910 and continues to hold the office, the duties of which he is discharging in a manner highly satisfactory to the general public.

On the 30th of May, 1893, Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Annetta B. New- man, a native of California. His father continues to make his home in that state, but the mother has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are the parents of a daughter and a son: Allegra, who is a student in the high school; and Harold, who is also attend- ing school. These children represent the third generation of the family in the state, their paternal grandfather having been one of the early pioneers and a veteran of the Indian wars.

Mr. and Mrs. Mason are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the chapter and the Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Mason also being identified with the latter organization. The Woodmen of the World also claim him as a member, while his political support is given to the republican party. In addition to the offices already mentioned Mr. Mason has served as a member of the Tillamook council and a school director. He is one of the highly es- teemed men of the town, where he has long resided and is widely known, his many fine qualities retaining for him the loyalty of those whose friendship he wins.

ANDREW GLEN AIKEN is one of the highly respected retired pioneer citizens of Marshfield, Coos county, this state. He was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1837, and is a son of Andrew and Rachel (Adams) Aiken. Bothı of his parents were natives of Pennsylvania. To his father's family eleven children were born: Robert and Eliza, both of whom died in in- fancy; Jane, deceased; Margaret, the widow of George Welch, residing with her son, Wil- liam Welch, being still hale and hearty at the advanced age of eighty years; John, who died in San Francisco in 1862; James, who passed away at Empire, Oregon, in 1882; Andrew Glen, the subject of this review; Martha Ann, deceased; Erskin E., who re- sides on the old homestead in Pennsylvania ; Henderson, also living there; and David, who died in Roseburg, Oregon, in 1890.

Andrew G. Aiken was reared at home and educated in the public schools of Pennsyl- vania. The early years of his life were spent as a helper on his father's farm. At

the age of sixteen years, on March 18, 1853, he left the parental roof and removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and there formu- lated plans for crosing the plains to Ore- gon. He sailed down the Ohio river to St. Louis, Missouri, and from that place he . started for Kaw river by way of Indepen- dence. At Kaw river, in company with his two brothers, the final plans for the trip across the plains were consummated. After all necessary preparations had been made a wagon train was made up by the Aikens, the James and Charles Biles families, the Bakers, Downeys and others, and the entire party started with ox teams on their long journey across the great American desert. As a part of their resources which they were taking into the far west they drove a band of stock cattle. George H. Himes was one of their party and on reaching Oregon Mr. Himes settled in the Willamette valley and the old- est brother of Mr. Aiken left the old Oregon trail and made his way to Walla Walla, Washington. The Biles train went across the Cascade mountains, over the Natches or Yakima Pass to Puget Sound, and they en- countered many obstacles and endured un- told hardships, finally cutting their way through only with the help of the citizens of the Sound country, who valiantly assisted them to reach their destination. Mr. Aiken and his brother James stopped at Marysville, now known as Corvallis, in this state. He only lived, however, in Benton county a very brief time, and from there removed to Puget Sound and later returned to this state and joined his brother James in 1854, and settled in Coos Bay, reaching that place on the 8th of October of that year. In the summer of 1854 Andrew. Aiken and about thirty others cut a military road from Fort Steilacoom to Fort Walla Walla, while in Washington. His brother James, however, had explored in some degree the country in the vicinity of Coos Bay and was fortunate enough to discover the coal beds at Coos Bay. After the arrival of Mr. Aiken he and his brother succeeded in organizing a corporation to develop the coal mines and, immediately following the organization of this company, he and his brother were retained by that concern in the development of the coal property and were. so engaged at the time the Rogue River In- dian war broke out in 1856. Mr. Aiken and his brother James at once became volunteers to suppress the Indian uprising, and Andrew G. Aiken was one of the commissioned men who formed the escort of a pack train to Rogue river. In 1860 he and his brother went to the head of the isthmus in Coos Bay and there started a logging camp and obtained employment from A. M. Simpson, of North Bend, and in his employ they were engaged in the logging business for a number of years, after which Mr. Aiken went to Idaho in the year 1863 on a prospecting tour in the gold- mining districts in that state. He had pre- viously, in the year 1857. given some of his time to the work of prospecting along John- son creek in Coos county and had also been engaged in mining on the ocean beach for a year or two. He remained in Idaho for

ANDREW G. AIKEN

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

three years and in 1866 he returned to this state and again engaged in the lumber busi- ness, in which he continued until the autumn of 1875. During the fall of that year he made a visit to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the following spring, at which time he returned to Oregon and was elected sheriff of Coos county in the spring of 1876, serving the people in that office for two consecutive terms. On his re- tirement from the office of sheriff he reen- gaged in the lumber business, in which he continued until 1881 at which time he en- gaged once more in the fascinating ocupa- tion of prospecting for gold in Coos county. He later removed to Coquille city and was appointed postmaster of that place. He con- tinued in that capacity for four years, after which he resigned and in 1898 he became one of a company of prospectors who went to Alaska, where Mr. Aiken spent one summer and then returned to this state, but later went back to Alaska and established his headquarters at Nome in 1900. He has the distinction of being one of the party who first discovered gold on Nome beach, where he remained during the entire summer sea- son and in the autumn of 1900 he returned to Coos Bay. Later he established his resi- dence at Marshfield, where he has since lived retired.

Mr. Aiken was married to Augusta Cun- ningham on the 25th of May, 1879, in Co- quille city, and they have four children, two sons and two daughters: Charles G .; Alice O., the wife of Otto Schutter, of Marshfield; and Florence M. and James W., both at home. Mr. Aiken is affiliated with the demo- cratic party and is one of the pioneers of Oregon who had the honor to vote for the first state constitution at the time the ter- ritory of Oregon merged into the sisterhood of states. He was also one of the first councilmen in Coquille city. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order and has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is properly accounted one of the very early pioneers of western Oregon. He is a man highly respected by his friends and associates and after many years of pio- neer hardships and a long life of industry he lives retired from active business cares, maintaining his residence at 737 North Broad- way.

CHARLES EDWIN STRANG. As a na- tive of Oregon, a son of a pioneer in its set- tlement, an able agriculturist and a thor- oughly upright and honest man, Charles Ed- win Strang is justly entitled to the high place which he holds in the respect and es- teem of his fellow citizens. His childhood was filled with hardships and responsibilities and the early years of his mature life were spent in earnest labor in the development of his land. Prosperity has crowned his efforts and his excellent place of seven acres out- side the city limits of Coquille is an evidence of the value and usefulness of his life. He was born in Jackson county, in 1866, and is a son of Robert M. and Evelyn (Collier) Strang, the former a native of Prince Ed-

ward Island and the latter of Iowa. His father came to California from Boston in 1850 and worked in the employ of an uncle, who operated a pack train, engaging in this occupation for two years, after which he went north to Jackson county, Oregon, and worked in the mines for a number of years, operating a sawmill at the same time. He was also interested in the construction of a ditch which supplied water to the mines of the county and was always active in the pro- motion of valuable public enterprises. He was married in California, and he and his wife became the parents of seven children, five of whom are still living: Ida, who became the wife of Thomas Wooly, of California; Hulda, who is the wife of Alfred Morris, of Bandon, by whom she has one child, Leo; Fredrick W., who resides in Santa Rosa, California; David H., who makes his home in Phoenix, Arizona; and Charles Edwin, the subject of this sketch.

Charles E. Strang was reared upon his father's farm and early became acquainted with the details of the operation of a modern agricultural enterprise. He had very limited school advantages, for he lived in Coquille in the very earliest period of its history as an organized community. At that time there was one schoolhouse, one storè and a hotel in the city and all the conditions of living were correspondingly inadequate. He went to school for nine months and this course comprised the only educational advantages which he ever obtained. When he was twen- ty-four years of age his father died and Mr. Strang remained upon the homestead operat- ing the farm for his mother and managing her affairs ably and efficiently. She later went to California, where after twelve years' residence she passed away. It was in 1891 that Mr. Strang purchased his present farm, which comprises seven acres just outside the city limits of Coquille. It was at that time all brush and timber land and he was obliged to clear the property before begin- ning the work of development. It is now highly improved and intelligently operated and is one of the model and attractive places in Coos county. Mr. Strang gives most of his attention to his agricultural pursuits but has also been a locomotive engineer, in which line of work he is very proficient.

Mr. Strang has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Cecil, a native of Oregon and a daughter of J. H. and Martha (Connor) Cecil, who were among the pio- neers in the settlement of the state. To- this union was born one daughter, Cora. who is the wife of Edward Ziem of Oakland, California. She began her education in Co- quille and completed it in Washington. She has two children, Francis and Lovelle Viola. Mr. Strang's second union was with Mrs. Rachel Rutledge, the widow of John W. Rut- ledge. by whom she had one child. Della, who has been adopted by our subject.

Mr. Strang is a republican in his political beliefs and never seeks public office. He affiliates with the Woodmen of the World. He has a comfortable home upon his prop- erty and during his eleven years' residence

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has gained the respect and esteem of his friends and acquaintances by reason of a life which has been made successful and happy through his own efforts and by reason of straightforward principles, which have been retained through unusual hardships.

JAMES E. REEDY has been a resident of Tillamook for the past seven years and is successfully engaged in the practice of veter- inary surgery, being the only representative of his profession in the county. He was born in Greenwood county, Kansas, on July 17. 1880, and is a son of Thomas A. and Cynthia E. Reedy. The father was a native of Illinois and the mother of Tennessee, but they located in Kansas in 1878, residing there for eight years. In 1886 they removed with their family to Illinois, remaining there until 1896 when they located in Missouri, where they are now living. To them was born one other son. Thomas L., who makes his home in Missouri.

The eldest child of his parents, James E. Reedy, remained at home until he had at- tained his majority, attending the public schools of his native state and Illinois, as well as those of Missouri in the acquirement of an education. When he left home he came west. riding the ranges of Montana, Wyom- ing and other western states, and also of Canada. He subsequently went to San Fran- cisco, where he pursued a course in veteri- nary surgery, after the completion of which he came to "Tillamook. Mr. Reedy possesses the essential qualities for success in his chosen profession, a love for and understand- ing of dumb beasts as well as a thorough training in the science and treatment of their diseases. He has met with very good success in his practice and in 1912 expects to enter the government service.

James E. Reedy was married in Junc, 1909, to Miss L. B. Jackson, who was born in California. Her father is deceased but her mother is still living. Mr. Reedy is a republican, but does not prominently partic- ipate in public affairs. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fel- lows, being identified with Tillamook Lodge, No. 57. A. F. & A. M .; and Tillamook Lodge, No. 94. I. O. O. F. His period of res- idence here. though brief, has been of suf- ficient length to show him to be a man pos- sessing the desirable qualities of citizen- ship, capability and enterprise as well as a spirit of progressiveness.

J. L. SPARRETORN is proprietor of the Monopole Store of Bonanza. He carries a full line of general merchandise, also the well known Hoffman-Rothschild ready made clothing and is agent for Strauss Brothers, tailors of Chicago. Close application to busi- ness has brought him substantial success during the three years in which he has been a representative of commercial activity in that place. He was born in Denmark, June 8, 1861, his parents being L. and Nelsine Magdalena (Gorgensen) Sparretorn, the former a native of Denmark and the latter of Germany. The father was a forester and

gamekeeper for Count Valdel. Our subject's brother, Nels J., and the grandfather also held that position. L. Sparretorn remained a resident of Denmark to the time of his death, as did his wife. In their family were six children, of whom five are now living, Nels J., the brother who succeeded the father as forester and gamekeeper, having passed away in Denmark. Those beside our sub- ject are: Mrs. Tiesen, of Jytland, Den- mark; Mrs. Catrine Cristensen, of Sjalland; Marie Lund, of Jytland; and Carl, of Lang- lois, Curry county, Oregon.

J. L. Sparretorn is the third in order of birth and in later youth he served in the army as a member of the king's guard. When twenty-one years of age lie crossed the Atlantic to New York city, where he re- mained for six months, clerking for a friend on Cherry street. He afterward spent a year in Vermont working on a farm and at the end of that time he made his way to Honey Lake valley in California, where he worked for a cattle man for about six years. He was a dealer in horses for three years but lost quite heavily in that connection and in 1893 came to Bonanza. He brought the second imported stallion into this county, and for twelve years was engaged in the breeding and raising of fine horses. In 1909 he embarked in business in Bonanza as a general merchant, conducting his store until 1910, when it was destroyed by fire. He then came to his present location in the Bank building and here carries on general merchandising, his entire time being devoted thereto. His sales in 1910 amounted to twenty-two thousand dollars, and in 1912 to eighteen thousand dollars, for the trade at that time was divided with other stores.

Mr. Sparretorn is interested in the wel- fare of the community and is a recognized local leader in the ranks of the republican party. He served for two years in the city council and as marshal for one year. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, heartily cooperating in its movements for the upbuilding of the city.

NICHOLAS A. EASLY. Although he was early thrown upon his own resources by the death of his parents, Nicholas A. Easly. of Banks, Washington county, did not yield to discouragement. He bravely faced the world and, having acquired a good trade, ap- plied himself industriously, so that he is now in a large measure financially independ- ent. He is a native of Switzerland, born in 1840, a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Easly. The father was also a native of Switzerland and early learned the carpenter's trade. which he followed during the remainder of his life. In 1855 he started with his wife and chil- dren for America but shortly after leaving port the mother died and was buried at sea in the English channel. The father located in Ohio but death again visited the family and he passed away in the year of his ar- rival. There were six children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Easly: John, who is de- ceased; Mary, who married John Easly and

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is deceased; Nicholas A., of this review; Benjamin, who is also deceased; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Philip Kessler, and Annie, who married Godfrey Ott, both of whom are deceased.

Since the age of fifteen years Nicholas A. Easly has made his home in America. In 1859 he removed from Ohio to Noble county, Indiana, and there engaged at his trade as carpenter for seven years. He went to Iowa in 1866 and in 1871 to the southern part of Dakota, where he continued for eight years. Believing that the Pacific coast re- gion, offered more favorable inducements he came to Oregon in 1879 with his wife, to whom he had been married in Dakota, and followed his trade in Washington county, where he erected a number of residences and other buildings. He spent eight years, from 1882 to 1890, in Portland and the next four years in Idaho, being actively employed at his trade during this time. In 1894 he returned to Washington, county, Oregon, but two years later went to Idaho and continued his residence in that state for seven years. Since 1903 he has made his home in Washington county and for eight years past has been the owner of a small farm three miles southwest of Banks. On account of ill health he has lived in retirement since 1900.

In 1878 Mr. Easly was married to Miss Delilah Martin, a daughter of Joseph and Anna Martin. The father was a car builder and worked in many of the principal cities of the country but passed his declining years in Dakota. There were four children in his family: Ellen, who is the wife of William Flynn, of Chicago; Maggie, who married W. W. Ross, of New Mexico; Delilah, now Mrs. N. A. Easly; and Arthur J., of Port- land. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Easly: Arthur N., who is married and lives at Portland; and William Martin, who is at home.

Mr. Easly is politically independent and is governed in voting largely by the ability and character of candidates and by the im- portance of the issues at stake. No man is more loyal to his state and he is justly proud of having selected Oregon as his home. He has never served in any public office ex- cept that of postmaster at Centerville, Da- kota, in 1876: A man of keen powers of observation, sound business principles and genial social qualities, he has made wise use of opportunities and ranks among the sub- stantial citizens of Washington county.

J. S. ROSCOE, owner of the first garage in McMinnville, was born in Michigan, March 16, 1870, a son of D. C. Roscoe, who was a native of Maine but went to Michigan at an early period in the development of the latter state, where he still makes his home. : The father served. as a soldier in the Civil war, rendering valuable aid to the country during the darkest days in the history of the nation.

J. S. Roscoe spent his youthful days, to the age of sixteen years, under the parental roof and then started out to earn his own living by working as a farm hand in Min-

nesota. He was thus employed for several years, when thinking that better oppor- tunities for rapid advancement could be se- cured in the new but developing regions of the northwest he came to Oregon in 1891, settling in Linn county where he resided for about eight years. In 1899 he removed to Yamhill county and established a bicycle re- pair shop in McMinnville. As the use of the wheel was gradually discontinued and the automobile came to the front, both as a pleasure and service vehicle, Mr. Roscoe es- tablished a garage, opening the first one in McMinnville. His natural mechanical genius and ingenuity well qualify him for his work in this connection and he does everything necessary for the care and repair of a motor car. He is justly accounted one of McMinn- ville's enterprising men. His political sup- port is given to the republican party and he is well versed in the questions and is- sues of the day but he never seeks nor de- sires public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs which are bringing to him substantial success.

ERNEST ALBERT LUPTON, M. D., en- gaged successfully in the practice of medi- cine and surgery at Sandy, Clackamas county, was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 15, 1875. His parents were Henry and Anna (Marti) Lupton, the father a native of Ger- many and the mother of Switzerland, and both came to America in youth and were married in Chicago. They were living in that state at the time of the great fire, October 9, 1871, and lost all of their pos- sessions in the same. The father at that time was an inspector of the city water de- partment. In 1884 they moved to Minne- apolis, where the father became a traveling salesman and has since continued in that work. He traveled for twenty years for J. B. Ford & Company of Wyandotte, Mich- igan. Since 1905 he has made his home in Portland. The mother passed away Decem- ber 16, 1911. In their family were five chil- dren: Fred, who is in the manufacturing business at Portland; Ernest Albert; Menga, who is the wife of E. L. Cardle, general freight agent of the Southern Pacific Rail- road; Irving, who is a medical student at Portland; and Charlotte, who died in in- fancy.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 138

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