The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 149

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

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Politically Mr. Pinkerton gives his alle- giance to the republican party and is now serving as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Ashtabula Lodge, I. O.

O. F., of Ohio, and is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters in the same state. While he was a resident of Ashta- bula he was a prominent figure in its poli- tical affairs and served in the city council for two years. He was harbor master of Ashtabula for one term and served fre- quently on election boards. He had the honor of attending President Garfield's funeral and was captain of a company in the funeral procession of William McKinley. He now gives most of his time and atten- tion to the cultivation of his land. He is a true farmer and thoroughly understands all the details connected with the fertilization and improvement of the soil. He has done much to raise agriculture to a new plane of scientific methods.

JOSEPH W. KAYS is now living retired but was for many years connected with the furniture trade, figuring prominently in the business circles of Eugene. When he sold out he was proprietor of the second oldest furniture store in the city and had ever maintained an unassailable reputation for progressive methods and business integrity. He was born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1849, and is a son of John and Isabella (Cupples) Kays, representatives of one of the old families of that part of the Keystone state. The father was a farmer by occupation and held various county offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity, thus devoting his time between his private interests and his public duties.

The old homestead farm constituted the scene amid which the boyhood and youth of Joseph W. Kays were passed. In the winter months he attended the public schools and in the summer seasons worked in the fields. Believing that he would find other occupa- tion, however, more congenial and profit- able, he left home and entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Al- toona. He there learned constructive iron work and two years later accepted a posi- tion with the Keystone Bridge Company. He afterwards traveled all over the United States as superintendent of construction for that company and in that connection super- intended the building of the New York end of the Brooklyn bridge extension and also the Madison Avenue bridge, which was the second bridge built across the Hudson river. He was superintendent of field work for a long period and for nine years represented the Carnegie interests. He had charge of the erection of the big furnaces at Braddock and also had charge of the installation of the first gas ovens erected there. He devoted the years 1884 and 1885 to the erection of the mining exhibit building for Mexico, it being constructed on the same plan as the Alhambra in Spain save that it is in iron. This is one of the finest ornamental iron buildings ever erected in the United States. Subsequently he built the bridge at Charles- town in 1885 and during the two succeeding years had charge of the building of a bridge

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

across the Missouri river for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.

The fall of 1887 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Kays in Oregon, at which time he located in Eugene. Here he engaged in the business of raising blooded cattle and horses, being connected with Wilkins Brothers & Coburg. He continued in that business for five years and in the fall of 1892 became a partner in the firm of D. Linn & Sons, at which time the firm name was changed to Linn & Kays. This relation was continued for five years, at the end of which time Mr. Kays purchased his partner's interest and afterwards con- ducted the business under the style of the J. W. Kays Furniture Company. He successfully managed this concern until April, 1911, when he sold out to Bissell & Burker. He was in the same location continuously and was proprietor of the second oldest furniture store in the city. His commercial methods were such as would bear the closest inves- tigation and scrutiny. He was always straightforward and honorable in his deal- ings, endeavored earnestly to please his cus- tomers and always kept a well selected line of furniture to meet the varied demands of the public taste. He sought his success in the legitimate fields of commerce and as the years went by, gained a comfortable com- petence, which at length enabled him to put aside business cares and retire to private life.

Mr. Kays was united in marriage to Mrs. Myrtle Uhlman, a daughter of Dr. J. W. Middleton, of St. Anthony, Idaho. They have become parents of twin sons, Warren and Willis. By her former marriage Mrs. Kays had two daughters: Lona B., who is the wife of Henry D. Jacobs; and Myrtle Eva. The elder daughter is an artist of much more than ordinary ability and her husband is an art critic. Mrs. Jacobs held the first chair of art in the Eugene public schools and later became assistant supervisor of art in the Portland public schools, which position she resigned at the time of her marriage.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Kays is well known, holding membership with Spencer Butte Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F .; Wimawhala Encampment, No. 6; and Eugene Lodge, No. 55, of the Daughters of Rebecca He also be- longs to Helmet Lodge, No. 33, K. T., and to the Uniform Rank, and is a member of Eugene Camp, No. 115, W. O. W. Both he and his wife hold membership in the First Presby- terian church, in which he has served as a

trustee. They have a wide and favorable acquaintance in Eugene and throughout Lane county and the life record of Mr. Kays demonstrates the fact that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously.

B. T. JORDAN, who is successfully en- gaged as a druggist, at Amity, was born in Linn county, Oregon, on the 17th of August, 1881. His parents were W. T. and Sarah (Powell) Jordan, natives of Maine and In- diana respectively. The father was reared to manhood in the Pine Tree state and sub- sequently lived in different states, settling in Oregon during the latter part of his active

life. He followed general agricultural pur- suits and passed away in Linn county, this state, in 1907. The demise of his wife oc- curred fifteen years ago. They had two sons: H. C., who is in the government em- ploy at Portland; and B. T., of this review.

B. T. Jordan obtained his early education in the common schools of his native county and in 1901 took up the study of pharmacy in the Oregon Agricultural College, from which institution he was graduated in 1905, winning the degree of Graduate Pharmacist. He then worked in Albany for three years and on the expiration of that period came to Amity, purchasing a stock of drugs. At the present time he carries a large and com- plete line of drugs and druggists' sundries and enjoys an extensive and profitable trade. He owns a tract of land, comprising one hundred and thirty-five acres, in Linn county.

In 1907 Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Whitney, a native of Linn county, Oregon, by whom he has one child, Kenneth T., whose natal year was 1911. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is a devoted member of the Chris- tian church, to which his wife also belongs. Fraternally he is identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Albany and the en- campment at Amity, while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekahs at Amity. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Albany. He also belongs to the State Pharmaceutical Asso- ciation. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have spent their entire lives in the Sunset state and are well known and highly esteemed there.

R. S. CROCKETT is a successful farmer of Josephine county and a man highly re- spected by his friends and associates. He was born, July 18, 1872, in the county in which he now lives, and is a son of G. and Eurydice (Trimble) Crockett. The father was a native of Indiana and removed to Douglas county, Oregon, in 1852. In 1871 he went to Josephine county where he continued to reside during the remaining years of his life, which closed June 2, 1905. The mother makes her home in Hugo, with the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. G. Crockett three children were born: Louisa, the wife of E. C. Dixon, of Grants Pass; E. W., who resides in California; and R. S., of this review.

R. S. Crockett was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age and immediately, thereafter, started in life for himself. He began railroading and so continued for seventeen successive years. Later he purchased a ranch of one hundred and seventy acres in Josephine county upon which he established his home and has since resided. He is engaged in general farming and specializes in the breeding and raising of cattle. In addition to his ranch interests he is a stockholder and a member of the

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

board of directors of the Farmers Tele- phone Company.

R. S. Crockett was united in marriage to Miss Melvina Neely, in 1898. Mrs. Crockett is a native of Lane county, this state, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Neely, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Crockett, two children have been born, Edward G., and Harley N. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crockett are active members of the First Baptist church of Hugo. Our subject has had gratifying success as a ranchman and stock-raiser and is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Josephine county.

H. L. STEPHENS is an expert agricultur- ist. When he was nineteen years of age he operated a farm and gave personal supervi- sion to its management. He is now prom- inent in a specialized branch of this industry and is gaining the reward of well directed labor. He was born in Illinois, on the 23d of April, 1869, and is a son of Edwin and Mary (McDermand) Stephens, the father a native of England and the mother of Nova Scotia. Their marriage occurred in Canada and they remained in that country until 1866 when they removed to Illinois where they remained until 1870. In that year they removed to Kansas and settled in Green- wood county where the father took up a homestead claim and cultivated the soil until 1882. In that year he went to Florida where he died in 1884. His wife is still living and makes her home in Nebraska with her young- est daughter. To them were born five chil- dren: J. W., who makes his home in the state of Washington; W. E., of the northwestern part of Texas where he operates a farm near Hurley; Alma, the wife of a Mr. Broddle, of Greenwood county, Kansas; Maggie, now Mrs. Younkin, of Saline county, Nebraska; and H. L., the subject of this sketch.

H. L. Stephens was educated in the public schools of Kansas and Nebraska. He re- mained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and has followed farming since he was nineteen. He operated a farm at that time and was rapidly successful as an agriculturist. He engaged in this line of occupation in the middle western states until he came to Oregon in 1899, settling in Wash- ington county where he remained for a short time. He spent four years in Portland as motorman and came to the Coquille river valley in 1907 where he leased his present farm and has been carrying on its general cultivation since that time. He specializes, however, in raising garden seeds and berry plants, filling orders for these products throughout the state of Oregon. He is par- ticularly successful with his garden peas and supplies the Portland Seed Company with these and other plants and seeds. His farm is finely improved and equipped with modern machinery and is one of the highly developed properties in Coos county.

Mr. Stephens has been twice married. His first union occurred in 1890 when he wedded Miss Lulu Troyer, a native of Illinois and a daughter of William Troyer. To this union

was born one daughter, Grace L., now the wife of Riley W. Stephen, of Kelso, Washing- ton. Mr. Stephen's first wife died in 1892, and in the following year our subject was again married. His second union was with Miss Mina Gardner, a native of Nebraska, where her birth occurred on March 24, 1875. She is a daughter of Edward and Sarah (Barker) Gardner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Bangor, Maine. Her parents were married in Ne- braska and the father served in a regiment from Kansas during the four years of the Civil war. He is still living and maintains his residence in the state where his daughter was born. He and his wife became the par- ents of the following children: Charles, who maintains his residence in Nebraska; Grace, the deceased wife of Otis Dubois, of Texas; Nellie, the wife of William Huey, of Mis- souri; Fannie, who married William Carney, of Nebraska; Mina, the wife of our subject; William, a resident of Nebraska; Etta, who became the wife of a Mr. Nicholson, of Nebraska; Elizabeth, who married William Harding, of Nebraska; Rubie, the wife of Samuel Simpson, of Missouri; and Daisy, deceased. Mrs. Stephens received her educa- tion in the public schools of Nebraska and remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are the parents of four children: Elton William, born in 1894, who is pursuing a business course; Ray E., whose birth occurred in 1895, and who is also at- tending business college; Ivan H., born in 1897, and a student in the Coos county publie schools; and Arlie C., whose birth occurred in 1900.

In his political affiliations Mr. Stephens is a democrat and intelligently interested in public affairs. He is a member of the western organization of the Fraternal Brotherhood and is active in the affairs of the Farmers' Union. He and his family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. His life has been successful because he has accom- plished in its course the thing which he started out to do. He began as a farmer and labored always along agricultural lines, and has developed a special occupation of an affiliated nature to such an extent that it entitles him to be ranked among the men who have achieved prosperity.

LEWIS CASS HAINES. The name of Haines stands today in Oregon, a synonym for progress in agriculture. One of its most successful representatives is Lewis Cass Haines, of Douglas county, who, at the age of fifty-six has retired from active life, after devoting many years to the intelligent operation of a farm, which in its productive and fertile state is a worthy gift to the agricultural resources of Oregon. Lewis C. Haines was born in Albany, Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois, on October 17 1856 and is a son of Alfred and Sarah (Nixon) Haines the former a native of New Jersey and the lat- ter of Indiana. Their marriage occurred on December 24. 1840, and they remained in the state of Illinois until 1862. In that year they crossed the plains to Oregon with mule

H. L. STEPHENS AND FAMILY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

teams, arriving in Oregon exactly four months from the date they crossed the Mis- souri river at Omaha. Their first location was made at Scottsburg, where Alfred Haines' son William, who is now a resident of Eugene, Oregon, was located, he and his twin brother Joseph having come to Oregon in 1851. Upon leaving Scottsburg, where he remained only a short time, Alfred Haines located two miles south of Elkton, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land for which he paid four hundred dollars. This was his first farm in Douglas county and he began its cultivation along scientific methods which was the basis of his success. He acquired 'other land during the course of his life and was an extensive land owner at the time of his death. A farm of seven- ty-two acres was put up for sale for delin- quent taxes shortly after the close of the Civil war and Alfred Haines was induced to buy it at a price of one dollar per acre only by the utmost persuasion of his wife and daughters. It is now one of the most valuable pieces of property in that section and upon a portion of it Mr. Haines' son, Edward E., has planted twelve acres in prunes which paid him in 1911 two thousand dollars for his crop.

Alfred Haines resided on his home farm until his death in 1888 when he was eighty- five years of age. He was one of the rep- resentative citizens of Douglas county and was a pioneer in its development. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Lu- per by whom he had five children: William and Joseph, twins; and Jamison, Susan and Rebecca, all of whom are still living, the youngest being now well passed the seven- ty-eighth year of her age. After the death of his first wife Alfred Haines was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Nixon, by whom he had nine children, four of whom are still living, Caroline, Lewis C., James A. and Ed- ward E. Those who have passed away were, Mary E., Sarah, Alfred B., Josephine P. and Jonathan C. The second Mrs. Haines died in 1879 in Douglas county, Oregon, in her fifty-ninth year. Alfred Haines was a stanch republican in his political views but was never an office' seeker. He had the honor of dining with Abraham Lincoln when the future president was a struggling young lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. He and ·his second wife were members of the United Brethren church and active workers in re- ligious circles.

Lewis C. Haines was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools of Douglas county and in the Oregon State Normal School located at Ashland, which he attended for two terms. When he was twenty-three years of age he began active life for himself. He obtained employment with the Willamette Valley Railway Com- pany and for twenty-five years of success- ful activity was identified with railroading in the capacity of fireman and engineer. He eventually, however, abandoned this field of endeavor and began his agricultural career on a farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he had previously purchased. His

property was located near Elkton and he de- veloped and improved it along progressive agricultural lines for three years. At the end of that time, however, he abandoned the cultivation of the soil and was variously en- gaged for some time. For the past five years he has lived retired in Elkton, where he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive citizens.

In October, 1911, Mr. Haines was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Isabelle Sawyer, a daughter of Andrew Sawyer, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Politically Mr. Haines gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never sought public office. He is a member of Elkton Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M., and is secretary of Elkton Lodge, No. 192, I. O. O. F. He and his wife affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church. Lewis Haines is numbered among the enterprising and prosperous citizens of Elkton and has won the rest he is enjoying by laboring well in former years, when he followed in the footsteps of his father to swift and sure success.

THOMAS H. WILKERSON. The pleas- ant home of Thomas H. Wilkerson is situ- ated near Lorella and the owner is num- bered among the progressive agriculturists and stockmen of southern Oregon. He de- serves much credit for what he has accom- plished, as he has worked his way upward through energy, industry and perseverance. He was born in Monroe county, Missouri, January 17, 1842, a son of William Wilker- son. The grandfather also bore the name of William Wilkerson and was a native of England, whence he came to the United States in early life. He was a pioneer res- ident of Kentucky and was well acquainted with Daniel Boone. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and later was a captain in the Black Hawk war. He also did a great deal of scouting in Virginia and on one oc- casion was captured by the Indians, who held him for three years. His death oc- curred in Missouri, when he was ninety-two years of age. His son and namesake, Wil- liam Wilkerson, was born in Kentucky but about 1819 removed to Monroe county, Mis- souri, casting in his lot with its early set- tlers. There he remained until 1850, when with ox teams he crossed the plains, accom- panied by his three sons. After a slow and tedious trip he at length reached the mines of California in safety and spent about two years in searching for the precious metal. He then started on his homeward way but on the Isthmus of Panama was taken ill. From that place he was transferred to the island of Cuba, where he died the next year. His wife, who bore the name of Margaret Dale, was born in Tennessee and about 1827 became a resident of Monroe county, Mis- souri. She made the trip to Oregon with her son Thomas in 1875 and two years later returned to Monroe county, where she died in 1878. She was a daughter of John Dale, who served as a lieutenant at the battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 and com-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

manded a company as captain in the battle of Tippecanoe. There he was captured by Indians but as they were taking him away he struck one with a paddle, causing him to fall in the water, and thus he managed to make his escape. He was afterward known as "John Dale of Tippecanoe fame." The Dales were of Irish lineage and were noted for longevity, Matthew Dale, an uncle of Thomas H. Wilkerson, living to the advanced age of one hundred and ten years. William Wilkerson the father of our subject, was twice married and the half-brothers and sisters of Thomas H. Wilkerson, all of whom are deceased, were: John W., Wiley M. and Riley P., who lived in Monroe county, Mis- sonri; and Sarah, the wife of Alexander Clemens, a brother of Samuel Clemens, the famous American humorist, better known to the world as Mark Twain. The full brothers and sisters of our subject were: Ross, who lived in Monroe county; Mary J. and Milton C., who made their homes in Monroe county; and Nancy. All these have also passed away.

Thomas H. Wilkerson was reared upon tlie home farm in Missouri. He acquired luis education under disadvantages, being obliged to walk several miles in order to pursue his studies in a little log school- house, where methods of instruction were very primitive. In the spring of 1862 he started across the plains with Dr. Hugh Glenn in his wagon train. Mr. Wilkerson drove a band of mules and on reaching Cali- fornia engaged in mining for some time. He was afterward at Virginia City, in 1867, and then returned by way of Panama and New York to Missouri. He had been quite successful during his sojourn on the coast and on again reaching his native state he engaged in farming and stock-raising.

On the 11th of September, 1873, Mr. Wil- kerson was married to Miss Julia Hardwick, a native of Monroe county, Missouri, and a daughter of George Hardwick, who was also a native of that county but died in Yam- hill county, Oregon, in 1895, at the age of sixty years. He was a son of John Hard- wick, who was born in Madison county, Ken- tucky, and became one of the early settlers of Monroe county. The Hardwick family was represented in the Revolutionary war. The mother of Mrs. Wilkerson bore the maiden name of Mary A. Sisk and was born in Alabama, although her ancestors were from North Carolina. In the Hardwick fam- ily were seven children, of whom Mrs. Wil- kerson was the eldest. In the fall of 1875 the family started west, accompanied by Mr. Wilkerson's mother and his wife's father and family. Oregon was their destination and after weary days and weeks of travel they took up their abode in the West Che- halem valley, where for eleven years Mr. Wilkerson engaged in general merchandis- ing. At length he withdrew from commer- cial pursuits and in June, 1886, took up his abode upon his present farm near Lorella. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land in Langells valley, a mile southeast of Lorella, and he and his sons

own together nearly a thousand acres in this vicinity. Live stock has always been the principal feature of the place and Mr. Wil- kerson owns a French draft stallion, Al- cantraz, for which he paid two thousand dollars. He suffered heavy losses when in the winter of 1889-90 much of his stock perished, but he has persevered and his cap- able management and careful direction of his business interests have gained him a place among the substantial stockmen of Klamath county.

In 1906 Mr. Wilkerson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 26th of November of that year at the age of fifty-four, her birth having occurred January 19, 1852. Their children are: Clementine M., who became the wife of Charles Wiley and since his death has mar- ried Lon Bateman, of Bakersfield, Califor- nia; Geneva A., the wife of Sidney Bur- roughs, of Los Angeles; Mary Lulu, the wife of Benjamin Brown, of Langells valley; Kenneth C., at home; Nora M., the wife of James Krogue, of Modoc county, California; Ella L., the wife of Clarence Walker, of Langells Valley; and Eugene W. and Wil- liam L., who resides at home and are owners of ranches in this section of the state. Mrs. Wilkerson was a member of the Christian church, to which Mr. Wilkerson still be- longs. There have been no unusual chapters in his life history but year by year he has worked his way upward, each year seeing him in advance of the position that he had attained the previous year. He is now the possessor of a handsome property and his success is the merited reward of his in- dustry, intelligently directed, and his sound judgment, which has enabled him to make judicious investments.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 149

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