The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 15

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

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in the government employ, making his home in Hammond since 1900.

George E. Flatman, whose name intro- duces this record, was a lad of eight years when the family came to the new world. He accompanied his parents on their various re- movals and acquired his education in the pub- lic schools of the different localities in which he lived. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, after which he worked as a farm hand for two years and then accepted a position as a steam engineer in the Fort Stevens Jetty Works, at Fort Stevens, Oregon, continuing in the em- ploy of the government for nineteen years. In 1889 he purchased a half interest in a mercantile store at Hammond and is still an equal partner in that enterprise and in the building in which it is located. He also owns other property in Hammond and his life on the whole has been a successful one, unfalter- ing industry being the secret of his advance- ment and prosperity.

On the 6th of July, 1893, Mr. Flatman was married to Miss Sarah Kindred, who was born in Clatsop county, Oregon, and is a daughter of B. C. Kindred. who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Flat- man are now parents of two children: Vivian L., born March 17, 1894: and Edna R., July 30, 1895. Both are attending school. Mr. Flatman and his family hold membership in the Episcopal church and he belongs to the Order of Maccabees at Hammond. His politi- cal views are in accord with the principles of the republican party which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For several years he served as a member of the school board of Hammond and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth as a citizen, called him to public office as the chief executive of Hammond. For two years he served as mayor and his record was one highly satisfactory to the general public for he advocated progress, reform and im- provement and sought by practical methods to attain the ends desired.

MANUEL VIEIRA is engaged in farming. his tract comprising almost six hundred and forty acres of land. The town of Hilde- brand is now being built upon a portion of his farm which bids fair to become the center of a prosperous agricultural community. Mr. Vieira is a native of St. George. Portugal, born May 8, 1859. his parents being Mat- tian and Uekena (Broco) Vieira. The father died in Portugal in January. 1897. at the age of sixty-three years, after which the mother came to the new world. joining a son in California. She passed away there May 22. 1912, at the age of seventy-seven years. In the family were eight children. three sons and three daughters, of whom one daughter is still living in Portugal, while the others are in California. save the subject of this review, who is the eldest.

After spending the first fourteen years of his life in the country of his nativity, Manuel Vieira came to the United States, making his way to California. Twenty-three years ago he came to the Yonna valley in Kla-

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

math county and has since followed farming and stock-raising. His life has been fruitful of good results. He has worked persistently and diligently as the years have gone by and is now the owner of about six hundred and forty acres of good land His tract would comprise fully that amount if it included the schoolhouse lot and the roads. The town of Hildebrand is being built to furnish a market for the agricultural district that is fast being developed here. Mr. Vieira's home is a "traveler's inn" or a place of en- tertainment for travelers midway between Bly and Klamath Falls, being twenty-six miles from each place.

On the 12th of November, 1899, Mr. Vieira was married in California, to Miss Rose Rose, who was born in St. George, Portugal, and on coming to the United States first settled in California. There were three chil- dren of this marriage, Lizzie, James and Arthur, all born on the ranch which is still the family home. Mr. Vieira is truly a self- made man and one who deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out empty-handed at the age of fourteen years and has worked his way gradually up- ward by his own industry and merit.

JOHN L. BARKER is the owner of an ex- cellent farm about a mile and a quarter north of Fairview on the Coos Bay wagon road. He was born in Platte county. Missouri, in 1844, and is a son of William H. and Sarah Margaret (Nolan) Barker, who were natives of Kentucky. Their son John was eight years of age when the parents started with their family to the Pacific coast, with California as their destination. The father however, died of cholera while crossing the plains, for this was the year 1852 when cholera was epidemic among the emigrants to the far west to such an extent that the route could be followed by reason of the newly made graves along the way. The mother continued on her way to California with her children and settled in Solano county, where she purchased twenty acres of land, living thereon for sev- eral years. In 1860 she came to Oregon, taking up her abode in Douglas county, near Roseburg. She remained there only a short time, however, and soon afterward the fam- ily was broken up, the different children hav- ing started out for themselves. Mrs. Barker passed away near Salem in 1868. In the family were twelve children, but only four are now living: Ann, who is the wife of John Long of Washington, and is eighty-five years of age; Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Miller of California; Nancy L., the wife of Captain A. D. Boon of Sumner, Oregon; and John L.

The last named accompanied his mother on her various removals until the family was broken up. He was then about eighteen years of age and started out in life for himself. He engaged in driving cattle, in packing and teaming for others, being thus employed for ten years. He was then married and took up his abode in Coos county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Co- quille river, whereon he resided until 1900.

He then bought his mother-in-law's property and has since made his home upon that farm which is situated about a mile and a quarter north of the town of Fairview. He carefully and systematically develops his place and it presents a neat and attractive appearance which shows his methods are both practical and progressive.

On the 14th of September, 1871, on the old home place at Fairview which they now occupy, Mr. Barker was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Norris. Her father had taken up the claim in 1868 and it has since remained in possession of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have become the parents of eight children: Fred W., of Coquille, Ore- gon, who is married and has two children; Verner N., of Marshfield, Ore., who has two children, Lyle and an infant; Thomas G .. of Fairview, who has two children, Ellis and Elda; Clyde A., of Fairview, who lias one child, Wilda; Jesse, who has charge of and operates his father's farm and also raises and deals in stock and carries on dairying on a limited scale; Edwin C., of Marshfield, who has two children, Ilene and Grace; John L., of Summer, Oregon, who has one child, Evlyn; and Birdie M., the wife of Lester L. Hazle- ton of Sumner, Oregon, and the mother of one child.

Mr. Barker votes with the democratic party and has served as road supervisor but cares little for public office. The cause of educa- tion, however. finds in him a warm friend as is evidenced by his twenty-one years' serv- ice as school director. He is interested in all that pertains to public progress and improve- ment and gives his aid and influence to proj- ects for the general good, while at the same time he carefully manages his business affairs.

J. G. WIGHT was for many years identi- fied with educational interests and contributed in large measure toward the development of the schools, but he is now concentrating his time and energies upon the cultivation of crops and the raising of stock, having one of the well improved ranches of Klamath county, situated in the Yonna valley not far from Hildebrand. He was born near Hamilton, Wentworth county, Ontario, Canada, April 27. 1859, his parents being James and Agnes (McKinley) Wight, in whose family were fourteen children, of whom J. G. Wight was the fifth. He resided at the place of his birth until 1880, was reared to farm life and acquired his education in the district schools. He then made his way westward in company with his sister Barbara to Solano county, California, and there engaged in farming for about four years. He also at- tended school to some extent in that district, for he has ever been interested in educational advancement, finding genuine joy in the study that brings him a broader intellectual out- look. In 1884 he came to Klamath county and preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he has since added, until now he has two hundred and forty acres in the Yonna valley, six miles north of Dairy. Most of his time, however, has been spent elsewhere in school work until the last four

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

years, during which time he has resided con- tinuously on his ranch. He was graduated from the state normal school at Monmouth and for about ten years he engaged in teach- ing in Polk and Yamhill counties. He also taught at Bonanza, Klamath county, for five years, and in 1904 was elected county super- intendent of schools, which position lie filled for one term of four years. On his retire- ment from that office, in which he had made a most creditable record, he returned to the ranch and has since engaged in the cultiva- tion of the crops best adapted to soil and climate and in the raising of stock, in both branches of his business meeting with suc- cess which is the legitimate outcome of per- sistent, earnest effort.

In 1909 Mr. Wight was married to Miss Mary L. Davison, who was born near Salem, Oregon, November 14, 1868, and was reared and educated in Jackson county. She is a graduate of the Ashland Normal School with the class of 1889, and also Heald's Business College of San Francisco, of the class of 1893. She, too, was a capable and success- ful teacher, having taught for ten years in Jackson county, Oregon, for four years in Siskiyou county, California, and for four years in Klamath county, making a total of eighteen years. She is a daughter of Andrew and Mary A. (Wright) Davison, the former a native of Fountain county, Indiana, born in 1832, and the latter a native of Ohio, born in 1837. Her father crossed the plains to California in 1850 and in 1851 came to Jack- son county. His wife made the journey across the country in 1852. through the Rogue river valley, her parents taking up a donation claim there. Mrs. Davison is now home- steading on eighty acres near the Wight home and she also has a residence in Med- ford. She has been a widow since 1884. Her husband was a miner in early life and later secured a donation claim in Jackson county, where he resided until the time of his death. In their family were nine children, six of whom are yet living, including Mrs. Wight. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wight are widely and favorably known in the Yonna valley, the circle of their friends increasing as the circle of their acquaintance widens. Mr. Wight votes with the republican party but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concen- trate his energies upon the professional in- terests and the business cares which have occupied his time since he attained his ma- jority. He has advanced step by step, his eyes fixed on the goal of success, never deviat- ing from the path of honorable achievement.

SAMUEL W. JONES, who resides two miles south of Gervais on the old Stage road, is the owner of two thousand acres of valuable land. His birth occurred in Indiana, on the 17th of November. 1850, his parents being Silas W. R. and Elizabeth (Allen) Jones, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. The parents were married in the Hoosier state, where they re- sided until 1853, when they started across the plains. After they arrived in Oregon they settled in Marion county, on the Michael

Dougherty donation claim. Afterward Mr. Jones purchased a squatter's right of a dona- tion land claim of three hundred and twenty acres situated four miles southeast of Ger- vais. This was their home until 1862, when he purchased another claim of six hundred and forty acres two miles south of Gervais, where he resided until 1890, when he re- turned to Indiana. He passed away in No- vember, 1911, at Kokomo, at the age of ninety-seven years, his wife having died in 1890, when seventy-two years of age. They were the parents of a very large family, eight of whom survive, namely: Mrs. H. K. Hunsaker, of Portland, Oregon; Silas A., a resident of Brooks, Oregon; M. L., who is also living in Brooks; Samuel W., the sub- ject of this review; Mrs. Emma Simmons. of Gervais; Mrs. Sarah Clark, a resident of Portland; and Harrison and Scott, twins, who arc both residing in Gervais.

After finishing school Samuel W. Jones started in life for himself at the age of eighteen years. His first farming enterprise was on rented land and he continued thereon for five years, at the end of which time he purchased a six hundred acre farm at Waldo Hills. For three years he was engaged in the cultivation and management of this farm before disposing of it and purchasing seven hundred acres on French prairie, which he occupied for seven years. At that time he purchased his present home of four hundred and fifty-six acres and has since added to it until he is at present the owner of two thousand acres, all located in Marion county. more than fifteen hundred of which is under cultivation. Mr. Jones is one of the most able and industrious farmers of Marion county. He has given his personal attention to all details of the development of his prop- erty and by careful study and management has made it one of the most profitable tracts in this district, so rich in agricultural re- sources.

On February 27, 1876, Mr. Jones was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Darland, whose birth occurred on the 18th of May, 1856, and who is a daughter of Samuel R. and Susanna (Hutton) Darland, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in Indiana, where they resided for several years before removing to Iowa, where they lived until 1865, when they came overland to Oregon and settled in Waldo Hills, Marion county. This was their home until 1876, when they removed to the state of Washington, where their deaths occurred in 1903 . and 1901 respectively. To them sixteen children were born. eleven of whom survive: Mrs. Mary A. Baker, of Forest Grove, Oregon; I. C., who resided in Golden- dale, Oregon, and passed away March 18. 1912; Levi, who makes his home in San Francisco, California; Mrs. Harriett Bryson. of Garfield, Washington; Mrs. Amanda Al- berson, who is living in Alberson, Oregon: Mrs. Jones; Mrs. Alsey Gillmore, of North Yakima; Mrs. Loretta L. Stice, also a resident of North Yakima; James, who makes his home in Pullman, Washington; George, who resides at Goldendale, Oregon; and Charles.

SAMUEL W. JONES

MRS. SAMUEL W. JONES

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of Arlington, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones seven children have been born: Mrs. Bertha S. Hoover, born in 1876, who received a musical education and engaged in teaching for many years; Mrs. Jennie M. Collard, who was born in 1878 and now makes her home in Gervais; Mrs. Altha Naftzger, who was born in 1880 and also resides in Gervais; Sylva W., who was born in 1883 and is at home, a graduate of Willamette University, having taught school for three years; Mrs. Edna S. Ramp, of Brooks, Oregon, who also received a musical education; Samuel Paul, who was born in 1888 and makes his home with his parents and Areta V., who was born in 1896 and is also at home. They have all been given more than ordinary advantages in education.

Mr. Jones gives his political support to the republican party and is thoroughly alive to the leading issues of the day. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of Gervais, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both le and his wife are affiliated with the Christian church, in whose circles they are both active and influential. He is one of the largest landowners of Marion county and has proved his worth as an agri- culturist by his close study of modern meth- ods, by his careful attention to details and by his progressiveness.

SAMUEL M. DOUGLAS. The history of a state as well as that of a nation is chiefly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity . upon society. The world judges the character of a community by that of its representative citizens, and yields its tribute of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state. It is their character, as exemplified in probity and progress, in kindly virtues and in integrity in the affairs of life, which is ever affording worthy ex- amples for emulation, and no more worthy example of such a life could be recorded in the history of Oregon than that of Samuel M. Douglas.

The birth of Mr. Douglas occurred in Henry county, Iowa, December 1, 1854. He was the son of Thomas Douglas, who was an own cousin of Stephen A. Douglas, while his mother, Lucinda Hanks, was an own cousin of Abraham Lincoln. When he was ten years old his parents crossed the plains with ox- teams, and after a journey of five months they arrived safely in California. 'The father located in Marysville, where his son remained until he was nineteen years old, and then with his father engaged in ranching, con- tinuing in this line of endeavor for seven years. While so engaged he began the work of shearing sheep, etc., and after twelve years of this life he bought his father's ranch in, Humboldt county, making that his home for five years, when in 1887, he came to Oregon. He first bought seven hundred and eleven acres, located two miles east of Springfield. Later he purchased more land and owned. at one time, nine hundred and fifty-two acres Vol. IV-5

along the Willamette river, six hundred and forty of which was valley land, and rich in the fine grass of this region. He purchased this farm from Stephen Edwards and J. Good- man with the intention of entering the dairy business, and his faith in the value of the location was justified with the passing years. Prior to his death he disposed of four hundred and ten acres. He spared neither time nor expense in placing his business on a substan- tial and reliable footing and his reward came in the success which he achieved and the reputation he won as one of the progressive farmers of the Willamette valley.

Mr. Douglas was married in September, 1889, to Miss Florence Dale, of Humboldt county, California, who is a representative of an old and distinguished family. Mrs. Doug- las was the daughter of Jeremiah and Sadie (Callihan) Dale, both born and reared in Clarion county, Pennsylvania. The father was born in 1834 and the mother in 1838. The father's ancestors came from Switzer- land and settled in Pennsylvania, early in 1700, and the mother's people were of Quaker stock. At the time of the gold fever in California Mr. Dale migrated from Pennsyl- vania, but after remaining in California for a year or two he returned and was married December 16, 1859. They then removed to West Virginia, where they remained for four years. Mr. and Mrs. Dale then started for the far west, taking a steamer from New York to Panama and from there to San Francisco, and finally located in Nevada county, California, residing there for six years. They then removed to Humboldt county, where they have since resided.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Douglas has been born one daughter, whose natal day was June 11, 1890. Mr. Douglas was not affiliated with any fraternal organizations, but in politics he was a democrat. He died September 13, 1911. Those who had the good fortune to be his neighbors and friends or to come in con- tact with him in business dealings, know that he was a man, honest and just to all, kind where kindness' was required, and one who cheerfully lent his aid to any worthy cause in the community. He was a gentle husband and a kind father and left an un- tarnished name to his family.

NATHAN W. BOWER, although a resident of Clatsop county only since 1908, has be- come well known here and is meeting with success as one of the owners of Sunset Beach, an attractive summer resort which borders the ocean and also Sunset lake. He was born in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, in 1864, a son of Nathan S. and Maria Bower, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia and of English parentage. They spent their entire lives in the land of their nativity and the father conducted a lumber business there for many years, but later he established a hotel which he carried on until his life's labors were ended in death, in 1902. He is still survived by his wife, who yet makes her home in Nova Scotia. In their family were seven children: Chapman S .; Nathan W .; Bertha A., who died in 1890; William

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E., a contractor of Nova Scotia, working on government contracts; Annie S., the wife of George A. Evans, of Walla Walla, Washi- ington; Alice N., the wife of Kiff Cameron, of Nova Scotia; and Andrew R., of Shelburne, Novia Scotia, who is engaged in contracting with his brother.

Nathan W. Bower, whose name introduces this record, acquired a common-school educa- tion and also studied drafting under Pro- fessor Hauslein, of the Chicago Athenaeum. He came to the United States in 1887, at which time he took up his abode in Chicago, where he resided for four years. In 1891 he removed to Boise City, Idaho, where he lived for some years, conducting business as an architect and contractor at that place until 1901. The succeeding seven years were passed in Meridian, Idaho, and he built the first house there. He had large interests at that place and still owns many properties in the heart of the town. In 1892 he be- came the owner of a third interest in the town site of Nyssa, Oregon, and he also owns a placer stone claim in Malheur county, Ore- gon. He continued his residence at Meridian, Idaho, until 1908, when he removed to Clat- sop county, where he has since resided. Aside from his property interests elsewhere he is the owner of a third interest in Sunset Beach, an attractive resort of Clatsop county, which borders the ocean and also extends to Sunset lake. He is doing much to improve this and make it one of the popular resorts at the seaside. He is also engaged in freight- ing and does deep sea fishing with a gas schooner, Moonlight.

On the 28th of February, 1893, Mr. Bower was married at Boise City, Idaho, to Miss Julia Asbery, who was born in Lee county, West Virginia, in 1866, a daughter of Joseph and Julia (Brooks) Asbery, who spent the greater part of their lives upon a farm in West Virginia. The mother died during the girlhood of her daughter, Mrs. Bower, and the father passed away in 1903. In their family were eleven children: John; Thomas, Reese, Jeff and William, all deceased; Margaret; Sina; Roxanna; Frances; Rebecca ; and Julia. Mr. and Mrs. Bower have become the parents of four children but the oldest, Nathan W., died at the age of fourteen years, and the youngest, Hazel M., when eight years of age. The other children of the family are: Eva S., who was born February 2, 1895, and is now a high-school student; and Jessie L., born July 14, 1897. Mr. Bower possesses the enterprising spirit that has been the dominant feature in the rapid and substan- tial upbuilding of the northwest, quickly recognizing and utilizing the opportunities that have come to him, and as the years have passed by he has made steady progress which indicates greater success in the future.

CHARLES H. FLACKUS, who since 1903 has devoted his entire attention to ranching, having a place of two hundred and eighty acres of which one hundred and eighty acres is being cultivated, was born on the Rhine, Germany, on the 4th of November, 1872, and is a son of August and Minnie (Herbel)

Flackus, who remained residents of the father- land until 1882, when they crossed the Atlantic and settled in Des Moines, Iowa. In May, 1889, the family arrived in the Yonna valley of Klamath county, Oregon, where the father carried on carpentering as well as ranching until his death, in 1908, when he was sixty-six years of age. His widow still survives and is now living in the Yonna valley. In their family were four children: William, now residing at Ashland, Oregon; Charles H .; and Theodore and Emil, both residents of the Yonna valley.

Charles H. Flackus made his home with his parents up to the time of his marriage, working earnestly and persistently in his youthful days and manifesting unfaltering industry since attaining man's estate. He learned the butcher's trade and conducted a shop at Redding, California. He also worked at Etna, California, at Yreka and at Klamath Falls, becoming well known as a butcher in the southern part of the state. In 1903 he began ranching on his own account and his place, attractive in its appearance, indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods. His ranch is two hundred and eighty acres in extent and is devoted to gen- eral farming and stock-raising with one hun- dred and eighty acres under the plow. He has added many modern equipments and im- provements to the place, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful supervision.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 15

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