The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 162

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

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In 1869 he became junior member of the firm of Riley & Stewart, conducting a general mercantile, lumbering and fishing business in Gold Beach, and for ten years Mr. Stewart was active in the affairs of this concern. When he at length disposed of his holdings he engaged in stock-raising and beach min- ing on the Pacific coast near the Rogue river and continued thus for a number of years. He also purchased land at Ophir, which he later sold. Subsequently, in 1904, in associa- tion with his son he purchased the Port Or- ford Tribune and this journal he is now con- ducting. He has made his paper successful by giving constant attention to it and by uniting ability as a journalist with business discrimination of a high order. He is alive to the important phases of the day's events and has an instinct for news together with an editorial facility in pointing out its bear- ing and importance. His business ability has made his enterprise successful and has gained him a place of prominence and importance among his fellow citizens. Mr. Stewart has a firm belief in the future of his section and does his utmost to promote growth and de- velopment. He owns twenty acres of land in Curry county and property in Port Orford and Bandon, besides a valuable timber claim near the coast.

Mr. Stewart has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Hattie M. Riley, who passed away one year and a half after the marriage. In 1872 the subject of this review wedded Miss Laura E. Riley, a native of Port Orford and the first white girl born in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart became the par- ents of five children, three of whom are still living. Hardy T. was born in 1879 and is associated with his father in the conduct of the Port Orford Tribune. He married Miss Eva Hall, who came to Oregon with her par- ents in 1892, and settled in Coos county. They have three children: Dorothy, Byron and Helen. Ruby was born in 1882, and is the wife of A. J. Krantz, a business man of Portland. Pearl married Thomas L. Carey, a merchant and salesman in Port Orford. The two oldest children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, Frank R. and Fred D., are deceased.

Mr. Stewart gives a general allegiance to the republican party but often votes inde- pendent of party affiliation, following his own judgment to guide him in support of a candidate. He is one of the prominent figures in local and state politics and has served in various capacities. He was in the state leg- islature in 1882 and again represented his fellow citizens in that body in 1905. He served as collector of customs in southern Oregon for four years and was treasurer of Curry county for a like period. He was also school superintendent and has served as deputy in nearly all the county offices and also as deputy postmaster. He formerly belonged to the Masonic order but has dis- continued his connection with that organiza- tion. He does not affiliate with any particular church but is a devout adherent of the universal religion of kindness and good- will. He is a keen and discriminating busi- ness man, an able politician and above all a

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loyal and public-spirited citizen and is en- titled to the prosperity he is now enjoying and the respect and estcem of his fellow citizens.

B. F. ADAMS. When B. F. Adams died May 18, 1912, the agricultural interests of Coos county suffered a distinct loss. He had been engaged in the cultivation of the soil in that locality since 1883 and was recognized as one of the county's foremost citizens. He was born in Wisconsin in 1850 and was a son of William and Mary (Vine) Adams. His parents were born in Europe but were married in New York. Both are now de- ceased. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living: George, who is now deceased; Lorenzo D., who is still living; one child who died in in- fancy; B. F., of this review; William P., who now resides in California; Mrs. Annie Miller; Mrs. Adelia Phillips; Mrs. Emma Jolley; William; George, alive; and Mrs. Blanch Brown, who has passed away. All of the surviving children are residents of California.

B. F. Adams received his early education in the public schools of California, whither he removed in early boyhood with his parents. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in freighting across the mountains and con- tinued in that business until 1883. In that year he moved to Oregon and settled in Coos county, one and a half miles from Ten Mile lake, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land for eight hun- dred dollars. He cultivated his land and continuously improved the place until the time of his death. He made a specialty of dairying and took great pride in keeping this branch of his business in excellent con- dition. At one time he added one hundred and sixty acres to his holdings but deeded this to his two sons some years before his death. He carried on farming along scientific lines, constantly added new improvements and was personally interested in keeping his dairy clean and sanitary. At the time of his death he owned one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land in Coos county, two houses and the lots upon which they stood in the town of North Bend and was one of the leading and progressive men of the district.

In 1883 Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Kate Shearer, who was born in Or- ville, California, and received her early educa- tion in that state. Her father died when she was a small child. Unto him and his wife were born seven children: Mrs. Virginia Patterson, of Colorado; Kate, the widow of our subject; William J., Mrs. Sadie Adams and Fred, all of whom are now deceased; and two children who died in infancy. Mrs. Adams' mother, previous to her union with Mr. Shearer, had been Mrs. Huston, and upon the death of her second husband was again married, her third union being with Nahum Ames, by whom she had two chil- dren: Mrs. Emma Blodgett, of Medford, Oregon; and Nahum, Jr., of California. Mr. Ames died in 1905 having survived his wife

since 1878. Mrs. Adams is now the owner of the two houses and lots in North Bend which were the property of her husband before his death. To them were born six children: Winnie, who is at home with her mother; Mrs. J. T. Davis, who resides near the home farm; V. D., W. F., David and Lolo all of whom are living on the old homestead. The children were all educated in the public schools of Coos county.

Mr. Adams gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was a stanch sup- porter of the principles of that organization. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which faith he was reared. He also held membership in the Order of For- esters and was prominent in its affairs. He was a successful, broad-minded and liberal man. a loyal friend and an exemplary father and husband. His death left a place in the community which will be difficult to fill.

DANIEL KNIGHT WARREN. The fam- ily of which Daniel Knight Warren repre- sented the fifth. or sixth generation in this country, was established long before the Colonics began to rebel at English tyranny, but the exact date of the British emigant's departure from the land of his forefathers is clothed in uncertainty. The traveler is supposed to have settled in or near Boston, Massachusetts, where Phineas Warren, the great-grandfather of Daniel K. Warren, was born about 1745, being a first cousin of Gen- eral Warren of Revolutionary fame. Phin- eas, son of Phineas, and the next in order of birth was born in Marlborough, Wind- ham county, Vermont, October 12, 1776, and married Mary Knight, born in the same lo- cality, December 22, 1777. The grandpar- ents had ten children, seven of whom were sons, and of whom Danforth, the father of Daniel and the fourth child, was born in Sara- toga county, New York, September 22, 1806. He married, in Steuben county, New York, Amanda Pike, a native of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, born April 9, 1808. There were four sons of this union all born at Bath, New York, all now deceased, and Daniel Knight, born at Bath, Steuben county, New York, March 12, 1836, was the youngest of the family. The family, at no time prosper- ous, was reduced to dire straits upon the death of the father, August 23, 1837, the oldest of the four sons being then scarcely six years of age. Mrs. Warren proved her- self one of the heroically molded women, and supported herself and children by spinning and weaving. Later Mrs. Warren married a Mr. Baxter and moved to Illinois with her family. Her death occurred in Princeton, Illi- nois, in September, 1881. As a youth of thirteen Daniel K. Warren started out to earn his own living by working on a farm, with the understanding that he was to re- ceive for his services an amount which at that time was considered a fair remuneration for able-bodied men. For three years he followed this life, performing the ordinary duties of the farm and attending school during the winter. In the spring of 1852 he joined his three . brothers in a trip across the plains. This

D. K. WARREN

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

never to be forgotten journey was well planned, the boys having their own teams, and arrangements were made with Captain Thomas Mercer to pilot them to the coast country. Each agreed to give the captain one hundred dollars, and to do his share of the work on the trip and all fulfilled their con- tract to the letter, finally parting from the amiable captain, who afterward settled in Seattle, Washington. The company crossed the Missouri river May 21st, and soon after- ward camped on the present site of Omaha. At this point the company was thoroughly organized, there being fourteen wagons, forty horses and sixty-six men. Reaching The Dalles September 2, 1852, they met the first white men who had founded homes in that town and from there they proceeded on barges down the Columbia river, finally boarding the steamer at Cascade Locks, which brought them in safety to Portland, September 9, 1852, the trip consuming six months. In many respects this was a for- tunate party, for the Indians were not trou- blesome, and only one member died on the way. All enjoyed good health until reach- ing Powder river, when Mr. Warren was taken ill with mountain fever and did not fully recover until after reaching lis des- tination in Oregon. At Portland the broth- ers separated, Daniel going alone to the mines in southern Oregon, engaging in mining on Rogue river, being at that time only six- teen years of age. Not meeting with success he retraced his steps and arrived in Astoria in June, 1853, his available assets at that time being his much worn clothes and three dollars in currency. Finding employment in a sawmill camp he worked diligently and in 1855 with the savings of several months tried his luck in mining again. Not being success- ful, he engaged in lumbering until February, 1859, when he left Astoria for New York via Panama. On February 24, 1863, he was mar- ried to Sarah E. Eaton, a former schoolmate, who was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, July 28, 1840. She was a daughter of John Ladd and Lovey B. Eaton of sturdy, thrifty New England stock of sterling ancestry. In 1845 the family moved from New Hamp- shire to Princeton, Illinois, traveling by canal boat from Buffalo and by the lakes to Chi- cago, thence by teams to Princeton. The marriage was solemnized at 8 o'clock in the morning and at noon the young people started on their long journey for Oregon via Panama (there being at that time no trans- continental railroads), consuming a month on the trip. Arriving at San Francisco April 26, 1863, and at Astoria May 1st, they were soon comfortably settled on a small farm previously owned by Mr. Warren, thirteen miles above Astoria, the present site of the town of Knappa, but then known as War- ren's Landing. A philosopher always, Mr. Warren recalled the hardships of these early days with much pleasure since they were the stepping-stones to the success which followed his industry and good management. From this farm Mr. Warren moved to Astoria, where he engaged in the mercantile business for fourteen years, being one of the most promi- Vol. IV-44

nent and influential men of the town and materially promoting its commercial well be- ing. In 1885 Mr. Warren moved across the bay from Astoria to the present site of Warrenton, where he had purchased and re- claimed by dyking about nine hundred acres of land then of little value. Mr. Warren was the first man to build dykes on the lower Co- lumbia and was forced to employ Chinese la- bor. The result of his effort was a most substantial advance in value of the land re- claimed. Here he built a spacious residence which is the family home at the present time. While his main endeavors were centered around his home and the town of Warrenton, which it was his pride to beautify and im- prove, many other interests engaged a share of his attention, and at the time of his death he was president of the Astoria Na- tional Bank and vice president of the Astoria Savings Bank. He was one of the organizers and one of the first stockholders of the rail- road running between Warrenton and Sea- side, which was built in 1889. Some years later the road was extended to Astoria and Portland and is now known as the S. P. & S. Railway. All along the course of his busy life, Mr. Warren took a keen, if not conspicu- ous, interest in republican politics and filled many of the prominent local offices. In 1876 he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Solomon Smith in the state senate. Dur- ing the memorable fight for common point rates, Mr. Warren lent valuable assistance, his appeals for recognition of the Oregon sea- port attracting the attention of the people of the entire state and compelling the admira- tion even of those who differed from him. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Warren. Lucy Alice, the oldest daughter, married Henry C. Thompson of Portland. Maude M. is the wife of Charles R. Higgins of Astoria. George W. married Florence E. Baker, now living at Warrenton, Oregon. Fred L. married Ruth Smith and is now doing business in Astoria. Perhaps a quotation from the pen of Senator Charles W. Fulton would most fittingly close this sketch: "In the death of Daniel K. Warren (which oc- curred September 4, 1903) not only did the immediate family lose a devoted husband and father, but neighbors, friends and citizens were deprived of a considerate friend, wise counselor and deep sympathizer, and the state one of its ablest minds." Wise in counsel, courageous in action, in misfortune and adversity cheerful and undaunted, Mr. Warren was ever a leader in whom his friends and neighbors had perfect confidence and re- posed perfect trust. He was public-spirited to a fault. Every public movement in the interest of, and important to, the people found him at the head. The needy and un- fortunate never appealed to him in vain. A strong man and a lovable character in every station in life, public or private, it is no surprise to those who knew him that his death has cast so great a sorrow over the community. His life was one of exceptional industry and activity. It was a successful life, successful far beyond that attained by the average man, that is, he accomplished

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more in the upbuilding of society and the community where he lived as well as in the narrower field of acquiring wealth. He accumulated and left his family a considerable fortune by reason of his industry, frugality and intelligence, but what is more to us and dearer far to them, he left them the price- less treasure of an untarnished name and the memories of a useful life. All that Mr. Warren accomplished, and it was much, he accomplished in the face of great obstacles and under many and great disadvantages. There is no better lesson for our young peo- ple than the story of his life.

JOHN O'NEIL. Among the men in the northwest who aided in supplanting the con- ditions of frontier life with the evidences of modern civilization John O'Neil was num- bered. He was born in County Down, Ire- land, April 7, 1842, his parents being Henry and Sarah O'Neil. During the early boyhood of their son they crossed the Atlantic and, landing in New York city, there remained until called to their final rest. John O'Neil had two brothers who died in boyhood and a sister, Mrs. Mary Smith, who now resides on Staten Island, New York.

John O'Neil made his home in New York city until he reached maturity. He enlisted there in the regular army under Captain A. J. Smith and came to Rogue river, Oregon, fighting against the Indians in the Rogue River war. He took part in the worst of the fighting during that period and was thus ac- tive in supplanting the barbarous rule of the red men with the civilization of the white race. On the 26th of January, 1860, he was honorably discharged. Having become im- bued with a love of the west, he decided to remain and for several years worked in the gold mines of Idaho. He worked with a sur- veying party for the Hudson's Bay Company for a time after leaving the army and in 1868 he came to Goose Lake valley in com- pany with Captain Cook. Subsequently he was connected with pack trains and event- ually he took up the first ranch on the Oregon side of the line in Goose Lake valley. This is now known as the Lehman ranch and is situated a mile north of New Pine Creek. Eventually he disposed of that ranch and removed to the town of New Pine Creek, where he resided for five years prior to his death, which occurred May 23, 1908. He owned one hunded and ninety acres, which he developed and improved until it was consid- ered one of the best ranches in the valley. Upon his place he ran sheep for many years and was a very successful sheep man, keep- ing about three thousand head. Two or three times he suffered heavy losses by wintering his sheep on the desert.

On the 14th of June, 1874, Mr. O'Neil was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Fitz- gerald, who was born in Tennessee, July 9, 1852, and went to Missouri with her parents, James T. and Sarah Elizabeth (Neal) Fitz- gerald. Later a removal was made to Ash- land, Oregon, and thence to Goose Lake val- ley, where Nannie Fitzgerald became the wife

of John O'Neil. The children of this marriage were seven in number: Eva, who became the wife of George Sherman and died June 4, 1907, leaving two children, Monta and Ne- well; Mary the wife of Mike Barry, of Lake county, Oregon; James, of Fort Bidwell, California; Etta, the wife of John Larkin, of Modoc county, California; John, of New Pine Creek; Nora, who died at the age of fifteen years; and one, who died in infancy.

In politics Mr. O'Neil was a lifelong demo- crat but, while interested in the growth and success of the party, never sought office for himself. He was, however, officially con- nected with the schools and the cause of edu- cation found in him a stalwart champion. At the time of his death he held membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Every phase of pioneer life in the northwest was familiar to him. He went to Klondike, Alaska, in 1898 and nearly starved to death. He lost all his horses and proceeded on foot. He spent fifteen months there and all he had to eat for a time was some birds which he killed. He was a frontiersman during all his life and aided in paving the way that others have followed, so that the present generation is reaping the benefit of his labors and others will so do for years to come.

Mrs. O'Neil has a good home in the center of New Pine Creek, on the California side of the state line, and is conducting a rooming house. She also receives a pension for her husband's services in the Rogue River war. She is a very capable woman, businesslike and energetic, and has been an interested wit- ness of much of the growth of this section of the country.

SAMUEL T. WYATT, a capitalist living in Philomath, is one of Benton county's native sons and represents a family which has long been prominent and influential in this dis- trict. He was born on his father's donation claim about one mile north of Philomath, on the 15th of March, 1859, his parents being William and Mary Theodocia (End) Wyatt. Both were born in England, the father's birth occurring in Buckinghamshire, in October, 1816, while the mother was born in London, March 31, 1822. Coming to the new world in early life, they were married in New York and later took up their home in Illinois, while in 1847 they migrated to Oregon, crossing the plains with ox teams. They lo- cated in Benton county and in the fall of 1849 removed to the donation claim which the father had secured and upon which the rest of their lives was spent. Mr. Wyatt was a stock-raiser and farmer by occupation and carried on agricultural pursuits on an ex- tensive scale, at one time owning forty-seven hundred acres all located in Benton county. The old homestead consisted of thirty-seven hundred acres of that property, and this Mr. Wyatt brought under a high state of cultiva- tion, making it one of the most valued and desirable properties of the county. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was an active and consistent inember of the United Brethren church. Recognizing the value of higher education, he

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was one of the founders of Philomath Col- lege, and all matters pertaining to the ma- terial, intellectual and moral development of his community found in him a stanch cham- pion. He passed away in February, 1903, while the mother's death occurred on March 14, 1906. In their family were eleven chil- dren, of whom four passed away in early life. The others are: Eliza Ann, the wife of A. J. Williams, of Philomath; Ezra Colum- bus, deceased, whose widow and children now live in Philomath; John E., residing two miles west of Corvallis in Benton county; Cynthia, the deceased wife of J. G. Springer; Mary Eva, who lives on the old home place; Samuel T., of this review; and Franklin, who makes his home on part of his father's dona- tion claim.

Samuel T. Wyatt attended the district schools near his parents' home and upon his father's farm he received his training for the practical duties of life. Upon attaining his majority he started out independently along agricultural lines and for many years de- voted his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his fields, which were brought to an excellent state of tilth. He has since sold a portion of his property but still re- tains in his possession some farm land, al- though he now makes his home in Corvallis. His business interests today are confined mainly to his duties as a director of the Philomath State Bank, his connection there- with making him well known in financial circles of the community.

Mr. Wyatt was married, in 1890, to Miss Mary O. Davison, who was born in Washing- ton in 1865 and came to Oregon with her mother when twelve years of age. A man of high worth and sterling character, Mr. Wyatt is widely respected and honored in the county wherein his entire life has been spent, his record being one which has ever been in harmony with that of his honored father.

JESSE DE WITT BRIGHT owns and oper- ates a farm of eighty-five acres on the Gravel Ford road and his business qualifications and genuine personal worth entitle him to a place among the enterprising and representa- tive citizens of Coos county. He is a native son of Oregon and his birth occurred in 1874 on the old home farm in Coos county where his father had settled two years before. His parents were J. S. and Augustine (Macbee) Bright, who were pioneer settlers in Coos county. The father is still living and is asso- ciated with his son in the cultivation of the farm, being now eighty-two years of age. In his family were nine children: Philip, de- ceased; James, of Gaston, Oregon; Tom Tucker, a resident of California; L. of Iowa; Albert, living on the old home farm near Gravel Ford; Martha, the wife of William Brady, of Gravel Ford; Mary, the wife of Lee Weekly, also residing in Gravel Ford; Missie, now deceased; and Jesse D., of this review.

Mr. Bright was reared at home and re- ceived a practical education in the details of ranching and in the tilling and cultivation

of the soil by working upon his father's farm. His history has been identified with agricultural pursuits from an early age. He has never moved from the property upon which he was born and has spent his life in its development. He has been instrumental in making most of the improvements upon the land and spent his boyhood in digging stumps and clearing the timber. He is now the owner of eighty-five acres, constituting a part of the old homestead, fifteen acres of which are in a high state of improvement and cultivation. He has been a hard and industrious worker during his life, taking upon his own shoulders the entire responsi- bility for the management and direction of the enterprise with which he is connected. He operated it in its entirety before his fath- er's death and when that event occurred and the property was divided Mr. Bright turned his attention to the development of his own share. He has added many of the new farm implements and always keeps himself abreast of the times in the constantly developing science of agriculture. In addition to the tilling of the soil he also makes a specialty of dairying on a small scale and all the products of this branch of his enterprise find a ready sale upon the market.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 162

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