The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 168

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

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VINCENT JACOB. Much credit must ever be given to the man, who through his own unaided effort attains a position that · en- titles him to the respect and esteem of the community in which he resides. This is particularly true in the case of a foreigner, as Vincent Jacob, who landed in America with a capital of eleven cents, and very little knowledge of the language or customs of the country. Handicapped in apparently every possible way, save mentally and phys- ically, he began life in this country with the firm determination to win his way to affluence and he is rapidly achieving his ambition.

He is a native of Russia, his natal day having been the 13th of October, 1855, and his parents were Benjamin and Mary Jacob, also natives of Russia, whose family num- bered nine. The father has passed away but the mother is living and continues to be a resident of her native country.

Russia was the home of Vincent Jacob until 1892, when he acquired the necessary passage money to bring him to the United States, feeling positive that here lie should find the opportunity to prove his capabilities. The first four years of his residence were

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spent in Pittsburg, Kansas, and at the ex- piration of that period he came to the Pa- cific coast, being attracted by the wonder- ful stories he heard of its agricultural pos- sibilities. He located in Tillamook county and for two years thereafter farmed as a renter. This proved to be a very profitable venture under his capable and energetic di- rection and in two years by means of the most rigid economy and self-denial he ac- quired capital enough to buy his present farm. It consists of two hundred acres of land, upon which he has erected substan- tial buildings, making it one of the well improved and highly cultivated properties of the district. Under his supervision the land is carefully cultivated and it yields abundant harvests, which command the high- est prices in the market. Mr. Jacob's cir- cumstances have steadily improved from year to year until he is now one of the well-to-do men of his community, and in addition to his fine homestead is a large stockholder in the Elwood Creamery. He makes a specialty of dairy farming and is now milking forty- five cows, this in itself netting him a large revenue.

While still a resident of Russia Mr. Jacob was married to Miss Walburga Stroh, also a native of that country. Ten children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob, but three of whom, Ben, Peter and Pious, are living.

Mr. Jacob is a naturalized citizen of the United States and gives his political sup- port to the republican party, but he has never been an aspirant to official honors. During the long period of his residence in this country, despite the discouragements and sorrows that have come to him as to every one, he has never for a moment regretted the transference of his allegiance to the United States. Success has not come easily, but as the result of careful management, un- remitting labor and thrift, but his efforts have been well rewarded, netting him full returns.

JULIAN P. JOHNSON, A. M., M. D., a highly educated representative of the medi- cal fraternity, is well known as a physician and surgeon of Ashland and also as a special- ist in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. His birth occurred in Livingston county, Kentucky, on the 11th of August, 1867, his parents being Robert Wil- liam and Perneca H. (Ward) Johnson, who were natives of Alabama and Missouri re- spectively. They were married in Carroll county, Illinois, to which state they had re- moved with their respective parents. Robert William Johnson served in the Federal army during the Civil war as a member of Com- pany I, Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and was later transferred to the Sixth Mississippi Cavalry, a colored regiment, of which he was made commissary. He was married while home on a furlough and after the close of hostilities located in Kentucky. In 1867 he removed to Springfield, Missouri, where his demise occurred in 1871 and where his widow still resides.

Julian P. Johnson was reared under the parental roof and acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools. Subsequently he pursued a high-school course and then entered the Southwestern Baptist College at Bolivar, Missouri, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1890. Three years later the de- gree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. He was ordained as a Baptist minis- ter at the age of twenty-one and preached for that church for over sixteen years, dur- ing which time he spent two years in India as a missionary teacher. In 1894 he entered the University of Chicago and in 1899 was graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the same year he also won the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. However, a change of belief con- cerning the dogmatic theology of the ortho- dox church led to his abandonment of the pulpit and his entrance into the medical pro- fession. In 1906 he entered the College of Homeopathic Medicine of the State Univer- sity of Iowa, being graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. in 1910. During these years he had also pursued special courses in various branches. Dr. W. L. Bywater, who held the chair of eye, ear, nose and throat in the college faculty of the State University of Iowa, was a personal friend of Dr. Johnson, who pursued special courses in this branch of medicine under the former's able direc- tion. Immediately following his graduation Dr. Johnson came to Oregon and on July 2, 1910, located in Ashland, where he has since devoted his attention to his special work. In the short space of two years he has built up a lucrative practice and has won an enviable reputation in the field of his specialty. Through his membership in the Southern Oregon Medical Association and the American Institute of Homeopathy he keeps in close touch with the progress that is continually made by the profession.

On the 6th of September, 1910, Dr. John- son was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Horgan, of Corvallis, Oregon. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M .; Siskiyou Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; Malta Commandery, No. 4, K. T .; and Alpha Chap- ter, No. 1, O. E. S. Of the last named, the first chapter in Oregon, he is serving for the second term as worthy patron. He likewise belongs to the Woodmen of the World and acts as medical examiner of the local lodge. Genial in disposition, unobtrusive and unas- suming, he is patient under adverse criti- cism and in his expressions concerning brother practitioners is friendly and indul- gent.

J. A. MORRIS is acting as postmaster of Adel where he also carries on merchandising, and in the business circles of Lake county he is widely and favorably known. He was born in Dade county, Missouri, February 14, 1869, a son of William and Sarah (Cook) Morris, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Kentucky. They were reared and married in Missouri and in 1877 started on the long journey across the hot sandy plains in a

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

wagon to Jackson county, Oregon, settling near Rock Point, where they now reside. The father engaged in placer mining until about 1900, since which time he has lived retired. While in Missouri he followed farming save for the period of the Civil war, when he en- listed and served as a soldier. In his family were eleven children, ten of whom are now living and all are married with the exception of the youngest.

J. A. Morris, coming to Oregon when a youth of eight years, remained with his par- ents until 1890, and worked in the mines with his father, thus early forming habits of in- dustry and perseverance. On the 9th of June, 1890, he arrived in Warner valley and for about twelve years worked as a buccaro. He afterward ran stock, handling horses and cat- tle on his own account for three years. He next turned his attention to merchandising and purchased two little stores in the valley, conducting one at what is now the town of Plush, in the first building upon the present townsite. In fact Mr. Morris platted the townsite and erected the first building there. He continued at that point until 1910, when he came to Adel at the south end of Warner valley. He bought property liere and es- tablished business and in 1910 was appointed to the office of postmaster. He is an enter- prising merchant, wideawake, progressive and active in all of his business affairs, and at the same time loyal to all of his public duties. He is not only the postmaster but also notary public, and at one time was jus- tice of the peace but resigned. As a mer- chant he has done extensive business with the stockmen, fitting out sheep camps and stock ranches, and the careful management of his business affairs has brought him a substan- tial measure of prosperity.

On the 25th of December, 1898, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Daisy Overton, who was born in Fort Bidwell, Modoc county, Califor- nia, a daughter of Major and Dora (Rambo) Overton. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have four chil- dren, Hallie, William Truman, Raymond and Rotha. Mr. Morris has always been an ad- vocate of democratic principles and ever exer- cises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. His frater- nal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Lakeview. He is numbered among those who are active in promoting pub- lic development of southern Oregon and his efforts are put forth along progressive lines which are proving not only a source of indi- vidual success but also an element in public progress and prosperity.

JAMES T. HALL, who is associated in the general practice. of law with his brother, Judge John F. Hall, is one of the accom- plished and highly respected citizens of Marshfield. He was born in Polk county, this state, January 1, 1859, and is a son of William and Martha J. (Cox) Hall. His father is a native of Tennessee, his birth hav- ing occurred near Greenfield in Greene county, on March 22, 1821, and his mother is a native of Illinois, in which state she was born Feb-

ruary 6, 1836. William Hall emigrated to California in 1849, where he remained for one year only and then took ship to Port- land, Oregon, and from there went imme- diately to Polk county, near Grande Ronde Indian reservation, where he filed upon a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. The place is now known as Mill Creek. Here he established his home and be- gan at once the development and improve- ment of his newly acquired possessions, con- tinuing thus until 1868, when he disposed of the property and removed to what is now called Madron sheep ranch, in Douglas coun- ty. There he settled on unsurveyed govern- ment land and entered into partnership with William Day, being engaged in sheep-raising for one year, after which he moved to what is now known as Rock Creek, at a point five miles southeast of Enchanted Prairie. There he devoted his attention to stock-raising for two years, after which he removed to Isth- mus Slough, where he located a preemption and homestead claim, which property is now known as Flag Staff, Millington and Alder Park, and is located three miles in a south- erly direction from Marshfield. Upon that property he continued to live for the suc- ceeding twenty years and then disposed of the place and purchased his residence in Marshfield, where he continued to live dur- ing the remaining years of his life. He was united in marriage in 1851 to Miss Martha J. Cox, who in company with her parents emigrated to this state in 1845, their party being one of a number who at that time made the journey across the great plains with Joe Meek's company. On reaching Ore- gon they settled in Polk county on a place located twelve miles from Dallas and six miles from the town of Sheridan. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. William Hall were nine children: Isam A., a ferry boat captain of Marshfield; William, who passed away in infancy in Polk county; Judge John F., ex- tended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work; James T., of this review; An- drew J., who died in 1911 at the age of forty-nine years; Mrs. Ida P. Patterson, of Marshfield; Mrs. Sarah A. TenBrook, of Mer- rill, Klamath county; Mary M., the wife of J. N. Crawford, of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Nellie Wilson, an adopted daughter, re- siding at Berkeley, California. The father of this family died in May, 1890, and the mother passed away at the age of seventy- two years, in 1908.

James T. Hall was reared at home and re- ceived his early education in the public schools of this state. He began his inde- pendent career as captain on a steamboat on Coos bay and continued in that occupation for a period of seven years, during which time he devoted himself to the study of law at every available opportunity his spare time afforded, and especially sought retirement at night where in more complete seclusion he was able to engage in uninterrupted and pro- longed application to his text-books. Pre- vious, however, to his employment as a steamboat captain he served for two years as deputy sheriff of Coos county under Col-

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onel John Lane and later as deputy collec- tor of customs. Having at last thoroughly prepared himself for the practice of the legal profession he was admitted to the bar and became associated in practice with his brother, Judge John F. Hall, with whom he has since continued to practice in all of the courts of the state and also in the United States court. He is the owner of a fine resi- dence in Marshfield and is also possessed of other properties, among which is a large tract of excellent land in Coos county.

Mr. Hall was united in marriage August 6, 1893, to Miss Alice J. Stauff, who was born in Coos county and is a daughter of Alex- ander and Mary E. Stauff. Her parents were. among the early pioneers of Oregon, the father passing away at Marshfield in 1911. His widow is now living at Riverside, Cali- fornia, at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were seven children: Alice J., who is the wife of James T. Hall; Charles F., of Marshfield; William, James and May R., all residents of Riverside, California; and Ernest and Edward, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall one daughter has been born, Mary Elsie, born February 28, 1895, who is a pupil in the high school at Marshfield.

Mr. Hall is affiliated with the democratic party and is an influential man in the coun- cils of that great political organization in his state, having served for the past eight years as chairman of the Coos county demo- cratic committee. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Eastern Star. He also belongs to the An- cient Order of United Workmen, to the De- gree of Honor, and to Myrtle Lodge, No. 3, K. P. His family are members of the Epis- copal church at Marshfield. Mr. Hall is re- garded as one of the leading and influential citizens of Marshfield. He is an attorney of recognized ability and during the years, in which he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, he has established a large and lucrative practice, to which he gives his undivided attention. His influence and as- sistance can always be counted upon to ad- vance every public measure, having for its object the educational and moral improve- ment of the people of his state and county.

WILLIAM ALBERT BISHEL, filling the position of county sheriff of Curry county since 1910, was born in Lafayette, Wiscon- sin, July 26, 1859, his parents being John and Hannah (Dodgeson) Bishel. They had a family of four children, of whom William A. is the eldest, the others being: Elizabeth Ann, the wife of Amos Deys, of Iowa; Ar- thur S., who is married and lives in Franklin county, Iowa; and John Oscar, who is also married and makes his home in Franklin county.

William Albert Bishel was reared in Wis- consin and was about seven years of age at the time of his father's death. When a youth of twelve he began earning his own liveli- hood and worked as a farm hand until twen- ty-two years of age, being employed by dif-

ferent agriculturists of his part of the state. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade and a year later took up the study of steam engineering, following that occupation for two years in Wisconsin. He next went to North Carolina and followed both trades in that state for seven years. When that period had passed he removed to Iowa, where he worked for three years, and in the winter of 1893 he came to California, where he re- mained for only a short time, working at both carpentering and engineering. He was employed in those capacities in various places on the Pacific coast and finally settled at Wed- derburn, Oregon, where he took a contract for carrying the mail and was thus employed for six years. In 1906 he removed to Gold Beach and bought a hotel which he improved, build- ing a large addition and equipping it accord- ing to modern methods. He is still proprietor of that hotel, in which connection he is widely and favorably known. Winning popularity as a business man, he was at length men- tioned in connection with public office and in 1910 was elected sheriff of Curry county, in which position he has since creditably served. During his term of office, and in a measure due to his efforts, the new court- house is being erected at Gold Beach. It is said that Mr. Bishel has kept the clean- est and most up-to-date city records that have ever been kept in this office since its establishment. He has made the acquaintance of a very large number of notable men, not only in performing the duties of his position but also in other ways, as he has traveled here and there, and he enjoys public confi- dence in large measure. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party and in addition to the office of sheriff he has served as road supervisor, as constable and as deputy sheriff. It was his capability in those different positions that recommended him for his present office, in which he is now a most worthy incumbent. His religious faith is that of the United Brethren church. He holds membership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Mr. Bishel may be truly called a self-made man, for he started out in the business world on his own account when a youth of twelve years and has steadily worked his way upward. He is pop- ular both as a hotel man and county offi- cial, being held in high esteem by the law- abiding citizens.

Mr. Bishel was married, November 25, 1894, to Miss Laura J. Miller, a native of Curry county, and a daughter of A. R. and Mary J. (Coy) Miller, the former a na- tive of Dayton, Ohio, and the latter of Missouri. In their family were twelve chil- dren, of whom seven are living: John C., who is married and lives upon a ranch in Curry county, not far from Wedderburn; William R., and W. W., twins, and E. R., all living at Wedderburn; Walter S., who is married and lives in the same locality; George B., a farmer of Gold Beach; and Mrs. Bishel. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishel have been born five children: Roy E., who was born December 25, 1895, and is a high-school

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student; Vernon, born in 1898; Myrtle May, in 1902; Laurena, in 1905; and Lorin W., April 3, 1907. The children are attending the graded schools of Gold Beach and it is Mr. Bishel's desire that they should have good educational privileges and thus be well qualified for the practical and responsible duties of life.

JOHN WILLIAM HENRY ADKINS, resid- ing at Gales creek, Washington county, Ore- gon, was born near Boonesboro, Howard county, Missouri, May 20, 1845, a son of Joshua and Narcysus Ann (Sevier) Adkins. The family is of English descent and Abra- ham Adkins, the great-grandfather, passed his life and died in England, his native country. His son, Jolın Adkins, however, came to the United States in 1793. He set- tled in Pennsylvania, where he lived for four years, and then removed to Virginia, where he was married to a Miss Mullins in 1816. They became parents of three sons and four daughters including Joshua Adkins, father of our subject, who was born in Green- brier county, Virginia, now West Virginia, September 13, 1819. He became a pilot on the Ohio river in early life and by trade was a blacksmitlı. He was well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Sons of Temperance. His political support was given to the whig party and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church. He was a good scholar, read- ing broadly and thinking deeply, and was well fitted for the position of prominence and leadership accorded to him in the town of De Witt, Carroll county, Missouri, where he made his home, his death there occurring June 13, 1858. His funeral services were conducted by the three societies in which he held membership. In early manhood he had wedded Narcysus Ann Sevier, a daughter of Henry C. Sevier, who was a grandson of General John Sevier, of Revolutionary war fame, the latter a son of Alexander Sevier and a brother of Alexander and Colonel Val- entine Sevier. John Sevier became a briga- dier general of the Revolutionary war and was a prominent resident of his community. He was married twice and at his death, which occurred in 1814, left sixteen children, six sons and ten daughters. His son, James Sevier, was one of the oldest of the family. He married a Miss Conway and they had nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom Henry C. Sevier, the eldest, was the father of Narcysus Ann Sevier. Henry C. Sevier married Miss Fanny Wason in Pettis county, Missouri, in 1825. She was a daugh- ter of John Wason, who was a grandson of Daniel Boone, and one of the pioneers of Missouri, going to that state with Daniel Boone, of Kentucky, and Henry C. Sevier, of Tennessee. In the party were also the Woods, Williams, Mullens and Turners. They settled in Boone county, Missouri, and built a blockhouse. It was there that Henry C. Sevier died in 1834, when fifty-seven years of age. He left six children, three sons and three daughters: Narcysus Ann, born February 13, 1826; Thomas Hendly, born

April 1, 1827; John Wason, born October 5, 1828; Susan William, March 7, 1830; Sarah Conway, October 23, 1831; and Joseph Henry, October 23, 1833. The eldest, Narcysus A. Sevier, on the 20th of January, 1844, be- came the wife of Joshua Adkins. They had a family of six children, John W. H., George W., Susan V., Mary O., Sarah and Oliver N. Following the death of her first husband the mother was married in 1859 to William J. Smith, and in 1883 they removed to Texas, where her death occurred June 4, 1889, when she was sixty-three years of age. She was a member of the Baptist church.

John W. H. Adkins pursued his education in De Witt, Carroll county, Missouri, until 1861, when he went into the army, com- pleting his education after the war under Professor Oliver Millison, of Princeton Acad- emy, Illinois, who acted as his private tutor from June until October 1, 1866. He went to the front during the war as a substitute for William J. Smith in Company A, Fifty- first Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, thus serving from the 22d of September, 1862, until the 2d of May, 1863. On the latter day he was enrolled in Company "C," Fourth Provisional Regiment of Enrolled Missouri State Militia at Richmond, Missouri, being transferred by United States muster roll, September 8, 1864. He held the rank of cor- poral and while in that service participated in the engagements at Liberty Landing, Blue Mill, Cooly Lake, where sixty men of the command were wounded or killed, and sev- eral minor engagements with Bill Anderson Thrailkill and other bushwhackers. The term of his third service followed reen- listment on the 8th of September, 1864, as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Regi- ment of Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, under Captain Calvin S. Moore. With that com- mand he pursued the troops of General Price in his last raid in Missouri, took part in several smaller engagements and was wounded in or below the left knee when in Pulaski county, Missouri. In May, 1865, he crossed the plains and was in several engage- ments with the Sioux, Cheyenne, Pawnee and Shawnee Indians, spending the winter twenty miles above Junction City on the Platte river, and on the 12th of May, 1866, he was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Since 1866 he has been granted a pension.

Following the completion of his educa- tion Mr. Adkins engaged in farming in Mis- souri until the fall of 1876, when he re- moved with his family to Kansas, purchas- ing a tract of land near LaFontaine, Wilson county. He followed farming there in the years 1877 and 1878. For four years he carried the United States mail from Toronto to Independence, a distance of seventy-two miles, his term expiring in 1882. He then resumed farming but in 1884 sold his Kansas property and came to Oregon. He made his home in Forest Grove, where he purchased a house and lot, and engaged in the sew- ing machine business, also conducting a gen- eral repair shop. In 1886 he was elected town marshal for a term of two years. He

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 168

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