The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 26

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

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MR. AND MRS. JAMES L. HANKS

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

and Mrs. Burchard have been born seven children: Marjorie, Harry, Margaret, Eula, Vera, Gard and Wilma, all of whom are still at home. Mr. Burchard is a republican in politics and is a member of Gardiner Lodge, No. 132, I. O. O. F. Although he is deeply and intelligently interested in the modern developments of seientifie agriculture he has not allowed his activities along this line to narrow his mind into a set groove. He is public-spirited and energetie and there is hardly a phase of activity in this seetion in which he is not prominent. His intelligent methods of farming, his energy and broad- minded characteristics have made him more than a successful agriculturist by influencing his career and by making him an honorable man and a worthy citizen.

J. H. LAMB is accorded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens on account of his worthy activities as a pioneer in Coos county's settlement, a veteran of the Civil war, a prosperous farmer, an upright man and a sterling citizen. He now operates one hundred and thirty-five acres of land which he has been improving and developing since 1881, and has gained success as a general agriculturist. He was born in Alabama, Au- gust 10, 1840, and is a son of John and Ann Lamb, both natives of the southern states. In 1850 the parents of our subjeet removed to Arkansas where the father followed farm- ing until his death. To them seven children were born, three of whom are still living: John J., of Coquille; David, a resident of Greene county, Arkansas; and J. H., the sub- jeet of this sketch.

J. H. Lamb was educated in the public schools of Alabama and Arkansas and came to Oregon in 1874. He settled immediately on the Coquille river where he bought fifty- five aeres of land which he improved and developed for three years. He disposed of his holdings at the end of that time in order to purchase the farm upon which he now resides. He has been identified with the agricultural development of this tract of land since 1881 and has carried on general farming upon his one hundred and thirty-five aeres since that time. He is now one of the pros- perous and representative farmers of the county, and his enterprise has been inereas- ingly successful with every year. When he located on the Coquille river there were no roads through Coos county, and he was ob- liged in his travels to follow the Indian trails. He has seen the development of the section from this unorganized state to its present condition of productive fertility, and he has himself been a vital factor in the advancement. He is well known in the dis- triet in which he lives as a veteran of the Civil war. His service was given to the Confederate government and he served from July, 1861, to May 25, 1865. He was wounded in the foot by a cannon ball which tore off the sole of his shoe and inflicted a dangerous wound. He served successively in two com- panies, one infantry and the other cavalry, and held the office of lieutenant in the Con- federate army. He did able and useful ser-

vice and was discharged with honor at the end of the war.

Mr. Lamb was married in November, 1866, to Miss Ann M. Drummond, a native of Ten- nessee and a daughter of William and Phoebe Drummond, both of whom were born in Vir- ginia. They later removed to Tennessee where the mother died. The father afterward removed to Arkansas and there his death oe- curred. They were the parents of six chil- dren, of whom the wife of our subjeet is the only one living. To Mr. and Mrs. Lamb have been born four children: Phoebe A., the wife of George Henninger, of Coos county, by whom she has three children, Wallace, Milton and Chester; John B., who is farming on the Coquille river in Coos county; Mary N., the wife of George Robison, of Coos county, by whom she has three children, Rubie, Opal and Houston; and William David, who passed away when he was one year old.

Mr. Lamb and his family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He well merits the success which has come to him as a direct result of his earnest work, his knowledge of agriculture and his business methods which in all their phases have never sought nor required disguise.

FRANCIS M. MILLER is numbered among the farmers whose progressive work along agricultural lines has done much to promote the development of Coos county, Oregon. He was born in Missouri, on the 8th of May, 1844, and is the son of Madison and Mary Miller, natives of Tennessee. Their marriage occurred in Missouri and they lived in that state until 1852, in which year the father moved to California. In 1872 the mother moved to Oregon, arriving in Jackson county, where she was again married, her second husband being Z. Crabtree. They lived in Oregon for a number of years, where Mr. Crabtree was successful as an agriculturist. He and his wife went upon a journey to Kentucky and in that state the mother of our subject passed away. Her husband re- turned to Eugene, Oregon, where his death occurred shortly afterward. Francis Miller is one of four children born to his parents, the others being: William T., of Bandon, Oregon; Joseph, who died while in the army; and Eliza, who has passed away.

Francis M. Miller received his education in the publie schools of Missouri and came to Oregon with his mother when he was about twenty-nine years of age. He worked at various occupations in Jackson county and remained at home until he was thirty- three. At. that time lie moved to Coos county, where he purchased forty-five acres of land and began its improvement and development. He has operated this farm since that time and has gained by his ener- getie labors a prosperity which is the natural result of his diligence and ability. He has made extensive improvements upon his prop- erty, has feneed his farm into fields and built suitable barns and outbuildings. He conducts his farm along modern and progressive lines and it is in its present prosperous and thriv-

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ing state one of the model properties in Coos county.

In 1876 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Cerilda Miller, a daughter of W. M. and Mary Miller, natives of Missouri who crossed the plains to Oregon and settled in Douglas county in 1852. Four years later they moved to Jackson county, where the father proved up a claim of government land upon which he lived until his death. Mrs. Miller is one of eleven children, all of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Francis M. Miller have eight children: Mrs. Minnie Clin- ton; Maud, who married Leon C. Paull, of Bandon; W. F., who is farming on Fishtrap creek; Mrs. Sadie Smith, of Bandon, Oregon; Mrs. Ettie McAdams, of Coquille; Robert, who is still at home; Jesse, who is also with his parents; and Grace, who is attending school. Mr. Miller is a devoted member of the United Brethren faith and to this religion his wife and family also give their allegiance. His politics are consistently republican and he has served with ability and efficiency as road supervisor. He is now acting as a mem- ber of the local school board and his labors along this line are doing much to promote educational expansion. His farm is located on Fishtrap creek, nine miles below Myrtle Point, in Coos county. His genuine personal worth and his activity in a useful line of occupation have combined to make him one of the enterprising and representative men of this section whose careers have been influ- ential factors in agricultural development.

GUSTAVE SCHROEDER owns an interest in an estate of two hundred acres but is cul- tivating a tract of leased land in Coos county. He was born at Arago, Oregon, in 1883, a son of John Henry and Emily Schroeder. His youthful days were quietly passed without any event of special importance. He gave much of his time to the acquirement of an education and remained at home until after his marriage. He learned the jewelry business and conducted a store at Myrtle Point for two years, but in March, 1912, began farming on rented land, located on the Coquille river, near Arago. His fields are well cultivated and he has made good plans for their further development and improvement.

In November, 1907, Mr. Schroeder was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Susie Smith, a native of Oregon and a daughter of W. B. and Ada (Lamb) Smith, both of whom are natives of Arkansas and are pioneer settlers of Coos county, where they have long re- sided. At present they make their home at Coquille. The father engaged in the hard- ware, business for many years but recently retired, retaining the building in which his store was formerly located and a stock of goods. The business is now being carried on by his son. He also owns other property in the town and a good ranch of one hundred and sixty acres in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Smith were born four children: Mrs. Lloyd Oddy, of Coquille; Mrs. Schroe- der; Kennon, of Myrtle Point; and Ethel, who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder

have two children: Vivian G., born in De- cember, 1909; and Irene E., born in 1910. The family reside about seven miles above Coquille on the river and are well known in that locality. They hold to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Schroe- der gives his political allegiance to the demo- cratic party. He is yet a young man but has already made for himself a creditable place in business circles and his ambition and energy will carry liim steadily forward.

GEORGE F. ROBISON is one of the suc- cessful dairy farmers in Coos county and is contributing his share in making that indus- try important among the resources of his state. He was born in Cole county, Missouri, November 11, 1874, and is a son of George T. and Priscilla (Medlock) Robison, both natives of that section. They were married in Cole county and lived there until 1888. The father followed farming and was successful in the operation of a large agricultural enterprise. In 1888 he came to Oregon and settled on the Coquille river, four miles above the city of Coquille, where he proved up one hundred and sixty acres of land. He later purchased his parents' farm consisting of two hundred and eighty acres and added this to his home- stead claim, owning in all four hundred and forty acres, comprising one of the finest tracts of farm land in the section. He had large pastures and made a specialty of the raising and breeding of high-grade stock. He gave his personal attention to this branch of his enterprise and was active in it until his death in February, 1912. His wife is still living with her youngest son upon the farm. To their union were born three children: George F., the subject of this sketch; Eva, the wife of John Hickam, of Coquille; and James, who resides on the old homestead.

George Robison received his education in the public schools of Coos county, and his early life was identified with agriculture in all its branches. He aided his father in the work of the farm and became acquainted with the various details connected with its operation. For some time he and his father were associ- ated in the conduct of the homestead and Mr. Robison remained at home until one year after his marriage. He then rented land in the same section and for four years was suc- cessful as an independent agriculturist. At the end of that time he moved upon his wife's property of seventy-seven acres situated five miles above Coquille, and here he has since operated a model dairy. He feeds his own cattle, and the acres which comprise his farm are used as pasture land. His buildings are kept always clean and sanitary and are equipped with suitable machinery. The but- ter and cheese from his dairy rank among the finest products of their kind in Coos county. and their quality is the direct result of sys- tem and science in their preparation. He keeps a large herd of blooded stock, and his operations along this line add materially to ·his income. At the present time he owns, in conjunction with his wife, seventy acres of land aside from his dairy farm and a one third interest in the four hundred and forty

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acres which comprise the homestead of his father.

Mr. Robison was married on January 23, 1907, to Miss Mary W. Lamb, who was born on the Coquille river, Coos county. She is a daughter of J. H. Lamb, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Robison have been born three children: Ruby A., who was born in May, 1908; Opal, born on the 25th of June, 1910; and Houston T., whose birth occurred on February 20, 1912. Mr. Robison and his family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He has made a steady advance in life and his citizenship is of the kind which finds its most important outlet in quiet industry along a chosen walk of life.

JOHN KRONENBERG came alone across the Atlantic from Germany to America when he was a boy of about twelve, landing in Bal- timore with no resources beyond his industry and his readiness to work. He obtained a position as a shoemaker's apprentice and labored diligently at this and various other occupations. He made his way to different parts of the United States, mining in Cali- fornia and farming in Oregon, working al- ways diligently and intelligently until suc- cess and prosperity crowned his old age. He was one of the sturdy, reliable and up- right sons of Germany whose careers have reflected credit upon the sections in which they settled and his death, which occurred on June 19, 1910, brought to a close a career which was in all its aspects upright, straight- forward and honorable.

Mr. Kronenberg was born in Germany on the twenty-third of January, 1826, and came to America in 1837, landing in Baltimore, where he served as an apprentice to a shoemaker for some time. In 1849 he went to California, making the journey around the Horn and going to the gold fields, where he staked several claims. He was com- paratively successful, acquiring during his period of residence nearly two thousand dol- lars. In 1859 he came to Oregon and took up a preemption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he later added more than two hundred acres of school land on Hall's creek, near Arago. The property was undeveloped and most of it was covered with heavy timber. Mr. Kronenberg was obliged to fell the trees before he could begin the work of development and improve- ment, which, however, resulted in a short time in making his farm one of the most at- tractive and ably managed agricultural en- terprises in the section. During this time he was identified with much of the upbuild- ing and progress of this section of the state and was well known for his ready coopera- tion in movements looking toward the pub- lic good. He lived upon his holdings un- til 1888, when he disposed of all the land which he had accumulated and moved to Coquille, where he purchased a hardware business which was already established and managed it successfully until his building was destroyed by a fire which completely

demolished the entire business section of the town. Mr. Kronenberg at this time lost a twelve thousand dollar stock upon which he had no insurance. He, however, did not allow his misfortune to discourage him in any way and immediately rebuilt his en- terprise and at the end of two years had one of the most prosperous and flourishing hardware establishments in Coos county. He eventually sold out his interests and retired, making his home in Coquille until his death on June 19, 1910. There was hardly a line of legitimate activity in which Mr. Kronen- berg was not active and prominent. He was extensively interested in the Randolph Lumber Company at Parkersburg and also in the Bandon Tug Company, which operated on the Coquille river between Bandon and Coquille, handling the large ships which were constantly coming into Bandon harbor to load for their journeys into foreign ports.

On March 6, 1856, Mr. Kronenberg was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Buech- ler, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a daughter of Nicholas and Rachel (Horn) Buechler. Mrs. Kronenberg came to the Pa- cific coast in 1856 and was united in mar- riage with our subject in San Francisco on March 6 of that year. She came to Coos county with her husband and assisted him greatly in his early farming career. In 1906 they completed the fiftieth year of their married life, celebrating on this occa- sion the first golden wedding anniversary ever held in Coos county within the memory of the oldest inhabitants. Their many friends thronged to their home to tender their good wishes upon this occasion and were heartily welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Kronen- berg, who during the forty years of their residence in this section have gained wide- spread respect and esteem. Our subject and his wife became the parents of five children. Emma, the eldest, is the wife of James Blakeley, of Lodi, California, and they have two sons, John and Frank. John, the sec- ond in order of birth is a banker and capital- ist of Bandon, Oregon. He is married and has two sons, John and George. Fred is connected with the Parker Boiler Company of Denver, Colorado. He is married and has a son, James. Rachel is the wife of Alfred Marsh, a farmer of Port Orford, Ore- gon, and they have nine children, Mary, John, Louis, Donald, Dorothy, Frederick, Nicholas, Beatrice and Kate. Ida, who com- pletes the family is the wife of Dr. W. C. Owen an oculist of St. Louis, Missouri.

In his political affiliations Mr. Kronenberg was a consistent democrat. He was ever intelligently and actively interested in the progress and growth of the section to which he came as a pioneer. The only public office he held was that of road supervisor, although he was constantly called upou by his friends and acquaintances to accept po- litical positions. He, however, preferred to give his time and attention to the carry- ing on of his important private enterprise and did his public duty by making his private life useful and valuable. His par-

JOHN KRONENBERG

MRS. CATHERINE E. KRONENBERG

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ents were Roman Catholics but he did not affiliate with any church, believing in the doctrine of universal kindness and good-will. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a personal friend of the first member of the Baltimore branch of that organization. He was successful in the truest sense of the word, a man of un- usually broad-minded and intelligent views, tolerant and with wide experience, never mercenary or grasping, believing in something greater in importance than material wealth, who in the course of a long life spent simply and unostentatiously was a factor for good in almost every phase of community develop- ment. His death was a distinct loss to the city of Coquille and to Coos county, since it deprived business circles of a successful, upright and able man, who during the course of his fifty years' residence gave his energies and attention entirely to lasting and worthy things.

CAPTAIN JESSE L. ROY, living about a mile above Coquille on the Coquille river, is a veteran of both the Mexican and Civil wars and is one of the few survivors of that earlier struggle whereby the interests of the coun- try were maintained. He was born in Dixon county, Tennessee, August 28, 1830, a son of Abel and Sarah Roy, both of whom were natives of the central section of Tennessee, where they lived until 1840, when they sold that property . and removed to Arkansas. There the father purchased land and also secured a claim from the government. Throughout his remaining days he followed farming, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1845. In their family were but two children, the younger being Elizabeth, who is the widow of James Burk and resides in Arkansas. Following the death of his first wife the father married again and by that union there were eight daughters, all of whom have passed away with the ex- ception of Mrs. Emily Turner of Arkansas.

Captain Roy was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Tennessee to Arkansas and in the schools of the latter state he acquired his education. At twenty years of age he left the parental home and began farming on his own account. In the meantime he had served for ten months as a soldier in the Mexican war, enlisting when but eighteen years of age. He con- tinued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits in Arkansas from 1850 until 1862, when he responded to the call of the Con- federacy and enlisted as a member of Com- pany H, of the Arkansas Infantry. Four months later he was promoted to the rank of captain following the death of Captain Byers, who was killed in action. With that rank Captain Roy served until the close of hostilities and although he was often in the thickest of the fight, leading his troops in the forefront of battle, he was never wounded or sustained an injury.

When the war was brought to a close Cap- tain Roy returned to his farm in Arkansas and in connection with its cultivation he also

operated a saw and grist mill until he came to the west in 1875, in which year he settled in Coos county, within the borders of which he has since made his home. His first pur- chase of land made him owner of fourteen acres, to which he has since added until he now has fifty-four acres a mile and a half above Coquille, bordering the river. He was actively engaged in the development and improvement of this place until 1906, when he retired from farming but still occupies his home farm. He also owns residence property in Coquille and real estate in Bandon.

In 1849 Captain Roy was married to Miss Emily Courtney, who was born in Arkansas in 1828. They became parents of five chil- dren, of whom two are living: Henry C., of Arkansas; and James B., living in Santa Rosa, California. The wife and mother passed away in California in 1874 and in 1875 Captain Roy wedded Delia A. Brown, who was born in Arkansas, September 10, 1841, a daughter of Miles A. and Mary (Myers) Brown, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Indiana. They were married in Arkansas and some years thereafter removed to North Carolina. Later they were residents of Indiana and again of Arkansas, where the father died at the age of forty-five years, while the mother passed away in Missouri. They were the parents of eight children but only two are living: Mrs. Roy; and Mrs. Mary A. Garner, of Missouri. Captain and Mrs. Roy have two daughters: Mary E., who was born in 1876 and is the wife of George S. Robison of the Coquille valley; and Hulda O., who was born in 1881 and is the wife of Arthur Ellingson, a hardware merchant of Coquille. Captain Roy and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He be- longs also to the Masonic lodge, chapter and the Eastern Star and has filled many of the offices in those organizations. Politically he is a democrat but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to do his public duty as a private citizen. He is now one of the venerable residents of Coos county, having reached the age of eighty-two years, and he looks back over a life in which have been many interesting and varied incidents, in- cluding service in two of the great wars of the country.

HARRY S. BRAWN is the well known and efficient cashier and business manager of the Yoncalla State Bank. He was born in Min- nesota on December 28, 1886, and is a son of Summer and Lillis J. (Brace) Brawn, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Minnesota. The parents were married in Minnesota and immediately afterward made their home in Murray county, that state, where the father was successfully engaged in farming for twenty consecutive years. In 1900 he came with his family to Oregon and settled in Douglas county where he pur- chased a ranch of five hundred acres located two miles east of Yoncalla. On that prop- erty he has since lived and is today engaged

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in general farming and stock-raising. He is an adherent of the republican party.

Harry S. Brawn was reared at home, ac- quired his early education in the public schools and was for some time a student in the high school at Eugene. While in the midst of his high-school course he suffered an attack of typhoid fever which rendered him unable to continue his studies. In 1907 he accepted a clerkship in the Youcalla State Bank and one year later was promoted to the office of cashier of that institution. At the time he received his appointment as cashier he was twenty-two years of age and probably the youngest bank cashier in Oregon.

Harry S. Brawn was united in marriage March 9, 1912, to Miss Helen G. Burt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Burt who are prominent residents of Yoncalla. Mr. Brawn is affiliated with the republican party and is a member of Sunset Lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., Alpha Lodge, No. 170, I. O. O. F. and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is in the midst of his active business career. By strict attention to business and integrity he has built up a reputation and is today a desirable and influential citizen of Douglas county.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 26

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