The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 27

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

USA > Oregon > The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912 > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

T. S. EVERNDEN. Two hundred and eighty acres of land located on Rock creek, Coos county, Oregon, and . almost entirely devoted to stock-raising in its specialized branches engages the attention of T. S. Evern- den, one of the prominent and successful agriculturists of this section. He is a native of New York state where his birth occurred on November 11, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth J. (Turner) Evernden, natives of London, Kent county, England. They were married in their native country and came to America in 1847, settling in Roch- ester, New York, where they remained for five years. They spent the next seven years in Lafayette, Indiana. Hence they moved to Ashby's Mills in the same state where they maintained their residence for a short time. Later they removed to Victoria, Missouri, where they lived for a number of years. Thomas Evernden left this city to establish his residence in Gallatin, Missouri, and here he died in 1865. His wife survived him until 1872 in which year her death occurred. They were the parents of eight children: Henry, who is 'a resident of Missouri; T. S., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Westly Lee of Winston, Missouri; W. F., who resides in Canada; Alton A., a railroad conductor with headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee; and George, Emma and Alice, all of whom are deceased.

T. S. Evernden received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Indiana and began active life for himself at the age of seventeen. He worked at various occupations until his marriage in 1873 in which year he began farming on a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres to which he had pre- viously proved title and which he has occu- pied since that time. His original holdings now form only a part of his extensive farm. He has added to his property at various in-

tervals and now owns two hundred and eight acres comprising one of the finest and most productive ranches on Rock creek. He makes a specialty of stock-raising and is known as an expert judge of horses and cattle and as a man eminently successful in this line of activity.

On August 27, 1873, Mr. Evernden was united in marriage to Miss Susan J. Apple- ton, a native of Oregon, and a daughter of James and Susan Appleton, who came to this state at an early date and were married here. They lived for some time in the Willamette valley and were also residents of Jackson county and Canyon City, Oregon. Mrs. Evern- den's father died at Grants Pass, Josephine county, and his widow is now residing at Ten Mile. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living: J. W., who is a farmer in Coos county; S. E., of Bandon, Oregon; Malissa, now Mrs. William Coats of Ten Mile, Oregon; Harriett, who married Mr. Welch, of Washington; and Em- ma, who resides in Aberdeen, Washington. Mrs. Evernden died on March 26, 1910, and is buried at Enchanted Prairie, Oregon. She and her husband were the parents of ten children: James T., who is married and lives near his father's homestead; Ernie E., who is also wedded and resides three miles from the home farm; Fred, who makes his home in Coquille city; Charley, who is married and resides in the same place; Alice and Zoe, twins, the former the wife of L. M. Aasen of Argo, Ore- gon, and the latter the wife of S. S. Shields of Bandon, Oregon; Lessie L. and Jesse, also twins, the former of whom lives at home and the latter of whom is now dead; and Susie D. and Joseph L., both of whom reside at home. All the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Evernden received their education in the pub- lic schools of Coos county. They all affiliate with the Christian church which is the reli- gion of their parents.

In his political convictions Mr. Evernden is a republican and has served as special road- master with ability and energy for two years. His record of twenty years of service as su- pervisor is an evidence of the quality of the work which he does as a public servant. His activities in this line are distinguished by the same thoroughness of system and progressive ideas which marked his farm life and which make his agricultural career as successful and prosperous as his political service is dis- tinguished and efficient.

WILLIAM R. COLEMAN has served for three terms as county clerk of Jackson county, his reelection being unmistakable evidence of his ability, fidelity and the confidence re- posed in him by his fellow citizens. He makes his home in Jacksonville and is a native of Jackson county, his birth having there oc- curred December 31, 1870. His parents were Matthew H. and Sabra A. (Goddard) Cole- man, natives of Ohio and Missouri respec- tively. The father, who was born February 19, 1826, came to Jackson county, Oregon, in October, 1853, thus casting his lot with the early pioneer settlers. He afterward devoted his attention to farming and mining and

183

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

lived in this locality to the time of his death, which occurred on June 28, 1908. His wife, who was born August 23, 1839, lives in Tal- ent, Jackson county. In the family were seven children, of whom five yet survive: Elmer G., a merchant of Phoenix; Marcia, the wife of John R. Robinson, of Talent; William R .; James B., a mail carrier living in Talent ; and Edith, the wife of Edward Cochran, a farmer of Talent. Those who have passed away are Edgar Earl and Arthur R.

William R. Coleman has spent his entire life in Jackson county. He acquired a com- mon-school education, and after putting aside his text-books became connected with farm operation, to which he devoted his time and energies until about eleven years ago. He then left the plow to engage in commercial pursuits, opening a general store in Phoenix, where he also served as postmaster for five years. He was at that time called from pri- vate life to public office, being elected county clerk in June, 1906. He was installed in the position on July 6th of that year, and re- election has continued him in the office for three terms. He has discharged his duties promptly and systematically and his work has reflected credit upon himself and been highly satisfactory to his constituents. He is republican in his political views and was the first candidate who ever filed a petition under the primary law of Oregon.

On the 20th of January, 1891, Mr. Cole- man was united in marriage to Mrs. Mattie A. Klippel, a daughter of Louis and Martha (Culver) Sisley, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Coleman is a native of Baker county, Oregon, and by this marriage has become the mother of three sons: Frank L., who was born September 23, 1893; Elbert, who was born April 2, 1900; and Russel, born April 26, 1902. Mr. Coleman is a charter member of Phoenix Camp, No. 438, Woodmen of the World, and is also a member of Oak Circle, No. 241, Women of Woodcraft. He likewise belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Medford and Rogue River Encampment, and to the Elks Lodge, No. 944. His social qualities render him popular, while his fidelity to duty commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He is justly numbered among the progressive and public-spirited citizens of his native county.

DANIEL R. LEWIS. The agricultural career of Daniel R. Lewis dates back to the days of government preemption claims in the state of Oregon, and he has been iden- tified with the modern and progressive feat- ures of farming since the early days of de- velopment in Coos county. He operates a flourishing property comprising one hundred and five acres of the most fertile and pro- ductive land in the district and has brought his holdings, through intelligent and prac- tical activity, to a high state of cultivation. His farm is located on the north fork of the Coquille river and is one of the attractive features of the landscape there. Mr. Lewis was born in Carter county, Tennessee, in 1862, and is a son of William and Mary

(Lewis) Lewis, the former a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina, and the latter of Tennessee. The father left his native state, went to the county where his son was born, at an early date, and was long identified with the development of that section. He had three children: Ida, who married T. R. Bill- ings, farming on the south fork of the Co- quille river, by whom she has one child, Per- melia Irene; Joseph, who is living in Carter county, Tennessee; and Daniel R., of this re- view.

Daniel R. Lewis was reared upon the home farm and remained with his parents until his marriage, when he was twenty-one years of age. His education was acquired in the district schools of his native state. He fol- lowed the carpenters' trade for some years in Tennessee but gave it up in 1885, when he settled in Coos county, where he took up a government preemption claim and after cul- tivating and developing it sold his holdings at a profit and purchased the farm which he now owns. It is one of the model properties in the vicinity of Gravel Ford and comprises one hundred and five fertile acres highly im- proved and cultivated. Its condition is entirely due to the intelligent labor which Mr. Lewis has spent upon it. He has cleared almost his entire tract of land and has invested his money judiciously in farm machinery and equipment for his barns and outbuildings. His agricultural career in Coos county dates back to the time when there were no public roads and no conveniences for bringing provi- sions into the country districts. He is a practical and judicious farmer well versed in the breeding of live stock, the selection of seed and the rotation of crops. He plants his fields to the grains and vegetables best suited to the soil and climate and his activi- ties have been productive because they are always practical. In addition to general agri- culture Mr. Lewis specializes in dairying, raising his own jersey cattle for this pur- pose. He is identified on a small scale with the business of breeding thoroughbred horses.

Daniel R. Lewis has been married twice. In March, 1883, he wedded Miss Carrie C. Sumerlin, a native of North Carolina whose youthful days were spent in Tennessee. She was a daughter of John and . Eliza (Lipps) Sumerlin, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of North Carolina. Mr. Sumer- lin has passed away. His wife is yet living and makes her home in Myrtle Point. They had the following children: Alvin, who re- sides near Lee, Coos county; Rube, minister of the United Brethren church in Vancouver, Washington; Carrie C., the wife of our sub- ject; Mike P., of Coos county, Oregon; Thomas, a resident of the same section; Cordie E., the wife of Ed. Llewellyn, of Myrtle Point; Sophronia, the wife of Walter Law- horn, of Mckinley, Oregon; John Cleveland, of Myrtle Point; Lester Lee, who is now in Alaska but whose home is in Myrtle Point; Henry Grady, a resident of Myrtle Point; and two children who are deceased. By Mr. Lewis' first marriage he became the father of three children: Bessie, the wife of Robert Goetz, a prominent attorney and principal of

184

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

the high school in Milwaukie, Oregon, by whom she has one child, Robert H .; Butler Rayburn, a dairyman of Coos county, who is married and lias two children, Walter and Ellis; and Ola C., who died at the age of eight years. All of Mr. Lewis' children were educated in the district schools of Coos coun- ty and attended Plymouth College near Cor- vallis. The son, Butler R., took a commercial course in that institution, while the daugh- ter Bessie was graduated from a special de- partment in music. Mr. Lewis' first wife passed away on December 12, 1907, and on November 26, 1910, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Nora B. Fletcher, a native of Tennessee, by whom he has one child, Oveda.

Daniel R. Lewis is a member of the United Brethren church and is an active worker in religious circles. In his political convictions he is republican and while he has never sought public office he served with ability and energy for seven years as clerk of the school board. His political life has been useful and worthy and distinguished by those intelligent and broad-minded qualities which mark alike his agricultural career and his private activities.

ORRIN E. BAILEY was born in Illinois in 1862 and is the son of Ira and Jane (Gear- ing) Bailey, both of whom were natives of Missouri and in that state were engaged in the pursuit of general farming until they removed to Illinois in 1850. To them six children were born: Harry, an editor and also a breeder of fine poultry at West Point, Mis- sissippi; William and Ira, both of whom are residents of Parsons, Kansas; Jane and Agatha, both deceased; and Orrin E., of this review.

The last named was reared at home and educated in the common schools of Illinois. In 1893 he removed to this state and made his first settlement in Portland, where he remained but a short time and afterward went to British Columbia and there continued to reside for six years when he removed to St. Helen in 1904, at which place he was engaged as a master carpenter for a quarry company by whom he was employed for some time and later removed to St. Johns in this state, where he was engaged in work for one year, after which he removed to Florence in 1910. Upon reaching the city of Florence he engaged at once in the contracting and building business, during which time he pur- chased two valuable residence lots . in that city, upon which he later built his beautiful and comfortable home.

In 1899 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage - to Mrs. Marilla R. (Washburn) Woodworth, the widow of Andrew J. Woodworth, who was a contractor and builder of Portland. Her parents, Alford M. and Mary J. (Farring- ton) Washburn, were natives of New York and came of English parentage. In 1852 they crossed the plains from Illinois, settling in Portland, Oregon, on October 26 of that year. They remained, however, in that city

but a short time and later removed to Olym- pia, Washington, where they spent their re- maining days. To Mr. and Mrs. Washburn thirteen children were born, two of whom only are living: Brizilla of Alaska; and Mrs. Marilla R. Bailey. Before her marriage to Andrew J. Woodworth Mrs. Bailey had been married to Mr. Black and of this union were born ten children, as follows: Amanda J., the wife of Julius Fowl, of St. Johns, Oregon; Cilica, who is the wife of Thomas Mickle and resides in Washington; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Charles Mager and makes her home in Portland; Joseph and Alfred, both of whom are deceased; Carrie R., the wife of Harry Henderson, of St. Johns, Oregon; Isa- belle M., the wife of W. F. Slaughter, of Portland, this state; Walter, who is a resi- dent of Carson, Washington; John E., living in St. Helen, Oregon; and Charles, who has passed away.

Mr. Bailey is affiliated with the democratic party but has never been a seeker of political preferment in any sense. He is a member of St Helens Lodge No. 117 Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Mrs. Bailey is a mem- ber of the Rebekahs, belonging to Laurel- wood Lodge, St. Johns, this state. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bailey is a useful and highly respected citizen of his adopted city and is identified with many of the business enter- prises and social and educational organiza- tions of the community in which he resides. He is regarded among all his acquaintances as a man of circumspect life, distinguished for his integrity in all business transactions and for his loyalty to every good cause seek- ing the betterment of the people of his state and county.

ELVARUS CULVER is improving and cul- tivating four hundred and twenty acres of land located on Rock creek near Bridge, Coos county, Oregon, and has gained recognition as a successful. and practical farmer. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on February 6, 1829, and is a son of Joseph Culver who lived in that section for many years before he moved to Ohio. Upon the death of his wife in that state he moved to Pennsylvania where he passed away. He was the father of six children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketcli is the only one now liv- ing.

Elvarus Culver received his education in the public schools of Ohio and early in his life learned the trade of millwright which he has never entirely abandoned. He followed it as a steady occupation for many years and was successful in all parts of the United States. He built a large mill in Arkansas and one of equal capacity in Saron, Texas. Fifty or sixty mills in different sections of the United States are due to his enterprise and labor and in this branch of activity lie gained recognition as an expert workman. He has owned sawmills in various states and for some time operated rafts on the upper Mis- sissippi river. In this section of the country he also followed the occupation of a pilot and was successful in this field of endeavor until

MR. AND MRS. O. E. BAILEY

187

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

he came to Oregon in 1899. He bought the land which he now owns on Rock creek near Bridge in Coos county. His holdings comprise four hundred and twenty acres of the finest land in the section and his operations are car- ried on along practical and efficient lines. He retains his identification with his old in- dustry by operating in connection with his sons, a large sawmill upon his premises and this forms a valuable addition to his in- come.

Mr. Culver has been twice married. His first union occurred in Iowa where he wedded Miss Rubie Blaesdell. They became the par- ents of six children: Charles, who lives in Wisconsin; William and Warren, who are now deceased; Mahetable, the wife of Wil- liam Lower of South Dakota; Nellie B., who married J. E. Skinner of Arkansas; and Ma- bel, who is the wife of O. Rogers of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mr. Culver's first wife died in Missouri and some time later he was again married. His second union was with Miss Lucy E. Monzingo, who was born in South Carolina, December 15, 1851, and is a daughter of Kinchen and Mary A. Monzingo, both natives of that state. In 1858 they moved to Louisiana where the father operated a farm for about twenty-seven years until his death in 1884. His wife survived him until 1890 and died in Texas whither she had moved in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Monzingo were the parents of twelve children, only two of whom, Lucy, the wife of our subject and John L. of Arizona, are surviving. The present Mrs. Culver received her education in the pub- lic schools of Louisiana and came to Oregon upon her marriage. She and her husband are the parents of three sons: James E., born June 16, 1887; Clarence, born September 22, 1889; and Dwight E., whose birth occurred August 2, 1892. All three boys are still liv- ing at home.

In his political views Mr. Culver is a con- sistent republican and has served his fellow citizens as assessor in Iowa and Wisconsin. He affiliates with the Methodist church and his wife is a Baptist. His work along agri- cultural lines in Coos county based as it is on practical experience in the details of plant- ing, cultivating and harvesting has been pro- ductive of gratifying results and places him among the representative citizens of a com- munity in which farming is the principal and most flourishing industry.

WILLIAM J. J. SCOTT. On the long list of Oregon's honored pioneers appears the name of William J. J. Scott, who was a public- spirited and enterprising. citizen and did much for the development and upbuilding of the Willamette valley. He was born in Morgan county, Illinois, October 15, 1824, his father being Levi Scott who married Miss Ennis and reared a large family of whom none are now living. Levi Scott made his way west- ward in pioneer times and became acquainted with all the different phases of frontier life. He took up a donation land claim in Douglas county and the town of Scottsburg has been built on the old homestead. He served as captain of a company in the Rogue River

war and thus became acquainted with all the phases of Indian hostility. William J. J. Scott shared, too, in the hardships and diffi- culties of founding a home in the far west and his work was at all time of a progress- ive character that contributed to the public improvement as well as to individual suc- cess.

In 1850 Mr. Scott was married in Clacka- mas county, Oregon, to Miss Surena J. Rob- inson, who was born in Shelby county, Ohio, December 5, 1828, a daughter of William and Susanna (Cannon) Robinson who were na- tives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, respect- ively. In their family were ten children: Mary A., who married G. W. Cannon; James C .; Elizabeth R., who was the wife of Asbury Barbur; Cecilia; Nancy, the wife of James Butler; Richard C., who married Ann Petree; Mrs. Scott; Clarinda, who was the wife of John Scott; William Platt; and Matilda S., who married Washington Riggs, and since his death has become the wife of James Haas, of Cloride, Arizona. By her first marriage she had three children: John, Roy and Ann, the last named the wife of George Hubbard of Polk county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scott were born ten children: Eliza S., the wife of David Trimble, of Condon, Oregon; Mary A., the widow of William C. Brown of Wash- ington; Matilda J., the wife of R. H. Land- ers, of Creswell, Oregon, whose people crossed the plains to this state in 1847; Wil- liam W. and John R., both residents of Cres- well; Rose E., the wife of D. S. Brown, of Condon, Oregon; Dora C., the wife of C. C. Hazelton, of Cottage Grove; Viola S., who is living with her mother in Creswell; Ripley F., who is also a resident of that place, and Lillie M., the wife of Robert Dersham, like- wise of Creswell. All of the children were given good educational privileges, attending high school and college.

In the family is a most interesting pho- tographic group of Mrs. Surena Scott and rep- resentatives of four generations: her daugh- ter, Mrs. D. B. Trimble, the latter's daugh- ter, Mrs. L. B. Tuel, also her daughter, Mrs. HI. Nash, and Raymond W. Nash, who is a great-great-grandson of Mrs. Scott. Mrs. Scott is a remarkably well preserved woman, now in the eighty-fourth year of her age. When eighty-one years of age she personally prepared a birthday dinner for her family of ten children, all of whom are living. The Creswell Chronicle said of her, "She has friends innumerable, all of whom hold her in highest esteem and look upon her as one who has fulfilled in every respect the highest type of American pioneer motherhood."

The death of Mr. Scott occurred in 1896. He was a public-spirited man and was in- strumental in securing the location of the State University, at Eugene. When the first building of that institution was completed funds were lacking with which to pay for its construction. The building was to be sold to satisfy a labor lien when Mr. Scott assumed the indebtedness, saving the building from sale. He in turn was repaid by the board of directors in later years. He was a school di- rector for many years and always took a

188

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

most active and helpful interest in educational work. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mrs. Scott still holds membership. He was among the most highly esteemed of the worthy pioneer settlers of his district and did much to build up the Willamette valley which was a great wilderness at the time of his arrival. His life was ever char- acterized by progress and improvement and while he won a fair measure of success he left to his family the more priceless heritage of an untarnished name.

CHARLES AGER, a farmer and stockman of Klamath county, owns and operates a ranch of one hundred and sixty-one acres seven miles south of Klamath Falls. His birth oc- curred on a farm two miles south of Ager, Siskiyou county, California, on the 7th of October, 1865, his parents being Jerome Bona- parte and Lucy Jane (Axtell) Ager. The father was born near Alexandria Bay, on the St. Lawrence river, in New York, April 30, 1829, and remained in the Empire state until fourteen years of age, when he made his way to Wisconsin. He crossed the plains to the west on three different occasions-in 1851, 1852, and 1853. In 1858, at Yreka, Cali- fornia, he married Miss Lucy Jane Axtell, a native of Wisconsin, who came west with her parents via the Isthmus of Panama, riding a mule across the Isthmus. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ager spent the entire period of their married life in Siskiyou county, California, the former devoting his attention to farming and stock- raising interests throughout the greater part of his active business career. On coming to this part of the country Mr. Ager first set- tled in Oregon City and later began raising stock in the Umpqua valley, while subse- quently he followed mining on the Rogue river. He homesteaded and preempted land and at the time of his demise owned four- teen hundred and thirty-six acres in the vicinity of Ager, which station was named in his honor when the Southern Pacific rail- road was built through. In the early days he teamed and freighted from Redding, Cali- fornia, to Yreka, that state, being engaged in teaming in Siskiyou and Klamath counties during the Modoc Indian war. His demise occurred at Ager, California, on the 14th of November, 1900, while his wife passed away at that place on the 28th of January, 1911, when sixty-eight years of age. They and their children always enjoyed excellent health, and a physician was called into the home for the first time when Jerome B. Ager died. The eleven children of the family were as follows: Judson, who is a resident of Ager, California; Adelia, the wife of William Ter- williger, of Ager; Charles, of this review; Alice, who is the wife of Frank Parriott and resides in southern California; George of Klamath county, Oregon, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; Mrs. Mittie Twilliger, who is deceased; Fannie, the wife of Frank Cornelius, of Ashland, Oregon; Mark B., a resident of Ager, California; Kate, the wife of Claude Freeman of California;

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 27

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