The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 33

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

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GEORGE SYLVESTER DAVIS, the owner of a ranch comprising two hundred and eighty-eight acres and situated six miles from Myrtle Point, on the Coquille road, is en- gaged in dairying on an extensive scale. He has been a resident of Coos county since 1900 and has gained an enviable reputation as a successful and enterprising agricultur- ist. His birth occurred in Wisconsin on the 11th of May, 1863, his parents being J. B. and Polly (Wolfe) Davis. The father was born in Ohio in 1836, while the mother's birth occurred in that state in 1843. In the spring of 1876 the family home was established in Humboldt county, California, where J. B. Davis purchased property and engaged in con- tracting. He now makes his home with his son George, his wife having passed away in 1902. His children were four in number, namely: Xenia L., who is engaged in the teaming business at Oakland, California; Will O., a building contractor of Ferndale, California; Isaac W., who died in Ferndale, California, and George Sylvester, of this review.

George Sylvester Davis, who was a youth of thirteen when he accompanied his parents on their removal to California, began pro- viding for his own support at that early age and worked for others at various occu- pations during a period of sixteen years. At the end of that time he was married and rented a dairy farm, operating the same

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

successfully for a number of years .. In the meantime, however, he purchased a ranch of three hundred and sixty acres in Coos county, Oregon, but has since sold a part of that property so that it now comprises only two hundred and cighty-eight acres. He first came to this state in 1900 and settled on a farm in Coos county which he rented from R. C. Dement. He likewise conducted the Norway Creamery for five years but in 1905 sold the same to the present owners. As above stated, he conducts a dairy ranch on a large scale and in this connection has won a measure of success which entitles him to recognition among the substantial and rep- resentative citizens of the community.

On the 11th of May, 1892, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Lucy E. Trigg, a native of Canada and a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Edwards) Trigg, both of whom were born in England. The father passed away in 1907, and the mother sur- vives and makes her home with our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. William Trigg were born the following children : Marie, deceased; John, of California; William, who also lives in California; Sarah, the wife of C. A. Pet- tengill of Coquille, Oregon; Robert, who lives in Canada; George, who makes his home in Washington; Mrs. Lucy E. Davis; Charlotte Ellen, the wife of W. L. Kistner of Coquille, Oregon; and Mary Jane, the wife of G. W. Kistner of California. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children: Harold Warren, who was born on the 20th of June, 1893, and is pur- suing a course in electrical engineering; and Otto Loyal, born December 3, 1897, who is at- tending school.

Mr. Davis is liberal in his political views and in exercising his right of franchise is not bound by party ties, ever placing patriot- ism above partisanship. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, while his wife belongs to the Women of Woodcraft. They are widely recognized as being of genuine personal worth and have an extensive circle of friends. Mr. Davis' life has been one of intense and wisely directed activity, crowned with well deserved success, and his record may well serve as a source of inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished when ability is coupled with determination.

HON. ALBERT GALLATIN HOVEY. Those forces which have contributed most to the development, improvement and bene- fit of the state of Oregon have received impetus from the labors of the Hon. Albert Gallatin Hovey, whose life record has been a credit and honor to the state which has honored him. He was distinctively a man of affairs and one who wielded a wide in- fluence. Persistency of purpose and unfalt- ering energy enabled him to accomplish his purpose where men of less resolute spirit would have failed, and in all that he under- took he was actuated by high ideals that sought the benefit of his home locality or of the state at large. He was a native of Lon- donderry, New Hampshire, born July 11, 1824, and was descended in both the paternal

and maternal lines from old and prominent American families closely identified with the history of New England. The earliest American ancestor of Mr. Hovey arrived here from England about 1637 and finally settled at the town of Ipswich, Massachu- setts. where he left numerous descendants. One of these, Joseph Hovey, removed from that state to the southern part of New Hampshire about 1783. Herc was born to him a son, John, at the town of London- derry, in 1786, who was later known as Captain John Hovey and was the father of the subject of this review. Although he had received no material inheritance from his ancestor, nature had gifted him with an observing eye and a retentive memory. He had comparatively little opportunity to at- tend school and at an early age was ap- prenticed to the carpenter's trade, which he so thoroughly mastered that in time he be- came most proficient along that line. More- over. he was a citizen of value in the com- munity where he lived, meriting and enjoy- ing the respect of all. He died in 1851 at the age of sixty-five years, and for some time was survived by his wife. In early manhood he had wedded Abigail Duston. of Manchester, New Hampshire, who was a descendant of Mrs. Hannah Duston, who wit- nessed the slaughter of her husband and infant by the Indians who then made her a captive. With one other prisoner. how- ever, she succeeded in escaping one night after scalping several of her captors with their own tomahawks, and then made her way through the wilderness back to a settle- ment. She was a splendid type of courage- ous Puritan womanhood, strong and intrepid in spirit, yet gentle and kind in manner. Mrs. Abigail Hovey, mother of Albert G. Hovey was afforded liberal advantages for higher education and possessed, moreover. an innate culture and refinement which made her noted for her general intelligence and her influence. She survived her hus- band for a long period, passing away in 1883 when nearly ninety years of age. In the family were eight children, the eldest and the youngest being daughters.

When quite young Albert G. Hovey ac- companied his parents on their removal to Marietta, Ohio, where he pursued a public- school education. He was about twenty-five years of age when, in 1849, he joined a com- pany of twenty men that crossed the plains with ox teams to California. attracted by the discovery of gold in that state. They left St. Joseph, Missouri, in April, and while en route four of their party died of cholera which raged among the emigrants. They proceeded by way of the North Platte, South Pass, Bear river, Sublett's cutoff, Humboldt and Carson valleys to Sacramento, where the party arrived in October. Mr. Hovey there secured a mining outfit and went to Rhoade's bar, where the fall months were passed. The company, however, spent the winter in the diggings at Long's Hollow in the Weaver district. Mr. Hovey did not meet with the success in the mines which he had anticipated and the fact that congress

ALBERT G. HOVEY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

had passed the donation land claim act for Oregon led him to make his way northward to this state. . He proceeded from San Fran- cisco by steamer to Portland, where he ar- rived in October, 1850, and thence made his way up the Willamette valley, stopping at Oregon City, Salem, Albany and Browns- ville, and at length settling at Corvallis, which was then known as Marysville, be- coming the first school teacher there. He began his work as an educator in Decem- ber, instructing the children of the Dickson, Stewart, Avery, Stout, Alexander, Baker, Knott, Trapp, Mulkey and Newton families. He was afterward in the employ of the Hon. Wayman St. Clair, a pioneer merchant. and early in 1851 was appointed clerk of the United States district court for Benton county by O. C. Pratt, one of the judges of the territory. Later he was elected as clerk of the county and while thus serving in the courts he took up the study of law, being admitted to practice in 1853 by Hon. George H. Williams, then United States district judge, while later he was admitted to prac- tice before the supreme court of the state. However, he really never entered the profes- sion, preferring business pursuits which made heavy claim upon his time and energies and which were successfully conducted, owing to his careful and systematic management and sound judgment.

Mr. Hovey was twice married. In 1853 he wedded Miss Mary Ellen Mulkey, the eldest daughter of the Hon. Luke Mulkey, a Benton county pioneer. She died in 1861 at the age of twenty-five years. Some years previous to this, or in 1853, Mr. Hovey declined longer to serve in the county offices which he had held and took up his abode upon his donation claim near Corvallis, where he suc- cessfully carried on farming until his wife's death. On September 8, 1864, he married again, his second union being with Miss Emily Humphrey, the eldest daughter of the

Hon. George and Cynthia Ann (Bristol) Humphrey. Miss Emily Humphrey was born in Ontario, Canada, April 3, 1842, and removed to Illinois and Iowa with her parents about the year 1844 and remained in Iowa until 1854 at which time she emigrated with her parents to Oregon, crossing the plains in ox trains. It took six months to make the trip, and she rode a good part of the way on horseback. Upon their arrival in Oregon they first settled on a farm near Jefferson, in Marion county, where they re- mained during the first winter, her father. subsequently taking up a donation land claim about eighteen miles west of Eugene. Here she spent her early years bravely withstand- ing the hardships of pioneer life. She taught school for a short time and afterward at- tended the public schools of Corvallis, Ore- gon, and in 1862 for one year a private school in Portland. She has always been a great lover of home and devoted to the inter- ests of her household and family. She is still living and enjoying the fruits of a life of activity, which had its share of hardships. Mr. and Mrs. Hovey became parents of a daughter, Carrie May, and two sons, A. G.

and Blaine H. Both sons are graduates of the University of Oregon and in 1890 A. G. Hovey entered the bank at Eugene as a successor of his father.

Politically Mr. Hovey was a supporter of the republican party and in fact was one of the organizers of the party in this state. At the first state convention he was chosen one of three delegates to the republican na- tional convention held in Chicago in 1860 and instructed for Mr. Seward. None of the three delegates, however, could attend and their proxies were sent to Horace Greeley, of New York, without instructions, who cast their votes for Abraham Lincoln. In 1884 Mr. Hovey was made one of Oregon's six delegates to the national republican conven- tion which again met in Chicago, and there he supported James G. Blaine and John A. Logan. In the meantime he had done excel- lent service for the state as one of its law makers, having been elected to the senate in 1862, his services continuing through three sessions or until 1866. In that year he established the family home at Portland but after a year removed to Springfield, Lane county, where he carried on milling and merchandising for about twelve years and served as postmaster from 1867 to 1879. He then became a resident of Eugene and was one of the organizers of the Lane County Bank, conducted under the firm style of Hovey, Humphrey & Company. He remained as its president to the time of his death and made it one of the strong financial institu- tions of the county. In June, 1893, at the time of the wide-spread financial, panic, the Lane County Bank suspended payment for a year and again opened its doors for business in June, 1894. During that time there was no demand for a receiver and Mr. Hovey remained in charge, managing the affairs of the institution while all depositors were paid dollar for dollar. He continued actively at the head of the bank until his life's labors were ended. He always took a deep and abiding interest in the welfare of his com- munity and gave earnest and generous sup- port to many measures for the public good. In April, 1889, he was elected mayor of Eugene by a vote of two hundred and eighty-three to fifty-nine and served for two years. He was very active in promoting the building of the railroad from Eugene to the coast and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion. In the spring of 1893 he was appointed regent of the Uni- versity of Oregon and so continued until his death, serving as' a member of the executive committee of the board and for many years was treasurer of this institution. Again and again Mr. Hovey was called upon to fill posi- tions of public honor and trust. He served on Governor Gibbs' staff, the war governor ·of Oregon. In 1892 he was made a delegate the national republican convention to Minneapolis and was also appointed by President Harrison a member of the board of visitors to the annual examinations at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He attended there on the 1st and at Minneapolis on the 7th of

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June, 1892. His was indeed an honored name which malevolence or envy dared not to assail. He stood for high ideals yet utilized practical methods in their attainment and at all times his work was a source of benefit to the state. He died November 27, 1898, and Oregon thereby lost one of its foremost pioneers and honored citizens-a man who had left his impress upon the history of the northwest and its upbuilding.

ALBERT GUY HOVEY is a native of Ore- gon, having been born in Springfield, June 18, 1869. He is the son of the Hon. A. G. and Emily (Humphrey) Hovey, of whom fur- ther mention is made in the preceding sketch.

He was educated in the public schools of Springfield and Eugene and the University of Oregon, from which institution he grad- uated in the class of 1890. He studied law under A. E. Gallagher of Eugene and was admitted to the bar in October, 1892. How- ever, he never practiced law preferring literary and business pursuits. He accepted a position in the Lane County Bank, a private banking institution of which his father was president and owner with Mr. H. G. Humphrey. He remained there until the bank was transferred to the Chambers- Bristow Banking Company, which took place January, 1904. During the panic of 1893 the bank was closed one year but no receiver was appointed and none was demanded and the depositors were paid in full. Since that time, he with his brother have had a private office for the purpose of attending to their own property and the estate of their late father, Hon. A. G. Hovey.

He is a member of Spencer Butte Lodge, I. O. O. F. of Eugene and is also a valued member of the Eugene Commercial Club. He takes great interest in literary, research and historical work.

BLAINE H. HOVEY, who succeeded to an interest in the banking business of which his father was one of the founders and owners, was born in Springfield, Oregon, and was educated in the public schools of Eugene and the Oregon State University from which he was graduated in 1899, with the B. A. degree. He then went into the banking business with his brother and the two after the father's death took charge of the bank, continuing to manage the institution until January 1, 1904, when they sold out. Blaine Hovey is now engaged in the fire insurance business and also has the care and super- vision of his mother's real-estate interests. Fraternally he is connected with the Wood- men of the World. In politics he is a pro- gressive republican but does not seek office. He believes in supporting measures for the welfare of the community and state regard- less of politics.

MICHOR E. PAGE is filling the position of postmaster at Clatskanie and is also proprietor of a general mercantile estab- lishment which he has conducted since 1893. His birth occurred in Illinois, in 1860, his parents being Orsamus and Mary (Ross)

Page, the former a native of the state of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, where they lived for some years, after which they removed to Macon county, Illinois, where they re- sided until 1866. In that year they estab- lished their home in Will county, Illinois, where the father carried on general agricul- tural pursuits until his retirement, when he removed to Joliet, Illinois, where he and his wife yet reside, the former at the age of one hundred and three years and the latter at the age of ninety years. Theirs is a remarkable record for longevity. In their family were seven children, of whom five still survive: Ada, the wife of Samuel Fishbeck, of Kansas; Hannah, the wife of Richard Holdsworth, of Ohio; M. E., of this review; Violet, who is married and lives in Texas; Lydia, who is married and resides in Joliet, Illinois; and two who died in in- fancy.

The youthful days of M. E. Page were spent upon his father's farm in Illinois until he had reached the age of fifteen years, when he started out in life for himself, driv- ing a team and doing other general work for eight years. He then came to Oregon, in April, 1884, settling at Clatskanie, where he secured a preemption claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. This he sold two years later, after which he was employed in a general mercantile store owned by his father-in-law. He spent two years in that way and next worked in the timber woods for two years, after which he went to Alaska. He did not meet with the condi- tions that he had anticipated in the north and nine months later returned, since which time he has been engaged in business on his own account in Clatskanie. In' 1893 he opened the general mercantile store of which he is now proprietor and in the intervening period of eighteen years he has built up a large and profitable business, basing his suc- cess upon strictly honorable methods and earnest effort to please his patrons. He is likewise the postmaster of Clatskanie, which office he has filled for nine years. He owns one of the fine business blocks of the town together with residence property here,. in- cluding the home in which he now lives.

In May, 1889, Mr. Page was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Edgerton, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of William A. and Mary (Gardner) Edgerton, who were na- tives of Vermont and Kentucky, respectively. Their family numbered five children, of whom three are yet living, namely: Mrs. Page; Nellie, the wife of Ed McClure, of Shelton, Washington; and E. L., living in Clatskanie, Oregon. The father makes his home at Long- beach, California, and is now sixty years of age. The mother passed away in 1878.

Mr. and Mrs. Page have become the par- ents of four children. Lela, who was born in 1892, is a graduate of the high school of Clatskanie, also of the normal school and has a musical education. She is now engaged in teaching and she makes her home with her parents. Leroy was drowned at the age of

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ten years. Nellie, born in 1896, is a high- school student and is also studying music. Mary, born in 1902, is attending the public schools. Both Mr. and Mrs. Page hold mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church and their well spent lives have gained for them the high regard of all with whom they have come in contact. They have many friends throughout Columbia county and their own home is justly celebrated for its warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Page belongs to Clatskanie Camp, No. 5241, M. W. A., and also the Odd Fellows lodge. His political support is given the republican party and while not a politician in the sense of office seeking, he has served for nine years as a member of the school board and also as city treasurer for six years. As a custodian of public funds he has proved himself most faithful and his record as both a man and citizen is one which has gained for him the high regard and confidence of all with whom he lias been associated.

JOSEPH HUGILL, who resides on his farm six miles southeast of Gervais, was born September 26, 1853, in Yorkshire, Eng- land, his parents being Thomas and Mary (Rigg) Hugill, both of whom spent their entire lives. in England. Throughout his active career the father engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. His death occurred on December 12, 1878, and the mother passed away in 1858. Five children were born to them: Betsy Ann and Sarah, who are resid- ing in England; Mary Jane, who is living in Virginia and is the wife of Thomas Swayles; Margaret, living in England; and Joseph, the subject of this sketch.

Joseph Hugill received a common-school education in England and started out upon his independent career at the age of twenty- four years while he was in his native country. After being employed on a farm for three years he came to America, settling first at Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He re- mained there for only a short time before removing to Hamilton, where he was em- ployed as a farm hand for two years previous to his removal to the United States. When he left Canada he came direct to the Dako- tas, where he took up three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he resided for six years previous to coming to Oregon and settling in Salem for a period of two years. At the end of that time he rented land near Parkersville for two years and then in Clackamas county for a similar length of time before removing to Fairfield, Marion county, where he remained five years. Subsequently he purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres of land located six miles southeast of Gervais and has made that property his home ever since. Although he has disposed of part of the land, he has at present fifty-seven acres of well improved property, forty-five of which he has brought to a high state of productivity. His farm- ing interests are carefully managed and his sound judgment and untiring industry are manifest in the prosperity which has come to him.

In September, 1877, Joseph Hugill was married to Miss Mary Wrightson, whose birth occurred in Ingleby, England, on the 18th of March, 1855, her parents being Charles and Hannah (Elliott) Wrightson, who remained in their native country until after their marriage. Upon leaving Eng- land they came to America in 1855 and set- tled in Ontario, Canada, where they remained two years before returning to England and residing in that country until 1882 when they again came to America. They then located and remained in Hamilton, Ontario, for two years previous to removing to North Dakota, where they resided until 1891, the year in which they came to Oregon. After living in Ma- rion county for a short time they removed to Polk county, where they have since remained Mr. Wrightson was gamekeeper in his na- tive land and since coming to America has followed farming. He purchased land in Polk county, which is now owned by his son Frank. At present, at the age of eighty-two years, he is living with Mr. Hugill the death of his wife having occurred in 1910. Eight children were born to him: Mrs. Hugill; Charles, of Alberta, Canada; Henry E., of Portland; Annie, residing in Manitoba; Jane, the widow of Hugh Cosgrove, of Wood- burn; Frank, living in Alberta, Canada; Em- ma, the wife of Thomas Kinchin, of Alberta; and Elizabeth H., the deceased wife of Wil- liam Henderson, of California. To Mr. and Mrs. Hugill six children have been born: John Charles, whose birth occurred July 27, 1878, and who is at home; Joseph H., born in England, December 21, 1880, a resident of Portland; Mary Anna, born in Canada, Sep- tember 13, 1882, who is the wife of John Imlah, of Fairfield, Oregon; Alex. William, who is residing in Portland and was born May 12, 1886, in Dakota; Lizzie, who was born January 23, 1888, and taught school for several years previous to her marriage to Omer Hastie, of Monitor. Oregon; and Emma F., whose birth occurred on the 30th of No- vember, 1889, and who taught school several years previous to her marriage to John C. Sheppard, of Silverton, Oregon.

Although a republican Joseph Hugill is liberal in his views and casts his ballot for candidates rather than for party. He has never been an office seeker nor desired polit- ical preferment. He is a man of determina- tion and force of character who carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In manner he is modest and unostentatious and those who know him speak of him in terms of praise. He is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America, in which he has held many offices, and he is also a member of the Grange.

P. A. BROWNELL is superintendent of the Gardiner Mill Company and one of the early settlers of Gardiner. Wherever known he is spoken of in terms of high regard, for in every relation of life he manifests sterling qualities of manhood and citizenship. He was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, Feb- ruary 20, 1843, a son of Cornelius and Frances B. (Almy) Brownell, both of whom were na-

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 33

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