The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 35

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

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Politically Marshall A. Sweetman is a stanch republican but has never sought pub- lic office. He holds membership in the Im- proved Order of Red Men and the Order of Moose. He and his wife are devout members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Sweetman is an upright and honorable business man, keenly alive to the interests of his clients. He never takes advantage of their inexperi- ence in business dealings and has attained a reputation throughout Marshfield and Coos county for thorough reliability and for per- fect honesty and fair dealing.

JUDGE JOHN F. HALL is rated among the most accomplished and successful jurists of Coos county, having been first elected to the office of county judge in 1906, and upon the expiration of that term was reelected and is now in the midst of a four years' term, to which he was elected in 1910. He was born in Polk county, this state, in October, 1856, and is a son of William and Martha (Cox) Hall, of whom more extended mention is made in another part of this work. He was reared at home and received his elementary education in the common schools of Polk county, and later pursued his studies for a short time in California. In addition he re- ceived a very careful training under the tute- lage of his father, who himself was a college- bred and very accomplished man. Judge Hall early in life began the study of law in the office of T. G. Owens of Marshfield, where he pursued his legal studies for three and one-half years, and later spent one year with Judge Kelsay of Corvallis. Having thoroughly prepared himself for the practice of his pro- fession, he was accordingly admitted to the bar in 1887 and immediately thereafter opened an office and at once engaged in the general practice of law, to which he devoted his en- tire attention and in the course of his legal duties has practiced in all the courts of the state and also in the United States district and circuit courts. In addition to the re- quirements of his legal profession, to which he has been constantly devoted, he is also a

director of the First National Bank of Marslı- field and a director of the First National Bank of North Bend, this state, and is the owner of the very fine residence property in which lie lives, it being located on one of the most exclusive residence streets of Marshfield. He has other large real-estate holdings both in city property and acreage in Coos county, among which is numbered a piece of valuable timber land consisting of eighty acres.

Judge Hall was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Strickling on July 27, 1892. Mrs. Hall is a native of Burnet county, Texas. where her birth occurred on the 29th of December, 1859. She is a daughter of Mar- maduke Strickling, who died many years ago in Burnet county, Texas. Later, in company with her mother, Mrs. Hall removed to Ore- gon in 1889 and settled in Roseburg, where the family remained for one year, after which they removed to Coos Bay and at that place maintained their home for some time, when the mother removed to California, where she is still living at the advanced age of seventy- six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Strickling seven children were born, five of whom are still living: Annie, now the wife of Henry Tub- berville, of California; John and Dee, both of whom reside in California; Rose, who is the wife of W. B. Simpson, also of California : and Mary E., the wife of Judge Hall. To Judge and Mrs. Hall two children have been born. the eldest of whom died in infancy. Roxie M., born October 1, 1894, is a pupil in the high school at Marshfield. Mrs. Hall and her daughter are members of the Chris- tian church.

Judge Hall is loyal to the democratic party and has served in the office of county sur- veyor for a period of four years, after which he was first elected to the office of county judge in 1906 and in that office he has since continued to serve the people of Coos county. his last election having occurred in 1910. which includes the succeeding quadrennium from that date. He has served as city treas- urer for five years and is at present a mem- ber of the school board of Marshfield. Judge Hall is one of Oregon's most respected and useful citizens. During the early years of his life he received a thorough and. careful training for the profession of his choice and his record of success in the practice of law is proof of his ability and integrity in deal- ing with the tangled and perplexing problems of justice and equity such as always present themselves for investigation and adjustment to the legal profession. His abilities have been recognized by his fellow citizens and by them he has been honored and rewarded for the unremitting attention to all matters of business committed to his care.

CHARLES F. APPLEGATE, a representa- tive and successful agriculturist, making a specialty of stock-raising. is the owner of six hundred acres of land comprising one of the best farms in Scotts valley. This place has remained his home from his birth to the present time. his natal day being June 27. 1876. His parents were Albert and Nancy J. (Johnson) Applegate, both natives of Polk

JOHN F. HALL

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county, Oregon. The father was a son of Charles Applegate, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. In early manhood Albert Applegate located on the present Applegate homestead in Scotts valley, which he acquired at that time. This farm had been taken up as a donation claim by John Scott and comprised six hundred and forty acres. As his financial resources increased Mr. Applegate extended the boundaries of his place until it embraced more than a thousand acres. He devoted his attention principally to stock-raising and in that branch of activity won a gratifying measure of success. In politics he was a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. His demise, which occurred in 1888, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for it was generally recognized that the community had lost one of its valued and substantial citizens. His widow afterward gave her hand in marriage to J. M. Shelley, with whom she resides in Eugene. She is the mother of seven chil- dren, as follows: Mercy, the wife of Dudley Holland, of Portland, Oregon; Nellie, who is the wife of A. S. Sence and resides in San Diego, California; J. Grant, living in Duns- muir, California; Charles F., of this review; Lulu, who is the widow of James Hartley and makes her home in Eugene; and Irene and Albert D., who live with their mother in Eugene.

Charles F. Applegate was reared to man- hood under the parental roof and obtained his education in the public schools. He was married at the age of twenty-four years and brought his bride to the home farm, which he operated as a renter. Subsequently he purchased a portion of the estate from the other heirs and now owns a farm of six hun- dred acres which he has carefully cultivated and improved until it is one of the best in Scotts valley. He makes a specialty of rais- ing sheep, cattle, horses and hogs and his undertakings in this connection yield him an excellent annual income.

In 1900 Mr. Applegate was united in mar- riage to Miss Maud Bassett, of Halsey, Ore- gon, by whom he has one child, Charles Cal- vert, who was born on the 9th of December, 1902. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is iden- tified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Alpha Lodge. As a citizen he is public-spirited and whatever tends to promote the best interests of the community receives his indorsement and hearty support.

LAWRENCE MARION HALL, living at Monmouth, has resided in Oregon since pi- oneer times and has been a witness of the growth and progress which have brought this region into its present prosperous condition. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, November 20, 1839, a son of Reason B. and Martha (Wright) Hall. The grandfather, Edward Hall, was a native of Georgia. He . served in the Revolutionary war under Gen- eral Greene, enlisting at the age of eighteen, and remaining in service until the surrender

of Cornwallis. Reason B. Hall was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and reared in Kentucky. In later years he went to Louisiana, where he was married and then removed to Bureau county, Illinois. In 1846, with two ox teams, he joined a large wagon train which moved over the plains, crossing the Missouri river and taking a route which led through the Platte river country. They had many in- teresting and exciting as well as arduous ex- periences on their journey. The buffalo were often so numerous that they had to stop and drive them away in order that they might proceed on their course, and they had many skirmishes with the Indians, who, on tlie Sweetwater river, shot some of their cattle and gave them a great deal of trouble. When they came to what was known as the Applegate cut they were forced to take their wagons apart and convey their luggage across the canyon by hand. The company wintered at Elkton, at the mouth of the Elk river, and in the spring of 1847 they proceeded to Polk county, Oregon, where Mr. Hall located on a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres, where Buena Vista was later built and where he spent the remainder of his life. He took part in the War of 1812 and also served in the Black Hawk war, un- der General Dodge. He died on his donation land claim in 1869 and his wife passed away in Marion county in 1887. They were the parents of ten children: Eliza, who died in 1846; Mary, the widow of Henry Croisan, of Salem, Oregon; Henry D., deceased; Sarah, the wife of Joseph Smith, of St. Johns, Ore- gon; Lawrence Marion, of this review; E. C., a resident of Moscow, Idaho; William R. and Reuben, twins, the former a resident of Buena Vista, and the latter of whom was killed in 1907 by a falling tree; Andrew Jackson, of Buena Vista; and Benjamin Franklin, of Woodburn, Oregon.

Lawrence M. Hall had little opportunity for education in youth and he remained un- der the parental roof until the time of his marriage. In 1856 he served in the Indian war for one hundred and ten days, with the First Regiment, under Captain E. J. Hardy. In 1859 he located on the old home place near Buena Vista, where he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1891 he sold that property and in the follow- ing year removed to Monmouth.

In October, 1859, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Watson, of Mis- souri, who died in 1863, at Buena Vista, leav- ing two children: James E., who died at the age of eighteen years; and Laura, who is the widow of Jasper Miller and resides at Portland, Oregon. On the 20th of October. 1864, Mr. Hall was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Rachel May, the widow of S. L. May, who came from Illinois to Oregon in 1846 and settled in Clackamas county, where he died in 1863, By her first marriage Mrs. Rachel Hall had one son wlio died in infancy. Mrs. Hall is a daughter of Jonathan B. Howard, of Maryland, and Mar- garet (Virden) Howard, of Kentucky. Jona- than B. Howard removed as a small boy with his parents to Shelby county, Illinois, where:

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lie was reared and married. He was a cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade. In 1853 he came to Oregon and located eight miles south of Oregon City, on a donation land claim of three hundred and twenty acres, where he died in 1865. His wife passed away in 1886, at Buena Vista, Oregon. He served in the Black Hawk war and his wife's paternal grandfather took part in the Revolu- tionary war. In the family of Jonathan B. and Margaret (Virden) Howard were twelve children: John, Amos, Rebecca, De Kalb, Polaski and Nancy, all of whom are deceased; Baltimore, who makes his home in Oregon; Madison, deceased; Rachel, now Mrs. Hall; Rudolph, of Oklahoma; and Thomas and George L., deceased. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hall eight children were born: Adda, who became the wife of H. Davidson and died at the age of twenty-five years; Ellis; Clara, the wife of Joseph Stover, of Weisser, Idaho; Annie, the wife of C. E. Herren, of Monmouth, Oregon; Dora, at home; Opal, an art teacher in New York city; Ethel, now Mrs. Claude Skinner, of Independence, Oregon; and Irma, a teacher, Clara, Opal and Irma are graduates of the State Normal School and have been teachers for twelve, ten and eight years respectively. Etliel also was a teacher.

Lawrence Marion Hall is a democrat and has been very active in local party work. He served as sheriff of Polk county from 1878 to 1882. He was justice of the peace for several years and is the present marshal of Monmouth. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Buena Vista Lodge, No. 24, and is identified

with Logan Lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M.,

at Independence, Oregon, and also Royal Arch Chapter, No. 17, at Dallas. He enjoys a wide circle of acquaintances and is familiarly known as Lark Hall. He is straightforward and upright in all business and social rela- tions and his genial disposition has won for him the highest regard of all with whom he has come in contact.

H. B. STEPHENSEN. At the early age of nine years H. B. Stephensen left liis father's home and began life for himself. He was engaged by his grandparents, for whom he worked for wages at farming and teaming in and around Jacksonville. His birth oc- curred in Jackson county on the 2d of August, 1862, his parents being Hank and Mellie (McKee) Stephensen, natives of Oregon. At nine years of age Mr. Stephensen of this re- view became an employe of, and remained as a laborer on his grandfather's farm for a period of one year. He then engaged as a hired laborer in the work of teaming and freighting and continued in this business for the succeeding twenty years of his life. He is now the owner of eighty acres of excellent farm land, which he has brought to a very high state of cultivation and which is located near Buncom in Jackson county. This splen- did property manifests the industry and economy which he practiced with the am- bitious desire to rise from a poor boy without experience or means to an independent life

Long years of hardship, with the practice of rigid and constant economy, together with ceaseless toil, have yielded Mr. Stephensen the reward of prosperity which he so truth- fully deserves.

On the 8th of April, 1904, Mr. Stephensen was married to Miss Kate Anderson, by whom he has four children, Homer, Verine, Earl and Ernest. He is a well known and influential citizen of Buncom and contributes his full quota to the advancement of all meritorious matters which come to his at- tention, and make for the good of the com- munity in which he has his home. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and was formerly identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

SHERM SWANK. The flour mill at Aums- ville, Oregon, is ably and profitably conducted by Sherm Swank, who is also the owner of considerable land in Marion county. His birth occurred in Fulton county, Ohio, on the 21st of January, 1865. His parents were David E. and Elizabeth (Femsell) Swank, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the mother's death occurring in that state in June, 1911. The father had engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native state for many years before removing to Oregon in 1885, when he located in Aumsville and purchased one of the first flour mills operated in the county. This mill is known as the Aumsville Flour- ing Mill. He was thoroughly familiar with all the details of milling, and because of his knowledge and his close attention to busi- ness he met with more than ordinary success and is today one of the prominent industrial men of Aumsville. Mr. and Mrs. David E. Swank were the parents of two children: a daughter, who is deceased; and Sherm, the subject of this sketch.

Sherm Swank received his education in the grammar schools of Ohio and at the same time gave assistance to his father in the daily duties on the home farm. At an early age he went to Missouri to learn the milling business under the direction of the Kansas City Milling Company. For three years he remained there before he came to Oregon with his father. Upon arriving in this county they immediately engaged in the milling business. and in 1908 the son purchased the mill and conducted it alone until 1912, when lie dis- posed of a half interest to J. E. Fitzpatrick. Mr. Swank is one of the best millers in this section, and has not only brought his own mill to a highly profitable state, but lias also done much to further milling interests throughout the country. In business deal- ings he is honorable, in his relations with his employes fair, and in his knowledge of the milling business unusually proficient. He is the owner of several valuable tracts of land which he is improving as fast as his time permits.

In 1904 Mr. Swank was married to Miss Ada M. Murphy, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of J. B. and Polly Murphy. To Mr. and Mrs. Swank one child has been born, Elizabeth, whose birth occurred in October,

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1905. She is living at home and attending school.

Sherm Swank gives his support to the re- publican party, and although he takes a citizen's interest in its welfare he has never desired to hold office. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Aumsville and has filled all the chairs in that lodge. He is also a member of the Encamp- ment at Stayton, Oregon, and is chief patriot, and holds membership in the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons of Salem, in which or- ganization he has also filled all the chairs. In fraternal and social relations Mr. Swank has been found honorable and helpful, and among his friends who are almost as numer- ous as his acquaintances, he is held in high esteem and regard.

JOHN V. HOUSTON is devoting his entire time to the theatrical business, owning the Houston Opera House, which he built in 1897. He was also the first to introduce moving pictures into Klamath county and now controls five moving picture houses. He has become well known as a wide-awake, alert and energetic business man, to whom opportunity always spells success. His birth- place was a little log cabin near South Eng- lish, formerly Houston's Point, in Keokuk county, Iowa. His father, James H. Houston, was a native of Indiana but was married in Iowa and established his home in Keokuk county, where he lived until casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Oregon. He participated in the Rogue River Indian war and afterward returned to the east, conduct- ing a hotel in South English, Iowa. Again, however, he came to the west and with his sons purchased an interest in business enter- prises of Klamath Falls, where he made his home until his demise. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth J. Tate, was a native of Indiana.

John V. Houston accompanied his par- ents to Nodaway county, Missouri, where his mother died, and he afterward went with his father to Leadville, Colorado, in 1878. There he engaged in mining. He had acquired a good common-school education, after which he began to learn the newspaper business, serving first on the Leadville Herald. For eight years he was connected with that paper, at the end of which time he and his partner, the Hon. James Little, established the Meeker Herald at Meeker, Colorado, in 1885. They secured a good circulation for the paper and made their venture a very profitable one, in which Mr. Houston was interested until he sold out to his partner. He was then ap- pointed postmaster at Meeker but later re- turned to the printing business, in which he continued until ill health caused him to dis- pose of his entire interests and he came west, finally reaching Klamath Falls, where he en- gaged in business with his brother, J. A. Houston, under the firm style of Houston Brothers. This was in 1894. At a later date his father joined them and, purchasing the interest of J. A. Houston, the business was reorganized under the style of J. H. Houston & Son. In 1897 they erected the Houston

Opera House and on the death of the father, on the 18th of December, 1901, John V. Hous- ton took entire charge of the business, which he has since successfully conducted. He has excellent property interests in the center of the town and other real-estate holdings and is now successfully engaged in the theatrical business. He owns the opera house and did all of the mechanical work upon the place. It was erected in 1897 and was at that time the finest building in the city. Mr. Houston was also the pioneer in introducing moving pic- tures in Klamath county. This was in 1908 and he has since conducted business along that line. He controls five moving picture places at the present time. He is most care- ful in the selection of films and gives to the public a high-grade entertainment. It was through his instrumentality that nine camera men came to Klamath Falls to secure films of the first annual rodeo given by the Elks here. The pictures taken included many views of Klamath Falls and its attractive surround- ings and no better advertisement of the town could be given than in sending these films throughout the country to feature in the moving picture shows which are everywhere held. Mr. Houston has always taken great interest in the annual mask ball, which has been one of the features of the town during the past sixteen years-since the opera house was built. Its fame, under the name of the Houston Mask Ball, has gone far and wide and draws to the city a large number each year. In 1892 Mr. Houston invented and patented the "novelty scrapbook." He is justly classed with the most prominent citi- zens of Klamath Falls and has been very active and helpful in the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of prosperity throughout this region. He is a most public- spirited man and in his private interests has greatly promoted public projects.

On the 24th of December, 1882, Mr. Hous- ton was married in Leadville, Colorado, to Miss Mae McLarren, a native of Ohio. They have become the parents of three children: Thomas Merle, Edna Mae and Elizabeth Ellen. Mr. Houston is well known in the fraternal circles of Klamath Falls, being a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and also a member of the Elks lodge. His political allegiance is given to the demo- cratic party and while residing at Meeker he served as postmaster during President Cleveland's first administration. He also served for two terms on the city council of Klamath Falls, during which period the light and water systems were installed. He was one of the organizers of the first volunteer fire department, served as its president and is now an honorary member. He aided in organizing the Klamath County Fair Asso- ciation, is one of its stockholders and does much to advance the interests of its annual exhibits. He was a member of the orchestra when it was first organized and later was its leader for ten years, during which time the organization was known as Houston's Or- chestra. It is difficult to name any public project which has been of real value to the community that has not benefited by the

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cooperation and support of John V. Houston, and Klamath Falls honors him as one whose worth is widely acknowledged. He is indeed public-spirited and his efforts have been of far-reaching and beneficial effect in the per- manent upbuilding of the community.

SAMUEL H. REDFIELD was born on a ranch on Cow creek, April 14, 1861, and has never left the old homestead on which his birth occurred. His parents were J. W. and Adelia H. (Hall) Redfield, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of Illinois. They crossed the plains with ox teams in 1853 and in the following year the father took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres, which he cultivated and im- proved until his death in 1909. On this tract of land his wife died in July, 1907. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: T. G., a resident of North Yakima, Washington; W. H., who lives in Glendale, Oregon; Emma, who is now deceased; J. H., who makes his home in Denver, Colorado; Samuel H., of this review; E. E., who lives in Glendale, Oregon; Boone, a resident of Douglas county; Nettie, also a resident of Glendale, Oregon; and James, who is de- ceased.

Samuel H. Redfield assisted his father in the work of the farm during his boyhood and youth, leaving school at an early age to engage in this occupation. He became thor- oughly familiar with the various details of ranch life and learned by personal experience how to operate and improve a large tract of land. On attaining majority he took charge of the old homestead.

Mr. Redfield is a stanch supporter of the democratic party. He takes no active interest in public affairs, preferring to devote his time and attention to the cultivation of his land, and he has never sought public office. He is a member of Glendale Lodge, No. 119, F. & A. M., and is also prominent in the Order of the Eastern Star. He has been a rancher for many years and during that time has improved his holdings, added to his build- ings, acquired modern equipment and has materially increased his wealth.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 35

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