The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 36

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

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CHARLES HAMILTON is one of the suc- cessful agriculturists of his community, own- ing, at Ruch, eighteen acres of select land, on which he is raising choice fruits and alfalfa, the richest forage plant known to agriculture. He was born in Jackson county on the 1st of May, 1865, his parents being Samuel B. and Mary C. (Martin) Hamilton. They had a family of six children, three of whom are yet living.

Charles Hamilton was reared under the parental roof and educated in the common schools. He remained with his parents until he was thirty years of age. In early life he was engaged as an apprenticed carpenter and continued as such until he became a thorough and competent master carpenter. His experi- ence in that line of work has always proven of great financial value to him. He lives on his beautiful farm of eighteen acres, and de- votes his entire time and energy to the

selection and care of extra choice fruits and the growing of alfalfa. The success he has attained in the development and management of this land justly entitles him to defend the claim that intense farming on a small acreage, providing location and soil are prop- erly selected, often yields greater returns for labor and money expended than can be realized on a greater number of acres in- sufficiently cared for.

As a companion and helpmate on the jour- ney of life Mr. Hamilton chose Miss Mary G. Matney, a native of Oregon, by whom he has five children, Bryan, Hazel, Ruth, Boyd and Louise. Mr. Hamilton is affiliated with the democratic party. He has the reputation of being an industrious, reliable and successful agriculturist.

MICHAEL WILLIAM KENNEDY. For well over a quarter of a century Michael W. Kennedy was identified with the agricultural development of Coos county, Oregon, and as a progressive and scientific farmer did able work in promoting the growth of this sec- tion. His death on January 22, 1893, de- prived all who knew him of a loyal and worthy friend, and agricultural circles of his district of a conspicuously successful repre- sentative. Mr. Kennedy was born in Canada in 1841, and is a son of Michael Kennedy, a native of that country. His father was prom- inent in business circles and died in Canada.

Michael W. Kennedy was one of a large family of children born to his parents. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and was educated in the public schools of Canada. He was reared on a farm and early became acquainted with the details and methods of agriculture. In 1862 he came to the Pacific coast where he followed the carpenter's trade and also worked at ship- building. He took up a homestead claim near Bandon, Oregon, and was successful in the cultivation of the soil. He improved his property and operated it along progressive lines, and at the time of his death he was the owner of one of the model farms of his state.

On April 1, 1878, Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage at Libby, Oregon, to Miss Mar- garet Golden, a native of England and a daughter of Thomas and Bridget (Farl) Golden, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Mrs. Kennedy is one of thirteen children born to her parents, only two of whom are living: John, who is engaged in the real-estate busi- ness in Marshfield, Oregon; and Margaret, the widow of our subject. Mrs. Kennedy is one of the best known women in Bandon today. She is managing the property left her by her husband and has attained a reputation for her careful administration of her holdings. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy became the parents of seven children: Mary M., who was born in 1879, and who is the wife of Harry Nelson, of Bandon, Oregon, by whom she has three children, Marguerite, Howard and Johnnie; John Alexander, born February 22, 1880, who is following the blacksmith trade in Bandou, and who married Miss Mary Hodges, a native of Oregon, by whom he has two children, Grace M. and Gladys M., their mother being

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John W.

JOHN W. REDFIELD AND FAMILY

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a daughter of Marion and Polly (Anderson) Hodges; Martin, born December 23, 1883, who resides in Bandon, Oregon; Thomas D., who was born June 10, 1885, and is deceased; Michael. and Theresa, both of whom have passed away; and Rosa C., who was born April 14, 1893, and is attending school in Portland, Oregon. After the death of her husband Mrs. Kennedy lived upon her farm until 1902 in which year she came to Bandon where she purchased the home in which she now resides.

Mr. Kennedy was a democrat in his polit- ical views but never an office seeker. He affiliated with the Roman Catholic church, to which faith his wife also gives her allegiance. She is one of the prominent women in the city in which she resides. She has invested her money judiciously and now has three houses and three lots in Bandon. She makes her home with her son, John Alexander, and has many friends in the city. Her husband was, during his life, a representative of the most modern and progressive ideas in agri- culture. He labored earnestly to make his career successful, bringing his farm to a state of improvement and development which ranked it among the factors of state expan- sion. His death brought to a close a life which relations upright, straightforward and honorable.

GEORGE S. WILSON, one of the highly esteemed citizens and representative agri- culturists of Douglas county, owns a farm of three hundred and six acres in association with his father. It was on this farm that his birth occurred on the 17th of July, 1874, his parents being John D. and Sarah I. (Staley) Wilson. The father is likewise a native of Oregon, having been born on the same farm where he now resides, December 11, 1850. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William H. Wilson, who is now deceased and of whom an extended review is given on another page of this work. The mother of George S. Wilson was born in Lee county, Iowa, on the 27th of August, 1852, her parents being George W. and Fannie V. (Washburn) Staley, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. George W. Staley passed away in Iowa when his daughter Sarah was still but a small child. In 1864 his widow crossed the plains to Oregon with ox teams and with her four children settled in Portland, where she later became the wife of Dr. Henley, with whom she subsequently removed to San Francisco. Sarah I. Staley made her home with an uncle, Stephen Heffleman, who had come to Oregon with her mother. On the 3d of July, 1871, in Roseburg, Oregon, she gave her hand in marriage to John D. Wilson. She was the first woman over the road built from Drain to Elkton in 1875 and cooked the meals for the men who built the road.

After his marriage John D. Wilson took up a homestead a half mile east of the Wilson donation claim and resided thereon for five years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Drain and a short time later removed to Walla Walla county, Wash-

ington, where he remained for seven years. At the end of that time he returned to the Yoncalla valley, bought one hundred and fif- teen acres of the old place and has since resided on a part of the original donation claim. In the spring of 1908, in association with his son, George S., he purchased the present home farm of three hundred and six acres, which is that part of the homestead on which stood the old residence. In politics Mr. Wilson is a stalwart democrat. In 1906 he was appointed deputy state game warden, but resigned in the spring of 1907 to accept the appointment of deputy state fish warden. The latter office being not to his liking, how- ever, he resigned the same in the fall of 1908 and was again appointed game warden, in which capacity he has served to the present time. In 1865, when not yet fifteen years of age, he enlisted in the Union army and served on the frontier in the Indian wars for about thirteen months, or until mustered out in 1866. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and his wife belongs to the Christian church. John D. Wilson is well known as a native son of Oregon who has always done his full share in the work of up- building and development here, and his wife also deserves mention among the valued pioneer residents of the Sunset state. They had eight children, five of whom still survive, namely: George S., of this review; Fannie E., the wife of George M. Wilcox, of Douglas county; Mabel C., a graduate of the State Normal School at Drain, who is now a teacher in the Roseburg schools; David C., at home; and Olive I., who is a student in the Yoncalla high school and is also under the parental roof.

George S. Wilson, whose name introduces this review, is a graduate of the State Nor- mal School at Drain and during the past four years has operated the home farm, his father's time being occupied by his official duties. He owns a half interest in the home place and is widely recognized as one of the progress- ive, energetic and prosperous agriculturists of the county. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America, at Yoncalla, and is also a member of Alpha Lodge, No. 170, I. O. O. F., and Yoncalla Camp, No. 480, W. O. W. A man of sterling worth and exemplary char- acter, lie is known throughout his native county as one whose influence is always found on the side of right, progress and im- provement and in social circles is welcomed as a faithful and valued friend.

J. C. EVANS, M. D., a rising young physi- cian of Salem, is a member of the faculty of the medical department of Willamette Uni- versity and is also the attending physician of the Asylum Institute. A native of Marion county, he was born November 8, 1881, a son of W. G. and Letitia (Savage) Evans. The family came from Wales, his great-grand- father being a native of that country. The father was born near Nashville, Tennessee, and crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849, locating in California, where he worked for a time in the mines. In 1857 he came to Marion county, Oregon, and bought the Swick

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donation land claim, which he. improved and developed into an excellent farm. He still resides there, having reached the advanced age of eighty years. He has been very suc- cessful. He is progressive and deeply inter- ested in the welfare of his community and has served as justice of the peace for several years. During the Civil war he joined a California regiment but never was called into active service. His father, the grandfather of Dr. J. C. Evans, was a veteran in the Mexican war and as a soldier on the Northern side, was killed in the Civil war. The mother of our subject, Letitia (Savage) Evans, is a native of Marion county, Oregon, and a daughter of John Savage, one of the early pioneers of the county and a man who rendered valiant service in the Rogue River Indian war. He took up a donation land claim near Salem but later went to Califor- nia and engaged in gold mining, at which he was very successful. He returned to Oregon and became quite wealthy, owning at one time a part of the fair grounds of Salem. His wife, Miss Presley, was the daughter of an old pioneer family in Oregon. The mother of Dr. Evans is still living. In her family were seven children, of whom the subject of this review is the youngest. The others are: Clifton, a farmer of Willow Valley, Oregon; Nellie, deceased; Theresa, the wife of J. W. Fruit, of Brooks, Oregon; Frank, an agri- culturist of Willow Valley, Oregon; and Minnie and Lena, deceased.

Dr. Evans completed his education in the medical department of Willamette University, graduating from that institution in 1906. Soon afterward he received an appointment at the Asylum Institute and has been there engaged ever since, having three hundred patients under his charge. In business the Doctor has also been successful and he is the owner of two farms in eastern Oregon.

In 1908 Dr. J. C. Evans was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth L. Westley, a native of Oregon, and they have become the parents of one child, J. Westley, two years old. Both Dr. and Mrs. Evans belong to the Evangelical church. Socially the former is connected with the Illihee Club of Salem. Dr. Evans keeps in touch with the progress made in the med- ical world through his membership in the County, State and American Medical Asso- ciations. He is a man of great enterprise and marked force of character and is making an excellent professional record, as is indi- cated by the responsible positions he is now holding and the fact that his alma mater soon after he was graduated made him a member of its faculty.

F. L. ARMSTRONG has been a permanent resident of Klamath Falls since 1894. The experiences of his life have been varied, tak- ing him into many sections of the country. He was born in Rochester, New York, Janu- ary 10, 1849, and is a son of J. J. and Alta A. (Clemons) Armstrong, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, being born and reared in the Genesee valley. where they re- sided until 1850, when they went to Detroit, Michigan, and thence started for St. Clair.

In the spring of 1867 they came to Oregon by way of the Panama route and settled in Polk county, where the father died in August, 1868, when about forty-seven years of age. During the Civil war he enlisted for active service in the Michigan cavalry and such were the hardships and rigors of war that his health was undermined and his early death followed. He was a bootmaker by trade and conducted a shop in Detroit and previously worked with his father in Baltimore. He died in Polk county, Oregon, and in 1869 his widow became the wife of J. G. Campbell, one of the early pioneers of the state. She spent her last days in the home of her son, F. L. Armstrong, passing away March 9, 1899, when seventy-three years of age. In the family were five children. J. W., living in Walla Walla, Washington, was a soldier of the Civil war, serving with Mulligan's Brigade until captured and paroled at Lexington, Missouri, in November, 1861. He was then discharged but afterward enlisted a second time in the Army of the Potomac. At the battle of Lookout Mountain he was wounded and later was again discharged. The second of the family was Mrs. Emma E. Wolfe, de- ceased. F. L. was the third in order of birth. Amelia E. died at Klamath Falls in June, 1895. C. W. is living at Salem. The only child of the mother's second marriage was J. B. Campbell, of Winberry, Oregon.

In 1865 Mr. Armstrong went to California, where he was engaged as a cowboy at inter- vals until 1871. In December of that year he arrived in Salem and was employed as a guard at the state penitentiary until 1873, when, owing to ill health, he gave up his posi- tion and went east. On his way back he stopped at Virginia City, Nevada, and again engaged in driving cattle. In the fall of 1875 he went to Humboldt county, Califor- nia, where he made his home until the fall of 1885, although during that period he en- gaged in shearing sheep from Oregon to Mon- tana. In 1886 he arrived at Klamath Falls and in January, 1887, went to Salem, where he again worked at the state penitentiary. In August, 1890, he fitted out a prospecting train and went into the mountains, pros- pecting and mining until the fall of 1894, when he joined his sister at Klamath Falls and has since made this his place of resi- dence. Here he engages in horticultural pur- suits and he has an exceptionally fine garden on the west side of Link river. His experi- ences have been many and varied as he has traveled back and forth between the east and the west and has labored in various ways that have closely connected him with the up- building of the Pacific coast country. He has witnessed great changes here and has ever borne his part in bringing about results that have been beneficial in opening up the west and utilizing its natural resources.

WILLIAM L. BARTON, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Douglas county, was born in that section July 15. 1866. His par- ents were William and Rebecca (Smith) Bar- ton. The mother was a native of Iowa, in which state her birth occurred on May 1,

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1842. The father was born in Indiana, Janu- ary 22, 1830. He lived in his native state until 1852, when he crossed the plains with ox teams in company with his father, Edward Barton, and located in Portland, Oregon. William Barton, the father of our subject, then came direct to Douglas county and set- tled on Cow creek, where he took up a dona- tion claim which he improved and cultivated until 1872, when he sold his land and drove his cattle to eastern Oregon, near Fort Har- ney. He was a volunteer in the Rogue River and Cow Creek Indian wars in 1853 and in 1856, and saw much service during that time and many exciting fights. He was also in the Piute-Bannock Indian war of 1878, in which .William L. Barton, our subject, when a boy of only twelve years, made bullets for the volunteers. The father was engaged in stock-raising in eastern Oregon in 1872 and remained there until 1881. He had sent his family here in 1880 for better educational facilities for his children. He lived in Doug- las county upon his holdings until his death, in 1882. He was the father of eleven chil- dren, six of whom are deceased. Those who survive are: Lucy, the wife of Fletcher Ed- wards, of Bend, Oregon; William L .; Wright S., who married, has eight children and is now a resident of Douglas county; Frank, also living in this district; and James, who was married on May 8, 1912, and makes his home in Humboldt county, California. William L. Barton also has a half-brother, Carroll Smith, who is a resident of Douglas county.

William L. Barton was educated in the common schools of his native district and was brought up on his father's farm. He learned the details of agriculture and became thoroughly versed in the labors incident to farm life. When he grew to maturity he en- gaged in the cultivation of the soil and has been for many years a scientific and progress- ive farmer in his native district. He also engages as contractor and does a great deal of road building, tunnelling, railroad building and work of a similar nature. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and although he has never been an office seeker he nevertheless takes an active and intelligent interest in public affairs and is a firm believer in democratic principles and policies.

GOTTLIEB MEHL was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1823 and died in Coos county on the 24th of April, 1893, in the seventieth year of his age. During his long life he made many claims to the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was an early settler in Oregon and prominent in mining, stock-raising and business circles. His death was widely and deeply regretted for his up- right life and high standards of conduct had gained him many friends. He came to Amer- ica, landing in New York in 1849. He ob- tained work as a cooper's apprentice and followed that occupation until he went to Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade of brewer, which he had learned in his native country. He later went to St. Louis, Mis-

souri, where he obtained a position in a brewery, which he held for a number of years. He was among the earliest pioneers in California, going to San Francisco when that city was little more than an unorgan- ized settlement. After a short time he came north to Oregon, where he took up a home- stead claim on the Umpqua river, which he operated and improved for some time. He also worked in the mines of this section and acquired enough money in that way to buy cattle and hogs, with which he stocked his farm. He rented his property and during his absence on one of the trips to the gold fields his tenant took possession of all of his stock and burned his home. Mr. Mehl was obliged to abandon farming for some time. In 1861 he went to Roseburg, where he pur- chased a brewery which he operated with a partner until the Southern Pacific Railway was built into the city. At that time he sold his interests and moved to Oakland, building a brewery there and conducting it for three years, when he sold out and came to Coquille and established himself in a similar line of occupation, gradually attain- ing success. His plant, however, was de- stroyed by fire and he then came to Bandon in company with his eldest son. Here they engaged in brewing, building up an important and rapidly increasing trade. Mr. Mehl was identified with the conduct of this enter- prise until his death, which occurred on the 24th of April, 1893.

Mr. Mehl was united in marriage in Rose- burg on September 29, 1867, to Miss Mary Hervey, a native of Green county, Tennessee. She went to Missouri in 1851 and crossed the plains to Oregon with her parents in 1864, making the journey with ox teams. The family settled in the Willamette valley and after one year spent there went to Douglas county. Mr. and Mrs. Mehl became the par- ents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those who survive are: Fred, who was born August 8, 1868, and who is the owner of a planing mill at Bandon; Mary Louise, who was born April 2, 1870, and who is the wife of James Whetstone, of Klamath Falls, by whom she has one child, Agnes; William G., who is engaged in farming near Coquille and is married and has one child, Gretchen; George, who was born November 2, 1876, and who makes his home with his mother in Coquille, where he is conducting a plumbing business; and Thomas H., who was born November 27, 1882, and is en- gaged in the operation of a sawmill at Co- quille, where he resides with his wife and- two children.

Gottlieb Mehl affiliated with no political party, preferring to keep his judgment un- biased and to preserve his independence of conviction. He never accepted public office although many important ones were offered to him by his fellow citizens. He belonged to the Lutheran church and was widely known as a man of exemplary character. His death was the occasion of widespread regret, for his life had been in all its relations both useful and upright. He attained success gradually and worked his way upward until

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he occupied an enviable position in the busi- ness circles of his section, his life proving conclusively that success is the result of de- termination and honorable methods.

M. J. CRANDALL. For almost a half cen- tury M. J. Crandall has been identified with Oregon and its development and manifests an enthusiastic devotion to his adopted state and a firm belief in its future. He still has important business interests although he has practically retired from their active manage- ment, for he is now well advanced in years, having passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey. He was born in the state of New York, February 22, 1829, a son of Jesse and Harriet (Dudbridge) Crandall, natives of New York and New Jersey respectively. His great-grandfather was a native of England and came to America when this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. When an attempt was made to throw off the yoke of British oppres- sion he joined the American army and served throughout the Revolutionary war as an offi- cer. His death occurred in New Jersey after the close of the war. The parents of M. J. Crandall spent their lives in the Empire state, where the father followed farming until acci- dentally killed when sixty years of age. His widow long survived him, passing away at the age of eighty-five years. In their family were nine children of whom five are still liv- ing: Adaline, who is the widow of J. J. Davis and resides in Detroit, Michigan; Mary, the widow of Stoten Prior, living in Cincin- nati, Ohio; M. J., of this review; Eliza, the wife of Samuel Burwell, of Fingal, Ontario, Canada; and Harriet L., the wife of Luther Carpenter, of London, Ontario. The deceased members of the family are: Mrs. Samantha McClure, 'who lived in Canada; Reuben D., of Belvidere, Illinois; John, who also died in Illinois; and Loretta, the wife of William Marshall, of Detroit, Michigan, who is also deceased.

When a youth of seventeen years M. J. Crandall began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade in his native state, and followed that pursuit until 1862, when, thinking that he would have better business opportunities on the Pacific coast he set out for the west. He followed mining in British Columbia, pros- pecting in 1863-64. From there he went to Idaho for a few months and then came to Oregon in 1865, settling near Linton in the neighborhood of Portland. There he de- veloped a farm which he continued to culti- ·vate until the time of his retirement, when he sold his property, comprising one hundred and forty-four acres. He still, however, owns several pieces of real estate at Linton, including a residence, and has residence prop- erty in Portland. He is president of the Willamette Box & Lumber Company of that town and a stockholder in the Linton Sav- ings Bank. He worked diligently and per- sistently, knowing that industry is the basis of success, and as the years passed by, he gained a comfortable competence that now enables him in his later years to enjoy all

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 36

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