The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 42

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

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On the 1st of August, 1907, Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to Miss Effie C. Sharpless, a native of Pennsylvania, but a resident of Washington, D. C., during the greater part of her life. Her parents are Harry (deceased) and Phebe E. Sharpless. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have one child, a son, named Wilson Sharpless Wiley. Mr. Wiley was brought up in the "faith" of the republi- can party, and has seen no reason to change his position in regard to his support of that political organization. He is a charter mem- ber of Lodge No. 1247, Benevolent Protect- ive Order of Elks, Klamath Falls, and has a wide acquaintance here, his sterling traits of character and his professional ability hav- ing gained for him a favorable and enviable position in both business and social circles.

GEORGE A. STEWARD is the owner of a fine farm near Riverton and its state of de- velopment and improvement is entirely the product of his own labor. His success as a general agriculturist has established him

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among the men whose careful and conserva- tive management of a private enterprise makes them valued citizens of the commu- nity. He has been a resident of Coos county all his life, his birth having occurred on Lampa creek in 1872. His parents were Stephen and Mary F. (Hamlin) Steward, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Illinois. The father came to Oregon about 1860, settling near Lampa, where he took up a homestead, which he improved and oper- ated for a short time. He afterward engaged in the lumber business in Coquille, selling out his holdings eventually in order to estab- lish himself as a butcher. He was engaged in this line of occupation at the time of his death, which occurred in 1887. He and his wife had ten children: Frank and Charles, bothı deceased; George A., the subject of this review; Charles, Scott and Nellie, all of whom have passed away; Nettie, the wife of Mel- vin Hayter, of Riverton; William, who re- sides in Washington; Freeman, of Beaver Slough, Oregon; and Steve, who makes his home in Riverton.

George A. Steward grew up on his father's farm and at an early age became acquainted with the best and most progressive agricul- tural methods, gaining at this time a personal experience which has been invaluable to him in his present activity. He was educated in the district schools of Coos county and started active life for himself at the age of sixteen years. He obtained employment upon neigh- boring farms and worked in this way for a number of years, abandoning farm labor eventually in order to become a steam engi- neer. For sixteen years he worked at this business, gaining success and prosperity during the time. He purchased fifteen acres of land in Coos county and upon this he lived for one year before he bought his pres- ent farm near Riverton. Here he does gen- eral farming, planting his acres in the most suitable grains and reaping abundant har- vests every year as the reward of his care and labor. He has gained a comfortable for- tune, which he has invested judiciously, prin- cipally in town lots in Bandon.

Mr. Steward was united in marriage to Miss Lillian M. Thomas, a native of Oregon and a daughter of W. H. and Elizabeth (Dean) Thomas, who came to this state in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas became the parents of three children: Lillian, now Mrs. Steward; Edna, who married Freeman Steward, of Beaver Slough; and Elva, who has passed away. Our subject and his wife have three sons: M. Earl, who was born in October, 1902, and is attending school; William H., whose birth occurred in 1904 and who is also pursuing his studies; and Henry, born in 1909. Mr. Steward is a well known member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his only fraternal affiliation. He is liberal and inde- pendent in his political views and, while he has never sought office, his public spirit has led him to accept the position of road super- visor. He entered upon his duties in January, 1909, and has accomplished much progress- ive work along his particular line since that time, keeping the roads under his charge in

excellent condition. He has conducted all the affairs of his department in a satisfactory and intelligent manner, his ability and effi- ciency ranking him among the constructively useful servants of the community.

C. B. CLENDENNING is well known as a representative business man of Klamath Falls, where he owns and conducts a large livery stable and in addition is extensively engaged in ranching, having planted more than four hundred acres to wheat in the year 1912. He was born in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, January 9, 1870, and is a son of Rob- ert and Mary (Ross) Clendenning, who were natives of Canada, born near Quebec. They remained in that country until 1878, when they removed to St. Clair county, Michigan, where their remaining days were passed, the father, who had been a lifelong farmer, dying when seventy-two years of age and the inother at the age of sixty-six.

C. B. Clendenning, the youngest of six children, resided in Michigan until he came to Klamath Falls. He had worked in the timber woods in Michigan and it was tim- ber interests that brought him to the north- west. He arrived here on the 16th of July, 1904, and for three years worked at the carpenter's trade, since which time he has en- gaged in the livery business, building his present large livery barn on Klamath avenue in 1909. He has extensive ranching inter- ests and employs progressive methods in the care of his crops, having four hundred acres planted to wheat alone.

On the 21st of October, 1892, Mr. Clen- denning was united in marriage to Miss Car- rie M. Shook, a native of Michigan and a daughter of P. L. Shook. Three children have been born to them, Beatrice Hattie, Cecil Calvin and Barbara Elizabeth. Mr. Clendenning holds membership with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows but his time and attention are chiefly concentrated upon his business interests, his capable manage- ment thereof bringing to him a goodly meas- ure of success.

JOHN R. COX was born in Lane county, Oregon, and long familiarity with farming as it is carried on in this state lias made him successful and prosperous in the cultiva- tion of his one hundred and sixty acres of land on the Bear creek road ten miles above Bandon. He is a representative of the best agricultural principles and keeps his farm in excellent condition. He is an important stock-raiser and dairyman and is influenced in the management of his entire enterprise by sound business discrimination. He was born on January 5, 1860, and is a son of Solo- mon and Diana (Cox) Cox, the fatlier a na- tive of Missouri and the mother of Ken- tucky. Solomon Cox came to Oregon in 1852, taking up a donation claim in Lane county where he resided until his death. He and his wife were the parents of ten chil- dren: Jane, who married William Taylor of Bandon; Julytha, who has passed away; Samuel and James M., both of whom reside

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in Lane county; Emily the wife of G. W. Carter, also residents of Lane county; Lucy, deceased; William H., who makes his home in Lane county; John R., the subject of this review; Jefferson D. of Lane county; and Sarah who married Milton Harlon of Wash- ington.

John R. Cox was educated in the com- mon schools of Lane county and from his early childhood has been familiar with the details of the operation of the farm. He was fourteen years old when his father died and he lived upon the farm where he was born for two years after that event. Then his brother Jefferson D. Cox assumed the man- agement of the property and a short time afterward bought out the other heirs and now lives upon the homestead. John Cox began his active life working for wages in the employ of different people. After his mar- riage which occurred in 1886 he took up a homestead claim near Bandon on Bear creek where for seven years he carried on general agriculture. In 1904 he bought his present property which was at that time one hun- dred and sixty acres of raw and unimproved land. Its present attractive appearance is entirely due to the hard work and the un- flagging industry of Mr. Cox. He set about clearing the land of timber and improving his property along systematic lines. He has now one of the finest ranches in Coos county, developed and in excellent condition. Upon this he carries on general farming, specializing in stock-raising. He breeds sheep, cows and horses and sells them in the state markets. He has now forty head of stock and is ex- tremely successful in this branch of his activi- ties. He also does dairying on a small scale.

In 1886 Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Haga and they became the parents of nine children: Malinda E., de- ceased; Floyd, of Coos county; Etta J., who married George Colvin of Coos county; Wil- liam H. and James R., both of whom reside in Coos county; George F., who is associated with his father in the operation of the home ranch; Jensie A., who lives at home; Lillie May, who is attending school; and Pearl Leona.

Mr. Cox does not affiliate with any political party, voting according to his own convic- tions. He is interested in education and has been a school director. His farming and stock-raising, however, form the principal in- terests of his life and his career has been useful and he is a representative and enter- prising citizen. His property, raw and wild when he purchased it, is today cultivated and improved and in its excellent condition is a tangible evidence of his constructive labor.

W. F. ARANT. Of recent years public thought and attention have been called more and more largely to the subject of conserving the natural scenic beauties and wonders of the country and with this end in view various districts have been set apart as national parks that they may be seen and enjoyed by all who can find the opportunity to visit them. It was a wise step when the country

decided to make Crater lake and the sur- rounding district one of its natural parks and W. F. Arant at the present time is act- ing as its efficient superintendent. He was born September 29, 1850, in Tazewell county, Illinois, the son of Jesse T. and Mary Jane (Emmett) Arant. The father was born east of Nashville, Tennessee, April 19, 1823, and the mother's birth occurred 1 at Mount Pulaski, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1828. Jesse T. Arant went to Illinois with his father in 1830 and in the same year Mary J. Emmett arrived in that state with her father, Samuel Emmett. The paternal grand- father was William Arant, who enlisted for active service in the War of 1812. He be- came one of the early settlers of Illinois and there spent his remaining days. He displayed expert skill in the making of spinning wheels and looms and in other mechanical work and was a valued citizen of his adopted state during the pioneer period of its development. His family numbered two sons and two daughters, including Jesse T. Arant, who was married near Peoria to Mary J. Emmett. They continued to reside in Illinois until 1852 and on the 12th of March of that year they left their home in the middle west, crossing the plains with ox teams to Oregon. They arrived at the Sandy river in September and located near the present site of Harrisburg, in Linn county. After a year they removed to Douglas county, where some of their friends and relatives had previously settled. The father secured a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres seven miles north- west of Roseburg in September, 1853, and this property is still in possession of his son, W. F. Arant. The parents resided there- on until 1871, after which they spent a few years in Klamath county and then returned to the old home farm. The father devoted his entire life to farming and stock-raising, his labors being terminated in death June 17, 1895, while his wife passed away Sep- tember 8, 1902. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom seven are now liv- ing: Mary E., who is the widow of James H. Rowley and lives in Ashland, Oregon; W. F .; Samuel F., whose home is in Mendo- cino county, California; A. Marion, living in Monmouth, Oregon; Arthur T., occupying the old home place near Roseburg; Ernest Jesse, of Ashland; and Hattie, the wife of W. W. Hazen, of Chino, California.

W. F. Arant resided with his parents until he attained his majority and during his youth acquired a common-school education and worked on the home farm. In the fall of 1872 he came to Klamath county, where he engaged in stock-raising and later he also took up farming, following both pursuits for about thirty years. On the 22d of May, 1902, the Crater Lake National Park was created by act of congress and in August of the same year Mr. Arant was appointed superintendent of the park, which position he has since held. He is the first to enter the park in the spring and the last to leave in the fall. He takes great pride in making this one of the attractive national parks of the country and his practical methods and sound judgment

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are manifest in the work of improvement that has been carried on. During the win- ter months he gives his attention to his private business interests and thus he is lead- ing a busy and useful life.

On the 29th of October, 1871, Mr. Arant was married to Miss Emma L. Dunham, who was born in Livingston county, Missouri, November 6, 1853. She crossed the plains with her parents in 1864, starting on the first of April and arriving in November. Slic is a daughter of John S. and Harriet (Wyatt) Dunham, the latter a daughter of Captain John Wyatt, who commanded a company in the War of 1812, while her husband was a

veteran of the Civil war. The ancestors of W. F. Arant served as soldiers in the Revolu- tionary war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arant have been born four sons: E. L., a farmer and stockman of Klamath county; Chauncey F., a dairy farmer of Ashland; Herbert Lincoln, a dairyman and stock-raiser of Klamath county ; and Jay J., a stockman of Klamath county. All four are married and have families.

W. F. Arant has had the usual experiences which have fallen to the lot of the pioneer of the northwest. His father was a mem- ber of a militia company known as Minute Men during the Rogue River Indian war in 1855 and participated in a number of skir- mishes in defense of the settlers who were living here. W. F. Arant served for five years in the State Militia, one year as a private, one year as company bugler, two years as first sergeant and one year as guidon sergeant. He won the championship medal as the finest shot of Troop B, Oregon Na- tional Guard, which was one of the two cav- alry troops in the state at that time-1892. Two of his sons, E. L. and C. F. Arant, served with the same troop during the same time as their father but held official positions, one acting as bugler and the other as a cor- poral. His son Jay at seven years of age was presented with a colonel's uniform by the troop, who regarded him as their mascot, and he was made special orderly by Briga- dier General Compson. W. F. Arant was at one time a teamster in the employ of the United States government and engaged in furnishing the supplies to the army during the Modoc Indian war. He acted as teamster with wagonmaster Davidson's train. He has always led an outdoor life, spending much of the time in the saddle with his gun by his side. A natural mountaineer, he found in his present position as superintendent of the Crater Lake National Park one that was particularly congenial. He has always lived close to nature and knows her every phase. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party but he has never sought nor desired office. There is little concerning the history of Oregon for the past sixty years that he does not know, for he has witnessed its continuous growth and development throughout that period and is especially active in connection with the progress in the southern part of the state. He is a cousin of Hon. Robert A. Emmett, his mother and Mr. Emmett being sister and brother,

while Mr. Arant's father and Mr. Emmett's mother were cousins. W. F. Arant and Robert A. Emmett were born about four miles apart in Tazewell county, Illinois. Their parents crossed the plains together and settled in the same locality in Douglas county. After the two boys were grown they settled on adjoin- ing farms in Klamath county and are now neighbors in Klamath Falls. Both have be- come prominent in their respective fields of labor and are numbered among the valued residents of southern Oregon.

JOHN MATTSON is numbered among the successful farmers of Coos county, where he is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on a highly improved ranch of ninety acres lo- cated six miles up Catching inlet from Marsh- field. He was born in Finland, December 14, 1855, and is a son of Matt and Margaret A. (Osbocka) Mattson, both of whom were na- tives of that country. In their family were beside our subject the following children: Matt, Leander, Annie and Sophia, all of whom are deceased; Hannah, also deceased, who became the wife of Alexander Peterson .; Matilda, deceased; and Brita, now deceased, who was the wife of Carl Carlson.

John Mattson was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in his native land. He started in life for himself at the age of seventeen years, at which time he emigrated to America, making his first set- tlement in Michigan, where he was engaged for two years as a laborer in a stone quarry. He then removed to California and for two years was employed in the lumber camps of that state. At the end of that time he moved to Oregon, settling in Marshfield in 1877. On taking up his abode in Marshfield he found employment in the lumber camps near that city and continued in that occu- pation for a number of years. He then pur- chased a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres and also took up a homestead which he failed to prove up on. He later purchased a farm of one hundred acres and was engaged in its cultivation for a period of four years. He then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he lived for two years, after which time he disposed of that property and in 1890 he bought a farm of ninety acres located on Catching inlet and has since been engaged in the cultivation and development of that place. His farm is well located and the soil is considered to be equal to if not the best in that portion of Coos county. Since moving upon the property he has built a very fine residence and surrounded his home with shrubbery of all varieties com- mon to that portion of Oregon. He makes a specialty of dairy farming and in that busi- ness has been very successful, milking at present twenty well selected dairy cows.

On May 7, 1880, Mr. Mattson was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Stora, a daughter of Carl and Louisa (Stora) Stora, in whose family were twelve children, six of whom are now living: John, of Marshfield; Matt. of North Bend; Sophia, now Mrs. John Matt-

JOHN MATTSON AND FAMILY

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son; Hannah, who is the wife of Victor Lox- trom, of Texas; Hilma, who married Con- dron Haquist; and Selma, who is the wife of William Loxtrom, of Coos Bay. The parents of these children are both deceased, the father's death occurring in 1904 and the mother's in 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Mattson six children have been born. Selma, the eldest, married William Bjorkquist, of Coos Bay, and they have three children, Ellen, Signe and Ture. Arthur, who resides at Coos Bay, married Hilma Strang and they have one child, Gladys. Carl married Miss Rose Harris, of Sumner, and they have two chil- dren, Lorin and Jean. Edna married Stephen Currin, of Bandon, and they have three chil- dren, Lenora, Leroy and Lorna. Reuben re- sides at home with his parents and is at- tending school. Walter completes the family.

Mr. Mattson is liberal in his political views, giving the benefit of his support to the party which he believes represents the best interests of the people. He has served as school director of the district in which he now resides for the past twenty years. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Mattson is one of the best known men in his portion of the state and the highly developed farm upon which he lives is one of the show places at Catching inlet. He has always taken great pains not only to succeed in his busi- ness but also to adorn his farm with beautiful hedgerows and other ornamental shrubbery, all of which contributes to the beauty and attractiveness of his home and farm. He is one of the substantial citizens of the com- munity in which he resides and is in every respect a man to be numbered among the agricultural leaders of Coos county.

WALTER RYDELL, the senior member of the firm of Rydell & Kent, general merchants of Elkton, enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the leading young business men of the town. His birth occurred in Douglas county, Oregon, about four miles east of Elk- ton, on the 22d of August, 1888, his parents being Nels and Ida (Parson) Rydell, both natives of Sweden. They emigrated to the United States about 1876, locating in Chicago, Illinois, where they were married and made their home for five or six years. About 1882 they came west to Oregon, locating in Dou- glas county and taking up a homestead some four miles east of Elkton. Nels Rydell con- tinued to reside thereon until 1899, when he took up his abode in Elkton. While a resident of Chicago he had been employed for a time in an iron foundry and had be- come much interested in that line of work. After removing to. Elkton he purchased a partnership interest in a blacksmith shop from a Mr. Smith, under whose direction he learned the blacksmith's trade. Subsequently he bought Mr. Smith's interest in the shop and has since conducted the same alone with gratifying success. He is a stanch republican

in politics and now acts as central commit- teeman of his precinct. He has lived in Douglas county for three decades, or during the entire period of his residence.in this state and is widely recognized as one of the pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens of Elkton. Fraternally he is identified with the follow- ing organizations: Elkton Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M .; Elkton Lodge, I. O. O. F .; and the Modern Woodmen of America of Elkton.

Walter Rydell was reared under the pa- rental roof and obtained his early education in the public schools, subsequently continuing his studies in the Central Oregon State Nor- mal School, at Drain. At an early age he began assisting his father in the blacksmith shop, learning the trade in all its details. He worked with his father until 1909, or until he had attained his majority and then accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Elkton Mercantile & Development Company, remaining in that employ for about one year. On the expiration of that period he was made manager of the concern but resigned at the end of a year to embark in business on his own account. In 1911, in association with W. W. Kent, he organized the mercantile firm of Rydell & Kent. As the junior member he devotes practically his entire attention to mercantile interests at Drain. The manage- ment of the business of Rydell & Kent de- volves solely upon Walter Rydell, under whose able direction the enterprise has been built up until it is now in a prosperous and thriving condition. His business record is one of which he has every reason to be proud, for, prompted by laudable ambition, he has worked his way steadily upward until at the age of twenty-four years he occupies a lead- ing position among the merchants of his town.

On the 5th of September, 1910, Mr. Rydell was united in marriage to Miss Ellene Bos- sen, a native of Curry county, Oregon, and a daughter of Edgar Bossen, who was born in Germany. Mr. Rydell is a republican in politics, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of that party. He is a member of Elkton Lodge No. 5786, M. W. A., and also belongs to Elk- ton Lodge, No. 1050, M. B. A. Both he and his wife have always lived in the Sunset state and in the community where they reside are well and favorably known.

LAURITS F. RASMUSSEN, who is the proprietor of a general merchandise store at Wichita, in Clackamas county, was born in Denmark, October 11, 1866. His parents were Lars P. and Katie Rasmussen, both of whom died in Denmark, the mother pass- ing away in 1879 and the father in 1887. Lars P. Rasmussen was the youngest of twenty-three children born to his parents. He was the father of the following children: Hans, who was born in 1856; Martin, who was born in January, 1859, and is a brick mason by trade; Marie, born July 22, 1862; a child who died in infancy; Laurits F .; and Hansine born in 1869. The children who are now living reside in Denmark, with the exception of the subject of this sketch.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 42

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