The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 45

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 20th of August, 1866, Mr. Sherman was married to Orilla Groom, the ceremony being performed at Knoxville, Iowa. Ten children were born to this union, seven of whom, four sons and three daughters, grew to maturity and are living and doing well in the world. All are married save one. The parents have nine grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are well known throughout the community in which they reside and are esteemed as people of the highest respecta- bility.

FRANCIS FRANKLIN WELLS, who has lived retired in Elkton for the past three years, was long numbered among the en- terprising and representative agriculturists of Douglas county and is still the owner of a valuable ranch comprising three hun-

dred and seventy-six acres. His birth oc- curred on the old Wells donation claim, on the Umpqua river above Elkton, on the 8th of November, 1859, his parents being Ira and Anna E. (Manddler) Wells. The father was born in Vermont, on the 30th of July, 1814, while the mother's birth occurred on the Mayn river in Prussia, Germany, her natal day being July 10, 1822. The latter was a maiden of sixteen when she crossed the Atlantic to America with her parents, the family home being established in Illi- nois, where she gave her hand in marriage to Ira Wells. It was in 1847 that Mr. and Mrs. Wells crossed the plains to Oregon, the journey consuming six months. They made their first stop in the Willamette valley, on the present site of Cottage Grove, where was born their second child, who was the first white child born in Lane county and who is now Mrs. W. W. Hawley, of Corvallis. In 1848 they came down into Douglas county and located in Scotts valley, where Mrs. Wells was left to spend the winter with the Scott family, while Mr. Wells made his way to the vicinity of Elkton and filed on a dona- tion claim of six hundred and forty acres a mile and a half west of Elkton. In the spring of 1849 he brought his family to this claim, their belongings being carried over the mountain from Drain to Elkton by pack horses. As time passed and his financial resources increased he extended the bound- aries of his ranch by purchase until it em- braced ten hundred and sixty acres, on which he ran large herds of cattle and later was quite extensively engaged in sheep-raising. After his sons grew to manhood, however, he cultivated a large part of the land. His demise occurred on this farm on the 17th of July, 1892, when he had attained the age of seventy-eight years. His wife was called to her final rest on the 20th of December, 1904, when more than eighty-two years of age, passing away in the faith of the Chris- tian church. Ira Wells gave his political allegiance to the democracy for many years but in later life joined the ranks of the re- publican party. Although frequently urged to accept the candidacy for county commis- sioner and state representative, he always declined, having no desire for political hon- ors and emoluments.

Francis Franklin Wells was reared under the parental roof and supplemented his early education, acquired in the public schools, by a course of study in Umpqua Academy, at Wilbur, Oregon. When a youth of seven- teen he took charge of the home farm, his father being practically an invalid, and con- tinued its operation until after the death of his parents. He then acquired three hun- dred and seventy-six acres of the homestead and this land is still in his possession. In November, 1909, however, he rented the property and took up his abode in Elkton, where he has since made his home. He is a stockholder and was one of the organizers of the Elkton Mercantile & Development Company, the principal mercantile institu- tion of Elkton. In his undertakings as an agriculturist he was highly successful, util-

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izing modern methods and improved ma- chinery in his work. He bought the first steam thresher, the first binder, the first cream sep- arator and also purchased the first registered stock on the Umpqua river.

On the 18th of June, 1899, Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Elsie L. Hefty, of Drain, her parents being Thomas H. and Carrie (Snell) Hefty, who came to Oregon from Minnesota in 1883. Our subject and his wife have three children: Lena Irene, born December 12, 1907; Frances Alene, born Feb- ruary 10, 1910; and Ira Thomas, born No- vember 10, 1911.

Mr. Wells is a democrat in politics and about ten years ago was the candidate of his party for state representative. The can- didacy having been thrust upon him in spite of liis protest, he made no campaign and was consequently defeated at the polls. He belongs to Elkton Lodge, No. 46, A. O. U. W., and Hyacinth Lodge, No. 93, Degree of Honor, and is also a member of the Oregon Grange. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. Wells has always lived in Douglas county and the sterling traits of his eharacter are well known to his fellow townsmen, the great majority of whom number him as a friend.

JOHN H. ROBINSON is one of the highly respected citizens of Oregon and has one of the largest orchards in Josephine county where he resides upon his beautiful ranch of five hundred and sixty-seven acres. He was born in Tennessee, January 16, 1850, and is a son of James and Susanna (Jackson) Rob- inson, both of whom were natives of John- son county, Tennessee. They became the parents of eleven ehildren.

John H. Robinson was reared in his father's home and received his early education in the public schools. He left the parental roof at the age of eighteen years, and removed to Missouri where he was engaged for several years as a common laborer at various kinds of employment. By carefully saving his money he was later enabled to complete his English education. For some time there- after, he was engaged in teaching in Missouri and returning to Tennessee he taught there for five years. He removed to Oregon in 1883 and filed upon a homestead which he has since brought to a high state of eultivation. He engages in mixed farming and fruit- growing. His ranch comprises five hundred and sixty-seven acres, fifty of which is planted to apples, pears and prunes. Mr. Robinson and his brother personally supervise the har- vest and packing of the fruit erop which averages ten carloads per annum. In addi- tion to the attention which he gives to his orchard he is also specializing in the breeding of pure blooded Poland China hogs and in that particular branch of stock-raising he has been highly successful.

John H. Robinson was united in marriage on October 27, 1879, to Miss Olive Newkirk, of Texas, and to this union nine children have been born: Claudius C .; Roy Ran-

dolph, who died in 1890; George L .; Estelle G .; Elsie E .; Clifford B., who died in Decem- ber, 1909; Omer; Jolin Reginald; and Everett. Mr. Robinson is affiliated with the repub- lican party and for some years served as school examiner for Josephine county. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John H. Robinson is one of the enterprising and highly valued citizens of Josephine eoun- ty. His work as a scientific farmer and fruit grower has demonstrated to the people in his county that intelligent and modern methods applied to agriculture bring gratifying re- sults.

NORMAN L. LEE, M. D. One of the prom- inent men of Junction City, Oregon, is Dr. Norman L. Lee, the owner of landed and other interests, who retired from profes- sional life recently and gives his attention principally to overseeing his investments. He was born in Illinois, March 29, 1837, while his parents were en route to Iowa from Ohio, and is a son of Philester and Eliza Ann (Burge) Lee. Both parents were natives of New York, in which state their marriage occurred. They resided in the Em- pire state for some time and then removed to Ohio, where they remained for a few years. In 1837 they went to Iowa, settling in Van Buren county, where the father took up a homestead and for ten years devoted his time and attention to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. He built the first frame barn ever erected in Wapello coun- ty. In 1847 he crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon and settled in Portland, making the trip from The Dalles to Portland by flatboat. After living for a time in Portland he went to California as a gold miner, leaving his family in Portland. He worked at mining with success until 1849 and in the following year removed with his family to Salem, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He remained there for only a year, however, and then removed to Linn eounty, taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres upon which he lived until 1860, when he retired. He attained the age of eighty-three years and at the time of his death was the owner of his home- stead of six hundred and forty acres and also one hundred and sixty acres of timber land. The mother passed away when she was sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of ten children, four of whom are yet living: Norman L .; Mrs. Mary Vale and Mrs. Lucinda Mathews, both of whom reside in Linn county; and Mrs. Sarah Hogue, who makes her home near Grants Pass, Oregon.

Coming to Oregon with his parents when he was ten years of age, Norman L. Lee first attended school in a log schoolhouse in Port- land and later was a student in the Method- ist Academy at Salem. He then began the study of medicine in Willamette University and was graduated from that institution in 1871. Entering upon the practice of his chosen profession in Junction City, lie soon succeeded in building up a good practice and has since made that eity lis liome.

JOHN H. ROBINSON

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

On March 14, 1868, Dr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Griggs, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, in Oc- tober, 1849, a daughter of Aley B. and Sarah J. (Morris) Griggs. The parents were both born near Griggsville, Adams county, Illi- nois, which town was named in honor of tlie Griggs family. There they were married and resided until 1851, when with ox teams they crossed the plains to Oregon, spending the first winter in Oregon City. In the following spring they came to Linn county, locating about twelve miles from Albany, where the father took up a donation claim of six hun- dred and forty acres. Here he resided until the time of his retirement, when he removed to Albany, where he passed away at the age of seventy-five years, the mother having died at the age of thirty-one. To them six children were born: Amanda M., now Mrs. Norman L. Lee; Mrs. Charles Ralston, of Lebanon, Oregon; Frances, who engaged in teaching school for several years and is liv- ing at Lebanon; Mrs. Mary McClain of Albany; Mrs. Addie Nixon, of Farmington, Washington; and John V., who resides on the home farm. To Dr. and Mrs. Lee seven children have been born. Ernest U., who was born December 25, 1868, is married and lives in Eugene. For twelve years he filled the office of county clerk and is now serving as cashier of the Merchants Bank of Eugene. Annie L., who was born in 1873, received a college education. She is the wife of Fred Fortmiller, of Albany, Oregon. Claude, born March 15, 1876, is a druggist and resides in Albany. Wright B. born Jan- uary 16, 1884, is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Junction City. Clare A., born January 4, 1889, is attending Willamette University at Salem and will graduate from the medical department of that institution in 1915. Abbie J. and Maude are both de- ceased. The former was born in 1871 and died February 13, 1873, while the latter died at the age of one year.

Dr. Lee gives his allegiance to the repub- lican party but has never been an office seeker or taken an active part in politics although he served for four years as post- master of Junction City. Fraternally he be- longs to the Masonic lodge, the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen and the Degree of Honor. He has been extremely active dur- ing his professional career, which has been a distinguished one. He was state medical examiner for twelve years, performing the duties which that appointment enjoined upon him in connection with his other professional work. In early manhood he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company F, First Oregon Volunteer In- fantry and served until after Lee's surrender, receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. In 1868 Dr. Lee went to the Klamath reser- vation, where he was employed as a car- penter and it was there that Ernest U., the eldest son was born. He is the first white child born in Klamath county. . When at Klamath Mrs. Lee was the only white woman on the reservation, where she remained seven months before she saw another woman of Vol. IV-13

her color. Dr. Lee has an extended acquaint- ance, is one of the most prominent citizens of Junction City and is greatly respected by all who know him.

B. B. GESNER, a worthy and respected representative of agricultural interests in Marion county, owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred and sixteen and one-half acres, all of which is under cultivation. Aside from agricultural connections he also has a strong hold upon the regard of his fellowmen owing to a kindly spirit and gener- ous disposition. He was born in Marion county, Oregon, March 19, 1850, a son of Reuben A. and Mary (Alaway) Gesner. The father was born in New York and the mother in Kentucky. They were married in 1844 in Illinois and crossed the plains the follow- ing year, taking up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres near Salem where our subject now lives. This was the father's home until a few years before his death, which he spent in Salem, where he lived re- tired. At various times- he acquired prop- erty in other parts of Oregon and at the time of his demise was a large landholder. He passed away at the age of seventy-four years and his wife died at the age of eighty- two. To them twelve children were born, eight of whom are living, namely: Alonzo, who is residing in Salem; Harriett, who is the widow of Samuel Rundlett and a resi- dent of Polk county; B. B., of this review; Vanison, a physician of east Oregon; Rame- lia, who is married to James Munkeis, of Linn county, Oregon; Sarah, who is the widow of George Jerowe and is a resident of Portland, where she conducts a sanato- rium; Amnei, the wife of Thomas Davidson, of Salem; and Rebecca, who is married to George Haskell, of Benton county.

B. B. Gesner received his education in the grammar schools of Salem, after which he returned to the home farm, where he as- sisted his father for one year before he started out to earn his own livelihood by accepting employment which he held for a year, with a surveying party. Afterward he engaged in agricultural pursuits for five years but in 1882 entered the United States mail service. For four years he carried mail from Salem to Silverton and for one year from Turner to Mehama. During the following four years he was engaged in teaming and at the end of that time returned to the old homestead and purchased twenty-two and a half acres of his brother's share of the farm, thus making him the owner of two hundred ~ and sixteen and a half acres, which he has since cultivated. The land is all in a high state of improvement, being equipped with the accessories of a modern farm. The place presents an attractive appearance be- cause of its neatness and cultivation and annually yields profitable harvests, due to the practical methods which Mr. Gesner em- ploys in its development.

On the 9th of March, 1874, Mr. Gesner was married to Mrs. Frances E. Buster, whose birth occurred in Marion county in 1857, her parents being Samuel and Jane Olinger, who

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came liere from Kentucky in 1852 and in 1843 respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Gesner eleven children have been born: Frank X., of Lincoln county; Ulysses S., who is resid- ing at home with his father; Jessie, the wife of George Napske, of Florida; Bessie, the widow of Samuel Updegraff; Dolph, at home; Clifford, a resident of Marion county : Ar- chie, Ralph, Iola and Virgil, all at home; and Harry, who died in infancy.

B. B. Gesner is a republican and has been a faithful and active advocate of the poli- cies of that party since age conferred upon liin the right of franchise. He is a member of the school board and has served as road supervisor, offices which he has undertaken for the good of the community rather than for personal aggrandizement. Although not a member of church or lodges, he always gives his support to those social and moral interests which he believes promote public welfare and has by so doing won the con- fidence and esteem of all.

E. E. FISHER, M. D., who since 1907 has engaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Salem, specializing, however, in the latter was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1870, his parents being C. A. H. and Mary (Kirby) Fisher. The father was born in Eng- land in 1847 and on coming to America in 1869, then a young man of about twenty- two years, settled in Michigan. He was mar- ried at Adrian, that state, to Miss Kirby, who was born in New York in 1852. They removed westward to Nebraska in 1870 and in 1892 arrived in Salem, Oregon, where they now reside, the father being a retired farmer who devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits. In their family were seven children.

Dr. Fisher attended the country schools in the vicinity of his father's home until fourteen years of age, when he became a student in the Highland Park Normal School, at Des Moines, Iowa. He also attended the Fremont (Nebraska) Normal and was grad- uated with the class of 1892. He taught school both before and after his graduation, devoting five years to that profession and in 1894 he took up the study of medicine, reading for one year under a physician, while for three years he was a student in the medical department of the University of the Northwest, at Sioux City, Iowa. He was graduated in 1898 and located for prac- tice at Rodney, Iowa. In 1902 he entered the Rush Medical College for post-graduate work and also attended the University of Iowa, where he pursued a special course in surgery in 1906-7. In the latter year he came to Salem and has since engaged in general practice, making a specialty of sur- gery. He displays marked skill in that de- partment of professional labor and he has also proven a capable educator in two years' work as a teacher in the medical department of Willamette University. He belongs to the Marion County Medical Society, the Ore- gon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and keeps in close touch

with the advanced work of the profession and its high ideals.

In 1901 Dr. Fisher was married to Miss Alice Bates, a native of Iowa, and a daugh- ter of A. J. and Helen (Morris) Bates. Dr. and Mrs. Fisher are well known in Salem, where they have a large circle of warm friends. He enjoys, too, the high regard of his professional brethren because of his close conformity to an advanced standard of pro- fessional ethics.

ROBERT WALKER is remembered in Bandon, Oregon, as an upright, progressive and representative citizen and as an honored veteran of the Civil war. He gave his ener- gies and attention for almost a quarter of a century to commercial activities in the vil- lage and as its postmaster did able, con- scientious and useful work. His death on March 30, 1909, brought to a close a career which had been identified with much of the upbuilding and development of Bandon and deprived that community of a competent, suc- cessful and valued citizen. Mr. Walker was born in Canada April 17, 1844, and is a son of William and Sarah (Gibson) Walker, the former a native of England and the latter of Canada. They were the parents of two chil- dren: Robert, the subject of this sketch; and James G., of Gold Beach, Curry county, Oregon. The latter was sheriff for a number of years but is now living retired, his son being a candidate for the office.

Robert Walker remained at home until he enlisted in the Federal army. He served as sergeant for three years and obtained his honorable discharge at the close of hostili- ties. He immediately came west and settled in Coos county afterward removing to Curry county where he resided for twelve years. During his residence in that section he was elected sheriff to serve for four years, from 1874 to 1878. In 1888 he moved to Bandon and made that village his home until his death. He established himself in business and was successful, building up a distinct and substantial prosperity upon the firm foundation of hard work, ability and indus- try. In 1901 he was appointed postmaster and held that office for eight years, doing efficient and practical work in this capacity. After his death his widow was appointed to the position, having been assistant postmas- ter, for some time. Mr. Walker was one of the public-spirited and active citizens of Ban- don. He built the first house in the city after Bandon was laid out in town lots. He was connected all during the twenty-one years of his residence with much of the work of the upbuilding and development and at the time of his death which occurred on March 30, 1909, he was numbered among the loyal, conscien- tious and useful members of his community.

On January 27, 1875, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Frame, a native of California. She was one of two children born to her parents, her brother Frank P., being a resident of North Bend, Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker were born five children: Mary L., who is a trained nurse in Portland; Robert F., of Bandon,

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who is married and has one son, Robert, Jr .; Pearl R., who was educated in the Ban- don high school and is a teacher in the pub- lic schools of that city; Harry J., who is connected with the sawmill business in Ban- don; and Claire I., the wife of G. T. Tread- gold, an attorney in Bandon, by whom she has one child, Grayden W.

Mr. Walker was a stanch republican and an active worker in the interests of the party. He was chairman of the state committee and a member of the board of equalization hold- ing both positions for a number of years. He served upon the city council, always giv- ing his influence to worthy and honorable causes and promoting in a useful and valu- able way local legislation. He was a school director and a factor in the building of the first large school in Bandon, serving as a member of the first board of education. He was well known in the Masonic order, hav- ing been a charter member of two lodges. He was proud of his connection with this organization and active in promoting its wel- fare and progress. He was a member of the Episcopal church and widely known as a man of high and exemplary character. During his life he always gave his influence to constructive and valuable things. He labored earnestly to make his career suc- cessful, bringing his commercial enterprise to a successful issue and making his more pub- lic life upright, straightforward and honor- able and his death brought to a close a career which was an important factor in local upbuilding and development and in all its relations useful and valuable.

DR. REUBEN H. FIELDS, physician and surgeon practicing at Gardiner, a large measure of success indicating public confi- dence in his ability, was born near McVey- town, Pennsylvania, on the 20th of June, 1873, his parents being William M. and Nancy (Cutman) Fields, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state and of Scotch descent. The father was one of the promi- nent farmers of Mifflin county, Pennsyl- vania, where he died in early manhood, pass- ing away on the 5th of June, 1873, prior to the birth of Dr. Fields. At the time of the Civil war he became a member of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry and served under Kilpatrick and later under Stoneman. He was captured while at the front and sent to Libby prison where he was confined for four months which contributed. largely to the cause of his early death. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1903, at the age of fifty-eight years.

Dr. Fields was reared in his mother's home and acquired his early education in Penn- sylvania in the Soldiers Orphan School, at Loysville, and in the public schools. Later he attended the Brothers Normal College, now Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania, and after leaving that institution at the age of eighteen years, he taught one term of school in his native county. The following year he went west to Iowa where he was employed for some time at farm la- bor. In the fall of 1893 he returned to

Pennsylvania and the following year took up the study of medicine, entering the At- lantic Medical College in Baltimore, Mary- land, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. Following his graduation he went directly west to Rudd, Floyd county, Iowa, where he engaged in practice for four years. He also spent three years in pro- fessional work in Clarion, Iowa, and in the spring of 1905 came to Oregon. He spent some time in looking over the state in search of a suitable location and at length deter- mined on Gardiner, here opening an office. In the intervening period of seven years he has built up a large and remunerative prac- tice and is now accounted one of the fore- most physicians of this part of the state. On the 1st of June, 1912, he became asso- ciated with Dr. Frank S. Pratt, formerly of Stevenson, Washington, and they are now fitting up a modern private hospital in con- nection with their office, which will accommo- date ten patients. They are progressive phy- sicians, thoroughly in touch with the ad- vanced methods of the medical science, and their work is proving highly satisfactory in checking the ravages of disease.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 45

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