The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 46

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

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Dr. Fields was married, in 1897, in Rock- ford, Iowa, to Miss Mae Farnham, a daugh- ter of John Wesley Farnham, a prominent farmer of Iowa, and unto this union have been born two children, Nancy Ruth and Richard Henry. Dr. Fields belongs to Au- rora Lodge, No. 59, F. & A. M., of which he is now serving as master. He also holds membership with Gardiner Lodge, No. 132, I. O. O. F., and with the Modern Woodmen camp. Both he and his wife are members of Martha Chapter, O. E. S., and of River- side Lodge, No. 100, Daughters of Rebekah. Their religious faith is that of the Method- ist Episcopal church and to its teachings they are loyal. In politics Dr. Fields is in- dependent, with republican tendencies. His professional relations are with the Southern Oregon Medical Association, the Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and he is justly ac- counted one of the progressive and success- ful practitioners of Douglas county, where he has again and again given demonstration of his ability to cope with the intricate pro- fessional problems and check the ravages of disease.

E. D. MATLOCK .. Business activity and enterprise in Eugene find a worthy repre- sentative in E. D. Matlock, proprietor of one of the department stores of the city. He was born at Pleasant Hill, February 8, 1870, and supplemented his public-school educa- tion by a course in the University of Ore- gon. He entered business life in connection with his father Joseph De Witt Matlock, un- der the firm name of J. D. Matlock & Sons, in the conduct of a general mercantile estab- lishment. At length he disposed of his in- terest in that business and with his father went to Dawson City, Alaska, accompanied by his wife and son. The latter was the first white child to cross the mountains. Mr. Matlock and his father started in the mer-

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cantile business there and at length they also became connected with commercial pursuits at Bennett, British Columbia, as owners of a general store. They were successful in their operations but after two years re- turned to Eugene, where E. D. Matlock es- tablished his present business. He has an attractive store, carrying a large and well selected line of goods, and his long training in mercantile lines well qualifies him to carry on this business in a most progressive man- ner. His sales are steadily growing, for the integrity of his business methods is widely recognized, as is his conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics.

Mr. Matlock was married to Miss Nellie T. Marquis, a daughter of Rufus Marquis, of Dayton, Washington, and they have one son, Earl Edis. In Eugene their circle of friends is an extensive one and the hospitality of the best homes of the city is freely accorded them. Mr. Matlock belongs to Spencer Butte Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., to Wimawhala En- campment and to Hovey Canton, having taken the various degrees of the order. He is also a member of the First Christian church, to the support of which he gives liberally, doing all in his power to advance its growth and extend its influence. All who know him respect him for his many sterling traits of character and he is prov- ing a helpful factor in the business develop- ment of the city.

GEORGE M. DYER. In every community are found men capable of guiding its destinies, of meeting exigencies as they arise and of utilizing opportunities so that they redound to the benefit of the individual and the gen- eral public. Such a man was George M. Dyer. He studied conditions in the north- west and was numbered with those who have aided in shaping its history and guiding its destiny. There was nothing spectacular in his career but through the faithful perform- ance of each day's duty he rose to a place of prominence and honor in Coos county. He was born on his father's farm in Clermont county, Ohio, December 5, 1834, and had the usual experiences of the farm boy who de- votes his youth to the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education in the pub- lic schools. He resided at different periods in Indiana and Iowa and from the latter state accompanied his father on his removal westward across the plains in 1853, with Ore- gon as their destination. He was then a youth of eighteen years and when twenty years of age he began mining in Curry county between Port Orford and the Rogue river. About that time, however, the Rogue river war broke out and he did active duty with the soldiers who defended the interests of the white settlers on the frontier.

While Mr. Dyer resided in the northwest he did not forget the friends of his earlier life and in the winter of 1858 returned to Iowa, where in August, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Grant, a na- tive of Dearborn county, Indiana, born March 6, 1840. She was a daughter of Daniel

B. Grant, a native of Ohio, who in early man- hood went to Burlington, Iowa, where he worked at the cooper's trade until his death in 1862. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Bonker, was born in Pennsylvania and they became the parents of eleven chil- dren, six sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Dyer is the fourth in order of birth.

When he again came to the northwest Mr. Dyer was accompanied by his young wife and his father's family. He settled in Curry county, where he engaged in mining for a number of years and during that period he also served as county assessor in 1862-63. After his removal to Coos county in 1865 lie engaged quite extensively in mining and for a time also owned the Mcclellan ranch at New Lake. He was called from private life, however, to public office, being chosen county commissioner in 1878 and again elected in 1880. In the latter year he was also chosen county judge and served upon the bench for four years. In 1886 he traveled extensively over Coos county in search of a favorable location and secured the tract of land upon which the town of Bandon has since been built. He formed a partnership with W. H. Averill and with characteristic energy and well defined plans they began to clear the wild land of the timber thereon and to put forth efforts to induce settlers to locate in this region. They sought to ad- vance the work of general improvement and progress that comfort might be a feature of the new homes to be established here, and in this work Mr. Dyer displayed keen sagacity. He established a general merchandise store and otherwise added to the general improve- ment. After two years the partnership was dissolved, each, however, agreeing to further as best he could the interests of the embryo town. Settlers began to arrive and the work of improvement and advancement was carried forward, as shown in the establishment of different business concerns, in the building of schoolhouses and churches and in other ways. With the growth of the city the original schoolhouse became inadequate and two other buildings have since been erected. Com- mercial and industrial enterprises have been established, and with the work of building the town Mr. Dyer was ever closely and helpfully associated. Nor did he overlook the harbor advantages here and did much to foster shipping interests. He was active in securing the incorporation of the town of Bandon and at the first election he was chosen one of its trustees, after which he was made chairman of the town council. In that posi- tion he continued uninterruptedly until fail- ing health caused his retirement. He stood in the vanguard in the progressive movement that led to the founding and building of the town and the development of the surround- ing country. He wrought along substantial and enduring lines and his cooperation could always be counted upon to further any move- ment tending to advance the material, intel- lectual, social, political and moral progress of the community.

Judge and Mrs. Dyer were the parents of four children: Florence E., who is the wife

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE M. DYER

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of John Garfield, of Oakland, California; Alice C., the wife of D. D. Fagan, of What- com, Washington; Henrietta, the wife of A. H. Buckingham of Benton county, Oregon; and Elbert, who is president of the Bandon Water & Light Company. An adopted daugh- ter, Hattie, is the wife of C. Y. Lowe, of Ban- don. Since her husband's death Mrs. Dyer has managed her business interests in a most capable way. 'She is the owner of consider- able town property and shows sound judg- ment and keen discrimination in its control. Her social position is an enviable one and she is a valued member of the Order of Re- bekahs and the Degree of Honor.

Mr. Dyer passed away on the 1st of Au- gust, 1896. To him life had meant oppor- tunities; he seized legitimate advantages as they arose and labored not only for his own benefit but also for the progress and welfare of the community. The town of Bandon largely stands as a monument to his enter- prise, for he was the guiding spirit in its progress for many years.

WILLIAM J. STANLEY is a prominent representative of mining interests in Jack- son county, being vice president of the Sykes Creek Mining Company. He was born in New York, July 24, 1842, and is a son of John O. and Dolly (Flausburgh) Stanley, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. In 1846 they removed westward to Knox county, Illinois, and in 1867 went to Kansas, where both passed away. The father was a farmer by occupation and thus pro- vided for his family, which numbered eight children, four sons and four daughters, Wil- liam J. Stanley being the sixth in order of birth. His eldest sister, Mary Ann, became the wife of the Rev. T. F. Royal, at Bates Academy, Salem. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853. George C., a brother, served for three years in the Civil war as a member of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry and is now deceased. Another brother, James M., was for four years a member of the same regiment and now resides near Fort Scott, Kansas.

William J. Stanley was only four years of age when the family left the east and became residents of Knox county, Illinois. He there completed his education by three years' attendance at Knox College, in the city of Galesburg, Illinois, and remained with his parents until 1866, when he came to Oregon. When not in school he worked upon the home farm and after his arrival in the northwest he followed the profession of teaching, being connected at different times with the work of the classroom in Ashland, Jacksonville and Roseburg. He was also a teacher in the country schools, following the profession for eighteen years, and from 1872 until 1874 he served as county superintendent of schools in Jackson county. He was again called to public office in his appointment to the position of deputy sheriff, which he filled for one term. Mr. Stanley has since en- gaged in mining and is interested in both quartz and placer mines on Sykes creek, be- ing the vice president of the Sykes Creek

Mining Company. He was formerly inter- ested in the old Home Stake mine, a mile west of Woodville. His activities in the development of the mineral resources of this part of the country have been crowned with a gratifying measure of success and his la- bors always constitute an element in public progress and prosperity.

In 1871 Mr. Stanley was married to Miss M. L. Ross, who was born in Jacksonville, Ore- gon, in 1854, a daughter of Colonel J. E. and Elizabeth (Hopwood) Ross. Mrs. Stanley was the third white child born in southern Oregon and prior to her marriage was en- gaged in teaching for a few terms. They became the parents of six children: Wini- fred, the wife of Allen Hildreth, of Ash- land; Helen, who is the widow of William Marks, a druggist traveling for Woodard, Clark & Company, of Portland; George C., a successful merchant of Eugene, who began the publication of the Town Talk, now the Tribune of Medford, and was an editor for a number of years; Mrs. Maggie Hunter, whose deceased husband had at one time been a grocer of South Portland; Bessie, who died at the age of twenty-three years; and Louis F., a traveling salesman residing in East Portland. The son George married Mollie High, of Ashland, who was a grand- daughter of an own cousin of Abraham Lin- coln. They have two children, Thelma and G. C.

In his political views Mr. Stanley is a republican and while not an office seeker keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has resided in Oregon for forty-six years and has been an inter- ested witness of its growth and progress and of the changes which time and man have wrought. He has seen this section of the state transformed from a comparatively un- developed district into one of the rich and prosperous regions of the northwest and has borne his share in the work of general im- provement. He has a wide acquaintance in Jackson county and has a large circle of warm friends.

CLYDE PRESTON BECKLEY, a native son of Oregon and one of the prominent ranchmen of Douglas county, was born on the old Beckley home farm, adjoining Elk- ton, May 5, 1882, his parents being Henry and Mary (Woodson) Beckley, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. He was reared on the home place and in the acquirement of an education attended the public schools, also pursuing a commercial course in Armstrong's Business College, of Portland. In 1907 he took charge of the home farm and has since had under his man- agement some twenty-five hundred acres, de- voting his attention principally to sheep- raising. He has won a creditable measure of success and also an enviable reputation for one of his years, being widely recognized as a prosperous ranchman of his county.

On the 7th of September, 1910, Mr. Beck- ley was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Lyons, a daughter of James Lyons, deceased, .who was for many years a leading merchant

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of Elkton, Oregon. Our subject and his wife have one son, Henry L. Mr. Beckley gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is a firm believer in its principles. His wife is a devoted member of the Method- ist Episcopal church and exemplifies its teachings in her daily life. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, Clyde P. Beckley well merits the regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.

VICTOR ANDERSON is identified with the shipyard of Banks & Kruse, of North Bend, Oregon. He is a native of Finland and in his early youth became familiar with ves- sels and nautical machinery in that country. He was born on November 2, 1863, and is a son of Andrew and Louisa Anderson. The father died in Finland in 1889. The mother crossed to America in 1900. She is living in North Bend with her son and is in the sixty-eighth year of her age. She is the mother of six children: Victor, the subject of this sketch; Albert, deceased; Bertha, who makes her home in Marshfield; Alma, who re- sides in Beaver Hill, Oregon; Silgna, who is living in Finland; and Alec, who resides in North Bend.

Victor Anderson came to America in 1881 and settled in Coos county, Oregon. He worked as a logger for two years and then conducted a saloon in Marshfield for some time. He spent four years working in a sawmill and at the end of that time re- signed his position to learn the trade of ship carpenter. He worked at that occupa - tion for several years and later became a bridge contractor. At the present time he is employed in the shipyard of Bank & Kruse, owners of the largest ship-building estab- lishment in Coos county, and is doing effi- cient work there. For some time Mr. Ander- son engaged in agricultural pursuits in Coos county but has sold all of his holdings. He is shrewd and economical and has in the course of his career acquired a comfortable fortune which he has invested judiciously in North Bend real estate. He owns a beau- tiful home in which he is residing with his mother and family. He also owns two fine residence properties in North Bend. He is extensively interested in unimproved real estate and has valuable holdings in the city in which he lives.

In 1884 Mr. Anderson was united in mar- riage to Miss Anna Strong, a native of Fin- land, who came to America with her parents in 1881. They settled near Marshfield, on Coos bay, where they are still residing. Her father is in the eighty-first year of his age and her mother has attained the age of eighty years. They became the parents of four children, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Anderson died in November, 1910, and is buried in Marshfield cemetery, To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born nine children, six of whom are still living: Emma, who mar- ried Albert Matson, of Marshfield, Oregon; Ellen, born in 1892, who is a graduate of the North Bend high school, and who is liv- ing at home; Inez, born in 1894, who attended the public schools of North Bend and who

was graduated from a local business col- lege; Malinda, born in 1899, who attends school; Louis, whose birth occurred in 1903; and Fred, who was born in 1908. Of those deceased, Ida was the wife of H. Hallam, of San Francisco, California.

Mr. Anderson has always been a repub- lican and served as a member of the city council for six years. He is active in the affairs of the North Bend school board and takes an intelligent interest in matters of education. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Owls. He is a devoted adherent of the German Lutheran church, in the faith of which he was reared. He has been active in many occupations and has been fairly successful in all. He is a prosperous and intelligent business man and Coos county has gained a public-spirited and progressive citizen by his residence in North Bend.

MRS. MARGARET EDMUNSON is well known in Eugene, occupying a prominent posi- tion in social circles and taking an active and helpful part in church and charitable work. She is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Oregon. Her father, Matthew Wallis, was born in North Caro- lina in 1820, and died on the 17th of July, 1895, at the age of seventy-five years. His ancestors came from Scotland. He was reared to manhood in his native state and when young removed to Missouri, becoming a farmer and stock-raiser there. He was married to Emeline Lindley in Cedar county, that state, on the 18th of February, 1847, and with his wife and one child came to Ore- gon in 1852, traveling across the plains witlı ox teams to Lane county. They traveled with two wagons, a few cattle and necessary supplies and not only experienced many diffi- culties and hardships, but also had many narrow escapes from the Indians, especially when in the vicinity of Snake river. On the 13th of September they arrived at their destination and Mr. Wallis secured a dona- tion land claim of three hundred and twenty acres, situated two and one-half miles west of Eugene. On that property he built a hewed log house which still stands there. His claim was a beautiful one, the land being adorned with oak trees, and the prop- erty is still in possession of the family. În 1852 the Rogue River Indians were on the war path or threatening, and the white peo- ple gathered on the ranch of Mr. Wallis and stayed there for several days but no attack was made, probably on account of the white forces being well organized. This was what is now called Wallis Butte, two and one-half miles west of Eugene. As time passed on, Mr. Wallis added to his original farm until lie was the owner of between ten and twelve hundred acres of land. In addition to cul- tivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate, he also engaged quite extensively in raising cattle. His business affairs were carefully conducted, his judgment was sound, his discrimination keen, and these qualities combined with his industry, brought him substantial success. His wife was born in .

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Nashville, Tennessee. Her father was Jona- than Lindley of South Carolina and her grandfather who came from England, bore the same name. He was a planter and his son and namesake became a farmer and stock-raiser of Tennessee, where he resided until his removal to Cedar county, Missouri. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he was fifty-five years of age. In early manhood he married Miss Clara N. Terry, a native of Georgia, who died at the age of eighty years at the home of her daughter Mrs. Wallis, having crossed the plains in 1852. Mrs. Wallis was one of a family of nine children who became resi- dents of Oregon, and by her marriage to Mr. Wallis she became the mother of thirteen children. Those who reached adult age are: Clara, who is the widow of John Duncan and resides in Dayton, Washington; Margaret, now Mrs. Edmunson; Mary, the wife of Lee Searcy, also of Dayton; Alice, the wife of John Welch of Portland; Matthew Sneed; H. Lee, living in Eugene; and Webster, who makes his home in Garfield, Washington.

Mr. and Mrs. Wallis continued to reside upon the farm until 1873, when they took up their abode in Eugene, although the father still continued to manage his agri- cultural interests and added to his property until he was one of the most extensive land- owners of his locality. Both he and his wife were members of the Christian church in the work of which they took an active and help- ful interest, Mr. Wallis serving as one of the deacons. He was a Mason and was al- ways loyal to the teachings of the lodge. Both he and his wife were held in the highest esteem and had an extensive circle of warm friends in Eugene and Lane county.

Mrs. Edmunson spent her girlhood days in her father's home and in early womanhood. she became the wife of Rufus J. Edmunson, a son of John Edmunson, a pioneer of Lane county. Her children are Lawrence, of

Goshen; John Matthews, also living in Goshen; Byron Anthony, a resident of Lane county; Leon R., an attorney at law of Eugene; and Margaret Grace, who is the wife of George Ohler of Astoria, Ore- gon. Mrs. Edmunson belongs to the Chris- tian church of which she is an active and loyal member, and she is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. No good work done in the name of charity or religion seeks her aid in vain. She is ever ready to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy and she is also well known in social circles, while the hospitality of her home is greatly enjoyed by her many friends who are almost as numerous as her acquaintances.

EVANDER MELVIN RANDLEMAN does general farming and dairying upon one hun- dred and seventy-three acres of land in Coos county which constitute his father's original homestead claim in this section. He has been a resident of Oregon since he was two" years of age and has been an independent agriculturist since 1898. He was born in California on June 9, 1870, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (Steel) Randleman, the

former a native of Missouri and the latter of Illinois. The father crossed the plains in 1852 in order to find a home in the west- ern part of America for his family. He re- turned and in 1856 brought his wife and chil- dren to California. He worked in the gold mines for a time but was not particularly suc- cessful. He left California for Oregon after spending some years in the former state and upon his arrival took up a homestead claim of one hundred and seventy-three acres in Coos county. Here he followed farming until his death. His wife survives him and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Barklow of Norway, Oregon. She and her husband be- came the parents of eight children: DeWitt C. and Martin L., both of whom have passed away; Mary H., the deceased wife of John Armstrong, who has also passed away; Jason I ... also deceased; Madora A., now Mrs. Albert Sneed of Parkersburg; Louisa F., who mar- ried . J. H. Barklow of Norway; Evander Melvin, the subject of this review; and La- fayette, who has passed away.

Evander M. Randleman was reared at home and remained upon his father's farm until he was twenty-six years of age. He was married in 1895 and one year afterward left home and worked at carpentering, which trade he had learned in his youth. He spent three years in this occupation and at the end of that time was able to purchase the family homestead where he has since carried on general farming and dairying. He keeps a fine herd of cows for the latter purpose and the products of this branch of his en- terprise find a ready sale in the markets of the county. Their purity and the sani- tary conditions under which they are made are well known. Mr. Randleman has been successful in his enterprise making his soil productive and his dairy lucrative by hard work, capable management and judicious business discrimination. His farm is located seven and one-half miles from Bandon on the Bear creek road and comprises his fa- ther's original one hundred and seventy-three acres. It is well cultivated and intelligently developed and is one of the model proper- ties of Coos county.

In 1895 Mr. Randleman was united in mar- riage to Miss Polly C. Haga and to their union were born six children: Paloma, born in 1898, who is attending the public schools; one child, who died in infancy; Alta, whose birth occurred in 1902, and who is also at- tending school; Thelma, born in 1904; Orrin, who was born in 1907; and Elfleda, whose birth occurred in 1910.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 46

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