The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 50

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

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among the best known and most highly re- spected citizens of southern Oregon.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Letsom were born five daughters and four sons. The six surviving members of the family are as follows: Thomas, who is a resident of Portland, Ore- gon; Mary, who is the widow of F. M. Good- ell and now resides with her father; Lewel- lyn. living in eastern Oregon; Martha, the wife of J. W. Harris, of Chelan, Washington; Evan, who operates the home farm; and Talitha, who is the wife of B. E. Hedrick, of Douglas county. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on January 19, 1898.

In politics Mr. Letsom is a stanch and loyal republican. For two terms he served as assessor of old Umpqua county before Douglas county was cut off. From the time of his arrival in the county until 1911, covering a period of about fifty-nine years, he served continuously on the school board in one capacity or another. To fill vacancies he served by appointment as justice. of the peace and also in the office of postmaster at Yon- calla. In the early days he knew everyone living in the northern part of Douglas county and the circle of his friends was almost coextensive with the circle of his acquain- tances. He has now passed the eighty- fourth milestone on life's journey and en- joys the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.

H. M. FLEMING is a member of the firm of Fleming Brothers, merchants of New Pine Creek, who recognize the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisements and, therefore, carry a large and well selected line of goods, suitable to a general trade, and win a liberal patronage by progressive methods, fair prices and honorable dealing. H. M. Fleming was born in Jackson county, Ore- gon, January 13, 1876, a son of Henry Clay and Minnie (Marchbanks) Fleming, who were natives of Tennessee, the former born in 1842 and the latter in 1841. The parents were reared and married in that state and made their advent on the Pacific coast in 1872 as residents of Siskiyou county, California. Soon afterward, however, they removed to Jackson county, Oregon, where they remained for fifteen years, and then went to Modoc county. California, taking up their abode near New Pine Creek, Oregon, where the father now resides. For many years he followed farming and had extensive interests but is now living . retired. enjoying a well earned rest. The mother passed away here in 1910. In their family were eight children: Dora. the widow of D. T. Colvin, of Willowranch. Modoc county, California: W. S., also living at Willowranch; T. M .. a partner of H. M. Fleming: H. A .. living at Willowranch: H. M .: L. P., who is a twin brother of H. M. and resides near Fresno. California; Wini- fred. of Santa Rosa. California; and Wil- liam, of Lake county. Oregon.

In the county of his nativity H. M. Flem- ing remained until he reached the age of thir-

MR. AND MRS. JOHN LETSOM

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teen years and then came with his parents to Lake county, where he has since lived with the exception of seven years spent in Modoc county, California. He was on a ranch until he attained his majority and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the public schools. While in Modoc county he worked in a store for seven years but laudable ambition prompted him to en- gage in business on his own account and with his brother T. M. Fleming he purchased his present store in 1904. They have since conducted the same under the style of Flem- ing Brothers, general merchants. They own a brick building, one story and basement, thirty by seventy feet, and also own ware- houses in the town. They have a large and growing trade and their business is a profit- able one. They also loan money and are interested in many projects in this locality, including gold mining, which is fast de- veloping into an important feature in the business of this section of the state.

Mr. Fleming holds membership with the Elks and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he has attractive, genial qualities, which render him popular in these organizations. Moreover, his . record proves that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously, for energy and industry have ever been supplemented by fair dealing in the conduct of his mercantile interests.

JOHN B. SWEET has been a resident of Oregon for many years and his agricultural career in Coos county was important as an element in its general advancement. He cul- tivated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land which in its highly developed and improved state is regarded as a model enterprise of its kind. He is at present liv- ing retired in Coquille, having sold his farm to his sons, and is enjoying a rest earned by diligent and patient labor. He was born in Nova Scotia in 1848 and went to Cali- fornia in pioneer times, settling in Hum- boldt county where he purchased one hun- dred and twenty acres of land upon which he operated a large and prosperous dairy for nineteen years. At the end of that time he came to Oregon, purchasing a farm near Coquille upon which he resided for six years. He then retired and moved to Coquille in order to give his children the advantage of adequate educational facilities. When Mr. Sweet purchased his farm hardly any im- provements had been made upon it and its excellent condition at the present time is almost entirely due to liis well directed and practical labors. He gave his entire time and attention for many years to making his land productive and it has increased in value many times since it first came into his possession. He recently sold the farm to liis two oldest sons, who are now active in its management and operation. Mr. Sweet has lived in Coquille since 1907 and owns the attractive home in which he resides.

On September 5, 1877, John B. Sweet was united in marriage to Miss Susan Gormely, a native of North Carolina and a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Atkins) Gormely.

Mr. and Mrs. Sweet became the parents of nine children. Alfred J. received his educa- tion in Coos county and is employed by the Cody Lumber Company at Tampa. William J., who is assistant cashier in the Bank of Bandon, is married and has two children, Helen and Percy. He is also acting as post- master of Bandon. Sarah and Maggie Bell, passed away in infancy.' Arthur Percy, re- ceived a good business education and is serving as assistant postmaster of Bandon. Pearl A. is the wife of Edward Ellingson, of Coquille, who is engaged in the contract- ing and building business. They are the par- ents of one daughter, Pauline R. Maud G. resides at home with her parents. Jessie M. received a college education and is at home. Hattie makes her home with her parents.

John B. Sweet is liberal in his political views and actively and intelligently inter- ested in the growth and advancement of Coos county, although he never seeks public office. He has achieved success by hard work and industry and by thoroughly prac- tical business qualifications and his fine farm stands today as evidence of the value and usefulness of his activities.

JAMES L. COLE, a lifelong resident of Oregon, was born on the old family homestead in the Calapooia precinct of Douglas county, September 21, 1860. Mention is made of his family in connection with the sketch of his brother Joel A. Cole on another page of this work. James L. Cole was reared at home ill the usual manner of farm lads, early be- coming familiar with the duties and labors incident to the development of the fields. He acquired his education in the public schools and after reaching young manhood was asso- ciated with his brothers in the development and improvement of the home farm, for the father was for many years in ill health and thereby incapacitated for farm work. The early experiences of James L. Cole well quali- fied him for the duties and labors that have devolved upon him in later years and which have brought to him a substantial measure of success.

In November, 1887, was celebrated his mar- riage to Miss May Starr, a native of Oregon and a daughter of Felix and Icephena (Wil- letts) Starr, who crossed the plains with ox teams from Indiana to Oregon in 1852, with their family, the father being captain of the wagon train. He spent the first winter in Oregon City and in 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Starr returned to Indiana and remained a year. He then bought a lot of blooded mares and drove them across the plains to Oregon. It was the first good stock to come to this section. He then made his way southward into the Calapooia valley. There he traded a span of oxen for three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which he located, and he also bought another tract of similar size, thus becoming owner of six hundred and forty acres in the heart of the valley and comprising some of the finest land to be found in Doug- las county. He built a sawmill on the Cala- pooia river, twelve or fourteen miles above

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Oakland, which was the first sawmill erected in Douglas county. Felix Starr died in 1871, while his wife long survived him, passing away in 1901.

After his marriage Mr. Cole continued to reside on the old homestead until 1892, when he and his wife purchased two hundred and eighty-eight acres of the Felix Starr home farm, to which they removed and upon which they have since resided. Mr. Cole, however, still retains his equity in the Cole homestead. He is one of the substantial citizens of this part of the state, enterprising, industrious and energetic, and the methods which he employs in the cultivation and development of his place indicate that he is thoroughly conversant with the most progressive ideas of farming.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole have been born four children: Grace M., who is now a stu- dent in the senior year in the State Uni- versity of Oregon; Bessie, deceased; Lucian, at home; and 'Elsie, who is attending the Eugene high school. The parents are mem- bers of the Christian church and Mr. Cole is a republican in politics. While he has never been an office seeker, he has served for the past ten years as deputy assessor of his district. Matters relative to the welfare and upbuilding of this part of the state receive his earnest consideration and when his judg- ment dictates he gives to all such stalwart endorsement. He stands for all that is pro- gressive in matters of citizenship, as he does in business life, and he is justly accounted one of the leading farmers of Douglas county.

FRANK MORSE is one of the leading busi- ness men of Coquille, where he is operating an independent light and power plant, sup- plying electric light to the cities of Coquille, Myrtle Point and Norway. He has advanced rapidly in the engineering profession, liis efficiency and knowledge being guided and controlled by true business ability. He has been identified with his line of business prac- tically all his active life, working in different cities in various capacities but always ad- vancing. He is one of the foremost figures in the business world of Coquille, where as man- ager and proprietor of an important enter- prise he has made his influence felt in com- mercial circles. He was born in California, August 8, 1865, and is a son of Harris and Mary C. Morse, natives of Maine. The par- ents went to California in 1848, traveling around the Horn and spending six months on the journey. They settled at Stockton, where the father engaged in the contracting business for a short time, later abandoning this occupation in order to take up mining. Eventually he purchased land and carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1907. His wife is still living upon the old homestead in California. She is the mother of three children, two of whom are yet living: Frank, the subject of this sketch; and Milton, who is in the black- smithing business in California.

Frank Morse received his education in the public schools of Stockton and remained with his parents until he was nineteen years of

age, when he was appointed engineer in the mines, working in that capacity for two years. He then returned to Stockton in order to take a two years' course in a business college and when he had completed it he again worked in the mines. Later he clerked in a general store for two years and during that time purchased an interest in an electric light plant. He became assistant manager of that enterprise, gaining during this period experience not only in the scientific aspects of his occupation but also in the details of the operation of a modern and progressive business establishment. When he married he sold out his interests and went to Clover- dale, where he established a plant of a similar character. In 1897 he went to Ukialı, formed a partnership with Mr. Montgomery and en- gaged in the operation of a large electric- light enterprise. After four years they moved the plant to Coquille and conducted it suc- cessfully until 1910, when it was completely destroyed by fire. Mr. Morse is now oper- ating a similar enterprise at Coquille and is furnishing light for that city and for Myrtle Point and Norway. He is progressive, ener- getic and successful and his plant is modern in all its equipment and accessories, and in- telligently and efficiently managed. He thus ranks among the enterprising business men of his district. He owns property in Coquille and also in Bandon.

On July 3, 1897, Mr. Morse was united in marriage to Miss Margaret M. Smith, who was born at Sebastopol, California. Her par- ents are deceased. They had three children, the wife of our subject and her two brothers, both of whom live in Saginaw, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Morse are the parents of four chil- dren: one who died in infancy; Philip and Ruth, twins, born in 1906; and Fred S., who was born January 26, 1912, and died August 3d of the same year. Mrs. Morse is a devout adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church. Frank Morse gives his political allegiance to the republican party but is not unusually active in public affairs, preferring to devote his entire time to commercial activity.

HARLEY E. MORRIS, who settled in Eugene in 1900, is a dealer in pianos, organs and other musical instruments and manager of the Postal Telegraphı & Cable Company in this city. He was born June 5, 1864, in Linn county, Oregon, his parents being George J and Elezanna (Cook) Morris. George J. Morris, the father, was born in Richmond, Kentucky, March 15, 1818, and Elezanna (Cook) Morris, the mother, was born in Cross Creek Village, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1825. She moved with her parents to Steubenville, Ohio, where she received her education in the Young Ladies Seminary, thence going to Clark county, Missouri, where she taught school and was married, February 13, 1844. The parents crossed the plains by ox team to Oregon, arriving here in the fall of 1853, and spending over six months on the journey. While en route one of their children, a boy, a year and a half old, was taken from them by the grim hand of death and they had to bury him on the road. They settled on a

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

government claim two miles east of Harris- burg, in Linn county, where the father gave his attention to agricultural pursuits and the mother taught school in their log cabin home for the benefit of the children of the neigh- borhood. George J. Morris and his wife helped to organize the first Christian church in Harrisburg, in which the father was a deacon. He passed away August 2, 1896, and the mother died January 9, 1903. They were the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living: Sarah R., the wife of W. M. Davidson, of Brownsville, Oregon; Minnie H., the wife of J. T. Dinwiddie, of Seattle, Wash- ington; Addie; L. A., a contractor of Eugene; Charles L., postmaster at Harrisburg, Oregon; Harley E., of this review; and Irene E., the wife of J. S. Porter, of Portland, Oregon.

Harley E. Morris was educated in the pub- lic schools at Harrisburg, and between school terms he assisted his father on the farm. His first venture in the commercial world was as traveling salesman for the Kohler & Chase Music House of Portland, Oregon, which position he held for about ten years, his terri- tory being the states of Oregon and Wash- ington. In 1900 he settled in Eugene and formed a partnership with George F. Craw, engaging in his present business as dealer in pianos, organs and musical instruments, under the firm name of Morris & Craw. Shortly after the firm was established he purchased the interest of his partner and became the sole owner of the business, which he has since conducted. The Morris Music House is today the largest and best known house of this kind in the valley south of Portland, and is factory distributer for goods put forth by the National Piano Company, of Boston, which line embraces the famous Briggs piano, the Merrill, Norris & Hyde, also the Mehlin & Sons and many other makes.

On the 18th of November, 1891, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Baker, a daughter of J. S. Baker, of Benton county, Oregon, whose parents had crossed the plains in the '40s. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris; an infant daughter, who died soon after birth; Beatrice Thecla; and Winnie Clarice. Mrs. Morris and her two daughters are members of the Con- gregational church of Eugene.

Fraternally Harley E. Morris is a charter member of Juniper Camp, No. 217, Woodmen of the World, of Harrisburg, Oregon, having passed through all the chairs, and having the distinction of holding the office of consul com- mander for two successive terms. He has transferred his membership to Eugene Camp, No. 115. He is also a member of Eugene Aerie, No. 275, Fraternal Order of Eagles, a charter member of the Eugene Commercial Club and a member of the Merchants Pro- tective Association.

ALBERT E. CLAYTON is a native son of Oregon and one of the substantial agricul- turists of Melrose and Coles Valley, Douglas county, where he owns three fine farms. He has been active in their management for many years and his systematic and progres-

sive methods of operation have made them finely developed and highly productive. He is now turning over the supervision of these tracts to his son. Mr. Clayton was born in the district where he now resides on June 17, 1857, and is a son of Ashford and Jemima (Harper) Clayton, natives of Ohio. They were married in Illinois whither they had previously removed and in 1852 crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon, spending six months upon the journey from the Mis- souri river to Portland. They arrived in the latter city about the 1st of October and pushed on to Douglas county, where they both took up donation claims of one hundred and sixty acres, each in Coles valley. Upon this they located and here they resided until their deaths, the father passing away in 1902, when he was seventy-seven years of age and his wife in 1890, in her sixtieth year. Ashford Clayton was a stanch republican in his polit- ical beliefs and while he never sought public office he was an influential factor in his party's councils. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Albert E. Clayton was reared at home and acquired his education in the public schools. Upon reaching his twenty-first year he took upon himself the operation and management of the home farm and for two years he was successful as a practical agriculturist. At the end of that time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his father's dona- tion claim and upon this he lived for twenty years, cultivating the soil according to the most approved principles and becoming in- creasingly prosperous. At the end of that time he removed to Melrose and a short time later bought one hundred and sixty acres in that vicinity which is now accounted the finest ranch in Douglas county. Mr. Clayton is still the owner of both of these tracts of land and is also the proprietor of his mother's donation claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He has given his personal attention and efforts to making his holdings productive and profitable and has spent over a quarter of a century in agricultural pur- suits. He is now relaxing in his more arduous labors and is turning over the principal ac- tivities in connection with his ranches to his son.

In 1883 Mr. Clayton was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma Hawn, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Woodruff) Hawn, early pioneers in the settlement of the Sacramento valley, California, who came to Oregon in 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have been born four children: Margaret Elizabeth, the wife of E. H. Stivers of Portland, Oregon; William E., who for the past nine years has been a teacher in commercial colleges and the high schools of San Francisco and Santa Clara, California, but who is now active in the management of his father's lands; Effie Violet, who married W. F. Drew, an architect and builder, of Oakland, California; and Dora Grace, who holds the position of bookkeeper in the Roseburg National Bank.

Mr. Clayton was a republican, but is now independent, and while he has never sought public office his interest in education has led

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him to accept a position on the local school board where he lias served for the past six- teen years and has given his undoubted talents and abilities to the cause of education and has given all his children an excellent high- school and business course. He is a member of Rising Star Lodge, of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, of Roseburg. Mrs. Clay- ton is a devout adherent of the Christian Science church. Albert E. Clayton is one of the progressive and substantial agriculturists of the section and his policy has always been to expand and develop his holdings in an in- telligent way. His ranches have been im- proved constantly and are now numbered among the private enterprises which are also valuable as state resources.

CHARLES A. PERKINS. A model hotel in its intricate operations is a mammoth undertaking when run successfully. No one can question the administrative ability of Charles A. Perkins, manager and director of the Gardiner Hotel of Gardiner, Oregon, who sees his smoothly running enterprise operated without noise or confusion along the most progressive and modern principles of inn- keeping. Mr. Perkins is a native son of Ore- gon, having been born in Gardiner, Douglas county, on July 6, 1866. He is a son of Solomon A. and Catherine (Elliott) Perkins, the former a native of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the latter of New York state. Mr. Perkins' mother came with her parents when she was a girl nine years of age to San Francisco. Her father, Thomas Elliott, was captain of the vessel which brought him and his family around the Horn in 1856. He located in San Francisco and continued the seafaring life for many years. He was the first man to sail a vessel into the port of Umpqua which was later called Gardiner. He lost his vessel in attempting to cross the bar. His ship foundered on the south beach and was completely disabled. In 1865 Thomas Elliott removed his family to Gardiner, Ore- gon, where he resided until his death. Mr. Elliott was one of the sturdy pioneers in the early settlement of the state of Oregon. He was the man who helped Silas Hedden carry L. L. Williams, who had been shot by the Indians at the mouth of the Coquille river up that stream to Scottsburg in order to obtain medical aid. Mr. Elliott died in 1907 after having passed his ninetieth year. His death deprived Douglas county of a man of keen and constructive intelligence whose labors, always directed along developing lines, had been a conspicuous factor in progress and growth.

Solomon A. Perkins, the father of our sub- ject, came west to California from New Brunswick when he was a young man and in the early '50s worked in the red woods of that state. He gave his entire active life to the logging industry. In 1865 he came to Gardiner, Oregon, in company with Thomas Elliott and later married his daughter Cather- ine with whom he resided in Gardiner until four years previous to his deatlı when he re- moved to Portland where he passed away in

January, 1911. llis wife is still living and maintains her home in Portland.

Charles A. Perkins was reared at home and acquired a limited education in the public schools of Gardiner. The facilities which the city offered in this line were extremely primi- tive. The schools opened for instruction only three months in the year and were then car- ried on in a haphazard way. From early boyhood Charles Perkins was accustomed to work in the logging woods of Oregon during the time not occupied by his studies and as early as his fifteenth year was drawing a man's wages. His advancement was rapid and continuous and in the seventeen years of his labor in the logging wood he gained an expert and scientific knowledge of the details of lumbering and the method of oper- ation in the great camps in the northern part of the state. In April, 1898, he abandoned his original line of occupation and accepted a position in the life saving station at the mouth of the Coquille river where he re- mained in the service until September, 1901. In that year he returned to Gardiner and bought the old Gardiner Hotel which he con- ducted along modern and progressive lines with gratifying success for a number of years. On March 15, 1910, he sold his property and was appointed superintendent of the build- ing of the new cannery belonging to the Ump- qua 'Cooperative Packing Company, in which he is a stockholder and director. In the fol- lowing year his executive ability and business discernment earned him the position of man- ager of the concern and he was active in this line until 1911 when the new Gardiner Hotel was built and in March of the following year Mr. Perkins was made its manager, and is also a heavy stockholder and director. Dur- ing the short period of his administration he has shown himself to be thoroughly conver- sant with the many details connected with modern innkeeping in all its aspects. He has made the hotel which he manages one of the most modern enterprises of its kind in south- ern Oregon and has gained for the manage- ment a reputation for courtesy and considera- tion in every particular. The patrons of the hotel are increasing in number every year as they become acquainted with the comforts and luxuries to be obtained there. The build- ing is equipped with hot and cold running water and is lighted by acetylene gas. It offers all modern conveniences and is known throughout Douglas county as a thoroughly progressive and up-to-date hostelry.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 50

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