The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 51

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

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In 1891 Mr. Perkins was united in mar- riage to Miss Julia Murphy, a native of Callais, Maine, and a daughter of George E. Murphy. who came to Gardiner in 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have been born two children : Clifford A., who was graduated from a four years' business course in Columbia University. Portland, Oregon, in 1911; and Flovd Francis, now pursuing the same line of studies in the Columbia University.

In his political views Mr. Perkins is a re- publican and actively interested in furthering the progress and development of his section of the country. His wife is a devout ad- herent of the Roman Catholic church and is

SOLOMON A. PERKINS

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

well known in Gardiner as an exemplary and high-minded woman.

Charles Perkins in the management of the Gardiner Hotel is building up an enviable reputation as a practical innkeeper. He pos- sesses a shrewd and discriminating mind, a capacity for detail, combined with broad com- prehension, an economic knowledge of modern food values and a specialized grasp of the art of hotel-keeping which amounts almost to an inborn talent.

EARL E. ELLIOTT, who is extensively en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Eagle Creek, where he is also postmaster, was born at Damascus, Oregon; on the 13th of August, 1877, a son of Eli and Ophelia A. (Caton) Elliott. His paternal grandparents were natives of Tennessee and his mother's parents were born in Kentucky. The father was one of nine children and the mother was one of a family of seven. Mr. and Mrs. Eli Elliott were married in 1861, and to their union seven children were born: Albian B. of Powell Valley, Oregon, who is married and has three children, Ruby, Harold and Elsie; John C. of Damascus, Oregon, who is married and has four daughters, Nellie, Ber- nice, Mabel and Geneva; Edward L., also of Powell Valley, who is married and has four children, Ray, Ruth, May and William; Frank W., who is living in Alaska; Earl E., who is the subject of this review; Lulu M., who is the wife of Charles Simmons of Gresham, Oregon, and the mother of three children, Allen, Earl and Edward; and Florence I., who is the wife of H. F. Wihlon of Powell Valley, and has two children, Esther and Frances.

Earl E. Elliott acquired his education in the public schools of Damascus, where he studied until he was thirteen years of age. At that time his parents removed to Powell Valley and he entered the schools of that district and was a student there until he was twenty-one years of age. After graduating he taught school in Highland, Clackamas county, for two years before entering upon a normal course at Monmouth College. Fol- lowing the completion of his college course he went into his father's store in Powell Valley as a partner. He remained there until 1904. but in that year removed to Eagle Creek and opened a general merchandise store. Since his advent into the commercial circles of Eagle Creek he has built up a large busi- ness, carrying a complete stock of general merchandise. In addition to his store he has also interested himself in real estate and is at present the owner of not only his store and residence but also a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, ninety acres of which have been brought under a high state of produc- tivity, while the balance is in timber. This farm is located three miles east of Eagle Creek and is valued at twenty thousand dol- lars. When he came to Eagle Creek Mr. Elliott had only thirty-five hundred dollars in cash, but after beginning business his finances at once began to increase. During the first year he did about eighty-five hun- dred dollars worth of business and he is now doing from fourteen to fifteen thousand dol-

lars worth per year. He has sold more than one hundred thousand dollars worth of goods during his eight years he has been conducting his store, and during all that time has so managed his business that he has made him- self one of the most valued citizens of the community. He seems to possess natural ability for dealing with the public and be- cause of his careful study of the needs and requirements of his customers he has made his store one of the most important assets of the commercial enterprises in Eagle Creek.

On the 22d of January, 1902, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Mary E. Jones, a daugh- ter of N. J. and Annie (Bartlett) Jones, of Kansas. In politics Mr. Elliott gives his support to the democratic party, and although he is thoroughly alive to the issues of the day and is a sympathizer and supporter of the policies of his party he has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. For twelve years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Gresham.

JAMES BERRY COLE, who has been a resi- dent of Klamath county for more than two decades, is the owner of two ranches of one hundred and sixty acres each and in their operation has met with gratifying success. making a specialty of potato culture. His birth occurred near Sedalia, Missouri, on the 10th of March, 1866, his parents being Leon- ard and Louisa A. (Spence) Cole. The father was a native of Boone county, Missouri, while the mother's birth occurred near Sedalia, that state. During the infancy of their son James, they took up their abode in Christian county, Illinois, and about six years later removed to Dallas county, Texas, settling on a

ranch fifteen miles south of the city of Dallas. Leonard Cole there passed away on the 5th of April, 1910, when eighty-five years of age, but is survived by his widow, who makes her home at Wheat- land, Texas. General agricultural pursuits claimed his attention throughout his active business career. He learned the saddler's trade in early life and later familiarized him- self with the occupation of plasterer. but found the work of the fields more congenial and as a farmer won prosperity. To him were born four children. as follows: Charles, who is a resident of Happy Camp, Siskiyou county, California; James Berry, of this re- view ; Thomas, living in Dallas county, Texas ; and Edward, of Eagle Ford, Texas.

James Berry Cole remained under the pa- rental roof until twenty-two years of age and in 1888 made his way to San Diego; California. A short time later he took up his abode in Dixon, that state, working on a ranch for a few years. In 1891 he came to the Klamath basin in Klamath county, Ore- gon, and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and still owns. Subsequently he purchased his present home ranch of one hundred and sixty acres. which he operates in connection with the former, devoting his attention to general farming with excellent results. During a number of years he was a "buccaro," riding

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

after cattle for many years. For the past three years he has owned and operated a threshing machine. He makes a specialty of potato culture and in the season of 1912 planted eighty acres to that vegetable. Through the successful conduct of his agri- cultural interests he has won a reputation as one of the substantial and representative citizens of his community. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 172 at Dixon, California.

JOHN D. BENNETT, who successfully oper- ates his tract of seventy-five acres of land in Coos county where lie is also active as a ranclıman and a carpenter and builder, was born in Illinois in May, 1848. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Baker) Bennett, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. In the last mentioned state their marriage occurred and to their union were born ten children, six of whom are still living. The surviving members of the family are: Mary, the wife of Mr. Peck of Spokane, Wash- ington; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Jenkins of Bandon, Oregon; George Washington, who is living in Texas; Orange S., who is a traveling salesman of South Dakota; Samuel A., who lives in Spokane; and John D., the subject of this sketch.

John D. Bennett started in independent life when he was extremely young. He was raised in Indiana and Minnesota and educated in the public schools of those states. He left home when he was twenty-three years of age and came to Oregon. His residence in this state dates from 1871. In boyhood he had learned the carpenter's trade and was active in this line of occupation for some time. He later took up land in Oregon, near the Washington boundary line, which he im- proved and developed for four years but eventually established himself in sawmill operation on the Coquille river. His mill he brought to a prosperous condition and then sold it to Binger Herman. Mr. Bennett en- tered the employ of Mr. Herman and operated the sawmill for a salary for a short time. He then took up carpentering again, making a specialty of bridge work and has never dis- continued this occupation although he has also engaged in the cultivation of soil. He bought seventy-five acres of land near Gravel Ford in 1887 and has since operated it along modern and approved lines. He specializes in dairying and breeds and raises his own cows. He has twenty-five acres of land under cul- tivation and rich harvests of hay, grain and garden produce reward his enterprise and dili- gence every year. He is numbered among the representative agriculturists of Coos county.

In 1877 Mr. Bennett was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Belle Bunch, a native of Kansas and a daughter of James C. and Mary (Saunders) Bunch, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Bennett is one of ten children born to her parents, nine of whom are still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Ben- nett have been born seven children: William, educated in the district schools of Coos county

and for many years a prominent agriculturist in that region who upon his death left a widow who in her maidenhood was Miss Alice Heartley; Edna M., deceased; Charles R., a dentist of Pasco, Washington; Arthur R., engaged in general agriculture in Gravel Ford; Ray R., a teacher in the public schools of Coos Bay; Eva M., attending school; and Lois L., who is also pursuing her studies.

Mr. Bennett is a republican and actively interested in local affairs although he never seeks public office. He belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist church and is well known in religious circles. He has assisted to the best of his ability and with gratifying success in the slow process of development which has made Coos county one of the most productive sections of Oregon and has added that state to the rich and prosperous communities of America.

WILLIAM WESLEY TRAYLOR is follow- ing general farming in the Hard Scrabble district of Douglas county, and as a land owner and practical farmer has gained success which has come gradually and been natural evolution. He was born in Josephine county, Oregon, on October 12, 1859, and is a son of James N. and Eliza (Woodcock) Traylor, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Traylor was reared at home and educated in the common schools of Jose- phine county. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age and at that time commenced his active life. He has been identified with agriculture since the beginning of his career. For four or five years he worked for wages upon a neighbor- ing farm and acquired in this time a knowl- edge of the systems and methods which make farming practicable and lucrative. He was ambitious and economical and had soon saved a sufficient sum to rent a farm. His land was located in Jackson county and he brought it to a high state of cultivation before he came to Douglas county where for some time he rented land near Elkton. After a short period he purchased one hundred and ninety. eight acres adjoining his present farm but later sold this tract and bought the land which he now occupies. His holdings comprise three hundred and fourteen acres of productive and fertile land in the Hard Scrabble district of Douglas county, and by practical and efficient methods and personal supervision of all the details of his enterprise, he has brought it to a highly developed and improved state.

On the 19th of October, 1883, Mr. Traylor was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Powell, a native of Oregon and a daughter of Samuel Powell, a pioneer in the settlement of the state of Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Traylor have been born four children: James, who is in partnership with his father; Julia, the wife of Ivan Haines, of Loraine, Oregon; and Millie and Edna, at home.

Mr. Traylor is a democrat in his political views and keeps himself well informed upon public questions. He and his wife affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church and are well known in the affairs of that organization. Influenced always by the most practical and

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

scientific methods and guided by high ideals Mr. Traylor has, through his own well directed efforts, worked his way upward until he is today placed among the worthy and prom- inent agriculturists of Douglas county.

E. R. C. WILLIAMS, a ranchman residing five and a half miles southeast of Klamath Falls, is the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of land in Klamath county. His birth occurred in Attala county, Mississippi, on the 10th of October, 1862, his parents being Ben- jamin and Sally (McMath) Williams, both of whom died when our subject was but an infant. The McMath family owned a part of the present site of Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Williams had six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom Mr. Williams of this review is the only survivor.

E. R. C. Williams spent the first twenty years of his life in his native state. He was reared in the home of his grandmother until ten years of age, when the latter died and left him to make his own way in the world. In 1885 he came to Oregon, reaching Klamath county on the 20th of June of that year. Throughout the intervening twenty-seven years he has remained in that county and has lived on a ranch in the Klamath basin. He makes a specialty of dairying and has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as an enterprising and prosperous agriculturist. His holdings embrace one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land.

In 1890 Mr. Williams was joined in wed- lock to Miss Mary H. Bryant, who was born in Missouri on the 12th of November, 1871, and arrived in this state with her parents on the 19th of March, 1889. A sketch of her father, Rev. J. W. Bryant, appears on an- other page of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born seven children, as follows: J. L. Ferd; Robton, who passed away at the age of three years; Sally W .; William M .; Mary Z .; Bryant R .; and George Louis. All were born in Klamatlı county.

The democratic party has received Mr. Williams' loyal support since age first con- ferred upon him the right of franchise. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Epis- copal church, the teachings of which he ex- emplifies in his daily life. He has the courage of his convictions and is recognized as a man of strict integrity, whom neither fear nor favor can swerve from a course which he be- lieves to be right. His record is an excellent illustration of the power of industry and perseverance in the attainment of success.

REV. JOHN WALLACE BRYANT. A tract of land of ninety acres constitutes the home place of the Rev. John Wallace Bryant, who with the exception of a period of three years has resided continuously in Klamath county since January, 1889. His land has greatly increased in value and his attention is now largely given to the raising of chickens. He was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, July 19, 1847, his parents being Elijah London and Mary A. (McConnell) Bryant, who were

also natives of that state. The maternal grandparents removed from North Carolina to Tennessee and the paternal grandfather, Eli- jah Bryant, was a native of England, whence he crossed the Atlantic with a brother and settled in North Carolina. Following the war Elijah L. Bryant, the father, removed with his family to Hart county, Kentucky, and was there drowned in 1865, when about fifty- five years of age, his birth having occurred in 1811. He was a carpenter and cabinet-maker and was a skilled workman. His wife, who was born in 1811, died when nearly eighty years of age. In their family were twelve children, one of whom, William Bryant, was a captain of the Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment during the Civil war, espousing the cause of the Confederacy at an early period in hostilities. He went out with one hun- dred and ten men and returned with only nine. All these were crippled, and Captain Bryant almost lost his life at Murfreesboro. He participated in most of the important battles of Mississippi and Virginia and was captured at Richmond. James L. Bryant was soldier of the Twenty-second Tennessee Infantry and afterward reenlisted under Cap- tain Forest, doing scout duty. Of the twelve children of the family, four sons and three daughters are yet living.

The Rev. John W. Bryant resided at home with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he married and went to Missouri but afterward returned to Kentucky. Later he resided for a time in Tennessee and sub- sequently in Arkansas, whence he came to Oregon. When twenty-seven years of age he began preaching regularly as a minister of the Methodist church, but in 1896 united with the Congregational church and entered the denomination as pastor. His religious in- struction proved a tangible force for good in the various communities in which he made his home. He removed from Arkansas to Ore- gon in January, 1889, and has since resided in Klamath county with the exception of two years spent in Jackson and one year in Josephine county. He has been interested in ranching most of his life and sold a ranch in Arkansas before he came to the northwest. When he arrived here he homesteaded on Lost river, Klamath county, securing one hun- dred and sixty acres of land which he still owns. He proved up on two hundred acres of desert land, which he sold. He now owns and resides on a ranch of ninety acres not far from Klamath Falls. This was formerly a tract of one hundred and sixty-two and a half acres but he gave his son a portion of this. It is situated on the Lakeview road, a mile from the corporation limits of the town. Something of the increase in property values in this district is indicated in the fact that while he paid four and a half dollars per acre for the land in 1900, he has since re- fused two hundred dollars per acre for it. He also has one hundred and sixty-three acres in another tract and forty acres in still an- other tract on Lost river. He now makes a specialty of raising pedigreed chickens and has upon his place many of the finest fowls produced in this section of the country.

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

On the 23d of December, 1869, in Kentucky, the Rev. J. W. Bryant was married to Miss Sarah N. De Witt, who was born in Hart county, Kentucky, and there resided until her marriage. She is a daughter of the Rev. N. C. and H. A. (Markham) De Witt, who were natives of Bedford county, Virginia, and were married there. Two children were born unto the parents ere their removal to Kentucky, where both the father and mother passed away. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and during the last sixteen years of his life he served as assessor of Hart county, Kentucky. Two of the great-grandfathers of Mrs. Bryant were soldiers of the Revolution- ary war and her grandfathers were both soldiers of the War of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have been born the following children: Mamie H., the wife of E. R. C. Williams, of Klamath county; Emily B., the wife of J. H. Farrar, of Ashland, Oregon; James L., who passed away at Medford when a youth of nineteen; William N., whose de- mise occurred at Medford when he was six- teen years of age; Theo J., a resident of New Mexico; Elijah C., who died in infancy; Ella B., the wife of Leon Lewis, of Klamath county; Mrs. Sally W. Curran, who lives at home; and John Franklin De Witt, who was born in this state and is yet under the pa- rental roof.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are strong tem- perance people and belong to families that have long been total abstainers. In politics he is a stanch democrat and his fraternal relations are with the Masons, the Eastern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Good Templars. He has ever sought tò conform his life to those principles of truth and honor which uplift the individual and to those teachings which recognize the brotherhood of mankind and the obligation of the individual to his fellows. By example as well as by precept he has pointed out to others the best way of life and his course has at all times awakened honorable regard.

CARL LOUIS ALBRECHT is one of the large landowners of Coos county, Oregon, having an undivided third interest in a valu- able tract of agricultural land comprising a total of six hundred and forty acres. He was born in Bremen, Germany, on May 29, 1872, and is the son af Carl Henry and Hermania S. (Windler) Albrecht. His parents were both natives of Germany who emigrated to Am- erica in 1883, reaching New York harbor on April 10 of that year. Immediately upon reaching American shores they continued their journey to the Pacific coast and settled at Marshfield in Coos county, this state. on May 10, 1883. Carl Henry Albrecht was by trade and occupation a shoemaker and had accumu- lated during his industrious and economical life a very large amount of personal and real property, of which he was possessed at the time of his death, which occurred in 1895, as did also the death of his wife. To Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht five children were born: Jennie, the wife of Robert Kruger, of Marsh-

field, by whom she has five children; Carl Louis, of this review; Herman, who is de- ceased; and two who died in infancy.

Carl Louis Albrecht was reared in his father's home and educated in the district schools. He began life for himself at the age of eighteen as an employe of a steamboat company at Coos Bay and continued in this occupation until 1891, after which he was employed by a railroad corporation as one of a party in the surveying department of that company and continued to be so employed for two years. Their field of operations during that time was largely confined to the terri- tory of Arizona. After severing his connec- tion with the railroad company he was en- gaged in the employ of a river and harbor contracting company, with which he remained for four years, after which he was employed by a surveying company operating in Mexico. While in the employ of that concern he was engaged in topographical work and continued in that occupation for nearly a year, during which time his health became impaired and he, on that account, returned to Coos Bay and at once was engaged as the foreman for a fruit-drying company for one year and was afterward employed by the Simpson Lumber Company to survey for that concern a log- ging road, and since the date of his first en- gagement with that concern he has continued in the employ of that company. He is now the owner of a third interest in six hundred and forty acres of valuable agricultural land in this state.

On the 24th of December, 1901, in Marsh- field, this state, Mr. Albrecht was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Warner. a daugh- ter of William and Laura (Phillips) Warner. who were natives of Indiana and Missouri respectively. Both the father and mother of Mrs. Albrecht crossed the plains with their respective parents when they were children and upon reaching maturity their wedding was celebrated in this state, where her father purchased the donation claim of William Row- land and continued to live upon that property until the time of his death. which occurred in 1899. To Mr. and Mrs. Warner four chil- dren were born: John C., of Myrtle Point. this state, who lives on the old donation claim purchased by his father: Mary C., the wife of William Wise, of Myrtle Point; Wil- liam. also of Myrtle Point; and Mrs. Fannie E. Albrecht. To Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht one child has been born, Vera L., her birth hav- ing occurred January 22. 1903. She is now in attendance at the public school.

Mr. Albrecht is a loyal adherent of the ro- publican party. He has served three years as city councilman. his last term having re- cently expired. During his time of service as city councilman practically all of the harbor dredging and street paving and other import- ant municipal improvements in Marshfield were started and many of them completed before the expiration of his last year's ser- vice in the council. Both he and his wife are members of the Fraternal Union. Their residence is located at 215 North Fourth street. Marshfield, Coos county, this state. Carl Louis Albrecht is distinguished among.

CARL L. ALBRECHT AND FAMILY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

his fellows for his public-spirit and the sup- port he gives to the development and improve- ment of his community. He is an earnest, capable and trustworthy business man and recognized as one of the leading citizens of Coos county and the city of Marshfield.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 51

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