The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 52

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

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HON. JOSEPH DE WITT MATLOCK. The life history of the Hon. Joseph De Witt Mat- lock forms a connecting link between the primitive pioneer past and the progressive present. He came to Oregon when all this district had every evidence of frontier life; he also lived and conducted business in Alaska during that period when it was just entering upon the commercial and industrial activity that has wrought such marvelous changes there in the past two or three dec- ades. He has been no mere idle witness of all that has occurred but a most helpful fac- tor in the work of progress and improvement of the northwest in a material way, while upon its political history he has also left the impress of his ability and individuality. He is now living retired in Eugene, well meriting the rest that crowns his former labors. He has passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Benton county, Tennessee, March S. 1839. His father. Edward Lane Matlock, was a. farmer of that locality for many years al- though a native of the state of Georgia. In the fall of 1839 he removed with his family to Dade county. Missouri, where he not only continued in the occupation of farming but was also prominent in the public life of the community, serving for one term as county judge. In 1853, attracted by the glowing stories of the golden west, he came to Ore- gon, settling north of Goshen, in Lane county. upon a donation claim of two hundred and ninety-six acres. For nine years thereafter his time and labors were devoted to the cul- tivation and improvement of that tract of land. Like the great majority of settlers in this section, however, he attempted to win a fortune in the mines, following the dis- covery of the rich mineral resources of the state. In 1862 he went to the mines at Florence and the following year to the Boise basin, but in the latter year contracted lung fever, which caused his death. July 1, 1863, when he was forty-six years of age, his birth having occurred April 18, 1817. He had served as a wagon master in the Rogue River Indian war of 1855-56 and in many ways was prominently and helpfully connected with the pioneer development of the state. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan C. Fry, was born in North Carolina, December 3, 1815, and died in Heppner, Oregon, May 11, 1896. In the family were seven sons and a daughter: Caswell Jolin A .. who was a sol- dier of the Rogue River Indian war and is now owner of a ranch in Morrow county, Oregon; Joseph De Witt. of this review; James W., formerly sheriff of Marion county and now a resident of Heppner; Edward Lane. who died in Heppner while serving as sheriff of the county; William F., a capitalist of Pendleton,, Oregon, who served for two terms in the state senate and was a major general

of the Oregon National Guard; Thomas J .. a ranchman of Heppner; Benjamin F .. who died in Morrow county; and Sarah, who be- came the wife of Lee Greenwood and died in Eugene.

Joseph De Witt Matlock began his educa- tion in the schools of Dade county, Missouri. His father was a man of public spirit in that community and had borne half the expense of maintaining a school in his district. The son was fourteen years of age when the fam- ily started across the plains in April, 1853. They traveled with ox teams and had a large number of loose cattle, which the boy drove, walking the entire distance from the Mis- sissippi valley to the northwest. The family brought with them six or seven wagons and completed the journey with no unusual oc- currences save the incidents and hardships which always featured in such a trip. They followed the old Oregon trail until they reached Fort Boise and thence came by Meek's cutoff, which led along the Malheur river to the big lakes. Two weeks were consumed in going around the lakes. They also crossed the desert, where their supply of water be- came exhausted. They afterward crossed the Deschutes river and at length reached what is known as the Military road. While en route they were forced to cross the Willam- ette river nineteen different times but at length reached their destination on the 26th of October, 1853.

In his boyhood days J. De W. Matlock worked on his father's farm for several years: At times he had the opportunity of continu- ing his education in the common schools of Goshen and in the Eugene high school. He next entered Columbia College but the school building was destroyed by fire while he was still a student there. He afterward continued his studies in the high school at Cornelius, Oregon, this ending his work in the class- room. In 1862 he went to the mines at Florence, where he met with fair success, after which he returned to Lane county.

In the fall of that year Mr. Matlock wedded Elizabeth E. Rutledge, who was born in Illi- nois, November 9, 1844, and was brought .to Oregon in 1853. The young couple began their domestic life on a farm seven miles southeast of Eugene, Mr. Matlock purchas- ing one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated until the death of his wife in 1864. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years, and within that time he was elected county superintendent of public instruction, in which capacity he served for a term. He preferred commercial interests, however, and on his ~ retirement from office engaged in pork pack- ing and in general merchandising at Pleasant Hill, Lane county. After twenty months, however, he again took up his abode upon a farm, selecting eight hundred and fifty acres in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, whereon he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising for fifteen years. He met with excellent success in that undertaking and within the period of time designated had won a very gratifying little fortune. He then sold his property and removed to Eugene, but

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he did not retire permanently at that time from business life. On the contrary, he be- came identified with commercial interests, purchasing the store of T. G. Hendricks in 1884. Two years afterward he erected at the corner of Willamette and Eighth streets a handsome three-story business block, to which he removed his stock of goods, there successfully continuing in business until 1896, when he sold out and prepared to go to Alaska. He was en route for that country in January, 1898, going first to Skagway, after which he engaged in business at Lake Bennett, British Columbia, for two years. He sold out there with the intention of moving his stock to Dawson and proceeded down the Yukon river, taking his goods with him on flatboats. While en route he lost about two thousand dollars through the sinking of a boat in a storm, for, although he succeeded in raising the boat, the stock was almost worthless. In Dawson he again embarked in general merchandising but after eighteen months closed out his store there and re- turned to Eugene, making, the trip down the Yukon river to St. Michael and thence to Nome. He is now practically living retired, although he owns valuable property interests in this part of the state, including five hun- dred acres about five miles from Eugene, which is devoted to stock-raising. For many years he was interested in the Eugene Lum- ber Company as one of its directors. In busi- ness matters his judgment has ever been found to be sound and reliable and his enterprise unfaltering. Prosperity has crowned his labors, enabling him to live retired in the en- joyment of rest which has been truly earned and is richly deserved.

Having lost his first wife, Mr. Matlock married her half-sister, Louisa Rutledge, who was' born in Illinois, April 1, 1851, and died in Eugene, July 17, 1891. He later wedded Mrs. Sarah Durant, the widow of William Durant. She was born in Indiana, August 15, 1843, and became a resident of Oregon in 1874. Her father was Samuel Lowe, a native of Ireland, who, on coming to America, followed farming near Omaha, Nebraska, for a considerable period and after he retired made his home in that city until his death. The first husband of Mrs. Matlock was a merchant of Eugene, who died in 1887. Of the six children born of their union five are now deceased, while a daughter, Jennie, is the wife of Robert M. Pratt, of Eugene. Mr. Matlock is the father of twelve children: Elizabeth, the wife of S. C. Smith, of Eugene; Edis De Witt; Caswell C .; Lulu S., who died in Eugene; Louisa C., the wife of George Randebusch, of Los Angeles; Bertha, the wife of E. E. Emmons, of Dawson, British Colum- bia; Mary M., who died in Eugene; Joseph Frye; Frankie and William, who have passed away; Eugene; and Hazel, also deceased.

Mr. Matlock is well known as a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Eugene Lodge, No. 11, F. & A. M .; Eugene Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Com. mandery, No. 2, K. T .; the consistory; and Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a past noble grand of Spencer Butte

Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F .; and belongs to Wima whala Encampment. His religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the Chris- tian church. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and is a broad-minded citizen, whose efforts have been an effective force for progress and improvement in the communities in which he has lived. In 1874 lie was elected on the democratic ticket to. the state legislature and he was chosen mayor of Eugene for two terms, or six years. He also served as a member of the city council for ten years more and has been chairman of the street commissioners and health com- missioners. He was mayor and the moving spirit when the power plant on the McKinzie and waterworks of Eugene were put in, and laid the foundation for the city electric light- ing system, all of which the city now owns. It took him eight years, as mayor and coun- cilman, to accomplish these things, owing to- the opposition of capitalists and corpora- tions who owned these public utilities. He was instrumental in having a committee ap- pointed to look after these various measures and was the chief factor in bringing to pass- the movements which have proved beneficial to the city. He has acted as chairman of the Lane county democratic central committee and was a member of the first congressional district committee of his party. His inter- ests and activities have touched the various phases of life which are factors in progress and improvement. He has ever kept abreast with the thinking men of the age, has held to high ideals and yet has utilized the most practical methods in their accomplishment. It -would be difficult to determine wherein has been the field of his greatest usefulness, yet all acknowledge the value of his service along many lines, honoring him for what lie has accomplished and for the public-spirited devotion which he has displayed to the city and state of his adoption.

NICKOLAUS BECKER. Germany has fur- nished many of the thrifty and substantial citizens of Marion county. Among these Nickolaus Becker, who conducts a harness store in Woodburn, stands prominent. His birth occurred in the fatherland on the 2d of August, 1848, his parents being Johanas and Mary (Mueller) Becker, both of whom were born in Germany but came to America in 1874. After their arrival in this country they settled in Wisconsin for a short time previous to going to Nebraska where they remained until their deaths, which occurred at the ages of ninety-eight and sixty respec- tively. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, three of whom passed away in Germany, the others being: Jacob A., a resident of Idaho; Mary, who still makes her home in Germany; Nickolaus, who is the subject of this review; Michael, a resident of Kansas; and Mrs. Bogner of Nebraska.

In 1872, at the age of twenty-four years, Nickolaus Becker left his native land and came to America. Previous to his departure he had received a good common-school educa- tion and had served as a soldier in the Franco-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

Prussian war. His first residence in America was in Wisconsin, but after a few years he removed to Nebraska and two years later, in 1879, took up his residence in Grand Island, that state. In this latter city he managed a harness store which eventually became a wholesale harness and shoe finding establish- ment and which he conducted for twenty-two years. In 1901 he removed to Woodburn, Ore- gon, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He purchased a farm of thirty acres, a mile and a half from Woodburn and for four years he was engaged in the cultivation and man- agement of this property. At the end of that time his sons, Edward A., and Anthony J., took charge of it, and at the same time Mr. Becker again engaged in the harness business, this time opening a store in Woodburn which is now conducted by himself and his son, George N. He has met with great success in this line and has a good knowledge of leather goods. His practical judgment and business ability have enabled him to work up a profit- able trade, and also to give complete satis- faction to those who are numbered among his patrons. He also owns one quarter block of valuable business property in Woodburn which is proving a good investment.

On the 14th of January, 1879, Mr. Becker was married to Miss Barbara Bogner, whose birth occurred in Missouri and who was a daughter of Christopher Bogner. The father is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and came to America when a young man. He first set- tled in Missouri where the death of his wife occurred and later, in 1870, he removed to Nebraska, where he resided until his death in 1890. Mrs. Bogner was one of ten chil- dren, six of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker seven children have been born. George N., the eldest, was born on the 3d of February, 1880, and is married to Salina Eckhout, a native of Michigan and the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Eckhout, the former a native of Belgium and the latter of Germany. They are both residing in Woodburn. George Becker is in partnership with his father in the harness-making business in Woodburn. John H., the second son, was born in Septem- ber 1882, and is residing in Portland where he conducts a dry-goods business at Twelfth and Washington streets. Edward A. was born in 1886, and is a resident of Marion county where he lives upon his farm and is also engaged in the manufacture of cigars. He cultivates and raises all the tobacco which he uses in making his cigars. Clara M., who is living at home, was born in 1888. Anthony Joseph and Lucy M. E. were born in 1892 and 1893 respectively, and are also living at home. Elizabeth died at the age of nine years.

In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Becker are Catholics, holding membership in the Roman Catholic church which they and their family attend. During his residence in Woodburn, Mr. Beeker has shown himself to be a reliable and public-spirited citizen. He cooperates in many movements for the general good, and is particularly interested in developing the busi- ness interests of the county. He is an active

and willing worker and stands high in the regard of all who know him while his acquain- tances cover a wide territory because of the extent of his business interests.

PALMER AYRES owns and operates a ranch of five hundred and fifty acres, located five miles north of Eugene. where for over forty years he has engaged in agricultural pursuits. His birth occurred in Iowa, in 1848, his parents being Eli and Ruth (Stevens) Ayres, both of whom are deceased, the mother having passed away in Washington, in 1882. The father, who was a minister of the Bap- . tist church, was a native of England, but the mother was born in Canada. They were mar- ried in Illinois but subsequently removed to Iowa. After the death of the father the mother married again, her second union be- ing with Sampson Shaw, and together with her husband and family crossed the plains in an emigrant train to Oregon in 1864. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, of whom our subject is the youngest. The others in order of birth are as follows: Sarah R., the widow of D. M. Kerby, of Dayton, Wash- ington; W. E., who is also a resident of Day- ton; Amelia and Charles, both of whom are deceased; and J. A., who lives in Harrisburg, Linn county, Oregon. There were two chil- dren born of the second marriage: Grace, who died young; and Abel, who lives in Idaho.

The first sixteen years in the life of Pal- mer Ayres were passed in his native state, whence he removed with his mother and step- father to Oregon in 1864. In December of the following year he located in Lane county, and for a time attended school in Eugene. At the age of eighteen years, he started out to' make his own way in the world, and dur- ing the succeeding seven years devoted his energies to teaching in the country schools and followed such other occupations as af- forded him the means of earning an honest living. Upon attaining his majority he was married and two years later he invested. his earnings in one hundred and sixty acres of land that formed the nucleus of his present ranch. He immediately settled upon his place and has ever since devoted his energies to its further improvement and cultivation. He has prospered in his undertakings and has extended the boundaries of his ranch until it now embraces five hundred and fifty acres, one hundred and forty of which are under cultivation.

Mr. Ayres was married on the 22d of March, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Benson. the youngest child of Edward S. and Sarah (Tandy) Benson, both of whom are deceased. They were the parents of five children, the others being as follows: Rebecca, Francis and Emily, all of whom are deceased; and Damaris, the wife of M. M. Gillespie, of Lane county. The father, who was a Baptist minister. died when Mrs. Avres was a child. The mother crossed the plains with her mother and brothers in 1851, and located in Lane county near Mrs. Avres' present home. After the death of Mr. Benson she was again married, her second union being with Vincent S. McClure. Their only child died in in-

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fancy. After the death of Mr. MeClure. Mrs. MeClure made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ayres until she passed away on the 20th of January, 1899. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ayres, five of whom are still living, as follows: Edward L., who is a resi- dent of Junction City, Oregon, is married and has three children: Chester. Pahner and Wallace. Fannie married JJ. S. Walls of Lane county, and they have three children: Charles. Pahner and Nellie. Cora. the wife of G. F. Sanders, also of Lane county, has four children: Merle. Venita. Ruth and Pasco. William, who is likewise a resident of this county, has two children, Thelma and Harold. Lillian, the youngest member of the family, is living at home with her parents. The deceased members of the family are as follows: Sarah Ruth, who was the second in order of birth, first married John D. Fooshee. and after his death wedded Joseph Wood, and became the mother of one child. who is deceased; Charles and Anna. the fourth and fifth in order of birth; and Nellie. They were all given a good education and William is a graduate of the business college at Mc- Minnville, Oregon.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ayres belong to the Baptist church, in the faith of which they have reared their family. Mr. Ayres votes the democratic ticket. He is one of the highly esteemed pioneers of this section, as is also his wife, who located here in 1851 with her parents, and still holds the deed to eighty acres of the old Benson donation claim. He has become one of the substantial ranch- . men of the community. which fact must be attributed to his own efforts, as he began his business career without any capital and is in every sense of the word a self-made man.

HON. HARRISON RITTENHOUSE KIN- CAID. Long a leader of public thought and action. Hon. Harrison Rittenhouse Kincaid has left his impress in notable measure upon the history of Eugene and of Oregon at large. His labors have taken tangible form in support of progressive measures, and many specific incidents may be cited where advance- ment has been greatly conserved directly through his efforts. He was long identified with the Oregon State Journal. the oldest weekly newspaper in the state owned by one party, and in addition to the duties which the management of this paper entailed his work of a public nature has been of far- reaching and beneficial effect.

Judge Kincaid has now passed the seventy- sixth milestone on life's journey. He was born in Madison county. Indiana. January 3. 1836, and is the eldest of a family of seven children. With the exception of his sister. Elizabeth M. Gale, the widow of James M. Gale, formerly a noted newspaper man and owner, but now deceased, and himself. all have passed away. The Kincaids come of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the first American rep- resentative locating in Virginia. where Fran- cis Kincaid, the grandfather. was born. It was subsequent to Francis Kincaid's marriage that he moved westward to Madison county, Indiana, and with his family settled eighteen

miles northeast of Indianapolis. He became one of the pioneer farmers of that state. His son, Thomas Kincaid, was born in Green- brier county, Virginia, in 1800, and there spent the first seventeen years of his life, after which he accompanied his parents to the Hoosier state. His business training was of a most practical character. . He aided in the various duties of the farm and also learned the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. More- over, he possessed notable musical ability. becoming an excellent performer on the vio- lin, and thus he added not only to his own pleasure but also greatly to the happiness and enjoyment of others. He was ever a wide-awake, alert and progressive man, deep- ly interested in the important questions of the day whether of a local or national char- acter. and while a resident of Indiana he became captain of a company of state militia. No duty of citizenship was ever neglected by him and his political allegiance was given to the republican party, which was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, of which he was a strong opponent. He was small of stature but was vigorous and active and was a great runner. Pioneer life proved attractive to him, as it had to his ancestors. and with the intention of establishing his home on the frontier of Texas he started for the southwest but in St. Louis met a friend who induced him to choose Iowa as a place of location. He accordingly became a resident of Appanoose county, where he spent the winter, which was a severe one and fixed his determination of becoming a resident of Texas. In April, 1845, he set out once more for the south but in Van Buren, Arkansas. he · met so many who were returning that he became discouraged and went east to St. Francis, Arkansas, where he spent the winter. After a short sojourn at Memphis, Tennessee. he returned to Madison county, Indiana, and occupied his old home until 1853. In that year he made the long and arduous journey across the plains to the Pacific coast, settling on a farm three miles southeast of Eugene in Lane county. Oregon. However, the town of Eugene had been laid out only the year before. and as yet not a house had been built within its corporation limits. although Eugene Skin- ner was the owner of a house below Skin- ner's Butte and Hilyard Shaw had one where the main building of the University of Ore- gon now stands. Jim Huddleston and Cap- tain Ankeny had a plank shanty at the ferry where the bridge has since been built over the Willamette river. The father continned to make his home upon the farm on which he originally settled until he went to live with his son Judge Kincaid. passing away at his residence in 1865. at the age of sixty- five years. He had married Nancy Chodrick. a native of Butler county. Ohio, and a dangh- ter of Peter Chodrick, who removed from Ohio to Indiana. where he spent his remain. ing days. At the remarkable age of ninety- five years Mrs. Kincaid is a well preserved woman and makes her home with her son Judge Kincaid.

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Judge Kincaid began his education in the district school in the vicinity of his father's home. He was a youth of seventeen when the family started across the plains with ox teams, he driving one of the teams from Indiana to the Willamette valley. The trav- elers encountered many hardships and diffi- culties incident to a trip of that character. Leaving Indiana in February, they crossed the Mississippi river on the ice and from the city of Burlington made their way through Iowa to the Missouri river, crossing to the west side of that stream at a point nine miles below where Omaha now is. It was necessary for them to tarry for a brief period in order that the grass might grow and thus furnish pasturage for the stock. They con- tinued to the northwest over the Barlow route to Oregon, at which time there was not a single house on the site of Omaha nor did they see any habitation on the way until they reached Foster, Oregon, about twelve miles from Oregon City, where they arrived September 29, 1853, reaching Lane county on the 11th of October. During the succeed- ing two years Judge Kincaid was largely occupied with the task of assisting his father in the development and improvement of the home farm. Especially in the winter time did he give his attention to that work, while in the summers he was employed by Isaac and Elias Briggs in digging a mill race at what is now Springfield. In 1855 he pur- chased a pony and miner's outfit and started for the Rogue river mines. In the placer mines at Althouse creek the Indians became troublesome, surprised the miners and killed several before the others saw the necessity of preparing for attack. They then erected a fort in that location and for several weeks were compelled to remain continually on the defensive.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 52

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