The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 55

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

USA > Oregon > The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912 > Part 55

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In public affairs Mr. Ness has taken an active and helpful interest, doing much effect- ive service for the public good. In 1910, he was elected a member of the city council of Eugene and served as president of the council. Mr. Ness was always in favor of municipal ownership, and it was while he was serving on the city council that the water and power plant became the property of the city. He has taken a very active and aggressive part in illuminating the undesir- able sections of the community and in elevat- ing the moral tone of the city.

November 26, 1903, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ness and Miss Mary S. Watson, a daughter of Samuel Watson, of Eugene, and they have become the parents of four chil- dren, Ida, Martha, Anna and Julia. The par- ents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and Mr. Ness was its secretary from its organization until the last annual meet- ing. He belongs to the Lane County Bar Association and to Spencer Butte Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand, and to Eugene Camp, No. 52, K. O. T. M., of which he is a past commander. He is one of the public-spirited and progressive citi- zens of Eugene, never self-seeking and thor- oughly modest and unassuming in manner, yet his fellow townsmen recognize his worth and accord him respect and honor by reason of the part which he has filled in the growth and development of this section.

REUBEN H. MAST was one of the founders and organizers of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Coquille and since 1909 has held the office of cashier in this institu- tion. He is well known as an able financier and a banker of more than ordinary ability, who has promoted the success of the enter- prise with which he is connected by syste- matic and progressive work. He has been a resident of Oregon since he was fourteen years of age and from the beginning of his active career has been interested in various important local enterprises, being essentially public-spirited and eager for the progress

374

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

and growth of Coos county. He was born in North Carolina on November 14. 1858, and is a son of William Penn and Charlotte H. Mast, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. The parents of our subject were natives of North Carolina and representatives of the paternal branch of the family have lived in that state since 1800. William P. Mast came to Douglas county in 1872 and rented land in that sec- tion. which he improved and operated for one year,' going to Coos county at the end of that time. Here he purchased a squat- ter's right in the wilderness and evolved from an nucultivated tract of land one of the most highly developed farms in the section. His wife is still living upon the home- stead and is making her home with two of her sons. She had five children: Reuben H., the subject of this review; William L. and James W., both of whom reside in Bandon; and Webb and Hardy, who reside on the home farm with their mother.

Reuben H. Mast ,was still a boy when he came with his parents to Oregon. He was educated in the public schools of Coos county and by the utilization of every opportunity and outside reading and study he fitted him- self for teaching, following that profession in the district schools for four years. He remained upon the farm until he was twenty- one years of age, aiding his father in the work of improvement and development dur- ing the summer months. In 1888, however, he left home and went to Portland, where he took a course in a local business college. He afterward came to Bandon, where he entered the employ of George M. Dyer as clerk and bookkeeper, doing work until Mr. Dyer sold his interests and retaining his position under the new management. At the end of three years he purchased an in- terest in the business but after a short time disposed of his holdings, going to Hood River in November, 1898. There he worked in a general merchandise store for four months, resigning his position in 1899 in order to go to Portland, where he kept books in a large auction house for a short time. In February, 1900, he returned to Coos county to accept a position as deputy county clerk, serving in this capacity for about ten years. At the end of that time, in association with several prominent men of Coquille, he organized the Farmers & Merchants Bank and was elected to the position of cashier. The bank is capitalized at twenty-five thou- sand dollars and is one of the important financial institutions in Coos county. Mr. Mast owns a one-fifth interest in it and has done able. and efficient work as cashier since the 10th of March, 1909. He is well versed in the details of modern banking and his knowledge is guided and directed by his gen- eral business ability. He is shrewd, system- atic and unquestionably honest and these qualities have gained for him the respect and confidence of the men who do business with him and have consequently influenced the prosperity of the enterprise with which he is connected. He also helped organize the Coquille Lumber Company and owns stock

in the Coquille Land & Improvement Com- pany and also in the Coquille Valley Cream- ery. He is extensively interested in farm lands, being the proprietor of one hundred and thirty acres on the Coquille river, which he purchased in 1884 and which he has rented out since that time. He owns four hundred acres of timber land in the same section and is interested in city property. He is a firm believer in the future of the city in which he resides and always does his utmost to promote the growth and development of his county.

On August 12, 1890, Mr. Mast was united in marriage to Miss Lola M. Leabo, a native of Oregon and a daughter of James R. and Charlotte (Hawes) Leabo, who were among the pioneers in the settlement of the state, coming here in 1852. The father was a na- tive of Tennessee and the mother was born in Iowa. In their family were five children: Elizabeth, the wife of Amos Cliff, of Port- land; Lola M., the wife of our subject; Ster- ling, a resident of Astoria, Oregon; Roland, whose home is in Portland; and Predetta, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Mast are the parents of three children. Leta R. received her primary education in the district schools of Coos county and later took a course in music and art at the Uni- versity of Oregon, in Eugene. She was also a student for one year in Mills College at Oakland, California, and is now employed in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Coquille. Reuben H., Jr., and James are both attending school.

Reuben H. Mast is a democrat and is one of the public-spirited citizens of his com- munity and a dominating factor in the pro- motion of its welfare and advancement. He is prominent in the Masonic order and holds membership in the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the leading and important busi- ness men of Coquille. He has made the various enterprises with which he is con- nected successful by seizing always any favorable opportunity for expansion and by adhering faithfully to high standards of com- mercial honor.

ALFRED B. HAINES is one of the enter- prising agriculturists in Douglas county. He comes of a line of farmers whose activi- ties in the cultivation of the soil have pro- moted the development of their section of the state, and in his personal labors is fol- lowing long and honorable traditions. He is a native son of Oregon and was born on a farm one mile south of Elkton on June 17, 1874. His parents were Alfred B. and Mari- etta (Ransom) Haines. His father was a native of Albany, Whiteside county, Illi- nois, where his birth occurred in 1844. He was a son of Alfred and Sarah (Nixon) Haines, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. The father of our subject was sixteen years of age when he came to Oregon. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany K. First Oregon Infantry, and his regi- ment did service in suppressing. Indian up- risings. When he returned home at the close of hostilities he remained for a short

375

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

time upon the farm and then went to work on the Klamath reservation in the employ of the government where he remained for about two years. In 1873 he returned home and was married to Miss Marietta Ransom, a native of Napa county, California, and a daughter of William Clark Ransom, a distant relative of Captain William Clark, the famous pioneer who is known in history as a mem- ber of the Lewis and Clark expedition. After his marriage the father of our subject bought the present Haines homestead farm one mile south of Elkton where he cultivated the soil and became one of the extensive land own- ers in Douglas county. He acquired three hundred and fifty-four acres in the home farm and was also proprietor of large tracts of farm and timber land in various parts of Oregon. He was a successful .and highly esteemed man and his death on May 19, 1907, was sincerely regretted as a loss to agricultural development. He was a stanch republican in his political views but never sought public office. His wife still resides on the home farm.

Alfred B. Haines received his education in the common schools of Douglas county and supplemented this by a course at the Arm- strong Business College in Portland. By wise use of every opportunity and by constant outside study he fitted himself for teaching and pursued this occupation in the district schools of his native section for three years. When he was twenty-one years of age he was appointed deputy assessor of Douglas county in recognition of his broad-minded and in· telligent activities in all movements looking toward the public welfare. After a term of efficient and capable service lasting four years he was appointed forest ranger and served in this capacity for one year. At the expiration of this time he returned home and in the following spring, 1900, bought his present farm on the Umpqua river four miles south of Elkton. His purchase consisted of eight hundred and twenty acres of fertile and productive land and he immediately be- gan cultivation. Since that time he has given his personal supervision to the management and direction of his enterprise and by pro- gressive and scientific methods and constant labor along many lines has made his farm one of the most valuable ranches in Doug. las county.

On April 4, 1900, Mr. Haines was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Wainscott, a daugh- ter of Andrew J. and Ada E. (Jack) Wain- scott. Mrs. Haines' father came to Oregon when he was a young man, making the jour- ney across the plains from the middlewest to Oregon. His wife is a native of this state and now resides with her husband in Idaho. To Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Haines have been born three children, Marcus W., Inez and Dex- ter. Mr. Haines is a member of Elkton Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M .; Laurel Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M .; and belongs to Hiram Council, No. 7, of Eugene, and is connected prominently with Elkton Camp, No. 586, M. W. A. He and his wife are devoted adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the local organization Mr. Haines serves as

steward. As a public official he is honest and conscientious; as a farmer progressive, mod- ern and efficient and as a private citizen straightforward, sincere and uniformly cour- teous.

AMOS NELSON, who owns and operates a highly cultivated and improved ranch located a mile northwest of Newberg, is one of the thrifty and energetic citizens that Denmark has furnished Yamhill county. He was born on Fyen island, a possession of the Danish crown. on the 28th of June, 1848, and is a son of Niels and Anna Rasmussen, both of whom are deceased. The father passed away in 1880 and the mother in 1884. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rasmus- sen numbered five children, three sons and two daughters, three of whom are now de- ceased, they having died in Denmark.

Amos Nelson spent the first twenty-two years of his life in the land of his birth, to whose common schools he is indebted for his education. There he was also trained to agricultural pursuits, obtaining a thor- ough and practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. It was his desire to own a farm, but early realizing the difficulty of achieving his ambition in his native land, in 1870 he emigrated to the United States. He first settled in St. Louis, Missouri. From there he went to Iowa, continuing his agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he crossed the west- ern prairies to the mining regions of Nevada. He worked in the quartz mills during the succeeding six years, but at the end of that time he withdrew from this and coming to Oregon once more turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He first located in the vicinity of Hurlburt, but two years later, in 1881, he removed to the Chehalem valley, settling on a ranch near Newberg. There in connection with his farming he also worked at blacksmithing until 1909. In the latter year he disposed of his interests there and came to his present location northwest of Newberg. Mr. Nelson possesses the thrift and enterprise that characterizes the Danish people generally, and during the period of his residence here has so intelligently exer- cised these qualities as to become one of the most successful ranchmen in his com- munity.

In Iowa, in 1871, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Maria Peterson, who is also a native of Denmark and a daughter of Peter Hansen, and they have become the parents of seven children who are living. In order of birth they are as follows: Stina, who was born in 1872, and is the wife of Chris Hansen, of Scholls, Ore- gon; Anna, whose birth occurred in 1874, and who is now the wife of Charles Waide, a rancher of the Chehalem valley; N. P., who was born in 1877, and is living on a farm in Chehalem valley; Frank, who was born in 1879, married Elsa Bartholemew, and is now ranching in the Chehalem valley ; Hannah, who was born in 1881, and married Grant Marsh, of Portland; George, whose birth occurred in 1884, now residing in Seattle

376

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

and Emma, whose natal year was 1887, and who is living at home with her parents.

Mr. Nelson belongs to the Grange and in politics he is a republican. He takes 'an active and helpful interest in local political affairs and his fellow citizens have mani- fested their appreciation of his services by electing him to various offices. He served for four years as county commissioner and a similar period as justice of the peace, while for a long period he was a member of the school board. Mr. Nelson has always been loyal to all American institutions and is held in high regard in his community, where he lias manifested qualities that well entitle him to the respect in which he is held.

HIRAM WEATHERLY. One of the ster- ling and substantial citizens of Dodge county who has done actively constructive work along modern lines of agriculture is Hiram Weatherly, who has given most of his career in Oregon to the cultivation and improve- ment of three hundred and fifty acres of the finest ranch land in Douglas county. He has now turned over the management of the farm to his adopted son and is living retired in Scottsburg, Oregon, where he occupies an in- fluential place in public affairs. He was born in Genesee county, New York, July 31, 1838, and is a son of Lewis and Sarah (Mer- ithew) Weatherly, both natives of New York where they were reared, educated and mar- ried. On the paternal side Mr. Weatherly comes of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock while his grandfather, Hiram Merithew, was a na- tive of the Isle of Man. Lewis Weatherly, the father of our subject, left his native state for Illinois in 1841 and located in Win- nebago county seven miles from Rockford where he was prosperous and successful as an agriculturist until 1856. In that year he removed to Lake county, Illinois, where he resided until his death on April 1, 1868. His wife later married Mr. Joshua Slusser and removed to Kansas where she died on the 22d of August, 1886, when she was sixty- seven years of age. Lewis Weatherly to- gether with his two sons, Hiram and Elias, were veterans of the Civil war.

Hiram Weatherly was reared at home and received a limited education in the public schools of Illinois. His schooling was re- ceived at irregular intervals and almost all of it was self-acquired. At the age of nine- teen he was obliged to gain a livelihood for himself and returning to New York state he worked for two years as a farm laborer. At the expiration of this time he came west to Illinois and for a time followed the same line of activity. He subsequently rented a farm and was prosperous and successful in the cultivation of the soil for some time. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Ninety- Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served as a private for one year. His able services were rewarded at the end of that time by a promotion to the office of fife major, in which capacity he was active until the end of the war. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Lookout Mountain,

Shelbyville, Chickamauga, Franklin, Ring- gold, Resaca and many others. He received his honorable discharge at Huntsville, Ala- bama, February 6, 1865, and returned imme- diately to Lake county, Illinois, where he again followed agriculture with much suc- cess. In 1869 lie removed to Iowa, locating in Montgomery county where he resided until 1871. In that year he came. to Cali- fornia and for eight years worked upon a stock ranch in Mendocino county. His resi- dence in Oregon dates from October, 1879, when he located two and one-half miles east of Scottsburg in Douglas county and farmed with gratifying results for three or four years. He subsequently disposed of this prop- erty and bought the ranch where the Long Prairie schoolhouse is now located, six miles from Scottsburg. Here he maintained his home and operated his farm until 1894 when he retired from active life and took up his residence in Scottsburg, where lie has since resided. He still owns his farm of three hundred and fifty acres. This is being oper- ated by his adopted son. In the course of a long agricultural career Mr. Weatherly ob- tained a degree of success which was the natural outcome of his scientific methods and his concentrated industry. He made exten- sive improvements upon his land and brought it before his retirement to a high state of cultivation.

On February 4, 1860, Mr. Weatherly was united in marriage to Miss Almina Lamphere, a native of New York state and a daughter of Henry and Eunice (Potter) Lampliere, The father was one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Lake county, Illi- nois, and died in Iowa and the mother in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Weatherly have adopted a son, Fred, whom they have reared from infancy and who is now operating his father's property. Mr. Weatherly gave his son a half interest in the home farm which he is conducting along progressive, modern principles.

In his political views Mr. Weatherly is re- publican and was elected in 1888 for a four- year term as county commissioner. He is a member of Gardiner Lodge, No. 132, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, his only. fra- ternal affiliation. He is prominent in any movement looking toward the further de- velopment and improvement of Douglas county and his long life has been one of the greatest individual forces in the progress of that section.

STERLING P. FENLEY is prominent and successful in the operation of a large livery. business in Elkton, Oregon, and is pursuing a prosperous career which was begun at the early age of fourteen. He was born in Solano county, California, on December 18, 1868, and is a son of Columbus and Eliza- beth (West) Fenley, both natives of Mis- souri where they were reared and married. Mr. Fenley's father learned the engineering trade when he was a young man and in 1852 he crossed the plains with ox teams to the California gold fields, where he worked as engineer in the mines for two years. In

MR. AND MRS. HIRAM WEATHERLY

379

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

1854 he returned to Missouri, where he was married and where he remained until 1862. In that year he again crossed the plains, taking his wife and children to California, where he worked at his trade in the mines for several years. He continued his residence in. that state until 1880, in which year he came north to Oregon, locating in Fossil, Wasco county, which is now Gilliam county. Here he engaged in general farming and stock-raising, buying three or four hundred acres of land which he brought to a high state of development before his death in 1897 or 1898. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was one of the representative and influential men of his section. His wife's death had long since preceded his and occurred in California in 1876.

Sterling P. Fenley was reared at home and remained with his parents until he was fourteen years of age. At this early date he began active life for himself, engaging in farm work and as a monthly laborer. He added to his agricultural activities any oc- cupation which offered him a chance to earn a livelihood. By the time he was twenty years of age he had gained an independence and a power of initiative which were val- uable assets to him all during his life. He became acquainted with the details of agri- culture as it is carried on in the American northwest and became an expert workman in all the branches of this activity. In 1888 he married and rented land in the Umpqua valley, which he began developing and culti- vating. He was successful from the begin- ning and in 1902 was able to purchase eighty acres, on which he continued farming until 1907. He spent the years from 1895 until 1902, however, in southern California, al- though he retained his property in Oregon. In 1907 he came to Elkton where he bought the livery with which he is now connected. For the past five years he has given his entire attention to this business and has won the same success in commercial fields which attended his labors as an agricultur- ist. He is a progressive, representative and public-spirited man and his cooperation can always be counted upon in movements which have for their object the expansion and development of his city and county. He invests his money judiciously and almost always in local enterprises. He is a stock- holder in the Elkton Mercantile & Develop- ment . Company and his business sagacity has influenced the success of this enterprise.

In 1888 Mr. Fenley was united in mar- riage to Miss Ella Weatherly, a daughter of Ansil Weatherly, one of the pioneer settlers of the Umpqua valley in Douglas county. To this union have been born six children, three of whom are living, Stacey, Floyd and Eva. Mr. Fenley is identified with the republican party but has never sought office. He holds membership in Elkton Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M .; in Elkton Lodge, No. 2132, I. O. O. F .; and is also prominent in Elkton Camp, No. 5786, M. W. A .; and in Elkton Lodge, No. 1050, M. B. A. His wife is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Fenley has built his success gradually and his labors have been along different lines of activity, all of which have united to promote his prosperity and have influenced the progress of his success.

EUGENE H. HAMBLOCK. Six miles from Bandon on the Coquille road is located the farm belonging to Eugene H. Hamblock, who is one of the successful general agriculturists and stock-raisers of Coos county. The land constitutes his father's original claim of one hundred and sixty acres and has been the home of Eugene Hamblock all his life. Our subject was born in Coos county, on March 6, 1870, and is a son of John Frederick and Mary (Campbell) Hamblock. His father was a native of Germany and his mother of Virginia. They came to Oregon in 1869 from Missouri where their marriage occurred. The father had been engaged in sawmilling, but after their settlement in Coos county he engaged in general farming. He took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Parkersburg on the Coquille river and resided upon his property until his death which occurred in 1909. He had survived his wife by three years. To their union were born the following children: Emma, who is the wife of Thomas Drain of Parkers- burg; Mary Frances, now Mrs. Joseph Flam, of Parkersburg; Margaret, who married Ed- ward Rose, also of Parkersburg; John Vin- ton, of Parkersburg; and Eugene H., the subject of this sketch.

Eugene H. Hamblock's early life was spent upon his father's farm. He early became acquainted with the minor duties connected with its operation and as he advanced in years filled more responsible positions. Even- tually he took entire charge and operated the enterprise systematically and success- fully. At times in his early youth he worked for wages in the sawmills and logging camps of Coos county and at various other occupa- tions but he always lived at home. After his father's death he purchased the interests of the other heirs and is now sole proprietor. Following the policies of his father who was practical and successful in his occupation Mr. Hamblock has made his soil productive. He does dairying on a small scale but gives his special attention to stock-raising, deal- ing in high-grade cattle and sheep and ship- ping his stock to the markets where they find a ready sale. He has been successful and his prosperity is founded upon practical labor. His industry has met with its natural reward in harvests which have increased in quality and abundance while his stock-rais- ing interests have grown every year more important and lucrative.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 55

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