The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 57

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

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In March, 1904, Mr. Tingley was united in marriage to Miss Bertha L. Moss, a native of California and a daughter of William Moss. Mr. and Mrs. Tingley have two chil- dren, Floyd and Thelma. Mr. Tingley is republican in his political views, loyally sup- porting the men and measures of that party. He well deserves a place among the repre- sentative agriculturists and respected citi- zens of his community.

NATHAN SMITH MERRILL. The town of Merrill owes its existence as well as its name to the subject of this review, one of the honored and valued citizens of Klamath coun- ty who is still actively connected with agri- cultural and stock-raising interests although he has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone of life's journey. He was born August 22, 1836, in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, a son of Nathan Merrill and a grandson of William Merrill, who were also natives of the old Granite state. The ancestry of the family is traced back to three brothers who emigrated from Paris and arrived in the new world soon after the Mayflower reached the shores of New England. They settled in Bos- ton and became the founders of the Merrill family in America. Nathan Merrill wedded Julia A. Morrill who was also a native of New Hampshire and was a daughter of a veteran of the War of 1812, who died in service. Nathan S. Merrill is the eldest of his father's family, the others being: William R., of Colusa, Califor- nia; John A., of Redding, California; Charles H., of Merrill, Oregon; Morris A., of Willows, California; and Mrs. Henrietta Scroggins, who has resided with her brother Nathan since the death of his wife.

Nathan S. Merrill left New England and went with his parents to Kane county, Illi- nois, in 1846. There he pursued his educa- tion in the public schools and in the fall of 1857 the family removed to McDonald county, Missouri. In the spring of 1862 he returned to Kane county, Illinois, and in the fall of 1869 started for California, accompanied by his wife and his father. Settling in Colusa county, he first cultivated land on shares and afterward purchased land near what was then Colusa but is now Glenn county, California. For thirteen years he was thus engaged but raised only one good crop during that time. In 1881 he removed to Chehalis county, Wash- ington, where he followed farming until November, 1890, when he came to his present place of residence in what is now the town of Merrill. Here he has since remained. He

purchased a ranch and in the spring of 1894 laid off a portion of the town of Merrill, the town site comprising eighty acres, of which he owns two-thirds. At one time he had five hundred acres adjoining the town, all of it under cultivation, two hundred acres being planted to alfalfa and the remainder to grain. He has since sold off much of this land but still retains two hundred and seventy acres, which is devoted to the raising of hay and for stock. He handles registered stock, in- cluding Durham cattle and Berkshire hogs. He has also engaged successfully in raising mules. He sold two mules at three years of age that weighed twenty-six hundred and fifty pounds and were over eighteen hands high. They were bred in 1908 and at one year had attained the height of sixteen hands and one inch, being said to be the largest mules ever raised in the United States. All of his land is now under government ditch. At one time he was a stockholder in the Little Klamath Ditch Company, which sold out to the United States government, at which time four million, five hundred thousand dollars was invested in the project.

On the 26th of October, 1860, in McDonald county, Missouri, Mr. Merrill wedded Miss Nancy J. Newland, a native of Washington county, Arkansas. They celebrated their forty-sixth wedding aniversary on the 28th of October, 1906, eating their first meal in their new home. This is a twelve room house, modern in its appointments and equipments, supplied with hot and cold water and electric lights. Electric power also operates the pump, churn, separator and washing machine. He has built his own water works upon the place, including a three thousand gallon tank. The Merrill home is said to be the finest farm house in Klamath county. The house stands far back from the road. with a beauti- ful drive leading to it lined with cottonwood and poplar trees. On the 20th of September, 1908, Mr. Merrill was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, with whom he had lived in happiness and harmony for forty-eight years. She was a lady of many excellent qualitics, loved and esteemed by all who knew her. She took a very active interest in the Rebekah lodge, the woman's auxiliary of the Odd Fellows society, and was its representative in the grand lodge. Mr. Mer- rill has always accredited his wife with much of his success, profiting by her wise counsel and keen insight as well as by her able man- agement of the household affairs.

In politics Mr. Merrill has been a lifelong democrat and in 1902 he was elected county commissioner, serving for four year, during which time the beautiful county high school was erected at Klamath Falls, his support being given to the project. His election was a tribute to his personal popularity and worth, for the county is strongly republican. In 1885 he became a member of Sylvia Lodge, No. 37, I. O. O. F., in Washington, and his is the first name that appears on the charter of Klamath Falls Lodge, No. 137. With the organization of Tule Lake Lodge, No. 187, at Merrill, his name was again placed first on the charter and he was the first noble

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grand of the organization. This is the only fraternal society that he has ever joined. He has been a hard worker and is a well preserved man. He has led a very exemplary life, never using tobacco and never tasting liquor of any kind as a beverage. He attrib- utes his good health and vigor to his regu- larity of habits and temperate life. Three meals a day and a good night's rest, with no abuse of nature's laws, have made him a well preserved man. Eight o'clock in the evening usually finds him in bed and four o'clock in the morning awake and preparing for the day's duties. His influence has al- ways been on the side of right and progress, truth and improvement. He helped build the four churches in Merrill and wherever possible has promoted the welfare of the community along various. lines. His has, indeed, been a well spent life and Merrill counts him as one of her most honored and valued citizens.

CHARLES L. McNARY, dean of Willam- ette College of Law, is one of the capable and highly successful attorneys of Salem. He was born in Marion county, on the 12th of June, 1874, and is a son of Hugh L. and Margaret (Claggett) McNary, the father a. native of Pike county, Illinois, and the mother of Kentucky. Hugh L. McNary crossed the plains to Oregon as a boy with his parents, who located on a donation claim in the vicinity of Oregon City, Clackamas county, in 1845. During the succeeding ten years he remained at home, assisting his father in the cultivation and improvement of the farm. At the expiration of that time he went to Linn - county and taught school for several years, and while there took up a donation land claim but later came to Marion county and acquired a farm near · Salem, which he cultivated until his death in 1882. The family of Mr. and Mrs. McNary num- bered ten children, those living being: John H. who was recorder of Marion county from 1890 to 1894, and is now serving his second term as attorney of the third judicial dis- trict, comprising the counties of Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Linn and Yamhill, with his office located in Salem; Ella, the wife of W. J. Stolz, of the Stolz Vinegar Factory of Salem; Mary, who married H. T. Bruce, a retired farmer; Nina, who is with her sister, Mrs. Stolz in Salem; and Charles L., our subject.

Charles L. McNary was reared at home and in the acquirement of his preliminary educa- tion attended the public schools of Salem. After his graduation from the high school he matriculated in the law department of Leland Stanford University, at Palo Alto, California. In October, 1898, he established an office in Salem and engaged in general practice with his brother, John H. McNary. He is a very capable representative of his profession and for two years he filled the chair of medical jurisprudence in Willamette University, and for the past four years he has been dean of the law department of that institution.

Salem was the scene of the marriage of Mr. McNary on the 19th of November, 1902,

to Miss Jessie Breyman, a native of this city and a daughter of Eugene Breyman, who was born and reared in Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1852, and located in Amity, Polk county, Oregon. He was one of the pioneer merchants of the Wil- lamette valley, and being a very capable busi- ness man met with success in his undertak- ings. For his wife Mr. Breyman chose Miss Margaret Skaife of Marion county, who is still living.

Mr. McNary has filled all of the chairs in the Masonic fraternity, the Elks and the Odd Fellows, and is a most worthy exem- plar of each order. He has taken an active interest in all public questions and munici- pal affairs since attaining his manhood, and can always be depended upon to champion every movement that will in any way tend to promote the development of the com- munity. He was president of the Salem Board of Trade for two years, assuming the duties of this office in 1909. He was one of the organizers of the Salem Fruit Union the same year and has ever since been president of this association. In his political views he is a stanch republican and is president of the Taft-Sherman Club. He is one of the enterprising and progressive citizens of Salem, whose energies are largely expended in pro- moting the public welfare, and advancing its development along the various lines of human activity.

JOHN A. KOONTZ is engaged in general farming, owning eighty acres of land under the government ditch. This tract he has rapidly transformed into a highly cultivated place, its many improvements bearing evi- dence of his industry and practical methods. He was born in Putnam county, Illinois, April 9, 1858, and is a son of Henry and Lucy (Grubb) Koontz, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The mother died in Put- nam county when her son John A. was nine years of age. He was the eldest of six children, the others being Henry, William, Lucy, Charles and Alfred.

John A. Koontz in his early childhood went to live with his grandfather, with whom he remained between the ages of two and sev- enteen years. He continued in Putnam county until January 22, 1876, when he went to Missouri, where he started in active life on his own account, working at farm labor. He spent twelve years in Missouri and in 1889 arrived in Klamath county, Oregon, where he worked for wages until 1905. In 1893, however, he homesteaded his present place but for twelve years thereafter contin- ued in the employ of others until he felt that his capital and conditions were such as to justify him in beginning the improvement of his own land. He now owns eighty acres of the one hundred and sixty acre home- stead and is diligently and persistently · car- rying on the work of the farm. The govern- ment ditch supplies this with water and excellent irrigation is making his fields most productive so that he annually raises good crops. He is a public-spirited citizen and that he does not look only to his own inter-

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ests and welfare is indicated by the fact that he has given nine acres for the right of way of the Modoc Northern Railroad which is now under construction upon condition that they build a depot and put in a siding here. This will afford excellent shipping facilities for the people of the surrounding country and will prove of inestimable benefit to the ranchers of this part of Klamath county.

Mr. Koontz has been married twice. In September, 1880, he wedded Miss Ella Drum- mond and unto them was born a daughter, Julia A., now the wife of B. E. Hull, of St. Joseph, Missouri. His present wife was formerly Mrs. Ida E. Greeley, whom he wed- ded December 29, 1908.

In politics Mr. Koontz is a republican, interested in the welfare and success of his party to the extent of advocating its prin- ciples and voting for its candidates, yet he never seeks nor desires office for himself. He is generous in his support of the Pres- byterian church and gave an acre of his farm upon which to build a house of worship of that denomination. In fact he advocates all progressive measures that will advance the material, intellectual, political and moral progress of the community and thereby has become a valued citizen of Klamath county.

JOSEPH LANE HAMPTON is living prac- tically retired in Paisley, although he has timber and mining interests in this region which return to him a good income on his investment. It is characteristic of the native sons of Oregon that they put forth earnest and persistent effort in the upbuilding of their state and endeavor to place it on a par with the older states of the east in all that constitutes a great commonwealth. Mr. Hampton, ever interested in the work of progress in the northwest, has cooperated heartily in the improvement of the commu- nity in which he has lived. He was born February 14, 1854, on a ranch six miles south of Eugene, in Lane county, Oregon, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fickle) Hamp- ton. The father was born in Kentucky in 1804, the mother in Virginia in 1812, and they were married in Missouri. In 1845, sev- eral years before the discovery of gold in Cal- ifornia, they crossed the plains by ox teams, to enjoy the opportunities offered in the north- west and settled upon a donation claim in Yamhill county, about six miles below Sheri- dan. They came with the famous Joseph Meek's train passing through what is now Harney and Lake counties. At length the old farm was sold and Mr. Hampton engaged in the stock business. He went to northern Cali- fornia but afterward returned to Eugene and in 1871 he removed to Lake county, which was then a part of Jackson county. Subsequently he went once more to Eugene and his last days were spent in the home of a son seven miles south of that city, where he died in 1884, having for about four years survived his wife, who passed away in 1880. Their children were eleven in number: Lilburn, who died when about eighteen years of age; John D. and James, both deceased; Mary, deceased. who became the wife of S. A. Caldwell, also

deceased; Eliza, who is the widow of M. S. Riggs and resides in Harney county, Oregon; Ralph, who died in childhood; Jesse Green and Andrew J., both of whom died in 19'07; William Wade, of Paisley; Joseph L .; and Julia Elizabeth, who became the wife of William Moore and died in 1883.

Joseph L. Hampton accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Lake county and remained with them until they returned to Eugene in 1872, at which time he was eighteen years of age. He enlisted for ser- vice in the Modoc Indian war under Captain Thomas Mulholland, serving during the last month of the hostilities with the Indians. He then turned his attention to the stock- raising business, in which he engaged suc- cessfully for many years or until he sold out in 1901, since which time he has lived practically retired in Paisley, enjoying in well earned rest the fruit of his former toil. He has made judicious investment in timber and mining properties, being interested in the Paisley mines.

In 1888 Mr. Hampton was married to Miss Sadie L. Follett, who was born in Elgin, Iowa, April 3, 1870, and is a daughter of Captain E. Follett. They had two children: May E., who died at the age of six years; and Ruth, who died at the age of eighteen months.

Joseph Lane Hampton is a Master Mason and he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star and with the Methodist Episco- pal church-associations which indicate much of the principles which govern their conduct. At the present time he is serving as county fruit inspector. He is one of the city fathers, interested in the progress and upbuilding of Paisley, and in politics he is a Taft republi- can, holding to the more conservative branch of the party. He is mindful of all the duties of citizenship and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is able to support his contentions by intelligent argu- ment.

HENRY FISCHER is the vice president and manager of the Fischer Lumber Com- pany and has been associated with his brother Carl E. in the lumber business in Oregon for many years. He was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin and at an early age started out in life to make his own way in the world. He came to Oregon one year later than his brother and has since that time been actively engaged with him in business. He is a capable business man and has been instrumental in promoting the growth of the enterprise with which he is connected. The Fischer Lumber Company is a corporation. of which Fred Fischer, Sr., is president; Carl E. Fischer, secretary; Fred Fischer, Jr., treas- urer; Henry Fischer, our subject, vice presi- dent and manager; while Walter Fischer has charge of the sawmill work. Their annual business amounts to about fourteen million feet, and they have a complete plant. com- prising dry kilns and planing mills. They manufacture columns and general lumber. They own a lumber supply which they calcu- late will last them about twenty-five years and ship lumber east as far as Montreal and

MR. AND MRS. J. L. HAMPTON

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other eastern markets and own several retail yards and shipping yards at various points to handle their wholesale business. Their offices and mills are located at Marcola and they own retail yards at Junction City and Halsey.

In 1898 Henry Fischer was married . to Amelia Lunan, a daughter of August and Minnie Lunan. She was born in Wisconsin and is one of a large family of children, of whom eight survive. Her parents, who were natives of Germany, came to Oregon in 1907 and purchased a farm near Cottage Grove, upon which they make their home. To Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have been born three chil- dren, Oressa, Cleona, and Glenn, of whom the two eldest are now attending school in Springfield.

Mr. Fischer is a capable man and has given strict attention to his business, with the details of which he has become thoroughly conversant. He is well known and esteemed in the local circles of the lumber trade and in Springfield, where he makes his home, is accorded the highest respect by all those with whom he associates.

EDWARD A. REVENUE, an agriculturist who resides on his farm one and a half miles northeast of Sandy, Clackamas county, was born July 15, 1864, a son of Francis and Lyddie (Lawrence) Revenue. After receiving his education in the public schools and occu- pying his leisure hours by caring for the duties which came to hand, Edward A. Reve- nue started out on his own account at the age of eighteen years. His first position was with the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Com- pany as a member of the construction crew. He was thus employed during the winter of 1882 but subsequently cleared land under contract. In 1883 he removed to Baker county, Oregon, and after remaining there for one year returned to Portland, where he was employed at various occupations before working for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, at Tacoma. He also worked in the Coeur d'Alene mines in Idaho and sub- sequently for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Later he was engaged in log- ging on the Columbia river and for nine years he roamed through the country before returning to the farm, where he remained until his father's death, which occurred June 1, 1909. His father deeded the farm to him, which was part payment for the labor he had previously given in aiding in its cultivation and since he has been the owner of the prop- erty he has continued to improve and develop it.

On the 13th of October, 1895, Mr. Rev- enue was married to Miss Myra Flynn, ' whose birth occurred March 2, 1879, and who is a daughter of Nelson A. and Jane (Mooney) Flynn. The father was born Sep- tember 21, 1841, and during his early life lived in Wood county, West Virginia. While still a resident of that state he joined Com- pany E, First West Virginia Cavalry, for service in the Civil war. Being wounded before his first year was completed, he was discharged but later joined the state guard

and served until the close of the war. In the fall of 1865 he went to Hancock, Illinois, where he resided for eight years before re- turning to West Virginia. After two years he removed to Missouri and made his home in that state for seven years and after a three years' residence in West Virginia set- tled in Kansas. He lived in the Sunflower state for five years on a homestead claim but in April, 1883, came to Oregon. After making his home in Sycamore for two years where he was postmaster, he located in Cherryville upon a homestead claim of forty acres, upon which he resided for thirteen years. Mrs. Flynn was born on the 31st of March, 1843, and her marriage occurred De- cember 25, 1862. After her death Mr. Flynn retired from active work and has since lived with his daughter Mrs. Revenue. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Flynn nine children were born: Gilmore N. and Vira A., both of whom are deceased; Alice M., who is the wife of L. B. Trullinger, of Lents, Oregon, and the mother of one son, Roy M .; Noah W., of eastern Oregon, who is married and has seven children, Ira, Clyde, Benjamin, Celia, Orville, Jessie and Leslie; Minnie J., who became the wife of D. W. Douglas, of Cherryville, Ore- gon, and has three children, Vira, Alice and Waldo E .; Mrs. Revenue; George, a resident of Oregon; Sarah, who has passed away; and Ira, of Hood River, who is married and has three children, Louis, Arlie and an infant son. To Mr. and Mrs. Revenue two children have been born, one of whom died in infancy. The surviving member of the family is Alice Ruth, who was born March 14, 1899, and is attending school.

Although Mr. Revenue is in sympathy with the greater number of the policies of the re- publican party, he casts his vote for man or measure rather than according to the dictates of the party machine. He has never sought nor desired office but takes a citizen's inter- est in the political welfare and civic govern- ment of Clackamas county. He has ever been diligent and industrious and the word fail has no place in his vocabulary. His life in all of its various relations has been of such character as to command the respect and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.

J. W. MANNING resides upon, owns and cultivates a ranch ten miles south of Klamath Falls, having at one time three hundred and twenty acres of land which was covered with sagebrush. His place now comprises one hundred and sixty acres, much of which has been brought under cultivation and is de- voted to general farming. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, May 3, 1838, and is a son of Horace and Wata A. (Crandall) Manning. The paternal grandfather, a native of Scot- land, established his home in Maryland on coming to the new world. His son Horace was born either in Scotland or in Maryland and thence removed to Ohio, where his death occurred a short time after the birth of his son, J. W. Manning. He was a miller by occupation. His wife was a native of New York and went to Ohio with her parents.

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In the days of her widowhood she became a resident of Missouri, going to that state with her father in the fall of 1838. She afterward became the wife of Aaron Cham- bers and in 1852 crossed the plains with her husband and her son, J. W. Manning. They traveled with ox teams and were six monthis upon the way, settling three and a half miles below Jacksonville, where both Mr. and Mrs. Chambers died. Mr. Chambers' first wife was a sister of the mother of our subject and by that first marriage there were two children.

J. W. Manning worked on the ranch in Jackson county with his stepfather until 1862 and afterward engaged in mining and freighting in Idaho and Montana, following the discovery of gold in those states. He returned to Jackson county in the fall of 1866 and subsequently was proprietor of a livery stable during most of the period of luis residence in Jacksonville but was sheriff of Jackson county from 1874 until 1878. After he had been two years in the office, Lake county was cut off from Jackson county and later Klamath county was set off from Lake. For two years Mr. Manning conducted a livery stable in Klamath Falls and subse- quently secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he took up his abode in 1890. He also preempted one hun- dred and sixty acres, thus securing three hundred and twenty acres in all. The tract was covered with sagebrush and he was one of the first settlers of the locality and no improvements had been made. His ranch is situated ten miles south of Klamath Falls. Having disposed of part of this, he now devotes his time to the improvement of the remaining one hundred and sixty acres, car- rying on general farming. His fields are well tilled, his methods are practical and pro- gressive and the results which follow his labors are desirable. During the Modoc In- dian war he engaged in teaming for the United States government. Jacksonville was the nearest postoffice at that time and Mr. Manning carried the mail and passengers from Jacksonville. He did an extensive livery business, owning stables in that town, and in fact in every business relation he has won success, owing to his diligence, careful man- agement and well directed labors.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 57

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