The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 63

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

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On the 22d of November, 1899, Mr. Schroe- der was united in marriage to Miss Dorlisca Clinton, a native of Oregon and a daughter of John W. and Eliza (Russell) Clinton. Mrs. Schroeder's mother was born in Ohio and her father's birth occurred in Missouri. Her parents came to Oregon and settled in Coos county in 1874 where the father bought a farm. He had previously engaged in agri- culture in Missouri, giving some of his time to blacksmithing. but since his settlement in Oregon has entirely discontinued the latter line of occupation. For some years le en-

gaged in the timber business in the northern woods where he was noted for the large amount of work he could accomplish in one day. He has engaged in farming during the latter years of his life and is now living with his wife on the old homestead in Norway, Oregon, where some of his children still re- side. Mrs. Schroeder is one of twelve chil- dren born to her parents: James D., who is now farming near Norway, Oregon, where he resides with his wife and five children; Marion T., who resides in Argo, and is the mother of two children; Jessie, who lives upon the old homestead in Norway; Mary, the wife of William Schroeder of Coquille, Oregon; George of California; Albert R., who operates a sawmill in Coquille; Dorlisca, the wife of our subject; Edward, engaged in general mer- chandising in Parkersburg, Oregon; Samuel, who resides in the same city; Clarence, who maintains his home in Coquille; Roy, a resi- dent of Norway; and Annie, the deceased wife of Charles Fox. To Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schroeder have been born three children: Adrian, born July 20, 1904, who is attending the public schools of Coos county and is mak- ing a brilliant record; Thelma, born January 12, 1906, who is also pursuing her studies; and Velda, born August 24, 1907.

In his political affiliations Mr. Schroeder is a democrat, always voting his party ticket on national issues although he reserves inde- pendence of judgment on local questions. He has never sought office but has served as clerk of the school board for four years. He deserves great credit for what he has accom- plished in agricultural pursuits by reason of his intelligent activities and his honorable and upright life.

ISAAC WRIGHT, JR., is a well known and popular liveryman of Woodville, where he owns and operates a fine livery barn. He has two residence properties in this city and is a prominent business man in the town of his adoption. He was born in Ohio, June 22, 1835, a son of Isaac and Nancy (Hart- ness) Wright, both natives of the state of New York, who removed to Ohio at an early date, where they lived for several years. In 1842 the family removed to Wisconsin and there resided until the death of the parents. In their family were nine children of whom seven are still living.

Isaac Wright, Jr., remained at home until after attaining majority and received a good common-school education, assisting his father with the duties of the farm. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming on his own account in Wisconsin, a vocation which he followed in that state until 1890, when he removed to Oregon. After coming to this state he went into the saloon business, in which he continued for seventeen years, but in 1910 he settled in Woodville, where he built a fine livery barn and has since con- ducted the same. His business has been suc- cessful and he is now the owner of two resi- dence properties in Woodville.

Mr. Wright was married in early manhood to Miss Aulena Lamb and to them were born six children, of whom Duncan is a resident

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of Wisconsin. Dora married Charles Was- son, also of Wisconsin. Samuel makes his liome in the Badger state. Chester resides in South Dakota. The wife and mother passed away in Wisconsin in 1887, having been a faithful helpmate to her husband during her lifetime. Mr. Wright is independent in his political views, preferring to support for public office such men as in his opinion are best fitted for the office to which they aspire. He has long been recognized as one of the leading and most valuable men of his town. He gives strict attention to his business, serv- ing his customers with promptness and af- fording them such accommodations as give entire satisfaction. He is active in civic as well as business life and does what is in his power to promote the interests of the busi- ness welfare as well as the social conditions of the town in which he lives.

CHARLES SNEDDON is one of the highly respected citizens of Marshfield, having lived a retired life in that city for many years. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, February, 1841, and is the son of Robert and Jeannette (Nesbit) Sneddon. To his parents ten chil- dren were born: Robert, Richard, John, Jean- nette and Agnes, all of whom are deceased; Margaret, who is the wife of William Nesbit, of Glasgow, Scotland; Charles, of this review ; Andrew, of Glasgow, Scotland; and Thomas and Betsy, both of whom are deceased.

Charles Sneddon was reared in his father's home and received a limited education in the public schools of his native city. At the early age of ten he started in life for him- self, securing his first employment in the mines, at which work he continued to be en- gaged for a period of ten years. In the year 1865 he emigrated to America. making his first stop in the new world in Pennsylvania. He, however, remained but a very short time in that state, after which he removed to West Virginia. where he continued to reside for two years. During his residence in Vir- ginia he sent for his betrothed wife, who at that time was still living in Scotland and who reached the American shores in the month of November and immediately there- after occurred her marriage to Mr. Sneddon. Shortly after the date of their wedding Mr. and Mrs. Sneddon removed to Boone county, Towa. He had previously been engaged for a short time in the mining business in Mary- land. Mr. Sneddon established his home in the month of September in Iowa and in that state was engaged in the mining industry until April of the following spring, at which time he and his wife removed to Coos Bay. reaching that place on May 10. 1871. He at once filed upon a preemption claim in this state, upon which he lived until he purchased a residence property in Marshfield. where he has since lived a retired life. He is the owner of a beautiful farm of two hundred and five acres and his home is one among the finest residences in Marshfield, located at No. 995 Seventh street, south.

On November, 23, 1865, Mr. Sneddon was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Blakeley, a

daughter of John and Hannah (Sherry) Blakeley, both of whom were natives of Scot- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Blakeley eleven chil- dren were born: Rosan, who is the widow of John MeDougal and resides in Scotland; Hugh, Jane and John, all of whom are de- ceased; John, the second of that name, who has also passed away; Mrs. Ellen Sneddon; Agnes, who is deceased; Agnes, the second of that name, who is the wife of Robert Mitchell, of Scotland; and Mary, James and Hannah, all of whom have passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sneddon nine children have been born: Robert, deceased; Hannah, the wife of David Reese, of Marshfield, by whom she has two children, Helen and Edna ; Jolın B., of Marshfield, who is married and has one child, Mabel; Charles, who is a resi- dent of Marshfield; Hugh, likewise of Marsh- field, who is married and has two children, Walter and Louise; Walter, of Roslyn, Wash- ington, who is married and has one child, Ruth; William, who resides in Marshfield; Ellen, deceased; and Jeannette, of California.

Mr. Sneddon is a loyal and enthusiastic member of the republican party. He has, however, never sought political office of any kind. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which fraternal society he has been identified for thirty years. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Charles Sneddon is one of the best known men in Coos county. He is in every respect entitled to be numbered among thie early pioneers of this portion of the state and throughout his long life of activity and citizenship in his adopted state he has been known as a man of high ideals of honor in social and business life. He is always vitally interested in every public measure seeking to improve the condition of the people in the state and county in which he resides.

J. B. RIDDLE. Emerson ranks the quality of proficiency as highest in the influences which make for success. He says that if a man can do any one thing well, be it preach a sermon or make a mouse trap, "though he build his house in the wilderness, the world will make a beaten path to his door." J. B. Riddle has done even better than this. He has built a town; and with what success. the thriving and prosperous city of Riddle is ample evidence. He is today one of the fore- most men in the city which bears his name and actively interested in all lines of com- mercial development. He is a native of Sall- gamon county, Illinois, where his birth oc- curred November 9, 1844. His parents were William and Maxamilia Riddle, both natives of Ohio, who settled in Illinois soon after their marriage and in 1851 crossed the plains with ox teams. The journey took about six months to accomplish and after many hardships they located in Cow creek valley, Oregon, where the father took up a dona- tion claim of three hundred and twenty acres and lived upon his land until his death. The mother died in 1868.

J. B. Riddle was only seven years of age when his parents left Illinois for Ore-

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES SNEDDON

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

gon. His father had the distinction of being the first white man to settle in Cow creek valley and here his son was reared among the Indians. The schooling facilities of the district were extremely inadequate and J. B. Riddle's only instruction was that gained in a little log cabin schoolhouse with a dirt floor and slab benches. When he was nine- teen years old he bought a farm in the region where he lived from J. C. Vandenbauch, who had come into the valley shortly after the Riddle family settled there. J. B. Riddle and his brother Abner became owners at this time of a half section of the valley farm lands and on this location the town of Riddle now stands. When the railroad was built through, J. B. Riddle followed the line of construction, conducting small eating houses along the way. When he reached Medford he opened the Nash hotel, the first institution of this kind in the city. This he conducted for three years and then returned to Riddle, where he built the first hotel in that city. He remained in active operation of this en- terprise for twenty years but recently leased it to his son-in-law, D. W. Crosby, who is now its proprietor.

There is no line of activity in the city of Riddle in which our subject has not been active at some period of his career. He was one of the organizers of the Riddle State Bank and was elected president at the time it was founded in 1910. He has erected many of its finest buildings and has had a share in the organization of most of its business enterprises. He has seen its development from a wholly unimproved section of land to a rapidly growing and prosperous city. He owns today a large quantity of valu- able real estate in the business and residence sections of Riddle and is always keenly alive to the needs and advancement of his home townl.

J. B. Riddle has been twice married. His first union occurred when he was, nineteen years of age. At this time he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Feathers, a daughter of William Feathers, a Baptist minister who came to Cow creek valley from California in 1863. She was drowned while fording the Umpqua river in 1865 and her nine months old child met death at the same time. Two years later, in 1867, John Riddle was again married. His second wife was Miss Mary Frances Catching, who was the first white child born in this section of the state of Oregon. Her birthi occurred in Cow creek valley in 1852, her father, John Catching, having come to Oregon from Missouri in 1845. He was one of the earliest settlers in northwestern America. He first located on the Tualitin plains in Washington county but joined the California gold seekers in 1849. He later returned and located in the. Cow creek valley, where his daughter was born. To Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Riddle have been born seven children, five of whom are still living: Jennie, who married D. W. Crosby, of Riddle, Oregon; Millie, the wife of Charles Stauffer, of the same city; Frances, now Mrs. George Frater, who resides in Riddle; Ira B., who is a court reporter at Roseburg, Ore-

gon; and Edward, now in business in Riddle. Our subject and his family are now living in one of the most beautiful private homes in Douglas county. This residence was built by J. B. Riddle when he gave up his active man- agement of the Riddle Hotel. The house stands in the midst of one hundred and sixty acres of beautifully kept land adjoining the city. Here Mr. Riddle is giving most of his time and attention to overseeing and oper- ating his extensive fruit ranch.

J. B. Riddle has always been a republican in his political views and served for several years as mayor of his city. He devotes a great deal of his time to the commercial development of the town which he founded, and takes an intelligent interest in national and local politics. Fraternally he is member of Riddle Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the Umpqua Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., of Rose- burg. He is a Knight of Pythias and is a prominent member of the Roseburg lodge of that organization and active in the affairs of Roseburg Lodge, No. 326, B. P. O. E., of which he is a charter member. J. B. Riddle is the foremost man in his city today. He has promoted its industries, spread its busi- ness, erected many of its buildings and has developed and improved its municipal life. He has done his work well and the pathway to his door is beaten and trampled by the eager footsteps of his many friends.

WARREN D. MEE is the fortunate owner of a most attractive and valuable ranch prop- erty, containing two hundred and forty acres, located on Thompson creek in Jackson county, this state. His birth occurred June 15, 1868, and he is a native son of Oregon, his parents being Thomas and Drusilla (Wooldridge) Mee, both of whom were early pioneers to this state. The father emigrated to Oregon in 1852 and the mother crossed the plains with her parents in 1853. Af- ter their marriage they settled on Thompson creek in Jackson county, where Thomas Mee engaged in farming, being one of the first settlers in that part of the county. Here he established his home and spent the re- maining years of his life. He was very suc- cessful in business and highly esteemed by all who knew him as a man of upright character, generous impulses and fidelity to the highest ideals of moral life. He has long since passed to his reward but is sur- vived by his wife, who still resides in their old home.

Warren D. Mee was reared in his father's home and obtained his early education in the public schools. At the age of twenty he left the parental roof and accepted a position as superintendent of a sawmill, which he operated for a box factory dur- ing several years. Later he removed to California, in that state becoming the owner and proprietor of a box factory, which he operated very successfully for a number of years. After selling this property he re- turned to his boyhood home for the pur- pose of looking after his father's estate, which consisted of two hundred and forty acres on Thompson creek. This he operated

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for a number of years and later, by pur- chase, came into possession of the property, which he still owns.

In 1896 Mr. Mee was united in marriage to Miss Effie B. Hesslegrave, a native of Iowa, by whom he has six children, namely : Charlie, Helen, Thomas, Gertrude, Eugene and Ruth. All are living and reside at home with their parents. Mr. Mee is a republican in politics and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a worthy successor of his honored father. By inheritance le bears a name that stands for the highest ideals in business and social life and his influence is always to be counted upon in the promotion of any issue looking to the improvement of the community in which he lives.

JOHN W. PERNOLL is the well known and popular postmaster of Applegate, Jackson county, this state, and is a native son of Oregon and the county and city in which he lives. He was born April 30, 1877, his parents being William and Nancy (Miller) Pernoll. The father was a native of Germany and the mother of Rogue river valley in Jackson county. The father of Mrs. Pernoll, John S. Miller, came to Oregon in 1846 from Mis- souri, crossing the plains with ox teams, stopping for a short time in the northern part of the state, thence continuing his journey to Jackson county where he ef- fected his permanent settlement and estab- lished his home. He and Burrell B. Griffin, the great-grandfather of him whose name introduces this review, were veterans of the Indian wars from which this section of the state suffered during the early years of their pioneer life.

William Pernoll in his early life was a sea- faring man, roving the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, making all merchantable ports of the world. His vessel on touching port on the Pacific coast afforded him an opportunity to obtain a glimpse of the undeveloped re- sources of the Pacific seaboard, which proved to be so attractive that he deserted his ship and joined the great body of men in their rush to the rich diggings in the gold fields. In 1853 he removed to Oregon and located at Jacksonville in Jackson county, where he continued his occupation of miner for some two or three years. Later he changed his place of residence to Old Wil- liamsburg where he took up a homestead and engaged in diversified farming and stock- raising to which he also added the occupa- tion of a butcher. Some years later he filed upon a government homestead on Applegate river, two miles northwest of the present site of Applegate postoffice. He removed to this homestead, upon which he lived for many years, but in later life came to Apple- gate where he maintained his residence until the time of his death which occurred in June, 1900. For some years before his death he was engaged in the mercantile business which he conducted first on his ranch and later removed to Applegate.

John W. Pernoll was reared in his father's home while he acquired his education in

the public schools. From his childhood he has never left the parental roof and during all these years has been engaged in `the mercantile business, identified with the growing interests of his father's farm and merchandising enterprise. Immediately fol- lowing the death of his father he suc- ceeded to the management of the farm to which he has since continued to give his attention. On December 1, 1901, he' re- ceived the appointment of postmaster of Applegate and in this office he has faith- fully and conscientiously served the gov- ernment and the people. He is a member of Warren Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., of Jacksonville; Jacksonville Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F .; and Grants Pass Camp, No. 8007, M. W. A. He is independent in his political affiliations, giving his ballot to the candidates and the issues which he be- lieves will render most faithful and effec- tive service to the cause of the people. He is still a single man but, nevertheless, is identified with all the healthy social growth of his county and community. He is al- ways to be relied upon to lend his influence to the furtherance of any enterprise seek- ing the educational,. social, industrial or moral development of his county and state.

F. E. WALL, who is a resident of Jeffer- son, was born in Kings Lynn, England, De- cember 31, 1853, his parents, Edward and Eliza (Mathews) Wall, being lifelong resi- dents of England. The father was an agri- culturist and engaged in that pursuit throughout his life. He died at the age of fifty-six years and Mrs. Wall passed away in 1906, at the age of ninety years. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Har- riet, who resides in England and is the widow of John Patterson; Charles, a resident of England; Frances, who is also residing in England and is the widow of Thomas Rack- ham; Alice, deceased; F. E .; Emily and Wil- liam, both deceased; Nellie, who is the wife of Ed Morton and resides in England; and Edward, who is residing in England.

F. E. Wall received his early education at Franlingham College in England and in August, 1868, when nearly fifteen years of. age he went to Scotland, where he remained for three years as an agricultural student. After this he left for Canada and engaged in agricultural pursuits for nineteen years, at the end of that time coming to Jefferson. where he has since resided and engaged in the carpenter's trade.

In 1897 Mr. Wall was married to Evelyn Gulvin, whose birth occurred in Wisconsin in 1865 and who is the daughter of Henry and Mary (Marybe) Gulvin, the former a na- tive of England and the latter of the state of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Wall five children have been born, namely: Henry Milton, whose birth occurred September 14, 1898; Roland Arthur, who was born March 6, 1900; Kenneth Bentley, born June 29. 1902; Donald W., born October 29, 1904; and Margaret Evelyn, born February 25, 1906.

In politics Mr. Wall is a stanch republican and he has been elected to several civic of-

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1 fices, among those being that of city recorder and city marshal. He is also a member of the Masons, having been secretary of the lodge and of the Eastern Star for fourteen years; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the chairs and is now acting as secretary; and of the Royal Arch Masons. In his various pursuits Mr. Wall has always displayed ability and abundant energy and in his political and fraternal relations he has been honorable and loyal, thus making for himself a name which stands for the best there is in manhood and citizenship.

D. W. KNUTZEN is one of the representa- tive farmers of Jackson county, owning a highly improved ranch of one hundred and sixty acres located on Thompson creek. His birth occurred in California on the 19th of October, 1859, his parents being John W. and Angelica Knutzen, both of whom were born near Hamburg, Germany. They were united 'in marriage in San Francisco, California, to which state John W. Knutzen had emigrated during the early gold excitement in 1849. He was engaged in the business of mining for a period of twelve or fifteen years, and later became interested in farming and stock- raising. In 1873 he removed to Oregon, lo- cating on Thompson creek, where he con- tinued to live until the time of his death, which occurred in 1906. His wife was called to her final rest in July, 1910.

D. W. Knutzen was reared at home and educated in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he became an employe on a neighboring ranch, where he remained for some time and then became interested in mining, with which occupation he was con- nected for a considerable period. Later he purchased his present home ranch, consist- ing of one hundred and sixty acres on Thompson Creek, where he has since resided.

In the year 1885 Mr. Knutzen was married to Miss Laura Mee, a daughter of Thomas Mee, one of the early settlers on Thompson creek. To this home two children have been born, Jessie and Frank. Mr. Knutzen is a loyal member of the republican party and belongs to Rogue River Camp, No. 55, W. O. W., of Grants Pass, Oregon. He is one of the solid, representative citizens of his county and a successful farmer and is always keenly alive to the best interests of the people of his state. He is highly respected wherever known for the integrity of his character and his sound methods of business practice.

T. F. HAYES, who is living retired in Woodburn, Oregon, was born in Indiana on the 11th of August, 1844, his parents being Henry and S. E. (Guerin) Hayes, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of New Jersey. The parents were married in Indiana, where they resided until 1848, the year in which they removed to Iowa, where they were among the pioneer settlers of their section of the state. After residing there for four years they crossed the plains with ox teams and arrived in Oregon in 1852. During this trip the father's death oc-

curred when they were at the Boise river. Upon arriving in Oregon the mother and her family located in Marion county but they soon took up a donation claim one mile east of Mount Angel, Marion county. This was the mother's home until her retirement in 1888 from an active life of at least thirty years. In that year she sold the property and made her home until her death in 1906, son, T. F. Hayes. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hayes were the parents of five children: John C., at the age of eighty-three years, with her whose death occurred at Silverton, Oregon, when he was forty-eight years of age; T. F., who is the subject of this review; Mrs. Eliza J. McCulloch, a resident of Baker City, Ore- gon; Henry T., who is living in Marion county; and William Albert, who died at Baker City, at the age of thirty-three years.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 63

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