The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 72

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

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When but twenty-one years of age Captain Applegate had charge of a unique company of scouts, called the "Ax and Rifle Com- pany," because every man carried an ax as well as a rifle. This company consisted of fifty men, the captain the only white man, while different chiefs of the various tribes ranked as lieutenants and sergeants. They cleared the way through the pine forests for a great wagon train of provisions and beef cattle that came down to the Klamath agency from The Dalles, marking the first step in the commencement of operations un- der the treaty of 1864 for the benefit of the southeastern tribes of Oregon. This was dur- ing the war with the Snake or Painte Indians.

For some time before the Modoc outbreak of 1872 Captain Applegate had charge of Yainax sub-agency, forty miles west of the headquarters' agency, then under supervision of Agent Laroy S. Dyar. Near Yainax was located the main band of the Modocs. under the famous old Chief Schonchin, and with him were to be domiciled the turbulent bands

under the haughty Modoc chieftain, Captain Jack. The story of how Captain Jack and his band refused to come onto the reserva- tion, and the subsequent events, make up the history of the Modoc war. In this brief sketch it can only be stated that Captain Applegate as a captain of a company of vol- unteers and Indian scouts played a prominent part in the bloody drama, and to follow him through its scenes would be to go over the history of that Indian outbreak, which can- not be done briefly.

In 1876 some of Captain Applegate's friends asked to have him appointed general Indian agent for Oregon, assuming that in such a way his unusual experience in the management of Indian affairs could be used to good purpose in promoting progressive conditions to the several agencies in the state. Ex-Senator Nesmith, who was him- self a democrat, was an ardent advocate of the plan and wrote as follows, to Hon. Zach Chandler, Grant's secretary of the interior, with whom he had served in the senate: "Mr. Applegate is a gentleman of culture and ability, and, unlike myself, he is a prom- inent republican and is as honest as is pos- sible for a man to be possessing his perverted political notions. You will pardon me, I know, for proposing appointments to an ad- ministration which I do not indorse, but I do so in order to promote the reforms which you have so happily inaugurated.". In 1898 Captain Applegate took charge of the Kla- math reservation. as United States Indian agent, and served as such for five years. Con- gress then discontinued the position of agent and he was appointed bonded superintendent of the agency and training school, a position which he resigned after serving two years.

During this period of seven years he did much to advance the Indians in civilization, prosecuted to a successful issue their claim to over half a million of dollars for lands excluded from the reservation by erroneous boundary surveys, and developed comprehen- sive plans for irrigation and drainage, which will add materially to the wealth of the res- ervation, an area approximating in size the state of Delaware, when that splendid section shall be freed from reservation restraints.

Captain Applegate is always an enthusias- tic boomer of his native state, and especially of the Klamath country, the fine section where he has so long made his home, and he has been a forceful factor in the develop- ment of the entire country, in its moral, edu- cational and material aspects.

He has been identified with various en- terprises looking to the development of southern Oregon, has had experience in the newspaper business and has a reputation as a writer of both prose and verse.

In 1878, Captain Applegate was married to Miss Ella Anderson, a daughter of Rev. Jesse Marion Anderson, a pioneer Methodist minister, who was widely known in south- ern Oregon as a man of ability and worth. The bride, like the groom, was a native of Oregon, having been born in the territory in 1855. The union has been a most happy

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one, and three sons and three daughters have been born to them, all worthy of their honorable parentage and giving promise of usefulness to their community and state. Frank Lindsay, the oldest, was born Octo- ber 10, 1879; Annie Elizabeth, September 13, 1881; Laroy Gilbert, August 19, 1885; Rachel Emma, November 23, 1887; Jennie Margaret, April 5, 1894; and Oliver C., Jr., July 5, 1896. Captain Applegate now re- sides at Klamath Falls, Klamathı county, Oregon. In politics, though not an unrea- sonable partisan, he has always been a con- sistent republican and was a delegate to the national republican convention at Chicago in 1892.

FRANK M. HARRIS is the owner of a ranch of six hundred and fifty acres, of which two hundred and fifty acres is included in his home place on the west side of Summer lake. Iron county, Missouri, numbers him among her native sons, his birth having there oc- curred January 31, 1864. His parents were Zed and Malissa (Pease) Harris. The father was born in Kentucky in 1825 and the mother in Connecticut in 1827. They were married in Missouri, January 6, 1848, and Zed Harris died in that state in 1880. He had devoted his entire life to farming. The mother, not long after her husband's death, came to Lake county, Oregon, with her children and here passed away in 1900. Three of the children died in Missouri and one remained in that state at the time when four of the sons and three of the daughters accompanied their mother to the west. They located first at Willowranch in the Goose lake valley of Cali- fornia, there remaining until 1888, when they came to the Summer lake valley, locating on the west bank of the lake. Of the children the eldest is Mrs. Flavia McDowell, while the others who reached adult age are: S. B., who died in Goose lake valley of Modoc county, California; Farnum E., of Lakeview, Oregon; Mrs. Della Fisher, of Ashland, Oregon; Clar- ence C., living on Summer lake; Martin E., of Chehalis county, Washington; Frank M., of this review; and Mrs. Florence Wakefield, of Elma, Washington.

Frank M. Harris was a youth when he came with his mother and other members of the family to Oregon. He resided with a brother and his mother to the time of his marriage in 1888 to Miss Emma Barnes, a native of Cali- fornia, who died here in 1891. The children of that marriage were: Glenn, who died in infancy; and Reason. In 1898 Mr. Harris was again married, his second union being with Alta Platt, a native of Wisconsin. There are three children of this marriage, Dean, Lewis and Ruth.

For more than three decades Mr. Harris has resided continuously in the Summer lake valley and his time and energies have ever been devoted to the development of his ranch and to the raising of stock. His home place is well improved, constituting one of the at- tractive farms on the west side of Summer lake, and his holdings, embracing altogether six hundred and fifty acres, give him excellent opportunity to promote the work of agricul-

tural development in this section and to ad- vance his individual interests. This he is doing along progressive lines and his labors are meeting with good returns.

CHARLES A. DAVIS is the owner of a fine ranch of one hundred and thirteen acres lo- cated in the vicinity of Pleasant Hill, where he engages in general farming and stock-rais- ing. He is a native of Linn county, his birth having occurred on the 6th of November, 1855, and a son of Caleb and Anna M. (Christ- man) Davis. The father, who was one of six children, was born in Ohio, but in his early childhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana. There he was reared to manhood and subsequently married, continuing to reside in the vicinity of his boy- lood home during the early years of his do- mestic life. In 1852, with his wife and six children he removed to Missouri, whence he later continued his journey westward, arriv- ing in Oregon in October, 1853. The following spring he filed on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Halsey, Ore- gon, which he cultivated for thirteen years and which was the birthplace of our subject. He disposed of this property about 1867 and invested in four hundred and thirty acres of land located about five miles from Eugene. Six years later he likewise sold that and bought a ranch of two hundred and eighty acres near Pleasant Hill in the cultivation of which he actively engaged until a few years prior to his death. He was living at Salem when he passed away, on the 21st of January, 1890, at the age of sixty-nine years, his birth having occurred September 27, 1820. The mother was born in Virginia on the 25th of March, 1822, and died in the vicinity of Pen- dleton, this state on February 10, 1865. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Davis num- bered eleven, as follows: James, deceased, formerly a farmer, who lived in the vicinity of Harrisburg, Oregon; Barton W., deceased; John C., who lives at Shedds, this state, where he engages in stock-raising; W. E., a ranch- man of Granite Falls, Washington; George C., an agriculturist of Lebanon, Oregon; Oliver M., who is engaged in the hotel business at Portland; Jasper P., who is ranching at Clack -. amas, this state; Charles A., the subject of this review; Mary C., the wife of J. W. Gross, of Halfway, Oregon; Elizabeth H., deceased; and Leander J., who is ranching at Talent, Oregon.

The entire life of Charles A. Davis has been passed on a ranch. He was educated in the district schools and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, and then started out to make his own way in the world. For two years he worked by the day, and as he was thrifty and enterprising he managed during that period to save enough out of his earnings to enable him to engage in ranching on his own account. He rented one hundred and seventeen acres of land which he cultivated with such success that at the end of three years he bought seventy acres. This formed the nucleus of his present ranch the boundaries of which have been extended from time to time until he owns

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· THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

one hundred and thirteen acres. Sixty acres of this tract has been brought into a high state of productivity and the remainder is in pasture. In connection with the cultivation of his fields Mr. Davis raises such stock as he needs on his farm and hogs for the market.

Charles A. Davis was married on the 22d of June, 1876, to Miss Narcissa Rutledge, one of nine 'children born to Blasingim and Sarah Jane (Manley) Rutledge. In order of birth they are as follows: Cynthia A., deceased; Daniel, deceased; Louisa, the widow of J. D. Matlock, formerly of Eugene, Oregon; Evelyn, deceased, who had married J. H. Gilbert, of Goshen, Oregon; Blasingim, de- ceased; Mrs. Davis, deceased; Sylvester, who is deceased; Ida May, the wife of J. H. Buchanan, of Alberta; and Thomas L., deceased. Mr. and Mrs Davis have five' children: Ada L., the wife of Elmer E. Hall, an undertaker of Spokane, Washington; Oren C., a bookkeeper in the sheriff's office at Eugene; Homer, who is deceased; Lee, who- is farming with his father; and LaVelma R., who died at the age of thirteen years.

Charles A. Davis is a member of the Christian church, to which his wife also belonged and in the work of which he takes an active and earnest interest. Mr. Davis' fraternal. connections are confined to his membership in Pleasant Hill Camp, No. 271, W. O. W. He has always led a life of intense activity and has through his per- sistent diligence and capable management become numbered among the substantial citi- zens of his community, where he is held in high esteem.

THOMAS B. TETHEROW, one of Polk county's well known citizens, now living retired in Independence, was born in Platte county, Missouri, on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1838. He is a son of Solomon and Ibby (Baker) Tetherow, both of Ger- man extraction, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Missouri. Solo- mon Tetherow was reared in the Blue Grass state but upon reaching mature years he went to Missouri and there met the lady who subsequently became his wife. He was very fond of outdoor life and spent much of his time in the woods, hunting and trapping. He was a first-class shot and in his early manhood he accompanied the soldiers when they crossed the Rockies, and with his gun provided them with fresh meat. He was also a bee hunter. In 1844 he and his family left Platte county and went to Texas, making the journey in a wagon drawn by an ox team. Not liking the climate, however, they did not unload their household effects but retraced their steps, again taking up their residence in Missouri. The following year, in 1845, Mr. Tetherow with his wife and eight children joined a train consisting of forty-four wagons with one hundred and twenty-five passengers, at St. Joe, Missouri, and started for the northwest. Six months and twenty days were spent en route and upon their arrival in Oregon, the Tetherow family first located a half mile north of Dallas. They remained there until 1847, when the father took up a donation claim

of six hundred and forty acres, practically all prairie land in the Luckiamute valley, in Polk county. Here he erected a cabin and he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives on their claim, his death occurring at the age of seventy-nine, while his wife passed away on the 28th of March, 1868. Mr. Tetherow devoted much of his time to hunting and trapping as well as fishing after coming here. The forests abounded with game of all kinds, there being many buffalo and deer, and in the creeks and rivers were to be found practically every variety of fresh water fish in abundance. He was one of the best known pioneers in this section and had many friends. Both he and his wife were members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church, and politically he was a Republican. Their family numbered fifteen children, ten of whom lived to ma- turity. Six of the number are still living, as follows: Evaline, who has attained the venerable age of eighty-two years, and re- sides south of Luckiamute in Polk county; Lucinda, the wife of William Parker, of Ashland, Oregon; Samuel, who lives in Falls City, this state; Thomas B., our subject; Martha, the widow of David Burns, of Dal- las, Oregon; and Anna, the wife of Richard Johnson, of Colfax, Washington.

In common with other pioneer children, Thomas B. Tetherow received but a limited education. In the early days educational advantages were very limited, the settlers being few and scattered, the constant men- ace of the Indians, and conditions generally making it practically impossible to have regular school sessions or to obtain the serv- ices of a good teacher. As he was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his people on their removal to the northwest he began his education in his native state. After coming to Oregon he attended school for a few winters, but as the distance was very great he did not go often or very regularly. He remained at home until lie was seventeen, when he started upon an independent venture being employed by others for three years. At the expiration of that period, when he was twenty, he was mar- ried and with his bride located on one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, that he had bought southwest of Independence. He cleared and placed this under cultivation and subsequently added to his holdings an eighty acre tract of timber. His fields were devoted to such cereals as were best adapted to the soil and he also raised stock, meeting with success in both branches. As the years passed and his circumstances permitted he wrought many improvements upon his ranch, making it a comfortable and attractive home, as well as a valuable property, and in due time he was able to retire from business life. When he left the ranch he and his wife resided in Monmouth for two years, but in 1891 he came to Independence and bought an acre of land. Here he erected a comfortable residence and they have ever since made this their home. He has been quite a sports- man and in his earlier years took much pleasure in hunting and fishing.

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON .

On the 18th of November, 1858, Mr. Tetherow was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Mclaughlin, a native of Pike county, Illinois, and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Griffith) Mclaughlin. The father was born in Kentucky but in his early childhood was sent to Pennsylvania to his grandparents, by whom he was reared. After leaving school he learned the black- smith's trade, and soon thereafter went to Illinois, locating in Pike county, where he met and married Miss Griffith, who was born and reared there. He followed his trade in Missouri until 1853, when with his wife and family, he crossed the plains to Oregon. They were six months in making the trip and upon their arrival in this state located at Buena Vista, Polk county. Here the father acquired some government land that he cultivated, and at the same time continued to work at blacksmithing. He passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, and the mother was eighty-nine at the time of her death. They were both well known in this section of the state. They held membership in the Cumberland Presby- terian church, and the father was a stanch republican. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin: Joseph A., who is living in Umatilla county, this state; Martha A., now Mrs. Tetherow; John, who is a resident of Marion county, Oregon; Harriet E., who lives in Echo, this state; Elizabeth, whose home is in Cottage Grove, Oregon; Mary E., who is living at Prosser, Wash- ington; Catherine, of Alberta, Canada; George, who makes his home in Buena Vista, Oregon; William, of Cottage Grove; and Alfred, who is living on the old home place in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Tetherow have had two children. Joseph A., who married Lilly Sebring, is operating a ranch located three miles southwest of Independence. Minnie E. is the wife of John Hildebrand and lives in Independence.

Mrs. Tetherow is a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church, and Mr. Tethe- row in his political views is a republican but he has never been an office seeker. He began his independent career with no capital save his ambition and determination of pur- pose, but by close application, tireless energy and the intelligent direction of his activities he met with the success whereby he is now able to spend his last days in ease and com- fort, being accorded the respect of all who know him by reason of his well spent life.

RALPH G. JENNINGS is one of the pros- perous and successful farmers of Jackson county owning one hundred and sixty acres of choice Oregon land located on Big Applegate creek. He was born in that county, April 10. 1881, and is the son of William F. and Eliza (Dews) Jennings. His father was a native of Hawkinsville, California, and his mother of Jackson county, Oregon. When William F. Jennings was but one year old his parents removed to Oregon, locating in this county, where he has continuously maintained his residence. At present he is making his home with his son, the subject of this review.

Ralph G. Jennings was reared in his father's home and acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools, while the early years of his business career were spent in the Sterling mines. After a number of years, in 1907, he purchased a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, located on the Little Apple- gate river and for three years he continued to develop and improve this farm, after which he disposed of it at a handsome profit and in 1910 purchased his present home. This ranch contains one hundred and sixty acres and is located on the Big Applegate river, at one of the most picturesque points in this county.

Mr. Jennings was united in wedlock to Miss Letitia Gilson, a native Oregonian, and the daughter of Thomas Gilson, who was one of the prominent farmers of Jackson county. He passed away many years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Jennings two children have been born: Paul C. and William Louis, both of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. Jennings is a loyal and enthusiastic member of the democratic party, following its stand- ard in all national and state issues. He is a member of Jacksonville Lodge, No. 10, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Jen- nings is one of the up-to-date, energetic and successful farmers of this county. He is rec- ognized throughout this portion of the state as an enterprising citizen, always associated with every measure seeking improvement of the business and educational interests of his community.

JOHN J. MURPHY is a well known and successful agriculturist located on a highly developed ranch of sixteen hundred acres where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native son of Oregon, his birth having occurred on the farm where he now lives on December 29, 1860, and is a son of John and Mary (Goodwin) Murphy, both of whom are natives of Ireland, the for- mer of County Cork and the latter of County Tyrone. The father emigrated to the United States in 1847 and on reaching the new world located in Orange county, New York, where he continued to live until 1852. He then re- moved to Lee county, Iowa, and thence in 1853 came to Oregon with the emigrant train of Meyer and Walker. On reaching this state he located in Jackson county and there for a short time engaged in work on the Mountain House. He later located a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres on which he established his home. In 1854 he joined Cap- tain Williams' company and served in the Rogue River Indian war until the close of that campaign in the latter part of that year. In 1858 Mr. Murphy went to San Francisco, California, and there was married to Mrs. Mary (Goodwin) Carr, who was the mother of one child by her former husband. Imme- diately after their marriage Mr. Murphy re- turned with his wife to his home in Jackson county, Oregon, making the journey with his wife on muleback over the Siskiyou moun- tains. He continued in the development and cultivation of his donation claim and later added by purchase to his original holdings

RALPH G. JENNINGS AND FAMILY

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

until he was the owner of twenty-two hun- dred acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred February 26, 1898, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died Novem- ber 6, 1904, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was affiliated with the democratic party.

John J. Murphy was reared at home and received his education in the public schools. He made his home with his father and was engaged with him in the cultivation and de- velopment of his farm properties. His father suffered much from rheumatism and the son was but twenty-one years of age when he practically took complete charge of the opera- tion of his father's ranch.

Mr. Murphy was united in marriage on June 18, 1884 to Miss Gertrude Neil, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clayborn Neil and a sister of the Hon. R. P. Neil, of Ashland, of whom more extended mention is made in another. part of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mur- phy were born five children of whom four are living, namely: Carl, residing in Ashland; and Murray, Ray and Clyde, all at home. Mr. Murphy affiliates with the democratic party but has never had any time nor desire to ac- cept political office. He is a member of the Ashland Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is one of the most enterprising farmers of the district in which he lives, being numbered among the highly esteemed and useful men of his county and state.

0. E. ROSE was born in the state of Illi- nois, December 8, 1849, and sustained an irreparable loss in the untimely death of both his father and his mother at a tender age. He encountered farther down on the Journey of life other trials and sorrows, but notwithstanding his misfortunes has risen above all obstacles with a manly fortitude. He has succeeded as the soldier succeeds who fights in the battle's front until victory is won. This is in part the key to the char- acter of Mr. Rose who is today one of the land owners in the great state of Oregon, in which he has four hundred and seven acres of highly improved land in Jackson county, adjacent to Applegate, Oregon.

His parents, Charles and Sarah (Cogle) Rose, were both natives of Illinois and in that state they passed away in the early history of their married life. To this family one son was born, O. E. Rose, who was left orphaned by their death at the tender age of four years. Fortunately, however, he found a welcome at the fireside of his grand- parents where he received sympathetic and loving care and enjoyed the privileges and advantages of their home. He was reared in this home and educated in the public schools, remaining with his grandparents un- til he was twelve years of age at which time he bade adieu to the scenes of his early childhood and in company with his uncle, Harve Benedict, emigrated to Oregon. The journey across the plains and over the moun- tains was made with ox teams and horses. (). E. Rose made the entire journey on horse- back. He remained with his uncle as a member of his family until he attained his majority. On reaching the age of twenty-

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 72

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