The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 74

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

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The 12th of June, 1851, was the wedding day of Hugh R. Grant and Josephine Wil- liams, who was born in Richmond, Wray county, Missouri, on the 6th of November, 1835. Her parents were John A. and Nancy B. (Jamison) Williams, who were born and reared in Kentucky. In their early days they went to Wray county, Missouri, but later located in Davis county, where they resided until 1852, when they came over- land to Multnomah county, Oregon. They located on a ranch four miles north of Van- couver, on the Columbia river, where they made their home for thirty years. Owing to the state of the mother's health, at the expiration of that time they removed to Vancouver, and there she subsequently passed away. Later Mr. Williams came to Polk county and married Eliza Gardner, the widow of Samuel Gardner, and they located in the southern part of the county, where Mr. Williams died. Of the marriage of John A. Williams and his first wife there were born eleven children, as follows: Margaret, the wife of John Childs, who died while crossing the plains in 1852; Sarah Jane, the widow of Jackson Grant, who passed away in Polk county; Thomas, who died in childhood; Martha, who married Jeremiah Shelley, both

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of whom are deceased; Missouri, the de- ceased wife of John Dodd; Judith Ann, who married Owen Bozar, both of whom are de- ceased; Mrs. Hugli R. Grant; Elizabeth, who passed away in Oregon; Milton, who died in Vancouver; Wiley, who died in Polk county; and Sanford, who is also deceased. The motlier was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Williams gave his political allegiance to the democratic party. He always took a very active interest in all local governmental affairs, and represented his district in the state legislature botlı while residing in Mis- souri and Multnomalı counties. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grant there were born the follow- ing children: Rachel Ann, the eldest, passed away in Polk county. Mary, deceased, was the wife of Andrew Sheldon, who is living in Union county, Oregon. Nancy became the wife of Isaac Hubbard, but is deceased. John, formerly marshal of Dallas for twenty- five years, is now sheriff of Polk county. He owns several ranches this county. He married Grace Doty of Monmouth, Oregon. Wickliff married Jessie Steele and engaged in farming but is now deceased. David is a member of the night police force of Dallas, where he was formerly engaged in the meat business. He now owns a store in Falls City. Milton B., a rural mail carrier of Dal- las, married Frances Brower. Rosie died at the age of nineteen years.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Grant were lifelong members of the Baptist church, and he voted the democratic ticket and for a time served as school director in his district. He was among the last of the early pioneers of Polk county, where he spent the greater part of his life and had a large circle of friends, who accorded him the respect and esteem that is the just tribute to an honorable old age.

HENDRICK H. GODDARD is one of the · prominent ranchmen and public-spirited citi- zens of the Wagner creek district in Jackson county, residing near Talent. He is a carpen- ter by trade and occupies nineteen acres of the old homestead. He was born November 30, 1858, in Missouri, the son of Blin C. and Damaris (McClain) Goddard, the former a native of New York and the latter of North Carolina. After their marriage the parents removed to Missouri and made that state their home until 1864, when they crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon, spending their first winter on the old E. K. Anderson place, west of Talent. In the following spring they moved to a farm west of Phoenix, where they spent nearly two years. In the fall of 1867 the father traded that property for a ranch of one hundred and twenty-six acres on Wagner creek, of which nineteen acres is now owned by the subject of this review. In 1880 the father bought a ranch at the head of Elk creek, but after residing for two years upon that property he returned to the old home farm, where he lived until the time of his death, in August, 1893, the mother passing away in March of the same year. The father was a republican of con- siderable prominence in the community and

served for two terms as county assessor of Jackson county. He was by trade a carpenter and during his agricultural pursuits at various times occupied himself with the business of building.

Hendrick H. Goddard was reared in the liome of his parents and in the schools of Oregon pursued his education. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade and during the greater part of his life he was employed in the construction of buildings. His little farm, upon which he makes his home, is cultivated by his son, Ormy.

On October 22, 1882, Mr. Goddard married Miss Maggie A. Sherman, of Phoenix, Oregon, and to them were born three children: Fred R., who is attending the Littlejohn Medical College at Chicago, Illinois; and Adelbert C. and Ormy M., both of whom reside at home. In his political views Mr. Goddard is a republican and although he has never been an office seeker he has served for one term as deputy assessor and also for one term as justice of the peace of the Talent precinct. He also takes an active interest in educational matters and for twenty years wa's a member of the local school board. Fraternally he is a member of Oregon Camp, No. 438, W. O. W. He is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of his community and is greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends.

HENRY WENDT, JR. New Pine Creek is a thriving and rapidly growing town on the California border and enterprising citizens are here pushing forward the wheels of progress. Among their number is Henry Wendt, Jr., who seems to know that success must be wrested from the hands of fate and, there- fore, is with energy and determination meet- ing every situation and winning constant advancement. He is identified with several business enterprises of the town and is also serving as its postmaster. His birth occurred in Beatrice, Nebraska, October 14, 1874, his parents being Henry and Mary (Cluseman) Wendt, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. Having come to America in early life, they were married in Nebraska and afterward established their home in Santa Cruz, Cali- fornia. Subsequently they removed north- ward to Jacksonville, Oregon, where they have resided for many years, the father being a stage contractor and ranchman. He has served as a member of the city council there and was street commissioner at one time. In his family were nine children, of whom four sons and four daughters are living.

Henry Wendt, Jr., the eldest son, re- mained with his parents until he reached the age of fifteen years and in the meantime liad acquired a good public-school education in Jacksonville. He then determined to follow the art of photography and, acquainting him- self therewith, he devoted a number of years to the work. Locating at Bieber, California. he there remained for four years, conducting a photograph gallery, a barber shop and a candy manufactory. On the 1st of October. 1907. he came to New Pine Creek, where lie established a photographic gallery and candy kitchen, but on the 1st of January, 1912,

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discontinued the operation of his gallery for his business in the candy line was growing and demanded his undivided attention. On the latter date the Wendt building was com- pleted. In it are the Wendt Opera House, with a seating capacity of four hundred, a candy kitchen and a postoffice. Mr. Wendt erected the building and conducts moving picture shows and also furnishes other attractive entertainments in the opera house. His sale of confectionery is large and the business is constantly increasing in volume. Mr. Wendt learned the trade of candy making while traveling and engaged quite extensively in that line of business for ten years. He began learning the barber's trade at Yreka, California, when but fifteen years of age, and continued to follow it until he came to New Pine Creek. Here he concentrates his ener- gies upon the conduct of the candy kitchen, the moving picture theater and the manage- ment of the opera house.

In 1905 Mr. Wendt was married to Mrs. Minnie (Nusbaum) Short, a widow, who had one child, Owena. By her second marriage a son, Chester, has been born, whose death occurred August 29, 1912, at the age of five years and ten months. Politically Mr. Wendt is independent and the only public office he has ever held is that of postmaster of New Pine Creek, to which he was appointed on the 23d of January, 1911. He holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and those qualities which make him a faithful member of these organizations make him also a loyal citizen.

GEORGE W. EBBERT. Sixty years have elapsed since George W. Ebbert, with his three brothers, arrived in Oregon, and here he has since made his home. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of August, 1829, his parents being James and Eliza (DeVickman) Ebbert. In 1851 the family residence was established in Van Buren county, Iowa, where the parents passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs James Ebbert were born twenty-two children, all of whom are de- ceased with the exception of four sons and two daughters.

Being a member of a large family of small means, the educational advantages of George W. Ebbert were very limited. At a very early age he assumed his share of the re- sponsibility connected with the maintenance of the family, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty-three. In 1852, the year after the family located in Iowa, he and three of his brothers, James, who lives in Lane county, Oregon, William, who is a resi- dent of Gilman county, this state, and Harri- son, whose home is in Salem, decided to come to the northwest. On the 4th of May of that year they started across the plains to Ore- gon with a wagon and an ox team. On the 4th of August following they reached their des- tination, having had an uneventful journey. When he first located here George W. Ebbert worked in the mines, but he later withdrew from this and located in the Willamette val -. ley, where he farmed for a time. From

there he went to Portland and worked with one of his brothers for two years, at the expiration of which time he went to Lane county. There he was married in 1856, and he and his bride at once settled on a ranch. They began their domestic life in a shanty made of slabs, with the planed side in, con- tinuing to reside there for three years. They subsequently purchased another place located near by, upon which they erected a log house, and there for thirty years they lived comfort. ably and happy. General farming and stock- raising engaged the attention of Mr. Ebbert, who met with a most gratifying degree of success in both lines of his business. In the '80s he disposed of this property and invested the proceeds in a ranch adjacent to Mon- mouth, which he still owns. He and his wife are now living retired in the village of Mon- mouth, where they occupy a comfortable residence.

Mr. Ebbert chose for his wife Miss Eliza- beth Landes, who was born in Jefferson coun- ty, Iowa, on the 6th of September, 1840, a daughter of Abraham and Amanda (Levell) Landes. The father was a native of Hardy county, West Virginia, and the mother of Wayne county, Indiana, in which state they were married. They subsequently removed to Iowa, where they resided for sixteen years. In 1854 the parents and nine children started for Oregon with a wagon and ox team. They crossed the Missouri river on the 28th of May, and three months later arrived in Lane coun- ty, locating in Eugene, Oregon, on the 2d of September. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Landes numbered thirteen children, two of whom, Nancy Ann and Miranda, passed away in Iowa. The others are as follows: William Henry, deceased; Mrs. Ebbert; Martha Jane, also deceased; Sarah; Mary Ann; Melissa; Winfield S .; Zachariah T .; Catherine; Frances Amanda; and Elmira, deceased. The two last named were born in Oregon. The mother passed away at the family home in Lane county, at the age of fifty-three. The father subsequently married again and went to California, but later returned to Oregon, pass- ing away in the vicinity of Eugene, at the venerable age of ninety-five years. Of the . marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ebbert there were born the following children: Harriet; Belle; Dempsey, deceased; Melissa; Adna; Idis; Henry; Lulu; and Elbie.

Mr. Ebbert's residence in Oregon covers the formative period in the history of the state's development, in the progress of which he has taken a deep interest. He has witnessed the introduction of modern methods and ideas in the promotion of the state's natural resources, as pioneer conditions have receded with the . advent of a newer and higher civilization that stamps the nation's progress.

RALPH C. FOSTER is the owner of a ranch of four hundred and eighty-eight acres on the west bank of Summer lake in Lake county and devotes his time to the raising of hay and grain as well as to running cattle. He was born November 7, 1874, a mile south of his present home, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Currier) Foster. The father

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was an early pioneer of the Summer lake valley. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, July 4, 1827, and was a son of Andrew Foster, who was a native of Virginia and a soldier of the War of 1812. Removing west- ward in 1845, Andrew Foster took up his abode in the Willamette valley, being one of the first to penetrate into the wilderness of that region and reclaim wild land for the purpose of cultivation. He married Elizabeth Smith, a native of Ireland, and they had nine children, of whom James was the last survivor. James Foster made the journey across the plains with ox teams in 1845, the train coming by way of Meek's cut-off, with Mr. Meek as a guide. They continued to the Harney valley and Mr. Foster thence made his way to the present site of Cor- vallis in Benton county. Previous to this time he had removed with his parents from Ohio to Missouri and it was from the latter state that the start was made across the plains to the northwest. On the 30th of November, 1848, James Foster married Eliza- beth Currier, who was born in Vermont, June 18, 1832, and went to Missouri with her parents, who died in that state. Mrs. Foster and her sister, Mrs. A. L. Humphrey, jour- neyed across the plains to Benton county in 1846 by way of the Goose lake valley and the Rogue river, being the first white women who went through the Cow creek canyon. They crossed the Missouri river on the 10th of May and arrived in Benton county on the 5th of December.

James Foster was engaged in farming and stock-raising in the Willamette valley until the spring of 1871, when he removed to the Summer lake valley, which remained his home until the time of his death. He was recognized as one of the prominent and influ- ential residents of Lake county. There were few settlers here at the time of his arrival and he saw the county develop from a wil- derness to its present prosperous condition. He assisted materially in this work. He has always been on the frontier, for Ohio was undeveloped when he lived in that state. Mis- souri was in a like condition while he was there, and when he became a resident of the Willamette valley, he was a pioneer there, while later he was one of the first settlers of Lake county. He was always engaged in the stock-raising business, was the owner of a large herd of cattle and one hundred and sixty acres of good hay land. On his ranch he erected a commodious twelve-room resi- dence, good stables and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He had a four-acre orchard containing peaches, pears, apples, plums, prunes, apricots and cherries, and he also raised berries. At one time he made a specialty of raising race horses and was the owner of the noted Oregon Eclipse, which he ultimately sold for seven thousand dollars. He also owned Hercules, a full brother of Oregon Eclipse. James Foster died on the old homestead December 19, 1909, at the age of eighty-two years, and his widow now resides in Lakeview. In their family were the following children: Lorena and J. Manley, deceased; John A .; James A., who

is a resident of Lakeview and is county assessor of Lake county; Angeline, William HI. and Annie E., all of whom have passed away; Frederick W .; Marion L., deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth F. Klipple; Leuvia S., de- ceased; Mrs. Eudora Hartin, who died in December, 1910; Mrs. Aurora A. Walters, liv- ing in Portland; Ralph C., whose name intro- duces this record; and Mrs. Lulu Schminck, of Lakeview.

Ralph C. Foster has always resided on Sum- mer lake and from early boyhood has been actively connected with ranching and stock- raising. The industry and sound judgment which he has manifested along this line have led to his success and he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty-eight and fifty- five hundredths acres of land on the west bank of Summer lake, on which he runs about two hundred head of cattle. He also raises hay and grain extensively and his prod- ucts find a ready sale on the market, bring- ing to him a substantial financial return.

On the 17th of November, 1902, Mr. Fos- ter was married to Miss Princess Belt, of Corvallis, Oregon, who was born at Inde- pendence, this state, and is a daughter of Thomas and Jennie Belt. The father is de- ceased but the mother resides in Corvallis with her son George. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have four children: Thomas James, Vivian, Dora and Leona.

Mr. Foster votes with the democratic party, but is not a politician, having no desire for office or to mingle actively in politics. He finds that his business fully occupies his time and attention and he is living a life of in- dustry and thrift whereby success is crown- ing his efforts, so that he is recognized as one of the prosperous and representative agricul- turists of the Summer lake district.

HIRAM BETTYS whose demise occurred on the 16th of March, 1909, was identified with general agricultural pursuits in Coos county for more than a third of a century and enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of its substantial and representative citizens. He was born in Rochester, New York, on the 13th of September, 1835, a son of Gillead Bettys, who was likewise a native of the Empire state. When a youth of sixteen Hiram Bettys removed to Canada with his widowed mother, who purchased land in that country. In 1861 he wedded Miss Catherine Desmond, a native of Canada, and in that country continued to reside until the spring of 1866. At that time he took up his abode near Topeka, Kansas, purchased a large tract of land and devoted his attention to its cultivation for eight years. On the expira- tion of that period he disposed of the prop- erty and came to Coos county in the fall of 1874, settling on the Coos bay wagon road at Fairview, where he purchased a quarter section of land. He made all necessary im- provements on the place, erecting a com- modious and attractive residence and sub- stantial barns. The operation of that farm claimed his attention throughout the remain- der of his life, and the property is still in possession of his widow.

MR. AND MRS. HIRAM BETTYS

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To Mr. and Mrs. Bettys were born six chil- dren, as follows: William, who acts as post- master and road supervisor of Fairview, Ore- gon, and who is married to Emma Laird, a native of California and a daughter of James Laird, of whom more extensive mention is made elsewhere in this work; Harry, who is deceased; Albert E .; Barbara, the wife of R. J. Coke, of North Bend, Oregon; Annie, the wife of J. D. Clinkenbeard, of Sumner, Oregon; and Walter, who has passed away. Albert E. Bettys wedded Miss Pearl Fee, a native of Kansas and a daughter of Dwight and Lillian Fee, residents of Looking Glass, Oregon. Mrs. Pearl Bettys is one of three children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Horace, who is a resident of Illi- nois; and Harlan, who is still at home. Al- bert E. Bettys started out in life for himself when twenty-two years of age, securing work in the logging camps and being thus employed for two decades. He now lives with his widowed mother and has charge of the home- stead farm and also operates an adjoining tract of eighty acres which he purchased.

Hiram Bettys gave his political allegiance to the republican party, being a strong be- liever in its principles. He served as road supervisor and election judge and also held minor positions but was not an office seeker in the generally accepted sense of the term. His religious faith was that of the Christian church. A man of exemplary habits, of high principles and of upright conduct, he com- manded the good-will and trust of all who knew him.

JOHN F. WEEKS. For thirty-two years John F. Weeks has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising two miles south of Creswell, where he owns a ranch of two hundred and fifty-two acres. Mr. Weeks is a Canadian, his birth having occurred in Prince Edward county, Ontario, in February, 1846. The family is of German and English extrac- tion. The father, Minard Weeks, was the sec- ond in order of birth in a family of seven chil- dren, the others being as follows: Steven, Sol- omon, Townsend and John, all of whom fol- lowed farming; Rebecca, the wife of Daniel Young, a farmer; and Polly, who married James Drummond, also a farmer. All lived in Prince Edward county. The mother of these children bore the maiden name of Masterson. For his wife Minard Weeks chose Charlotte Aldrich, who was also of German and English descent, and a native of Prince Edward coun- ty. She was the youngest in a family of three, the eldest being Rebecca, who married John Deuzen, a farmer of Prince Edward county, while the only son, George, subse- quently became a citizen of the United States, locating in Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Minard Weeks numbered thirteen: Court L., a farmer of Prince Edward county, Ontario; Isaac, who was a farmer of Cres- well, but is now deceased; William H., a contractor and builder of Chicago; Sarah Elizabeth, who married Henry Clark, of Prince Edward county, both deceased; George M., who engaged in ranching at San Diego, California, but is also deceased; John F., our

subject; Samuel J., deceased, who was a farmer of Prince Edward county; Lydia A., the wife of Horace Took, a contractor of Watertown, New York; Hulda A., deceased, a twin of Lydia A .; Eliza J., a teacher in the public schools of Prince Edward county; and three who died in infancy.

John F. Weeks received but a meager edu- cation, for at the age of thirteen years he left home and started out to make his own way in the world. Reared in the country, he was familiar with the duties of the agricul- turist and found employment as a farm hand. He continued to follow this occupation for thirteen years thereafter with the exception of one year which he spent in Michigan. On the 8th of April, 1872, he arrived in Santa Clara, California, and for three years worked in the redwood forests of that vicinity. The year after his marriage, in the spring of 1876, he bought twelve acres of land in Santa Cruz county, California, and for two years devoted his attention to grape culture, but in May, 1879, he came to Eugene and for a year fol- lowed various occupations. He subsequently rented one hundred and eighty-five acres of land in Lane county and engaged in grain farming. This proved to be so lucrative that in the fall of 1880 he bought his present ranch, only forty-five acres of which was at that time under cultivation. He has since cleared and put another sixty acres under cultivation, now annually planting eighty acres of his tract in grain, while he has one hundred and twenty acres in pasture, the bal- ance being in oak timber and brush. Mr. Weeks has always devoted the greater part of his attention to the raising of goats, hogs and cattle for the market and he also raises his own horses. He has bred his horses up to a high standard and now owns some excellent animals, and has sold some of his four and five year old horses for five hundred dollars a pair. Mr. Weeks has fenced his farm and has made many other improvements on the place, including the erection of two barns and a comfortable residence.

Santa Clara county, California, was the scene of Mr. Weeks' marriage, on the 30th of March, 1875, to Miss Emma Lane, the young- est child of James W. and Adeline (Shephard) Lane, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Virginia. The paternal grandpar- ents were Jacob and Dorothy (Schroder) Lane, while the grandparents on the mater- nal side were William and Nancy (Anderson) Shephard, and the maternal great-grand- mother prior to her marriage was a Miss Mary Williams. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Lane crossed the plains from Illinois to Cali- fornia in 1852, settling at Dutch Flat. In 1860 they removed to Oregon, locating in the vicinity of Eugene, but five years later they returned to California and there passed the remainder of their lives. The father died in the fall of 1888, and the mother passed away April 15, 1906. There were eight children in their family, those besides. Mrs. Weeks be- ing as follows: Nancy, who died at the age of four years; Sarah, who died in infancy; William J., who is living retired at Cottage Grove, Oregon; Joseph M., who died in. in-

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 74

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