The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 75

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

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

fancy; George R., who passed away at Chico, California, at the age of fifty-eight; Adelinc, the wife of Charles Harrington, who operates a lumber mill at Santa Clara, California; and Josephine, who died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have had six children: Etna M., who was born on the 12th of June, 1876, and is living at home; Julia E., who was born February 14, 1880, and is now the wife of Adam Schmitt, a farmer of Creswell; Elsic J., who was a musician, born on the 27th of June, 1885, and died on the 21st of August, 1907; E. Leslic, a farmer, who was born on the 7th of February, 1892; Minard E., born on the 12th of May, 1897, and now attending school; and Ermin N., whose natal day was the 28th of March, 1904, and is also in school.

The family manifest their religious faith through their membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally Mr. Weeks is affiliated with Gilfroy Lodge, No. 169, A. F. & A. M. and he votes the republican ticket. He served as superintendent of roads for seven or eight years and for thirty years he has been a school director and is now clerk of the school board. Mr. Weeks is a capable busi- ness man and has directed his interests most successfully. In addition to his ranch he owns four lots and a residence in Creswell, and he is also a stockholder and director of the Creswell Fruit Growers' Bank. He has always led an active, diligent life and the prosperity that has attended his efforts is the well merited and highly deserved reward of earnest effort and unceasing application.

HENRY HILL, deceased, was one of Polk county's successful pioneer agriculturists, and at the time of his death owned nine hundred acres of valuable land, that he had brought under high cultivation. He was born in Jef- ferson county, New York, on the 20th of Jan- uary, 1829, and was a son of Ladue and Eliza (Taylor) Hill. The father was a native of Connecticut and the mother of Massachusetts, but they were married in the state of New York, whence they later removed to Ohio. Subsequently they crossed the prairies of In- diana to Illinois, settling in Kane county, in the vicinity of Elgin. They next removed to Lake county, that state, and there passed the remainder of their lives. Farming always engaged the attention of Mr. Hill until he went to Lake county, where he owned and operated a mill. He was a public-spirited man and took an active interest in political affairs. When first granted the right of fran- chise he cast his ballot for the men and measures of the whig party, but later he be- came a democrat. In religious faith he and his wife were Methodists. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hill numbered eleven children, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of the youngest, Riley, who lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Henry Hill was reared on his father's farm in Ohio and obtained his education in the common schools: At the age of nineteen to- gether with a sister Mrs. Emily Burbank he started across the plains with a wagon and an ox team for Oregon. Six months elapsed before they reached their destination which

was Polk county. They first settled on a ranch two miles north of Independence but later Mr. Hill took a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres south of Independ- encc, that formed the nucleus of the home- stead now owned by his widow. When word was received of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia in 1849, he was lured away from the operation of his ranch and started for the mining regions, and the succeeding two years were spent in prospecting in different parts of the state. In 1850 he went to Yreka, where he prospected for gold for a time, then came back to his ranch. Thereafter his entire time and attention was devoted to the culti- vation and improvement of his land. This proved to be a financial success, and he acquired sufficient capital to extend his hold- ings from time to time until he owned nine hundred acres. The greater part of this was devoted to general farming, although he en- gaged quite extensively in hop culture and stock-raising. He was a capable man, intelli- gent and practical in his methods, and became recognized as one of the successful agricul- turists of the county.

On the 14th of July, 1851, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Virgin, whose birth occurred in Kentucky in 1834. Her parents were Reason and Clarinda (Wam- mock) Virgin, the father a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the mother of Virginia. When a youth of sixteen years Reason Virgin mi- grated to Greenup county, Kentucky, with his parents, and there he met the lady who sub- sequently became his wife. They began their domestic life on a farm in the Blue Grass state, but in 1835 they removed to Boone county, Missouri, residing there until 1846, when they settled in Sheridan county, that state, and there they both passed away. Dur- ing the entire period of his active career Mr. Virgin devoted his energies to general farm- ing and stock-raising. In matters politic he was first a whig, but when this party was absorbed by the republicans, he gave his un- qualified support to that party. Eleven chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Virgin, but all are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Hill and one son, Samuel, who lives in Sheridan county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had nine children, as follows: Rosalthe, who died in 1861, at the age of nine years; Aurelia, who died in 1880, and who was the wife of Samuel Bush and the mother of one son, Ellis, who lives in Denver, Colorado; Ladue, who married Carrie Root, and is now operating a part of the home ranch; Mary Elizabeth, who died on the 8th of November, 1863; Lucy, whose death occurred September 15, 1868; Nellie, who became the wife of Harry Denlinger, of Portland, Oregon, by whom she had one son, Wendell, her death occurring in the spring of 1900; Homer, who married Fannie Martin, and is operating part of the home place; Verd, who lives with his mother and manages the ranch; and Garlin, who married George Cohrs of Spokane, Wash- ington. All of the children were given the advantages of a good education and Mrs. Denlinger and Mrs. Cohrs, both of whom at- tended the Oregon Agricultural College, at

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Corvallis, taught before their marriage. Verd, who is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, also completed his educa- tion at Corvallis.

Mr. Hill was highly esteemed in Polk coun- ty, in which he had resided for fifty-six years, when he passed away on the 17th of October, 1904. He began his career here with little capital save his determination of purpose and tireless energy and through the intelligent and capable direction of his endeavors be- came one of the substantial citizens of the county. He led a very unobtrusive life, and although he took an active interest in all local affairs, giving his political support to the independent party, he never aspired to official honors, preferring to devote such time as was not absorbed by his business with his family, to whom he was very much devoted.

BARNETT Y. ROE is the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable property, situated six miles northeast of Yamhill, and one hun- dred acres of this tract which is well culti- vated shows that his energy and progressive activity have been rewarded. Mr. Roe was born December 15, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. (O'Strander) Roe. The father was born in Auburn, New York, and the mother was a native of Brownsville, Mis- souri. The former, when seven years of age, accompanied his parents to Huron county, Ohio. His parents were married in 1806 and their family numbered nine children, all of whom are now deceased, namely: Charles, Anna, Barnett, Thomas, William, Joseph, Mary Ann, Thomas and Reuben. Thomas, the eighth child of this union, was early called upon to support himself and take his place in assuming responsibilities, his father having died when he was but twelve years of age. Nine years later he worked in a saw- mill in Michigan and there made some of the first rails used for the construction of the Lake Shore Railroad. The rails were sawed from timber and made two by four inches with strap iron nailed on the top side. The progress made is typified by these wooden rails if considered in contradistinction with the steel ones now used. Leaving Michigan, he joined the great number of people going to California in 1849, a trip which cost him one hundred dollars cash in addition to which sumhe wasto act as driver of a six-mule team which belonged to the party he accompanied on the journey across the plains. His trip proved to be an unfortunate one for him for he was taken ill with typhoid fever almost immediately upon his arrival in California and was thus delayed in his search for gold. When he was able to pursue his undertak- ing his physician advised him to go further north where there was less malaria. Arriv- ing in Washington in 1850, he settled on the Cowlitz river and for twenty years developed a donation claim there. Having cleared two acres on his farm, he planted it to potatoes and so successful was this crop that he realized two thousand bushels, which sold for two dollars per bushel. The next year he doubled his planting capacity, but that year potatoes were so plentiful that he was unable

to dispose of them, even by offering to give them away. In the autumn of 1870 Mr. Roe left Washington and came to Forest Grove, Oregon, where he lived until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. His entire life had been one of exceptional activ- ity. During his life time he filled many town- ship, county and state offices, among them being those of probate judge, postmaster and member of the legislature.

The Roes are of English-Norman ancestry, having come to England with William, the Norman and one of the Roes, (Thomas), was knighted by William, the Norman.

At Monticello, Washington, Thomas Roe, the father of our subject, was married to Mary A. O'Strander, a daughter of Dr. Na- thaniel and Elizabeth Jane (Yantis) O'Stran- der, who were married April 11, 1838, and became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Charles B. Montague, a resident of Port- land; Mrs. Mary Ann Roe; Mrs. Sarah T. Cathie, of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Margaret O'Connor, of Olympia, Washington; Mrs. Eve- lyn Maria Work, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Eastman, residing in Olympia, Washington; Judge John Y. O'Strander of Alaska; Mrs. Florence Crosby and Mrs. Fannie L. Moore, both residents of Olympia, Washington. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Roe were four in number: Barnett Y., the subject of this sketch, who was born December 15, 1858; Walter, deceased; Charles O'Strander, born in December, 1865, and who now resides at Forest Grove, Oregon; and Mrs. Anna Eliza- beth (Roe) Goff, born November 26, 1874, living at Forest Grove, Oregon.

Barnett Y. Roe began his independent career in 1884 as a school teacher. He en- gaged in farming, later studied law and was admitted to the bar in October, 1886. For five years Mr. Roe continued practicing law and gave evidence of more than ordinary ability. His previous diligent study, which had trained him to think hard and conscientiously, and his natural sense of justice, were of great value to him as an attorney. But physically he was unable to continue upon this career, his eyesight failing him. Naturally he re- turned to agricultural pursuits on the farm which he now manages with progressive and practical methods. The owner of eight hun- dred acres, one hundred of which is developed to the greatest possibilities for cattle-raising, grain, hay and dairying, he has one of the largest tracts in Yamhill county.

On December 15, 1886, Mr. Roe was mar- ried to Julia A. Brown, a daughter of Reuben W. N. and Melvina B. (Fisher) Brown, who were both born in Floyd county, Indiana. From Indiana they came west and settled in Clarke county, Washington, in April, 1877. Now the success of their earlier years so rewards them that they can live comfortably the life of retired farmers. They became the parents of seven children: Abraham and Jane, both deceased; Noah N., who resides in Wash- ington; Mrs. Barnett Y. Roe; Reuben A. and George W., both residents of Monitor, Washington; and Elinora, deceased. Of Mrs. Roe's ancestors, Abraham Brown and John Steelman were with Washington during the

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Revolutionary war. They both died at New Albany, Indiana.

To Mr. and Mrs. Roe six children have been born: Edna A., at home; Evelyn, deceased; Kate E., who is attending college; and Thomas Reuben, Jolın C., and Charles Brown, who are both living at home and attending school. It is the well planned intention of Mr. and Mrs. Roe to give their children all the education in school and college which will be possible. Mr. Roe is endowed with a feeling of public spirit and national pride and is ever an advo- cate of the furthering of these sentiments in others. In politics he is an adherent of the democratic party, and fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order in Forest Grove Chapter, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Congregational church. Any community is fortunate in having as one of its citizens a man as upright and as earnest in his en- deavors to further the standard of citizen- ship as Mr. Roe.

W. N. JACOBSEN. Industry-strong, persistent, indefatigable-has been the basis of the advancement which W. N. Jacobsen has made since starting out in the business world when a lad of twelve years. His at- tention is now given to farming in Wash- ington county, where he has resided since 1906. His youthful days were spent in the middle west. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 14, 1855, his par- ents being O. A. and Azubah (Thompson) Ja- cobsen, both of whom were natives of Ohio, in which state they were married and began their domestic life. Hoping to find better opportunities elsewhere they removed to La Salle county, Illinois, where Mr. Jacobsen operated a farm until 1861. He then removed with his family to Nebraska, where he se- cured a homestead claim and upon it placed the necessary improvements that gave him a clear title to the property. He continued to reside in that state until his death, which occurred in October, 1902. For seven years he survived his wife, who died in 1895. Of their twelve children six are yet living: W. N .; Mrs. J. B. Fair, of North Plains, Oregon; Mrs. L. B. Fair, living near Banks, this state; George H., a resident of Broken Bow, Nebraska; John M., who is living in McCool, Nebraska; and Mrs. Amy Reed, also of Broken Bow. The six who have passed away are John H., Robert H., Ora E., Ralph, Victoria and one who died unnamed in infancy.

As his parents were in somewhat limited financial circumstances, W. N. Jacobsen early took up the task of providing for his own support, and when twelve years of age secured a position that gave him a living. He continued in the employ of others until 1905, and during that period always contrib- uted to the support of his parents. He early learned to place the correct value upon dili- gence and persistency of purpose and he knew that those qualities would overcome all dif- ficulties and obstacles. While still a resi- dent of Nebraska he was married, on the 3d of June, 1886, to Miss Elva C. Todd, who was born in Middleport, New York, a dauglı-

ter of John and Augusta (Cotton) Todd, who were natives of England and New York respectively. They resided for a short time in the Empire state following their marriage, and then removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where they made their home until they mi- grated to York, Nebraska, where both passed away, the father in 1908 and the mother in 1906. In their family were six children: El- mer E .; Mrs. Jacobsen; Mary I .; John and Walter, both deceased; and Otto, who is liv- ing in Louisville, Colorado.

Following his marriage Mr. Jacobsen began farming in Nebraska, but after some years removed to Joplin, Missouri, in 1893. For thirteen years he continued at that place and in 1906 came to the Pacific coast, settling in Washington county, Oregon, where his wife purchased eighty acres of land. She has since sold that property and he is now de- voting his attention to the improvement of a farm of sixty-four acres owned by his wife, of which he has brought one-half under a high state of cultivation, adding thereto many modern improvements and equipments.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen have been born three children: Walter H., born March 19, 1887, and now married and living in Blodgett, Oregon; Clyde L., born October 3. 1891; and Samuel, born November 24, 1900. Mr. Jacobsen holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is appreciative of friendship and enjoys the high regard of his fellowmen. He has not had time to take an active part in public affairs, however, for his business interests have claimed his entire attention and the years have brought him a comfortable living as the outcome of his persistent industry. In politics he is a socialist.

CHARLES E. CAMPBELL is Paisley's first mayor, having been called to the office on the incorporation of the city. He is a public- spirited man, willing at all times to give his aid and influence in matters of general improvement and progress and in his admin- istration of the affairs of the newly created city is proving his devotion to the general good. He was born in Eugene, Oregon, Janu- ary 12, 1867, and is a son of George and Matilda (Gillespie) Campbell, who were natives of Missouri. The mother made the journey westward, crossing the country with her parents, while the father crossed the plains alone. They were married in Lane county and there spent their remaining days, Mr. Campbell passing away at the age of fifty-two years, while his wife was about forty years of age at the time of her demise. He had followed farming during the greater part of his life although he engaged in min- ing during the days of early mining excite- ment in California. After losing his first wife he married Mrs. Bullard. There were five sons and a daughter born by his first mar- riage and two daughters by the second mar- riage, one of whom is deceased.

Charles E. Campbell, the second of the chiil- dren by the first marriage, resided at home with his father until the latter's deatlı about 1882. He went as a youth of seventeen years,

W. N. JACOBSEN

MRS. W. N. JACOBSEN

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to Lake county in 1884 and in early manhood rode the range. He subsequently conducted a blacksmith and wagon-making shop at Paisley for a number of years, after which he became interested in the sheep industry, with which he was connected until 1907, when he went to California, where for four years he followed farming. In 1911 he re- turned to Paisley and his fellow townsmen, who had previously known him and recog- nized his many sterling traits, elected him the first mayor of the city which in that year had been incorporated. His business affairs are represented by a five-twelfths interest in the Sherlock ranch of seventeen hundred and fifty acres on Summer lake and also by four hundred and sixty acres which he owns a mile and a half southwest of Paisley. The development of these properties is bringing him substantial and merited success. He is interested in the Chewaucan district mines, gold, silver and lead-bearing properties, and he has a mining interest in the gold fields of Nevada. His long residence in the northwest and his sound judgment have enabled him to immediately recognize the opportunities for good investment and have directed the ac- quirement of the properties which he now holds.

On the 9th of July, 1898, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wingfield, who was born in Arkansas, Octo- ber 3, 1870, and about 1872 was brought to Oregon by her parents, Thomas and Martha (Spradling) Wingfield, who remained resi- dents of this state for a number of years. The father, however, died in San Francisco, California and the mother is now a resident of Reno, Nevada. Mrs. Campbell has spent the greater part of her life in Oregon and for six years was a teacher in Lake county, spending three years of that time in Paisley. Mr. Campbell votes with the republican party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles. He served four terms as deputy sheriff of Lake county and has been school clerk. His duties of citizenship are always discharged in a prompt and capable manner and he is a loyal and exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and the Woodmen of the World. As Paisley's chief executive officer he is making an excellent record, giving to the newly created city a business-like administra- tion.

BURRES L. HASTINGS, who was a resi- dent of Monmouth before his death, in 1907, was a native of Georgia but the greater part of his life after he crossed the plains in 1852 was spent in Oregon. In 1855 he settled on Soap creek, Polk county, and entered upon his agricultural pursuits on a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres. For four vears he cultivated this tract, after which he located on a ranch of three hundred and sev- enty-nine acres in Pee Dee valley which is still held by his widow, in addition to a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on the Luck- iamute river, which she also holds. During his twenty-nine years' residence on his farm he raised cattle and did general farming.

Vol. IV-21

In 1855 Mr. Hastings was married to So- phia Simpson, who was born in Arkansas, April 5, 1837, and crossed the plains in 1845 with her parents, Rice Wilson and Rebecca (Lasater) Simpson. Mr. Simpson was born in Georgia in 1808 and Mrs. Simpson, in Ten- nessee, in 1812. After their marriage they lived in Missouri and Arkansas until they came to Oregon in 1845; having made the trip with ox teams in six months. They were especially fortunate on their trip not having any trouble with Indians. Arriving at Colum- bia river, they remained in the north and farmed there for one year before removing to Polk county, Oregon, and settling on the Luckiamute river, where they made their home until they joined the great army going to California in 1850 in search for gold. They were among the successful ones in the ven- ture and soon returned to locate again upon the Luckiamute river, this time purchasing the land which they farmed. Mr. Simpson died at the age of seventy-four years and Mrs. Simpson was fifty-two years old at the time of her death. They were the parents of twelve children of whom four are living: So- phia, who is the widow of the subject of this sketch; Albert; Jane; and Reuben. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Alice, deceased; Reuben, who resides on the Luckiamute property; Hannah, who is a resident of Albany, Oregon; and Rice, who resides in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Mr. Hastings accorded his political sup- port to the democratic party and was al- ways a believer in the principles of that party. In his business dealings he was up- right and fair and to his fellowmen, cordial and sincere. He belonged to that type of men who have built up the west, the optimistic, hard-laboring, broadly human class.

JOHN A. HARRY. Though almost four decades have passed since John A. Harry was called from this life, he is still remembered by many of the older residents of Coos county as a substantial agriculturist and esteemed citizen. His birth occurred in Indiana on the 15th of November, 1827, his parents being Elijah and Belle Harry, who were likewise natives of the Hoosier state. In 1851, when a young man of twenty-four years, John A. Harry came to Oregon, settled in Coos county and took up a donation land claim near Myr- tle Point. He cleared the property and de- voted his attention to its cultivation through- out the remainder of his active business ca- reer, selling the farm at the time of his re- tirement. His demise, which occurred in 1874, was the occasion of deep and widespread re- gret, for he had gained an extensive circle of friends by reason of his upright and honor- able life.

In 1857 Mr. Harry was united in marriage to Miss Chloe Cook, a native of Cedar county. Iowa, and a daughter of S. M. Cook. In April. 1851, she began the journey across the plains in company with her parents, who settled on Long Tom creek in Lane county, where Mr. Cook took up a donation land claim and con- tinued to reside until within twenty years of

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his demise. He passed away in November, 1905. when ninety-three years of age, having for more than three decades survived his wife, whose demise occurred in 1874. Unto John A. and Chloe (Cook) Harry were born five children. Even N., whose birth occurred on the 1st of September, 1859, resides in Sitkum, Oregon, and has seven children. Grant W., whose natal day was February 2, 1864, is a resident of McCoy, Oregon, and has nine chil- dren. Nancy Belle, who was born on the 15th of November, 1865, is the wife of James D. Laird, of Sitkum, Oregon, by whom she has eight children. Eva S., born April 13, 1867, gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Krew- son of Drain, Oregon, by. whom she has nine children. Osmer C., who was born on the 10th of March, 1869, resides in Sitkum and has four children.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 75

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