The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 76

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

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In 1875 Mrs. Chloe Harry wedded James Laird, a native of New York and a son of John and Marion Laird, both of whom were born in Scotland. James Laird began pro- viding for his own support at the early age of eight years, leaving home and going to work for others. He made his way to Cali- fornia in the early days and operated the pony express from Salt Lake City to Den- ver. In 1874 he came to Coos county and took up a homestead in the Brewster valley, near Sitkum. He also became well known as a stage contractor and his efforts were a po- tent element in the upbuilding and develop- ment of the Coos bay country. His demise occurred on the 8th of May, 1909, when he had attained the age of seventy-seven years and seven days. The period of his residence in Coos county covered more than a third of a century and his memory is honored by all who knew him, for his life was exemplary in all respects and his influence was ever found on the side of right, progress and im- provement.

The first wife of James Laird bore the maiden name of Katie Smith, who became the mother of six children, as follows: Eunice, who is the wife of John McDaniel and resides in California; Anice, the wife of Robert An- derson, of Lake county, Oregon; Mrs. Isco Fariss, who resides in California; Emma, who gave her hand in marriage to William Bet- tys, of Fairview. Oregon; Fannie, the wife of Albert Alford, of Coquille, Oregon; and James D., of Sitkum, Oregon, who married Miss Nancy Belle Harry, his stepsister. By his second wife, Mrs. Chloe Harry, James Laird had four children. Walter, who was born on the 20th of June, 1876, is the pres- ent postmaster of Sitkum, Oregon, and has four children. Joseph L .. whose birth oc- curred on the 28th of January, 1878, is en- gaged in the livery business at Myrtle Point, Oregon. He is married and has four chil- dren. Carl E., who was born on the 9th of September, 1880, passed away in 1887. John Hailey, whose natal day was September 8, 1883 married Miss Verna M. Weekly, a daughter of Jefferson D. Weekly, of Gravel Ford, Oregon. Mrs. Verna Laird was one of a family of four children, the others being as follows: Viola E., who is deceasd; Mabel G., the wife of Michael M. Minard, of Gravel

Ford, Oregon; and Anna I., the wife of Bin- ger Herman Laird, of Roseburg, Oregon.

James Laird gave his political allegiance to the democracy but neither sought nor de- sired office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he was identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow, who has lived in the Sunset state for more than six decades, can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer times which show what a wonderful transformation has been ef- fected as the work of progress and develop- ment has been carried forward in the northi- west. She resides on the Coos bay wagon road, three miles west of Sitkum, and has many friends throughout the community.

WILLIAM ANDREW CURRIER. With four miles of frontage along Summer lake and a large acreage included within his ranch, William Andrew Currier is developing one of the finest properties in Lake county. Fruit of every variety, vegetables of every kind, the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, all grow luxuriantly here; but the principal feature of his work is the raising of horses, he being recognized as conducting the most extensive business of that kind in his county. He was born in Corvallis, Benton county, Ore- gou, October 12, 1851. His father, Jacob Manley Currier, was a native of Trasburg, Vermont. born February 12, 1827. On leav- ing the Green Mountain state he resided for ten years in Lowell, Massachusetts, and went to New York in 1842. In 1844 he became a resident of Missouri and two years later crossed the plains with his brother-in-law, A. L. Humphrey, and two sisters, Elizabeth B. and Sally Foster. He settled on a donation claim near Corvallis and still resides there. Although he has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years, his mind is clear and he re- lates many interesting incidents of the early days, including his experiences when lie served as a soldier in the Cayuse Indian war. In Angust, 1850. he married Maria Foster, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 11, 1834, and was a daughter of An- drew Foster, a soldier of the War of 1812. Maria Foster had crossed the plains with her parents in 1845 and she died when her son; William A., was eight years of age. He was the eldest of four children, the others being: Lorena, the wife of J. W. Belknap, of Han- ford, California; M. C., living in Paisley; and Anna Maria, who died when one year old. Mr. Humphrey, who accompanied Jacob M. Currier to the northwest, served as a mem- ber of the first Oregon legislature.

William A. Currier, born and reared on the old homestead in Benton county and indebted to its public-school system for the educa- tional advantages which he enjoyed, came to Lake county in 1875. when about twenty- four years of age, and settled on Summer lake, where he still lives. On the 19th of January, 1879, he married Miss Kitty E. Hadley, who was born in Siskiyou county, California, a daughter of a lieutenant of the Rogue River war. Mr. and Mrs. Currier be- came the parents of three children: Ada F., the wife of Francis Kimes, of Hanford, Cali-

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fornia; Eva, the wife of John Lutz, of Bel- lingham, Washington; and William Manley, mentioned elsewhere in this work. There are also four grandchildren, the elder daugh- ter having two children, William Francis and Virgil David, while Mrs. Lutz has one son, Harold Andrew, and William Manley Cur- rier has a son, Manley George ..

Throughout the period of his residence in Lake county William Andrew Currier has been numbered among its most prominent and respected citizens and enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. He and his wife are owners of about twenty-five hundred acres of land, of which a tract of one hundred and five acres is near Hanford, California, while the remainder is in or near the Summer lake valley. He has never specialized to any extent in cattle-raising, never owning more than four hundred head, and he now has only about forty head, but he is the largest owner of horses in Lake county. He branded two hundred and fifty colts in 1910 and he now has about eight hundred horses. He has some very valuable horses, standard-bred, and he owns fifteen jacks, about fifty mules and fifteen stallions. His great business activity has constituted an important feature in the upbuilding and progress of the district in which he lives and the course which he has pursued has fur- nished a splendid example to his neighbors, showing what can be accomplished through industry and determination and also prov- ing how productive the district is in cereals, fruits and vegetables. He has developed a fine orchard, containing all kinds of fruit, which he raises for his own use and also for local consumption. His apples, known as Summer Lake Beauties, won the first pre- mium at the county fair at Lakeview in 1907, as did also his cherries. His prune trees, heavily laden with fruit, are a beau- tiful sight to behold, and in 1911 his orchard produced a late Crawford peach which was eleven inches in circumference. His fruit and vegetables have attained the highest possible degree of perfection and he has one of the best gardens in the county. In addition to his individual efforts along agricultural and horticultural lines and in stock-raising, Mr. Currier has had other interests. He was at one time owner of the Chewaucan hotel at Paisley, which he sold to his son. He is a di- rector of the Chewaucan Mercantile Company of Paisley. He is likewise interested in the Chewaucan & Summer Lake Electric Light & Power Company. His home is pleasantly and attractively located, with the mountains in the rear and the lake in front, the broad expanse of waters enabling him to see for a distance of fifty miles on a clear day.

Mr. Currier's political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, although for four years he filled the office of county. commissioner. He was also postmaster of Paisley for two or three years and has carried the mail for a few months at a time on a number of occa- sions, making the trip from Paisley to Sil- ver Lake, a distance of sixty miles. His fra-

ternal relations are with Paisley Lodge, No. 177, I. O. O. F. Mr. Currier belongs to that progressive type of men who have been in- strumental in the upbuilding and development of southern Oregon. Recognizing and utiliz- ing its opportunities, he has promoted the in- terests and welfare of the county and at the same time has upbuilded his own fortunes until he is now one of the prosperous resi- dents of the Summer lake valley. He lias never infringed upon the rights of others and in all his dealings has been strictly straight- forward, so that his business integrity and honor have won for him the highest com. mendation and regard.

JOHN JAMES WILLIAMS. One of the few surviving settlers of the pioneers in Polk county is John J. Williams, whose residence here covers a period of more than half a cen- tury. He has been identified with various enterprises in Dallas, and has several times been called to public office both in the city and county, having served for eight years as sheriff. His birth occurred in Granger county, Tennessee, on the 5th of January, 1830, his parents being James Edward and Martha (Wicher) Williams. In the paternal line lie is of Welsh extraction, his forefathers liav- ing settled in Tennessee during colonial days. His father was also born in Granger county, and for many years he lived in Panther Springs, Tennessee, but the mother was a native of Virginia. James Edward Williams was a cabinet-maker by trade, as likewise were four of his brothers, devoting his ener- gies to this occupation and farming during the entire period of his active life. In the spring of 1845 he and his family joined a party and train, consisting of forty-seven wagons, that was coming to Oregon. When they reached Jackson county, Missouri, they were joined by eight hundred soldiers, who escorted them the entire distance, six months being occupied in making the journey. The Williams family located at Portland, and at that time there was standing on Morrison street the remains of an old tree, that meas- ured fourteen feet in circumference, and this provided them with shelter until they could build a house. The father filed on a claim in that vicinity but not liking it there, sub- sequently removed further south, to Polk county. He located on land eight miles south of Dallas, some of which was covered with timber, while a part was prairie, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. In connection with the cultivation of his claim Mr. Williams also did some car- pentry work and cabinet-making, and manu- factured furniture for his neighbors. He was a man of intelligence and good judgment, who always took an active interest in all public questions, and was one of the first legis- lators. His opinion on all subjects of the day was valued by those who knew him, while his views on questions pertaining to the community welfare had much weight in deciding local matters. In his political views he was a stanch democrat. The family of Mr. and Mrs. James Edward Williams num- bered seven children: Jonathan, who died in

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Salem, Oregon; Orlinia, who became the wife of Isaac Staats, but both are deceased; John J., our subject; Wesley, who is living at Rainier, Oregon; Wayne W., also deceased, who was a commercial salesman and a farmer of Independence, Oregon; Thomas, a resi- dent of Independence, Oregon; and William, living at Airlie, Oregon.

The educational advantages afforded John J. Williams were very limited. After the family located in Oregon he assisted his fa- ther in his carpentry work and cabinet-mak- ing, and they built the first house in Port- land. The first eighteen years of his life were spent under the parental roof, but when word reached their community of the discovery of gold in California, he decided to try his luck as a prospector. In 1848 he joined a party composed of two hundred and forty people and started for the mining district in the vicinity of Sacramento. They made the journey in wagons, forty being required to convey their party and supplies .. Upon his arrival in the gold fields he worked at the carpenter's trade and also did some mining. He built the first house in the city of Sac- ramento and soon thereafter returned to Ore- gon, but made several subsequent trips to California. Together with several others he crossed the north fork of the American river to Los Angeles, on his first journey to the southern part of the state. Returning to Polk .county, Mr. Williams lived on the ranch with his parents with whom he remained until their death. Later he engaged in con- tracting and building and did much work in that line, not only erecting buildings but also constructing bridges. He is now living retired, having acquired a competence that enables him to spend his last days in comfort.

Mr. Williams has been married twice, his first union having been with Miss Alice Eck- ersley. Unto them there were born the fol- lowing children: Otho, who is a tailor in Dallas; Ethel, at home; Ralph E., a banker of Dallas, who is also interested in banks in Falls City and Independence, Oregon; Hattie, who married A. J. Rhodes, of Seattle, Washı- ington; and Walter, a banker, who married Pauline Gainer and lives in Dallas. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Williams was married to Mrs. Annie M. (Larned) Stiles, December 22, 1889. She was born and, reared in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Theopholis and Elizabeth (Smith) Larned who were natives of the same county, where they spent their entire lives. Upon attaining womanhood she married Samuel C. Stiles, who was a harness-maker, and in 1853 they came to Oregon and here he passed away in 1886. They had one child, Frank Stiles, who is now engaged in farming in Polk county.

Mr. Williams gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has always taken an active interest in all public affairs and first entered official life in 1874, when he was elected sheriff of Polk county. He gave most efficient service in this capacity and discharged the duties of the office for eight years. He has since been street commissioner and has also represented his ward in the

city council. Fraternally he is a charter member of both the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows lodges of this city and Mrs. Williams holds membership in the Christian church. It is sixty-six years since Mr. Williams first came to Oregon and the greater part of that time has been spent in Polk county. He has been a resident of Dallas for thirty-seven years, and many are the interesting reminis- cences he relates of the early settlers and the pioneer days. The period of his residence in Oregon covers the great formative epoch in the history of the state's development, the progression of which he has observed with the keen pleasure of one who from the first saw its wonderful possibilities, fully realizing and appreciating its great natural resources and advantages.

GROVE GAYLORD SWAN, a representa- tive agriculturist and esteemed citizen of Coos county, is the owner of a tract of land com- prising one hundred and forty-eight acres, seventy-five acres of which is in a high state of cultivation. His birth occurred in Ohio on the 10th of December, 1850, his parents being Edward and Pamilla (Fitch) Swan, who were natives of New York and Massa- chusetts respectively. Their children were four in number, namely: Edward and Lewis, who died in infancy; Emmie Elizabeth, the mother of two children and the wife of Frank Ransom, of Berkeley, California; and Grove Gaylord, of this review.

Grove Gaylord Swan, who was a youth of eighteen when his father died, remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age. At that time he came west, settling on the east fork of the Coquille river in Coos county. Oregon, where he took up an unsurveyed tract of land comprising one hnudred and sixty- eight acres. There was not even a trail through the heavily timbered tract, which was inhabited by elks, bears and deer. By resolute and untiring industry Mr. Swan at length cleared the property and has gradu- ally improved the same until it is today one of the most productive and valuable farms of the county. He sold twenty acres of the place but still owns one hundred and forty- eight acres and as an agriculturist has won gratifying success. For the past five years or since its organization he has served as secretary of the Coquille Valley Fruit Asso- ciation, and he is also the president of the Dora Cemetery Association.

On the 1st of February, 1882, Mr. Swan was married to Miss Mary I. Dysert, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Aaron and Angeline (Woods) Dysert, who crossed the plains to this state with ox teams in 1859 and settled in Douglas county. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom survive, as follows: David, who is a resident of Douglas county, Oregon; Cimara, the wife of George Cassidy, of California; William, who makes his home. in Douglas county, this state; Mrs. Mary Swan; and Annie, the wife of David Crockett Krantz, of Arago, Ore- gon. To Mr. and Mrs. Swan have been born five children, namely: William, deceased; Annie, the wife of Bruno Lang, of Myrtle

MR. AND MRS. GROVE G. SWAN

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Point, Oregon, by whom she has one child, Tillie; LeRoy J., at home with his parents; Edith, the wife of John Neer, of Myrtle Point, Oregon; and Itty True, who has com- pleted her education and is at home. All of the children were educated in the district schools of Coos county.

Grove Gaylord Swan is a stanch republican and holds the office of justice of the peace, the duties of which position he has com- mendably discharged for a number of years. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and for a period of twenty years he served as director and clerk of the school board. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Brethren church, in which he serves as gen- eral steward. He belongs to the Grange. Mr. Swan has resided on his present farm for more than four decades and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the com- munity.

WILLIAM FOX. Among the native sons of Oregon of English parentage may be mentioned William Fox, who lives on his sixty-one acre ranch on Wagner creek in Jackson county near Talent. He was born on Jackson creek, December 21, 1864, a son of Heaton and Mary A. (Richards) Fox, both natives of York- shire, England, being reared and married in the place of their nativity. The father came to the new world as a young man and joined some of his brothers in Wisconsin, where he resided for a time, after which he crossed the plains to Crescent City, California, and there obtained employment on a ranch. He subsequently removed to Oregon and engaged in mining on Jackson creek in Jackson county, where he met with considerable success. A little later he returned to England where he was married, and shortly afterward came back with his bride to Oregon and, being a miller by trade, took up the old Eagle mill in Jackson county and subsequently operated the old Phoenix mill. Later he took up a homestead on Wrights creek, where he made his home and for a time conducted the Ash- land mills. Following this he removed to Ashland where he resided for about thirty years. During the time he lived there he operated the Ashland mills for a time, and later was employed in the implement busi- ness and ran a blacksmith shop. His death occurred in 1910, long surviving his wife, who had passed away about 1876.

William Fox was reared at home and dur- ing his youth acquired a common-school edu- cation in Jackson county. After attaining manhood's estate he continued at home for several years, working at various occupations. In 1895 he with another man in partnership bought a transfer business in Ashland, which they conducted for about five years. He. next engaged in the livery business, being thus employed for about five years and then removed to his present home, a ranch of about sixty-one acres on Wagner creek where he has since resided.

Mr. Fox was married in 1898 to Miss Anna Belle Briner, a native of this county, and one child, Eula Bay, has been born to them.

In his political affiliations Mr. Fox is a re- publican. He belongs to Ashland lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M. and is a member of Gran- ite Lodge, No. 23, K. P. He also belongs to Granite Tent, No. 4, K. O. T. M. He is one of the extensively known and highly esteemed men of Jackson county, a business man of ability and a popular citizen.

JOHN P. IRVIN, who lives retired in Esta- cada, Oregon, was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, February 26, 1836. His parents were John L. and Nancy (Nave) Irvin, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in the lat- ter state and there spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing away in 1838. The mother, surviving him for several years, passed away at the age of sixty-seven. In their family were two children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the elder. The younger, Elizabeth, died in infancy. After the father's death the mother married again, her second union being with Owen Minor, of Kentucky. Mr. Minor passed away several years before his wife. By her second union the mother had four children: Joseph E., Macy E., Emily H., and Annie.

John P. Irvin received his education in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen started out in life for himself by learning the blacksmith trade. He worked in the employ of others for six years, and then opened a shop of his own at Independence, Missouri, which he conducted for three years. Subsequently he spent two years in the mines of Colorado, and then resumed work at his trade in Atchison, Kansas, being thus · engaged five years. He afterward opened a blacksmith shop in Harlan, Kansas, which he conducted for three years. He then pur- chased a ranch at Lonejack, Missouri, but after operating it for three years, he sold his interests and moved to Independence, and in partnership with his father-in-law, en- gaged in the lumber business. He remained there until 1875, when he came to Oregon, settling at Salem, and once more resumed work at the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed until 1880. In that year he removed to Clackamas county where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, four miles east of Estacada, operating the same until 1909, when he retired and took up his abode in a beautiful home in this city. He still owns forty-four acres of land.

In August, 1862, Mr. Irvin married Miss Mary K. Shortridge, who was born in IIr- dependence, Missouri, May 5, 1844, a daugh- ter of John T. and Sallie A. (Phelps) Short- ridge. The parents were born near Louis- ville, Kentucky, but were married in Mis- souri, and it was in Independence, that state, that the mother passed away. Several years later the father again married and removed to Denver, where he died in 1894. In his family were three children, of whom Mrs. Irvin was the eldest. The others were Lil- lian M. and John Edgar, both of whom are deceased, the latter passing away in child- hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Irvin were born ten children, five of whom are still living. They

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are: Alice A., who was born in December, 1865, and is now the wife of Frank L. Fol- som, of Rice, Stevens county, Washington; John T., who was born December 2, 1867, and is at home: Frank, who was born March 22, 1869, married Ada Rich and now resides in Boring, Oregon; J. A., who was born Jan- mary 2, 1875. married Miss Mildred A. Davis, and now resides at Garfield; and W. K., who was born February 12, 1877, and is at home. Those deceased are: Anna B., who became the wife of Fred M. Covey and died in 1902; Charles C., who died September 28. 1889; Katie Maud and George S., both of whom died in infancy; and Nannie, who died at the age of fourteen months.

In his political views Mr. Irvin is a demo- erat, and he and his family are members of the Christian church. He has now resided in Clackamas county for more than thirty-seven vears, and he has not only been an interested witness, but has been a helpful factor in the progress and advancement that have here been made. He has led a busy life. and by hard and faithful work has earned the com- fortable competence that he is now enjoying.

DAN MATTSON is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on a well developed ranch, which he owns, located six miles from Marshfield on Catchings inlet. Coos county, Oregon. He was born in Finland, April 17, 1868, and is a son of Matt and Lizzie Matt- son. The father died many years ago in Fin- land but the mother is still living there at the age of sixty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Matt .Mattson one son was born. Dan, who is the subject of this review.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 76

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