The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 77

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

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Dan Mattson emigrated to America in 1888, settling first in Marshfield, Oregon, where for some years he was engaged in the mining and logging business. In 1893 he took up a homestead in township 24, range 10, in Coos county. In 1906 he disposed of that property and purchased a farm of fifty- five acres located six miles from Marshfield off Catchings inlet where he now resides. He is successfully engaged in dairy farming and purposes. it being his intention to plant a large orchard of well selected trees and ul- timately devote himself to the fruit-growing business.

Mr. Mattson was united in marriage De- cember 12. 1906, to Mrs. Josephine (Nyman) Holm, the widow of August Holm, who died in May. 1901. To her union with Mr. Holm four children were born: Arthur A., who was born July 28, 1897; Estrid S., born January 28, 1899; Irene A .. whose birth occurred in August. 1900; and Earnest Fridolf. born Feb- ruary S. 1902. Mrs. Mattson is the daugh- ter of Frederick and Sophia Nyman. both of whom were natives of Finland, where her father died at the age of seventy-four years and her mother at the age of seventy-five years. To her parents eleven children were born. of whom five are still living. three be- ing residents of Finland. Those in this country are: Josephine. who is the wife of the subject of this review; and Herman. a resident of Seattle. Washington. Mrs. Matt- son emigrated to America in 1893. settling

first at Coos bay where she has since con- tinued to reside.

Mr. Mattson is affiliated with the repub- lican party, but has never sought political office of any kind. He has, however, served as a member of the school board for many years. He is a member of Suomi Lodge, No. 1, of Marshfield, and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church. He is one of the enterprising and useful citizens of his county and a man always associated with the advancement of every public measure in- tended to improve the condition of the peo- ple.

PHILLIP E. DRANE has been engaged in the general merchandise business in Coquille for eleven years and during that time has built up a prosperous and rapidly increasing trade which is evidence of his ability and of the straightforward and honorable methods by which his enterprise is conducted. He has been a resident of Oregon since 1873 and has been engaged in various business enter- prises in Coos county since that time. He was born in Kentucky in 1854 and is a son of Thomas and Mary Drane, natives of Vir- ginia. His father died when our subject was eleven years of age and his mother made her home with her children for a number of years. She moved from Kentucky to Kansas and then to Texas and finally to Oklahoma where she died at the age of ninety years. Later he was adopted by Mordica Day with whom he lived until he was sixteen. In that year he went to Kansas and after three years in that state came to Coos county, settling on the Coquille river where he took up a home- stead claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Arago. Upon this he carried on general farming, operating and improving his prop- erty for seven years, abandoning agricultural pursuits at the end of that time in order to engage in business. He went to Coquille and operated a hotel, working in a sawmill dur- ing the same period. For ten years he con- ducted a butcher shop in the city and in 1901 erected his present building and established himself in the general merchandise business which he has followed since that time. He has sought success by straightforward and . worthy means and has proven capable and reliable, his industry and well directed ac- tivity bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity. He has invested his money ju- diciously in local enterprises being a stock- holder in two sawmills near Coquille and also in a creamery. He owns his store building and other town property and resides in an at- tractive and pleasant home.

In 1877 Mr. Drane was united in marriage in Coos county to Mrs. Belle Pike the widow of Russell Pike of New Hampshire and a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Shambrook) Smith, natives of England. Her parents died in Douglas county. Mr. and Mrs. Drane be- came the parents of two children. Mary. who was born in February. 1878. is the wife of B. F. Lawrence, of Indianapolis. Indiana. He is editor of the Indianapolis Star. the Terre Hante Star. and also of the Muncie Star pa-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

pers. Julia, whose birth occurred in October, 1880, became the wife of E. E. Johnson of Coquille. He is manager of the Randolph Lumber Company on the Coquille river, and is also interested in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Coquille and is president of the Bandon Water Company. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, South.

Mr. Drane gives his allegiance generally to the democratic party but often reserves in- dependence of judgment in regard to political issues. He has never sought public office, be- ing a practical business man interested in the growth of his enterprise and capable of pro- moting it. He has been quick to perceive op- portunities for advancement and in this way has made his business prosperous. The straightforward and upright qualities which are the foundation of his commercial pros- perity are elements in his character and have . made him successful in business and impor- tant in citizenship.

WILLIAM A. COLLVER for many years past was one of the successful farmers of Coos county. He has for some years lived on · his highly cultivated ranch located on Catch- ing inlet. six miles up the inlet from Marsh- field. He was born in Douglas county, Ore- gon, May 14, 1855, and is a son of Alfred B. and Ruth (Rice) Collver, the former a na- tive of Ohio and the latter of Illinois. The parents were married in Iowa where the fa- ther had preempted a homestead upon which he established his home immediately after his marriage and there continued to live for a number of years. In 1852 he emigrated to Oregon, crossing the great plains and stop- ping for one winter on his journey in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the spring he contin- ned his westward course and on reaching Oregon settled in Douglas county and took up a donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres near the town of Oakland. Upon that property he continued to live un- til 1857, at which time he sold his claim and settled on Coos river in Coos county, at which place he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and later added additional land which he obtained by purchase until he owned a farm consisting in all of two hun- dred and forty acres. Some time afterward he purchased one hundred and sixty acres located at a point on the bay where Cooston now stands. On that farm he did not re- side, but afterward he moved to Culvert Point and there homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land and devoted himself to its improvement and cultivation until the time of his death which occurred at the age of eighty-two years, the mother passing away shortly afterward. To them eleven children were born: Henrietta. who resides at Catch- ing's inlet; Ansel. of Forest Grove; Mrs. Adelia Powell, of Tie valley, Wasco county, Oregon; Orace G., of Culver, Crook county ; William A., of this review; John T., of North Bend; Sarah D., who became the wife of W. H. Church and is now deceased; Andrew F., of Newport. Oregon; Arthur Howard, of Co- quille, Coos county; Tillo M., who resides

near Catching inlet, in Coos county; and Phi- lura, who died at the age of two years.

William A. Collver was reared in his par- ents' home and received his early education in the public schools of Marshfield, later at- tending high school in Marion county. He re- . mained under the parental roof until he was twenty-eight years of age after which he became a carpenter. He also took up a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres in Coos county, located near Catching inlet. He later purchased one hundred and twenty acres ad- ditional and upon that property established his home and continued to reside for twenty- six years. He later disposed of a portion of that farm and purchased ninety-seven acres, retaining forty acres of his original farm, and upon this land he has been suc- cessfully engaged in dairy farming. The farm is now operated by his son-in-law.

On January 1, 1890, Mr. Collver was united in marriage to Miss Naomi Steinnon, who was born in Kansas on August 4, 1872, and is a daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Eg- net) Steinnon. The parents settled in Doug- las county, Oregon, in 1875, and later removed to Coos county where they filed on a gov- ernment homestead which was their home for a number of years, after which they sold the property and moved to Catching inlet. In 1906 they took up their abode at Tillamook in Tillamook county, where the mother died in 1910, but the father is still living. They be- came the parents of fifteen children of whom seven are now living: Mrs. Mary Blake, who resides on the Coos river; Mrs. Sarah Blake, of Marshfield; Isaac, a resident of Tillamook; Naomi, now Mrs. William A. Collver; Daniel, of Allegany, Coos county; Mrs. Esther Barnes, of Woodland, Washington; and Eli, who re- sides in Tillamook. To Mr. and Mrs. Collver two children have been born. Josephine Ruth, the elder, is the wife of Fred G. Messerle, who is engaged in operating his father-in-law's farm, and to them has been born a son, Everett C., whose natal day was March 31, 1912. Myrtle L. is the wife of James J. Foster, who resides on Coos river, and they are the parents of a daughter, Marie A. N., who was born September 21, 1911.

Politically Mr. Collver is affiliated with the socialist party. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Woodmen of the World of Marshfield and he and his family are members of the United Brethren church at Marshfield. He is one of the enterprising and valued citizens of Coos county and a man who is deeply in- terested in every educational and religious movement intended to improve the condition of the people in his county and state.

ROBERT MARSDEN, JR., is one of the en- terprising business men of Marshfield, where he is successfully engaged in the operation of a very profitable moving picture business. He was born in Plattbridge, England, Novem- ber 8, 1882, and is a son of Robert and Ra- chel (Barnes) Marsden. The parents were married in England and in 1887 the father emigrated to America, settling at Center- ville, Iowa, and one year later was joined by

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

his family. They establishicd their home at Centerville, where Mr. Marsden, Sr., was en- gaged in coal mining for the nine years fol- lowing. In 1896 he came to Coos county and in 1897 his family came to Oregon and set- tled at Riverton, Coos county, where lic re- mained for one year and then took up his residence in Marshfield. While residing in Riverton lic was engaged in coal mining and for some time after settling at Marshfield he continued to fill the position of foreman of the Riverton Coal Company at Klondike, in this state. He later engaged in business at Marshfield, in which he continued until 1911, when he retired from active business life. At the time of his retirement he was one of the largest real-estate owners of residence and business property at Marshfield. He has, however, recently disposed of fifty thousand dollars worth of his city holdings but still retains approximately fifteen thousand dol- lars worth of city property and farm lands scattered in various portions of the county. Mrs. Marsden passed away in 1910. At the age of sixty-six years Robert Marsden, Sr., is devoting his time to the care of his per- sonal and real-estate interests at Marshfield. In his family were nine children: Richard, who is engaged in mining at Wilkinson, Wash- ington; Peter, who is assistant manager of the Crane Plumbing Supply Company of Port- land; Jolin, a resident of Marshfield; Rachel, the wife of E. M. Smith, of Flagstaff, Coos county ; Alice, the wife' of Arnold Bradshaw, of Albia, Iowa; Robert, of this review ; Sam- uel, who is the owner of a moving picture theater and resides at Orange, California ; James, whose death occurred when he was twenty-six years of age; and Samuel, who passed away when he was a child of eleven months.

Robert Marsden, Jr., was reared at home and received his early education in the schools of Oregon. He started in life for himself at the age of sixteen years, being first engaged in the newspaper business, in which he con- tinued for three years, and later added to his paper business that of a general confection- ery store. Subsequently he invested in a gasoline boat which he leased out to various societies and organizations. After success- fully operating these lines for a period of eigliteen months he disposed of all his inter- ests, as above described, and invested in a pool and billiard hall, with which he was con- tinuously identified for four years, after which he disposed of the property and later, in company with his brother, purchased a moving picture theater at Marshfield and in that business continued in partnership with liis brother for some time. He afterward purchased the entire interests of his brother and has since been sole owner of the business which he is operating with great success.

Robert Marsden, Jr., was united in mar- riage in 1906 to Miss Eulalia F. Cordes, a na- tive of Marshfield and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Cordes. The father was one of the early pioneers of Oregon and has for many years lived a retired life in Marshfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Cordes were born four chil- dren, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs.

Marsden are the parents of one son, Wallace Franklin, who was born November 11, 1909.

Mr. Marsden is affiliated with the republi- can party, and both lie and his wife are mem- bers of the Episcopal church of Marshfield. He is one of the enterprising and popular men of Marshfield and is well known throughout Coos county. His integrity as a business man is above reproach and his influence is always to be counted on to advance in every just and laudable way the welfare of his county and state.

JOSEPH FLOYD HAGA, well known in Coos county as a representative farmer, was born in Grayson county, Virginia, January 23, 1849, a son of Jackson and Polly (Fry) Haga, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion although the paternal grandparents were natives of Germany. In the family were the following children: Susanna, de- ceased; Joseplı Floyd, of this review; Malinda, the wife of Nicholas Phipps, of Virginia; Polly Jane, who married John Ham, of Eugene, Oregon; Jincy, the wife of Joseph Ham, also residing in Eugene; and Andrew Jackson, living in Virginia.

At the age of fifteen years Joseph Floyd Haga started out to earn his own living. He was about thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death. He had spent his youth upon the home farm and was indebted to the district schools for his education, but his opportunities in that direction were some- what limited. He was about sixteen years of age when he was married. He possessed industry and determination and, working hard and long, he saved enough money to buy a place upon which he lived for nearly twenty years. On leaving his old home he came direct to Eugene, Oregon, arriving in 1883, with about twenty-five dollars in money. Here he began by renting land, hop- ing that by coming to a new country he would give his children better advantages. Again the family exercised the strictest econ- omy and unfaltering industry, and finally Mr. Haga was able to purchase a place near Eu- gene. After a short time he sold that and removed to Coos county, renting a farm on Bear creek, where he lived for several years. He then preempted one hundred and sixty acres near where he now makes his home. In the early days he worked in the logging camps and did everything he could to make a good start. Later he bought three hundred and fifty acres, occupying the farm for a time or until 1904, when he sold that property and purchased the. old Pruette place of one hun- dred and twenty acres, on which he is now living. He is engaged in the dairy business on a large scale, also raises stock for the market and carries on general farming. His life record indicates what may be accomp- lished when perseverance. diligence and deter- mination lead the way.

In September. 1865, Mr. Haga was united in marriage to Miss Malinda Dickson, a na- tive of North Carolina and a daughter of Wesley and Charlotte (Phipps) Dickson, who were also natives of the same state and in whose family were six children: Jane. now

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH F. HAGA

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

deceased; Sarah, the wife of Jerome Ander- son, of Virginia; Mahala, who has also passed away; Joseph Wiley, of Virginia; Marion, of Kentucky; and Mrs. Haga. The last named by her marriage has become the mother of eleven children: Sarah I., the wife of J. R. Cox, of Parkersburg, Oregon; George Colum- bus, who is married and has one child, and who lives with his father; Wesley J., of Parkersburg, Oregon, who is mentioned on another page of this work; Docia, who mar- ried Frank Flam, of Parkersburg; Frances, the wife of John McAdams, of Coquille; David, who died in infancy; John W., who lives in Parkersburg; Polly, the wife of E. M. Randle- man, of Parkersburg; Gussie, who wedded Elmer Doyle, of Parkersburg; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Van Leuven, of Parkersburg; and Joseph M., who lives with his parents and has charge of the ranch. Since 1911, when the father retired from active farming, the sons have cultivated the fields and now have the management of the old home property which is pleasantly and conveniently located four and a half miles from Bandon, on the Bear creek road. In politics Mr. Haga is a republican and has served as road supervisor. He does not seek nor desire office, however, but manifests a public-spirited interest in all that pertains to the general good. For four terms he has served as school director and the cause of education finds in him a stal- wart champion. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the State Grange, and is interested in various elements, movements and projects which tend to advance the intel- lectual, material, political and moral prog- ress of the community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haga are members of the Baptist church.

G. M. ALLEN is engaged in the cultivation of a tract of land comprising three hundred and thirty-nine acres located two miles south of Amity that has been in the possession of the family for sixty-four years. He was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, on De- cember 17, 1844, and is a son of Solomon and Nancy (Powell) Allen. The father was a na- tive of Hancock county, Missouri, and the mother of North Carolina, and they were mar- ried in the former state. With his wife and family Mr. Allen began the long trip across the plains to Oregon in the spring of 1847, arriving at Portland on the 14th of October. On his way he had traded a sack of flour to some Indians for a pony, and this same pony together with a silver watch and three hun- dred dollars procured for him a section of land, more than half of which is now being operated by his son, G. M., our subject. Here the family located, the parents continuing to make this property their home during the re- mainder of their lives. With such assistance as his elder sons could render Mr. Allen en- gaged in improving and cultivating his place during the balance of his active career, meet- ing with good success in his agricultural pur- suits. In the family were seven children, of whom our subject is the youngest, and the others according to birth are as follows: Wil. liam P., deceased; John W., an Indian war veteran, residing in Montana; Smith, de-

ceased; Emeline and Elizabeth, also deceased; and Levi, a. resident of southern Oregon.

As he was only three years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Missouri to Oregon, G. M. Allen had only the advantages of such education as could be obtained in the common schools in his lo- cality. While mastering the elementary branches of learning in common with other pioneer farmer boys he assisted with the work of the homestead, remaining with his parents until their death. He subsequently took charge of the farm and now owns three hun- dred and thirty-nine acres of the original six hundred and forty. Mr. Allen has proven a very capable agriculturist and has met with most gratifying returns from his undertak- ings. He has one of the most highly culti- vated and valuable properties in the vicinity. He has erected large barns and substantial outbuildings upon his place, and built a thor- oughly modern residence, with plumbing and electric lights. A man of progressive ideas he has provided his farm with every facility in the way of modern machinery for the cul- tivation of the fields and harvesting of the crops. His fields have always been operated under his personal supervision, and as a re- sult the harvests have been abundant and of a superior quality.

On the 14th of October, 1877, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Allen and Miss Ollie V. Beckett and to them have been born four children: Ina Pearl, who is teaching in the high school at Corvallis; and Valine, Lee Roy and Lottie Wave, at home. Lee Roy after completing his education in the common schools took a business course at Eugene and also studied electrical engineering at the Scranton School. He is a past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the Encampment and the Re- bekahs. Mrs. Allen is a daughter of William and Jane (Thompson) Beckett, both natives of Ohio. They were married in Oregon. The father came to Oregon in 1852 with a brother, Samuel. and settled in Polk county, near Sa- lem, where he continued to reside until his death in August. 1877. His brother Samuel is also deceased. The mother passed away in December, 1906. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. William Beckett: Pearley J., who has passed away; Mrs. G. M. Allen; Tone, the wife of John Locknane of Seattle. Washington: and Clyde W., of Polk county. living near Salem.

Mr. Allen gives his political support to the republican party and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and belongs to the Encampment. He is very much attached to his homestead, where he has practically devoted his entire life to its development. It bears little re- semblance today with its beautiful modern buildings and tastefully arranged grounds to the home of his boyhood. One of the most dearly prized possessions of Mr. Allen is a puncheon that was in the floor of the first cabin erected by his father, which was for many years the family home. His place com- mands a beautiful view of a fine grove of firs on the mountain side, which has stood

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her for more than half a century. During the long period of his residence Mr. Allen has witnessed the marvelous development of the country. The great forests and wild stretches of prairie have been converted into beautiful farms and orchards since that time, making Oregon one of the leading agricultural states of the Union.

W. T. MERCHANT is the proprietor of one of the largest and most successful dry-goods and clothing establishments of Marshfield, Oregon. He was born May 5, 1870, a son of C. H. and M. L. (Gunn) Merchant, the former a native of New York and the latter of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The father emi- grated to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama in 1855, and in that city continued to live until 1858 when he removed to Port- land and the year following he established his home at North Bend. Coos county, this state. While in California he was engaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment and later for one year continued in that occupa- tion, as an employe of John R. Foster, of Portland. On settling in Oregon he was ell- gaged as bookkeeper for the Simpson Lum- ber Company in which capacity he contin- ued for one year and then accepted the posi- tion as general manager for the same com- pany, continuing as such for thirteen years. He then removed to Marshfield where he pur- chased a sawmill of John Pershbaker, which he successfully operated until 1903, after which he retired on account of failing health, and died in Marshfield, July 26, 1906. He was a man of remarkable independence of charac- ter and possessed of a strong and all but un- conquerable will. At the age of thirteen years he ran away from home going direct to San Francisco where he arrived without a cent. His penniless condition, however, in no way altered his determination to succeed, and dur- ing all his life he persisted in maintaining silence as to his whereabouts, never at any , time notifying his parents what had be- come of their venturesome boy. His career in' the state of Oregon was marked with unusual success. His education, such as lie had. was obtained by his own unaided efforts. and being a man of great industry. capable and resourceful. he grasped the opportunities presented him in the new country and his many accomplishments entitle him to the distinction of having been the father of Marshfield. At the time of his death he owned thousands of acres of land in Coos county and also a large amount of business property in Marshfield. and in Oak- land. California.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 77

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