The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 8

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

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Captain Harding was married in 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Eleanor Purdy, whom he wedded on the 19th of June of that year. She was born in Ohio, April 14, 1838, and is a daughter of Aaron and Malinda (Bucklew) Purdy, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They were married in Ohio and resided in that state until 1842 when they removed to Michigan where they made their home for three years before going to Indiana where they spent two years. In 1847 they crossed the plains to Oregon and took up their abode upon the present site of the city of Salem. After a brief period, however, Mr. Purdy se- cured a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres nine miles north of the capital and there he resided until 1856 when he sold that property and bought a farm near Salem. Upon the second place he lived until 1864 when he again sold out, removing to Waits- burg, Washington, where he purchased a flour mill which he operated for one year, or until his life's labors were ended in death in March, 1865. His widow afterward took up her abode upon a small farm which she owned near Salem, living there until 1864, when she removed to Goldendale where she pre- empted eighty acres of land upon which she lived for a few years. Her last days were spent at Forest Grove where she died in 1893. In her family were seven children, of whom the two eldest died in early life. The others were: Hanna, who married Luke Savage of

ELISHA J. HARDING

MRS. ELEANOR HARDING

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

Salem, but both are now deceased; Mrs. Hard- ing; Jasper, who has passed away; Augusta, the wife of George Smith of Lyle, Washing- ton; and Bruce, who is living in Gaston, Oregon.

The home of Captain and Mrs. Harding was blessed with seven children: Frank, who died December 26, 1883, at the age of twenty- five years; Larz, who passed away in June, 1893; Jenkins, who is residing in Glendale, Oregon; Charles, who is now a resident of Lincoln county, this state; Ellen, who died in infancy; Amy, at home; and Gertrude, the wife of Dr. Calvin S. White, of Portland. Like her husband, Mrs. Harding was college bred, being a graduate of Salem University. Naturally they were much interested in the education of their children to whom they gave excellent advantages. All the daughters have attended college and the sons have had thorough business training in commercial colleges. Since her husband's death Mrs. Harding lias built a fine home in Gervais, Oregon, where she now resides, having there a large circle of warm friends who esteem her highly for her many excellent traits of character. The death of Captain Harding oc- curred March 17, 1897, when he was in the seventieth year of his age, and the community in which he lived mourned the loss of a rep- resentative and valued citizen. In politics he was a democrat, and took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the political situation of the country, keeping well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. His was a well spent life. In - every relation he was true to high and honorable prin- ciples and never faltered in the choice between right and wrong but always endeavored to follow a course sanctioned by conscience and sound judgment. His integrity in business affairs, his loyalty and patriotism in mat- ters of citizenship, his fidelity in friendship and his devotion to home and family were characteristics which won for him the high and enduring regard of all with whom he was associated.

GEORGE APPLEGATE is one of the suc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers who reside near Yoncalla, Douglas county. He is a native of Oregon, his birth having occurred in Doug- las county, August 17, 1852. He is a son of Charles and Melinda (Miller) Applegate, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. The parents migrated to Ore- gon with the Applegate Emigrant Company and settled in Yamhill county in 1843. Jesse Applegate was the captain of the company and an uncle of the subject of this sketch. More extended mention is made of the par- ents in the sketch of the Applegate family published in another part of this work. In 1847 Jesse, Charles and Lindsay, three broth- ers, took up donation claims in Yoncalla valley and there established their pioneer lomes.

George Applegate was reared at home and received his education in the public schools. In 1873 he purchased the R. M. Kelly dona- tion claim and engaged in farming. He lived on that property until 1888 at which time Vol. IV-3

he sold out and in 1890 bought his father's old homestead to which he removed and where he has since lived. He and his children own five hundred acres of land, including the old homestead.

George Applegate was united in marriage in 1878 to Miss Flora McKee in Scotts Valley. She came to Oregon from Nebraska where she had been engaged in teaching school. To Mr. and Mrs. Applegate five children have been born: Rachael L., the wife of E. A. Tulley of Wallowa, Oregon; Paul, who is operating the home farm; Eve L. and Eva L., twins who are engaged in teaching school at The Dalles; and Vincent L., in his senior year in the Yoncalla high school.

George Applegate is affiliated with the re- publican party but has never sought political preferment. He is one of the enterprising citizens of his county and a man whose inetg- rity in business matters has always been above suspicion. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of all his associates and is in every way entitled to be numbered among the influential and useful men of his part of the state.

JUDGE E. L. ELLIOTT, who is engaged in the general practice of law in Klamath Falls, was born in Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa, April 14, 1868, his parents being John and Sally (Dudgeon) Elliott, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively, and were reared and married in the latter state. In 1846 they went to Iowa, where the remainder of their lives was passed near Waverly, the father following farming throughout his en- tire life.

In the family were seven sons and five daughters, E. L. Elliott being the youngest. He was twenty-eight years of age before any of the children died and four sons and three daughters are still living. He remained at the place of his birth until the loss of his mother, when he was twelve years of age, after whichi lie drifted from pillar to post, earning his living as best he could. He worked at the carpenter's trade and followed farming in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minne- sota and Nebraska. As he knocked about the world, trying to earn his living at various occupations until twenty years of age he began to realize fully the necessity of an education and at length entered a college at Waterloo, Iowa, from which he was grad- uated in 1889. Later he became a student in the Illinois Normal School at Dixon. Illi- nois, and was there graduated in 1892. He afterward taught in a college at Vinton, Iowa, and was also employed in the county auditor's office there. At length he deter- mined to devote his attention to one of tlie "learned professions" and began a course in the Iowa College of Law, a department of Drake University, at Des Moines. He after- ward engaged in teaching in the college at Le Mars, Iowa, and subsequently took charge of the college at Waterloo. He then finished his law course and in January, 1898, was admitted to the bar, after which he began practice at Vinton, where he remained for a year. He next went to Oelwein, Iowa,

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

where he remained until 1907, after which he was appointed and later elected to the bench of the supreme court, serving as judge from 1903 until 1907. In the latter year he became a resident of Lewiston, Idaho, where he practiced law until June, 1909, when he came to Klamath Falls, where he has since engaged in general practice. He has made continuous progress in his profession. Nature endowed him with keen intellect and his analytical powers and careful prepara- tion of liis cases have won him a place among the strong and able lawyers at the bar of southern Oregon. In 'January, 1912, he formed a partnership with his nephew, E. B. Elliott, under the firm style of Elliott & Elliott, attorneys.

In 1894 Judge Elliott was married to Miss Maude Westover and they became the par- ents of two daughters, Muriel A. and Pauline I., both attending school at Vinton, Iowa. The wife and mother died in 1898 and in 1903 Mr. Elliott wedded Clara B. Redfield, by whom he has three children, Dorothy G., Nellie M. and Jack W.

In politics Judge Elliott is a republican and was appointed city attorney here but re- signed. He holds membership with the Masons and has become connected with the Mystic Shrine by way of the York Rite, being a Knight Templar. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and has given con- siderable attention to the work of that organization. He is also a member of the Christian church, has served on the official board as one of the deacons, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school. His interest in the moral progress of the com- munity as well as in its material develop- ment is deep and sincere and his many sterl- ing traits of character have won him an enviable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for the opportuni- ties of his early youth were extremely limited and it was only by reason of his laudable ambition that he was enabled to make prog- ress and reach his present place of promi- nence as a lawyer and eitizen of Klamath Falls.

D. W. ANDERSON has resided since 1885 upon the place that is now his home, com- prising one hundred and sixty acres which is devoted to general farming. His land is not far from Olene, in Klamath county. He has successfully introduced several modern proces- ses, giving special study to the subject of dry farming and demonstrating the excellent re- sults that can be accomplished by that method. He was born in Farmington, Van Buren county, Iowa, February 22, 1836, a son of Andrew E. and Angeline (Millard) Anderson. The father was born in Oswego, New York, and the mother in Massachusetts. and following their marriage they removed westward to Iowa, where Andrew E. Ander- son carried on farming and also worked at the cooper's trade until 1852, when he went to California, where he was joined by his wife in 1861. Her death occurred about nine miles below Sacramento and Mr. Anderson

passed away in Jacksonville, Oregon. While in California he engaged in mining until 1862 and then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, to which he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his life. In the family were four children: D. W .; Mrs. Amanda Slocum, who has passed away; Mrs. Ellen Fassett, of Sacramento, California; and Albert, of Stockton, California.

D. W. Anderson spent the first twenty years of his life at the place of his nativity and in 1856 joined his father in California, going to the coast by way of the isthmus route. He then followed placer mining for about three years, after which he went to Jackson county, Oregon, where he remained for seven years. He there worked as a laborer part of the time but he was ambitious to engage in business of his own account and made his plans with that end in view. At length he felt his capital was sufficient to justify his taking up farming for himself and in 1885 he came to his present place, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres near Olene, Kla- math county, on which he has now resided for twenty-seven years. While he carries on general farming he makes a specialty of rais- ing potatoes and melons and that his methods are progressive and resultant is indicated in the fact that he won five premiums on dry farming at the Klamath County Fair in 1909, securing these on watermelons, cantaloupes. green corn, squash and crabapples. He works hard, accomplishes results and has become well established as one of the representative agriculturists of his community. Moreover, he is well known as a healer of both sciatic and inflammatory rheumatism, to which he has devoted a part of his time during the past fifty years.

Mr. Anderson has been married twice. In 1861 he wedded Miss Mary Jane Dean, a native of Baltimore, who died in 1879, leaving four children; George, a resident of Joseph- ine county, Oregon; Geneva, the wife of Peter Bauer, of Olene, Oregon; Walter, of Califor- nia; and Willie, who died at the age of nine years. On the 25th of July, 1885, Mr. Ander- son was again married, his second union being with Dora Hull, who was born in Jack- son county, Oregon, July 25, 1866. They have become the parents of ten children, of whom Alzada, Paul and Pauline are deceased. Those living are Oscar Raymond, Myron, Freeman, Wilbert, Estella, Nava and Truman.

Although Mr. Anderson has reached the age of seventy-six years he is still hale and hearty and is an active business man accom- phishing results through enterprising, progres- sive and seientific methods and making for himself a creditable position among the rep- resentative farmers of Klamath county.

WILLIAM B. CLARKE. With the history of progress in southwestern Oregon the name of William B. Clarke is closely associated and in his passing Douglas county lost one of its representative eitizens. He was one of the early sawmill men of this part of the state and his industry and enterprise were factors in general development and improve-

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

ment as well as in individual success. He was a native of Fredonia, New York, born January 22, 1836, and for some time resided in Pennsylvania ere coming to Oregon in 1865. On reaching this state he settled first in Douglas county and soon began work in the sawmill on the Calapooia, owned by Messrs. Butler, Mahoney and Barr. He was there employed for a year, after which, in company with John Colvin he rented the old Sutherlin mill on the Calapooia, which they operated for a year. In 1867 Mr. Clarke and Henderson Rone built a mill farther up the stream, which was known as the Clarke & Rone mill. This they conducted for two years, after which Mr. Clarke sold his interest and came to Coles Valley. Here he began work in the Harvey Dixon mill and after- ward became a partner of Mr. Dixon, in which connection the mill was operated for about three years, at the end of which time Mr. Clarke bought his partner's interest and carried on the mill independently for about three years. He then removed the plant to Sugar Pine, where he engaged in the manu- facture of lumber for a short time, after which he disposed of the mill and returned to Coles Valley. He then settled on the farm where his wife had continued to reside while he was in Sugar Pine. On this place he built a shingle mill, which he operated for three or four years, and in 1878 he went to Hubbard Creek, where, in company with J. L. Baker, he bought. out his brother-in-law, Robert Stephens, who had begun the erection of a sawmill there. Mr. Clarke and Mr. Baker completed the mill and continued its operation until within two years of Mr. Clarke's death. Soon after his arrival at Hubbard Creek he secured the establishment of the Millwood postoffice at his place and did everything possible to further its inter- ests until a daily mail service was secured and his office was made an international money order office. He continued to act as postmaster for many years, not that he had any desire to fill the position but because he recognized that the postoffice would work for the betterment of the neighborhood. He was of that class which included General Lane, Creed Flood, George Haynes, Thomas Sheridan, Joe S. Fitzhugh, Aaron Rose, Asher Marks, Sam Marks and others-pioneers who preceded him to the great beyond and all of whom were his friends. He was as popular in Roseburg when among its citizens as he was at home. He had attractive qualities, which made him well liked wherever he was known. He possessed a jovial, sunny disposi- tion, was big hearted, open handed and was ever a true and loyal friend. It was ever a pleasure to know him and be with him, for he shed around him much of the sunshine of life. In politics he was a stanch republican and could have had any office within the gift of his party. In fact, his friends and neigh- bors frequently urged him to accept nomina- tion for political positions but he always de- clined. He served, however, at one time as chairman of the republican county conven- tion, but the wide diversity of opinion and the too numerous candidates seeking office dis-

gusted him with party management and he preferred only to exercise his right of fran- chise in support of the measures in which he believed.

On the 23d of June, 1867, Mr. Clarke was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Stephens, a daughter of Eb Stephens, at one time county clerk of Douglas county, and the sis- ter of R. L. Stephens, a prominent business man of Roseburg, and of George W. Stephens, and J. A. Stephens, of Oakland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke became the parents of seven daughters and three sons: Ida, deceased; Jennie, the wife of Fred Norman, of Mill- wood; Anna B., at home, who is a teacher in the public schools; Martha, who resides in Portland; Kittie, who married Francis Smith, of Pasadena, California; Josephine, the wife of Sidney Smith, of Riverside county, Cali- fornia; Margaret, who became the wife of Fred Shelton, of Douglas county; Ben Mor- ton, deceased; Rush R., who operates the mill at Millwood; and Seth S., who makes his home in South Bend, Washington. Mrs. Clarke still resides in Millwood and owns the old mill property, in addition to extensive farm and timber interests. She is a member of the Baptist church and a lady of many good traits of heart and mind. The death of Mr. Clarke occurred on the 2d of August, 1909, following a second stroke of paralysis, He was a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years but, although he allowed his membership to lapse, he never ceased to ex -. emplify in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of man and which fosters kindliness, charity and individual aid. Throughout his life he was a careful, syste- matic business man, a progressive citizen and a reliable friend, and his many sterling traits won him the respect, honor and love of those with whom he came in contact.

JUDGE CHARLES GRAVES, filling the position of justice of the peace at Klamath Falls, was born at Marysville, California, February 1, 1857. His father, Garrett Graves. was a native of New York, while the mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Dries- bach, was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in the east and became residents of California about 1849 or 1850. Their son Charles was but six years of age when his parents passed away. The father died on one Sunday in 1863 and the mother on the suc- ceeding Sunday. He was following farming at the time of his death. In their family were four children: Frank, who has passed- away; Charles; Samuel, living in Merrill, Oregon; and Mrs. Ella Sulzberger, of Arizona.

After the death of his parents, Judge Graves resided with an uncle in Michigan un- til he was old enough to earn his own living, · after which he returned to California. When nineteen years of age he purchased a tract of land in Yuba county and cultivated it until 1884. He then sold that property and came. to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and was engaged in merchandising here for five years. He then followed farming and stock-raising for about fourteen years, at the end of which time-

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

he disposed of his interests in that connec- tion and took up his abode in Klamath Falls. In November, 1910, he was elected to his present position as justice of the peace and is now acting in that capacity. He had pre- viously served one term as county treasurer of Klamath county and had declined a second term in that office. He also served as a mem- ber of the first city council of Klamath Falls and all through his life he has given his polit- ical allegiance to the democratic party. For twenty-eight years he has resided in this district and has always enjoyed the high respect and warm regard of his fellow towns- men who support him for office, notwith- standing the fact that this is a republican county and he is a stanch advocate of demo- cratic principles.

In 1882 Judge Graves was united in mar- riage to Miss Eva M. Ward, who was born in Nevada but was reared in California. Unto them have been born eight children: Maude, who is the wife of Joseph L. Ringo, of Cres- cent, Oregon; Clarissa, who is the wife of S. B. Garner, of Portland; Charles J., who is living in Crescent; Ward L., attending school in Portland; Maurice, Horatio R., Ralph and Elizabeth, all at home.

Judge Graves is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity. He has taken the de- grees of the Royal Arch and Knight Templar Masonry and is also a member of the Mys- tic Shrine. He is also a charter member of the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Klamath Falls, which is one of the strongest in the state, and is a charter member of the Elks lodge. He like- wise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and helped finance the project at the time of the building of their lodge room and also of the building of the Elks' Home. He is now serving as president of the Commercial Club, in which connection he is putting forth earnest and persistent effort to advance the welfare of his town and county. He is a reliable and progres- sive business man and citizen and his many commendable traits of character have estab- lished him in an enviable position among his fellow townsmen.

MAJOR JAMES BRUCE is an Oregon pio- neer of 1850 and a veteran of the Indian wars. He has every reason to be proud of the military record which he made in the effort to subdue the red men when they showed open hostility to the advancement of the white race, resenting the planting of the seeds of civilization in this section of the country. He is now living retired, de- riving his income from valuable property interests in the vicinity of Corvallis, Benton county. He was born November 3, 1827, in Harrison county, Indiana, a son of John and Ellen (Lemon) Bruce. His father's mother was a sister of Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer and explorer. In 1839 John Bruce removed to Adams county, Illinois, but was not long permitted to en- joy his new home. At his death he left a widow and seven children.

Major Bruce was a lad of twelve years at the time the family went to Adams county, where he remained until 1847, when, as a young man of twenty years, he joined a wagon train bound for Texas, spending two years in that state. In 1849, however, he returned to Illinois and afterward en- gaged in boating on the Mississippi river un- til the spring of 1850, when he again joined a wagon train which was bound for Oregon. On the route, however, the plans were changed and after a trip of six months across the desert and over the mountains the party arrived at Hangtown, now Placerville, Cali- fornia. Major Bruce at once proceeded to the mines and met with fair success in his search for the precious metal. Mining activ- ities occupied his attention until the fall of 1851, when he took up a ranch in Scott's valley, Siskiyou county, California. The fol- lowing year, however, he sold that property and came to Oregon, at which time he estab- lished a general mercantile store in Jackson- ville.

At the outbreak of the Indian war, in 1853, Major Bruce enlisted as a private and later was promoted from time to time for meritorious service to the rank of captain. By the close of the second Rogue river war. in 1856. he had been promoted to the rank of major and filled that position with dis- tinction, for there were few who took a more active part or displayed greater bravery and fidelity in the Indian wars than Major Bruce. a fact which is indicated in the historical volume of this work. He uncomplainingly bore the hardships and dangers of Indian campaigning, and following the close of hos- tilities and the removal of the Indians to the Siletz reservation he took a contract to plow and fence a part of that reservation. He afterward followed different occupations until 1862, when he began dealing in live stock and while carrying on that business, in 1864, he accomplished a feat that has sel- dom ever been attempted-that of driving a large number of hogs for a distance of · over seven hundred miles or from the Ump- qua valley in Douglas county to Boise City, Iowa. The venture, however, proved suc- cessful. for he sold most of his porkers at one dollar per pound. He then returned to Benton county and purchased a part of his present farm, which now contains seven hundred acres all in one body. This lie rents, now living retired, and at the pres- ent time he is living in McMinnville. His property returns to him a very gratifying annual income and is the visible evidence of the excellent business ability which he has displayed as the years have gone by.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 8

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