The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 81

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

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To many minds, these two lines of in- terest, the development of character and the study of nature, would seem incongruous, but to him they were both God's truth, the one the preparation, the other the culmina- tion of God's work. And yet strange and unusual as is this combination of geologist and minister, it seemed exactly what was needed to equip one for usefulness thirty or forty years ago. For these were years of great stir in the scientific world.

The author of "The Origin of Species" and "The Descent of Man" had given his theory of evolution to the world. The grand truths developed by that galaxy of brilliant Eng- lish writers, Spencer, Huxley, Tyndall, and others, had been seized by materialists who were calling upon all thinkers to discard the Bible as out of date because not in harmony with scientific thought. Christian ministers were not scientists and the principles of "Higher Criticism," if thought of at all, were considered dangerous heresies against which to warn their people. To Mr. Condon the theory of evolution presented to the human mind a wider conception of God than the world had ever known. It involved a plan of unthinkable grandeur; beginning with the smallest, simplest . things, gradually unfold- ing into more complex life. often interrupted by some great upturning of nature, but never losing the continuity of purpose, the steady progress toward the culminating glory of all: the spiritual life of man.

To have all this new wealth of spiritual vision appropriated by materialists was a source of deepest sorrow. The storm, start -- ing on the intellectual heights of Europe, was slowly traveling westward. A little later inagazines were full of the subject and ma- terialism was creeping into college life with the claim that evolution was antagonistic to religion. The young men who studied science found few leaders so endowed as to

interpret the beautiful adaptation of the doctrine of evolution to the spiritual life.

Mr. Condon saw that the old ramparts erected by theologians were no longer a safe retreat; that the church must be defended even by science itself and he longed to help unfurl the Christian banner over this newly discovered realm of truth. He felt his most effective work could be done with his cabinet in shaping the immature minds of Oregon's sons and daughters. This, with the grow- ing educational needs of his family, finally led him in 1873 to take his place with the faculty of Pacific University at Forest Grove and later in 1876 to accept the chair of Ge- ology and Natural History in the State University.

In 1876, shortly after reaching Eugene, Mr. Condon, in company with a son of ex- Governor Whiteaker, made a trip to the Sil- ver lake country in southeastern Oregon. Here they gathered a fine collection of beautifully preserved fossil bird bones, which were sent east to be described but seemed too rare and valuable to be returned, for, in spite of many efforts to recover them they were finally lost to the rightful owner. Fortunately, they had been previously exam- ined and described by Dr. Shufeldt, an ex- pert in the study of fossil birds, and to him we are indebted for much interesting knowl- edge of the ancient life of the region. This same locality has also yielded some of the finest specimens of fossil mammals in the state.

By this time Oregon had passed out of its pioneer stage and was looking to a broad- er expansion of statehood, with all its hid- den possibilities of industrial development. Men were asking, "Have we coal in Ore- gon ?" "How shall we utilize our gold-bear- ing black sands?" "Have we the right geo- logical formation for artesian water ?" "Have we cement rock, copper, or limestone ?" Let- ters on all of these and many other prob- lems kept coming to Mr. Condon from near and from far. These questions and the in- vestigation necessary for their answers re- sulted in his acquiring an extensive knowl- edge of the industrial problems of the state. If any one wished to bore for artesian water his advice was asked. The discoverer of a fresh prospect for coal, copper, asbestos or marble, must send him a sample specimen and ask his opinion of its value, and he was always ready with a word of advice, a bit of encouragement or a needed caution.

All these years he had been glad to share his rapidly increasing knowledge with the people of the northwest. The old river steamers and slow moving trains of early Oregon often carried him to fill lecture en- gagements, and he was usually cumbered with many heavy packages of specimens and choice fossils to illustrate his subject. Sometimes the lecture would be before a cul- tured Portland audience; sometimes it was a course of lectures for some growing young college or perhaps a talk to the farmers at the State Fair upon the formation and com- position of soil. But as the years passed, most of his time and strength were given

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to his teaching at the University, while his summer vacations were spent with his family at his Nye Brook Cottage by the Sea.

Here his life was ahnost unique, but it again brought him into the most friendly relations with many classes of people from all parts of the northwest. Sometimes there were formal lectures before a summer school, but more often there was an informal an- nouncement that "Professor Condon would lecture on the beach," perhaps near Jump- off Joe. And here his audience would gather around him in the shelter of the bluff or head- land, some standing, some sitting on the rocks, others perched upon the piles of weatlı- er-bleached driftwood, while the children sat "Turk fashion" upon the dry, glistening sand. And he, with his tall alpine stalk in his hand, his broad hat and loose raglan coat made a picturesque figure standing in their midst. Perhaps he talked of the three beaches, the one upon which they stood and the two old geological beaches so plainly visible in the ocean bluff behind them. The banker, the college president, the physician from a dis- tant part of the state, the young city clerk, the carpenter, the teacher of the country school, the farmer and his family taking an outing by the sea, even the high-school boy, and the children, all listened with interest. And when the talk was over and all their questions had been answered, the motley gathering strolled leisurely away. But the rolling breakers at their feet, the hurrying seud and the blue summer sky, all had a new significance as they pondered on the mystery of creation.

Or perhaps a geological picnic was planned up the beach to Otter Rocks. After a brisk ride of a few miles over the hills and along the beach, Mr. Condon's carriage would stop, the other vehicles would group themselves around near by, and, standing in his convey- ance, he would give a short talk on the geo- logical formation of the particular cove or headland with its base of old sandstone full of fossil shells. Then the company would move on, and after a few more miles of de- lightful beach ride upon the hard sand near the breakers, they would leave their carriages, gather their picks, hammers, and chisels and spend an hour chipping fossils from the bluff or from the large bowlders at its base. The next stop would be to lunch near Otter Rocks and explore the unique Devil's Cal- dron or Punchbowl and the interesting beach beyond.

But the most common picture, the one that must make the Condon Cottage at Nye Beach an almost sacred spot for some, was the party stolling homeward from a morning on the beach-especially at low tide. They al- ways stopped beside his cottage door to show their treasures to Mr. Condon. There were baskets, tin pails, and all sorts of packages filled with curios gathered on the morning walk; one had a rare shell-fish, another an unusual fossil, some had sea moss, others only a group of bright pebbles, while a few proud- ly exhibited their water agates. All had their eager question and his kindly, helpful inter- est never failed; for if some child but left

his cottage door with eyes large and shining with a new joy because it had caught a glimpse of the beauty of knowledge, lie was content. And so his summers passed.

Meanwhile he had been carrying on his orig- inal research work by taking trips to the southwestern part of the state and was slowly filling out his geological map of Ore- gon.

Mr. Condon's love for knowledge was not confined to natural science, for his interests were broad as the universe. To him, human history began with the men of preglacial age, and he sought eagerly for every ray of light that archaeological research could throw upon the old Cave Dwellers of prehistoric times. He studied all primitive peoples, their religion, industries, and social develop- ment, and endeavored to trace their rela- tionship to common ancestry. There were but few obscure nations of the world in which he was not deeply interested; he knew their past history, their present political condition and struggles for liberty. He prized the his- tory of our Aryan ancestors and treasured their old Vedic hymns as among the first bright glimpses of the human soul in reach- ing out for its Creator. The religion, art, and literature of the Egyptians, Arabians Persians and Greeks were to him a source of great pleasure. He followed the lives of noted statesmen and was most enthusiastic in his admiration for the world's true heroes. All great religious movements, including the higher criticism and the relation of science to religion were matters of absorbing inter- est. And yet there were but few who knew and loved Oregon's trees, shrubs, and wild flowers so well as he.

In 1902, after passing his eightieth birth-, day, Mr. Condon published his "The Two Is- lands," a popular work on the geology of Oregon, which, aside from its scientific value, will be prized for its clearness and simplic- ity of style and the subtile charm of his own personality as constantly revealed in its pages. It was not written for technical scientists but for the larger circle of readers who love to catch such glimpses of the prog- ress of creation. No, Mr. Condon was not a specialist, either by nature, inclination or education. And it was well for the early development of Oregon that he was a true pioneer with a large appetite for all knowl- edge, a keen pleasure in imparting that knowledge to others, and a broad, sympa- thetic outlook into the needs of the north- west. If he had been a specialist he might have received more technical credit in the scientific world, for he discovered many new fossils and named but few. But what is the naming of a few fossils more or less, when compared with the grandeur of such a broad sweep of knowledge, permeated by such a beautiful spirit of helpfulness ?

The pioneer work in this new and unex- plored state, so remote from the great centers of learning, required just his type of mind: just his habit of first sketching in the broad outlines and then filling in the details with all their picturesque beauty. For as the artist works, he worked. A colleague who wrought

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by his side has said of him, that instead of beginning with the minute details and progressing toward the large facts of life, he always began with the broad outlines, the great principles of any subject, and worked down to its details.

After this active, eager life had passed and failing health gave him ample time for retrospective meditation, he realized that he had lived through a grand period of pioneer history and remarked, as he looked forward into the future in store for the rising gener- ation, "I do not know that I would ex- change the rich chapters of my own life for all the future opportunities of these young men."

For he was the pioneer geologist who, by his own original research, caught the first glimpse of Oregon's oldest land as it rose from the ocean bed; he saw the seashells upon her oldest beaches; watched the devel- opment of her grand forests; saw her first strange mammals feeding upon her old lake shores; he listened in imagination to the cannonading of her first volcanoes and traced the showers of ashes and great floods of lava. He followed the creation of Oregon step by step all through her long geological history and then entered with enthusiasm into the industrial and educational development of her present life.

But above all, infinitely above all, he prized and labored for the noble character of her sons and daughters. Is it any wonder that his heart was full of gratitude to God for having guided him into such a rich heritage of life ?

JOHN BROWN, who has but recently be- come a resident of Gresham, was for twenty- one years actively identified with the com- mercial interests of Rockwood, Oregon, and was one of the prominent factors in the up- building and development of that town. He is a native of the province of Ontario, Can- ada, his birth having occurred on the 19th of May, 1867, and is a son of George and Mary (Mitchell) Brown. The father was a native of Scotland and the eldest of six chil- dren born to his parents. In order of birth they are as follows: George, William, John, Margaret, Alexander and Alison. The mother. who was born and reared in Canada, was of Scotch parentage and a member of a fam- ily of eight children, of whom George, who has five children, is now a resident of Wash- ington. Charles, of Ontario, Canada, is like- wise the father of five children. Robert, also of Ontario, has three children. John, a resident of Tacoma, has also three children. Mary and Annie are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were married in Canada on the 1st of August, 1866, and to them were born nine children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Alison, who is the eldest daughter, is the widow of George Prettyman of Port- land, by whom she had four children, Mer- rill, Bernice, Bessie and Maggie. James A., who lives in Kernville, Oregon, has five chil- dren. Mary, Lucy, Garland, David and James. David, who is a resident of Heppner, Oregon, has four children. George H., who is the next

in order of birth is unmarried and makes his home in Portland. The father engaged in agricultural pursuits in Canada until 1886, when together with his wife and family he crossed the border into the United States, first locating in Walla Walla, Washington. They remained there but a brief period and then went to Oregon and here the father filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Heppner. He ener- getically applied himself to the cultivation of his land until his death in 1893. The mother survived him for nearly two decades, her death occurring on the 2d of September, 1911.

John Brown was reared and educated in his native province, and at the age of twelve years he became self-supporting. When he first began earning his living he was em- ployed by the government in the capacity of mail carrier, continuing to discharge the duties of this position for four years. At the expiration of that time he returned to the home farm, in the operation of which he assisted his father until he was eighteen. In 1886, he accompanied his people on their removal to the United States and subse- quently purchased a portion of a tract of land in the vicinity of his father's claim and preempted one hundred and sixty acres. Later he disposed of this and removed to Wash- ington, locating near Walla Walla, where he engaged in farming. From there he went to Medical Lake, that state, and turned his attention to contracting and building for about eighteen years. His next removal was to Rockwood, Oregon, where he engaged in the insurance business and later established

a general mercantile store. He met there with unusual success in the development of his various undertakings. He disposed of his store at the end of six years, but con- tinued in the insurance business until he removed to Gresham. Mr. Brown was one of the very early pioneers of Rockwood, wliere he erected the first residence in 1893. During the long period of his residence in this section of the state he has acquired some valuable property and is the owner of one hundred and thirty-five acres of fine timber land. He has erected a sawmill on this land and is en- gaged in clearing it and upon the comple- tion of this operation will own one of the finest tracts of land in the grain belt. In addition to this he has two valuable lots in Astoria, and has just completed the most expensive residence in Gresham, which is thoroughly modern in all its appointments, and is located on Main street near the Mount Hood station.

For his wife Mr. Brown chose Miss Min- nie A. Smith and to them have been born five children, as follows: Miriam, who was born in 1895, now attending high school; J. Ross, whose birth occurred in 1897, also going to high school; Frank H., whose natal year was 1898, attending grammar school; Walter R., who was born in August, 1900; and Charles E., whose birth occurred in March, 1903.

The family manifest their religious belief through their affiliation with the Presby- terian church, and fraternally Mr. Brown is identified with the Independent Order of

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Odd Fellows and is now district deputy of this organization with which he has been connected for twenty-three years. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and while living in Rockwood he or- ganized the first fraternal society established there, which was the Maccabees. Mr. Brown is a very progressive and enterprising man and always takes an active interest in all municipal affairs, giving his support to the republican party, but has never been an of- fice seeker. He has high standards of citi- zenship and the duties involved therewith and always gives his indorsement and coopera- tion to every movement which he deems at all likely to promote the general welfare of the community.

WILLIAM DEWAR is the owner of Bone island, comprising one hundred and fifty- seven acres about a mile south of Gardiner, Oregon, and thereon is engaged in raising, beside buying and selling horses and cattle for the market. He was born in Middlesex county, Ontario, October 23, 1846, a son of Duncan and Ann (Webb) Dewar. The father was born in Scotland, August 12, 1819, and died August 3, 1892, while the mother, a native of Genesee valley, New York, was born September 21, 1815, and died January 3, 1895. The father on leaving the land of hills and heather went to Canada in com- pany with his parents, being then about ten years of age. He became a pioneer settler of Middlesex county, as did his wife, who was four or five years old when her parents removed from the Empire state to Canada. Throughout the period of his manhood Dun- can Dewar followed the occupation of farm- ing. In 1860 he removed to Wisconsin with his family of ten children, five sons and five daughters.

In Wisconsin William Dewar, who had be- gun his education in the schools of his na- tive county, continued his studies in the pub- lic schools of Lawrence. In early manhood he engaged in farming in Minnesota and in logging in Oregon. He removed from Wis- consin to the former state in 1868 and there resided for about seven years. In 1875 he went to California where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits for a year and then removed to Oregon, settling on Scofield creek about twelve miles south of Gardiner. There he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres from John McIsaac and engaged in raising stock and general farming for about twenty-two years, when he disposed of the property and became the owner of Bone island. He thus acquired one hundred and fifty-seven acres a mile south of Gardiner. Here he farms to some extent, having about one hundred acres which is not only arable but also very fertile. In addition to cul- tivating his land he raises horses and cattle and also buys and sells live stock, his interests along that line proving profit- able. While often requested to accept county offices he has always refused to become a candidate, preferring to devote all of his time to his business pursuits which, carefully and

intelligently directed, have won for him a place among the substantial residents of his county.

On the 14th of November, 1866, Mr. De- war was united in marriage at Westfield, Wis- consin, to Miss Lucyna S. Peck, who was born September 1, 1849, on Howe island, one of the Thousand islands of Canada. Her parents Alexander H. and Laura (Cooper) Peck. The Pecks were an old New England family, the first ancestors probably coming to America on the Mayflower or about that time. Alexander H. Peck was born in Jefferson county, New York, and his wife was a native of Canada, born in the vicinity of Kingston. They were mar- ried July 8, 1847, and after living for two or three years in Canada removed to Jeffer- son county, New York, where they remained for about two years, and then took up their abode near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Two more years passed and they then removed to Marquette county, Wisconsin, where the mother died, November 28, 1862. The fol- lowing year the father married Melissa Brown, and there were ten children born by that marriage. Four children were born of the first marriage of whom Mrs. Dewar was the eldest. The others were: Cecelia Loretta, who was born July 25, 1853, and is the wife of F. D. Joy, living near Los Angeles, California; William R., born August 26, 1855, who is living in Elgin, Oregon; and Wilbert F., born March 8, 1859. The last named married Anna O'Brien, and resides on Smith river in this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Dewar have been born five children. Laura Ann, who was born September 28, 1868, was married October 24, 1887, to John M. Dolan, who died January 8, 1908, leaving three children: William Eugene, born Sep- tember 28, 1888; Terance Edwin, born April 23, 1891; and Zoe Ellen, January 11, 1897. Mrs. Dolan was married in 1909 to. Harmon Smithgall, of Marshfield, Oregon. Jennie D. Dewar, born May 3, 1870, was married July 3, 1889, to William C. Chamberlain and they reside llear Gardiner. They have four chil- dren: Majorie L., born July 27, 1891; Algie Merle, born September 19, 1893; Barbara L., April 4, 1895; and Laura Doane, March 24, 1896. Gertrude A. Dewar, born September 20, 1872, is mentioned at greater length on another page of this work. John Algie Dewar, born August 3, 1882, was married September 20, 1903, to Bessie A. Gentry and they have two children: John Stanley, born March 11, 1905; and Algie Elgin, born April 17, 1907. William Theodore Dewar, born July 16, 1887, was married September 7, 1905, to Marie Cooper, and they have two children: Leroy T., born June 9, 1906; and Dexter Dale, born January 29, 1909.

William Dewar is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His fraternal relations are with Gardiner Lodge, No. 132, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they are act- ively and helpfully interested. Mr. Dewar

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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM DEWAR

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prefers home life to club interests and is devoted to the welfare of his family, in whose interests he is putting forth earnest effort along business lines that he may pro- vide them not only with the necessities but many of the comforts of life.

CAPTAIN EDWARD D. HAGEN is a native of New York city, born March 9, 1845, the only son of John and Louisa (Lenoir) Hagen. The parents moved to California in 1849 by way of Cape Horn and settled in Sonora, Tuo- lumne county. Edward Hagen, at the age of fourteen years, went to the territory of Nevada. During the Civil war he enlisted for service in Company F, First Nevada Vol- unteer Cavalry. At the close of the war he enlisted, at Benicia, California, in the United States army and was assigned to the ord- nance department, in which he served for three years. Subsequently he reenlisted and served in Battery F, Second United States Artillery, being discharged therefrom at Ra- leigh, North Carolina. Returning to Cali- fornia, he was elected captain in the Na- tional Guard at Sacramento. He was espe- cially adapted for the duties of this position on account of his previous, varied military experience. In 1879 he came to Portland, Oregon, and for the next twelve years was an employe on the railroad running between Portland and Brownsville, Linn county. In 1894 he removed to Josephine county, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he established his home and has since continued to reside. His ranch is in the mineral zone of this state and he has been fortunate enough to locate a very prom- ising mine on his property. During the years of his residence upon the ranch he has given some of his time and attention to mining in- terests in various parts of the mineral belt of Oregon.

Captain Hagen has been twice married. His first wife, Eliza Stout, deceased, was the mother of two children: Zomi; and Tiny, de- ceased. In 1894 he married Mrs. Malinda (Jones) Hyzer, and they are the parents of two children, Esther and Ruth, at home. Cap. tain Hagen is a loyal member of the repub- fican party, following the standards of that great political organization in all of its na- tional and state campaigns. He is one of the well known and highly respected citizens of Oregon, where for many years he has been successfully engaged in the development of his fine ranch property.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 81

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