The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 9

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

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In 1857 Major Bruce was married to Miss Margaret Kinney, of Benton county. who died in 1884. On the 2d of March, 1886, he wedded Elizabeth Mark. a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Munzer) Mark. the former a native of France and the latter of Germany. They were married in Mis- souri and in that state the mother died. after which the father came to Oregon in 1875. He then engaged in farming in Yam- hill county until he retired from business

MAJOR JAMES BRUCE

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

life and settled in McMinnville, where he passed away in 1889. Major and Mrs. Bruce became parents of one daughter, Sarah Catherine.

Major Bruce has not only made an ex- cellent record in military and business cir- cles but also as a political leader of promi- nence and influence. In former years he took an active part in support of principles in which he believed and he represented Ben- ton county in the state legislature at Salem from 1874 until 1876 and afterward was sent from Washington county to the general assembly. He says that he is a Thomas Jefferson democrat and an Abraham Lincoln republican. In other words, he stands firmly for principles rather than for party and holds to the high standards of two of the na- tion's most distinguished upbuilders. Dur- ing all his life Major Bruce has been an ardent advocate of the cause of temperance and untiringly devoted his energies to this movement.

Major Bruce should receive great credit in live-stock circles of the state. He was ap- pointed by Governor Grover to serve as judge on agricultural implements during six months at the National Centennial Exposition in 1876, and there purchased one of the finest Clydesdale stallions ever brought to Oregon. When returning from the exposition he also brought back with him a herd of high-grade Jersey cattle, which were the first that ever came into the Willamette valley. When at- tending the New Orleans fair, in 1884, he there purchased a carload of Aberdeen Angus cattle, which were the ground stock for a good many herds of that breed in Oregon and, in fact, he was the first man to intro- duce high-grade stock into this state.

He does not believe in creeds and dogmas but has ever attempted to follow the teach- ings of the Christ and thus his life has been a most honorable and upright one and his religious faith of the highest character. Al- though he has now traveled far on life's journey, the precious prize of keen mentality is still accorded him. He has always been a leader among men and in many character- istic and admirable ways has left the im- press of his individuality upon public thought and feeling. His life has indeed been well spent and the record is a credit and honor to his adopted state. with the development of which he has been closely identified through sixty years.

C. A. PAINTER operates his steamboat, Flyer on Coos bay and is employed as tender of the government bridge. He bought his vessel ten years ago and since that time has been a familiar figure on the bay. He was born in Mansfield, Ohio, November 8, 1868, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Spratt) Painter. His father is a native of Ohio and was born in the same house in which our subject's birth occurred. He engaged in farm- ing in connection with the operation of a woolen mill and a tile and brick yard, and was prominent in agricultural circles of Ohio. He served for three years in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry

during the Civil war and was wounded in the left shoulder by a cannon ball. He is now living retired. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Painter became the parents of five children, and only two of these are yet living. The children were: C. A., the subject of this sketch; A. J., who is in Alaska; two children who died in infancy; and Lena, who passed away when she was eighteen months old.

C. A. Painter received his education in the public schools of Ohio and lived in that state until 1890, when he came to Oregon and set- tled on Coos bay in North Bend. He spent two years employed in Porter's sawmill. He subsequently bought his steamboat Flyer and has operated it with much success since that time. At present he is employed as tender of the government bridge and his vessel is a valuable asset to him in the performance of his duties. He owns a beautiful home in North Bend where he resides with his family. He is well known throughout the city.

In December, 1900, C. A. Painter was united in marriage to Miss Marietta Eckhoff, a native of Coos county and a daughter of Charles and Charlotte Eckhoff, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Painter are the parents of one daughter, Lillian C., born October 17, 1906. Politically, Mr. Painter keeps himself entirely independent of party lines preferring to keep his judgment free and his opinions unbiased. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and prominent in the affairs of the Knights of Pythias. He is well known to the citizens of North Bend for his honesty, ability and progressive ideas and he has many warm friends in Coos county.

JOEL THEODORE WARD, connected with the Home Building and Realty Company of Klamath Falls, a project which is proving a vital and significant element in the upbuild- ing and development of the town, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, September 19, 1880, a son of Willie Thomas and Clara Frances (Welborn) Ward, both of whom were natives of Collinsville, Illinois, although reared and married in St. Louis. Soon after their mar- riage they took up their abode upon a farm near Mexico, Missouri, where they lived for five years and then removed to a cattle ranch at Lewiston, Idaho. In 1893 they removed to St. Louis, where they remained until the spring of 1906, when they went to southern Idaho and filed on a homestead. They are now living retired in Klamath Falls and ~ are well known and worthy citizens of the town. Their family numbered four chil- dren, of whom Joel T. is the eldest, the others being: Cora May, the wife of Ed J. Boyd, of St. Louis; Thomas Jacobs, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Portland; and Daisy Anna, the wife of Fred Crocket, of Portland.

Joel T. Ward resided with his parents until he came to the west in 1906. After attend- ing the grammar schools of St. Louis he be- gan clerical work, securing a minor position with the Missouri Pacific and afterward with the Wabash railroad in his native city. Dur-

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

ing that period he devoted his evening hours to study, pursuing his lessons under the direc- tion of private tutors. He also took a course in mining engineering through the Interna- tional Correspondence Schools and on com- ing to the northwest made his way to Wal- lace, Idaho, where he was connected with mining interests in various ways in the Coeur d'Alene district for a year. Owing to the hazardous nature of the work and various narrow escapes from death he left there and went to Seattle, where he took the position of computing clerk in the government assay office. He then returned to Rupert, Idaho, and accepted the position of assistant engineer of concrete construction in the reclamation service of the government. When he again located in Portland he engaged in the real- estate business with his brother and in 1910 he came to Klamath Falls, where he has since handled real estate, being now associated with the Home Building and Realty Company, his previous experience well qualifying him for his undertaking in this line.

On the 5th of March, 1911, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Miss None Anne Moore, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1883. She was left an orphan in early girlhood and was reared by an aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have many friends in Klamath Falls, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. In politics Mr. Ward is a republican and keeps thoroughly informed concerning the vital questions and issues of the day but does not seek office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He is yet a young man in the early thirties but his experiences have been broad and his developed capability and powers have made him one of the forceful factors in busi- ness circles here.

A. W. OLSON is serving with great success as steward of the North Bend Commercial Club and has been identified with this office since 1906. He is a native of Norway but has spent almost his entire life in America as a resident of Oregon. He was born in Christianssand, on May 14, 1862, and is a son of Andrew and Valbey (Anderson) Olson. His father died in his native land where his mother is living at the age of eighty-three years. They were the parents of four chil- dren: Ida and Olaf, residents of New York; 1. W., of this review; and Bina, who lives in Norway.

A. W. Olson received his education in the public schools of his native country and came to America in 1887. He settled immediately in North Bend, Coos county, Oregon, and was a sailor on Coos bay for a short time. He then worked at various occupations in North Bend until 1906, when he accepted his pres- ent position as steward of the North Bend Commercial Club. He has been very suc- cessful during this time and under his direc- tion the affairs of the club have been con- ducted in an able and efficient manner. Polit. ically Mr. Olson gives his allegiance to the republican party in local affairs but reserves the right to independent voting on national issues. He is a member of the Order of Eagles

and prominent in the affairs of that organ- ization. He gives his allegiance to the Lu- theran church and religion is an important factor in his life. He possesses those quali- ties of steady and concentrated purpose, per- sistency and keen intelligence which America welcomes so eagerly in her adopted citizens.

GEORGE R. BENHAM is the owner of a valuable farm in Coos county, Oregon, com- prising an excellent tract of cultivated land conveniently situated near the village of Fair- view. He was born in Missouri, on Novem- ber 29, 1862, and is a son of William and Susan (Miller) Benham, natives of Tennes- see. The father came to Oregon in 1863 and settled in the Willamette valley where he rented land and followed agriculture. He was an expert blacksmith and followed his trade in Oregon for a number of years. He went to California and farmed there for seven years, operating at the same time a blacksmith shop. He disposed of his busi- mess interests in California eventually and came to Coos county, where he bought eighty acres of land near Fairview and cultivated the soil until his death, which occurred in 1907. He had survived his wife for several years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren: John and Samuel, both of whom are deceased; Amanda, the wife of Stephen Hol- lenbeak, of Coquille, Oregon; William, a resi- dent of Coquille; James, of Sitkum, Ore- gon; Nancy, the widow of John Neely, by whom she has one daughter, Florence, who lives with our subject; George R., of this review; Martha S., who passed away at the age of ten; and Frances M., who passed away at the age of seven.

George R .. Benham has resided in Oregon almost continuously since he was one year old. He came with his parents in 1863 and re- ceived his education in the public schools of this state. He became familiar with the de- tails of agriculture in early youth by assist- ing his father in the work of his Willamette valley farm. Later he went to California and operated the landed holdings of his father in that state while the elder Mr. Benham con- ducted his blacksmith shop. He returned to Coos county after seven years' residence in California and remained upon his father's original farm for a number of years after which he moved to another tract of land which a brother, James, had purchased. This was all wild timber land and it was necessary to clear it of trees before the soil could be broken. . Later George Benham purchased twenty acres which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He built a comfort - able and attractive home upon his prop- orty. erected suitable barns and outbuild- ings and now has half of his acres under cultivation in hay and garden truck. He also extensively engages in dairying and has made this branch of his enterprise. by careful and conservative management, an im- portant source of income.

In politics George R. Benham is consistently a democrat and is intelligently interested in local affairs and well informed upon cur- rent issues although he has never songht

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

public office. His life record illustrates the power of honesty and diligence in insuring success. His labors have always been con- structive and intelligently carried forward and have resulted in placing him in the front rank of progressive farmers. .

H. J. O'BRIEN has for twenty-five years engaged extensively in the breeding and rais- ing of horses and is one of the foremost representatives of this business in Bonanza and the Yonna valley. He was born in Gales- burg, Knox county, Illinois, July 2, 1859, and is a son of William and Alice (Philips). O'Brien, both of whom were natives of Ire- land, born in Galway and Tipperary respec- tively. The mother was fourteen years of age when she crossed the Atlantic and the father was a youth of fifteen. They were mar- ried at Galesburg, Illinois, where they were numbered among the first settlers. Mr. O'Brien worked for Mr. Gale and Mrs. O'Brien worked for Mr. Ferris, and it was upon the farms of those two men that the city of Galesburg was built. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien resided there until the Civil war and he as- sisted in erecting all of the principal build- ings there at that time including Knox Col- lege and the seminary. He was a stone and brick mason and took an active part through his trade in the improvement of the city. He and his brothers, Martin, Patrick, Henry and Thomas, were the only Irish republicans in Galesburg at the time of the Civil war. Patrick and Henry both lost their lives while defending the Union, one at Shiloh and the other at Gettysburg. Two years after the war H. J. O'Brien removed with his parents to the Grand Prairie, Livingston county, Illinois, and subsequently to Green- wood county, Kansas, where they became pioneers, settling there two and a half years before the railroad was built. At length H. J. O'Brien came to the west and his parents followed him, becoming early resi- dents of the Pacific coast. Eventually, how- ever, they sold out in the northwest and re- turned as far as Oklahoma, both passing away there in 1909 when about eighty years of age. In their family were four children: H. J .; Edward, who died in Iowa; Willie, who has not been heard from in twenty years; and Myra, the wife of William Drake, of Hennessey. Oklahoma.

H. J. O'Brien removed from Kansas to Oregon in 1880 and spent six months in traveling over the state, searching for a favorable location. He came to Klamath county with William Hanley, bringing cattle, and spent two years between this district and Rogue river, in teaming. On the con- struction of the railroad to Ashland in 1882 he located permanently in Klamath county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he now resides. This is today well improved and under a high state of cultivation. For some time he was actively_ engaged in the construction of new railroads in the northwest but for the past twenty years he has dealt in horses, breeding black Percheron stock. He is half owner of Rich- mond. a fine sire owned by the Lost River

Valley Percheron Horse Company. They paid twenty-four hundred dollars for him when he was three years old and he is now valued at three thousand dollars. Mr. O'Brien is also the owner of Beau Sire for which he paid one thousand dollars when he was less than three years old. Although Mr. O'Brien learned the carpenter's trade in early life he has handled horses through the greater part of the period of his majority and is an ex- cellent judge of fine animals, doing much to improve the grade of horses raised in this section.

Mr. O'Brien was married in 1901 to Mrs. Addie Clark, who was born in the Cotton- wood mining camp, in Siskiyou county, Cali- fornia, March 8, 1860. When she was eighteen months old her parents removed to Jackson- ville where she remained until eight years of age, when she went to Linkriver, now Klamath Falls, a trading post, being the first white girl to reside there. At that time there were only a half dozen shacks in the town. Soldiers and the Indians constituted the chief population of the district although there were trappers and hunters. Mrs. O'Brien heard the first shots of the Modoc war and saw the first victims. In 1874 she went to Colorado and was there married to S. B. Clark. She resided there before Cripple Creek came into prominence, near the present site of the town, and after living in that state went to Minnesota, where she lost her nus- band and eldest child, Mr. Clark passing away in 1891. She then returned to Josephine county, Oregon, where she lived for three years, after which she again came to Klamath county. and was married here to Mr. O'Brien. She had eight children by her first marriage: Minnie S., who died at the age of twelve years; Etta A., who is the wife of Walker Blanton. of Washington; Lilly A., the wife of Charles Flackus of Yonna valley; Emma C., the wife of George Gibson, of Boise, Idaho; Silas, of Klamath county; Willie, who is a twin brother of Silas, of Davis; Jessie E., of Minnesota; and Irving H., of Ontario, Oregon.' Mrs. O'Brien never resided in a frame house until she went to Minnesota in 1883, having up to that time always lived in pioneer districts where her home was a log house. She attended school at Jacksonville when it was but a mining camp and at Ash- land when there was only one store in the town. She also went to school in Linkriver the present Klamath Falls, when there were only six pupils there and she crossed the- Link river on the ferry before the bridge was built. In 1870 she walked across the Link river bed when it was dry, caused by a south wind that held the waters back in the lake. She made that crossing with her father and when in the bed of the stream picked up two fish. Such a thing has seldom occurred within the memory of man. Few,

indeed, are more familiar with the history of this state and its development or can re- late more interesting incidents concerning the early days. Mr. O'Brien has been a re- publican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, casting his first presidential

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

vote for Garfield and always supporting the party, and is now a progressive republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

SAMUEL G. SPICER is a prominent farmer at Marcola, Oregon, part of his orig- inal holdings now being built upon by por- tions of that city. He owns at present three hundred and thirty acres, one hundred and sixty acres of which is in a high state of cultivation and the remainder in timber. He was born in North Carolina, January 25, 1872, a son of Joseph B. and Lettie (Bryan) Spicer. The father was born in North Caro- lina, while the mother is a native of Tennes- see. They were married in the former state and there made their home until 1887, the father devoting his attention to farming. In that year the family removed to Oregon, where settlement was made in Eugene. After residing there for three years they removed to Marcola, where the father purchased one hundred and thirteen acres of land, which he operated until in 1904, when he returned to North Carolina and is now farming his orig- inal homestead in that state. The mother also survives and is ably assisting her hus- band in the conduct of the homestead. To this worthy couple were born seven children, namely: Mary J., a resident of Salem, Ore- gon, where she owns property; Charles E., deceased; Frances D., the widow of C. L. Winter, of Seattle, Washington; Samuel G., of this review; Morgan C., a resident of Pio- neerville, Idaho; Ernest A., of Marcola; and Maud E., making her home in Seattle, Wash- ington.

Samuel G. Spicer started out to make his own way in the world at the age of seven- teen years, going into the stock-raising busi- ness in Idaho. He followed that vocation until 1905, and at times was the owner of large herds of cattle and horses. He then sold his stock and landed interests in that state and came to Lane county, Oregon, where he had previously purchased one hun- dred and fifty acres located where Marcola now stands, the city being in part built upon a portion of his original purchase. He is now operating a farm of three hundred and thirty acres, of which one hundred and sixty are in a fine state of cultivation, the balance containing marketable timber.

Mr. Spicer was married December 20, 1908, to Miss Virtue Gay, who was born in Oregon, May 8, 1888, a daughter of Nathan W. and Sarah E. (Spencer) Gay. Her parents were born in Missouri, the mother migrating to Oregon with her parents when four years of age and the father crossing the plains in 1877, settling in .Benton county, this state. They were married in Oregon in August, 1880, and made their home in Benton county until in 1900, when they removed to Spring- field, where they are now living retired. They are the parents of four children, as follows: Robert W. and Silas A., both of Springfield, Oregon; Virtue, now Mrs. Spicer; and James B., also residing in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Spicer have become the parents of two sons: Darwin J., born Jannary 14,

1910; and Glen F., born August 27, 1911. Mr. Spicer is a republican but has never been an office-seeker nor taken an especial inter- est in political activities. His fraternal re- lations are limited to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mar- cola. He has long and favorably been known in the community of which he is a member and is one of the progressive and prosperous farmers of this locality. He is energetic in his business and the success which he has achieved is, entirely due to his enterprising spirit, his industry and intelli- gence. He received a good education, and also took a business college course, while his wife has also enjoyed the privilege of a good common-school education. The family is a popular one at Marcola and stands well in business, social and fraternal circles.

JAMES A. STEPHENS is a native son of Oregon. He was born on the Callapooia, on section 15, range 6, township 25, west, in Douglas county, November 25, 1858, his par- ents being Ebenezer and Rebecca (Stormer) Stephens, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Illinois, to which state the mother had removed with her parents in her girl- hood days, while the father had gone there as a young man. After their marriage they set- tled near Burlington, Iowa, where they lived until 1852, when they crossed the plains to Oregon, making the trip with ox teams. While they were en route one of their children, John Wesley, passed away. On arriving here the father purchased the interests of William Cox, who had squatted on a land claim on Callapooia creek but had never filed on the land. It was upon this place that the birth of his son James A. occurred. Sub- sequently the father purchased the donation claim of J. M. Venable adjoining his original property and thus increased his holdings to about six hundred and forty acres. He built the old Rochester flour mill on the Calla- pooia creek, which he operated for a num- ber of years, and also built and operated the Millwood sawmills on Hubbard creek, which are still operating, being conducted by a member of the family-Rush Clark, who is a grandson of Ebenezer Stephens. The father was a democrat in politics and served for one term as assessor of Umpqua county before Douglas county was cut off from it. Subsequently he served for two terms as county clerk of Douglas county and for two years as deputy sheriff under John B. Noble. He was one of the well known men of his district in Douglas county, promi- nent in various connections and in the Odd Fellows lodge he had many warm friends, as he did in other relations. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James A. Stephens was reared at home. acquiring his education in the public schools. He worked with his father on the farm and later in the sawmill and lumberyards in Pomeroy, Washington, until his twenty-fourth year, when he rented school land in Gar- field county. Washington. where he carried

MR. AND MRS. S. G. SPICER

THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

on general agricultural pursuits for a dec- ade. In 1892 he removed to his present home-the donation claim which his father had purchased from J. M. Venable. He rented and cultivated this until the death of his mother, after which he purchased the inter- ests of the other heirs in the old homestead. He has since sold eighty acres of the prop- erty so that at the present time his posses- sions comprise two hundred and forty acres. The farm is well developed and improved, giving every evidence of modern methods and careful management.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 9

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