The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 92

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

USA > Oregon > The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912 > Part 92

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Linsy C. Sisemore resided at the place of . out the middle states and then came to

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be begun. Acre by acre the farm was cleared and brought under the plow, fields were planted and a beginning was made in the operation of what is now one of the finest farming properties in Curry county. Gradu- ally more land was tilled and Mr. Bossen extended his activities to include sheep-rais- ing, in which pursuit he has become success- hil and prominent in the course of years. He next started a dairy and finally turned his attention to the development of a rich deposit of fine clay which covers his land. Quick to recognize an unusual opportunity, he established a briekyard, the first enter- prise of its kind in this section of the state and it has grown and expanded under his able management into a prosperous insti- tution. His apple orchard represents an- other successful venture and yields abundant crops every year. Being a true business man Mr. Bossen operates his farm as a bus- iness enterprise and his systematie and progressive methods have had their natural result.

In 1872 Mr. Bossen married in Chicago, Miss Mary Bruhn, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Boh Bruhn, also a native of the fatherland. Mrs. Bossen is one of a fam- ilv of four children. The others are: Nels, who is farming in Iowa; Ankie, the wife of Carl Nelson, of Bandon; and Botella, who married Lutier Lutzen, of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bossen have nine children: Edward and William, both deceased; Alice, the wife of William Button, of Bandon, by whom she has one daughter, Alice; Mary, who married Claud O. Banning, of Argentina, South Amer- iea, who owns a trading post in the Andes Mountains, and is the father of one daugh- ter, Mary; Elena, the wife of Walter Ro- delle, who is engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in Elkton; Andrew, who is engaged in farming in Elkton; Jennie, who is a gradu- ate of the State Agricultural College at Corvallis, and who is teaching school; Grace, a musie teacher; and Henry, who is asso- ciated with his father in the conduct of the home farm.

Mr. Bossen is a charter member of the Woodmen of the World eamp at Langlois. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and for many years was road super- visor and school director. These offices came to him entirely unsolicited, since Mr. Bossen never seeks political preferment, although he is one of the most effectively publie-spirited men of his seetion.

W. P. WHITNEY president of the firm of Thomas & Henley, general merchants of Merrill, where he has carried on business under the present relations since the 1st of March, 1912. This is not the first time, how- ever, that he has been associated with com- mercial interests and at different times he has successfully carried on agricultural pur- suits. He was born in Cottage Grove, Ore- gon, January 18, 1865, and is a son of El- kanah and Mary Ann (White) Whitney, who were natives of New York and of Indiana, respectively. At an early day they came with their parents to Oregon, settling in Linn county, near Cottage Grove, where they

were married. They resided at Klamath Falls until 1873 and then removed to Merrill, where their last days were spent, both pass- ing away here. They had been residents of Klamathı county since 1870. The father was a farmer and stock-raiser throughout his en- tire life. In their family were eight chil- dren, seven of whom are yet living.

W. P. Whitney, the second in order of birth, remained with his parents until they were called to their final rest, the mother passing away in 1896 and the father in 1900. He followed farming and stock-raising until a few years ago, when he began merchan- dising in Merrill in connection with partners under the firm style of the Whitney Mer- cantile Company. He continued in that busi- ness for eight years and was afterward alone in business for three years. He then sold his store in March, 1910, and returned to Cottage Grove, where he engaged in ranching until the 1st of March, 1912, when he again came to Merrill and joined Mr. Thomas in their present relation as proprietors of a general store conducted under the firm style of Thomas & Henley. He owns the building in which they are located-a two-story frame structure, thirty by eighty feet-together with a wareroom twenty by eighty feet and an implement warehouse thirty-five by fifty feet. Mr. Whitney built the implement building and has owned the entire store build- ing individually for the past five years. He is also the owner of two houses and lots in Albany, a good residence in Merrill and five aeres of land in Jefferson, Oregon.

On the 6th of June, 1901, Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Augusta Kattenhorn, a native of Nevada, and a daughter of Albert Kattenhorn. They have four children: Myra, who died at the age of four months; Perry Mortin, six years of age; Inez, four years old; and Calvin, in his second year. Mr. Whitney has been a lifelong resident of this distriet, having for forty-seven years been a witness of its growth and development, while in works of public progress he has cooperated in large measure.

COLONEL CHARLES T. BLUMENRO- THER. Although Colonel Charles T. Blu- menrother holds his title in the Oregon Na- tional Guards his military activities were not by any means confined to state service in times of peace. His army record is unique in that it began when he was a mere boy and it is honorable and worthy by reason of the usefulness of his services in many of the important engagements of the Civil war. He has, however, other claims to a place in this work. For over twenty years he has been prominent in business and agricultural eireles of Curry county and has been an im- portant factor in both lines. He was born in New York city, June 18, 1846, a son of Thomas J. G. and Pauline R. W. (Menda) Blumenrother, natives of Germany. In their family were twelve children. only two of whom are living. namely: Charlotte. who married Alvin Wertzman, of Staten Island, New York, by whom she has one son, Frank; and Charles T., of this review.

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Colonel Blumenrother's father died in Cen- tral America, where he was working as a member of the Walker expedition. The sub- ject of this review was only nine years of age at that time and he remained in New York city until he enlisted in the United States Army as a member of Company A, Fourth United States Infantry, and served as a drummer boy at Fort Brown, Texas, where he was captured and later discharged. After being exchanged, he was mustered out · and two days afterward reenlisted in Com- pany H, Sixth New York Volunteer In- fantry, and served until July 26, 1861, when he was discharged. Immediately afterward he again enlisted in the same company and did active work until December 31, 1863. On January 31st of the following year he reenlisted as a veteran and was honorably discharged December 24, 1865. After the war he learned the lithographing trade and followed this occupation until 1877, when he went to Colorado and there engaged prin- cipally in prospecting and mining until 1881. In that year he went to Nebraska and took up a soldier's homestead claim, which he operated and developed for three years, go- ing west to Cheyenne in 1884. He remained in that city only a short time, coming almost directly to Oregon, where he took up a pre- emption claim on the edge of Curry county and upon it established his home. The land was uncultivated and covered with timber and Colonel Blumenrother was obliged to clear the trees before beginning the work of cultivation. Out of the timber felled he built a log cabin, in which he lived for a number of years, engaging in general farm- ing during the time. He carried on his agri- cultural pursuits until November 26, 1887, when he enlisted as a private in Company K, Second Regiment Oregon National Guard, and obtained rapid advancement, serving in all ranks up to and including that of lieu- tenant colonel. He was discharged as lieu- tenant colonel January 5, 1895, and on July 26th of the same year was appointed major in a separate battalion. receiving his dis- charge on November 13th of the following year. He afterward settled in Bandon, where he has been engaged in the real-estate and loan business. giving most of his attention to buying and selling mortgages and bonds. He owns his ranch in Curry county but his son manages the place.

In 1870 Colonel Blumenrother was united in marriage to Miss Amelia L. M. Meier, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Bertz) Meier, natives of Germany. Mrs. Blumenrother is one of a family of nine children, only four of whom are living, namely: Elizabeth L., the wife of Charles T. Feiger, of Bandon : Anna E., who married August Miller, of Baker City; Charles F. W., of Jefferson; and Amelia L. M. Colonel and Mrs. Blumen- rother have four children. Thomas J. G. lives in San Francisco. Charles F. W. re- sides at home and is operating his father's ranch. Pauline R. W. is the wife of Robert P. Hunt, of Bandon, Coos county, Frank H., the youngest member of the family, is deceased.

Colonel Blumenrother is identified with the Masonic order and with the order of Owls. He is also a member of Bandon Post, G. A. R., and is pensioned on account of wounds received at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 2, 1863. He is a stanchi re- publican, being a firm believer in the prin- ciples for which that party stands and has done able work in its interests. While a res- ident of St. Louis he was deputy United States marshal and since coming to Oregon lias been chairman of the district school board for twenty-five years and notary pub- lic for twenty-six, his long periods of service proving his unusual ability and fitness.

CLIFFORD STUART BENSON. Clifford Stuart Benson is the owner of ranch inter- ests in Douglas county but was born at Roseburg, Oregon, June 2, 1885, a son of Frank Williamson and Harriett (Ruth) Ben- son. He was a pupil in the public schools of his native town and also attended the Oregon Agricultural College, but did not complete the full course there. Early in life he engaged in bookkeeping but is now giving his attention to ranching which he finds profitable, deriving a good income therefrom.

On the 5th of September, 1908, at Salem, Oregon, Mr. Benson was married to Miss Bertha Louise Allen, a daughter of R. D. Allen, and they now have one son, Stuart Frank. Fraternally Mr. Benson is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is typically western in spirit, in- terests and activities, displaying the enter- prise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding and development of this section of the country.

CLARENCE J. EDWARDS, manager of the Yamhill Electric Company and also promi- nently connected with the Newberg Telephone Company at Newberg, Oregon, was born in Mooresville, Indiana, February 17, 1871, his parents being Jesse and Mary E. K. Edwards, who were early settlers of this state and among the founders of Newberg. They were active in the early work of the Quaker church in Oregon and in the establishment of Pacific College, and in many other ways left their impress for good upon the development of the northwest.

Clarence J. Edwards, becoming a student in the Pacific College, was graduated there- from with its first class in 1893. He has since figured actively and prominently in business circles, spending nine years as manager of the Newberg Pressed Brick & Terra Cotta Company, which afterward became the Pacific Face Brick Company. He organized and for the past eleven years has been manager of the Yamhill Electric Company, of which he is the principal stockholder, and he is one of the leading directors of the Newberg Tele- phone Company. A recital of these connec- tions is sufficient to indicate how prominent a place he has occupied in connection with the business development of his town. He is a man of determined purpose, carrying for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, for he knows that when one

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avenue of opportunity seems closed there can be found other paths leading to the desired goal. Aside from his business associations Mr. Edwards has occupied a central place in public activity here. He is one of the prominent representatives of the republican party and has filled the office of mayor of Newberg, while several times he has served as school director. He has likewise been a member of the board of management of Pa- cific College and his influence is always given on the side of advancement, progress and re- form.

In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Ed- wards and Miss Abbie L. Miles, a daughter of I. N. Miles, a leading horticulturist and stock farmer of Marion county, Oregon. There are two children of this marriage, Lloyd W. and M. Lowell. The family attend the Friends church, in the faith of which Mr. Ed- wards was reared and to which he has always adhered. Practically his entire life has been spent in the northwest and at all times he has been closely allied with the progressive movement which is leading to the rapid development of this section of the country and placing it upon a par with the older and more thickly settled east. He knows that there is much to be done and he bears his part in the work, never faltering where the best interests of the community are to be served.

JOHN PATTERSON MESSER is living re- tired in Coquille, where he is spending his leisure in looking after the business and residence property in which he has invested extensively. For forty-two years he has lived in Coos county, being numbered among the pioneers in Oregon. and during that time has been engaged in important and repre- sentative enterprises, most of his time, how- ever, having been given to general farming. He well deserves the rest he is enjoying, for it has been earned by industry and perse- vering diligence. He was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, in 1837 and is a son of Isaac and Margaret (Patterson) Messer, na- tives of that state. The parents moved to Missouri when he was still a child and in that state the father followed general farming for a number of years. In their family were ten children: Eliza, Nancy, Mary, Adelaide and Amanda, all of whom are deceased; Martha, the widow of John Haynes, of Washington; James, deceased; John Patterson, of this review; Louis, deceased; and George, who died in infancy.

John P. Messer was educated in the public schools of Missouri and grew up upon his father's farm, upon which he remained until three years after his marriage. In 1864 he and his wife crossed the plains with ox teams and settled in Union county, whence after a short time they moved to the Willamette valley. In 1870 they came from that section to Coos county and lived upon rented farms for several years. Eventually, however, Mr. Messer took up one hundred and sixty acres on Cunningham creek, going to that section by pack train from Camas valley. Upon this property he lived for some time, removing from it in order to give his children the

school advantages to be found in Coquille. He disposed of his property in 1908 and since that time has definitely abandoned farming. When he first took up his residence in the city he conducted a livery business and continued in this line of activity for fifteen years. It was in 1900 that he sold his livery and retired from business life. He now gives his attention to the manage- ment of his property and to the affairs of the local business concerns in which he holds stock. He owns a beautiful home in Coquille and residence and business property in this city. He is a stockholder in a cream- ery company and has a forty-one acre ranch in California.

On September 2, 1860, Mr. Messer was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J. Hatcher, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Wil- liam and Mahala (Morris) Hatcher. Mrs. Messer is one of a family of ten children: John and James, both of whom are deceased; Nancy J., the wife of our subject; William, de- ceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Herbert Gibbs, of Josephine county, Oregon; Martha, de- ceased; Hiram, of Bridge, Oregon; Annie, the wife of A. L. Nosler, of Bridge; and Mary and Joseph, both of whom are de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Messer eight chil- dren were born of whom Louannie. John, Mamie, George, Ray, Wilder and Rose. are deceased. Zettie is the wife of Marvin Haw- kins, deputy assessor, who formerly held the position of principal of schools in Coquille. They have two children, Mamie and Marvin, aged respectively ten and two years.

Mr. Messer gives his allegiance to the demo- cratic party but never seeks public office. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. In both his agricultural and his business activities he has been a distinct influence in the progress of this section. He helped build the roads through Coos county in the early days of its settlement and aided in the upbuilding of the section. He was interested in building the schools and for a long time was a director of the board of education. He helped organize the first cream- ery company and the first city water com- pany and has watched the development and growth of Coos county and has to a large extent been identified with it. He is num- bered among the enterprising and valned citizens of the section to which he came as a pioneer.

FRANK T. McMULLEN is operating a four hundred and eighty acre farm near Langlois and has other important property interests in this section of Oregon. He was born in Put- nam, Connecticut. April 27. 1871. a son of Frank and Catherine (Carrol) McMullen, na- tives of Ireland. who came to America in early life. The father came to Oregon in 1878 and settled in Roseburg, where he lived for eight years, finally buying land in the vicin- ity and operating this in connection with property which he rented until 1885, when he came to Curry county and purchased one hun- (Ired and sixty acres. upon which he carried on an extensive and profitable dairy business until his retirement in 1900. He died in 1905

MR. AND MRS. JOHN P. MESSER, DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN

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and his wife makes her home with the subject of this review. In their family were five children: Frank I., deceased; Jane, who died at the age of fourteen years; Anna, who passed away when she was twelve years old; Laura, the wife of J. S. Hughes, of Port Or- ford, by whom she has two children, Agnes and Anna; and Frank T., the subject of this sketch.

Frank T. McMullen was only seven years of age when he came with his parents to Ore- gon and consequently, his education was re- ceived in the public schools of this state. He grew up upon his father's farm. He is a self- made man in the sense that he accomplished a distinct prosperity by his own efforts, ris- ing from poverty to a position of wealth and importance. When he began his active life at twenty-one he had no money and the prosperity which he now enjoys represents many years of hard and well directed work. When his father retired he took charge of the farm which he now owns and has added to it until it comprises four hundred and eighty acres well improved and in excellent condition. Mr. McMullen also owns business property in Langlois and eight blocks of residence prop- erty at Port Orford, besides valuable land on Coos bay and his judicious investments have made him one of the wealthy and prominent men of the section.

Mr. McMullen married in 1898, Miss Mary Hughes, of Port Orford, a native of Oregon, and a daughter of Patrick Hughes. She is one of a family of eiglit children born to her par- ents, as follows: Joseph, who is deceased; Edward and James, both of whom reside in Port Orford; John C., a clergyman, of Port- land; Alice, the widow of J. P. Masterson, of Port Orford; Mary, the wife of our subject; and Thomas and Francis, also residents of Port Orford. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen have six children: Margerite, who was born in 1899, and is attending school; May, whose birth occurred in 1901, and is attending school; Teresa, born in 1902, who is a pupil in the public schools; John, born in 1905, and is attending school; Rosalie, who was born in 1906, and is also a pupil in the pub- lic schools; and Edith, whose birth occurred in 1908. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.

Mr. McMullen is a republican and takes an interest in the affairs of his community. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is well known in both organizations. Besides being an able farmer he is a modern man of affairs with broad interests which he has the power and ability to make effective and a knowledge and comprehension of local conditions which make his investments benefit himself while promoting growth and development.

STEPHEN AND EDMUND M. GALLIER are numbered among the best known and most enterprising business men of Bandon, interested extensively in local concerns and to a high degree influencing commercial de- velopment. They own and operate the Gal- lier Hotel, the largest of its kind in Coos county and by able management and busi-

ness methods of the most progressive kind are making it one of the important hostelries in Oregon. They have been engaged in the hotel business in partnership for sixteen years and thus add to their other qualifica- tions the advantage of long experience. They have been residents of Oregon since 1871 but both were born in Kendall county, Illinois, Stephen on the 4th of September, 1857, and E. M. on October 5, 1861. Their parents were William and Matilda (Heustis) Gallier, the latter a native of New York and the former of England. The father left his native country when he was a young man and crossed the Atlantic to America settling first in Philadelphia, where he worked in the Roland Spade & Shovel fac- tory for a short time. He later moved to Yorkville, Illinois, and established a black- smith shop there which he operated until 1862, moving in that year to Grundy county, where he purchased a farm and engaged in general agricultural pursuits for a short time. When he sold his property he went to Morris, Illinois, where for eighteen months he operated a hotel. His building was en- tirely destroyed by fire at the end of that time and William Gallier moved to Marion county where he farmed for three years. He was obliged to go to Santa Cruz, Califor- nia, on account of failing health. He ar- rived in that city in January, 1871, and six months later, having entirely recovered lie moved to Eldorado county, California, where he again engaged as a blacksmith, locating his shop on a toll wagon road which he leased and operated for a short time. In the same year he came with his family to Jackson county, Oregon, where he followed his trade for two years finally purchasing forty acres of railroad land upon which he carried on general farming until 1873. He came to Coos county in September of that year and settled on the Coquille river. In 1875 he moved to Curry county, proved up a homestead claim and lived upon his hold- ings for several years, farming and operat- ing a blacksmith shop. In 1882 he pur- chased a home in the city of Coquille and also bought a small shop which he conducted until 1893 when he moved to Bandon and entered into partnership with his son E. M. Gallier, in the same line of activity. After four years the father sold out his interest and established himself in the hardware busi- ness at Coquille. After four years he moved his store to Bandon and was well known and prominent in mercantile circles of that city until 1906, when he retired. His wife passed away in January, 1907, when she was seven- ty-six years of age. Her husband survived her until February, 1911, dying at the age of eighty-four. To them were born three children: Stephen; Mary, who passed away at the age of eighteen months; and Ed- mund M.

Stephen Gallier, the elder partner in the hotel enterprise, received his education in the public schools of Coos county and started life for himself when he was seventeen years of age, operating a pack train to the river mining camp on the south fork of the Sixes

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river. For three years he followed this occupa- tion and then took up a preemption and a homestead claim upon which he conducted a large sheep ranch until 1896. In June of that year he came to Bandon and formed a part- nership with his brother Edmund in the operation of the Tupper Hotel, which they leased for four years. They met with grati- fying success in the conduct of this enter- prise and at the expiration of their lease purchased the hotel and have managed it since that time under the name of the Gal- lier Hotel. The brothers have recently built an addition to the original building and made extensive improvements, steadily ad- hering to their original policy of progress and expansion. The hotel contains one hun- dred and six rooms equipped with all modern comforts and conveniences and its operation is smoothly and systematically carried on. They have given most of their time and at- tention for the past sixteen years to further their enterprise and the excellent patronage thie hotel enjoys attests their success. Both brothers are actively and intelligently in- terested in the progress and growth of the section in which they reside and have in- vested heavily in local land. They own more than one hundred lots in the business and residence sections of Bandon and also eighty acres, three miles from the town, which they have improved and developed. They have an interest in a four hundred and eighty acre ranch adjoining the city limits and have other important holdings in the county.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 92

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