The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 97

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

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On March 24, 1878, in Webster county, Nebraska, Mr. Arneson was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Alice Brockman, a na- tive of Iowa. She is a daughter of Chesley and Rizpah (Lucore) Brockman, the former horn in Indiana, and the later in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Brockman were early settlers in the latter state and were prominently con- nected with its development. They were the parents of eleven children: Rufus, who passed away, leaving two children; Chesley N., of Reed Island, British Columbia, who is married and has four children; Mary Alice, the wife of our subject; Charles E., deceased; Mahala, who married Noah White of Colorado, by whom she has ten children; William S., who lives with his wife and three children in Reed Island, British Columbia; James A., who is a resident of Coquille. Oregon, and the father of one child; and Claude, Isadore, Sarah A., and Carrie A., all

of whom have passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arneson have been born five children: Etta May, who died in infancy; Ira Em- manuel, born June 23, 1881, who is now in partnership with his father in the conduct of the home farm; Arthur Marble, born February 10, 1884, who attended the agri- cultural college at Corvallis, Oregon, and is now assisting with the work of the home farm and also active as a steam engineer; William Cecil, born December 19, 1887, who follows the timber business in British Colum- bia; and Ella May, born January 31, 1894, whose death occurred when she was fifteen years of age.

In his political affiliations Mr. Arneson is a republican and takes an interest in public affairs. He does not seek office, however, and has never held any public position since he took up his residence in Oregon, but while living in Nebraska he served as postmaster of his city. He is a member of the Grang- ers and prominent in the Masonic Order, and is also affiliated with the Farmers' Union. Progressive ideas and an open and liberal mind, combined with personal experience in agricultural details are the basis of his suc- cess, and he is a valuable addition to this community.

WILLIAM BYRON BARNES, living in Klamath Falls, has been active in political and fraternal circles as well as in business affairs. At one time he was quite extensively engaged in stock-raising and is still the owner of valuable timber claims in the state. At the present writing he is serving for the second term as sheriff of the county, his reelection being proof of the confidence re- posed in him and of the excellent record which he made as an official during his first term. He was born in Bridgeport, Mono county, California, May 14, 1865, his parents being James A. and Mary J. (Patterson) Barnes, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They were reared and married in Birmingham, Iowa, and in 1862 came to California, cross- ing the plains with horse teams. The father died in Modoc county, California, in 1898, when about fifty-six years of age, his birth having occurred in 1842. The mother resides with her son Hiram at Kelseyville, Lake county, California. The father had farm- ing interests in Modoc county at the time of his death. In early days he was a freighter and engaged in teaming for many years. In his family were five children: Hiram, of Kel- seyville; Frank, of Summer Lake, Oregon; William Byron; Marion, living in Lakeview, Oregon; and Emma, who died in May, 1891.

William B. Barnes was reared in Bridgeport to the age of nineteen years, when the family removed to Modoc county. Later he went to Summer Lake and there engaged in the stock- raising business until he came to Klamath Falls in 1904. Here he conducted the Ameri- can Hotel until about 1908, when he was elected sheriff of the county. in which posi- tion he is now serving for the second term. He has always voted with the republican party and has filled a number of local offices, also taking an active part in the organiza-

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

tion work of the party. For two years he served as assessor of Lake county, Oregon, and for two years was deputy sheriff of Modoc county, California. Ile has frequently been a delegate to party conventions and has served repeatedly on election boards. While he has disposed of his large ranch in Lake county he still owns timber claims but devotes the greater part of his time and attention to his official duties.

In 1888 Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Tilly McDowell, a native of Missouri, who was reared in Oregon and California and is a daughter of Mrs. Flavia McDowell, who has been postmistress at Summer Lake for many years. The four children of this marriage are: Marion, who is acting as deputy sher- iff; Golda, the wife of Vernon Houston, of Klamath Falls; Hazel, who is in the sheriff's office; and Zeddie.

Mr. Barnes is a self-made man. He had little opportunity for acquiring an education and whatever he has won or enjoyed in life has been the result of his own efforts. In the early days he engaged in teaming from Lakeview, Oregon, to Redding, California, for four or five years and also in logging in Shasta county, California, with a twelve horse team for one season before he went into the cattle business. The necessity of providing for his own support and earning his living wherever he could find the oppor- tunity prevented him from having a home until after his marriage. This brought him into contact with many rough characters and the knowledge which he gained in that class of service proved valuable to him in the dis- charge of his duties as sheriff. He has made an excellent record in office especially in the capture of cattle and horse thieves whom he has followed as far east as the Missouri river, bringing to punishment various men of this class who had been stealing in the northwest for twenty years. His work in this connection has been valuable to the community and his record as sheriff is one well worthy of praise.

COLONEL RALPH H. ROSA. No history of Coos county would be complete without a mention of Colonel Ralph H. Rosa, who is not only the oldest living settler in Bandon, but also one of the foremost figures in the industrial and business life of the city and in republican politics of the county and state. For over forty years he has been one of the greatest individual forces in the up- building and progress of Coos county and his energies have been directed along pro- gressive lines of expansion and organization. Although he is living retired he retains his business interests and is a factor in direct- ing the management and controlling the pol- icy of most of the important interests of Bandon, while his extensive holdings in farm lands make him well known and prominent in agricultural circles. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, and is a son of George W. and Lydia (Hanette) Rosa, the former a native of New York and the latter of England. Colonel Rosa is one of a family of six children. three of whom are living:

Kate, who married J. S. Long, of Los An- geles, California; Frank G., of Los Angeles; and Ralph H. Rosa.

Colonel Rosa remained in New York until after the death of his father in 1853 in which year the family moved to Michigan. Here he remained with his mother for ten years and in 1863 offered his services to the United States government in defense of the Union. He saw one year of active service and was honorably discharged in 1864. He thus acquired a taste for military life and after he came to Oregon enlisted in the National Guard, serving as lieutenant colonel of the third regiment. He has resigned the position but still retains his title by which lie is familiarly known to his many friends.

After he was mustered out of the Federal army Colonel Rosa went to Nebraska where for two years he was engaged in building telegraph lines. In 1867 he came west to California and followed the same line of occupation in that state until 1870 in which year he came to Oregon. He settled imme- diately in Marshfield, Coos county, and took up a preemption claim near that city which he improved and cultivated for four years. removing to the Coquille river in 1874 and settling at Randolph where for nine years he was employed in a prosperous general merchandise store. When he left this estab- lishment he came to Bandon and erected a sawmill two miles south of the city and bought timber land from which he supplied his mill, operating it until 1911 when he retired. During the course of his active life he has invested extensively in Oregon land and now owns upward of two thousand acres. on three hundred of which the timber re- mains. He is also interested in a large mercantile enterprise in Bandon, is a stock- holder in the First National Bank of that city, and a director in the Bank of Bandon. He owns the central warehouse and is inter- ested in the Bandon woolen mills and the local electric light plant, besides a large and modernly equipped creamery. His home is one of the pleasant residences in Coos coun- ty and Colonel Rosa makes it a hospitable meeting place for his many friends. He owns much residence property in Bandon and invests in local enterprises, having firm faitlı in the ascendant prosperity of Oregon.

Colonel Rosa married Miss Iola Lowe, who was born in Coos county, a daughter of Y. M. and Mary (Slayback) Lowe, early settlers of this section of the state. Colonel and Mrs. Rosa have four children: Florence A .. the wife of A. G. Thrift, of Bandon, by whom she has two children; Lloyd L., who is en- gaged in the lumber business and who owns an interest in the Crain Timber Company, of Coos county; L. Kate, who is a graduate of Albany College, and is engaged in school teaching; and Archie H., who is a pupil in the high school.

In fraternal circles Colonel Rosa is active and widely known. He belongs to the Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and is one of the most prominent Masons in Coos county. By virtue of his service in the Fed- eral army he holds membership in the Grand

COLONEL RALPH H. ROSA

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

Army of the Republic and his interest in the affairs of this organization has never lessened in the course of years. He gives his allegiance to the republican party, his interest in education leading him to pay special attention to the cause of school ex- pansion along progressive lines. In 1876 he was chosen by his fellow citizens to repre- sent them in the Oregon legislature and his work in that office fully justified their choice. He showed himself a true public servant, forceful, shrewd, and able, with a discrim- inating judgment and unselfish consid- eration for the wishes of his constituents. In this relation as in all others he proved capable of managing and directing important affairs. His life has been valuable and worthy as he has constantly been identified with lasting and useful work.

FRED ASSENHEIMER has at various times been prominently identified with some of the representative enterprises of Gardi- ner, Oregon, and is at present a foremost figure in the affairs of the large business cor- porations of the city. He is a native of Germany, born in Wurtemberg, November 26, 1870. He is a son of Christian and Caro- line (Carle) Assenheimer, who were reared and married in the fatherland. Christian Assenheimer was a successful wine-maker and operated one of the largest vineyards in his native section. In connection with his grape culture he owned a wagon-mak- ing shop, which was a profitable source of in- come until his death in 1908. His wife is still living and resides in Wurtemberg.

Fred Assenheimer pursued his studies in the public schools of Germany until he was seventeen years of age. In 1889 he sailed for America, landing in New York city on the 17th of March, of that year. After spending two weeks in that city and one week in Buffalo he continued his journey westward, locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was his chosen destination when he left Germany. He had learned the carriage and wagon-making trade under his father's supervision in his native country and fol- lowed this line of occupation upon his ar- rival in Milwaukee. He worked in the shop maintained by the Milwaukee Fire Depart- ment for one year, at the end of which time he accepted a position in a wholesale liquor house, where he spent ten years. He was hampered in the first years of his res- idence in America by his lack of knowledge of the English language and in order to over- come this difficulty attended the night school, conducted in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, until he be- came thoroughly conversant with the cus- toms and language of America. In 1900 he accepted employment as checker in the freight office of the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- road, where he remained for four years. In 1904 he came to the northwest locating in Roseburg. Oregon. where he remained for a short time. While there he made judicious investments in timber lands on the Coquille river and also bought extensive tracts on the banks of the Umpqua and Smith rivers.

In the same year he took up a homestead claim ten miles up the Smith river from Gardiner and maintained his residence there- on until he had proved upon the land.

In 1909 he removed to Gardiner and has since been an influential factor in the busi- ness life of the town. Soon after he located in this city he bought a confectionery busi- ness which he conducted with success for a year and a half. At the end of that time he disposed of his enterprise and purchased the Gardiner Hotel, which he conducted for one year and then sold. He repurchased his confectionery business, which he is con- ducting in the building which he purchased upon coming to Gardiner. This is only one of the many enterprises with which Mr. As- senheimer is identified. He has been a prom- inent figure in the business life of Gardiner since he took up his residence here and his work has been carried on along progressive lines of commercial development. He is one of the stockholders in the New Gardiner Hotel and was one of the organizers of the Umpqua Co-operative Packing Company, of which he is treasurer. He is also a director of the company which built the Gardiner Hotel. Fraternally he is a member of the White City Camp, Woodmen of the World. Judged by the standards of his time Mr. Assenheimer is a prosperous man and may be ranked as a man of sound mind, kindly heart and broad intelligence.

WILLIS T. WHITE is living in Port Or- ford where he is active and prominent in different circles. During the thirty-six years of his residence his attention has been given principally to agricultural pursuits and he has at different times owned and operated some of the most valuable ranches in the state. He has made many removals each of which has advanced his interests materially and he is today one of the prosperous and deservedly successful citizens of Curry coun- ty. He was born in Belfast, Maine, in 1847, a son of James and Lydia S. White, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Maine. In this state their marriage occurred and they lived in Belfast for forty years, the father practicing law and also engaging in the real-estate business. Both died in that city, the mother in 1853 and the father on December 25, 1870.

Willis T. White received his education in the public schools of his native section and laid aside his books when he was eighteen years of age in order to learn the tanner's trade which he followed until he was twenty- four. In 1871 he came to California and later to Oregon, settling in Curry county in the same year. However, he spent all the win- ters between 1871 and 1876 in California, definitely locating in Curry county in the latter year. Here he worked at lumbering and at various other occupations until 1883 when he took up a preemption claim of one hundred and sixty acres on the Rogue river which he improved and operated for ten months and when he had completed his pay- ments took up a homestead. adjoining, of one

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

hundred and sixty acres. After residing upon this property for eighteen months he commuted it and purchased three hundred adjoining acres. his combined holdings amounting at this time to six hundred and twenty acres. To this he gradually added, buying first three hundred and twenty acres and then forty, and owning altogether nine hundred and forty acres in one tract. Three years later he sold all of this property and bought a ranch at the head of the Pistol river, four miles from any neighbors and upon this he lived for three years, improv- ing and cultivating it along the most modern and progressive lines. Eventually, however, he sold this ranch and moved to the coast where he lived two years, finally returning and buying a farm of seven hundred and sixty acres on the Chetco river upon which he resided for four years. When he sold this property he came to the Rogue river where he leased a large ranch and for two years engaged in the breeding and raising of high- grade stock. At the end of that time he leased land on the Carey range a portion of which he afterward bought and upon which for nine years he handled thoroughbred cattle and horses. He still owns this prop- erty comprising five hundred acres of valu- able land. In 1912 he left his farm and came to Port Orford where he bought a com- fortable home in which he resides. He is active and prominent in local affairs and financially interested in many important projects, holding a one-third interest in the town site of Port Orford.

In 1882 Mr. White was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret Curry, who was born at Marietta, Ohio, a daughter of James and Frances Curry, natives of that state, who came to Oregon in 1875 and settled in Curry county where they resided for the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. White were born six children: Eugene, born in 1883. who is engaged in the conduct of his father's ranch, and who married Miss Hurst, by whom he has one son, James Carl; Willis, born in 1885, who is a stock dealer, and who resides at home; Violet, who was born in October, 1886, and became the wife of John Fromm of Brusch Creek, Curry coun- ty. by whom she has two children, Lex and Clinton; James Carl, whose birth occurred in 1889, and who lives at home; Leland L., born in 1891, who resides at home; and Magnolia, born in 1893, who also resides at home. All of the children have a good common-school education and Magnolia has a business-college education.

Mr. White gives his allegiance to the re- publican party and is one of the foremost figures in local politics. He served for two terms as assessor of Curry county, holding this office in the early 'SOs. For twelve years he was deputy sheriff and enumerator for the lower district and is at the present time president of the commission of Port Or- ford. He holds membership in the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge at Lewys Is- land, Princeton, Maine. In all the various relations of his life he has constantly evi- denced a shrewd business ability which con-

trolled and directed his agricultural labors and by .constantly adhering to a progressive policy he has become one of the wealthy and prominent men of Curry county.

WILBERT F. PECK has the distinction not only of having made the first permanent settlement on the Smith river in Douglas county, but also of having maintained a con- tinuous residence in this section for thirty- three years. His home is five or six miles up the river from Gardiner, where he is cul- tivating and developing five hundred acres of fertile and productive land. He was born in Westfield, Marquette county, Wisconsin, March 8, 1859, and is a son of Alexander and Laura (Cooper) Peck, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Canada. The father as a young man worked in the shipyards at the Thousand Islands and it was while thus employed that he met and mar- ried his wife. He lived in Canada for a num- ber of years removing thence to Marquette county, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and followed agriculture and carpentering for a number of years. His first wife died when her son, the subject of this sketch, was still in his infancy and the father later married Miss Melissa Brown.

Wilbert F. Peck was reared at home and acquired a limited education in the common schools of Marquette county. As early as his fourteenth year he road a pony mail route. The country was then a frontier settlement and the population was largely made up of Indians. His work was attended by dangers and hardships incident to pioneer conditions. From his fifteenth year he worked at many different occupations, varying from employ- ment in the lumber woods to labor in the har- vest fields. He was endowed with a capac- ity for persevering industry and a power for hard work which are the qualities upon which he has founded his present success.

In April 1879, when he was twenty years of age, Mr. Peck left Wisconsin and went to Oregon. Arriving in Portland. he remained there only a few days and then came to Douglas county, his being the first permanent settlement on the Smith river. He has main- tained his residence in this district and lias been active in the cultivation and develop; ment of the soil for thirty-three consecutive years. He operates almost five hundred acres of the most fertile and productive land in Douglas county and carries on his farming along the most modern and scientific prin- ciples.

In August; 1881, Mr. Peck was united in marriage to Miss Anna O'Brien, a native of Canada, and a daughter of Hugh O'Brien. who located on the Smith river in 1880. and passed the remaining years of his life in that vicinity. To Mr. and Mrs. Peck have been born five children. four of whom are still living: Laura, the wife of William R. Dailey, who is a successful farmer on the Smith river; Duane, a ranchman with prop- erty on the Smith river; and Alpheus and Roy J .. both of whom are still at home.

In his political affiliations Mr. Peck is inde- pendent. He is a member of the Ancient

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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON

Order of United Workmen. He is one of the progressive and popular men of Douglas county and his career has been a force in its upbuilding. In all the relations of his life Mr. Peck shows a modern spirit and a policy of gradual expansion which qualities directed toward agriculture have made him thriving and prosperous as a western rancher and a dominating influence in. the develop- ment of the section where he has so long resided.

WILLIAM N. SAVAGE. Among the men who are living in Salem, Marion county, who have been numbered among the substantial farmers and representative citizens and who have achieved success and surrounded them- selves with prosperity by their own exertions and persevering efforts is William N. Savage, whose birth occurred in Jackson county, Mis- souri, on the 16th of August, 1847. His in- dustry and enterprise, together with good management, have been the means of enabling him to acquire considerable acreage of good land, which he cultivated for many years be- fore he entered upon the dairy business and which he kept under such a state of fertility that he derived bountiful harvests. His par- ents were Dr. John M. and Jane (Wait) Sav- age, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, and who resided there until after their mar- riage, when they removed to Missouri. In 1850 they left that state and crossed the plains, coming direct to Oregon with ox teams. They arrived at The Dalles on the 10th of October and from that town came down the Columbia river on a raft and landed at the mouth of the Sandy river. At that place they camped until they took up a donation land claim of six hundred and forty acres in Marion county. After receiving this claim Dr. Savage immediately began clearing the property and built a log cabin, which he cov- ered with a clapboard roof and which was their home for several years. His death oc- curred on the 29th of June, 1888, the mother having passed away in 1875. Dr. Savage was twice married. To his first union five children were born, three of whom survive. To the sec- ond union ten children were born: John and Cynthia J., both deceased; William N., who is the subject of this review; Frank; Ben, who is a physician practicing in Kansas; Sarah, who is living in California; Mary J., the wife of Dr. Charles Bebee, of California; Albert, who is residing in Marion county; Alice, who is married to Dr. E. L. Ketchum, a resident of this state, and Hiram, deceased.

After completing his studies William N. Savage engaged in daily farm work, assisting his father until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time the desire to earn his own livelihood started him upon an inde- pendent career. For the two following years he was employed as a farm hand but at the end of that time he rented a farm for two years before purchasing one hundred and six- ty acres in Marion county, which was his home for fifteen years. He added every im- provement which might contribute to the neatness and fertility of his farm and made such a study of the soil as to enable him so

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 97

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