History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington 1889

History of the Pacific Northwest Oregon and Washington. 2 v. Portland, Oregon: North Pacific History Company. 1889.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas K. McCoy

THOMAS K. McCOY. – The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born March 9, 1827, in Sangamon county, Illinois, and there was reared and educated. On October 12, 1848, he was married to Margaret A. Kendall, who was also born and raised in Sangamon county, the date of her birth being October 4, 1829. The fruits of their union were seven children, three daughters and four sons. Mr. McCoy came to Oregon in 1851 via the “ox-team route,” and settled in Linn county. The following year his wife joined him in his new home, she having come in 1852 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas H. Kayler

THOMAS H. KAYLER. – Mr. Kayler, a gentleman of wide reputation, was born in Lenox county, Canada, in 1856, and resided on his father’s farm sixteen years, and afterwards learned the drug business at Napanee. In the spring of 1876 he came to California, and made his first location in Sacramento, where he found employment in the drug store of Justice Gates & Co. The following year he removed to Santa Rosa, coming soon afterwards to Portland. The next summer, in company with Peter Graham, he drove with teams to the Palouse country, and located on three hundred and twenty … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Redfield

THOMAS G. REDFIELD. – Mr. Redfield, one of the substantial citizens and capable business men of North Yakima, Washington, was born in Illinois in 1851. During his infancy he accompanied his parents across the plains to Oregon, and in 1854 was domiciled with them at their home upon Cow creek in Douglas county, Oregon. With the exception of two years in California, Mr. Redfield’s early life was spent in Oregon; and upon reaching an age of independence, he found no field more promising than Yakima county. He accordingly located at Yakima City in 1881, opening out a jewelry store, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Matlock

THOMAS G. MATLOCK. – This well-known citizen of Heppner, Morrow county, Oregon, who devotes himself to the improvement of our stock of horses, was born in Dade county, Missouri, March 4, 1849, and came with his parents across the plains to Oregon in 1853, locating with them near Eugene, where they engaged in stock-raising, and remaining until the death of the father at Bannack City, Idaho. He was buried on Buena Vista Bar, July 1, 1863. Thomas received a common-school education, and worked on the farm. His father having been a fancier and producer of fine horses, our subject went … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Baker

THOMAS BAKER. – Mr. Baker was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, in 1832, being the son of George C. and Elizabeth Miller Baker. When he was eighteen months old his parents moved to Hancock county, Illinois. He remained in that country until the spring of 1852, being employed on his father’s farm. In the spring of this year, he started with his older brother across the plains to California, and arrived in the Golden State in August, 1852. For ten years he was actively engaged in mining, and was among the number who made the stampede to the Florence mines … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Terry Tuttle

TERRY TUTTLE. – Mr. Tuttle, one of the first residents of the Grande Ronde, and the first school superintendent of Union county, was born in Ohio in 1831. Until the age of twenty he remained with his father, working on the farm and obtaining an education in the log schoolhouse. The next year he was married to Miss Maria A. Lewis, of Indiana, with whom he still sails his bark on the sea of life. Six children have blessed their home; and four of these are now living in Union county with their own children about them. From 1850 to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. J. Kirk

T.J. KIRK. – It is pleasant to see that the oldest pioneers, who bore the brunt of the settlement of the country, are now the most prosperous. Mr. Kirk came to Oregon in 1846, being at that time but a boy of seven. He lived with his father in Linn county until 1871, when he made his home in Umatilla county near the pleasant city of Centerville. Here he has been in the horse and cattle business and a pioneer in raising wheat on the uplands. He now owns a farm of fourteen hundred acres consisting of the best land … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sewall M. Knapp

SEWELL M. KNAPP. – Mr. Knapp is a native of Penobscot County, Maine, where he was born July 19, 1853. He was raised on a farm, and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age. In August, 1875, he came to California, where he remained but a short time, when he left for Puget Sound, coming direct to Snohomish, finding employment at first in driving a team. Next he worked for about six years in the general merchandise stores of Blackman Brothers, after which he entered into the teaming business on his own account, starting a livery stable … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel M. Bloom

SAMUEL M. BLOOM. – The farm of the above-named gentleman is described as “Three hundred and twenty acres of the beautiful, gently sloping, well watered, and sightly fruit and grain producing land in that lovely nook in the loveliest valley in the Northwest.” It was in 1862 that Mr. Bloom came to this region; and since that time he has acquired and improved this farm, and now devotes himself to raising fine cattle and horses. He is also interested in a sawmill near by, and is a partner in the Cove Dairy Company, which conducts the most extensive and best-equipped … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel I. Lisle

SAMUEL I. LISLE. – Mr. Lisle belongs to the earlier comers to our state. He was born in Ohio in 1843, and after a few years in Iowa made the journey with his parents to Oregon. The father, John G. Lisle, made his home on Sauvie’s Island; and Samuel was there raised on the farm, and enjoyed opportunities for education and business at Portland. In 1865 he turned his attention to mining, making various stoppages at Granite and Olive creeks and on the north fork of the John Day. In 1868 he closed out those interests and located a claim … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel George

SAMUEL GEORGE. – Mr. George was born in England in 1835, and in 1858 went to Australia, and in 1861 to New Zealand. From this antipodal region he came to British Columbia and mined for years at Caribou. In 1867 he brought his wanderings to a close by selecting a home in Umatilla county, Oregon, where he engaged in cattle raising on Butter creek in company with James Webb. They were partners for two years. Since their separation, he has conducted the business alone to the present time, keeping an average of about five hundred cattle on the range. Grass … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel D. Cowles

COWLES & MCDANIEL. – Samuel D. Cowles, senior member of the firm above-mentioned, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1829, his father being a wealthy broker. He received a ten years’ naval training and finished his education in New York City, where in after years he was in business for himself. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California. In 1862 we find him crossing the plains once more, coming from Missouri in company with a nephew and niece. At Soda Springs a band of Indians, under the leadership of one of his own employe’s, attacked is party and after … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Benn

SAMUEL BENN. – There is a certain keenness amounting almost to prescience which enables a man to locate a successful town. The laws of a city’s development are so peculiar that few are able to make much of the riddle. Nevertheless some seem to know where to locate a townsite, and where to invest in real estate. It is a business instinct. Mr. Benn is one of these persons. He is the founder of Aberdeen. He was born in New York City, and, as a youth, learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1856 he came to San Francisco, and mined and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of S. P. Howell

S.P. HOWELL. – The Adams Hotel at Adams, Oregon, is a comfortable home for the traveler, offering commodious apartments and a table supplied not only with the substantials but with the luxuries of the season. Its proprietor is Mr. Howell. After a life of much roving, he has found his final rest in this thriving young city. Born in Michigan in1845, he crossed the plains while just a boy of seven, and was then introduced to the life of a California ranch. At Hamilton on the Feather river, at the Hungarian ranch south of Yuba, and Petaluma, in the Coast … Read more

Biographical Sketch of S. G. Havermale

S.G. HAVERMALE. – Reverend Mr. Havermale, a leader in the business and social circles of Spokane Falls, was born in Maryland in 1824, and removed with his parents to Ohio while but a boy of eight, and at the age of twenty went to Illinois. There he came under religious influences, and undertook the work of preaching the gospel. For twenty-one years he gave his life and strength to his sacred calling. In 1873 he was transferred to Walla Walla, where he preached two years, and in 1875 came to Spokane Falls, Washington Territory. Although having been engaged in ministerial … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ross Beardlsey

ROSS BEARDLSEY. – This gentleman, the present mayor of Arlington, Oregon, was born in Cass county, Michigan, July 7,1856, where he received a good common-school education, and followed the occupation of farming, working with his father until 1876, when he crossed the plains to Woodland, California, remaining until 1877 with an uncle, H.P. Merritt. After a year’s residence in this land of gold, he returned to Michigan, where he lived until 1879, making a trip in the meantime to Montana. Soon after his return to Michigan, he was married to Miss Jennie Speese of White Pigeon, in February, 1880. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert Newell

ROBERT NEWELL. – “Doc” Newell, as he was commonly called, was one of the same breed of pioneers as Jo Meek. He was, in fact, associated with the latter for many years in the wild, trapping life on the border; and when that was given up he went with the rest of the little company of trappers to Oregon and became one of the state-builders there. He was born near Zanesville, Ohio, on the 30th of March, 1807. After having spent some time in Cincinnati, in learning the saddler’s trade, he was led by his adventurous disposition to go with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert D. Ruckman

ROBERT D. RUCKMAN. – Mr. Ruckman was born on a farm in Iowa in1843, and received a common-school education. at the age of twenty he leased a neighboring farm and conducted it till 1870, when he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1872 he crossed the plains to the Grande Ronde valley, Oregon, bringing with him a few fine horses. He purchased a farm on what is locally known as the Sand Ridge, and also secured and developed a band of cattle. In 1885 he enlarged his business by taking an interest in the Victor Roller Mills of Summerville, of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Corbaley

RICHARD CORBALEY. – In a city so flourishing as Spokane Falls, Washington, the business of finding and placing loans and the transfer of real property in the town, in the adjoining farming regions, and in the mines, has attained proportions of considerable magnitude. The firm of R. Corbaley & Co., located at the northeast corner of Howard and Riverside avenues, is one of the most important of the houses thus engaged. Their interests are largely in agricultural lands in the Big Bend country near Badger Mountain, where choice locations and exceptionally productive soils, even for this favored territory, may be … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Luke J. Boothe

REV. LUKE J. BOOTHE. – This well-known minister of the gospel was born in Virginia in 1820. At the age of ten years he emigrated to Missouri with his parents, and received n that state a common-school education. Arriving at his majority, he married Miss Mary Ann Shaw, of Boone county, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. About 1858, he entered the ministry, in the missionary Baptist denomination, in which he has served with but little interruption to the present time, – continuing frequently in his pastoral pursuits in connection with other necessary occupations. In 1863 he served in Captain … Read more