Biographies of pioneers, prominent residents and patrons from the 1885 History of Benton County Oregon

Abbey, Edwin Alden
A view of whose residence will be found in this volume, was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, December 9, 1823, and in 1832, accompanied by his parents, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he resided until 1844, when he went South, being employed on the Mississippi river. In the month of September, 1846, he sailed from New Orleans to Mexico, being attached to the Quartermaster's department in the divisions of General Wool and Taylor. Having served until near the close of the war, he accompanied Col. Collins to Chihuahua, with dispatches to General Price to evacuate that portion of the country, which duty being performed he rejoined the army on the line of march to Santa Fe, and was destined to accompany Company I, First Dragoons, as Wagon Master, and was thus engaged with that corps until 1851. Mr. Abbey now came overland, traveling as far as Fort Laramie with the famous Kit Carson, and arrived in Benton county in the fall of that year. He located his claim about four miles from what was then Marysville (now Corvallis), having for his nearest neighbor Elijah Liggett, and at once set to work farming. In 1856 Mr. Abbey, with Dr. T.J. Right and E. Hartless, made the pioneer journey to Yaquina Bay, the former's reason for the journey being one of simple pleasure and adventure; but with Dr. Right it was different, as he was appointed Surgeon to the agency which had then been recently established on the coast. There were no roads, and Phil Sheridan, then a Lieutenant, was having his men cut a trail over the mountains to lead from the reservation to civilization. Mr. Abbey, following the trails, made Yaquina Bay about two miles from its mouth. At that time there was not a single resident in that part of Benton county. In 1862 he took up his residence in Corvallis, and there resided for about three years and then moved to Yaquina and located a large tract of land which he still owns near Elk City, twenty-two miles from Newport. Mr. Abbey has again taken up his residence in Corvallis.
Married in Benton county, Oregon, July 4, 1852, to Miss Mirinda Penland, who crossed the plains the previous year, and has a surviving family of one son and one daughter, viz: Richard M. and Clara A.

Abbey, Peter M.
The subject of this sketch, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, August 19, 1838, and resided in the Eastern States until 1866, when he came across the continent to the Golden State whence, after a short sojourn, he came to Oregon first locating in Corvallis, when one year later he moved to Newport, Yaquina Bay and engaged in merchandising until 1870, when he built his present commodious hotel, the "Bay View House,", which, under his management, aided by his estimable wife, has given to the Bay one of the very best hotels in Oregon. Here can the weary pilgrim find rest for the body and strength for the inner man in all the good things that abound on land or in the sea, and at the same time enjoy the comforts of a happy home.

Additon, Otis R.
In the gentleman whose name heads this sketch we recognize the leading dry goods salesman of Benton county, and a practical and thorough business man. Mr. Additon is a native of Maine, born in Lewiston, Androscoggin county, August 14, 1843. At the age of fourteen years his parents moved to Abington, Massachusetts, where his father engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and our subject was placed at school in Boston. In February, 1863, on his return from school, he enlisted in the United States Signal Service Corps Service, in which he served until 1865, when he returned to his home. A few months later he entered the employ of Jorden, Marsh & Co., of Boston, one of the leading wholesale houses of the United States, with whom he remained for a period of eight years. He then embarked in the dry goods business himself in Abington until 1878, when he concluded to seek a milder climate and selected Oregon for his future home, arriving in Portland in March of that year. He immediately found employment with the well known house of Olds & King of the above city. One year later he come to Corvallis and entered upon the duties of his present position as salesman for Jacobs & Neugass. Mr. A. was the prime mover in the greatest improvement the city has ever known, namely, the Corvallis Water Works, of which corporation he is the present Treasurer. He was married in Abington, Massachusetts, June 5, 1867, to Miss Lucia H. Faxon. They have one son, Alton S.

Alexander, Ron. Joseph C.
The subject of this sketch is another of Benton county's most respected and early pioneers. Born in Frederick county, Maryland, December 29, 1809, where he spent his boyhood until March 1818, when his parents moved to Stark county, Ohio, and the succeeding years until years until 1843, with the exception of a couple of years spent at the cooper's trade, Mr. Alexander spent in boating on the Erie and Ohio canals. In the above year he, with his wife and two children, left Cleveland for Andrew county, Missouri. The spring of 1846, found our subject and his family members of a company fitted out to cross the plains to Oregon. On the Platt river, although a stranger to the great majority he was, however, elected Captain of the train of fifty-three wagons, a position he filled until their safe arrival in Jackson county, Oregon. Mr. Alexander then came direct to Benton county, and in the fall of 1846, located on the farm now owned by S.N. Lilley, near Corvallis, and there resided until 1876, when he traded farms with Mr. Lilley and then moved to his present home in the south end of King's Valley, where he owns six hundred and seventy-seven acres of good land. Mr. A. has held several county and State offices. He was first appointed by Gen. Lane, one of the first County Commissioners of Benton county, and at the same time was appointed Justice of the Peace, and in the latter office he had the honor of administrating the oath of office to the first county officers of Benton county, thereby setting the first county government in motion. In 1862, he was elected Sheriff of Benton county and in 1868 to the State Legislature.

Alford, James P.
Was born in Chariton County, Missouri, August 10, 1849. When but an infant his parents with a family of nine children crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving in Linn county in the fall of 1850. In 1875, our subject came to Benton county, and in 1880 purchased his present farm three-fourths of a miles south of Monroe. in the spring of 1884 he was elected County Assessor of Benton County.

Avery, Hon. Joseph C.
(Deceased) There are few names that appear more frequently in the pioneer annals of the Great Northwest, than that which stands at the head of this short memoir. This old pioneer, after a long life actively spent among the early trials and vicissitudes incident to the development of Oregon from a wilderness to civilization, finally yielded to the march of time, and answering to the call of the Dark Angel, passed into the shadowy unknown. His death, which leaves but a corporal's guard of that old pioneer phalanx to Benton county in 1845 behind, occurred June 16, 1876. Mr. Avery was born in Lucern county, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1817; he was educated at Wilksbarre, the county seat of his native county, and in 1839 came west to Illinois. In 1841 he was married to Miss Martha Marsh, and in 1845 came across the plains arriving in what is now Corvallis, Benton county, the spring of 1846, and at that time located his claim at the junction of the Willamette and Mary's rivers. In the winter of 1850 he laid out a town site upon his land, which was called Marysville and aftewards changed to Corvallis. In 1849, he built a store building and engaged in the mercantile business which he continued for twenty-three years. Mr. Avery figured prominently in the politics of the county for a quarter of a century. He was a member of the first Territorial Legislature for Oregon, serving for several terms, and was Postal Agent under the administration of President Buchanan. The early residents of the county remember him as being noble and generous, he had warm and true friends and few enemies; while his deeds of charity and acts of kindness and hospitality towards suffering emmigrants in early days will ever be held in grateful remembrance.

Avery, Napoleon B., D.D.S.
In the gentleman who name heads this sketch we have a descendant of one of the very first residents of Benton county. Mr. Avery is the son of Hon. J.C. and Martha (Marsh) Avery. Our subject first attended the common schools of Corvallis until the fall of 1876 when he was placed in the Bishop Scott Grammar School, of Portland, and afterwards attended DeFrance & White's Business College. On the completion of his studies he returned to Corvallis where he entered upon the study of dentistry for one year. In the fall of 1878 he went to Philadelphia and there entered the Philadelphia Dental College, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1880, when he returned to his home in Corvallis and entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he is very successful.

Baldwin, Hon. Wallace
Was born in Portage county, Ohio, May 20, 1845, where he received a common school education, and afterward attended for one year a college in Lake county. In August, 1862, then in his eighteenth year, he enlisted in Company D 103d Ohio Infantry, and served with that regiment until January 6, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability. In May, 1864, he again answered to the call, this time enlisting in Company H 150th Ohio Volunteers, for four months. On the expiration of his time he again returned to his home and entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Cleveland. On the completion of his studies he followed different occupations until February 1, 1866, when when[sic] he came via Panama to Oregon and direct to Corvallis, where he found employment in the general store of Watters & Clark. July 6, 1868, Mr. Baldwin was appointed Postmaster of Corvallis, a position he held for 2 1/2 years, in connection with which he kept a general store. Mr. Baldwin has ever since been engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1877 formed a partnership with Mr. M.S. Woodcock, under the firm name of Woodcock & Baldwin, which is now the leading firm in the hardware line in Benton county. Mr. Baldwin held the office of County Treasurer for two years and Mayor of Corvallis one year, and January 24, 1883, was appointed State Fish Commissioner, an office he now holds. He was married in 1868 to Miss Adelaide G. Brownson; by this union they have four living children and one deceased, viz: Carrie A., Cora G., Lester A., Arthur J. (deceased) and Charles B.

Ball, James W.
Was born in Polk county, Missouri, May 18, 1841. In 1751 he, with his parents, crossed the plains to California, where Mr. Ball followed mining, and afterwards learned the blacksmith's trade at Santa Rosa, where he lived until 1867, when he came to Oregon, first taking up his residence and opening a blacksmith shop in Eugene City, where he remained for ten years. In 1880 he came to Newport, Benton county, and opened up his present popular resort. Mr. Ball is also Deputy Sheriff of Benton county. He was married August 1, 1866, to Miss Nancy Kelley, and by this union they have two daughters, viz: May F., now Mrs. S.G. Irvine, and Mary.

Barber, Newton R.
Was born in Orleans county, New York, July 13, 1835. Four years later his parents moved to Michigan, where a short time after Mr. Barber suffered the irreparable loss of both his father and mother. In 1852, then in his seventeenth year, he set out to cross the plains to California, and lived in the Golden State until 1864, when he came to Oregon, coming direct to Corvallis where he engaged at his trade of carpenter, until 1876, when he received the appointment of Postmaster of the city of Corvallis, a position he still holds.

Barclay, James E.
Was born in Boon county, Missouri, August 4, 1827, where he was brought up on a farm, May, 1847, he enlisted in the 3rd regiment of Missouri Volunteers, and served for 18 months in the Mexican War, when he returned to his home and took up his former occupation until the spring 1850. He then crossed the plains to Oregon, spending the first winter in Polk County. In the spring of 1851 he came to Benton county and located as a donation claim of 320 acres on which he now lives. In October, 1855, our subject enlisted in Munson's company and took part in the Indian war at Walla Walla, returning to his home in 1856.

Barclay, William
This venerable gentleman and pioneer to Oregon of 1850 was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, September 19, 1805, and with the exception of two years lived in his native State until the spring of 1850, when he, with his wife and seven children, started to cross the plains. On arriving at the Platt river he suffered the loss of his wife, when he was left in charge of their seven children, the eldest of whom was thirteen years and the youngest three months old. After a long and weary journey they arrived in Yamhill county, where Mr. Barclay passed the first winter. In the spring of 1851 he came to Benton county and located his donation claim where he now lives and has spent the past thirty-five years.

Bayley, M.D., James R.
The subject of this sketch who has been a residence of Oregon for over thirty-two years, during which time he has been closely identified with its progress, and to-day is a man who commands the esteem and respect of all who know him, and one who stands high in his profession. The Dr. was born in Clark county, Ohio, in 1819. Receiving an academic education at Springfield, his younger days being divided between town and country life. He began the study of medicine in 1841, and was admitted to practice three years later. Graduating from the Ohio Medical College he at once began the practice of his profession at his old home at Springfield, where he resided for the next four years. He then located in Cincinnati, where he enjoyed a successful practice for seven years. In 1852 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Harpole, of Green county, Ohio, and came to Oregon in 1855, first locating in Polk county. Two years later he came to Corvallis, Benton county, where he opened an office in connection with which he carried on the drug business. He was a member of the Territorial Council in 1856 and 1857, and has twice been elected Judge of Benton county. He was State Senator from Benton county in 1866 and 1868, and was appointed Supervisor of Internal Revenue in 1869, serving until 1873. Since that time he has devoted himself to the practice of his profession in Corvallis and Newport, Yaquina Bay, where he now spends his summers and owns valuable property. he also has a beautiful home in Corvallis. Dr. Bayley is a Thirty-second-degree Mason and Past Grand High Priest and Past Grand Master of the Masonic jurisdiction of Oregon and has been a prominent Odd Fellow.

Ransom A. Belknap
The subject of this sketch, one of the pioneers of Benton county, was born in Hart county, Kentucky, December 16, 1820, but when seven years of age he was taken by his parents to Licking county, Ohio, where they remained eight years. His father now moving to Van Buren county, Iowa, they there resided for a like period, and on April 17, 1847, our subject, with his wife and two children, also the families of Samuel Starr and L.D. Gilbert, started to cross the plains with ox-teams to Oregon, where they arrived without any especial adventure in November of the same year. After passing some time in Marysville (now Corvallis) Mr. Belknap took up his claim on the place which now bears his name, about two miles and a half west of Monroe, and where he has since resided. His original property of six hundred and forty acres he has increased to seven hundred and fifty, which he has under general farming. In Mr. Belknap we have a man of sterling worth whose word is his bond, while in his dealings with men he is a pattern of rectitude and uprightness. He married in Van Buren county, Iowa, September 29, 1842, Mahala, daughter of Jeremiah Starr, and a native of Highland county, Ohio, by which union there have been nine children, viz: Lucinda J. (deceased), Sarah M. (deceased), Keziah B., Webster C., Lewis Franklin (now of Salem), Adeline and Angelina (twins), Samuel G. (deceased), Edward H. (a graduate of Willamette University). An excellent view of Mr. Belknap's residence will be found in this work.

William Bennett
Born near Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, November 15, 1834. At the age of 12 years his parents moved to Muscatine, Iowa, and two years later moved to Knox county, Illinois, whence, in 1850, he, with one brother started across the plains to Oregon, arriving in Linn county in the fall of that year, where he lived until 1854, when he came to Benton county, and took up a donation claim four miles south of Philomath. In 1879 he purchased his present farm of 334 acres, ten miles west of Corvallis. Mr. Bennett also owns a farm two miles from Corvallis, and a valuable farm in Wasco county, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising.

Hon. Royal A. Bensel
Was born in Cassville, Wisconsin, and is now 48 years of age. His father, Dr. Bensel, was born in Pennsylvania and a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Medical University, and in early days emigrated to Wisconsin. When our subject was but a mere child his parents moved to Clayton county, Iowa, and at the age of 13 he became "devil" on the Clayton Co. Herald and there spent three years at the printer's trade. In 1849 Mr. Bensel's mother died, and in 1854 he, with his father, crossed the plains to California, where he followed mining for seven years. he then enlisted in Company D. Fourth California Infantry, and with his regiment came to Oregon and followed a soldier's life for three years. On his discharge, in 1864, he came to Yaquina Bay and embarked in the milling business.
In 1871 he was appointed Inspector of Customs for Yaquina Bay. In 1868 he was elected to the State Legislature, and again elected to the same office in 1876.

Hon. Colbert P. Blair
This well known and highly respected resident of Corvallis, a native of Burke county, North Carolina, born January 30, 1805, is the son of Colbert and Jane (Murry) Blair. His boyhood was passed in his birthplace until 18 years of age; his parents then moved to Kentucky and afterwards to Illinois. Mr. Blair learned the trade of engineer, in which capacity he ran steamers from St. Louis to Natchez. In 1837 he located in Lee county, Iowa, from whence, in 1853, he emigrated with his family to Oregon, coming direct to Benton county, where he has since resided. In 1862 Mr. Blair was elected to the State legislature. Although now in his 80th year and on the sunset side of life, he is as hale and hearty as the majority of men at 60. He is genial, kind and generous, and one whom it is a pleasure to meet. He now has lived to see forty grand children and nineteen great grand children. It is our sincere wish that he may live to see these numbers doubled.

Thomas J. Blair
Was born in Bond county, Illinois, June 11, 1830, but at the age of six year, went with his parents to Lee county, Iowa, where he resided and engaged in farming until the spring of 1853. Mr. Blair and his wife now crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving in October of that year; but in March, 1854, he removed from Oregon City to Benton county, and first settled on the South Fork of Mary's river, on land now owned by Mr. Spears. While residing on this claim our subject found the country in the throes of a civil war, and like every patriotic citizen he determined to contribute towards the maintenance of the Union, therefore, in 1864 he enlisted in Company A., First Oregon Infantry, and with that corps served nearly two years. Upon obtaining his discharge he disposed of his farm, removed to Yaquina Bay and there dwelt for three years, when, transferring his residence in 1878, to the city of Corvallis, he engaged in a warehouse and grain storing business. In the spring of 1884 Mr. Blair was elected to the office of Treasurer of Benton county on the Republican ticket, and is still the able and efficient holder of the position. Married in Lee county, Iowa, in 1851, Miss Lucinda J. Montgomery, who died June 30, 1881, and had a family, viz: Martha N. (now Mrs. F.H. Sawtell), Nellie and Clara.