Kiddle, Edward
EDWARD ELMER KIDDLE
Hon. Edward Elmer Kiddle has left the impress of his
individuality upon the history of Oregon, and though death
called him on the 28th of December, 1920, his good work
lives in much that he accomplished, for he made for
himself a creditable position in business circles as a
member of the state senate and as state highway
commissioner. The ideals of his life were high and his
activities at all times supported and conformed to these
ideals.
Mr. Kiddle was born in Warren, Illinois, July 15, 1862,
his parents being Frederick and Mary (Noyes) Kiddle, the
former a native of Lancashire, England, while the latter
was born in Devonshire, England. They came to America in
young manhood and young womanhood and were married in
Nora, Wisconsin, whence they removed to Warren, Illinois,
and subsequently became residents of Carthage, Missouri.
Finally they established their home in Paola, Kansas,
where the mother passed away when her son, Edward Elmer,
was quite young. He was taken into the home of an uncle at
Hamilton, Missouri, and while there spending his youthful
days acquired a common school education. After reaching
adult age Mr. Kiddle was married to Miss Emma Lillian
Walling, a daughter of Myron and Maria (Onderdonk) Walling
of Hamilton, Missouri. The marriage was celebrated in 1884
and in 1886 they came to Oregon, settling at Union, for
the call of the west was an irresistible one to Mr.
Kiddle, who believed that he might have better
opportunities in this section of the country and through
the intervening years to the time of his death he never
regretted his decision to cast in his lot with the
settlers of the Pacific coast country. He took up his
abode at Union, where he obtained employment in a flour
mill and from that time until his demise he was
prominently connected with the milling business in this
section of the state. Eventually he removed to Island
City, a suburb of La Grande, and there built a mill which
was later destroyed by fire, but with characteristic
energy he rebuilt it and once more saw his plant swept by
the flame. Eventually he built the splendid cement mill,
which is the largest and most complete structure in
Oregon, east of Portland. He became associated in the
milling business with W. G. Hunter and Charles Goodnough,
under the firm style of the Pioneer Flouring Mill Company
and remained the active head of the business until about a
year prior to his demise. His ancestors in both the
paternal and maternal lines for several generations were
millers and thus Mr. Kiddle was "to the manner born." He
thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the
business and so wisely directed his efforts that success
in substantial measure came to him. He was also interested
in the live stock business to a greater or less extent
throughout the period of his residence in Oregon and his
business affairs were at all times characterized by sound
judgment, keen enterprise and unfaltering diligence, so
that the results which accrued from his labors were of a
most substantial and gratifying character.
Mr. Kiddle was a man most devoted to his family and their
welfare. To him and his wife were born seven children, of
whom Frank and Earl died in infancy, while Greta passed
away at the age of ten years. The surviving sons and
daughters are: Merton W. and Fred E.; Mrs. Robert Eakin of
La Grande; and Leta. Mr. Kiddle found his greatest
happiness in ministering to the welfare of his wife and
children and counted no personal effort or sacrifice on
his part too great if it would enhance their happiness. He
was a trustee of the Community church of Island City and
contributed much to its financial support and to its moral
progress. For twenty years he was a school director of the
little town in which he lived and was regarded as its most
prominent citizen. Everywhere people who knew him speak
kindly of him and attest his sterling worth in every
relation of life. He served as mayor of Island City for
seven or eight years and when the call came for his
service in broader connections he was found willing to
perform any duty where needed. He was prominent as a war
worker and supported all activities for the benefit of the
federal government and the interests of the soldiers in
camp and field. On some occasions he wrote his personal
check tor Union county's quota, thus placing the county in
one or two instances the first in the United States to
make up her portion of the war drives. He served as a
member of the state senate of Oregon in 1913 and again in
1915 and gave the most thoughtful and earnest
consideration to all the vital questions that came up for
settlement. He was always a loyal and stanch supporter of
the good roads movement and was appointed state highway
commissioner by the governor to fill out an unexpired
term. The chief executive of the state frequently
expressed keen satisfaction over the appointment, for Mr.
Kiddle gave his time and efforts without compensation,
looking after details in road building with the same care
that he used when conducting his own business. Only a few
days prior to his death he returned from Washington, D. C,
where he had been in conference with highway commissioners
of the different states of the Union, appearing before
congress in behalf of the highway program of the nation.
He was one of the most prominent Masons of the state,
having been initiated into the order in Nortonville,
Kansas, in 1886. After removing to the northwest he
demitted to Grand Ronde Valley Lodge, No. 56, A. F. &
A. M., of which he became worshipful master in 1891 and
again in 1895. Later he joined La Grande Lodge, No. 41.
and was made its worshipful master in 1899. He was elected
then grand master of state in 1908; grand high priest, R.
A. M., in 1909; grand eminent commander, K. T., in 1917;
worthy patron of Hope Chapter, No. 13, O. E. S., in 1914;
and worth grand patron, of the Grand Chapter of Oregon, in
1919. There are few, if any, in Oregon upon whom so many
Masonic honors have been bestowed as upon Mr. Kiddle and
when he passed away the Masonic service was in charge of
the Grand Lodge of Oregon and the Grand Chapter of the
Eastern Stir of the state. When he passed on an editorial
in the La Grande Observer said, "It requires very few
words to tell of a man's death; it only requires a moment
to repeat the sad news of the passing of a neighbor and
friend. But it would require volumes of printed matter to
tell correctly the story of Edward E. Kiddle's usefulness
in this world, to depict his many virtues, to portray his
steadfastness, his loyalty to friend and to principle.
Edward Kiddle loved the little town of Island City with
the same affection that Colonel Roosevelt loved Oyster
Bay. Since his first year's residence there he has been a
school director of the district, was mayor of the town for
many years, and, in everything that benefited the village,
Mr. Kiddle was foremost with his energy and substance. In
a public way he served Union and Wallowa counties as state
senator in an able manner, and was appointed state highway
commissioner for the state of Oregon over a year ago. This
position has taken all of his time of late and his milling
and grain business has been conducted by other members of
the firm. As highway commissioner he has followed his
early Iowa principle of work, and conscientiously has
discharged his duties to the state. It is indeed hard to
give up a man of Edward Kiddle's qualifications." Such in
brief is the history of a man whose record was at all
times of credit and honor to the state of his nativity and
of his adoption.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
Skiff, Nolan
NOLAN L. SKIFF
Nolan L. Skiff, receiver of public moneys in the United
States land office at La Grande, Union county, is a native
of that town, born December 11, 1871, his parents being
Willis and Mary Skiff, the former a native of
Massachusetts and the latter of Michigan. Willis Skiff
came west in 1859, making the trip around Cape Horn, and
located in Seattle, Washington, where he operated a
freight boat up and down the coast. He later removed to
Walla Walla, and then came to the Grand Ronde valley,
taking up a homestead, which he improved and upon which he
settled. In 1870 he was elected county surveyor and after
serving several terms in this capacity he was elected
county clerk and removed to Union, the county seat. For
four years he held the latter office and then engaged in
the lumber and flour industries until his death, which
occurred in 1886. Mrs. Skiff passed away in Union in 1887.
Throughout his life Mr. Skiff was a stanch democrat and a
consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He had a
large number of intimate personal friends and was greatly
esteemed by all who knew him.
The boyhood of Nolan L. Skiff was spent in Union, where he
received his education and later took a course in the
Scranton, Pennsylvania, School of Mines. In 1896 he went
to Cornucopia, Oregon, where he followed mining and
subsequently became foreman of the Queen of the West
Mining Company and later for the Union Mining Company. In
1911 he removed to Halfway, where he engaged in the
plumbing and hardware business until he received his
appointment as receiver of the United States land office
at La Grande, removing to that place. He received his
appointment June 1, 1913. and was reappointed June 1,
1917, to serve until June 1, 1921.
In 1898 the marriage of Mr. Skiff and Miss Mary Leep,
daughter of Selby and Rose (Thornton) Leep, and a native
of Missouri, was celebrated. Mrs. Skiff is well known in
the club and social circles of La Grande and her home is
noted for its hospitality.
The political allegiance of Mr. Skiff is given to the
democratic party, in the interests of which he takes an
active part and he is fraternally affiliated with the Odd
Fellows and the Elks, and in the latter order, in 1921, he
was elected exalted ruler of La Grande Lodge, No. 433. The
success of Mr. Skiff has been gradual but continuous and
he is now recognized as one of the foremost citizens of
his native state. He has the record of one who has, by his
upright life, won the confidence of all with whom he has
come into contact.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
Hunter, Albert
ALBERT R. HUNTER
Albert R. Hunter, stock man and rancher near La Grande,
Union county, was born on his present ranch. May 10, 1873,
a son of William G. and Liza W. (Mitchell) Hunter, the
former born near Peoria, Illinois, while the latter was
born near Lexington, Kentucky. The father came west with
his parents in 1864, by way of The Oregon Trail, locating
near La Grande, Grand Ronde valley. There the father of
William G. Hunter took up a homestead of one hundred and
sixty acres, now n part of his son's ranch, which he
improved and upon which he built a substantial log house.
He added to this land from time to time until he had three
thousand acres, which lie operated with great success
until 1904, when he removed to Island City and retired.
His death occurred there in 1907, at the age of sixty-two
years. During his life he was a stanch democrat, had
served as a member of the state board of equalization for
two terms and had run for the legislature but was
defeated. He was a county commissioner for a number of
years and was one of the men to build the Morgan Lake
Electric Light Company plant. He was also one of the main
factors in the erection of a sugar factory at La Grande.
Mr. Hunter took an intelligent and active interest in any
movement he deemed valuable to the development and
improvement of the community and he was a booster of the
city in every respect. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter were married in
La Grande in 1870, Mrs. Hunter having come west with her
parents in 1864 and locating in the Grand Ronde valley,
near La Grande. Her father took up a homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and enlarged
until he had six hundred and forty acres of highly
cultivated farm land. Both the father and mother of Mrs.
Hunter passed away on this farm, the demise of the father
occurring in 1900 and Mrs. Hunter passed away in 1903. Her
father was a democrat and a Presbyterian and was a
representative citizen of his community.
The boyhood of Albert R. Hunter was spent on the old farm
and he received his education In the country schools and
later attended the old Bishop Scott Military Academy of
Portland. After putting his textbook aside he accepted a
position in Island City with the Island City Mercantile
and Milling Company of that place, serving as secretary of
that firm for a period of twenty years. Three years of
this time was spent in Wallowa county, but he returned to
Island City in 1904. In 1910 he resigned his position with
the firm, returned to the old home ranch in the Grand
Ronde valley and there engaged in farming and stock
raising. He first specialized in fine breeds of cattle and
hogs but he is now particularly interested in Percheron
horses. In 1918 Mr. Hunter was elected to the legislature
and again in 1920.
In 1896 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hunter and Miss
Margaret Barnes, a daughter of Dr. E. W. and Georgia
(Mason) Barnes, and a native of California. To this union
two children have been born: Nita D., who is now the wife
of G. L. Dutton of Tacoma. Washington; and Allen R., who
is a student in the Agricultural College at Corvallis,
Oregon.
As was his father before him, Mr. Hunter is a stanch
democrat and his fraternal affiliations are with the Elks,
Masons, and Odd Fellows. In financial circles he is
prominent as a director of the La Grande National Bank and
he is also a director of the Island City Mercantile &
Milling Company, the Young Men's Christian Association,
and the Country Club, and he is a member of the farm
bureau, which he is now serving as president. In every
undertaking Mr. Hunter has achieved a gratifying amount of
success. He is a prominent, progressive and successful man
and his prosperity is founded on his industry, integrity,
and broad intelligence.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
Crawford, Thomas
HON. THOMAS H. CRAWFORD
Hon. Thomas H. Crawford, who for many years has been
active in the legal circles of Union county, has the
distinction of being the oldest member of the profession
in the sixth judicial district, comprising all of eastern
Oregon. He is still active in the practice of his
profession, which is extensive and of an important
character and he Is distinguished among the lawyers for
the wide research and provident care with which he
prepares his cases.
Judge Crawford is one of Oregon's sons by adoption, for he
was born in Washington county, Arkansas, March 19. 1848, a
son of George A. and Martha J. (Wilson) Crawford, both
natives of Fayetteville, Tennessee, in which place the
birth of the former occurred in 1812. The marriage of Mr.
and Mrs. Crawford was celebrated in the town of their
birth. The boyhood of George A. Crawford was spent in
Fayetteville. Tennessee, but in later life with his father
and the rest of the family he removed to Washington
county, Arkansas, where he engaged in farming and in
raising stock. In 1870 after the death of his father and
mother. George A. Crawford removed to Clackamas county,
Oregon, where he purchased a farm in the Horse Heaven
district, operating three hundred and twenty acres here
until 1874. His death occurred on this place at the age of
seventy-two years. After the death of her husband Mrs.
Crawford went with a son. J. P., to eastern Washington,
near Oaksdale, where her son had bought land and was
engaged in farming and wheat raising. Her death occurred
while living on that place in 1880. The political
allegiance of Mr. Crawford was that of the democratic
party and both he and his wife were consistent members of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Judge Crawford spent his boyhood days in Arkansas, where
he received his education at private schools. In 1870 he
came to Oregon with his parents and entering the Oregon
Agricultural College graduated from that institution in
1874. He then decided to take up law as a life work, began
the study of that profession with R. H. Strahan and Judge
Kelsey and was admitted to the bar in 1876. In the fall of
that year he went to Dayton, Washington, where he
commenced practice and where he remained until the spring
of 1878. In 1877 he served Columbia county, Washington, as
probate judge and upon the expiration of his term, in the
spring of 1878, he returned to Oregon and located at Baker
City, resuming the practice of his profession. In the fall
of 1878 he went to Union, Union county, and there
practiced until the county seat was moved to La Grande.
About 1896 he located in La Grande, which has continued to
be his place of residence. He has built up an extensive
and lucrative practice and handles much important
litigation for the courts. For two years he held the
office of circuit judge, being appointed to that office by
Governor Chamberlain.
In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Crawford and Miss
Roselia A. Smith, daughter of Augustus Smith, and a native
of Missouri. To them two children have been born:
Clarence, who is married, and living at Los Angeles, where
he is connected with an insurance business; and Maud,
whose death occurred in 1918. The wife and mother has also
departed this life.
Judge Crawford is a stanch supporter of the democratic
party, having firm belief in its principles as factors in
good government. Fraternally he is a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of
Pythias Judge Crawford came to Oregon in the early pioneer
days when land could be purchased from the state for one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and he has seen the
country grow to a highly cultivated state with land worth
more than two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The zeal
with which he has devoted his energies to his profession,
the careful regard evinced for the interests of all his
clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all
the details of his cases, have brought him an extensive
business and made him very successful in its conduct. Mr.
Crawford is the oldest member of his profession in the
sixth judicial district, the men who started out with him
having passed away. The judge finds his greatest
recreation in visiting his son and his family in Los
Angeles about twice a year, and playing with his
grandchildren.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
Cochran, Charles
CHARLES EDGAR COCHRAN
Charles Edgar Cochran, assistant general attorney of the
Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company, was
born on a farm in Union county, this state. May 8, 1873, a
representative of one of the pioneer families. His father,
Samuel Cochran, was born in Wayne county, Iowa, May 17,
1846, and devoted his entire life to the occupation of
farming until his retirement. He was married in his native
county to Miss Louisa Jane Ruckman. also a native of Iowa,
and in 1872 they came to Oregon, where the mother's death
occurred on the 29th of August, 1910. The father survives
and resides in the Rose City.
Charles E. Cochran acquired his early education in the
country schools of Union county and afterward attended the
high school at -Union, Oregon, from which he was graduated
in 1887. Ambitious to acquire a thorough education as a
preparation for life's practical and responsible duties,
he then entered the State Normal School at Monmouth,
Oregon, and was there graduated in 1890. In preparation
for the legal profession he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan,
where he entered the University of Michigan and is now
numbered among its alumni of 1894. Immediately afterward
he returned to Union, where he opened a law office in the
month of October, having been admitted to the bar of the
state in the previous June. He continued to practice there
until October, 1906, when he removed to La Grande, Oregon,
remaining a member of the bar of that city until July,
1912. He then came to Portland and entered the law
department of the Oregon-Washington Railroad &
Navigation Company as assistant general attorney and has
since acted in that capacity. He is likewise assistant
secretary of the corporation, is also secretary of the San
Francisco & Portland Steamship Company, the secretary
of the Oregon & Washington Railroad Company and a
director of the State Bank of Portland. His business
interests are thus extensive and of an important
character, connecting him with a number of the leading
corporations of the state.
On the 20th of May, 1905, in La Grande, Oregon, Mr.
Cochran was married to Miss Nellie Virginia Ghormley, a
native of Rochelle, Indiana, and to them have been born
two children: Ruth Melissa and Jane Virginia. Politically
Mr. Cochran is a republican. During the World war he
served on the legal advisory board and was most active in
support of federal interests. He was made chairman of the
legal committee of the State Council of Defense, chairman
of the Committee of Seventy for the instruction of drafted
men as to their civil rights and privileges and was also
active along various other lines which had to do with the
prosecution and financing of the war. He has attained high
rank in Masonry, being a Knight Templar and also a member
of the Consistory and the Mystic Shrine. He has membership
with the Knights of Pythias and is well known in club
circles. He is president of the Irvington Club and a past
president of the Portland Rotary Club. He is also governor
of the twenty-second district, comprising Oregon,
Washington and British Columbia, of the International
Association of Rotary Clubs. His religious faith is
indicated in his connection with the Westminster
Presbyterian church of Portland and he is serving as a
member of its board of sessions. His interests extend to
all of those activities which have to do with the
material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the
community and his labors have been an effective force
along many lines of advancement.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
Henry, James
JAMES C. HENRY
James C. Henry, engaged in the undertaking business at La
Grande, Union county, was born at Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania, April 6, 1849, a son of Charles and Lydia
(Reed) Henry.
The boyhood of James C. Henry was spent in the place of
his birth. At the age of fourteen years he enlisted in the
Union army, serving in Company B, One Hundred and
Eighty-fourth Regiment under Captain Abner H. Brown, for
three years and three months, being honorably discharged
at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After the war he removed to
Jonesville, Michigan, with his parents. Later he went to
Indiana and located at South Bend, where he engaged in
carpenter work for some time and was also associated with
the Singer Sewing Machine Company and other well known
firms. In 1876. however, he came west and located at La
Grande. He there resumed his carpenter work, in which he
continued for one year, then accepted a position as
carpenter at the Camp Carson mines for one year and the
following year engaged in his trade at La Grande. Being
offered a clerkship in the W. J. Snodgrass Dry Goods and
General Store at La Grande, Mr. Henry gave up his trade,
and for fourteen years continued in that connection. In
1892 he decided to enter into business on his own account
and established a furniture and undertaking store, in
which venture he achieved a great amount of success. In
1916, however, he sold his furniture interest to a Mr.
Carr, but he is still active in the conduct of his
undertaking business. This business is located at 1505
Fourth street and is one of the best of its kind in
eastern Oregon.
In 1870 occurred the marriage of Mr. Henry and Miss Anna
E. Tutt, daughter of Robert Tutt, and a native of
Virginia, her birth having occurred near Culpeper. One
child was born to this union: Bessie, who is deceased.
Since age conferred upon Mr. Henry the right of franchise
he has been a stanch supporter of the republican party, in
the interests of which he has always taken an active part.
From 1906 to 1915 he served as county judge, has been
mayor of the city and a member of the city council. He has
always taken a keen interest in the furtherance of any
movement which he deemed of value to the development and
improvement of the community, for the duties of
citizenship do not rest lightly upon his shoulders.
Fraternally he is also prominent, having membership in the
Masons, in which order he is a Knights Templar and a
Shriner; he also belongs to the Elks, the Moose, and the
Odd Fellows. During the years of his residence in La
Grande Mr. Henry has made many friends, who appreciate his
true personal worth and his many sterling traits of
character. He has won the goodwill and confidence of all
with whom he has come into contact and is widely
recognized as a representative citizen of La Grande and
Union county.
History
of Oregon: Volume II
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago - Portland; 1922
|
