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J. Nat Hudson
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Nat. Hudson, the subject of this sketch, was born in Polk County,
Oregon, August 20, 1852, and is near 46 years of age. Commencing
when only 13 years old, he served 18 years as an apprentice and
journeyman blacksmith and machinist, working at various times in the
larger towns cities of the Pacific Coast. While working at his he
studied late during his spare time, and in 1882 admitted to practice
in the Oregon Supreme Court in the same class with Judge M. D.
Clifford, Paul Deady and others. In May, 1884, he was, on motion of
ex-governor Geo. L. Woods, admitted to practice in the Supreme Court
of California, and also holds a certificate from the Hon. Secretary
of the Interior at Washington D. C., entitling him to appear as an
attorney in legal business before the |
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Department. Mr. Hudson's chief claim to
popularity however is his connection with the Sumpter News, now its
third volume, which he established there when that thriving town of
seven hundred or more people only contained a population of about
fifty inhabitants. The paper on its first appearance was only 8x11
inches, a fit representative of the little hamlet in which it first
saw the light, but under the skillful business management and
through the untiring energy and perseverance of its
proprietor, it
has been gradually enlarged until it now occupies the enviable
position of being the largest weekly newspaper published in Baker
County, and Nat, as the boys familiarly call him, declares that he
will yet make it a bigger paper than the Oregonian. The Sumpter News
is eight page, six column weekly, and will soon be enlarged ten and
most likely to twelve pages, all replete with general telegraphic
news of the world and the local mining news of the rich mineral
region in which it is published. It has recently been equipped with
a fine large cylinder power press, job presses, over seventy fonts
of job and advertising type, and all the paraphernalia of a first
class news and job office, representing an investment of more than
four thousand dollars, and the news may justly claim to be one of
the leading agencies in the wonderful growth of the town of Sumpter. |
Walter R. Hawley
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Walter R.
Hawley dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware, at Sumpter, Oregon,
is a native Oregonian. He resided in the Willamette valley until
1890, receiving his education at the State Normal School at
Monmouth, being a graduate of the latter. He then taught school to
Gilliam County for a year, and in the Grand Ronde Valley for five
years, being principal of the Summerville schools for three years.
He then established himself in business in Union, remaining there
until April, 1897, when he came, here and opened a |
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hardware store. Minding his storeroom
inadequate, he was shortly after
compelled to erect its present commodious two story building, in
which he carries a very complete line, making a specialty of miner's
supplies. He also carries a general line of paints, oils, wallpaper,
glass &c., and is agent for the Simond's saw and White sewing
machine. In selecting this marline he has shown excellent judgment,
as it is certainly the most popular and best one in the market. Mr.
Hawley is married to Miss Ida Brooks, of Summerville and has one
child, a girl. He is the present treasurer of the city of Sumpter. |
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Thos. McEwen
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The sterling
citizen, whose every thought is for the good of the community in
which he has reared his home and contented his associations, must
always command the respect and esteem of his fellow men. Of such
metal and commanding such respect, is he whose name is inscribed
above. Born fin Glasgow, Scotland, in 1853, he remained there until
his seventeenth year. Coming at that time to the United States, he
spent about ten years in Patterson, N. J. In 1879 he went to
California, but only remained there it short time. He then moved to
Portland, and shortly after to The Dalles, where he was in the
employ of |
the stage company for two years.
He then bought the
line running from Baker City to Canyon City, and also ran well
equipped stages from McEwen's to Granite, and McEwen's to Bourne,
and to the "Bonanza." He has also for the past eight years been
heavily interested in the forwarding business to the mines. After
the removal of the terminus of the railroad to Sumpter, he erected a
hotel, large hall, livery barns and private residence there. On the
first of last February he sold the controlling interest in the stage
limes and forwarding business, and has more particularly devoted its
time to his hotel, "The Spencer House." With his usual enterprise,
he quickly placed this among the leading hotels of Eastern Oregon,
in which work he was materially assisted by his wife. Mr. McEwen is
also interested in a number of mining enterprises, having lately
sold the "More or Less" to Alexander Baring, of London, for
$14,000.00 cash. He is a heavy realty holder at Sumpter, and to
Baker comity, having 750 acres of land under cultivation in Sumpter
Valley, and has done much to advance the growth of the town. In
connection with Mr. Clark Tabor, donating the property the public
school and the Presbyterian church occupy. He is a member of a
number of fraternal orders, being a 32d degree Mason.
In August, 1864, he married Miss Minnie Fox, of Baker City |
A. W. Ellis
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There is not a more popular citizen in Sumpter than A. R. Ellis. He
possesses all those admirable traits of character which contribute
to the widest business and social success, and anything he
identities himself with is always a go. He furnishes it with a tin,
and snap, which is his strongest characteristic, and which has
tended to put him to the "front" among business men in this
county. Born in Michigan in 1865, the early portion of his life was
spent there and in the state of New York. |
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A. W. Ellis Placers |
Coming to California in 1888, he
drifted into mining and later crossing into Nevada in 1892, he
discovered the "April Fool." and in two years took out $150,000.00,
selling then to Capt. J. R. DeLaw. In
August of 1894, he came to Cracker and bought
out C. Rimbol's
interests consisting of about 400 acres of placer land and
three-fourths of a section of timber and homestead Land. including
the Sumpter. His placer properties are yielding a good profit, the
ground being very rich and with proper appliances would even be far
more valuable. He has lately begun to improve some of his city
property, erecting a handsome home and a large opera house 62x100,
the lower floor to be occupied by stores. He is also interested |
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in other enterprises, being a heavy
stockholder in the Sumpter Lumber Co. New Year's day, he married
Miss Spalding, of Baker City. |
Walter W. Looney
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Walter W. Looney is a man
of sterling worth, and today is one of the most popular citizens of
the county, his affability and good nature making him legions of
friends. He was born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1858, and remained in the
Willamette Valley until 1870, when he struck out for himself, and
coming to Eastern Oregon ran a band of cattle on shares for three
years. Moving then to The Dalles, he took the mall
contract from that point to Wapinitia, which he sold three years
later. In 1884 he moved to Granite Creek, and for it period of nine
years was engaged in mining and in the butchering business. In 1896
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moved to Sumpter, and in addition to
being engaged in in both placer and quartz mining, is also
interested in the saloon business. His resort is conducted on broad
principles, and he is ever ready to please has patrons, who are
composed of the better class of trade. Imported and domestic wines
and liquors are dispensed over the bar, and courteous treatment and
congenial companionship can al. ways be found there. Mr. Looney is
one of the Democratic war horses of the county, sustaining a good
political standing in his party. He is a member of the Maccabees and
Red Men, and is married to Miss M. E. Gallagher, of Portland, having
three children. |
C. E. Duckworth
~ H. Duckworth &
Company
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That the
people appreciate enterprise and perseverance is shown by the
success of one of our principal firms, whose name heads this sketch.
They are closely identified with the business interests of this
city, and carrying a complete line of general merchandise and miners
supplies, are in a position to cater to the wants of their many
patrons. That they do this satisfactorily is shown by the legions of
friends Mr. Charles E. Duckworth possesses. He is a native of Clark
County, Illinois, and in 1870, at the age of eleven with his father,
came to Auburn, Baker County. Since 1871, with the exception of six years spent in |
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farming in the valley, he has been
engaged in merchandising in either Sumpter or McEwan. He has ever stood ready
to contribute his share by word and act to the prosperity of the
"valley," putting its interests paramount even to his own.
Fraternally he is au Odd Fellow, Woodman, Workman and Artisan.
August 13th, 1880, he married Miss B. Lence, of
Jonesboro. Union County, Illinois. |
Jas. W. Duckworth
| As an illustration of the progressive
element of young manhood which has brought Baker county to the
front, the subject of this sketch has by his live ideas, keen
perception and good judgment of the opportunities within reach here
entitled himself to locution. He is a native of Illinois, crossing
the plains with his parents, partly by wagon, arriving at Auburn in
1870, when but eight years old. He remained on the home ranch in the
valley for five years, and later spent the same length of time in
Sumpter. Beginning prospecting shortly after, he in 1887 located the
"North Pole" mine, which valuable property he disposed of a year
later to a London syndicate. He then followed ranching for six
years, but since 1894 has engaged in milling. In 1888 he married
Miss Lillie Worley. of Sumpter, and has one child, a boy. He is a
member of Baker Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M. |
Dr. George W.
Tape
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A well-known and popular physician of Sumpter, and one whose kind,
attentive treatment of the sick and geniality of manner towards them
well have made him deservenly the favorite of all classes, was born
in Ontario, Canada.
In 1865, and received his preliminary education in that
province. At the age of eighteen he entered the Detroit College of
Medicine, and graduated in 1888. He then took a position on the
house staff of the Harper Hospital at Detroit, and remained there
till he came west, locating in Portland in 1891, where he
successfully practiced for two years.
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In 1893 he
returned east, but soon found his health would not permit him to
stay there. Returning to Portland he practiced there until the
spring of 1897, when he located at Sumpter. In 1890 he married Miss
Josephine S. Wallington, of Detroit, Michigan. |
Archibald
Downie
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The name that heads this sketch is one well known throughout the
west. He who bears it is now over three score years of age, but he
appears much younger, and is possessed of a greater degree of vim
and energy than is ordinarily displayed by men of younger years. His
career has, indeed, been an interesting one, and to enumerate even
the more prominent events of his life and to do justice to his
energy and enterprise in one brief sketch would be impossible, as it
would occupy more space than we can spare in our little volume. Mr.
Downie was born in Scotland in 1835, and came to New York at the age
of 17. He shortly after went to California and for the next
sixteen years was engaged in mining in Nevada, Eldorado and Sierra
Counties, owning the Key Stone diggings, from which he and his
partners took out $92,000.00 in eleven months. Selling out his
interest in the ground left for $800.00, in six months sixty
thousand more was taken out. He |
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acted then as the manager for the
Nebraska mime in Nevada County for two years, and then again became possessor
of some rich placers which he worked with success for a number of
years. Finally, feeling the effects of underground or deep placer
work, he came to Oregon in 1870, staying a short time only in Baker
City, and then moving to Sumpter, he began mining again at
Tamarack glitch. "Archie" Downie, as he is familiarly knows to all,
is a typical miner, shrewd in business but with a heart as large as
an ox. His claim owned in connection with Dr. J. F. Dickson,
the well known oculist, is looked upon as one of the richest placers
in the state. In 1881, Mr. Downie married Mrs. Adonis, of
Sumersetshire, England, and nothing gives him or his wife greater
pleasure than the entertainment of their hosts of friends. |
John H. Clark
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John H. Clark, one of Bourse's most substantial citizens, was born
in Canada in 1845, where he remained until his 19th year. Coming
then to Colorado, he was engaged in freighting with ox teams from
St. Joe to Denver, before the advent of the railroad. In 1875 he
moved to Arizona, and resumed his old business, but later took a
contract for grading on the A. & P. R. R., at The Needles. He later
spent some little time in California, also in British Columbia In
September, 1885, he came to Baker County, and acted as manager for
the Oregon Gold Mining Co., for two years. He then came to Cracker,
now known as |
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Bourne, and with but short intervals
has remained here since, engaging in the general merchandise business for a year in McEwan, also ran a hotel at Parker's Station for two years. In June,
1895, he opened his present resort, where the finest wines, liquors
and cigars are dispensed to his many patrons. His place is conducted
on broad principles. He is ever ready to please, and the result is
he has hosts of friends. |
Geo. W. Hall
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In the armed band of State
builders, who, catching the earliest rays of that regal star which
the prophetic spirit of poesy discovered long ago as the leader of
advancing civilization, followed its course to the western verge of
the continent, few are deserving of more honorable mention that Geo.
W. Hall, who was the first sheriff of this county.
Born in Wayne County, Illinois, in 1826, he remained
there until his 24th year, when he crossed the plains, locating at
Hangtown, now Placerville, California. He arrived there with a
capital of five cents, but made five dollars with a rocker mining as
his first day's work. He followed placer mining in the northern
counties of California with but short intervals until
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1862. He moved to Oregon at that time, and was one of the six who discovered the famous Auburn
diggings, in April of that year. By June the town had grown to
respectable proportions, and in July, a Frenchman having poisoned
his partner, the miners got together and appointed three judges and
Geo. W. Hall as sheriff, and a week later he had charge of the
obsequies of the murder. His next case was that of a Spanard
who had killed two men in a game of cards, but the exasperated
miners took him away form the sheriff and hanged him in the
outskirts of the town. These incidents will serve to show the
times as they existed in a mining camp of early date.
In 1867, Mr. Hall began farming in Powder River Valley,
and moving four years later to Lower Powder River, ranched there
until 1874. Returning to his first love, he mined in Nevada
for one year and again for eight years in Shasta County, California.
Returning to Eastern Oregon, he spent some time in Baker City, and
1887, opened a miner's boarding house in Cracker Creek. In
September of last year he opened his present hostlery, the "Bourne
Hotel." He married Miss Sarah J. Lowry, of Auburn, in 1862,
being the first couple married in Baker County, and has five
children, three boys and two girls, his eldest son, Charles being 34
years of age. He is a charter member of Baker City Lodge No.
47, A. F. and A. M. |
John F. Dooley
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That the people appreciate
enterprise and perseverance is shown by the success of the subject
of our sketch, who is rapidly forging to the front, although but yet
a young man. Born in Idaho City, May 29, 1867, he received his
education in Chicago, and on his return to Oregon was employed by
his uncle, Jerry Dooley, the Bridgeport merchant. In 1879 he went to
Biker City, and for a period of time acted as deputy county
treasurer. He later was in the employ of M. Well & Co., for two
years, and was a partner in the E. H. Thompson Mercantile Co. for
the next two years. He is now established at Cracker, or Bourne,
where he carries a general line of merchandise, including drugs and
sundries. He has by courteous treatment and low prices built up a
very satisfactory trade, and well deserves the success he has
achieved. In October, 1897, he was appointed postmaster. He is a
member of a number of the leading fraternities, taking an active
interest in their affairs. Mr. Dooley married Miss Maggie Griffin in
October, 1887, and has three children, all girls.
Eastern Oregon Gold Fields |
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Baker County Towns |
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