Every Wednesday, the Oregon Republican League will post the biographies of important figures, in the League's/State of Oregon's history. Feel free to comment or share stories of your family's Republican affiliation.
Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley - Oregon," Chapman
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903, pages 466 & 467.
Strauder Froman
A typical representative of the pioneer farmers of Oregon, Strauder Froman
has long been identified with the agricultural interests of Linn County as
proprietor of a well kept and finely improved ranch in Albany township. Possessing
an unlimited amount of energy and push as a young man, he labored
intelligently and diligently by thrift and good management acquiring a competency, and is
now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying the reward of his early
toil and self-sacrifice. He was born in Danville, Ill., May 2 1832. His
grandfather, Jacob Froman, was for many years a farmer in Kentucky, but, subsequently
removed to Indiana, where he remained until his death.
When a boy of twelve years Thomas Froman, the father of Strauder, left his
Kentucky home, going with his parents to Indiana, where he grew to man's estate.
Ambitious and enterprising, he subsequently engaged in business in Danville,
Illinois, and in partnership with his brother Isaac made money in river
trading. One of his earliest ventures in this line was the taking of one hundred
head of beef steers, and two hundred and fifty hogs, with sufficient hay and
corn to feed the same, to New Orleans, going on a flat-boat down the Vermillion
river to the Wabash, thence down the Ohio river to the Mississippi, which he
followed to his point of destination. Being successful in this venture, he
afterward did considerable trading in cattle, hay and grain, shipping to the gulf
ports. Disposing of his Illinois farm in 1854, he removed to Nebraska, going
with horse teams to Richardson county. Two years later, Thomas Froman, whose
son, Isaac and daughter America, now Mrs. Price, had settled near Albany,
Oregon, in 1851, conceived the idea of joining them. Starting with his wife and
seven children in an ox-train, he followed the old Oregon trail for a time,
but on account of the Indian troubles in Oregon and Washington he pursued the
California trail from Soda Springs, the thirty men of the train with their
families proceeding to Chico, Cal., arriving there in August, 1856. The journey
had consumed four months. Leaving his son, Strauder, the special subject of
this sketch, in charge of the loose cattle. One hundred head of them, Thomas
Froman went with the remainder of his family to San Francisco, thence by boat to
Oregon City, and from there came to Albany by team. Immediately purchasing
land in this locality he engaged in farming, his ranch containing three hundred
and twenty acres, on which he resided until his death, in 1880, at the age of
eighty-two years. At the same time he bought an adjoining farm equally large
for his son Strauder, purchasing both pieces of land from Judd Ness Robinson.
He was a member of the Baptist Church and in his early life was a Whig, but
afterwards became identified with the Republican party. He served in the Black
Hawk war while a resident of Illinois.
Thomas Froman married Elizabeth Rand, who was born in Ohio. Her father,
James Rand. a native of Ireland, emigrated to this county when a boy of seventeen
years, and subsequently served as a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war.
Settling then in Virginia, he married Miss Carder, and afterwards removed to
Ohio, where he lived for a few years. Going from there to Indiana, he
continued his agricultural pursuits until his death. Of the union of Thomas and
Elizabeth (Rand) Froman twelve children were born, eleven of whom grew to years of
maturity, namely: Frances died in Oregon; America, now Mrs. Price, of Albany,
came here in 1851, settling on a donation claim; Louisa, who died in Illinois
in 1853; Isaac, who came to Albany in 1851, resided on the donation claim
which be then purchased; Strauder, the subject of this sketch; Minerva died in
Nebraska; Mrs. Hannah Foster, who died in Oregon; Mrs. Elizabeth Pate, of
Albany; Mrs. Mary Lagsdon, of Albany; Thomas who resides on the old homestead; and
Mrs. Martha Wyatt, of San Francisco, Cal.. The mother died on the home farm,
in Oregon, at the advanced age of eight-four years.
Brought up on an Illinois farm, Strauder Froman obtained his education at a
subscription school in a rude log school-house, the teacher boarding around
among the families during the annual term of three months. Going with his
parents to Nebraska in 1854, he remained there two years, then, as previously
stated, started in April, 1856, for California, arriving in August at Chico. Being
left in charge of the cattle at that place, he stayed there until 1857, when
he sold the stock and came to Oregon, locating on the ranch which his father
had purchased for him in July of that year. Taking a drove of cattle across the
mountains to California in 1859, he disposed of them at an advantage, and
remained in the Sacramento valley until 1861. Returning to Oregon, he
subsequently engaged in mining for three or more years, first at the Oraphino mines,
then at the Powder river mines, near the present site of Baker City, thence to
the Idaho City mines. Coming back to the Willamette valley in 1864, Mr. Froman
resumed charge of his farm on three hundred and twenty acres, which is finely
located about three and one-half miles southeast of Albany, and for more than
a score of years was prosperously engaged in general farming and
stock-raising. Since 1885 he has rented his ranch and resided in Albany. He is one of the
organizers of the Albany Creamery Association, of which he has been president
from the time of its inception, managing its affairs most successfully and
satisfactorily.
On November 11, 1868, Mr. Froman married, in Albany, Ophelia C. Moore, who
was born near Middletown, N.Y., a daughter of Henry Moore. Her grandfather,
Jacob Moore, was born of Scotch ancestors, in the North of Ireland, and emigrated
to this country from there, locating as a farmer in Orange county, N.Y.
Henry Moore, a native of Orange county, N.Y., was a farmer by occupation, and
removed from his native town to Illinois, purchasing a farm at Whig Hill, near
Rockford, where he engaged in farming until his death. He married Frances
Slaughter, who was born in Orange county., N.Y., of German ancestry, being the
daughter of Isaac Slaughter, a farmer. She survived her husband, and, in 1864,
started across the plains with her six children, three boys and three girls, in
the train commanded by Captain Medorum Crawford, the train consisting of three
wagons, each drawn by four horses. At Fort Laramie she was taken sick and
died. The children continued with the company and after spending a year at Walla
Walla, Wash., came, in 1865, to Linn county. Three of the children are still
living, Mrs. Froman being the eldest. Politically Mr. Froman is an
uncompromising Republican, ever loyal to the interests of his party and his community.
Fraternally he was made a Mason in Chico, Calif., and is now a member of
Corinthian Lodge. A.F.& A. M. He likewise belongs to the Albany Grange, which he
has served as master. Mrs. Froman is a member of the Eastern Star Lodge.
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ABEL D. HELMAN
Conspicuous among the early settlers of Jackson County is Abel D. Helman, who came here a full half century ago, and has since been an important factor in developing its resources and advancing its interests. Prominent in the upbuilding of Ashland, which he had the honor of naming for the Ohio county in which he was born, he is one of its most respected residents. Soon after locating here, he succeeded in having a post office located in Ashland, in 1855, and was appointed its first postmaster, giving a bond as security. At first mails arrived once a month only, later coming once a week. When a daily mail was established, he gave a new bond, and when the office was made a money order office his bond had to be made largely increased. As postmaster he served twenty-seven consecutive years without re-appointment, no one offering opposition until the salary reached the sum of $600 per annum, when others sought to secure the plum, and, in 1882, a successor was appointed, Mr. Helman made no effort whatever to retain the position. Coming from substantial German stock, he was born, April 10, 1824 in Wayne, now Ashland, county, Ohio, where his father, John Helman, was engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Born in Germany, John Helman immigrated to this country with his parents, locating first in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the War of 1812, and afterwards removed to Ohio, where he was for many years successfully engaged in general farming. His wife, whose maiden name was Sophia Dougherty, was born in Pennsylvania, and died on the home farm in Ohio. Four sons and three daughters were born of their union, and of these three children are now living. One son, Harmon, came to the Pacific coast with the gold seekers in 1849 and died in California. Another son, John, came to Oregon in 1853, but is now a resident of Montana.
The fourth child in succession of birth in the parental household, Abel D. Helman grew to man's estate on the home farm in Ohio. Obtaining his early education in a subscription school, he was a pupil in the pioneer log schoolhouse with its puncheon floor and rude slab benches, learning to write with a quill pen. Subsequently learning a carpenter's trade in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, he followed that in connection with the trade until he was twenty-six years old. In January, 1850, anxious to follow the gold hunters, he sailed from New York in the streamer Ohio to Aspinwall, and then preceded on foot to Panama, where he waited a month for a vessel to take him to California. Arriving in San Francisco in April, 1850, he went to Weaver Creek, where he was engaged in mining for a time and subsequently worked his trade in Sacramento for about a year. In 1851 Mr. Helman made a trip to over the mountains to the Willamette Valley, Ore., driving a mule team from Yreka,Cal., to Salem, Ore., on the way crossing a part of the tract that he afterwards took up as a donation claim. Returning to California, Mr. Helman resided in Yreka until January, 1852, when, with two friends from Ashland County, Ohio, he came to what is now Jackson County, Ore., and took up three hundred and twenty acres of land on what was then called Rock Creek. Erecting a log cabin on the thoroughfare now known as Helman Street, he kept house until the arrival of his wife and children, for whom he returned to Ohio in 1853. In 1852, with his two companions, he built a saw-mill on Mill Creek, and two years later erected a grist-mill near by. In 1855 Mr. Helman laid out 12 lots around the plaza, naming the settlement Ashland from his native county. During the Indian Wars of 1855 and 1856 he took part, being assigned to home duty at a fort on Wagner creek. for a number of years thereafter he operated the mils, then sold out and resumed work at his trade. As a carpenter and contractor he erected several fine residences and barns, and as a cabinetmaker did a good deal of work. Mr. Helman has within a few years laid out three or four additions to Ashland, his entire home farm being now included within the city limits. Of this he still owns about sixty acres, which he devotes principally to the culture of peaches. He is almost the oldest settler of this locality, he and Mr. Hargadine having taking up the first two donation claims in Ashland.
In Wooster, Ohio, Mr. Helman married for his first wife Martha J. Kanagy, who was born in Pennsylvania, came to Oregon by the Nicaragua route in 1853, and died soon afterwards on the home farm. Eight children were born of their union, namely: Mrs. Almeda L. Shepard of California; John K., living in Ashland; Mrs. Mary E. Niles, of California; Martha Jane, wife of J.A. Carter, of Ashland; Abraham Lincoln, of Ashland; Benjamin Butler, also of Ashland; Ulysses Grant, of Ashland, and Otis O., of Ashland. For his second wife Mr. Helman married Mrs. S.A. Rockfeller, who was born in Ohio, and came to Oregon in 1873. Politically Mr. Helman is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has served as councilman one term. Fraternally he is a member of Ashland Lodge, No. 45, I.O.O.F., of which he is past noble grand, and was Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge in 1892; is a member, and past chief patriarch, of Pilot rock Encampment. In 1891 he was grand patriarch of the Grand Encampment; in 1892 was grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge, at Portland, Ore., and in 1893, went to Milwaukee,Wis., as grand representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is also identified with the Rebekah's, and is a member of both county and state Pioneer associations. Possessing deep religious convictions, he is a firm believer in the Bible, and although not a church member is inclined towards the Methodist Episcopal faith.
(Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon 1904)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~orgenweb/bios/abelhelman.html
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