Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Oregon Republican League: History 104 Biographies

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.

Source: "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon," Rev. H. K. Hines, D. D., The Lewis Publishing Co., 1893.

WILLIAM L. WARREN

William L. Warren, an esteemed native son of Oregon, and prosperous farmer, and popular Sheriff of Yam Hill county, was born in Portland, August 6, 1849. (See history of his father, William Edward Warren, an honored Oregon pioneer of 1847,...). He was the second child, and was reared on his father's donation claim in Yam Hill county. He attended the district school, traveling three miles to reach the primitive log schoolhouse. In 1861 he went to Portland, where, for five years, he had the benefit of the public schools. In 1866 he returned to Yam Hill county, where, for two years, he attended the McMinnville Baptist College.

He then returned to the farm, where he was engaged in the production of grain and stock for several years.

On April 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Amanda J. Payne, a native of Yam Hill county, and the daughter of Mr. C. J. Payne, an esteemed pioneer of 1847.

After his marriage, he farmed the lands of his father-in-law, for four years, when Mr. Payne divided his land among his three children, and upon Mrs. Warren's share, the subject of our sketch built a substantial house and otherwise improved the place, and also worked the other portions of the land. He also owns valuable city property in McMinnville, which he bought upon first coming here.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren have three sons: Edward M., Thomas J., and Miles D., all born in Yam Hill county.

In politics Mr. Warren is an active Republican, and in 1890, was nominated by his party for the office of Sheriff, receiving ninety-five out of 113 votes in the precinct in which he lived. He entered upon the duties of the office in July, 1890, and conducted the business so satisfactorily, that he was re-nominated by acclamation, and was elected by 450 majority.

He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, - of the blue lodge, royal Arch and Council, - and the A.O.U.W.

Oregon's superior productive powers are so well known, that it is not remarkable that this should influence the human race within her charmed confines, as well as the vegetable kingdom. Her in the freedom of her vast plains, man is not crowded out of existence as in countries of an older civilization, but like the monarch of the forest, spreads his arms to the refreshing breezes of heaven, until his brow touches the skies.

Notes: William's uncle, Henry Warren, previously had been a sheriff in Yamhill Co. Thomas Jefferson Payne was a witness at the wedding of William and Amanda. The following year, Thomas married William's sister, Susan Mary Warren.

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The Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume II published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912

George M. Hawley: Cottage Grove Stock Dealer and Local Politician

George M. Hawley, of Cottage Grove, is a retired farmer and stock-dealer who has been active in political matters, in which he still takes an active interest. He was born in Lane county, Oregon, September 9, 1857, a son of Ira and Elvira (Riley) Hawley, the father a native of New York and the mother of Indiana. In their family were eight children, namely: Nirom, of Moscow, Idaho; Lyman, deceased; William, of Lorane, Oregon; Annie, the deceased wife of Frank Stockwell, of Idaho; George M. of this review; Robert D., of Creswell, Oregon; James H., of Divide, Oregon; and Alice, deceased. The youngest son is now making his home on the old donation land claim which was taken up by his father after he crossed the plains in 1852. The father had previously made the journey to California in 1849, remaining in that state until the following year, when he returned to Illinois by way of Cape Horn, and in 1852 again came west, taking up a claim at Divide, Oregon.

George M. Hawley remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, and when he left home his father gave him three hundred and seventy-five acres of land near Creswell, Oregon. He lived on that land until in 1911, when he sold out and removed to Cottage Grove, retiring from business. For five years during his early career he followed the business of buying and selling stock, but he later disposed of that business and gave his entire attention to diversified farming, which he continued until the time of his retirement.

Mr. Hawley was married twice and by his first union has two children: Oscar, who is married and resides at The Dalles; and George Francis, also making his home at that place. Mr. Hawley's second union occurred March 31, 1894, when he wedded Miss Minnie Ozment, a daughter of J.S. and Elizabeth (Dilon) Ozment, both natives of North Carolina. The Ozment family crossed the plains in 1869 from the latter state and settled in Lane county, Oregon, where Mrs. Hawley was born and where her marriage took place. In his political faith, Mr. Hawley is a republican and has held numerous local offices. He was justice of the peace at Creswell for two terms, was road supervisor for twelve years, has been school clerk and served on the school board for several years, and is now a candidate for county commissioner. In his fraternal relations, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. In his religious views he is liberal and attends different churches. Mr. Hawley, who is one of the early sons of Lane county, has been an active and valuable man in the development of the resources of his community and in later years particularly has assisted in no small way in the public projects of the county. Following for many years agricultural pursuits on a large scale, he labored hard and faithfully and is well entitled to the rest from hard work which he is now enjoying. He is widely known throughout the community and is greatly respected by all who are acquainted with him.

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The Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume II published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912

Hon. James Hemenway: Miner, Real Estate Broker and Citizen of Cottage Grove

Hon. James Hemenway, a prominent real-estate dealer of Cottage Grove, is interested in mining operations, was for many years a merchant of the city and is universally considered one of its most public-spirited and enterprising citizens. He was born in Canada, July 3, 1854, the son of William and Catherine (McCord) Hemenway, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Ireland. The parents removed to Wisconsin when James Hemenway was an infant and in that state the family resided for fifteen years, after which, in 1870, they went to Kansas, where the father took up a homestead, upon which he lived until 1888, when he removed to Oregon. In his family were six children: James; Almond, deceased; William F., of Seattle, Washington; D. H., of Cottage Grove; and Rose and Clarence, both of whom are deceased.

James Hemenway received his education in the schools of Wisconsin and began life on his own account at the age of seventeen years. He was first employed at farm work and later was engaged in various occupations. When he came to Oregon with his family in 1888 he settled in Cottage Grove and with his brother, William F. Hemenway, established a livery business with which he remained connected for ten years. He then sold out and engaged in real estate and mining in the Bohemian mining district, operating both lines of business together. One of his prominent mining operations was the opening of the Riverside and Happy Jack mines. He sold these mines, however, after operating them for a year and later purchased a mining claim elsewhere in the Bohemia district. He was for nine years engaged in the general merchandise business in Cottage Grove, purchasing it in 1901 and disposing of it to again engage in the real-estate business, reentering that field in 1910. In addition to his mining interests, he owns an eighty acre farm besides property in Cottage Grove, where he resides.

Mr. Hemenway has been twice married. By his first union he became the father of two children; W. Almond, of Cottage Grove, who is married and has three children, Margaret, Catherine and Read; and Hazel, a graduate of the high school, who is engaged in teaching and resides at home. In 1905 Mr. Hemenway wedded Mrs. Carrie Northway, a native of Indiana.

Mr. Hemenway, who is a republican and who has been actively and prominently engaged in politics for many years, was elected in 1901 as a member of the state legislature when the Oregon system was adopted, at which time the Torrence land law was enacted. During the early years of his residence in Cottage Grove, when the town contained a population of only two hundred and fifty people, having four stores and a flour mill, he was elected a member of the council and served in that capacity for almost seven years. The city has now attained a population of twenty-five hundred people and Mr. Hemenway has been prominently associated with all the enterprises of a public nature during this period of growth in the population. During the time he was a member of the council the first water plant was installed. He was deputy tax collector for one term and has also been deputy sheriff of Lane county. He has always been actively interested in educational matters and served for one term as a clerk of the school board. In his fraternal connections, Mr. Hemenway is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

His long and active business and political career in Lane county has contributed very materially to the upbuilding of the business, political and social interests of the city and county. As a member of the Oregon state legislature, he was active and efficient and while in that position formed the acquaintance of large numbers of people throughout the state. He is universally recognized as one of the leading citizens of Cottage Grove and as he has always taken a deep interest in all matters of public import he is considered one of the most valuable of its citizens. Affable in demeanor, courteous to his customers and optimistic in temperament, he has made an unusually large number of friends and acquaintances, all of whom hold him in high esteem.

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The Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume II published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912

Martin Svarerud: Eugene Real Estate and Investment Company

Martin Svarverud is the president and treasurer of the Eugene Real Estate and Investment Company, in which line of business he has been engaged for seventeen years. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He has ever been a close student of the signs of the times, has carefully watched the real-estate market, has studied the question of general development and has thus been enabled to make judicious purchases and profitable sales in handling realty. His insurance business, too, is an important source of revenue and his investment department is a growing one.

The family name indicates his Norwegian ancestry. He was born near Christiania, Norway, December 11, 1855, and is a son of Andrias P. and Eline (Peterslokken) Svarverud. The former was a son of Peter Svarverud and a representative of one of the well-to-do families of his part of Norway. The grandfather was the owner of a very fertile farm of extended acreage. The family in both the maternal and paternal lines were strict adherents of the Lutheran faith.

Martin Svarverud had begun his education in the public schools of his native land when in 1867 the father brought the family to the new world, settling in Rushford, Minnesota, which state was the destination of many of his fellow countrymen who emigrated to America. The father there purchased land, becoming owner of a farm, upon which his son Martin was reared, and after fourteen years spent in Minnesota he removed to North Dakota, homesteading a claim near Fort Ransom in the Cheyenne valley sixty-five miles southwest of Fargo. He was one of the first in that section to engage in wheat raising and, finding that soil and climate were splendidly adapted to the crop, he annually gathered large harvests and made considerable money in that way. After his marriage he came to Oregon in 1889; settling at Eugene on the 7th of April of that year. Here he embarked in the implement and hardware business under the name of M. Svarverud & Company. He continued in that business for three years and became recognized as one of the foremost merchants of his part of the state. He also extended his operations to other fields, conducting stores at Harrisburg and at Independence. He then engaged in the real-estate business, with which he has been connected for seventeen years. The Eugene Real Estate & Investment Company, of which he is now the head, is the outgrowth of his individual real-estate, loan and insurance business and was incorporated about four years ago, Mr. Svarverud becoming president and treasurer, with Van Svarverud, his son, as the secretary. He handled the Fairmount addition to Eugene and also the University addition. He has largely specialized in dealing in farm lands and he now handles his own property. Moreover, he retains the ownership of an excellent fruit farm near Jefferson, which is devoted to the cultivation of apples, prunes and walnuts and is in charge of his son Leland. Mr. Svarverud is developing an addition of forty-eight acres called Fairmount Heights. He is thoroughly conversant concerning realty values and his opinions are largely accepted as authority. He represents a large number of fire insurance companies and his business in that department has grown along gratifying lines. He was one of the first to agitate the subject of establishing the Eugene Real Estate Exchange, of which he served as president for several years. He is also the president of the Osburn Hotel Company.

In 1888 Mr. Svarverud was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Marsh, a daughter of George Marsh, of Valley City, North Dakota, and an early settler of Barnes County, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Svarverud now have four living children, Franklin Evander, Leland Ray, George Martin, and Frederick Carlton. The parents are members of the Episcopal church and are interested in all those affairs which make for the substantial development and progress of the community. In politics Mr. Svarerud is a republican and is now serving as president of the Eugene water board. He believes that political activities should be made to conserve public progress and the best interests of a community. He is well known in fraternal relations. Of Spencer Butte Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., he is a past grand and one of the trustees and has served as grand marshal of the grand lodge of Oregon. He is likewise past chief patriarch of Wimawhala Encampment. No. 6, and he became a charter member and was the first clerk of Canton Hovey, No. 4, Uniform Rank. He likewise belongs to Eugene Camp, No. 115, W. O. W.; Eugene Tent, No. 52, K. O. T. M.; Eugene Lodge No. 357, B. P. O. E.; and Eugene Aerie, No. 275, F. O. E. He has a reputation for unassailable integrity and it is said that his word is as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature or seal. He is a public-spirited citizen, cooperating heartily in movements for the general good, and is very benevolent and charitable, extending a helping hand wherever aid is needed and giving freely for the benefit of independent and organized charity.

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