Coos County, Oregon Biographies

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Coos County Oregon Biographies

Collected from a variety of sources

Transcribed by Robyn Greenlund unless otherwise noted

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ANDERSON, Eleanor Louisa (Ellen) born in Minneapolis on 16 July 1884 to parents Karl (Charles) Anderson and Anna Louisa (Johansdotter) Anderson. Charles died 20 March 1933 in Minneapolis, Anna died in Minneapolis about 1886. Ellen married Alfred Carlson in Minneapolis on 15 August 1907. Alfred Carlson was born in Alvsborg, Sweden on 26 Sept 1871 and arrived in MN May 1893. Alfred died 26 March 1940 in Coos Bay, OR, Ellen died 23 Jan 1973, in Coos Bay, OR They were the parents of Evelyn Marian, born 28 March 1908, Minneapolis, Margaret Bernice born 30 May 1911, Minneapolis, Lillette Anna, born 28 April 1913, Alfred Kenneth, born 15 Aug 1919 and James Edward born 6 Nov 1920, the last three children born in Coos Bay, Coos Co., Oregon.

©Kim Torp

CHRISTISON, Robert, (Dell Rapids, S. D.) Born, Parish of Lochlee. Scotland, 1823; U. Ed.. Scotland; Free Ch. C, Scotland; Lic. '54, Phy. of Glasgow (Free Ch.); Ord. '58. Cong. Council of Lancashire; Cy. My.. Glasgow, Scotland, 7 yrs.; Cong Minister, Lancashire, England, '58-70; Joined Pby. of Jersey City. '72; Served the following Chs: Barclay, Edinboro and Arnot, Pa.; Columbus, Neb.; North Bend, Cottage Grove and Oregon, Wis.; Myrtle Creek, Oregon and Dell Rapids, S. D.; H. R.,'97?.

Source: The Ministerial directory: of the ministers in the Presbyterian Church in ... By Edgar Sutton Robinson 1898 pg. 209

CRAMER, Dr. John F.
Silver Beavers -- Three prominent scout workers of Lane county received recognition of their long service for the organization last Saturday when silver beaver awards were presented to (left to right) Leonard Ziniker,Creswell city councilman; Austin Dodds, Eugene school board member; and Dr. John F. Cramer, Eugene school superintendent, (extreme right) Lloyd Payne, chairman of the Lane district committee of the Oregon Trail council, Boy Scouts of America (Wiltshire engraving).

... Cramer's scouting record dates back to 1919 when he was a scout in Seattle. His service as a scout leader began in 1930 when he was a troop committeeman at Coquille. Following this, he was a commissioner at The Dalles, vice-president of the Crater Lake council at Medford, member of the executive board of the local scout council since 1937, vice-president of the council in 1941-42, and president of the council last year. Cramer is city superintendent of schools, a past president and member of the Rotary club, a member of the Eugene gleemen, chairman of the public service division of the county war fund, president of the Oregon State Teachers' Association, a member of the boards of the YMCA and Salvation Army, and a member of the Eugene Round Table.

Source: Eugene Register-Guard - Feb. 22, 1944 pg 2

KRONENBERG, John Lewis
One of the greatest individual forces in the commercial expansion and development of Coos county is John Lewis Kronenberg, a native son. His administrative ability has directed and influenced the organization and establishment of important industrial and business institutions and his energies have controlled their growth and progress. For well over a quarter of a century his well timed aggressiveness, his shrewd policy, and his business instinct have been directed toward the accomplishment of large ambitions and have made him a power in important affairs. He was born in Coos county, December 9, 1861, a son of John and Catherine (Beekler) Kronenberg, the former a native of Hanover, Germany, and the latter of Baltimore, Maryland. The father came west to California around Cape Horn in 1849 and the mother came to the same section a few years later. John Kronenberg, Sr., mined in the gold fields of Eldorado county for ten years and gained a comfortable fortune as a reward for his labors. With this money as a working capital he came north to Oregon, settling in Coos county in 1850, one of the early Oregon pioneers. He took up a homestead claim on Hall's creek, near Arago, and upon this property lived for thirty years. He cleared the land, built a home and rented his farm, retiring to Coquille in 1880, in order to rest after an active, eventful, and representative career. He died in that city in June, 1909. He was the father of five children: Emma, the wife of Joseph Blakely, of Lodi, California; John Lewis, of this review; Fred W., of Denver, Colorado; Rachel, the wife of A. J. Marsh, of Curry county; and Ida K., the wife of Dr. C. W. Owens, of St. Louis, Missouri.

John L. Kronenberg, of this review, received a limited education in the district schools of Coos county and remained upon his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age. Leaving home he went to Parkersburg where he became foreman of a lumber camp and acted in this capacity for twelve years. His business ability gained him rapid advancement and he eventually assumed entire management of the mill and has never severed his connection with it. After the death of the owner the business was incorporated under the name of the Coquille Mill & Tug Company with Mr. Kronenberg as director and stockholder. The other men interested in the business live in various parts of the United States and Mr. Kronenberg as the only local stockholder has a position of importance and responsibility which he fills ably and efficiently. Among his largest business interests may be mentioned the Bank of Bandon, of which he is president and director and the Coquille Tow Boat Company, which he organized and incorporated with a capital stock of forty thousand dollars. He is now its president and manager and also one of the largest stockholders. He is extensively interested in river traffic and also freight traffic on the Pacific ocean between ports on the coast and has directed his activities along this line for many years. He was responsible for the building of the ship Oregon, plying along the Pacific coast and owns a large amount of stock in this vessel. He is prominent and well known in the logging business and has extensive interests along this line, being at the head of a company which handles twelve million feet of lumber every year. Among the other important enterprises with which he is connected may be mentioned the Bandon Hardware Company, which he organized and the Bandon Dry Goods Company, of which he is president and a stockholder. On October 29, 1887, Mr. Kronenberg was united in marriage to Miss Ottilie K. Parker, a native of New York and a daughter of Captain Judah Parker, one of the pioneer ship captains on the Pacific coast and prominent in the Pacific mail service for a number of years. He died May 20, 1909. In his family were four children: Georgia A., the wife of William Poley, a druggist, of Ashland; W. C., of Prosper; Allen, who has passed away; and Ottilie, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Kronenberg have three sons: John, born in November, 1897, who is a pupil in the high school and is of a mechanical turn of mind; George, whose birth occurred April 15, 1904, and who is attending school; and Harry Parker, who passed away at the age of twenty years, on the 21st of June, 1908.

Mr. Kronenberg gives his allegiance to the democratic party but his absorbing business interests prevent his taking an active part in political life. Preeminently a man of large affairs he has made his career a great force in industrial development of his native section. He possesses the power of making his varied interests separately effective and has the keen discernment, courage, and initiative which make the true type of modern business man. His ability has commanded many opportunities which his public spirit has made factors in the general welfare.

Source: Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912 by Joseph Gaston, p. 1033

McQUIGG, Robert Gilmore, Jr.
Born in Lawrence County, TN on Oct. 18, 1830, the son of Robert Gilmore and Elizabeth Fry McQuigg. The family moved back to neighboring Giles County when he was very young. Both his parents had died by the time he was 14 years old. He and his 8 siblings were split up to live with various relatives. He left his native state of Tennessee in the early 1850s, traveling with relatives to Greene Co., MO, then with his brother James K. P. McQuigg, moved on to Allen Co., KS in 1855, where they each acquired land. Martin married Docia C. Clark on 12/20/1963 in Allen Co. She died on 12/21/1866 in Allen Co. By 1870 Robert had traveled to Linn Co., OR, where he was working on a farm in Harrisburg Pct. at the time of the census. He traveled back to Allen Co., KS, where he married his second wife, Martha Alice Clark on 7/6/1873. By 1880 he was farming in Coquille, Coos Co., OR, where he was living at the time of his death.
Source: Thomas L. Harman, February 2011

R. G. McQuigg was considerably bruised up and badly hurt several days ago, having been thrown out of a vehicle in which the team became unmanageable. He has been confined to his home ever since and is slowly improving.
Source: Coquille City Herald, Sept 28, 1897

Our fellow citizen, R. G. McQuigg, expresses a strong desire to secure the fruit dryer and starch factory for this locality, and to back up his wish he will donate one to three acres of his land to that end. He could give advantageously for receiving and shipping both by river and rail, if the site is selected in that locality. Mr. Mc realizes that $4 a ton for apples that are now mostly going to waste would be a great step forward.
Source: Coquille City Herald Dec 13, 1898

AN OLD SETTLER DIES.
Death of Robert McQuigg Occurred in Oregon.
Word has received by Mrs. J. W. Carroll of the death of Robert G. McQuigg, one of the early settlers of Allen county at his home in Coquille, Oregon, June 13th. Mr. McQuigg removed from Allen county about thirty years ago and will be remembered by many of the older residents of the county. He had reached the age of 80 years. Bright's disease was the cause of death. His wife is a sister of Mrs. J. W. Carroll of this city. James McQuigg of this city is a brother of the deceased.
Source: Iola Register (Allen Co., KS) June 23, 1908 -- Submitted by Thomas L. Harman

RAY, Wade Lee
WADE LEE RAY, farmer, dairyman and expert mechanician, is operating a tract of land located within one mile of Myrtle Point, Oregon, and is adding to the agricultural resources of that locality one hundred and twenty-four and one-half acres of land which is in an improved and well developed condition. He was born in Cass county, Nebraska, March 13, 1866, and is a son of Wade Hampton and Mary E. (Clinkenbeard) Ray, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. Ray's parents were married in Missouri and made that state their home for a number of years before they removed to Nebraska where they were among the early settlers. The father helped haul the lumber used in the building of the first house ever erected in Lincoln and was one of the active forces in the pioneer development of that city. He homesteaded land in Cass county and farmed until 1879. He then removed to Decatur county, Kansas, and took up land in that section, becoming prosperous and well known as a farmer. He remained there until 1894 and after some years spent in Nebraska came to Coos county in 1901. Here he made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, until his death on November 7, 1908. His wife survived him for nearly two years, dying on the 9th of March, 1910. To them were born twelve children, eight of whom are living: Sam, who resides in Colorado; John, of Coos county; Mollie, the widow of James H. Hirst, of Norton county, Kansas; Frank, of Coos county; Richard, who makes his home in Norton county, Kansas; Calvin, of Coos county; Sarah, the widow of E. F. Melton, of Weiser, Idaho; and Wade Lee, our subject.

Wade Lee Ray was educated in the public schools of Elmwood, Nebraska, and began active life for himself when he was fifteen years of age. Even at that early period he had become familiar with the details of agriculture by assisting his father in the work of the farm. He worked as a laborer for three years and gained valuable and necessary experience in that way. At the end of that time he commenced farming for himself in Nebraska meeting with success. He had mechanical talent. Thus it was that he operated machinery in connection with farming and was at one time in the employ of the Avery Manufacturing Company as an expert mechanician. In 1901 he came to Coos county, Oregon, where he bought one hundred and twenty-four and one-half acres of land located a mile below Myrtle Point. He has since lived upon that property and been successful in the cultivation of its soil. His farm comprises a large tract of rich and productive land, well equipped with granaries and other buildings, fenced and improved in every way, and its appearance manifests his progressive spirit and the energy which he always employs. He makes a specialty of dairying and keeps a large herd of cows for that purpose. This branch of his enterprise receives his personal supervision and attention. He keeps his dairy sanitary by modern methods, and his products gain a ready sale in the Oregon markets.

On January 1, 1890, Mr. Ray was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. King, who was born in Nebraska on the 11th of September, 1874. She is a daughter of T. M. and Lydia (Dibble) King, natives of Iowa. Her parents were married in Nebraska and the mother died in that state. Mrs. Ray's father is living in Johnson county, where he is numbered among the earliest pioneers. He bought land in that section at an early date, farmed for several years and was active in politics, serving two or three terms as sheriff. He engaged in stock-raising here and was well known as a representative and enterprising citizen. He had three children, the eldest of whom died in infancy. The others are: Nellie, the wife of our subject; and Mrs. Lydia Grace Williams, of Nebraska. Mrs. Ray received her education in Talmage, Nebraska, and remained with her parents until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Ray have seven children: Maurice, born in 1892, who lives at home; John S., born in August, 1893, also at home; Floyd, who died in infancy; Nona May, whose birth occurred in 1898; Calvin, born in 1900; Ora, born in 1904; and Lois Grace, whose birth occurred in 1911.

In politics Wade Lee Ray is independent. He votes for the men and measures which he considers best adapted to promote the welfare of his section, and has never sought public office. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Myrtle Point, Oregon, and is active in the affairs of that organization. He has met with success which is constantly increasing and his present prosperity is well merited for it has come to him through his own well directed labors and close application.

Source: The Centennial History of Oregon", 1811-1912, Volume 4, By Joseph Gaston, 1912 pg. 188

RAY, William F.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN RAY is one of the respected and well known men of Coos county, living upon his well developed ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, located three miles from Cooston up Willanche inlet. He was born in Mercer county, Missouri, in 1854, and is a son of Wade Hampton and Mary E. (Clenkenbeard [sic; Clinkenbeard]) Ray, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. The parents of the father and also of the mother removed at a very early day and settled in southwestern Missouri, where Mr. and Mrs. Wade Hampton Ray celebrated their wedding, after which they removed to northeastern Missouri, at which place occurred the birth of the subject of this review. They became the parents of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy. The eldest of those living is James S., a resident of New Windsor, Colorado, who is engaged in farming, is married and has nine children. John M., a resident of Leon, Kansas, is a blacksmith by trade, and has one son. Mary E., the widow of James H. Hurst, of Almena, Kansas, is the mother of six children. William F. is the subject of this review. Richard B., a resident of Norton, Kansas, is married and has five children. Calvin J., a resident of Norway, Oregon, who is engaged in farming, is married and has eight children. Sarah E., the widow of Eli F. Milton [sic; Melton], is engaged in farming in Weiser, Idaho, and has eight children. Wade L., the youngest member of the family, who is engaged in farming at Myrtle Point, Oregon, is married and has six children.

William Franklin Ray was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools. At the age of thirteen years he started in life for himself obtaining as his first employment, a position as cattle herder, for which he received a compensation of eight dollars per month. He continued in that employment for two years and then was engaged as laborer on a farm for a number of years. In 1876 he rented eighty acres of land for one year and engaged in farming. The following year he rented forty acres, to the cultivation of which he gave his attention for one year and in 1878 he took up a timber claim in Kansas, which he kept for sometime and later filed upon a preemption claim and also a homestead. In 1887 he disposed of his real-estate holdings in Kansas and removed to Garfield county, Washington, and was there employed for one year in a sawmill. The next year he was engaged in the butcher business, and later he and his wife successfully conducted a boarding house in Spokane Washington, immediately after the destruction of that city. In 1890 he removed to Coos bay and settled in Marshfield, where he worked for E. A. Anderson in the livery business for four years. He then rented a ranch located on Isthmus inlet and was engaged in general farming for one year. In 1895 he rented the ranch belonging to Judge Watson, of Coos City, for whom he established a well equipped dairy. In 1896 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of choice agricultural land located on Willanche inlet and there established his home and has since continued to reside. He makes a specialty in the raising and marketing of poultry and is also heavily interested in the raising of pure bred angora goats and beef cattle.

In 1884 Mr. Ray was united in marriage to Miss Laura H. Rouse, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John and Hannah (Straight) Rouse, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York. They became the parents of ten children: Joanna, deceased; J. Smith, named in honor of Captain John Smith, who came over in the Mayflower and was the captain of the Plymouth Colony settlement made in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620; O. T., of Spokane, Washington; Mary, who married George Finley, of Finley, Washington, and by him has one child; Andrew M., deceased; James P., a resident of Jennings, Kansas, who is married and has five children; William M., who resides in Nebraska; Laura H., who is the wife of the subject of this review; Frank, who resides in Greenwood, Nebraska, and has five children; and Ella, who married Mr. Sims, of Washington, and by him has four children. Mrs. Ray has the distinction of being a direct descendant of Captain John Smith of Mayflower fame. Mr. and Mrs. William Franklin Ray have a son, Austin A. Ray, who was born in 1885.

Mr. Ray gives his political allegiance to the socialist party and served for three years as road supervisor of his district and has also been one of the directors of the school board for a number of years. He is also a member of the Grange. Mr. Ray is one of the enterprising and valued citizens of the community in which he lives. He is a man of strict integrity in all business transactions and highly respected by his friends and associates.

Source: The Centennial History of Oregon", 1811-1912, Volume 4, By Joseph Gaston, 1912 pg. 782-- Submitted by K. Torp

STEWARD, Henry B.
HENRY B. STEWARD, the efficient and popular postmaster of Myrtle Point, Coos county, not only became a well known figure in industrial circles of this section but is also prominent in politics and well known in fraternal circles of the community in which he makes his home. The width of the continent divides him from the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred in the state of Maine, on the 21st of January, 1859. His parents, Joseph and Sarah Steward, were also natives of the Pine Tree state but in 1876 sought the opportunities of the far west, making their way to California. Upon arriving in that state they took up their abode in Inyo county, which remained the place of their residence throughout their remaining days.

Henry B. Steward, who was the only child born unto his parents, received a good public school education and remained at home until twenty-one year of age, when, determining to seek his own way in the world, he left the parental roof and went to southern California. There he became identified with mining and farming operations and was variously engaged in that section of the country for a period of fourteen years. On the expiration of that time he disposed of his interests in California and came north to Oregon, locating in Coos county, and here took up the occupation of a contractor and carpenter, in which line of activity he met with most gratifying success. He was thus actively connected with the material development and growth of the county until 1907, when he withdrew from industrial circles to take upon himself the duties of public office.

Early in life Mr. Steward became interested in the politics of the country and, forming his own opinions and rules of conduct, has given support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For seven years he served as constable and has occupied the position of postmaster for five years, his reappointment to that office in 1911 indicating his popularity among his fellow citizens and the capable and efficient manner in which he performed the duties that devolved upon him in this connection.

It was in the year 1898 that Mr. Steward established a home of his own by his marriage, on the 14th of December, to Miss Estella Volkmar, who was born in Coos county on the 2d of September, 1870, a daughter of William and Wilhelmina (Defenbaugh) Volkmar. Her parents were both natives of Germany, the lather's birth occurring on the 19th of April, 1816 and the mother's on June 22, 1830. They crossed the Atlantic in early life, Mr. Volkmar coming to this country when nineteen years of age, arriving in Baltimore in 1834. There he worked for some time at the tinners' trade and later, in connection with his brothers, took large contracts for the covering of stations and bridges belonging to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. He was also employed by Samuel Morse, the inventor, in installing the first telegraph line ever constructed between Baltimore and Washington, D. C., and was present when the first message was sent over the line. He was married in Baltimore and in 1859 sailed for California, via the isthmus of Panama, with San Francisco as his destination. He did not long remain in that city, however, but in 1860 came north to Oregon, being a member of the first colony to settle along the Coquille river in Coos county. The party came by boat as far as Port Orford, where they landed, and from which place they made their way up the beach with ox teams, continuing their journey until they reached the Coquille valley. There they procured scows upon which they loaded their effects, and thus they came up the river to their future homes. The journey was not without its perils for on one occasion a member of the party was drowned and on another one of the scows sank, causing a great loss of property [See Dr. Henry Hermann]. Finally, however, they reached their destination and Mr. Volkmar established his home on the south fork of the Coquille river. He had brought with him a millstone and a small engine, and later he purchased a fifty-two inch saw. He erected a sawmill and also a grist mill, which was operated successfully for some time, and in addition to the lumber which he manufactured for his own use and that of the colony he shipped considerable white cedar lumber to San Francisco, where it sold for twenty-two dollars and fifty cents per thousand. He continued to reside in that section of the county until 1884, when he came to Myrtle Point and here became identified with the tinning business, while later he added a hardware department. He thus continued until his death, which occurred in January, 1909, having survived his wife for seven years, her death occurring in 1902, when she was seventy-one years of age. In their family were eight children, of whom three are deceased. Those living are: J. M., of Oregon City; William F., a resident of North Yakima, Washington; Albert L., a hardware dealer of Myrtle Point; Mrs. Steward; and Henry G., also engaged in the hardware business in Myrtle Point. Those deceased are Carl H., and Tillie V. Greene, and one who passed away in infancy. Mrs. Steward received her education in Myrtle Point and previous to her marriage was successfully engaged in teaching school for a short time. She and her husband have become the parents of three children, namely: Harry B., who was born on November 18, 1899; Melba H., born January 13, 1902; and Darrell C., whose birth occurred on January 16, 1905.

Mr. Steward is a prominent and popular figure in fraternal circles of Coos county, holding membership in the Masonic order and the Woodmen of the World, in both of which bodies he has filled all of the chairs. He has also served as delegate to the grand lodge of Masons and belongs to the Eastern Star, while he is also identified with the local Grange. He and his family live in a fine home situated on six acres of land located partly within the city limits of Myrtle Point. Aside from his home place he also owns one hundred and sixty acres of timber land on Catching creek and valuable property in the town of Bandon, while his wife is the owner of thirty-five acres of land on the south fork of the Coquille river. The family is one of the well known and prominent families of Myrtle Point, popular in the social circles in which they move, and few citizens are held in higher esteem than is Mr. Steward. He has done much in the past toward the material development of the community and his record in public office has ever been of the highest order, winning for him the confidence and good-will of all concerned.

Source: The Centennial History of Oregon", 1811-1912, Volume 4, By Joseph Gaston, 1912 pg. 782-784 [Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Steward on page 783]