Charles Winston Risley

From the earliest ages agriculture has been the basic element of all material and business advancement, and it was to that great department of labor that Charles W. Risley devoted his attention through the years of his active career, his success being the result of careful management and wise direction of his interests. He was a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state, his parents being Jacob and Mary (Scholl) Risley, while his grandfather in the paternal line was Orville Risley, who came to Oregon in 1845, having made the long journey across the plains and over the mountain passes to the northwest. He took up his abode in Yamhill county, where he resided for about three years and then traded that claim for a farm two and one-half miles south of the present site of Milwaukie. In 1848 he went to California, where he engaged in mining for about a year, and later he bought an interest in a boat line operating between California and Oregon. In the early days he served as city recorder of Portland and he became the owner of real estate interests here, owning the half block of ground on which the Broadway building now stands. His son, Jacob S. Risley, was born in Delphos, Ohio, and came with his parents to Oregon in 1845. Here he took up a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres of government land on the present site of Oak Grove and when gold was discovered in California he sought success in the mines, to which he went in 1849, there remaining for two years. Returning to his Oregon ranch, he thereafter gave his attention to farming until his death, which occurred in 1902, at which time his property was divided between his three living children — Charles, John F. and Mary, but John F. is now the only survivor. Mrs. Mary Risley, wife of Jacob S. Risley, was born in Illinois and was brought by her people across the plains to Oregon in 1848, the family securing a donation land claim where Scholl's bridge is now seen. There the father operated a ferry over the Tualatin river for many years and subsequently built a toll bridge, on which he collected his fees as people passed to and fro through a considerable period. He also owned an excellent farm property and was one of the substantial and respected residents of his community. His daughter, Mrs. Risley, passed away in 1886. Of the family of eight children born to Jacob S. and Mary (Scholl) Risley but one survives, John F., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.

    It was upon the donation land claim of Jacob S. Risley near Milwaukie  that his son, Charles W. Risley, was born on the 1st of August, 1858, and  while spending his youthful days under the parental roof he pursued a public  school education. After his textbooks were put aside he became associated with  his father and his brother John in the operation of the big farm of more than  four hundred acres, all of which was highly developed and cultivated.  Following his father's death he became owner of a part of this property and  throughout his remaining days devoted his attention successfully to the  further cultivation of his fields. At the time the car line was built from  Portland to Oregon City he gave twenty acres of land for the benefit of the  project, realizing how much it meant in the development of the district, and  at all times he was actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good.

    On the 21st of November, 1888, Mr. Risley was united in marriage to Miss  Alice Johnston, who was born in Clackamas county, Oregon, a daughter of Jacob  and Ann (Green) Johnston, who were natives of England and after a residence of  ten years in Canada established their home in Clackamas county, Oregon, in  1865. They resided at two or three places but finally settled at Clackamas  Station, where Mr. Johnston had a large farm which he carefully cultivated and  improved, living an active and useful life. By her marriage his daughter, Mrs.  Risley, became the mother of four children who reached adult age. Alice, who  is a graduate of the University of Oregon, married Robert C. Bradshaw. They  make their home with her mother and they have two sons, Winston and William.  Jacob Risley, who was in the marine service during the World war, married  Frances Mann, of Eugene, and they have two sons, Jacob S. and Charles N. Olive  Ann, a graduate of the University of Oregon, is the wife of John D. Gilbert of  Astoria and they have two sons, William Sylvester and John Risley Gilbert.  Ralph W. Risley, who married Lelia Bickell, lives at the old home place but is  engaged in business in Portland.

    Mr. Risley was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in  Masonry attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, joining that  fraternity at Oregon City, while his Scottish Rite work was concluded in the  consistory at Portland. He likewise belonged to the Mystic Shrine and was a  member of the Elks lodge at Oregon City. He was a great lover of the beautiful  and had keen appreciation for all that nature offered in its wooded hills, its  broad plains and shimmering rivers. He rejoiced in the glowing colors of the  sunset and in the rose tinted dawn. His home life was to him more than all  else and he found his greatest happiness in the midst of his family. He passed  away August 14, 1917, when fifty-nine years of age.

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 199 - 200 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company