Clatsop-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Callender, Melville Philo September 7, 1837 - January 19, 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 24, 2011, 12:40 am Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 781 - 782 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company MELVILLE PHILO CALLENDER, who was long and successfully identified with lumber and sawmill interests in the Pacific northwest, passed away at Astoria, Oregon, January 19, 1916, when in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was a native of the Empire state, born at Smithville, New York, September 7, 1837. His father, Judge Philo Callender, born in the state of New York, July 18, 1805, was nearly eighty-five years of age when he died at Astoria, Oregon, May 10, 1890. The American progenitors of the Callender family emigrated to this country from Scotland. Judge Philo Callender came to Oregon in 1850 by way of the Isthmus of Panama and took a donation land claim on Clatsop Plains, ten miles south of Astoria, where he followed agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. Melville P. Callender did not arrive in Oregon until 1866, when he made the trip by way of Nicaragua and because of delay was two months en route. He went out to the old donation claim on Clatsop Plains and there assisted his father in the work of the home farm until 1870. In that year he went across the river to Knappton, Washington, where he entered the employ of Asa M. Simpson, pioneer operator in the lumber and sawmill business, and soon thereafter was made superintendent of the sawmill and also became a large stockholder in the Simpson Lumber Company. He successfully managed the sawmill at Knappton for a period covering more than three decades. The Simpson Lumber Company also owned a large mill at South Bend and another at Hoquiam, Washington. Following his retirement from active business affairs Mr. Callender lived in Portland for several years and then came to Astoria, where he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Annie C. Dyer, in January, 1916. His widow survived him for twelve years, passing away January 18, 1928, at the age of eighty-six. Mr. and Mrs. Melville P. Callender reared a family of three children, all residents of Astoria, namely: Mrs. George C. Flavel, whose deceased husband was a son of Captain George Flavel, pioneer steamboat owner and captain; Charles H. Callender, one of Astoria's leading business men; and Mrs. Annie C. Dyer. The last named was born at Knappton, Washington, and received her education in a private school of Astoria, Oregon. In 1892 she became the wife of Ralph B. Dyer, who was born and reared in San Francisco, California, but received his education in the Gunnery school at Washington, Connecticut. Mr. Dyer arrived at Astoria in 1882 and during the succeeding seven years engaged in the sawmill business at Knappton, Washington, just across the river from Astoria. In 1889 he went to South Bend, Washington, where he took charge of a sawmill for the Simpson Lumber Company and made his home until December, 1901. At the latter date he resigned his position, returned to Astoria and assisted in the organization of the Clatsop Mill Company, of which he assumed the vice presidency, continuing as general manager of the sawmill at Astoria until his death, which occurred January 20, 1913. A worthy exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity, he was a past master of the blue lodge at South Bend. His fraternal affiliations also included membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Astoria. His widow makes her home at 493 Fifteenth street, Astoria, and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer became the parents of three children. The eldest, Joseph M., a native of South Bend, Washington, is a graduate of the Oregon Agricultural College, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. He is now president and manager of the Astoria Shipbuilding Company, operating on the Lewis and Clark river, and is a rising young designer and naval architect. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the United States navy for service in the World war but did not go overseas. Wenona C. Dyer, born at South Bend, Washington, was graduated from the University of Oregon with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and is now teaching school at Longview, Washington. Curtis P. Dyer, who was born at Astoria and acquired his education in Reed College of Portland and in the University of Oregon, is now in the service of the Western Engraving Company of Seattle, Washington. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/clatsop/bios/callende1418gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb