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Show The Ogden Valley news Volume XXV Issue VII Page 9 June 1, 2018 Manuel Lewis Causey: 1845 - November 16, 1913 Manuel Lewis Causey was born in 1845 in Henry County, Tennessee to Gabriel Lewis Causey and Elisabeth G Simpson. He was the fifth of eight children, the third and final son to be born into this family. Shortly after his birth, Gabriel moved his family to Camden, Missouri. Manuel’s three younger sisters were born in Missouri. Hilma and Emanuel Causey. As the country headed toward civil war, the Causey family, sympathetic to the Confederate cause, sent the three brothers to war. William and James, both older than Manuel, joined first. It is unclear just when Manuel joined, but records show him with the 9th Missouri Cavalry Battalion, assigned to Benjamin Elliott’s Scouts. In 1867, John Newman Edwards wrote of Elliot’s scouts, “Major Ben Elliott, formerly of Company I, Shelby’s regiment, had recruited a battalion of notorious scouts and bordermen, and constituted the advance of Shelby’s brigade, a kind of perpetual forlorn hope, because it took the first shock of every imminent danger, and was always exposed to surprises and deadly ambuscades. No matter how deadly the peril, no matter what numbers assailed them, no matter how enfiladed or surrounded, they were never to rush back upon the main body or yield one inch in retreat; therefore, it was considered a promotion to any soldier to be allowed a transfer to the advance and only men of tried courage could join the corps, and many of them bore upon their bodies the scars of a dozen wounds. Records show Manuel was captured by Union forces at Batesville, Arkansas while on a scouting detail in February of 1863. “Orders had been give[n] for a group of 50 men to cross the river for the purpose of bringing in stragglers and deserters and about 20 miles north of Batesville, they met with a large force of Federals—and after a short fight retreated to Batesville.” After their capture, “All the men, with the exception of two, were paroled: Captain Mosby and the other man were killed; sabered after surrendering. The remaining members of the scouting party being taken to Evening Shade, Arkansas and there getting their freedom by virtue of parole.” (Elliott’s Scouts, 9th Missouri Cavalry Battalion by Carolyn M. Bartels) Records show Manuel’s parole dated February 6, 1863. Manuel stayed with Elliott’s Cavalry until they surrendered May 26, 1865 in New Orleans; he received his parole June 14, 1865 in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the conclusion of the war, Elliott and General Joe Shelby fled to Mexico rather than surrender. “Some of the men that served under Colonel Elliott accompanied him to Mexico…some 50 of the company” (ibid). It is unknown whether Manuel was one of those that went to Mexico; however, he could have returned home to Auglaize, Missouri and from there headed west. His obituary states he came to the Pacific coast in 1871. In 1878, Causey is in Eureka, Nevada working as a teamster, and on April 18, 1880 he married an Irish girl, Ellen Mcgee. The marriage did not last long as Ellen returned to Pennsylvania, declared herself a widow, and went on with her life. 1882 found Causey in Salt Lake City with another man from Nevada, Albert Lenzi Fuge, preparing to open the Dew Drop Saloon at 117 Main Street. It’s advertisement proclaimed it “the neatest saloon in town.” He also began a new venture in August of 1883, opening a skating rink on West Temple near Second South, The Causey, Hawkins and Co. Skating Rink. Unfortunately, after only a year in operation, a fire destroyed much the rink. Apparently, the gentlemen rebuilt and continued to operate and in 1884 Causey went to Boston and Chicago to try to patent his roller rink floor. In order to finance this idea, he sold his share of the Dew Drop. At this time, he was also filing mining patents for the Burning Moscow lode, was active in the Salt Lake Democratic party, and listed as the superintendent of Maybell Mine in Stockton, Utah. By June of 1888, Manuel was residing in Mill Fork of Spanish Fork Canyon. In August of 1888, Causey leased the new Roberts Hotel in Provo. The Hotel Roberts was built in 1882 and was located on University Avenue. This mission style hotel was a famous landmark and a center of Provo social activity for much of the early 20th century. In a notice in the Provo Daily Enquirer dated May 31, 1889, it is stated, “Mr. M. L. Causey yesterday sold the Roberts House to W.C. Stone of Nephi and Bert Brown. From now on the management of this house will be under the new firm. Mr. Causey has, since he obtained possession of the Roberts House built up a fine business, the benefits of which will now fall to his successors.” Not one for being idle, he soon had a new business venture underway. In the same newspaper on October 4, 1889, it announced, “The new lumber firm of Causey and Snow; located in Ogden Canyon, in addition to furnishing the Pacific Short Line with ties and bridge timbers, have secured the contract for 450,000 feet of tie and bridge timber for the extension of the Ogden City Railway company. Persons with teams wishing employment will do well to correspond with the above whose address is Huntsville, Weber Co, Utah care of Nelson Hotel.” After making the acquaintance of Levi Snow in Provo, Causey start this new lumber business with a sawmill in the Monte Cristo area; however, there never was a Nelson Hotel in Huntsville. In reality, Lars Magnus Nelson had built a large two-story brick home that would later become the Valley House. While Nelson and his family lived in the home, he sometimes rented out rooms. This time he undoubtedly would learn to regret renting a room to Mr. Causey. L. M’s oldest daughter Hilma (known as Mae) and Mr. Causey soon formed an attachment and on December 8, 1890, eloped to Ogden and were married. This event caused so much anger and pain that she and her father never spoke again. Causey was 45 years old at the time, only two years younger than Mae’s father, and she was just nineteen. This story was published in Our Pioneer Heritage (vol.17), “The story is told of Mr. and Mrs. Causey, pioneers, being routed out one night by a grizzly bear ripping open the tent for supplies which they had inside. They went out the other end of the tent and hiked about three miles to a mill operated by Stephen Nye. Thus, Bear Gulch received its name.” Causey Creek also received its name from the placement of their sawmill. By early November of 1890, ads began appearing in the local Ogden newspaper: – To Contractors and Builders – We have on hand first class red pine and native lumber of well assorted dimensions, which we are now offering, are the very low price of $20.00 per M. at our Ogden yard in lots to suit. Causey Snow Lumber Company Office and yards No. 2250 Washington Avenue Between Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets By March of 1890 this ad would appear: The entire stock of the Causey, Snow Lumber Companymust be closed out within the next 30 days at a very low figure for cash Causey Snow Lumber At this time, Causey was joining forces with W. G. Childs to consolidate small lumberyards into a larger operation. In February they would form the Consolidated Lumber and Milling Company with Childs as president, Causey as vice president, J B Stoddard secretary and John A Boyle treasurer. This company operated two sawmills, “located twenty-eight miles east of Ogden, where are manufactured all kinds of lumber products embracing ties, electric poles, ect., and is filling large contracts for the Ogden Street Railway Company and other Corporations.” (Utah, Her Cities,Towns and Resources 1891-2 p.197) During this time he also became involved with the Ogden Hot Springs and Resort Railroad. Through this and the lumber business he became acquainted with David Eccles and Charles Nibley. These associations would take him on to Oregon and new business adventures. By 1891, Causey and Mae had settled in the Le Grande area and he began an active career in real estate. In the fall of 1893 he was deeply involved with encouraging the building of a sugar beet factory and sought investors as far away as Germany and France. After six years of trying to raise the funds necessary, he final found a set of investors that were truly interested in the persons of David Eccles and Charles Nibley. Over the next few years he would help to establish the Oregon Land Company, a corporation formed with Charles Nibley as president, David Eccles – vice president and M. L. Causey – secretary. Their purpose was to buy and sell land to promote the production of the sugar beet, build a railroad, and encourage growth in the Grand Ronde Valley. Causey spent years promoting development in the Grand Ronde Valley and beyond, a few examples of this—promoting an expansion of the sugar beet industry and railroad into Prosser, Washington area; building an exhibition hall to display the agricultural products of the area; and planting a 260-acre apple orchard for commercial use in the area. He held positions on the boards of several companies, including La Grande and Cove Electric Railroad Co., Oregon Land Co., and Eastern Oregon Colonization Co. He was a mem- ber of the Commercial Club and Masons, Order of the Eastern Star. He owned the Causey Real Estate Company and was an active part of his community. He and Mae moved to Portland and resided there until his death. In an article in the Portland Morning Oregonian newspaper dated November 17, 1913 it reads: M.L. Causey is Dead End Comes to Prominent Real Estate man At Home Here Grande Ronde Valley Development is Due Largely to War Veteran’s Early Work in State M.L. Causey, prominent in the real estate business in Oregon, a veteran of the Civil War, and one of the first men to begin the development of the fruit land of Eastern Oregon, died at his home, 734 Clackamas street, yesterday evening after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Causey was born in Tennessee in 1849* but spent the greater part of his boyhood in Missouri. During the Civil War he was in active service in the cavalry under General Joe Shelby. He came to the Pacific Coast in 1871 and from that time was identified with the development of the West. He was best known in Eastern Oregon. For fifteen years he lived in the Grand Ronde Valley and he was the first man to begin the development of the “Sand Ridge land” in that section. He planted two of the largest apple orchards that were set out in the Grand Ronde country. In later years, Mr. Causey came to Portland, where he made his home. His widow survives. Mr. Causey was a member of Washington Lodge of Masons and Washington Chapter18. He was a member of the Rose City Chapter of the Eastern Star. Funeral Notice Causey – In this city, Nov. 16, Manuel L. Causey are 64*. The funeral service will be held today (Tuesday) at 2:30 at the family residence, 734 Clackamas Street. Friends invited. Interment at Mt Scott Park Cemetery (*This year appears to be wrong given that Causey appears in the 1850 census as being six years old. This would also indicate he was closer to 68 at the time of his death rather than the reported 64 years old) DISCLAMER • • Utah Place Names by John W. Vancott and other publications list Thomas Causey as the name of the owner of the sawmill in the Monte Cristo area. However through out all my research I have not found a “Thomas Causey” and all the evidence I have shows Manuel L Causey as the only Causey to have a sawmill in this area. The mistake might be attributed to the fact that for some reason know only to those who give ‘nicknames’ Manuel was often referred to by Mae as Todd in several correspondences. Remember my Valley by LaVerna Burnett Newey (p. 312) states, “One of the Nelson’s daughters eloped from the house with a gambler named Causey. Mr. Causey came into town about the time of the LaPlatta days.” This became town legend, but Causey was never involved with the LaPlatta mines; he was already in Oregon by the time the mines began operating. Note: This article was submitted by Vicki Jorgensen. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT Saturday Night 4:30 p.m. Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Mass 5:00 p.m. Fr. Charles Cummins 801-399-9531 Before and after any Mass or by appointment. Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. 801-612-9299 |
