Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 100.
 
CONRAD and ELIZABETH WIDMER
 
   Among the sterling residents of Lane county whose lives were an honor to
their community and who to the very limit of their ability contributed to the
welfare and development of their locality, were Conrad and Elizabeth Widmer,
none being more worthy of the respect and reverence of the people of this
community. Their lives were characterized by a sincerity of purpose, an undying
faith in the country in which they had cast their lot, and a self-sacrificing
spirit which prompted them to deny their own comfort in order that others might
be thereby benefited, an unselfish attitude in every relation of life that has
made their name a synonym for all that is really worth while in life. None are
more worthy of representation in the annals of the Willamette Valley and the
following sketch, in part from the pen of their daughter. Miss Margaret M.
Widmer, is published as a tribute to their worth.
 
   To the little town of Eugene, named for Eugene Skinner, one of its earliest
pioneers and founder, came a very active, energetic little man, dark of
complexion and of exceptionally strong personality, in the person of Conrad
Widmer, a modest man, not at all loquacious, but a man of action, whose guiding
star was honesty and square dealing. A native of Germany, coining to the United
States in 1848, at the age of nineteen years, he first settled in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Later he went to Indiana, where he entered the employ of a Mr. Rose, of
Terre Haute, who later founded Rose Polytechnic Institute. There Mr. Widmer
attended a business college, learning English and bookkeeping. The unhealthful
climate of Indiana forced him to leave that state and he came west by way of the
isthmus of Panama and settled at Marysville, California. His health not
improving there, he left California in 1857 and came to Portland, Oregon. During
the first year he found employment with Dr. John McLoughlin, at Oregon City, but
his independence of spirit and ambition led him to seek a business of his own
and in 1859 he came to Eugene, where he engaged in several lines of business,
among which was packing and trading from Eugene to the mines of British Columbia
and south to the mines in California.
 
   In 1861 Mr. Widmer met and married Miss Elizabeth Ebler, of Oregon City, who
was born and reared in the old historic city of Cologne, Germany, her parents
and relatives being people of education and culture. Her father, an architect,
was one among others who planned the reconstruction of the ancient cathedral of
Cologne, and many of the old castles on the Rhine were in constant need of
repair, in which work he was frequently engaged. Elizabeth often accompanied her
father on these trips up and down the Rhine. To his daughters the father gave
the best educational advantages and, after attending the lower schools, they
were sent to Belgium to acquire the French language, which was there spoken in
its purest form, and to England, where, at Clapham Common in the school of Notre
Dame, they learned spoken and written English, after which there was a stay in
Paris and travel on the continent. At the age of eighteen years, at the behest
of an aunt who was going to America to join a brother in Oregon, Elizabeth
consented to go and together they took passage on a French packet, a small
sailing vessel. Elizabeth, her aunt and the captain's wife were the only women
on board and the voyage required a period of six months. After a brief stop at
New York, they continued around Cape Horn to Oregon. One of the thrilling
experiences of that memorable trip was a fire in the ship's hold, which
threatened the safety of the ship and passengers, and for two days and nights
Elizabeth and her aunt took their turns at the pumps until the fire was
extinguished.
 
   After their marriage, Conrad and Elizabeth Widmer made their home in Eugene
for a time. During his first years in this country he made several visits abroad
to visit relatives and in 1864 he decided to go back to his old home to remain.
He and his wife started in April but remained in the fatherland only until fall,
when, a longing for America overcoming them, they returned to Eugene, with their
little fortune of seven thousand dollars hidden in an old carpet bag, which
Elizabeth kept under her watchful eye during the long journey back to Oregon.
Being now satisfied, Conrad decided to settle down permanently and  engage in
business.   On their return to Eugene, they brought many relics and heirlooms,
long in possession of Elizabeth's family, together with  gifts for  the bride,
including table linens, bed linens and towels, all initialed and of finest
texture.   There were fine old brasses, candle holders of quaint design, old oil
lamps very similar to the brass colonial lamps, two coffee urns of unusual
shape, a unique tea kettle, an alcohol night lamp of brass and bronze, an old
"Paul Revere" lantern of bulbous shape, a coffee grinder with a brass bowl and
quaint little drawer with a brass knob, all of these articles being hand made
and of excellent craftsmanship. There was also jewelry which had  been handed
down through  several generations,   including a pair of antique chased
earrings, two inches in length and set with coral cameos; a brooch circular in
form and set with rubies in various designs and beautifully cut in diamond
facets; an antique gold cross of fascinating design and a much prized gold ring,
which had belonged to Elizabeth's father, containing an exquisitely hand
engraved amethyst setting and believed to have been handed down to each first
born son  in the family named Joseph.   Also there was a  massive  gold-framed
mirror, five feet in length and three feet wide, the five-inch  frame  being
hand modeled in plaster of paris in flower and fruit forms, all of which were
covered with gold.   To hang it required the strength of two men and it made its
journey to America wrapped in a plump feather bed, the two being incased in a
strong box.  After Elizabeth's death, in 1899, the renewal of the heavy cord
with which the mirror was hung was neglected, and one day the cord parted and
the mirror crashed to the floor in fragments.
 
   Out of the decision of Conrad and Elizabeth Widmer to make Oregon their
permanent home, came the erection of two brick business blocks in Eugene, among
the first in that city.   Mr. Widmer bought at sheriff's sale, for ninety-five
dollars, the old stone building, known as Columbia College, located about one
mile south of Eugene, the material from which was used in the construction of
the foundations for the two brick buildings.   Later it was rumored that a new
railroad  was to enter the Willamette Valley, and officials of the road had
conferences with a committee of Eugene citizens, of which Mr. Widmer was one, to
divert the railroad to the little town at the head of the valley.   As is
usually the case, contributions were required from the citizens of the town and
county and to this fund Mr. Widmer contributed the then munificent sum of one
thousand dollars.   Work on the road was begun at Portland in April, 1868, and
entered Eugene in October, 1871.  The running of the first train over the new
road was a gala occasion, and Mr. Widmer proudly escorted his two small sons
down the valley to Portland and return, that they might experience the joy of a
ride on the first steam cars.   At this time, Mr. Widmer occupied a frame
building on the east side of Willamette street, between Eighth and Ninth
streets, where he was engaged in the selling of general merchandise and
groceries.   Later he sold his business, as well as his two business blocks,
which were located where now is the latest addition to the First National Bank
and the building adjacent, one building being sold to S. and L. Ackerman for six
thousand dollars and the other one to S. H. Friendly and Charles Lauer for five
thousand, nine hundred and fifty dollars.
 
   The appeal of the great outdoors was too strong for Mr. Widmer to resist, so
he purchased an attractive farm site just at the outer confines of the town on a
main road which is now an extension of West Eleventh street, and there erected
one of the most substantial residences in the country around. Into this new home
they moved with many misgivings, for neither Conrad nor Elizabeth knew anything
of farm life, its loneliness and hardships, though they had dreams of a
prosperous and happy future. However, their plans did not materialize and a
number of successive lean years brought discouragement to the father. To
Elizabeth the education of the children who had come to bless their home was her
chief concern, and she began to plan a better education than the pioneer country
and town schools afforded. The fear that this might be denied them weighed
heavily upon her.
 
   The State University had just been established. Old Deady Hall was in the
process of building, when the funds gave out and it stood partly finished. When
subscriptions were solicited to finish the building, Conrad and Elizabeth Widmer
did their small part in subscribing towards its completion. The tuition of fifty
dollars a year was not to be thought of, however, for Conrad's purse was very
flat. But Elizabeth was firm in her decision for an education for her family,
for she truly believed that "It is better to be a Socrates with a headache than
a perfectly healthy pig." She said to her boys and girls, "You must get an
education, and you shall help me help yourselves. Remember, all honest work is
honorable." But a fateful day arrived, when the university building was to be
sold for debt. The mother's heart was sore, the children were sad, for the
university had been their only hope. Conrad made a trip to town to get the mail
and provisions, but with the chief object of learning the fate of Deady Hall. On
his return the children ran to meet him and great was their joy on reading on
the first page of the Eugene City Guard that the university had been saved to
Eugene through the benevolence of Henry Villard, who was said to be of German
nationality. The little western college was now on its feet and struggled
bravely on. Later the tuition was reduced to a small matriculation fee and, by
hard work and many economies, Elizabeth found it possible for her sons and
daughters to realize their dreams. About this time Elizabeth received a goodly
legacy from her old-world home, which aided materially in paying off debts
accumulated during those trying years and aiding her children through the last
years of their college course, each one receiving a degree and diploma. One son,
after further study, was admitted to the bar in the state of Washington, and a
daughter obtained higher degrees at Columbia University, New York, and the
University of California, and has filled responsible positions in several
colleges. While the children appreciate the intrinsic value of the college
training which they received through their parents' efforts and sacrifices,
above all else they cherish the loving companionship, wise direction and helpful
encouragement which they received through childhood and youth.
 
   Elizabeth Widmer's death occurred in July, 1899, when she had reached the age
of fifty-seven years, and Conrad followed her seven years later, at the age of
seventy-seven. The old estate is still in the possession of the family. A cozy
colonial bungalow nestles among majestic, tall-topped firs and spreading maple
trees, and surrounded by well kept orchards, all planted by the hands of Conrad
and his sons. The one dream yet to be realized by the sons and daughters is a
trip abroad and a visit to the old homes of Conrad and Elizabeth.
 
   To Conrad and Elizabeth Widmer were born seven children. Of this number
Joseph M. is principal of one of the city schools in Seattle, Washington; George
C, who was born while his parents were on one of their trips to Germany, is now
living on and operating the home place; Margaret M. is also at home; Gertrude
D., is a public school teacher in Seattle, Washington; and three daughters died
in infancy. All of the living children are graduates of the University of
Oregon. George has managed the home farm since the death of his father and has
been very successful. In the earlier years the land was mainly devoted to the
raising of wheat, with some flax, but in later years more attention has been
given to livestock, mainly hogs, sheep and horses, while at the present time
dairying and sheep raising demands the most attention. There is a fine orchard
of ten acres, mostly in prunes and cherries. George Widmer is a member of the
Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the degrees of Knight Templar; is a
member of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was the first
master of the Four Oaks Grange, holding that position three years. He is a man
of sound business ability, sterling qualities of character and of a cordial and
friendly manner that has won him a host of warm friends. Margaret Widmer is
deeply interested in the history and stories of pioneer days, on which she has a
large collection of books and manuscripts. Among her possessions is an old
ledger used by her father in 1868-9; a list of the citizens who subscribed to
the building of the first railroad through Eugene, and has the formal document
showing the sale of Columbia College to Conrad Widmer.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2016 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.