Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3.  Chicago
- Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 231.
 
CHARLES WESLEY ROYAL

    Charles W. Royal is well remembered as one of the early settlers of
Mount Tabor. While living there his attention was largely devoted to
horticultural pursuits. At different times, however, during his residence in the
state, especially in the early days, he was identified with educational affairs,
and no man had keener interest in intellectual progress or took more genuine
delight in the substantial development of the schools. In fact, his influence
was always on the side of municipal and moral progress, and it is this which
makes him remembered by many who knew him, while he was still an active factor
in the world's work. He was born in Piqua, Ohio, February 17, 1823, a son of
William and Barbara (Ebey) Royal. His father was born near Wheeling, West
Virginia, and was a minister of the gospel. He began preaching in 1831 and his
first appointment was at Fort dark, situated somewhere in the vicinity of
Peoria, Illinois. His circuit included all of the territory north of Peoria save
Chicago, where the Rev. Jesse Walker was then stationed as a preacher. William
Royal continued his labors in the middle west until 1853, when he came with his
family to Oregon as a retired preacher of the Rock River conference of Illinois.
He was later transferred to the Oregon conference and preached his first sermon
in the northwest at John Season's home in Jackson county, Oregon. He was
connected with several different circuits during his residence in the northwest
and lived in Portland for several years. He built the first Methodist church on
the east side of the city called the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, and
his labors in behalf of his denomination were far-reaching and effective, his
work still bearing good fruit in the lives of those who heeded the gospel call
under his teachings. He was living retired at the time of his death, which
occurred in Salem, Oregon, in September, 1871. His wife was born on the Little
Juniata river in Pennsylvania in 1800. The birth of the Rev. William Royal
occurred in February, 1796, and thus he had attained the age of seventy-five
years at the time of his demise. The family numbered seven children, six sons
and a daughter, of whom the eldest, the Rev. Thomas F. Royal, now ninety years
of age, is mentioned at length on another page of this volume.
   Charles W. Royal, the second of the family, completed his education as a
student in McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, and afterward learned the
mason's trade but did not follow it to any great extent after the period of his
early manhood. While visiting near Victoria, Illinois, he formed the
acquaintance of Miss Sarah A. Cumming, a daughter of John and Mary (Berry)
Cumming of Victoria. The young lady was teaching school in that vicinity and the
friendship which sprang up between them was consummated in marriage on the 2d of
September, 1864.  Mrs. Royal was born at Rocky Springs in eastern Tennessee. Her
father learned and followed the blacksmith's trade, but also became a preacher
of the Episcopal church. Removing to Aurora. Illinois, Mr. Royal there engaged
in the machinery business, dealing in farm machinery for some time. At length he
determined to establish his home in Oregon, to which state his father and the
rest of his family had preceded him in the year 1853, and to this end made an
offer to close out his business in Aurora. He could not settle up his affairs,
however, in time to make the trip when he wished, so his wife and son, Osmon
Royal, then a boy, started for the coast, making the journey by way of the
isthmus of Panama and arriving in Portland in August, 1865. Mr. Royal's father,
Rev. William Royal, was here at the time, and in the fall of the same year
Charles W. Royal, having closed out his interests in the middle west, arrived in
Portland. He and his wife then event to the Umpqua Academy, of which his
brother, Rev. Thomas F. Royal, had charge, and both engaged in teaching in that
school for about a year. They then returned to Portland. In the meantime, before
the arrival of her husband, Mrs. Royal had engaged in teaching at the Indian
school at Fort Simcoe, of which Rev. James H. Wilbur, known as "Father Wilbur,"
had charge. After their return to Portland, Mr. and Mrs. Royal rented a farm
that includes the present site of Mount Tabor, which is now one of the beautiful
and populous residence districts of Portland. For a year he devoted his energies
to general agricultural pursuits, at the end of which time the family home was
established at Salem that the eldest son might have the privilege of attending
college there. Mr. Royal turned his attention to the real-estate business in
which he continued at Salem for about six years. During this time he was a most
active member of the city council. Again a return to Portland was made, and the
family once more took up their abode on their Mount Tabor land, where Mr. Royal
gave his attention largely to the cultivation of berries which he found a
successful undertaking. He was one of the first settlers of Mount Tabor, there
being only three houses in that locality at the time. He continued to make his
home there until his demise, which occurred October 16, 1895, his remains being
interred in Lone Fir cemetery.
     Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Royal removed to another part of
Mount Tabor, where she still lives. They were the parents of two children, but
one died in infancy, and the other, Charlie, at the age of four years. By a
former marriage, Mr. Royal had two children. In Illinois he had wedded Rachel
Misner, who died in that state about fifty years ago, leaving two sons: Ladru,
of Los Angeles, who is engaged in the
real-estate business and for many years was a successful teacher of Oregon; and
Dr. Osmon Royal of Portland, who is mentioned in this volume.
     In his political views Charles W. Royal was always an earnest republican
from the organization of the party, and faithfully discharged every duty of
citizenship that devolved upon him. He was, moreover, a very active, faithful
and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and held different offices
therein, serving as steward, Sunday school superintendent, and in other official
capacities. He did everything in his power to promote the growth of the church
and extend its influence, and he was ever a progressive man who sought as well
the intellectual development of the community and furthered every movement which
tended to uplift mankind. His entire life was actuated by a spirit of broad
humanitarianism and by all who knew him he was held in high respect and honor.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Census
08-06-1860  Census of DeKalb Co, IL; Sandwich, p 263
                  Charles W. Royal, 36, OH, teacher
                  Rachel, 34, OH
                  Lodsu, 8, IL
                  Osman, 4, IL
 
07-02-1870  Census of Marion Co, OR; South Salem pct, p 49
                  C. W. Royal, 47, OH, house agent
                  Sarah A, 42, TN
                  Labau, 18, IL
                  Osman, 14, IL
                  Chas, 1, OR
 
06-04-1900  Census of Multnomah Co, OR; Portland, Mt. Tabor Pct, p 133
                  S. Royal, boarder, 72, Sept 1827, TN, PA, TN, mar 20 yrs, 0
children-0 living
                   (living with M. Graves family)
 
04-22-1910  Census of Multnomah Co, OR; Portland Pct 58, p 5; 1640 E. Stark
                  Sarah A. Royal, 82, TN, PA, TN, Wd, own income
 
01-07-1920  Census of Multnomah Co, OR; Portland Pct 185, p 138
                  Alice M. Richards, 51, MO, IN, OH, Wd
                  Helen C, dau, 19, OR, OH, MO
                  Ralph D, son, 15, OR, OH, MO
                  Sarah A. Royal, boarder, 92, TN, PA, TN, Wd

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.