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About The news-review. (Roseburg, Or.) 1948-1994 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1949)
10 The News-Review, Roseburg, Ore. Tuoi., Nov. 22, 1949 DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORY Epitomized Review Of Its Origin And Progress Aiders Many Rsqi:ssh- IVcMor'i note: The following to review of pouflai county hlitoiy prepared by City Manager M. W. Slankard, who recently wrote a eertea of articlea on Roicburg't pait for Tha Nawi-Hevlew.J ' By M. W. SLANKARD Roeeburf City Manager Considerable Interest has been shown In the recent past history of Roseburg. Numerous requests have been received regarding '. the past history of Douglas county. Few people who now reside here have any idea of what transpired when the county was first , formed. ' . Before the organizing of Doug las county many hardships had : to be overcome. There were many Indian wars through the years preceding 1850. The Indi ans, themselves being warlike, . had many large-scale Dattles be- : tween themselves. Before the coming of the "white people," the Indians of the Rogue river and the Umpqua were finally overcome by a large tribe known as the Klickitat warriors, from beyond the Columbia river. There were many tribes in Southern Oregon, which now em braces the five counties of Doug las, Coos, Jackson, Josephine and Curry. This area was one of the most thickly populated by hostile reds before the "whites" came and it was the hardest to clean In Oregon It's McCredie Hot Mineral Springs Resort Highway Traveler Welcome, Too. On Short cut Highway 58 McCredie Springs, Oregon SLABW00D In 12-16 and 24 In. length OLD GROWTH FIR DOUBLE LOADS WESTERN BATTERY SEPARATOR Phone (58 up by the U.S. Army battalions, The main reason for so many Indian settlements was the fact there was plentiful game and many rivers in the area. It seems, from reading history pri or to 1884, that the main reason for so many Indians was that surrounding areas were settled and the Indians were pushed to wards the southern Oregon area. Salmon migrated up the rivers of the Umpqua basin. The Rogue river provided many good fishing spots. With the coming of white settlers, the Indians were pusn ed into tight bands and were hard to break up. They were extreme ly hard to light, due to tne rug ged country. Fur Trappers Come First The first whites In Douglas county (or of the area which was later to become Douglas coun ty) were iur trappers ol tne Hud son's Bay company. Fort Ump qua In Yoncalla valley was erect ed in 1837, as headquarters pro viding provisions for Immigrants driving between the Willamette valley and California. jjougias is tne largest county in southern Oregon, lying in what Is known as the Umpqua valley, which Is not a valley at all but a depression or basin like a drainage area. The area com prises a very rugged terrain along the North and South Ump qua rivers.. The area across the county Is 121 miles from east to west. There are 4,950 square miles in the county, about one twentieth of the entire area of the State of Oregon. Few people realize that this is the most enjoyable vacation area of the United States. The beaches and bay area between the Ump qua and Sluslaw rivers are very Interesting. The area up the limp id IT HASN'T MOVEP ) ( MOW LISTEN "THINK AM INCH YET f IT ALL UP AT ONCE ( YOU MAYAS WELL ) I PDNfT GET AN IDEA J RUN BACK ANP ) THAT 1M HAVIN A (SET A SACK OF J , LOT OF FUN BEIN-A-jTi A FLOUR AMP L A CROSSIN' J V ft mSS'P'Waa P 1 1 I I I '-s-iSbl E:K3SLTiH II ' I I W II III II ' 'XTr I I P ISSrfc :H.,JfaS II . ' I.' I fell I 1 1 I i i Mill II YWMjrW II I S I lag BORN THIRTY YEARS TCP SOON JttS&5iS& m. J MAC WOOD'S SERVICE STATION Stephen and Washington St. CLOSED NOV. 24 THANKSGIVING DAY OUT OUR WAY By J. R. Wniiams qua is beyond description. Few people have completed the trip from the coast to the headwa ters of either the North Umpqua or South Umpqua rivers. Source of the North Umpqua is Diamond lake, which, no one can deny, Is as pretty a place as any other in the United States. Recorded history of Southern Oregon goes back to 1732, when a Spanish vessel needing repairs entered the mouth of the Ump qua river to make them. The first white settlers to set tle in Douglas county were in Scott's valley near the Hudson's Bay company's fort. Later two others settled in Yoncalla-valley. Later that year, 1847, others set tled in tne area tnat is now Drain. There were still a lot of In dians around these areas. They were becoming more friendly, but were still watched, Government Instituted In April 1851. the governor Is sued a probiamation designating three polling places lor an elec tion to select officers for the for mation of a county government. The total vote was 78. The first meeting of the board of commis sioners was held at Winchester, April 4, 1852. un tne iouowing aay ine coun ty was divided into seven pre cincts known as Calapooya, Win chester, Deer creek, LooKing glass, Myrtle Creek, Canyonville and Roseburg. Though Winchester was desig nated the county seat and was the largest settlement within the limits of the county, It had from he start a strong rival. Aaron Rose had laid out the town of Roseburg, and being a wide awake, energetic man, he began at once to secure for his city honors and advantages which ac crue to a town possessing the distinction of being a county seat. Roseburg Wins Eleotlon Aided by the Influx of people j wash hi less than 1 ! "" l! One tub washes while Ihe other J Sbujfj. S ( rinses, damp-dries clothes J isaJI ? I Gentle Splralalor washes more J g ap3asjWeBi.ei ct c oinai e eanur 11 I - - i - wv ----- I n t I Automatic Spln-rlme 5 3 ll I Jl If 1 1 clolhes brighter U 5 3 1 i gl J S J Model 30 SI J I nandv Swinn Fn-i. lr. iJ'. J I I a I I x ' - b iwm, r i , r 113 biggest washer valuel Vg f yi 3-mlnute jjr double-fin Whlrllno I Whirling basket spins clothes 25 oner man a wringer Has exclusive Built-in Water Filter, Handy Swing Faucets. It's today's biggest washer valuel CHRISTMAS IVi DlllVtkri Low Down Payment Convenient Termt I EA5Y E3M PORTABLE WASHER THE IDEAL "SMALL FAMILY" OIFTI Portable Whirldry is small enough for tiniest apartment . ... easy to store . . . easy to move. Use in kitchen or bathroom. Wathte, rinses, damp-dries all in one compact m m tub. Seeitl v 59.95 .. ...... stum UMPQUA VALLEY APPLIANCE to" Roseburg and areas to the south. Rose succeeded finally in securing the passage of an act providing for the submission of the question of a permanent lo cation ol the county seat. When the day of the election arrived. Rose invited the settlers of Lookingglass valley, who also aspired to nave tne county sear, to accept his hospitalities. Rose's generosity so worked upon the feelings of his guests that they went in a body to the polls and voted in lavor ol Koseourg. La. ter. the whole town of Winches. ter was "moved bodily" to Rose burg. The growth of Douglas County nas neen steaav. ine valuation In 185S was $908,456: the popula tion 587. in 1883 the valuation was $3,087,564. Indians Driven Out In 1852. the areas of Looking. glass, Olalla, Tenmile and Camas sutierea consiaeramy in inaian wars. A body of Umpqua Indians living en Lookingglass creek numbered 64. Citizens of the area struck the first blow, killed eight and drove the remainder out of the area. The Indians returned later and stole stock and burned buildings. This was perhaps the last in stance where a real outbreaK took place, where considerable blood was SDllled. The land on which now stands Myrtle. Creek was purchased in j Mai lor one yoxe oi oxen, in 1862 the site was surveyed and divided into lots. The town was started soon after, by the erec tion of a store. A sawmill using water power was erected In 1872. The -saws cut 5,000 feet of lum ber dally. A little stream known as Coun cil creek near Riddle was the scene of signing of a peace treaty with Indians of the area. Riddle was referred to at times as Rid dleburg. However, Riddle was the official name. In 1882, the Or egon and California R. R. termin ated in that "lively" town. Towns Spring Up Canyonville was a most impor tant town, as it was a terminat ing point on the old stage route between Oregon and California. In 1832 it had a log house and blacksmith shop. The town was made into a townsite in 1858. La ter a grist mill was Installed, with a daily capacity of 24 bar rels of flour a day. Oakland in the early 50s was the most progressive city. There were two townsttes one known as "Old Town" and the present town being the original town center. Oakland, too, was a donation claim. In 1881 the two distinct towns consolidated and went on to become the fine city it Is to day. Drain was a major trading cen ter, of the area. There was a stage Junction from the coast and north and south. About 1861 the first school district was formed and a log school house was con structed. Winchester was the first town and was a fur trading center. Douglas county was considered a very rugged county and one rich in fur as well as timber. The county never came to its full growth until after the recent war. The population in-1940 was 25, 000. Today the population has increased to an estimated 55,000. The timber has brought in new people and has provided new in dustry and work for these fami lies. There has been a 430 per cent increase In recent years of manufacturing plants within the county. The bonded indebtedness and tax structure is very good. True, taxes in the county have gone up but they are not for county pur poses. In figuring the county tax, many people do not stop to con sider that the taxes paid to the assessor's office are for other purposes than just the county tax. , The Douelas countv taxes are 8.5 mills or $8.50 per $1,000 assess ed valuation. School district No. 4, the school district around Rose burg. has a lew of 40.9 mills or $40.90 per $1,000 assessed valua tion. The total assessed valua tion of Douglas county Is $56,-405,365. Receipt Near Safe May Clear Up 18 Burglaries SEATTLE, Nov. 22. (JPI A crumpled service station receipt, found nearly two months ago near a burglarized safe in near by Maple valley,. led to the round up nf .fivA nftranrts suspected of is ourgianes uirougnnur v4Xi'a Washington. The last two of the five sus- lects were arrested Sunday in lalt Lake City where Chief of King county detectives Adam Ly- skoskl and Seattle Detective Kenneth W. Thomas had watch ed for five days to grab the pair when they showed for an appoint ment rendezvous with the other trio. Arrested Sunday were Mel vln James Taylor and Frank Hughey. Both have waived ex tradition and will be brought to Seattle. Held in the county jail here were Bob Cameron, an escapee from the state penitentiary at Walla Walla; Willard L. McUrath and a 17-year-old youth. No for? mal charge has been filed again st Cameron, who fled the peni tentiary in January. Taylor, Hughey and McUrath are parole convicts police said. They and the 17-year-old boy have been charged with second degree burglary in connection with burglarizing the Blading and James company premises here Sept 21. JThe crumpled service station receipt was found near an aban doned and burglarized safe by County Detective Johnny Augus tavo. It bore an automobile li cense which Lyskoski and Tho mas traced to a "Gordon Mar shall." It turned out to be Cameron. Irishman Hint At Forct Probability To Gtt Ubttr Last GAR Commander United With Children PORTLAND (JPI Theodore A. Penland, last commander of theJ Grand Army of the Republic, had his daughter and three sons with him today the first reunion in 41 years. Penland, 100, was brought here Friday from his home at Van couver, Wash., across the Colum bia river, on a pretext and was surprised by his children. The eldest is Wilton, 78, of Wheatland, Calif. The youngest is Noel, 42, of Davis Dam, Nev. The others are Mrs.. Claudine Parks, 62, of Sacramento, and Floyd, 61, of Scottsville, Va. They are the survivors of 10 five sons and five dr.ughters. "And I have 19 great-greatgrandchildren," said Penland. The "fingers" at the end of an elephant's trunk can handle ob jects as small as a penny. DIESELSTOVE FUEL BURNER OILS Distributors of Shell Oil Since 1926 Try Our Oil Service DENN-GERRETSEN CO. Phone 128 402 W. Oak St. PITTSBURGH UP General Thomas Barry, hero of the rebel lion that preceded Ireland's In dependence, says his countrymen are willing to fight to regain the six British-controlled counties of Northern Ireland. The six counties have remained under British supervision since Ireland declared her independ ence 30 yei 220 and the coun try was partitioned by England. Speaking here at an anti-partition rally of the United Irish so cieties of western Pennsylvania, General Barry said: "We had to take the 26 coun ties of southern Ireland by force. Start Ownership Has Its First "Birthday" Close to 150 neighbors and friends of Frank and Lea Web ster helped them celebrate the first "birthday" of their owner ship of the Mill street store at 805 S. Mill street last Tuesday. The Websters came to Rose burg from Bandon, where they ran a theater for seven years. Webster also served in the South Pacific for two years during the recent war. The Websters cut a large birth day cake and served other re freshments at the party. The store had been in business 40 years. It was purchased Nov. 15, 1948, by the Websters.' We will probably have to use the same methods In Ulster (north ern Ireland)." General Barry, who Is on a month-long tour of the U.S., said the Irish government has set aside $100,000,000 to buy guns, adding: "We have all the money we need. Our air force is weak and our navy ha only a 1ooP' hut we have the manpow.W where it counts." Keys to Happiness a piano in your home meant fun and I S entertainment for the entire family. See our Baldwin and Wurlitzar Pianos today. 0TT and RICKETTS Corner Jackson . and Cast Sts. " ' ' Jnwnt no Mom Sjf AT YOUR The knowledge And integrity your Regit- ' tered Jeweler miut nave to obtain tliu title enable Lint to erve yon better. Becatue f nil pecial tudy and long experience witk genu and jewelry ke u in a position to offer you better value for your money. Tne American Gem (Society require yearly examination and tile bigbet ttandtrd of buine etbic. It will pey you to alway go to. your Regutered Jeweler. Across from Douglas County : Bank The Gar Designed Wth YOU m Mind! .vw,A..'.v:- . Lets you drive without shifting! 'Come in and see why it offers you more comfort, better engineering and greater value! , Perhaps you have just about made up your mind about the kind of car you want to get. You know what features it offers you. You know its reputation. You know the delivered price here in town for the model you want. Take our advice. Do as thousands of motorists have already done. See a De Soto before you decide. Compare it with the car you had in mind. Compare it feature by feature. Compare it for roominess, comfort and visibility as well as for looks. Compare the smoothness of the ride.. Compare De Soto's Tip-Toe Hydraulic Shift and gyrol Fluid Drive that let you drive all day without shifting. , ' Above all, compare doUar-for-dollar value, and see why this is the most wanted De Soto in all De Soto history. Find out how easy it is to own.' ' Then and only then make your decision. CORKRUM MOTORSINC. 114 N. Rose Roseburg PLYMOUTH SALES AND V hone 1218 DE SOTO SERVICE , i 120 W. Ook