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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1905)
POKHAWJS 1 IT !ATE5 BACK HALF A PIONEER stories have always proven as interesting to the readers of , The Sunday rogonlan as fairy stories to children, and the good peo ple or this state never tire of hearing what their parents or grandparents did in '47 or 53, or any other year of the early history of the NorthwesC The old folks lovo to talk it oyer and the young folks love to listen and to teli It to others whose families do not boast of honorod pioneers. In re sponse 'to many requests for "more pioneer stories," I cullod on Mr. Himes at the Orogon Historical Society the other day, and lie told me so many that it was hard to select the most in teresting. And, by the way, how many mothers and fathers realize what a wonderful . institution that society is? It fairly teems with the early life of this country, and it is the best place in the world to study Northwest his tory. It is an Ideal place to take school children, for the contrast be tween the way thpir grandparents lived and the way we of the present day live is so marked that the progress of the world cannot but be deeply im pressed upon their young minds. And then there is always .Mr. Himes or Mr. Greenfield to toll the exact historical facts concerning every exhibit, so that one does not have to merely wonder what they are and go away unsatis fied.' "While I was examing a wonder ful sea chest which belonged to Cap tain Robert Gray. of the good shiD Co lumbia, which sailed to this Coast in 1792 and entered the rivor named for her, Mr. Hlmos came in with a handful of papers and photographs, saying: "Here's something which ought to interest your readers, for Hs about people whom we all knew and remem ber. R. H. Blossom and I compiled these facts with great care, and you can depend upon them as being as rearly correct as it is possible to get them. It's the history of the first or ganized church choir of Portland." Portland's Pioneer Choir. The First Congregational Church of Portland was organized in 1S51, but it was not until 1S56 that the regular or ganization of a choir was effected. Previous to that date t singing had been congregational, but, recognizing the value of several line voices among the members, Mr. J. B. Wyatt, now liv ing at Vancouver, was prevailed upon to organize and conduct the first choir. He was a talented and popular con ductor, and his experience in the mu sical world was Jong and varied, be ginning at the age of 12 years, when he sang alto in a ojjolr back in his native state. Vermont. He developed a fine tenor as he grew to manhood, and had many flattering offers from Important musical organizations In the East, even after he had settled in Oregon. Mr. Wyatt at one time trained a choir of school children In a log church at West Tualatin, now For est Grove. These children were scholars in the Tualatin Academy. A collegiate department was added later and the acad emy blossomed into the Pacific University in 1B54. In 1S5C, the year of the Congrega tional Choir organization, Mr. Wyatt re turned to Portland and entered the em ploy of Allen & Lewis, then a little gro cery at the northeast corner of Front and Burnside streets. He conducted the new choir until the fall -of 1S57, when ho took a trip East, leaving Henry Law, one of the best singers, to succeed him. Harley McDonald can be said to be the originator of the organized choir scheme, for it was he who first asked Mr. Wyatt to organize the singers of the church. "I will sing bass for you," he said in laying the plan before the musician, "and Mrs. Chamberlain (the minister's wife) will sing soprano. Tou take the tenor, and with this start, you can soon add enough voices to make a full ohoir.' Mr. Wyatt decided to make the effort. At first Mrs. A. E. Chamberlain played the roelodeon, hut as her services were needed for so prano, Mr. Wyatt began a search for a musician who could play either the organ or melodeon, the latter preferred. Miss Sarah Abrams, daughter of Mrs. W. P. Abrams, though only a schoolgirl, was persuaded to take tfie place, although her mother feared that she might not prove satisfactory, as "the touch of a melodeon was so different from a piano." The three jjclnal voices were gradually added to, until soon a full choir greeted the con gregation each Sunday, its members being: Conductor and tenor. James B. Wyatt. Melodeonlst, Miss Sarah Abrams. Flute. Thomas A. Savier. Sopranos, Mrs. A E. Chamberlain, Mrs. Celinda Shipley. Mrs. Hiram S. Pine, Miss Helen Burton, Miss Lenora Blossom, Miss Elizabeth A. Failing and Miss Mary A. Millard. Alto, Mrs. Alonzo Leland. Tenors, Henry- L. Hoyt. E. S. Ponfiold and Henry Law. Bassos, Harley McDonald, T. Brooks Trevctt and A. R. Shipley. Jt has been said of this choir that "it would not suffer in comparison with any similar well-drilled organization of' the present day." The First Congregational Church now has one of the finest choirs In town, and it is the boast of that church that It has always had fine music for its congregational services. Many of the singers of this notable first ohoir are now members of the "choir Invisible." but those who remain and the families of those who are gone, look back and re count the incidents of those early days with pleasure and interest. Seeing the Girls Home. In 1S5G Portland did not have many side walks. What few there were wore one plank affairs, and the footpaths,, or "Cow paths" as many called thorn, were generally used. Those would run In and out among stumps and through thickly wooded spots, leading to various resi dences, and over n these on "practice nights" the lady membors of the choir were guided by Mr. "Wyatt and Xr. Mc Donald who carried lanterns to light the dark way. It was a common occurrence to find several cows lying across the path on the way home. The site of the pres ent church at Park and Madison . was then a dense forest and considered away out in the country. Both the first and second churches erected by the Congre gationallsts were located at Second and Jefferson, and when the first one was built in 1S36. the lot lad to be cleared be fore a foundation could be laid. In this first church the Wyatt choir made Its debut After half a century it is somewhat difficult to learn the address and occu pation of the various Members of this first choir, but the following data, fur nished by Mr. Himes, Is believed to be as nearly correct as is possible to make it. Personnel of the Choir. Mrs. A. E. Chamberlain, "soprano, now lives at Walla Walla, Wash. "Rev. A. E. Chamberlain, her husband, was the first pastor who was ever Installed in thiB church, and it is said that the present pastor. Rev. E. L. House, is the second who ever went through this ceremony, although the churoh has had many pastors since its organization. April 27, 1851, by Rev. Horace- Lyman. Mr. Chamberlain has been dead several years. Mrs. Celinda Shipley was the wife of A. R. Shipley, who also sang in Uie choir. In 1S52 Mrs. Shipley, who was then Miss Celinda E. Mines, was pre ceptress in the old Portland Academy and Female Seminary and t.ught until her marriage in ISM. Fntll her recent death she lived in Portland with her son, Lester Shipley. Mrs. Hiram S. Pine, soprano, left Portland many years ago and as far as known. Is still living in Buffalo, N. T. When Mrs. Pine sang In the choir, her husband taught in the Sunday school, and it is. thought that she was also a teacher. Miss Helen Burton lived until her re cent death at tho old some on Burn side street. Her father, E. M. Burton, THE SUNDAY OREGONIAK, PORTLAND, OCTOBER S, 1905. FIRST ORGANIZE Back row, beglanlng at the If ft (looking at tho picture): Henry T Iloj-t, Thos. A. Savier, E. S. rrnfleld, Jas. Bl Wyatt, Henry Law, Hurley McDonald, T. Brook Trevctt, A. K. Shipley. Center row. beginning at the left: Mls Leonora BlosMim, MIs Sarah Abrann. Front row, beginning at the left: Miss Helen Barton, Mr. A. K. CharatTerlain, Mrs. Hi nun S. Pine, Mrs. Celinda " Shipley, Miss Elizabeth A. Falling, Mrs. Alonzo Leland. was one of Portland's first architects. She was a sister of Mm Henry I Pit to and L. H. Bur;pn. of this city. She attended the old Portland Academy, graduating in 1SGL Mr. Burton was architect for tho Multnomah County Courthouse, the Masonic Temple, the first Dekum build-Jig at First and Washington streots and also many other buildings, both In this city. Salem. Seattle and other points In the Northwest. Miss Leonora Blossom, soprano, was a daughter of the pioneer merchant, James M. Blossom, of the firm of Northrup &. Blossom. The outgrowth of this old firm is the present Honeyman Hardware Company. Miss Blossom was a student In the Portland Academy and together with Rebecca Greer, Eliza beth Carter (who afterwards married Govorner L. F. Grovei; nnd Sauuel A. Moreland composed the graduating class of JS62. Miss Blossom married Judge J. J. Hoffman. Her death oc curred in New York In 1SS3 and she rests In the Congressional Cemetery at Washington, D. C Miss Elizabeth A. Falling, soprano, was a daughter of Josh Falling and an aunt of "Miss Henrietta E. Failing, Miss Mary F. Falling and Mrs. Cabell. Mr. Failing was prominent In public school affairs, "being a director whon the late ex-Governor Pennoyer was a teacher. and he has been termed one of toe fathers of Portland's public schools. The Falling school was named for him. Miss Falling married John Conner, a merchant of Albany, who afterwards became a banker. Mrs. Conner died In TSS4, while visiting her brother. Henry Falling in this city. Miss Mary L. Millard, soprano, was a daughter of Justin Millard, one of the first physicians of Portland. In her case a romance grew out of the week ly choir practice, for she became en gaged to Captain Henry L- Hoyt, who was one of the tenors, marrying him in 1SG1. Captain Hoyt was engaged in steamboatlng on the Columbia and Willamette for many years, served as City Marshal, Deputy Collector of Cus toms and U. S. Shipping Commissioner at various periods, and was always considered one of Portland's most sub stantial citizens. These two members of Portland's1 first organized choir are the parents of Ralph W. Hoyt, a lead ing organist of the city at present. Captain Hoyt died In 1S9S, and Mrs. Hoyt In 1902. A Wonderful Contralto. What the, contralto portion of the choir lacked numerically was more than substi tuted by the phenomenal voice of Mrs. Alonzo Leland, tfie lone alto. Her tones were of a resonant character and full of purity and sweetness, and had she en joyed the advantages of the present day in voice culture there is no doubt she would have made a National reputation j ant to hor husband who was appointed Postmaster of Portland In 1S53 by Presi dent Pierce. The Postofflce was then lo cated on the second floor of a two-story frame building on the cast side of Front street, near Stark. Mr. Leland was also editor of the Democratic Standard. In the early days of Portland, before the Associated Pross made It possible to ob tain prompt and correct news, there were many controversies among the editors of the several papers which - were started here. The Morning. Oregonlan is the only one which survived. After the death of Postmaster Leland his widow married- Captain Andrews and lived in Walla Walla until her death a few years ago. She had many warm friends in Portland. Miss Sarah Abrams. the melodeonlst. was the daughter of W. P. Abrams, who In partnership with Stephen Coffin in the Winter of 1S49 constructed and operated the first steam sawmill la the Northwest. Miss Abrams was a- good musician and . played the melodeon In accompaniment to tho singers In excellent fashion. She graduated from the Portland Academy In l6l In a class with Miss Anna Pentland (who married Samuel L. Brooks, now of The Dalles), and "Jim" Poe. afterwards be Honorable James Poe of Lewlston, Idaho. Miss Adams married H. A. Hogue, the pioneer lumber and mill mer chant, and is the mother of Judge JIarry W. Hogue. She is still enjoying excellent health, and only last year made a trip abroad. Tho Men Singers'. B. S. Penfield. ono of the tenors, came hero from San Francisco to enter the em ploy of McKee & Co., and Is now living near Canyon City, Grant County, Oregon. He went to The Dalles after leaving Portland, and In September. 1S33, was a charter member of the First Congrega tional Church at that place and the su perintendent of its Sunday school. Henry Law, an uncle of the late Henry Fall ing, has an excellent tenor voice. He was a fine musician and was a student of Professor Thomas Hastings, a -noted man in his day. At the time of the organiza tion "of. this choir Mr. Law was engaged in the commission business for himself. He died in October, 1SS5. Harley McDon ald had a fine bass voice, and. like Mr. Wyatt, began the study of music when a mere boy. In the capacity of carpenter and builder. Mr. McDonald assisted In- the construction of tho first church at Sec- D ond and Jefferson streets; He. was part owner and promoter of Portland's first brickyard. This yard was located In a clearing hear the site of the present City Hall at Fifth and Jefferson. He was the architect and builder of the First Congre gational Church, at Forest Grove, com pleted in '59. There being no planing mills In that vicinity, the sash and door work, pews and pulpit, were all made by hand. Mr. McDonald died In 1502. T. Brooks Trevett, one of the bassos, was an excellent and enthusiastic mem ber of the choir, and assisted frequently In public concerts and other entertain ments. For many years he was connected with the firm of Corbett & Falling, and later went to the Honeyman Hardware Company, with whom he was associated at the time of his death In 1S01. Adam R. Shipley, anothor basso, was a thorough musician. Before coming to Oregon he was a member of a quartet of mixed voices known as "The Ohloans." which traveled through the country giving con certs: He was Postmaster of Portland under the Pierce and Buchanan adminis trations, and was very popular. He was In the stationery and book business with Rev. C. S. Klngsfey as partner. This busi ness has changed hands several .times since then, but still exists, and is at pres ent the J. K. Gill Company. In later years Mr. Shipley was a member of the Board of Regents of the Oregon Agricul tural College, and resided at Corvallls un til his death in 1SS3. Mr. Wyatt was quite advanced In hl3 ideas of how a choir should be conducted, and the addition of flute music caused Thomas A. Savier to become a member of the organization. He was a competent musician, and his judgment in the selec tion of Instruments was considered very fine. Mr. Savier was one of Portland's pioneer merchants, and was a partner of D. W. Burnside, their store being at the southwest corner of Washington and Front streets. In later years he was a member of an orchestra- which often de lighted the audiences' of Portland. Mr. -Wyatt returned from his Eastern trip in 1SS2 and reorganized the choir of the First Presbyterian Church. This church was then located at Third and Washington streets', but was In an unfin ished state, the basement only being used for services. In a shorn, time a fine choir was secured, consisting of Mrs. J. H. J. Pearson and Miss Fannie Holman, so pranos; Mrs. W. B. Mead and Miss A. Chamberlain, altos; Captain H. L. Hoyt and J. B. Wyatt, tenors; W. B. Mead and P. C. Schuyler, bass; Miss F. E. Congle, organist. A Bit o Church History. The charter members- of th First Coff gregatlonal Church were W. P. Abrams CHORCH CHOIR mid wife. Mr. Kendrlc and wife, N. C. Sturtevant, George Sherman. Mr. Cheney, Mrs. Skldmora and Rev. and Mrs. Horace Lyman. Previous to- the organization in 1S51, irregular services had been held In a log shingle shop by Rev. J. EL Griffin. Rev. Cushlng Eells. Rev. G. H. Atkinson and Dr. Lyman. The first church was dedicated June 15. 1831, at a cost of about $6500. This was used for about 20 years, when a second and- better edifice was erected on the same lot and dedicated Au gust 6, 1871, Rev. G. IT. Atkinson preach ing the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the new structure was about 520.000. In 1SS4 a large new organ was instnlled at u cost of $130), Including the remodeling ot the rear of the building, to accommodate the Instrument. The ehurch has had the following pastors since Its organization j In 1S31: ! Rev. Horace. Lyman (acting from ISiO) I The only Englishman who ever became Pope was Adrian rV. Colcry is the cultivated variety of the English weed, smallage. The earliest known cook book was print ed In Venice in His.-, The drum was the first musical in strument of the human race. One of the "fads and fancies" of 10 was the wearing of two watehea. Adam's tomb Is pointed out In a cham ber of the Holy Sepulcher In JeAisuIem. The women of Japan gild their teeth, while belles of the Indies paint them red. Th honntlful natterns which adorn Cashmere shawls are copied from the loaf of the begonia. . It is not generally known that the mot to, "In God We Trust," was not placed on our coins until IS53. " German silver possesses not a particle of genuine sliver, but Is an alloy of cop per, nickel, and. zinc. The sanitary Influence of the eucalyp tus tree Is claimed to render native-born Australians Immune to. cancer. About one-halt million of the popula tion of England earn their living In the spinning and weaving of cotton. Several centuries ago it was quite the thing to carry silver toothpicks suspend ed round the neck by a chain. John Adamsr was the originator of our national motto, "E Plurlbus Unum." Lassa. the Forbidden City of Thibet has a population ofJ.a,0G0, two-thirds of whom are women, who conduct all the business of the city. In Nankin, China, in 1S33, one-half mil lion women were formed Into army brig ades under female officers, and. rendered heroic service In battle. It requires the workmanship ot twenty men and the use of much costly ma chinery to make that dainty article ot femininity, the thimble. In ancient times amber was obtained from a pine or fir tree. Just as turpentine is now -eecured. This gum crystallized Into tho substance which Is now used. The Blbre, which wag anciently called The Books, or The Divine Library, was written at different periods and by dif ferent hands during the course of 1600 years. Tho symbol of- the cross Is used In the religions of the aborigines of North and South America, and by the most ancient nations of Europe, as well as-' by Chrlstians. Algeria Tioasesses a true nhenomenon of nature, a river of genuine ink. caused by tne joining ot two streams, one or .which, comes from- an iron: region, while the second stream flows from a peat Things You Ougnt to Know to April 17, 1S54; Rev. G. H. Atkinson, from May 3. 1SW. to Novomber. 1S85: Rev P. B. ChamberluiH, November. US3. t" March, 1S62: Rev. J. H. Atkinson. July. 1S63. to December. 1S72; Rev. J. D. Eaton. January. 1S73. to May. 1S76: Rev. J. II. Acton (of the Methodist Church) "sup piled" for six months, ending August S. 187$: Rov. J. A. Cruzan, from June. 1S77. to November. 1SS1; Rov. Frederic R. Mar vin, from June. 1SS2. to July, 1SSR; Rev T. E. Clapp, from April. 1SSC. to ISM; Rev. George R. Wallace, from March, 1SSI. ta May, 1S96; Rev. A: W. Aekermnn. January. 1S07, t0 1302; Rev. E. L. House, Septem ber. 1902. Three years after the arrival of Rev. T. E. Clapp the necessity for a new chur-h became apparent, and In ISfo) the trusters took the first step toward this end. Frank M. Warren and James M. Steel purchased the ground at Park and Madison carK as 1SS5. with the view of locating the new church there, their foresight saving th church at least $000 in price of the land Mr. Clapp was untiring fn his energy an1 effort to push the work of tho new church along, and was materially assisted by th Ladles Aid Society, which is still doing splendid work for the First Congrogatlon al Church. The completed church Is ono of the handsomest edifices In tho City ot Portland. Us congregation is one ot the largost, anil its present choir one of the best musical organizations in the R"se City. The gradual increase In the mem bership of this church Is ot Interest It had ten members In IS&t; n 1ST Its mem bership was 132; In 1S91 It whs 477: at pn s ent It Is S12. Dr. House having largely " creased It since he begun his very sufross ful pastorate, MARION MACRAE; swamp. On meeting the acid of ic stream blends with the Iron solution ; the other, and Ink Is the reyult. Arabs assert that Eve's tomb is at Jiddah, in a graveyard surrounded bv high white walls. The cemetery has re mained unopened for interment for oer one thousand years. Toulouse, Franco, hOH a canal which wias built entirely at the expemv of on man. Its name Is the Canal Du MM!. l was built In 166S-18S1. and cost Monsieur Paul Rlquet 6S0.00O.00O franca In Scandinavia. Christmas Is celebrated In Its literal sense of "peace on earth, good will toward men;" the courts are closed, quarrels are adjusted, and t. li feuds forgotten. It Is the home of the famous Yule I03. The custom of lifting the hat dit-s back to the age when knighthood wai i.n flower. ICnlghO never appeared in putl? except In full armor, but In the company of friends they removed the helmet, sig nifying, "I am safe among friends." The first verse of tho fifty-first Psalm Is called the "Neck Verse for the reason that in former times a man condemnc J death was sometimes given a chance t save his life by proving that he could read, and this verse was used as a test. Alfred Bernard Nobel, Inventor ot dy namite; left a fortune of 510.COO.00") far the foundation of five annual prizes of $40,000 each for the most Important dis covery In physics, chemistry; physiology, and medicine. . At Aqullla, in the kingdom of Naples In 1S10. some Frenchmen, in the course of excavating that ancient city. ta?.v ered an antique vase containing a docu ment written In the Hebrew language which Is claimed to be the death warrant of Jesus Generals In the army rank with Admi rals in the navy; Lieutenant-Generals with VIee-Admlrals; Major-Generals with first nine Rear-Admirals; Brigadier-Generals with Rear-Admirals after first nine and Commodores; Colonels in the army rank with Captains In the navy; Lieutenant-Colonels with. Commanders; Majors with Lieutenant-Commanders; Captains in the army with Lieutenants in the navy; First Lieutenants In the army with naval Lieutenants, Junior grade; Second Lieu tenants la the army with Naval Ensigns. (Copyright, 1905, by J. El Brlgham.) A Generous Allowance. Punch. French official statistics show that there-are- 17.107 motor cars in France and 3 353, -155 dogs. This works out as 19 and 21S3 I7J07th dogs apiece, which nobedy can. deny is a generous allowance.