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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1887)
V " ft; JCIP tf nil Lv&ii VSKi lit Vlf M IPSSSWBBSI w v Ha III Nsf. SL Ja- ')' 45 yygyyyw a uut jtf&fim tm Va Ltfv Vl v2sV?tcMHMHBi31INE-? u. VOL. XIX. SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1887. NO. 26. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DATS. MEN AND TIMES IN THE F0RTIE8. j UY 8. A Or.AIlKE . 1 Cop) right applied (or. All right! rowrreJ. Remlnlicencti of WllUara Mart! a, shorlff o UmatilU County. William Mm tin. prosont ehurifT of Umatilla county, Orogon, wub elected forty yours ago undor tlio provisional government of pioneer days sheriff of Cliampocg county, whoso northern boundary was the Molalla river and southern tho Coast Fork, including what is now Marion, Linn nnd Lane counties. As ho expresses it, ho was tho first and is tho Inst sheriff clcctod in Oregon. It is not often that a man is elected to tho sumo office- nl nn interval of forty years. Mr. Martin was living in Missouri in 1812 wlion tho Oregon fovcr seized tho Waldo family, nnd en gaged himself to work with Waldo for ono year, which tinio iucludod tho jour noy to Oregon nnd six months nftor ar rival here. Ho and his cousin, James P. Martin, came with tho Waldo outfit. Ho also romombors that in tho winter pret'ecding his departuro from Missouri tho nows enmo in St. LouU papers that Mr. Whitman had arrived from Oregon, nnd gavo notico that ho would pilot nn emigration across tho plains, and tako thorn through to tho Columbin with wagons. This encouraged many to mako tho journoy who would not othor wiso havo come. Tho details of tho out fit nnd journoy havo been often told and need no recital, savo as Mr. Martin rcnlombors incidents Hint nro now. Ho possesses n keen souso of tho humorous nnd tells many trifles thut nro amusing, of life on tho plains ns well 03 in Oregon. On tho Platte, heforo thoy woro woll used to life on tho plains, thoy saw n company of trnppors coming, nnd sup posing thoy might bo Indians tho alarm wns given to corral tho train, which was dono by drawing wagons in a circle nnd putting cnttlo in tho contcr. When tho othor pnrty drew near and proved to bo whito men tho boys made lots of fun of tho incident. T. 1). Kcizur was chief nctor in tho defense and they named tho pluco Fort Keizur in his honor. It wns reported on tho plainsrfcat ono of the men in tho train had struck his wifo with his ov whip. This caused general indignation and they concluded to servo him with ouough of tho samo to act ns a lesson. Tho culprit was called up to stand trial and was nhnrp enough to tell them ho was willing to leuvo it to his wifo if ho ill-trcntod her. "If sho nys so I will take a whipping," raid he. She was n Spartan wifo and exonerated him from blame and thoy rather reluct antly acquitted him from judgmout. There was no disposition among pio neers In crmit Vomen to ho abused. Thoy would have niudo an example of this man, but his wife took his side. Some started with iusutlicieut supplied nnd became short boforo tho journoy was half over. Thnt was not so much matter whilo they wcr in the buffalo country. Ono family had startod with shurt supplies nnd had wasted what they did have. It was n common event for them to cook "slap jacks" in such excels that there wero more than tho dogs could eat. On the fiweetwnler it was found that this family and soma others weio short, and the Applegntesl generously piipood to make n division of supplies. Jack Hoed, slieriU'of the company, got on a wagon wheel and an nounced tlit proposal, but it wu not kindly received. Some men who ru'd nothing drew nut their guns and stood by. "Actions spoke louder than words." There was no division made, which would have only given these wasteful ones suplies to throw away again. It was finally decided that those who had kill buffalo, but ns tho majority had enough to got thrpugh on, thoy would not consent to loso tho time. Thoy woro already lato nnd their teams grow ing thinnor. Carnifex, who enmo to Oregon in '12, mndo n romnrk that wns very truo, "If thorc was any dog in a mnn it wotdd bark on tho plains." Tho dog in soino of thia train barked occas ionally, but most ot thorn had no "dog" in them. Tho proposition to divido onuscd a great excitement. Prudent men who hnd provided woll for their families hnd no intention to rob their children for tho bonelH of peoplo who would squander what was given thorn. Yol thoro wns no meanness shown and no ono wns nllowod to suffer. Somo of tho or teams were not very well broken, nnd tho Stouts, who nfter ward Bottled nonr Mohnmn, in Marion county, hnd a team quito fractious. On tho Dig HIuo they rnn nwny nnd brought up against n sapling that bent under tho whocl. Hugh Stout was driving nnd someway got straddlo tho treo and was shoved up into it beforo tho wagon stopped. Eli, his son, ran nnd shouted: "Hun hero! run hero! dad's n killiugl" which wns tho joko of tho een8on, ns tho old mnn wasn't hurt by being run up tho treo. . Townrds tho end of tho journoy somo of tho emigrants beenmo n littlo demor alized nnd forgot tho laws of mcum nnd tuum. Tho Waldos stopped to rest thoir animals ut tho foot of Pylo's can yon, ns they entered tlio beautiful Grand Hondo vnlloy. nnd whilo there someone holpcd himself to a sido of bacon from Waldo's wagon. A certain pnrty wns found milking that family's cows nbout thorc. .Matters wero n triflo unpleasant. Tliero was a road to mako over tho Ditto mountains to the Columbin, and tho pnrty suspectod of tho delinquency wont ahead nnd cut out tho road. It was thought then that it was dono to get away from tho pending difficulty. Tho others considered it was worth nil it cost to havo tho road mado for their uso. Thoy hnd no trouhlo with Indians on the plains, but near tho DcsChutes tho Indians there Molo somo clothing hung out to dry, nnd rnn oil' somo ponies. Somo of tho families had stopped to wash up nnd neglected to tako in their clonics wnen nlgut came. Tho Indians hnd n peculiur way of catching jnckrnbbita nbovo Tho Dalles. A number of them would commenco running round in n circle, half a dozon or so to a rabbit. Tho nnimnls watched thorn nnd beenmo confused, usually being caught by linnd or shot down by arrows. Two well known parlies got Into n quairel in tho Grand Hondo valley, and one began to choke tho other, wlion other came to the rescue. Xo one wns much hurt, and tho men sousibly made it up and wore friends. Hut the nick name 'Choke" stuck to tho man who wits on top, so that even his wife used it in emergency. Su -h was tho case in crossing tho DesChutos. Vernon was with his team and they rommonced drifting down stream, when his bolter half called from the shore: '"Choke," you turn them oxen's head up stream or you shan't have another bit of my wheal bread." Wheat bread wns u rarity, because flour was i-cureo. Tho boys enjoyed tho scone, especially as "Clnke," by dej-ix'nito efforts, turned tho cattle up Mivmii, and m saved bis bread as well as his bacon. When they finally rt ached the Waldo lulls and were building the firt log houc, the family occupied a tent, and had a brush camp. This latter took tire, and in saving tho coiitents ono of the daughters, A vanilla, whh badly scotched. Waldo had thirty-three cows, twelve oxen, four mares, also a black stallion named Martin Van liuren, so called bo- lfflll&j urnn nt tin oliuilim. imt 'PI.:.. ....... a surplus should give it to those in nd the property of bis son David. They us needed. They could have. ttnjijKrd to J had a rather choice bull, and the rapid increase of this stock mado Waldo a wonlthy man. Good crops ljolpod him, also. Whon tho provisional government was organized in '41, James P. Martin wns appointed sheriff of Ohampoog county, and served twoyonrs. Tho first election was held in '10, nnd Mr. Martin was elected. Martin mado his head quarters nt Waldo's, nnd thoro wero sov cml justices who held court in thoir own houses. "Hilly" Hughes was coun ty clerk, nnd kept tho records nt John Forcos's plncc, two miles north of Salem. Court was held whenever tho justices announced. F. X. Mnthicu wns justico of Iiowor French Prairie. Dau Waldo was justico of tho Salom precinct, or whnt is sinco the Salem region. Ono famous trial wns n enso of ono 13rown, charged with stealing wheat from Hcubcn Lewis, tried boforo Waldo. Mr. Drown gavo tho sheriff (Martin) a honvy blessing whon ho nrrestcd them. Nesmith prosecuted nnd Duruolt dofend od. Tho wheat was ground at English's mill, and they proved tho presouco of Buavings in it nnd thnt cnts hnd camped in tho wheat bin, but tho jury could not ngroo thnt tho Drowns wero guilty. They wero so elated at having escaped conviction (hat they wanted Nosmith to go nftor Htibo Ijwis for malicious proso cution, but "Xcs" told them they wero in big luck not to got "cinched" as it was, nnd ho saw nothing in further pro ceedings. Tho Drowns found it an un healthy country to livo in, and moved to California. Anothor caso thatcrcatod amusomont wns where W. H. I lector sued Jnmes Forco for $200, tho price of n enrringo ho drovo across tho plains in. Forco didn't pay, so "Undo Billy Hector" brought suit beforo F. X. Mnthicu. Tho enso wns set for a certain hour in tho morning and Forco hurried to bo on hand. Hector called nt Waldo's for tho sheriff nnd Waldo went nlong for his own plonsuro. Hector was a man of considornblo ability nnd forco of charac ter, but rather quick toinporod nnd inw- cible. When thoy wero nonr Mathiou's plaeo they met Force, who told them thoy noodu't go any further as ho had got n non-suit entered against thorn, ft seems thnt Forco, ns soon ns tho hour tot for tiinl arrived, moved for a non suit, ns the plaintiff wns not on hand. This roused Hector's ire nnd he stalled nfter Force ns fast as his nng could go. Ho hnd n heavy rawhide in his hand and used it on his honc, with variations on Forco's back 111 often ns ho could cntch up The prairio wns nil opon land there nnd tho two spectators got in tho tho centor of the oircle described by plaintiff mid defendant. Itoctor prose cuted his suit after his own fashion until tired out, when they enmo riding up to the others, Forco laughed good nnturcd ly at tho rage of his antagonist. An other suit begun and the hack was final ly paid for. Suits wero not often of any importnnco and wcio sometimes tho cause ot tun and gossip to the whom community. A. A. Hobiusou was enptain of the military compnny organized iu I817, which took part in tho war on Hattlo creek. Ho afterwards went to Cali fornia. He was tho first whito man who ever ran a boat over tho Cascades, He did good work here nnd drilled the cottiers to arms, ho ns to give thorn con fidence iu case of war with the Indians. Win. Martin took up a laud claim at the upjicr end of I Iowtdl Prairie, but sold his rights to hU eoiiiin for 100 acre.-, in Missottii, intending to go back and sell the laud to buy eattlo with tho pro ceeds. The discovery of gold changed all plans, and ho never went back as in tended. When tlio immigrants reached Walla Walla they left their cattle there, mak ing a trade with the officers of the Hud son Hay company in charge of the fort to take their worn-out stock and ex change them good Spanish cattle in place of it. Tlio American cattle were, of course, much moro valuable. Tho next yenr tho Applegatca and others wero going up tho Columbia nftor thoir cnttlo. "W lion Dr. McLoughltn lonrncd of tho exchnngo he refused to sanction it. "Tut, tut, tut," said ho. "You enn't do anything with my cnttlo; thoy nro ns wild as deer. Tnko your own cnttlo." This is nn oxnmplo of his great libornl ity and his unnffectod way of showing it. So tho Applcgates, Hurnott, Ford and othors took thoir clioico American stock down to tho Willamette. Tho good doctor was not willing to tnko from them tho stock thoy hnd brought so fur, though thooxchnngo wns grcnlly to his own advantage. Martin tells nmusing storios of thn effect of ovorcnting on tho half starved emigrants when thoy enmo to get bet tor food. Tho first instnnco wns on renching tho American falls, where tho Iudlnns traded them dried salmon. Thoy gave two shirts for n snok of penienn. This was n pleasant chnngo nnd they nto so much of it that it swollod nnd mndo boiuo of thorn quito ill. At Tho Dalles, Waldo traded with A. F. Wnllor, in charge of tho Methodist mission thoro, giving threo poor cnttlo for two fat ones. They jerked tho ment for futuro uso, nnd Joo Hlnck, who crossed with Waldo, became ill from partaking too freely of tho fresh moat. Ho ato no moio tho balnnco of tho jnurney. At Vancouvor thoy got salt salmon nnd potatoes nnd nil got tick from overeating. After n long journey whero food hnd been scarco nnd thoy hnd lived for months on jerked ment nnd bacon, any chnngo was a lux ury nnd tho temptation to overeat irro sistiblo. Whon thoy enmo down tho Columbin and tried to ford it near Hood river, somo nnimnls wero lost. They finally got Indians and canoes and whilo tho Indians paddlod across, ono man held ropes that bouyed up four eattlo or horses and in this manner nil crossed sufoly. Win. Hill, who now lives iu Washing ton county, hnd n pair of olknkin pnnts, tho leather of which wns not smoked or tanned. After a rainy day nnd consid ornblo work in water on tho trip down tho Columbia, Hill wont to sleep with his wot pants on nnd thoy dried on him as any rawhide naturally does. Whon ho awoke ho wns in n tight place, sure enough. So far us his lower limbs woro concorncd ho couldn't move Thoy finally slid him into tho river nnd let him stay thoro long enough soften his lower garments. Then they drew him out nnd took oil' his trousers. Afterwards tho boys rigged him astrido of a mule. All theso things mndo fun and good-humored jokos kopt tho train alivo nnd in pleasant temper. Thn yaluo of n joko depends greatly on tho ut- wnuani circumstances. -v mi . ?.-.i- it. it . -.t mis romiiiiia mo niuno'. oi uuotiier story of those times whero a young man nnd his sister wero making tlio journoy and' wero campod iu tho mountains near tho river. Ho had spread his blankets under a groat fir, and the drip pings of rain hud fallen on his bed and frozen tho blitnko.s together and ho in them. Ice makes a warm cover whon properly applied nnd ho slept soundly to wake imprisoned. Ho could neither stir hand or foot, and calling to his mind tho stories told of Oregon back in Missouri he called out "Jane, June come here and help me up. Hum I am, iu this eternal laud of summer, perper ual flowers mid suiHhiiie, fioeu down still' and solid," Jano caino with nn ax mid cut him loose, and tho young man wns himself again. . -" "v. After Waldo got settled and his house built ho went to Vancouver for winter supplies nnd had transported them to the falls and was loading a bout nbovo tho falls to make tho trip in tho upper Willamette, when tho loat got loose and went over tho falls with all his loaditig. He was obliged to return for a second outfit. When they were at last settled in the hills, tho Waldos looked up nil sorts of ipplics. Somo ono said that roasted acorns mado n good substitute forcoffco, but tho acorn season was over. Thoy found many nests of woodrats, built among hnzel thiokcts, eo thoy hunted there, nnd robbed tho rats of their store for coffee, nnd then thoy went bnck to parched grain or benns ngnin. Genuine cofi'eo wns nbovo pioneer means iu thoso days. When tho Cnyuso war caino, Martin wns in English's compnny as an ordorly sergeant. After Col. Gilliam's acci dental death, it wns necessary to send to Tho Dalles nfter supplies. Captain English wishod to go down, but Major Mnxar insisted on his right as tho sonior officer. This incensed English who re turned homo, having disbnndonod his company. About half wont and tlio rest remained, and a now company was organized, Win. Martin being oloctod captain. Thoy remained nino mouths iu tho field, until nil emigrants of thnt year weio safoly Iu. In tho spring of ltUUMnrtln wont to tho mines. Thoro wero nix iu company and they nil hnd ngrced thnt if threo beenmo ill tho rest should bring thorn homo. Threo becumo ill nnd tho others enmu back with them. Martin returned iu October, Mil, nnd romnined till Mny, 1850. Thnt winter wns sovcro in north ern California nnd minors thoro could not reach the lower Sacramento for sup lilies. Food was ?:i n pound, much stock died nnd many killed and nto their mules. It cost an nvorngu of $16 a day to live. It took nn ounco (1 10) to buy n pair of brognns. Whon tho camp got out of ment Martin quit his rocker, thnt nvornged ovor $i)0 n day nnd ninny dnys yiolded $100, nnd ovoii $200, to go hunt ing. Ho wns tho best hunter in camp mid in sixteen days' timo sold venison at 71 cents por pound to tho valuo of $1112, though, others sold for?l 25 it pound. Only that thoy mndo enormous wagos for their mining thoy could not havo lived, nnd us it was living was costly. Ono of tho oxtensivo nets of sover eignty iu any nation is tho coinngo of gold silver, nnd history will always recito with interest tho fact that tho provis ional government of Oregon nnsumod tho prerogative. Whon gold was dis covered it found tho people who dug it almost dostitute of money unablo to do business conveniently. Tho gold found In ono mino differed In vnluo from an other, nnd whilo much of it wns worth $18 nn ounce, traders took advantage of tho uncertainty to buy gold dust from $11 to $15. Tlio legislature of Onnon passed nn ttct tho firnt winter 1818-5) nfter gold wan discovered, an 1 boforo tho great rush to California actually began authorizing- "Tho assaying, molting nnd coining of gold," wltich wan only prevented from being enforced by thn establishment of a territorial govern ment by congress. Hut private enter prise wns awako to tho importnnco us woll us tho profit iu such work, mid u company of old timers, pioneors who had proved equal to whatever emergency had arisen, organized to curry out tho schomo tho legislature had logalized. Thoso men woro Kilburn, Magrudor, Toylor, Smith, Abnrnethy, Wilson, Heo .tor, ami Campbell. Their respective initials circled around one side, tlio cen tral figure of which wan a beaver. It wns therefore cullod 'Heaver money." On tho revrso sido "Oregon Exchange Company. 1!H) grains Native Gold, fid." Ton dollar pieces corresponded. The dies were made by Hamilton Campbell, who was for somo timo con nected with tho Methodist mission nnd nnd ono of tho most euergotlo and en terprising men of thnt time, but sinco tleceesed. Tho press and rolling mill wero made by the Hectors, who removed o L'ulifornin many years Inter. Tho work vas remnrkubly well tlone, considering lio ciicuuiHtunccH, and the money cir- ciiinnu ,ieely somo years. As "clusl mid be exchanged for this coin and cjiriiiilly hold ul iiiucli lens than its value, it must have been a nrolltublu Vendue, but when United .States coin AvflM iili.nwlfiflrul ill! irivt.nfiMtil uft.intf. was quickly ictired. Tho "exchange company" very honestly made their coin M per cent. Iietter limn par, una "beaver money" went rnjiidly to tho melting jsit, when other com came into use. At the iireut timo sueh coins command n high value an iclics of tho old time, aii'I only a very few are in ex istence in privnto collections. In Cali fornia 450-slugs, hexagon in shnc, wero made and passed current. The writer had a payment of some thousands made iu such coin in Oregon as late as IH&L Uiti'ffi"' &mtp?'22 imMOXti)mmrr-- ,?-ikw lu'..l.. Ji r V.,. J . Stl Jjji-iift.I2 i I " ,'lktA S J - rf. . -
