Salem Frontiersmen Gave Noisy
Welcome to Territorial Governor
By Ben Maxwell
When Chester N. Terry, clerk lor the previous year, called the
Oregon territorial council to order at 10 o'clock Monday morning,
December 5, 1853, he counted nine members representing 11 dif
ferent counties. The house, soon
4
i
to elect C. Z. Bishop as speaker,
consisted of 26 members
Territorial Oregon's fifth
legislative session of 94 years
ago did not convene in any
! capitol structure for the simple
reason that none was then in
existence. Rooms in the Rector
building on the west side of
Commercial street between Fer
ry and Trade were occupied by
the council or senate. Later
this barnlike structure of 1851
deteriorated into a Chinese wash
house and burned with great
brilliance, June 3, 1885. The
Nesmith-Wilson building, then
located where the S. P. depot
now stands, accommodated the
house.
On December 8, the governor
i vas informed that the legislative
session was now organized and
Gov. John W. Davis read his
1 rnmmitniiatinn in thp house
1 Asahel Bush, Statesman editor
' whose printery was in the same
building, applauded the message
' as a harbinger of a new era
ending the conflict of author!
vties.
.. i Hoosicr Was Governor
II' Governor Davis of Indiana, an
" appointee of President Pierce
' , was received in Salem Decem-
i ber 2, with all the boisterous
J fanfare a community of 500
! frontiersmen could develop.
Nor should it be forgotten that
' Governor Davis fetched along
$40,000 in federal funds for con-
! structipn of buildings essential
I for territorial government. And
$40,000 in this lean and hungry
i community of 94 years ago
j promised to go a long way in
, making the right sort of per-
! sons happy. Governor Davis,
: incidentally, became disgusted
i and left Oregon in August, 1854
even before the $40,000 had
been entirely squandered.
When the sidewheeler Wil
lamette with the governor's par
ty aboard bucked' and conquer
ed Chitwood rapids below Sa
lem, there was still plenty of
steam left for three great blasts
from her mighty whistle. Ore
gon artillerymen, such as could
be rounded up for the occasion,
dashed to the river's bank and
shot off their muzzle loaders.
Others, without guns but in fes
tive mood, went to the banks
of the Willamette and whooped
it up.
Scarcely were the Willam
ette's paddles stilled before the
Hon. George H. Williams, speak
er for the reception committee,
scrambled aboard and headed
-ior the gentleman's cabin where
Governor Davis awaited the re
ceptionists, who escorted the
governor ashore.
Where Governor Davis lodged
history does not record, but it
may be presumed that he pass
ed by the rough and tumble
Holman house near the water
front and headed for the fash
ionable Bennett house, then
newly completed on a site now
occupied by the Masonic build
ing. Legislators numbering 37
probably had no trouble find
ing lodging. Salem had at least
five hostels, though some were
certainly more immaculate and
desirable than others. Ben Mc
cormick's restaurant offered
board for $7 a week; a single
meal cost 75 cents and an extra
meal one dollar.
Speaker Names Committees
C. Z. Bishop, speaker of the
house, announced the following
standing committees: judiciary,
elections, education, claims,
militia affairs, Indian affairs,
roads and highways, engrossed
bills, commerce, printing, cor
porations and counties. Senate
committees were about the same
What this session of 94 years
ago accomplished is not now so
vital. Much of their time was
devoted to discussion of mili
tary affairs and new roads for
the territory. They did create
four new counties: Columbia,
Wasco, Coos and Tillamook. Al-
they renewed discussion of
that old question about a perm
anent site for tne capitol.
And that discussion suggested
joint communication Signed by
four pioneers from Benton
county: John E. Porter, Adam
Holden, Richard Irwin and
Isaac W. Winkle wrote Governor
Davis a letter fom Jennyopolis
agreeing to give 200 acres of
land, embracing rock of the best
quality and a butte 100 feet high
containing 10 acres upon which
to set the statehouse if the legis
lature would locate the capitol
upon the said 200 acres. This
location, 10 miles south of Cor-
vallis, is known all over Ore
gon as The Butte, now called
Jennyopolis.
Jennyopolis, established with
Richard Irwin as postmaster,
Contractors
Home Owners
See us for your electricol
work. We have the ma
terial and the time. Free
estimates. Our work js
priced right.
Karnes Electric Co.
Electrical Contracting
2060 N. Capitol
PHONE 7566
March 24, 1852, has long since
disappeared, but the butte,
doubtless, remains as a monu
ment to a pioneer promotion.
Salem in January, 1853, con
tained 10 general stores, all do
ing a very good business, ac
cording to the Reverend Ezra
Fisher. Besides, there were
mills, mechanics, lawyers and
doctors. Five Methodist minis
ters were on hand to look af
ter the spiritual welfare of legis
lators.
It was about this time that
Joab Powell, eccentric but popu
lar Baptist circuit rider, was
asked by mischievous legislators
to open the day with prayer.
They settled back with amuse
ment, anticipating a long invo
cation against their sins. Old
Jcab looked them over and
prayed: "Lord, forgive them,
for they know not what they
do."
If a legislator wanted a drink
in 1853 he might buy it at the
Nonpareil saloon. If he drank
too much and acquired a hang
over, May & Robb would sell
him sarsaparilla, or, if his needs
were more urgent, Rickey and
Willson, near the steamboat
landing, stocked Chologogue,
really good for everything, and
Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. Then,
if he didn't feel better, H. B. F.
Brogdcn, with a shaving salon
adjacent to the Nonpareil, could
make him look better with a
haircut or a shampoo.
Supposing he developed
toothache, Dr. U. H. Dunning,
with an office at Cooke's hotel,
would pull the offending molar.
And while there, why not let
Denny Hcndee, the Daguerrean
artist, make your likeness at a
price ranging from $5 to $257
Now, after a bit of drinking,
getting worked over by Brog
den the barber, your tooth pull
ed and your likeness made by
Hendee now suppose you are
broke. No matter. If you hold
warrants for goods or services
supplied during the Cayuse In
dian war, Chester N. Terry, af
ter some discounting, will buy
those warrants for cash with
payment in gold.
Cold for Legislature
Legislators in attendance for
the 1853 session got a cold re
ception. Snow fell to a depth
of five inches and the tempera
ture dropped to two degrees be
low zero during the night of
January 19.
Adjournment sine die came
to the fifth session of the ter
ritorial legislature at 1 o'clock
in the morning, February 1,
1854. After all, says Asahel
Bush in his Statesman, they did
pretty well. They attended to
a lot of business and passed the
code. Emphatically it was a
working session.
Guests From Dakota
Are Taken on Trek
Silverton Mrs. Gertrude
Moen entertained at dinner and
an all-day social time including
a travel trek to the Silver Falls
state park, complimenting visi
tors, old time neighbors, from
Pierpont, S. D., Mr. and Mrs.
Jacob Aadland and Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Paulson, who are visit
ing many former neighbors now
living in the Pacific northwest,
making the tour by automobile.
Additional dinner guests at the
l EYES EXAMINED 1
BROWN'S f
1 1 Optical I
l t Service 3
i I 1 84 N. Liberty St.
'msCZ--"' "' EVENT
A
Four'Piece
MAPLE CROUP
0095
Harmonious settings increase the livability of
your home. This comfortable daveno with ma
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three tables to make a lovely center of interest
for your living room. Then, too the daveno
converts into a three-quarter bed. Upholstered
in choice of cotton tapestries.
Rock Wool Insulation
Moisture Proof & Fireproof
L. H. CLAWSON CO.
175 S. High St. Salem, Ore.
All workmanship and
Material guaranteed.
CALL H. P. LENTON
Salem Mgr.
For Free Estimate
PH. 6088
Gertrude Moen home included
Mr. and Mrs. Hegbert Syhre of
Marquam, and Mr. and Mrs. Ole
Moen of Silverton.
Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, Friday, Feb. 21, 1947 3 1
am
Clarus Camera
35 m.m. F. 2.8 Coated
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Film-Photo Finishing
Flash Bulbs
Projection Lamps
RADIO REPAIRS
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252 N. Church Ph. 6874
Diamond
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I
RCA VICTOR ARTIST
Charlie Spivak in Person at
Heider's Record Shop,
428 Court, at 4:30 Today
Dance to his music tonight at the Crystal
Gardens. Have your Charlie Spivak record
autographed here.
FOLLOWING RECORDS IN STOCK:
The Bells of St. Mary's
You Can Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder
Spring Magic So They Tell Me
Along with Me Linda
Only Another Boy and Girl
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
Can't You Read Between the Lines?
Santa Lucia
So Would I The Old Devil Moon
My Heart Goes Crazy If This Isn't Love
Let's Go Home For Sentimental Reasons
Stomping Room Only It's All Over Now
Phone
7522
Come in! Celebrate with Sears! Save on
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A n-firvA
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY SPECIALS FOR THE "BLACKBOARD" SET
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13.20
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Little Girls' Dresses
Fast color prints, assorted designs.
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Little Girls' Jumpers
All wool. Pleated skirt. Assorted
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1.85
1.89
Smart Coat-Style Sweaters
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3.98
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Striped Polo Shirt
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