THE DALLES TIMES-MOUNTAINEER.
35
first person to settle between the John Day and Deschutes
rivers was Mr. S. Price. He came somewhere about '58,
and settled at the place now known as Love Grove. He and
his aged companion still live in Sherman county, proud to
witness the wonderful development of the country in which
they are the oldest pioneers. Mr. Price put the first horses
on the range, and soon he was followed by others, until
the number of horses and cattle in this county alone
amounted to no less than 100,000 head.
Mr. Price was followed by Mr. Jesse Eaton, who settled
in Spanish Hollow canyon, and whose family still live on
the old home place. Mr. Eaton came in the early '60's, and
was closely followed by Mr. Leonard, who built and oper
ated Leonard's bridge across the John Day river. At this
time there were but three houses between the two rivers.
Next came Mr. Gould, who settled near Rosebush, five
miles east of Grass Valley, on a farm that still bears his
name. He was practically the first settler in Southern Sher
man. Closely following came Mr. Jas. Peterson, who settled
out east of Monkland in 1870. Mr. Pierson was long identi
fied with the best interests of the country, and he was one
of the largest stock raisers in it.
Mr. Pierson was followed by Mr. Barnum, the first to
settle near Moro. And he, with Mr. Pierson, was the first
to bring cattle on the range.
About this time Mr. Jas. Jenkins1 came into the country
with a big band of horses, settling at what is now known
as' Murray Springs, and starting the first furit orchard.
And they were the first to demonstrate that the lands along
: the rivers would produce excellent fruit (which has since
been proven that the uplands, as well, produce the finest
" fruit that was ever put on the market). This with other
- orchards adjoining has since become one of the most
: valuable pieces of property in the Inland Empire.
In 1875 Mr. Cornwall settled on what is known as Mack
in Flat with cattle, and in 1878 a sheep man, hailing to the
sobriquet of "French Pete," settled on "Jack Knife." This
marked the beginning oi the era of sheep. His little flock
was not large, but from small beginnings grow, great
things, and in only a few short years the sheep industry
grew to gigantic proportions. Mr. Jas. Frazier was not
long in finding out the advantages of Sherman county, and
came with an immense business.
Perhaps actually the "first stock that was ever run in
the John Day country, was put here by Mr. Gordon, (after
whom Gordon Ridge took its name) and Col. Fulton. But
it was later when they actually moved to this side of the
gorge. To Col. Fulton is due the honor of raising the first
wheat in what is now the greatest wheat belt in Oregon,
although wheat was not extensively raised for some years.
Following this Mr. Eaton made an experiment of rye, and
it was so successful that the idea of growing cereals
pushed rapidly forward.
Not less important were Messrs. W. H. Biggs, Jas. Gib
son, Clarke Dunlap and W. M. Reynolds who came looking
after homes in 1883. Mr. Biggs was the first man to use a
gang plow; while Messrs. Henry Jack and Wm. Reynolds
were the first men to operate a header; it having been
done in 1881.
Prominent among the pioneers in the south end of the
county is Dr. Rollins, a happy old gentleman, who has done
much for the country that has given him a home.
Sherman county was first cut off as an independent body
in 1888; the southern boundary being just south of Grass
valley. Two years later a strip was added, extending the
boundary south to Buck Hollow. Wasco was the first
county seat, and in 1892 it was changed to Moro. The first
officials of the new county were: O. M. Scott, judge; V. C.
Brock, clerk; E. M. Lester, sheriff; John Moore and John
Medler, commisioners; C. C. Myers, assessor and L. Arms
worthy, treasurer.
Since the county , organization no county in the state has
made a better record. Starting in with a debt assumed pro
rata from the old county, together with the obligations
naturally incurred in getting started, of about $25,000, the
officials have, by careful, though liberal management, suc
ceeded in wiping out everything. Never has the cost of run
ning the county caused an exorbitant taxation. No expen
sive buildings have been erected, though the county officials
are comfortably situated. Indeed, most money .has. been
expended in improving roads, etc. Sherman county may
well be proud of her roads. Again this is wnere the light
sandy soil excels. Not easy to work into mud, during the
rainy season the roads are almost at the best.
Sherman county boasts of schools that are second to
none. Peopled with a class naturally intelligent, this
branch has received particular attention all through the
county; splendid buildings have been erected, and to our
knowledge, not a district is without a fair supply of appara
tus, most of them are abundantly supplied. Not only is this
a' fact, but a careful selection of teachers has put the school
system on a solid basis that will attract the attention of
educational people far and wide. In three towns of the
county are graded schools; all of them under the care of
the most competent corps of teachers that can be procured.
One of) them at least is on a rating with the University of
Oregon. Perhaps few schools are so favored that its pupils
may step into a university course without first having to
take the preparatory course. It is always true that a com
munity well up on educational matters; a country that
places the culture of the rising generation above all else,
is a good place to live. Such people know how to appreciate
the good things nature has provided us with. And last, but
by no means the least, is the Grass Valley Baptist Aca
demy. This institution- of learning carries all branches,
and is one of the best advertisements the county could
have. All these advantages go to make the social features
one of the highest posible order.
The mercantile business is without doubt the largest, tak
ing into consideration the population, of any one section
to be named. All the : different towns eight in number
support large mercantile firms, and the immense quantity
of goods turned out by these business houses seems almost
beyond reason. A conservative estimate puts the figures
for a business year at two-thirds of a million. A seemingly
enormous bill for twenty-two hundred people to pay, but
when it is easy to pay it only evidences the enormity of
business being done, and vast means of acquiring. That the
business of the county is vast is assured in the fact that
the Columbia Southern Railway is doing a prosperous busi
ness. This road hauls all the freight that comes into the
county. Leaving thie distributing point, heavy freight
teams supply the more interior points. The machinery
trade in itself is a matter of many thousands of dollars
every year. Every farmer must needs have two or more
gang plows, the same number of heavy farm wagons, a
header or combined harvester, and often a threshing
machine. These with numerous other articles of machin
ery necessary to successful farming, make the granger's
actual capital invested a matter of considerable moment.
No class of business men have a higher standing in busi
ness circles than these fellows who have cast their lot with
the Sherman county farmer.
After all, the bacK bone of the country is the farmer. In
telligent, shrewd, hard-working and honest, he produces the
wealth that maes Sherman county famous. And he does
it easily; he owns trom 360 to 4000 acres, and machinery
plenty to farm it. The condition of the soil and the clim
atic influences are favorable, so that he may labor while
the sun shines. The farmer is the man who developes every
industry to be used; his surplus money is to be found in
various institutions. He nearly always has a bank account,
and through this means Sherman county handsomely sup
ports two banking institutions not small ones, such as
may be found in small country towns, but the amount of
business done reminds one of tne class of business done by
metropolitan institutions. No place on earth is the farmer
more independent tfian in this little Oregon Klondike. He
dictates the volume of business. The social features, the
educational doings, the business of the county everything
that pertains to the welfare of himself-and his neighbor.
In conclusion Sherman county , greets the business world
simply candidly, with the assurance that she cannot be ex
celled. Her people are happy, contented and prosperous.
The good angel of plenty has been , kind to her and her
people; she welcomes ali who may come within her con
fines for legitimate benefit. Peopled as she is by a highly
desirable class of citizens, she still has room for more. She
expects to more than double her population within the com
ing year; giving to each one that comes a comfortable home
and a bright prospect.
Sherman county is easily accessible by way of the O. R.
& N. and Columbia Southern Railroad, the latter reaching
out into the very heart of the vast wheat fields. Her treat
ment of visitors will be in keeping withwhat may be expec
ted of the banner little county of Oregon.
kept steadily improving year by year, until the fall of 1891,
which witnessed the advent of a newspaper The Moro Ob
serverthen edited by J. B. Hosf ord, but who .shortly after
wards disposed of the paper, in order that he might devote
himself exclusively to the practice of his profession as a
lawyer, which he has successfully followed here ever since.
It should be stated that prior to 1889 the territory now
embraced within Sherman county was a part of Wasco
county, and by an act of the Oregon legislature, approved
February, 1889, Sherman was organized as a separate coun
ty, with the town of Wasco as temporary county seat. The
creating act provided thai the question of locating a perma
nent county seat for the new county should be submitted to
the legal voters at the next general election thereafter, and
accordingly in 1890, several candidates for county seat hon
ors appeared in the field, among the number being Moro,
. Wasco, Kenneth and several other town, the result being
that Moro and Wasco headed the list when tne votes were
counted; but neither place receiving a majority of all votes
cast, it became necessary under the law for Moro and
Wasco, the two highest, to again compete two years later.
In 1892 the final heat between the towns was run, and the
voice of the people declared in favor of Moro for the perma
nent county seat by a handsome majority. Since then,
within the short space of five years, Moro has made rapid
progress, chiefly due to the energy and enterprise of its
public spirited citizens, who have ever labored harmonious
ly as one man for the upbuilding of the town. . Its central
location in the heart of one of the richest and most produc
tive agricultural districts in Eastern Oregon, with a health
ful and salubrious climate second to none in the State with
cold water, pure and abundant no saloons, no. gambling
dens, no vice of any kind and with a community composed
of a moral and lawabiding class oi people, it is not to be
wondered at that "prosperity shines like a rising star."
The religious denominations represented in Moro are the
Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and United Brethren;
mission circles, Christian Endeavor, W. C. T. U., King's
Daughters, L. T. L., &c." The secret societies consist of the
I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W.,W. O. W., D of II, W & C. We also
have a good horticultural society.
One of the most important institutions o the town is its
graded public school, (a cut of the building appearing in
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, MORO.
CITY OF HORO.
The county seat of Sherman county is pleasantly situated
between the John Day river on the east and the boisterous
Deschutes on the west, in a picturesque valley that winds
its way southerly through the county. Located near the
center of the county, where
"The lofty hill, the humble lawn, with countless beauties
shine,"
the town possesses special advantages as a commercial
point:
The name "Moro" is not of local origin, having been given
to the town by Judge O. M. Scott, one of the early settlers
here, who formerly lived in Moro, 111., and desired to per
petuate the name by christening this town after it. The orig
inal townsite was purchased by Scott & Co. in 1882 from
Mrs. Hunter, who afterwards became Mrs. Fox, of the firm
of Fox & Scott, then the leading merchants of Sherman
county, and consisted of six blocks of ten lots each. Today
the recorded plat of the town shows 36 blocks each contain
ing 10 lots, a large proportion of which are covered by sub
stantial buildings. The first building erected here was that
which now enjoys the proud distinction of being used by
the "Observer" iorce as a newspaper office, and was occu
pied at that vime by Scott & Co. as a merchandise store.
In 1884 the Moro hotel was built, and during the same year
McKenzie & Somers erected a blacksmith shop and foun
dry; but it was not until 1887 that Moro began to assume
the proportions of a village, when the townsite passed into
the hands of Moore Bros., the present owners, who estab
lished1 a large general merchandise store here, and have
since by their energy, industry and enterprise contributed
largely to the development of the town. Shortly afterwards
a well equipped hardware store, with R. J. Ginn ag proprie
tor; proved a welcome accession to the town, the headquar
ters in Sherman county for the famous Knapp-Burrell
farm implements and machinery being then and now lo
cated here under his efficient management. Thus Moro
another column of this issue,) which offers as good educa
tional advantages as any pupil might desire outside of an
academic course. The school is always under the close su
pervision of a competent board of directors, and none but
instructors of recognized talent and ability are employed.
There is an excellent library in connection with the school.
Moro is the only town in the county that has an organized
fire company. Equipped with a fine new hose cart, hook and
ladder truck, and a'A the necessary appliances for fighting
fire, danger from that source is reduced to a minimum.
The Moro Water Co., with a plant that cost over $4,000.00,
supplies the citizens with plenty of good water, and a large
reservoir close to the town is always kept full so that in
case of a fire the aqueous fluid can be readily utilized by
men in any quarter of the town almost-at-a moment's
notice. -r
A long distance telephone line enables the people of Moro
to communicate with "all the world and his wife." There is
a daily mail by stage route from Grant, another stage route
connecting the town with The. Dalles in Wasco county.
The nearest rail road, the Columbia Southern, now at
Wasco, is within, ten miles, and - present : Indications are
most favorable for the establishment of two different lines
of road through the county, with Moro as a central point,
in the near future.
The business houses are lighted with gas, but ere long
they will be supplied with electricity. The latest practical
showing of the enterprise and progressive spirit of the peo
ple is the establishment in Moro of a large foundry and ma
chine shop which will prove an immense benefit to the far
mers all over the county, enabling them to procure all kinds
of machine extras, farm implements, and repairing done at
a reasonable cost, without being compelled to send ont of
the county for the same. The foundry is -an incorporated
concern, many of the most substantial farmers in the coun
ty being among the stock owners. . An imposing structure on
First street gives ample assurance that the business of the
company is on a sound basis, and augurs well for its future