Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Albany democrat. (Albany, Or.) 1900-1912 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1907)
EARLY ALBANY. A Sketcn of the Early History of Albany By J J. Davis. I have been requested to gave the names of the first settlerB or those who laid the foundation for the present stiucture: Morgan Kees, Elmer Keei, Miller Morgan, Thomas Kirk, Geo. Huihes, James Briggs, John Lay ton, Milt Hale, Abiam Hackleman. Truitt Davis, Wal ter Monteith, Thomas Monteith, H. N. Smead, Rev. Joab Powell, Peter Pow ell, Anderson Cox, J. M. McConnell, Leander Burkhart, Crillis Burkhart, Raymond Burkhart, Calvin Burkhart, Nimrod Price. Martin Payne, John Isom, Luther Elkins, Robert Huston Mr. Cox of Knox' Butte, Jake Nye, Adam Nye, John W. Gilliland, Rev. C. C. Sperry, Rev. Dr. R. C. Hill, Wil liam Cochran, H. L. Brown, William Allphin, John McCoy, Mr. McCartney, Hon, N. H..Cranor, Dick Finley, Jas. Williams, Jas. Curl, Jason Wheeler, Ashbv Pearce. David Froman, Isaac Froman, Mr. Froman, father of Thom as, Mr Dawson, father of Sylvander, John Forgey, the founder of Harris- burg, Mrs. Sarah Hughes, Mrs. Jane Smead and Mrs. Susan Hale, three women now living who deserve men tioning, and many others whoso names I cannot now remember. Men and women who put their shoulders to the wheel and made it roll for Linn county. Women and sisters underwent all the hardships of the men, ate the boiled wheat, the venison, drank the pea cof fee, etc. the same as the men, and the mothers spun and wove many thousands of yards of cloth in the early days. I have narrated events as I saw them, and hope they may be of interest. In addition a sketch of the people and Xheir habits and customs may be reada ble, When I came here the bread was made of sunflour seeds, couse and acorns, dried and mixed in about equal portions and ground in a stone mortar. The bread was baked upon flat stones, which had been previously heated, the stones being kept for that purpose. Here is the way the Indians made fire without matches, flint or steel. A round pitch rod about two feet long, about the size of a pencil, was placed n a hold in a pitch block about two by four inches, the end being sharpened, then the rodwas whirled in the palms of the hands, and in two to five min utes there was a blaze. Couse was a small, white tuber grow ing in clusters like grapes, the Bize of a pea or acorn, white as rice. Ma camish was a bulb, onion shaped, from the size of walnut up. These four veg etables were the Indians main depend encojfor bread. They were cooked and served in other ways, also gophers and mice, taking the place of sirloin etc. M ortars were used by the Calapooia Indians when I first came into Linn county and for several years after wards. Prehistoric bones that haye been dug out of mounds in this county are nothing more or less than the bones of Calapooia Indians, somo of them from graves that have been made since I came to the country. In 1852-3 measles broke out among tho Indians and many of them died. The sweathouso and cold water dive were poor remedies for measles. Two or three hundred were said to have died during that winter, and they were bur ied up along the Calapooia in their cem ctrios, now called mounds. If I was hunting for prehistoric men I wouldn't dig up the bones of Calapooia Indians. When the flouring mills started the Indians had no further use for their mortars and wheat Hour was used. The Calapooias were industrious. They made brooms from splits riven from hazel and wild cherry, which they sold to pioneer women, and these were the only brooms in use for several years except the ordinary brush broom. They split rails, made shakes, did farm work and dressed and sold buckskins to the immigrants, for their clothes and shoes. They were a great help to early settlers, us labor was scarce. It is too early yet to dig their 1 ohm and call them prehistoric. 1 am just as prehistoric. Hut there were some rial prehistoric discoveries near Albany. James Itriggs, while cutting a mill race un covered a large horn, seven feel long, weighing Hl pounds. This was on the place of Mr. Walker on tho Corvallis road, about 15 years ago. About the same time Mr. Am Smith wliilecutting a drain ditch uncovered three largo teeth one weighing tour pounds, 11119 was on the Kilos llutchins place, in n bi(! slough near the ash grove, under ground about two feet, anil I believe the entire animal can be found. It is said they belong to ihe bovine kind. There is no evidence that the Cala pooias or any other Indians ever wore horns. Don't dig any more Calapooia Indians bones, but go and dig in tin llutchins swale, and you will have a chance of finding something that is in fuct a prehistoric discovery. Tiik Kmi. Gov. Vardaman is accused of ship ping his black mare at tho expense ol the state of Mississippi. And her nanir was Maud. LINN'S FIRST HOUSF. What Martin Miller Learned Albany, Jan. 21, 1907. -Please allow me to correct some mistakes written by George H. Himes in Albany Demo crat, Jan. 3. He said that the Rev. E. E. Parrish mo fed into Linn county on January 11, 1845; settling at or near Parrish Gap, camped under some trees and on Oct. 11th of the same year moved into a new house. Mr. Parrish settled in Marion county at the place known fas Parrish Gap in 1845 and never lived in Linn county. In a letter dated Jan. 8th Mr. Himes said Newton Crabtree with his twin brother Jasper was born on a raft be tween The Dalles and the Cascades, and therefore it is not likely that he had any personal knowledge of the cabin in question. Newton and Jasper Crabtree were born on the bank of the Columbia river at The Dalles and not on tho raft. There is no doubt but John Packwood came to O.egon prior to 1814, for ho commenced building in the spring of 1844 and in the spring of 1846 sold, his home to John J. Crabtree. Mrs. Rebcc:a Morris says that New ton Crabtree's statement is true in re gard to the house. Mrs. Morris says that she knows her father bought the house of John Pack wood. This house was on exhibition at the Lewis and Clark Fair in 1905; it said, "Built by John Packwood in 1844. I was appointed by Har.rony Grange to find out who built the first log house in Linn county, and I know John Pack- wood is the man. John J. Crabtree was born in the year 1900 in Lee county Virginia, when John J. was 25 years of age he com menced farming for himself. In 1825 he married Miss Milinda Yeary. After marriage Mr. Crabtree went to work with a will to get a home and he succeeded well. He remained for 8 years on this farm, when he sold out and moved to Missouri. After remaining 8 years in Missouri, owing to sickness and other unfavora ble circumstances, his progress was slow, He became convinced that better chances were awaiting him on the Pa cific slope. He started for Oregon in 1845, his outfit consisting of ox teams. The trip was of course at this early date a very difficult one, there being no beaten road to travel. After many hardships he arrived at The Dalles in October, where he built a rait in which to descend the Columbia. While building the raft Mr. Crab tree's family was increased by tho ad vent of twin boys, probably the first event of that kind among the white settlers of Oregon. They were named Jasper and Newton. Without fear and with great courage he embarked on the river voyage. Mr. Crabtree wintered in the Tuala tin plains. In the spring of 1846 he started to locate a home. While trav eling up tho valley he found a man liv ing in a log cabin, by the name of John Packwood, who had built his cabin in 1844 on a stream of water now known as the Crabtree river in Linn county It was traded to John J. Crabtree in 1846. It still stands on its original foundation of oak blocks which are in a remarkable state of preservation. This cabin was used bv Mr. Crabtree for many years as a homo and is now used for a hay barn. Fifteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree. Five in Virginia live in Missouri, five in Oregon. Nine of these children arc still living. 1 further find that Granville M. Ba ber, better known among the early pio neers as Judge Baber, came to Oregon in 18-15, wintered near tho Tualatin plains and in tho spring of 18-1(1 started out to hunt a homo. Ho came up the valley, crossed the Santi.im, drove up the valley throe miles and located on tilll acres, and pitched his tent. Mr. Haber brought a set ot carpen ter's tools with him ami a good broad ax. He knew how to usehisax, for he went to work hewing out timbers to put up a frame house. He also rove out his weather-boarding and dressed it with his bench planes, and by the help of his wife they hail a good frame built long before winter cameon. This house was built two miles north of Knox's Hut to and threo miles south of Joll'erson, on the road loading from Knox's Butte to Jell'eison. Mart Miller. Mr. Hills Mdo This country is facing, in a commer cial sense, the desease one might call slow paralysis, declared James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern Rail road, in addressing tho Northwestern Lumberman's Association, "The railroads today are blamed for everything, practically, that is wrong. The great Northwestern road is blam ed. I am blamed because it is intima ted that I own the Groat Northern R lilroad. "The truth of the matter is that I own less than 7 per cant of the stock of the Great Northern road. There ire ll.-t'. shareholders in the company, I, UK) of whom are women. 'You never knew that before, but that is the situation, and when we ask our shareholders to subscribe $60,000, 008 more stock to our already large capital, in order that we may build more trackage to carry the business of the West and East, we are made de fendant in a suit brought by the statd of Minnesota." ihe Homestead: N. H. Batemar. of Shedd, Oregon, was a caller at ihe Homestead oftce. He attended the meeting of the Oregon Pure-bred Live stock Association and also visited the legislative halls at the capitol for the purpose of interviewing some of the members in behalf of the special appro pnation for further improvements at the state fair grounds. Mr. Bateman is a breeder of shorthorn cattle and O. I. C. swine and, although there is a dull market for beef cattle, he is hopeful that the demand will be greater before long; There is much activity in the swine industry and the O. I Cs. are holding their own with ;thc other choice breeds, the orders for ithem be ing unusually plentiful at present. "Man is not in a position to abolish war," Elihu Root once said. "There is still too much of the animal in him. Even when he seems most mild and good he may have cruel, bestial thoughts revolving in his mind. As an illustra tion: "A prison chaplain one day found a convict feeding a rat. " 'Aha!' the chaplain said, 'so you have a pet, eh?' 'Yes, sir,'' said the convict, his hoarse voice softening and a gentle smile illumining his hard face. 'I feed him every day. 1 think more o' this here rat, sir, than I do of any other livin' creature.' "The chaplain laid his hand on the convict's shoulder. ' 'In every man,' he said, 'there is something of the angel, if we can but find it. How came you to take such a fancy to this rat?' ' 'It bit the jailer, sir.' " -"Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree," in February Fverybody's. The Fruit Inspec oishlp. Editor Democrat: Many of the fruit growers of Linn County are not satisfied with the ap pointment of the present County fruit inspector. The law of 1905 provided that the County fruit inspector shall be appointed whenever 2) fruit growers of the County petition the County Court to do so, and after such a petition is filed. The law further provided that the District Commission of the State Board of Horticulture in the District in which the County is situated shall cer tify to the competency of the person sought to be appointed and then and not until then can the County Court proceed to make such appointment. The County Judge without waiting for any petition appointed E. C. Roberts. The Horticultural law of 1899 con templates that one should have certain qualifications in order to perform the duties of Inspector and while the law referred to defines the qualifications of a District Commissioner, it is reason able to expect that he must be guided in his certificate of competency by such Statutory qualifications, which quoting from the law are: "The members decide in the District for which he is appointed and shall be selected with reference to his knowledge of and prac tical experience in Horticulture and shall be engaged in practical horticul ture during his incumbency in office." The next day after Armstrong had resigned, some of the fruit growers of Linn County went to work to obtain tho signatures of 25 fruit growers peti tioning the County Court to appoint a competent fruit grower as County fruit inspector, and they went to the present Judge and informed him that they were circulating a petition to have an inspector appointed when the Judge informed them that it was useless as E. C. Roberts was or would be ap pointed. Many of the chief fruit grow ers of Linn County desired the appoint ment of Hon C. H. Walker, a compe tent horticulturist and a good man who had been acting as Deputy Inspector of Linn County and who was willing to continue if his fellow fruit growers pe tioned in tho manner provided by stat ute for such appointment. The facts speak for themselves. Taxpayer. Got a Big Otter. ("has. Berry this week trapped an otter above tho Calapooia bridge, which is a line one, one of the best ever got ten in the valley. It was dark and measured 4 feet 8 inches from nose to end of tail. Mr Berry expects to get $17 to $20 for it. being an old one, the female, and of the best color. The otter recently shot by Sanford Archi bald, was a voting one, and being shot took considerably from its value. The Democrat is informed that one of the improvements in Albany the coming year will be a two story bri.-k. th ground floor to be used tor a dry go ds store, the second floor to be for . the Herald ofli:e. Saturday Night Thoughts. The most talked of affair of the week was that of Governor Sweetenham, of Jamaica, shipping the U. S. soldiers from his island after they had rendered him valuable service, following the awiul disaster to Kingston, because he was able to run his own business. Uncle Sam was doing a very courteous act, for which he has become noted being considered a remarkably good neighbor. But this Governor, who ev -dently doesn't know a mountain from a mill pond, with a head puffed up full of his own importance, gave Sam a snub that was heard all around the worid. The man hurt was the Govern or. He should be recalled. Oregon's state legislature has been pretty busy this week introducing bills, and preparing to pas some of them and not pass others. It is just an av erage kind of a body, from present in dications, with as many grafters and back scratchers present as ever. But the labby is smaller than ever before, indicating some other kind of an ar rangement to influence legislation. De pend upon it the machine is working in some way. One of the most important bills be fore the legislature is that providing for putting in some state locks at Ore gon City at an expense of $400,000. The locks should unquestionably be free, but the river is a navigable one. and it is as much the business of the U, S.government to attend to it, as it is toimprove,the mouth of the Colum bia. Already tax ridden it will saddlo ' upon thejtax payers of Oregon a big load, and unless there is special legis lation covering it will not offer the re-, lief figured out, for the rnilroads and , boats have a combination under which rates will be fixed anyway to suit their owners, perhaps one trust concern. Before Oregon puts this heavy burden on its people there should be a better effort made at Washington by some real congressmen and senators. i This week the people of Oregon had a visit from .William J. Bryan, the most prominent private citizen of the United States, a clean man who has the confidence of the people more than ever before. He has grown better and broader and the people are learning that he is a man who can be trusted. . An interstate commerce commission has been in session in Portland this week, getting evidence in reference to the doing3 of rai'rids. A good deal of evidence las be:n introduced, but whether there is anything of impor. tanee to it, of a character to give the reliet demanded, is another thing. Cer tainly it is a fact that the railroads do not seem to be very much disturbed, and this is considerable of a straw. 1 Sometimes these red tape proceedings are paper affairs, surface water that boils a little, but never wets anyone very much. 1 The leading trial in the U. S. is that of Harry Thaw back in New York, for murder of a man who was too familiar with his wife. It was deliberate, but there were aggravating circumstances. One of the things being revealed is the rottenness of some classes of society. In order to go clear Thaw is to play the insane act. If that is the only defence he should be hanged by all means. This week the Democrat has given considerable space to early Albany his tory, and we are glad to know thai the different articles have been read and appreciated by most of the readers of this family paper. Those who laid the foundation for the growth of this city built monuments that deserve to last, ond their relatives may well be proud of the record. Frenzied Thoughts. The New Orleans man who expressed the opinion that Congress ought to be in session the year round, may not know that Washington has quite a number of other sights that serve to amuse ex cursionists from the rural Jistricts. It's an ill wind that blows no good. The high cost of living must be deter, ring a good many men from living double lives. A colored man in the West was re cently hanged three minutes before re prieve arrived. The railroad may abolish congression al passes, but they can not ignore the laws that Congress passes. Mrs. Lydia Commander who scores race suicide in her late book says: "In America two children in a family is the limit." Some families have only one child and the neighbors regard it as the limit. Married. Mrs. J. R. Bucknum, of Harrisburg, and L. F. McDaniel, of CreswMI, were united in marriage yesterday. Mrs. Bucknum's husband nine years ago dis appeared and was never heard of after wards, being lost, it was thought in the mountains. J. F. Powell went to Eugene this af ternoon on a business trip. MISFITS. Almost anything can be figured cut on paper. The Millers are being heard from down at Salem. "There is nothing like an Oregon apple-', said Mr. Bryan. Forty Days a U. S. Senator, will be the title of Senator Mulkey's book. Hooray. Portland is the greatest lumber producing port on the globe. Smiles is a misnomer for the Salem Journal man, who can't take a joke. The election of Bourne has weakened the direct primary law. But let's try it again. Here is to William Jennings Bryan. May he live long and be president of the United States. Mr. Shonts has resigned his job of digging the Panamaditch for a position on a New York street car. A bill in thejlegislature provided tha the treasurer shall be the tax collector instead of the sheriff. Why not. Mr. Bryan by some is classed with Clay, Webster and Blaine, and there fore, it is said cannot be elected Pres ident. The member of the legislature who wants permission granted for the use of hounds in hunting deers should be put out. These big water rights just now are t aper affairs, and may mean something and may not. Most such things go a glimmering. Upon motion of Senator Miller the Oregon City Locks are to be investigat ed, and the bad faith of their owners shown up. This new county division bill is the proper thing, but it means quite an ad ditional expense for building county roads jutt the same. The attention of Senator Bourne is called to the splendid qualifications of Mr. Bennett, of the Optimist for post master of Rabbittville. The Linn county representatives will do well to keep their eyes peeled for that bill capturing Oakville and vicin ity for Benton county. The legislator who helps prevent bad legislation does as much for his con stituents as if he introduced a lot of worthless bills. Albany is not having a fuel famine, as reported by some of our exchanges. Wood is somewhat scarce, but there is no famine, nor danger of one. I What the farmer has to sell is regu lated by the law of supply and demand and it will always be found to be diffi cult to make anything else count. Mr. Bryan had a strenuous day in Portland, an ovation at every corner. People like him better than ever, and know that he is the genuine article of American manhood. The Eugene Register has at last I given its consent to a railroad commiss ion bill with an appointive provision and the legislature is now in a position to proceed with the bill. Congressman J. N. Williamson has now been congressman from Oregon al most two years, without ever being in his seat at Washington. And yet he is entitled to more credit than Hermann. A committee of the council is investi gating the best trees for planting along the streets. An Albany man suggests that trolley poles would be the most acceptable trees that could be planted. Of course there is no Salem hog, any more thari there is an Albany hog. Every place tnat amounts to anything is rustling like a porker after grub for growth and prosperity. That was the easiest senatorial elect ion in the history of Oregon. No dis turbance, no agony, no interference with other business. It was worth the trial and the people ruled even if they did make a poor choice. Free locks at Oregon city are the proper thing, but it is an interesting tact tnat river transporation and rail road transporation are undoubtedly under the same management and the boats will charge whatever Mr. Harri- man orders regardless ot tree locks. It is easy to figure things out before hand. Albany put in a Gamewell fire alarm system in order to save 5 to 10 per cent on insurance, and it was all figured out how much would be saved the city a year. But when the rub come the insurance trust raised rather than lowed the rates as promised. Other things sometimes work the same way. A good many water rights are un doubtedly being gobbled up for specu lation, by men never expecting to do anything themselves. The legislature might well pass a law. putting a horse nower tax on such rights of a charaetir I to stop the business except where done j by men meaning to actually make do- velopments. TELEGRAPHIC. Salem, Jan. 24. Eight new bills were introduced in the senate today. One by Wright, amending the code fixing the punishment for highway rob bery, making capital punishment op tional with the court. By Kay, by request, making Sunday a day nf rest, closing stores, and places of amuse ment. The House adjourned this afternoon until Monday to enable the printer to fret: hilla vanAv TU QanoK -J journed until Monday. Vancouver, B. C, Jan. 25. -Crowded into small shack near Grand Eddy, in the northern wilds, an insane ranch, er, named Hornback, sought to kill his partner, a hired man. He riddled the wall with bullets. The men were forced to kill him to save their lives. The mounted police looking for the lunatic found his corpse. C. H. NEWS. Deeds recorded: G C Cooley to Carrie Irvine 3.37 acres Brownsville $800 Seth W Mitchell to Emma Lyons 1-2 lot Lyons 50 Mortgages $75.40 and $1000. Marriage licenses granted L F Mc Daniel. aired nf C.cmii ........-:.. railroading, and Mrs. Anna M Bucknum, aged 49. Roy L McFarland, aged 24, and Ethel Irene Cleaver, aged 20, both of Lebonan. Final proof of Jas W Shirley IGOacrea 14 W 1. Hunters license Chas Welch, aired 2fi. John Powell 17, Seth T French 12, rtooerc murpny 4y. FOOLISHNESS Of the Tongues of Fire People Continues. There was a wild time at the mission last night. The doings of the night equalled, in some respects, it is said, those of the palmiest days of the Holy Rollers. There were several candidates for what the managers call Pentecost, and the work proceeded on them until after midnight. Liing on the floor, the manipulator in a silly Chinese iar- gon uttered incantations over the body of the victim, as he or she shook in convulsions. One of the subjects was Mida Sweiter, who was on the floor for some time. Three or four prominent Albany meii were present. One of them became exorcised over the foolishness and he ordered them to ston nr ha would have them arrested, but they didn't stop, continuing their crgies, finally behind closed doors. Such doings are a diserace to the cause of religion, and are no credit to Albany. The city council should de clare it a public nuisance and have it aoateu. CANNERY Meeting Held at the Court House. The adjourned meeting to hear the report of the committee on the pro posed cannery for Albany was held at the court house this afternoon with a lair attendance. Mr. Rhodes made his report, showing a liberal and satisfac tory subscription for a cannery, and spoke of the importance ot proceeding 101 me esLauusuineni. 01 one. lur. U. Park, state horticultural commissioner, spoke of the value of canneries, and explained the value of diftorent Winrla of fruits, particularly pears. The sen timent was general lniavor ot the can nery. At press time no definite action had been taken, but arrangements will un doubtedly be ordered continued to se cure one, with an attendant arrange ment with farmers around Albany to raise the necessary fruit and vegetables to insure its success. People Who Come ard Go W B Boulton, Portland. W M Van Erey, Colton, Calif. W O Nislev, Portland. F R Wagner, Eugene. J A McFadden, agent "Midnight Flyer." Wm Bittle Wells, Fortland. W T Clark, Gates. G L Savage, Salem. C N Black, Portland. P E Thomason, " T J McClary, Gates. J G Kelley, Portland. J C Stevens, " E T Price, " C E Bro.n, Stayton. U H VVeyant, Salem. Geo. Crabtree, N. Y. J. T. Apperson, Oregon City. J. M. Woodruff, Portland. C. A Pierce, S. F. J. Blumberg, Corvallis. C. B. Livingstone, Portland. Jos. Mayer, Lebanon. J. K. Pratt, Portland. E. E. Huptater, " J. J. Thurston, Suve.r. Geo. H. Fitzgibbon, Portland. G. F. Johnson, Lyons. W. Burns, Portland. Geo. Steele, " W. J. Bryan, broader, abler, rlonn-r than ever. One foolish legislator wnnt tifkot scalpers reinstated in Oregon. Death penaltv forholdnni mrUt t some of the infamous business. Mr. Bryan represents the best there is in politics, society and religion.