HEPPNER HERALD. HEPPNER, OREGON.
PROMINENT PEOPLE OF
Facts Forced From Familiar Faces
By E. G. H.
WILLIAM OSCAR MINOR
Some great man said, "Let me
write the songs of a nation and I care
not who makes the laws." And here
let us add that you can generally get
a pretty good idea of a man by noting
the kind of literature he reads. When
I first saw Mr. William Oscar Minor
he was perusing his mail on the cor
ner by the post office. He had the
Literary Digest, Current Opinion, the
National Geographical Magazine, all
done up in a bundle with the "Herald"
on the outside. The first impression
was good and first impressions are
the most lasting.
When the first article appeared in
this paper about the pioneers, sev
eral people said, "Oscar Minor is
the next man- you want to see, he
knows about as much as any one a
round here and he's a good man too."
About the first thing I asked Mr.
Minor was, "Where were you born,
Mr. Minor?" "I was born back in
Iowa, not far from Cedar Rapids in
18G4." That rather struck a cosmic
chord in my Serah Bellum as I first
opened my eyes upon this world near
the same place. After we had located
the place and exchanged compli
ments, I drew out my trusty Water
man and went to work.
"How ilid you happen to come out
here, Mr. Minor, nnd where did you
stop first?" "Father thought that we
could do better and we joined a party
of iorty families and started over
land. We were just six months to a
day when we stopped at what was
called Waucondo, b'lt now known as
Gervais." It just happened to Btrike
me that you can como in that many
diiys now, and take a peek at the
Garden of the Gods too. "What did
you do when you first came." "I was
just five years old then and father
started a butcher shop at Waucondo
We rented a hundred und sixty acres
with a good house and all the barns
and fences that we needed for $7.50
the first year, the next year we got
it for $2.!0, the fellow who rented it
to us the first year made $5.00 oft
from us. Yes, rent was cheap in those
dayt:."
"In 1871 wo started for Walla
Walla. We shipped the cattle up the
river from Portland and we came
overland ourselves to The Dalles. We
stopped at a place near lone called
1'etteys I'osloHii'e, named after G. A.
Pettcys who lived there. While there
father heard of a place on Rhea Creek
that was for sale for $.'!00. It was
known as the Henry Gay place and
was ten miles from what is now Hepp-
' ner. Father bought the place and
: there we located. In the fall of '73
j I came to Heppner and took charge of j
the livery stable and butchershop we
had here. Father moved over the
: next year. Soon after father went
East and told me to run the store
! and make what I could. That was
my first business venture alone. The
first purchase I made was $72's worth
of canned goods. I gradually branch
ed out and added different goods. I
was in the store eighteen years and
was selling about any thing you need
ed when I sold out. I sold mostly on a
year's time. When a young fellow
wanted to go into business, he got a
few sheep and a few tons of hay to
winter them on and then came in and
made arrangements with me for his
provisions. When he sold his wool he
paid his bill. I lost very few accounts
during those days.
"I bought by the car load. I
bought sugar in two or three car lots
and other things on the same scale.
I loaded many a wagon that went
250 miles into the interior. I used
to supply many outfiits that drove
sheep to Nebraska. The goods were
piled halfway along the block and
wagons were loading from sunrise
till dark. I used to get most of my
goods from The Dalles, eighty miles
away. We didn't go to town very
often in those days either."
"When were you married, Mr.
Minor, and what were some of the old
customs of the early days?" "I was
married in 1888 to Miss Halie Stan
ley in Albany, Oregon. We have two
children, a boy and a girl. I remem
ber when the hotel here was built.
The lumber was hauled from the mill
and Charley Youngren and a man by
the name of Clark planed the boards
for $100. The lots on the corner cost
$25 and the inside lots cost $10. We
never had what you would call a deed
to the land. The land didn't belong
to any one in particular and when you
bought any you simply got a piece of
paper saying that you bought it from
some one.
We made most everything that we
used. We made our boots, brooms,
and pitchforks out of forked branches.
We made our own fences by taking
hidus and tying poles together with
them. The hides we also cut in small
strands by fastining a peg in the cen
ter of the hide and driving a lnuo
in the edge of the hide at its smallest
diameter and pulled the hide against
the blade, making a circle which gave
us a round piece of hide. We extract
ed the peg in the center and pulled
the hide against the knife which cut
the hide in a long narrow strip, gome
times fifty feet long. We braided
these and made ropes. Sometimes
when we would tie our horses the
coyotes would steal up in the night
and eat the ropes. We saved hair,
also, and made ropes.
"We had a little Indian scare in
187H. The bnake River Indians got
on a rampage and band of them
under "Indian Jim" were found in
the hills by Tex Craft who brought
them in and searched them. They
were held here until the excitement
was over and then released. One
squaw escaped and went down the
river and told of the soldiers at Hepp
ner and I guess that it was a good
thing for us that she did get away
for the Indians never came in this
direction.
"There were never many wild
animals here. The coyotes used to be
pretty numerous. Occasionally we saw
antelopes and a few deer. My wife
shot that bear you see on the floor,
the man I had working for me shot
the other one just a short time after
wards. "How did you get into the fancy
stock business, Mr. Minor?"
"Well, when I was in the store 1
frequently took in exchange for goods
anything the farmer had. I Boon
found that I had quite a band of cat
tle. When it came time to sell them
I found that they didn't weigh as
much as other cattle, although they
looked as large as any of them. 1
won found that hoighth and length of
leg didn't count as much as did thick
ness. In lS'.Kl 1 went to the Oregon
state fair and purchased some
thoroughbred shorthorns. I have been
in the business ever since and I guess
I have owned about as many of the
good one as any one else." j
That Mr. Minor has been success
ful, in the fancy cattle business, one
needs l-ut to ask any Mock raise' of
good cattle in this state or in any
other. Better yet, take a look at his
I rue. One man mice said Owl he
collect there a do nome people sou
venir spoons. He hit one whole quilt
mude of ribbons. Silver and gold
cup adorn every room in the bouse.
I make a business of repairing Com- j s," ,f greatest shorthorn cattle
bine Harvester, Threshing Machine, lh worl'' hv ' I'"
Kngine, etc., and guarantee all my ! the Mountain Valley Stock Farm,
work. Experience ha shown that 1 Uvely of the Valey, a cow for which
money ran I saved by having maihin- jbe 1'I U00 at auction was a famous
ery nut in working order before j animal. In 1X:'. the two greatest
bought in the animal for $1700 and 'person who is not handicapped by
reports have it that it was a lucky
day for him for she would have
brought not less than $3000 and might
have sold for $5000. This cow was
known on both sides of the Atlantic
and brought Mr. Minor into worldwide
fame.
Viscountess of Fairview was a heif
er that won the international honors
at Chicago in 1906. About the same
time Mr. Minor surprised many of his
friends by paying $5500 for a yearling
heifer and a two-year old bull.
Mr. Minor has a fine herd of catle
now and delights in showing them at
his farm which is known as the Moun
tain Valley Stock Farm. Mr. Minor
knows about all that is worth knowing
about cattle. To make any stock
show complete and insure success
needs but the announcement that Mr.
Minor will show there. His name is
a household word where good cattle
are up for discusion.
Mr. Minor has been a councilman
for years and is a Republican. He
has been here for a long time and
knc-,73 what this country will do.
',7 hen asked if young man who is
willing to work, can make good, he
replied. "The early settlers who
came here brought practically nothing
with them. I know many wealthy
men who were ordinary cow punchers
a few years ago. There is no better
climate in the United States. There
is no land that I know of that will
produce what land here will that you
can buy for the price. I believe that
the large ranches will be broken up
and a more diversified farming come
in. Woven wire will be used more,
we are going to raise more hogs,
chickens, and we are going to make
this a great dairying country.
Mr. Minor is an example of what a
wealth can accomplish. He graduated ;
from the University of Give and Take j
and know3 everything that won't j
work. His success has been the result !
of fair dealing. In his struggles he
has evolved a kind, generous and
indulgent nature which regards no
man too low to receive his help and
sympathy. Style, show, snobbish
ness never entered into the makeup
of Mr. Minor. His fads are fresh air,
good food, sensible clothes and any
thing that will make people happier,
freer, and enjoy life more. He is a
man who carries off heavy burdens
and never complains when his friends
do well. Men like Mr. Minor make
the rest of us think that life is worth
while, that only as we give do we re
tain, and that prominence, position
and power comes to those who accept
conditions as they meet them and
prove their mastership.
CONFIDENTIAL CHARTS
j ""j!. Equipped !
s
Farmers and Farm Facts
Mr. O. J. Cox was in to see Jim
Huddleston last Saturday. Mr. Cox
is one of our leading dairymen and
Jim says that he is one of his best
customers.
Mr. R. B. Wilcox attended the
Farmers Union meeting Saturday and
told us that he had started heading
and expects to harvest a bumper crop.
Mr. Jack Hynd came in town last
Friday and left Sunday for Cecil.
Jack says that he expects to deposit
a few dollars after harvest.
Two.Siity SUirWd Model.
The greatest motorcycle vtlue
..r .,h;..,l 7 H P. Twin
equipped with Electric Heed Lisht. Electric Tail Litit, Electric Sutnn!,
Two Sets Storage Batteries and Corbin-Brown Rear-Drive Speedgmet
er. Price $260.00. See Catalog for detailed deecriptiort.
$ndian
MOTOCYCLES
FOR 1914.
PROFESSIONAL COLUMN
F. DYE,
DENTIST
Pemancntly located in Odd Fellows
building, Rooms 4 and 5.
Dr. A .P. CULBERTSON
Dr. II. T. ALLISON
PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS
Office Patterson Drug Store
Heppner, - Oregon
Drs. WINNARD & McMURDO
PII YSICIANS & SURGEONS
Ueppncr, - - Oregon
Dr. F. N. CHRISTENSON
DENTIST
Heppner, Oregon
Offices with
Drs. Winnard & McMurdo
i I
Notice of Slurid'H Sule.
By virtue of an execution and order
of sale issued by the Clerk of the Cir
cuit Court of Morrow County, State
of Oregon, dated the 15th day of June,
1111 1, in a certain suit in the Circuit
Court for said County and State
wherein George C. Burton, Trustee of
the Estate of Thomas N. Wilson, de
feased recovered Judgement against
J. M. Turner and Carrie S. Turner,
defendants for the sum of $500.00,
with interest thereon from January
lHt, 11112 at Eight per cent, per
annum, JiSO.OO. Attorney fees; $22.85,
taxes puid with interest thereon at
Ten per cent, per annum from Feb
ruary 13th, 1H14, ami the further turn
of $24.t0, costs, which said judgement
was so recovered on the 13th day of
June, l'.Ml.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that
I will on Saturday the 18th day of
Julv, 11M4, at the hour of 2 o'clock,
I'. M. of mi id day at the front door of
the Court house in the I ity or llepp-1
lier, Morrow County, Oregon, sell at
public auction to the highest bidder
lor cash in hand the following de
scribed real property to-wit: Si of
NE'a and NW'( of NE1, of Section
35, Tp. 1 N. R. 25 E. W. M., taken
and levied upon a the property of
said defendants, being the real pro
perty mortgaged by said defendants
to plaint ill to secure payment of aid
sum and ordered Hold by the court
to satisfy mine, or so much thereof
as may bo necessary to satisfy Haiti
judgement, together with costs that
have or may accrue.
Dated this 17th day of June, 11)14.
Marion Evans,
Sheriff of Morrow County Oregon.
C. E. WOODSON
ATTORN EY-AT-LAW
Office in Palace Hotel. Heppner, Ore.
I
SAM E. VAN VACTOR
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Heppner, Oregon
S. E. NOTSON
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Office in Court House, Heppner, Ore,
WELLS & NYS
ATTORN EYS-ATLAW
Heppner, - Oregon
KNAPPENBERG & JOHNSON
ATTORNEYS
AND COUNCELORS AT LAW
lone, Oregon
Dill Trace who lives on Willow
Creek was up town last Saturday. He
says that his wheat will go 40 bushels
to the acre. Bill is inthe dairy busi
ness and has educated a few cows to
keep him in spending money.
Ed. Brown, the corn raiser over in
the Black Horse district, was in town
Saturday. Ed. says that his corn is
as good as they raise anywhere and if
nothing happens he is going to get
that automobile this fall. Get busy
you automobile men.
Mr. J. H. Frad, the man who has
over five miles of woven wire fence
on his place, was in town also. Mr.
Frad believes in woven wire and wants
his neighbors to play fair and fence
their share of the field.
"Buster" Keithley just came in from
herding Indians in the Umatilla Nat'l
forest. He says that the Indians have
gathered a good supply of Kouse
Camia, or Indian bread, for the winter
"Buster" will be remembered as the
man who was nearly devoured by a
bear last winter. It seems as if he
shot the animal but didn't kill it, he
lost his gun in the brush in trying to
escape.
Mr. C. W. Larson, who lives on the
Heppner Flats, dropped in town Sat
urday to see his friends and also to tell
us that his crops are in fine shape. He
has three hundred acres of wheat that
looks about as good as any one's.
Mr. Henry Wagner is harvesting
about three hundred tons of hay this
year. He says thut he has several
hundred acres of first class grain.
Henry says that there is no secret
about his wanting a wife. Get busy
girls.
Mr. Joe Campbell says that he has
three acres of fine spuds. Last spring
he planted some of Jim Huddleston's
railroad corn and it's doing fine.
Mr. J. L. Kirk says that he has
some turkeys. He raises wheat,
chickens and hogs as a side issue. Mr.
Kirk says that prosperity is coming
his way this year.
Mr. C. L. Ashbaugh who lives over
in Lost Valley was in town Saturday.
Mr. Ashbaugh is one of our diversi
fied farmers and raises everything,
including chickens. j
Mr. C. W. Valentine was in Hepp-'
ner Saturday and says that he is 1
60,000 brand-new red machines will go outover the Indian
trails during the coming year the greatest motorcycle produc
tion in the history of the industry.
They will flash forth fully armed with " Thirty-Eight Better
ments for 1914 !" Armed with powerful and beautiful Electrical
Equipment! Armed with a New Standard of Value which must
completely overturn all existing ideas of motorcycle worth.
All standard Indian models for 1914 come equipped with electric
head light, electric tail light, two sets high amperage storage bat
teries, electric signal, Corbin Brown rear-drive speedometer.
You cannot fully realize the 1914 Indian without a thorough study of the 1914
Indian Catalog. It makes plain a host of compelling Indian facts that all motor
cycle-interested men can consider to their real profit. Send for the 1914 Indian
Catalog the most interesting volume of motorcycle literature you've ever read.
The 1914 line of Indian Motocycles consists of:
4 H.P. Single Service Model $200.00
7 H.P. Twin Two-Twenty-Five, Regular Model 225.00
I 7 H.P. Twin Two-Sixty, Standard Model 260.00
i 7 H.P. Twin Light Roadster Model 260.00
7 H.P. Twin Two Speed, Regular Model 275.00
1 7 H.P. Twin Two Speed, Tourist Standard Model 300.00
. 7 H.P. Twin Hendee Special Model (with Electrio Starter) 325.00
Pricei F.O.B. Factory
JOS. BURGOYNE
Agent for Morrow County. LEXINGTON
Heppner G
arage
Now Equipped with a Complete
Blacksmith's Shop
All Kinds of Repair Work Done Quickly
We have a furnace for making
all kinds of
Buggy, Wagon and Automobile
Springs
Michael Sepanak, Expert Workman,
is in charge of this department.
We are agents for
Ford, Overland and Mitchell
Automobiles.
W. L. SMITH,
ABSTRACTER
Only complete set of abstract books
in Morrow County.
HEPPNER, . OREGON
ATTENTION
Threshermen
FOR FINE I T-TO-IWTE HOMES
See
T. (I. DENNISEE,
ARCHITECT AN I) CONTRACTOR.
LOUS PEAUSON
i TAILOR
Heppner,
Oregon.
harvest and you should not full to
have your repair wink done early.
lUiti't wait until hurvrht kUiU, as you
did luit year.
C. O. PRENTICE, I). V. M.
harvesting one of the best crops he ;
ever raised. Mr. Valentine Bays thut !
his neighbors have fine crops also.
Mr. B. F. Swaggnrt, probably the
largest mule raiser in the country,
says that crops look better now than
they have at any time in the last
thirty years. Mr. Swaggart had the
misfortune to lose by at'i'ident his
fumous jack, "Black Tom," the sire of
"Baby", the largest mule that ever
lived. As yearling, Mr. Swaggart
offered $1000 for a mate but could
never fined one. He is one of our best
diversified farmers and has all kinds
of grain and fruits on his place that
lure not excelled anywhere.
i
Mr.' William Soukup says that his
1 ten acres of Murphcys will feed all
of the Irish in the county for the next
jt vilv months. Besides these he has
O'er hundred chickens and seventy
aires ot good grain.
Box 2118.
Ernest Sitser,
Heppner, Oregon, i her but were
herds of shorthorns in the country
were owned by Charles E. I.add and
Mr. Minor. In a consignment sule tint
spring Mr. Minor offered for sale,
Salie liirl, and three of the wealthiest
and leading Shot thorn men of the j
country were on their way here to buy llrppner,
dcliiyed. Mr. Minor
Veterinary Surgeon and
IVnlisl
OllWe: Patterson's Prug Stor
Phone, Main li'i
. Oregon
Mr. II. B. Gater. and sons, owner
of the local litfht and water company,
tvi't for Portland Saturday. Mr.
'.lutes was State Senator from Wash-1
inglon County for four years.
Mr. Irving and two sons left for
Portland last Saturday.
COME TO
Gilliam & Bisbee
For anything in the HARDWARE UNE
We have it, will git it, or it is not made
We Specialize on the following:
The Deering Cutting Machinery of all kinds.
The Bain, Webber and BittendorlT wagons.
The Velie Carriages, Buggies & Etc.
The John Deere and Oliver Plows.
The Van Brunt and Thomas Gram Drills.
The Dain, Buck Kakes and Stackers.
The Fairbanks and Stover Gasoline Engines.
The Russell Steam Engines and Threshers.
The Aermotor Wind Mills and Pumps.
The Stewart Sheep shearing Machines and extras.
The Kimp Sheep Branding Lipuid.
The Sherwin William Paints and Colors.
The Chinanel Varnishes and Graining Compound.
The Great Majestic Steel Kange 'The World's Best."
The Diamond Edge Tools, every one Guaranteed.
The Sharplem Tubular Cream Seperators.
The Community Silver Ware, Guaranteed for fifty years.
We try to keep a complete, up-to-date stock of everything car
ried in a first-claw ilore, and we esk everybody for a
liberal ihare of their patronage. We do our best
to merit the same.
Come and see us
GILLIAM & BISBEE