FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, l14.
HEPPNER HERALD. HEPPS'Eft, PRECOX
PACE THREE
v"
PROMINENT PEOPLE OF
MORROW COUNTY
Facts Forced From Familiar Faces
By E. G. II.
The Civil Law countries are those
taking for the foundation of their
legal system the Laws of the Twelve
Tables and its revisions found in the
Justinian Code and the Code Napo
leon. There is one striking thing in
this system, as contrasted with the
Common Law system which the
Fnglish speaking people use and
that is the matter of selecting judges.
The main qualification in the Civil
Law system, especially in the lower
courts, lis that a man should have a
good understanding of right and
wrong, he should by a good business
man, whether he knows anything of
the laws of the land matters little, it
being slightly to his credit if he dies
not.
Some sentimental man once said
that the judgeship is a booby-prize
given to a lawyer for inefficiency.
This is an overstatement of a literal
truth, which is that a commonplace
man will often make a very good
judge. There is something about, tho
position that lifts a man morally and
mentally, and brings out the best
there is in him.
A few days ago I made Mr. Alex
Cornett, of Heppner, a short visit.
Alex was on one of his places in North
Heppner cleaning up and getting the
property ready tor its new occupants,
Most everyone in the county knows
Alex, some better than others, it's
according to the size of the fine they
paid or the amount of labor they
donated to the County. There are
many people who know him in a
business way and socially and I have
yet to hear the first man speak in any
but the most complimentary manner
of his fairness, good judgment and
kindness.
Mr. Cornett was born back in
Southern Virginia in the memorable
year 1861. He was the son of edu
cated parents, that is they were hon
est, fearless and stood for the right
as they saw it. His father joined the
Army of Virginia and went' through
three of the bloodiest years of the
Civil War. He attended the schools
of his community and was an adept
scholar. The habit of reading and
study has been with him throughout
life.
When he was twenty-eight years of
age he went to Nebraska where he
worked for a short t'.mc ut soon came
farther went into Idano where he was
employed on the railroad. With him
were two young fellows with-whom he
had worked in Nebraska. These two
fellows decided to come to Morrow
County and after arriving here found
employment with Ed. Day. They
were struck with the country and were
continually writing to Mr. Cornett to
join tkem. Alex said that while he
was making good wages with the rail
road company he found it hard to
save money and the ranch work ap
pealed to him. He left the matter of
building transportation lines to other
hands and came to Morrow County in
the Spring of 188!).
If you have ever seen pictures of
the late B. Franklin coming down the
streets of Philadelphia with a roll un
der each arm and one in his mouth
anxiously looking for an employment
bureau, you can easily picture Alex
Cornett on the day when he arrived
in Pendleton. He had ambition, good
health and a desire to work, but his
pockets were empty. He walked to
the Felix Johnson ranch on Butter
Creek and we might add that he told
us that there were no fences to climb
and the trees didn't obstruct the view
of the country. He did see thousands
of sheep, cattle and horses on the hills
and the desire to enter the stock busi
ness then entered his heart.
The first year he herded sheep for
Alex Thompson in the mountains.
With the experience he thus gained
he bought twenty cows of Mr. Thomp
son for. $16 per head. This was his
beginning in the cattle business which
he continued until four years ago.
He worked with Alex Thompson and
their cattle ran together. Mr. Cor
nett's brand was the number 21. He
happened to choose this after he trad
ed one of the original twenty cews for
a cow and calf, 21 being the number of
cattle he owned at the time.
An incident connected with his ex
perience running sheep the first year
might be mentioned. After he had ac
cepted the job he had to have an out
fit and some supplies. He came to
Heppner and was told that Minor's
was the leading place for such articles
and walking in the store first met
Oscar Minor. He told Oscar his con
dition and Oscar looking him in the
eye said, "You can have anything
you want. Needless to say Alex
was well supplied with everything
he needed and one can hardly blame
him for thinking well of Oscar Minor.
"I'm just one of the fellows that Oscar
helped in that way," Mr. Cornett said.
The winter of 1889-90 was one of
the hardest winters the stock men ever
witnessed in the state of Oregon.
Thousands of sheep, cattle and horses
died of exposure and starvation. The
snow was deep and covered with a
crust which cut their feet and left the
bloodstains on the snow. There were
no barns or shelter of any kind and
the animals suffered terribly. Hay
was hauled for miles up the Creek and
the sound of wagons going over the
crackling snow and ice could be heard
for miles.
During the hard times in '93 busi
ness was good for those who had a
little money. Yearling steers could
be bought from $11 to $14 which were
sold a year or so later for consider
able more. Even in the worst times
he never lost any cattle by theft.
Stealing cattle was a dangerous busi
ness and was seldom practiced.
There have been many remarkable
changes since Mr. Cornett came to
Morrow County. Horses grazed the
hills in thousands. In the Nineties
they were so cheap that thousands
were sold to the Lents Cannery for al
most nothing. Sam Kinsman was
running it then and a man over on
the Columbia river by the name of
Switzer sold him five thousand at one
time. Large mares weighing thirteen
and fourteen hundred pounds brought
only two or three dollars. P. C.
Thompson sold hundreds of them to
the cannery. These horses would now
bring well over one hundred dollars.
One can imagine how cheap and plenti
ful they were when hundreds of two
and three-year-old animals were not
even branded, there being noone who
thought them worth the trouble.
The best land sold for about two
hundred dollars for a quarter-section.
If anyone paid over that, they thought
that they were being robbed and most
of them sold for considerable less.
There were plenty of homesteads for
everyone who wanted them and some
of the abuses which crept in to the
matter of acquiring these are worthy
of notice.
TheNewSIX
S-Putenger
Two body ityl: Five-FassciiRcr and Sevea-
I'assciiRcr Touring.
WheelbasL' 121 inches.
Lone-Stroke (5-inch), Small-Boie OM-inch)
Mntor; Six Cylinders, en Hlor.
Smokeless, Nnn-Leakmg Lubi nation 5 Item.
I.areer Valve Oprmncs.
New, FxhauBtSilrncitig Muffler,
Annular risum KntK
Ollular Radiator.
Lighter Kcupiucating rarti.
Cmwncd Ffndcr.
Lightened Clutrh Operation.
lU Pound, Lighter.
15x2 M in. brake.
34i4-in. rtnndriib Tire on 0- D. Demountable
Rims; Safety Treid on Hrar.
Roomier Front and Rear Compartment!.
Continuous Aluminum Fool Buid.
tne-Man Type T"p,
limit -in Rain and Clear Virion Ventilating Wind
ahield, AlUiliing Rigidly to Top.
Scientific Anti-Rumble Ciaoline Tank in Cowl.
Magnetic, Non-Leaking Caroline Omige, the
only One Approved by InsuranicUnderwriter f.
Full Floating RearAxle, Shaft Locking into
Taper at Hub.
Full Equipment of U Timken Roller Bearing!.
Irreversible Steering.
lnter-Ijocking Ignition and Lighting Sitihea.
21 Finishing Operations in Tainting bodies
Studebaker Blue.
New FOUR Tourjng Car
The law said that to prove up on a
homestead you had to have a house
on it ten by twelve, or twelve by four
teen, so when the time came to prove
up they would swear that they had a
house twelve by fourteen inches.
These were carried around under their
arms and moved from one homestead
to another. In meeting the timber
culture requirements it was necessary
to have ten acres in trees and there
were men who made it their business
to fill these requirements for you.
They would send off and get small
trees by the thousands and come to
your place with a plow and after
making a few furrows would drop
them in, sometimes forty or fifty in
a bundle and appoint a man to count
them to see that they had the required
number. Whether he counted them or
not was largely conjectural. In prov
ing up these men would appear and
swear that they had counted so many
trees on the place, all live and grow
ing. Hundreds of men proved UP on
homestead that they never saw, their
only knowledge of its location and
description being given to them by
other parties. After the Government
found this condition of affairs was
existing here it sent land officials
which resulted in many people who
had served all of the time required to
serve which was possible, in losing
their property.
Mr. Cornett has always been ready
and willing to serve his city in any
capacity. He has been a councilman
for four years and a justice of the
peace for two years. He has never
been to Portland in his life and while
this may seem tragic to some, it does
not to those who take their business
seriously and have no time to fool away
Alex has several hobbies. He likes
to labor in the gardens and should the
city be cut off from the outside world
today he would not be greatly dis-
comoded. All the wonderful things
that grow, run and fiy are objects of
his inquiry. Fresh air and sunshine,
plain eating and speaking well of his
friends come in for a large part on
his program.
The only order or society that he
belongs to is the Moral Squad. By
hard work and application he has
risen from a Private to a Corporal.
He is the legal advisor of the Squad
and one of the most prominent mem
bers. Mr. Cornett, in remarking on the
Possibilities of Morrow County and
lastern Oregon said, "I have traveled
over considerable of this country and
I know something of the possibilities
31 many sections, but 1 know ot no
place where a young man can find the
opportunities leading to success as he
.an here. .N man who is d-i-vots ol
making his way can find mory pnoi le
intereattd in mt- than he can iighi
lere. '.' nl. of the vast m.i'ori!, ol
people hoT'j who came with imotiusiUy
nothing w.d see what they havj d T.e.
One of the reasons for this has been
the ease In which credit can be odtain
ed. Credit is a dangerous thing. One
of the evil practices of the present day
is extravagance in living. We live be
yond our means. More business should
be done on a cash basis. Land is still
cheap here. It has advanced rapidly
in price but it is bound to go higher.
Cheaper land can't be had anywhere,
considering what we can produce on
this Morrow County !and."
Mr. Cornett is more commonly
known as the Justice. One prominent
attorney said a few days ago, "He is
the most just and conscientious man
we have in the town." Another man
remarked, "You will always get a
I square deal when Justice Cornett is on
I the bench." Thus do we see that he
j fulfills the requirements of the Civil
I Law judges, a clear distinction be
tween the right and the wrong, an
: element of fairnesn and a desire to
1 see every man dealt with honestly and
impartially. These traits of charac
ter have been developed through his
life of struggle an" privation, during
times which were black with uncer
tainty and anxiety. The problems
of right and wrong are not deep, pro
found nnri rnmn ci. A huHineHK man
an go wrong easily, because he is
often sailing in unchartered seus, but
with a judge the foghorns are within
hearing distance and the life-bouys
round their continual alarm. Com-
monsense is the basic principle for the
administration of law and common
sense Implies common honesty. These
are property of Justice Cornett. I hey
ire the basic principles or good citi
zenship, right living, all of which
mply happy resilience and makes lor
excellence and worth.
Phelps Grocery Co. i
GOOD EATS
Headquarters :
COME TO
Tw Rody $tle: Kive-Pasttnger Touring;
Three-i'-iMfnttrr Roadtlcr.
Wheelbe - 10 in. Sr..
Una; Stroke (5-in'M. Small B re (W-imM
M"tor; Four Clindrf, en Blue, f lhaust,
MmiMd (t S- jrae.
Sm'kelett, Ntn -leaking Lubr nation System.
Larger Vlve Opcr.n.
IVe.M-d S'erl Puh R nls.
Annular I'.-tn Ring.
Tubular Radutuf ih Auiihary Water Tank.
Crewti'd Fendrrl.
Sp"al liniing Headlights
111) Pounds ! 'gbt.
12 I 2 ' in. BrArt.
lb U'kricd bvtitbltr Carburetor B -Itrd
Clindrrt,
M-ignetir, f aktr-g f iamlinf Jattge, flin
One Alfoved b Inmfiiu 1 nderwtilcii.
Cenemiii '.tr..m in B"th CofipartmM,
33 i 4 m. f f-NlM'h Tir' or. f). L. Lkmountil l
Rtm, Safety Tread n Rear.
to
One-Man Type Top,
B'nh-in Ram and Clear Viiton Ventilating
Windshield, Attaching Rigidly to lop.
Full Floating Rear Axle, Sbaft Locking late
Taper at Hub.
Full hqutpment of 13 Timieo Roller Btautnga.
Irrevernble Steering.
F'uih t)ah Kqmpmrnt.
V ttra Rim and Carrier.
24 timihing Orratiooa lm Fainting Bodrtt
Studebaker Blue.
New FOUR Roadster
'
rirt tr -p'-M a it, ft.
il'f A ir"al t't.
fcift eial ap 'tuati
J. B. SPARKS, Agent for Morrow County
Gilliam & Bisbee
For anything in the HARDWARE LINE
We have it, will get it or it is not made '
We try to keep a complete, up-to-date stock of everything car
ried in a first-class store, and we ask everybody for a I
liberal share of their patronage. We do our best
to merit the same.
Come and see us
THE FLORSHEIN SHOE
IS GOOG ENOUGH FOR YOU- AND
The Holeproof Sox Just Hits the Spot
and the wearer too, wherever he goes, will sec people wearing the
same kind of Hose.
THE PLACE TO BUY IS AT
Sam Hughes Co.
WELL DRI
LLING
Done on short notice. I have never failed to
get a good well. Others have give me the
opportunity and I will give you a satisfactory
well. See me at Heppner or at the Drill.
W. D. Newlon
Made-to-Order
LOCAL AND PERSONA
R. N. Wade, a prominent Sand Hoi-
I ' ow rancher, wan in the county Heat
aat Wednenday on business.
O. M. Yeauer furnihhcn blue print
'rre when he doe your building.
' a i iti-i. c.i f : i ij:n.,
Al. 4.1UK. r.4. UlllUlinicn Him j.miv
McMillan were up from Lexington on
Wednesday transacting buHincmi.
Lew Zeigler !h on the nick lint. Hi
R not dangerouHly sick at the present
I time.
I am in agent for Mm. Summer'
I famou home rrmrdlm. Sample
wnt on rrqueNt. Mn. Ilardi'nty.
Morgan, Oregon.
Ernmett Smith, a prominent Ithei
Creek rancher brought a load of wood
i to the city lant Wednwtday.
O. M. Yeager. Contractor, will d,
our building, repairing, etc., and taki
our wool, hay or anything of valu
n eirhange for the work.
I m t ; t . L. . - Ijt...-
l I ien jonB wa. in irum m wn.-ii
.reek ranch lant Wednesday on bum
new.
Iiuid firofhenn wan in tho city IhI
li Wedneoday completing the arrange-
Ttent for the purchase of a band of
i heep.
$16.50 to $45
The buyer who wishes to be fitted with a auit
of the latest style and hgh grade workman
ship is invited to inspect our large line of
all-wool samples. These samples are the
classiest ever shown in Heppner and are an
assortment of fabrics which cannot be beat
en anywhere. Expert measurements taken
and fit absolutely guaranteed.
If you want to look up-to-date and bo up
to date in your clothes, give your order to
TT'iiry Jihnon in building a h"iiii
"or Clyde WrlU on ht ranch north o
town. Clyde ha len hnuling th
ilumlier for the. pt few dy. "H'g"
Clark in taking hi place tn the nhnp.
LOUIS PEARSON, Tailor
Heppner