Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1925)
THE GAZETTE-TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1925. PAGE THREE Illllllllllllilllllllllillllllllllllllllllli I Winners of Local History Content of the Heppner Schools I The Loral History Content which hu been carried on among the pupils of the Heppner achool closed April 25. The judges rendered their deciiion Thuriday evening following. The awarda are: 1st Div. 1st, Ruth Misiildine, "The Double Winter of 1884." 2nd, Donald Boyer, "The First White Baby." 8rd, Josephine Henley, "Charley'a Mistake." 2nd Div. 1st, Elizabeth Elder, "The First Marshal of Heppner." 2nd, Virginia Dix, "The Early History of Heppner." 3rd, Erma Schulz, "History of Morrow Coun ty." 3rd Div. 1st, Harold Becket, ""Henry Heppner." 2nd, Mary Crawford, "The First Church of Heppner." 3rd, Vawtcr Parker, "The Life of Jackson Lee Morrow." The judges were Mrs. Frank Turner, Mr. Frank Gil liam, Mrs. Arthur McAtee, Mrs. Roger Morse, Mrs. Sylvia Misaildine and Mr. J. O. Hager. In the appointment of the judgea it was found almost impossible to select a list from the community in which one or more of whom would not be interested in a personal way in some of the papers that might be offered, so wide was the list of pupil entrants It was therefore agreed that Supt. E. H. Hedrick should score all papers of pupils who were in any way connected with one of the judges, which he did. In the content, 177 pupila entered papers. According to the rules previously adopted, these were divided into three sections; first section, grades 4th, 6th and 6th; second section, grades 7th and 8th; third section, high school. The prizes for each section and places ares First Division; First 15.00, second 13.00; third '2.00. Second Division: First $4 00, second $3.00, third $2.00. Third Division: First $5.00, second $3.00, third $2.00. Tho money for the payment of the prizes was appro priated by the Patron-Teacher Association. Following are the prissy winning papers: FIRST DIVISION The Double WinterV 1884. ls Prize By RUTH .MISSILDINE-th Grade, About forty years ago all of Morrow county was just one great field of bunch grass, from the Blue Mountains to the Columbia River. Great herds of cattle and sheep and wild horses roamed in this great field, and there was a tot of feed, for the bunch grass struck the homes above their knees. Any man might run all the stock that he could handle, for in those days all the land was govern ment land for any one to use. The winter I am telling about was a very hard one. It was tho winter of 1884. The cattle men were prepar ing for the winter as usual. The men did not cut very much hay because they were depending upon the cattle to get the hay off the ground in the winter. The first snow which came was two and one-half feet deep und just as it was beginning to leave there came a very hard freeze that froe the top of the snow and the cattle could not get to the grass. What little hay they hod the stockmen fed to their cattle. As this snow was just nbout gone there came another snow bigger than the first one. A hard icy crust formed on the top of this snow. There was now no hay left for the cattle so there was nothing to do but to turn the cattle out and let them rustle for themselves. Some of the men -made drags of timber so they could go along and break the crust. The cattle and sheep followed this and fed off the grass that way. Rut most of the cattle had to look out for themselves. And so about half of the stock in the county died. One man said that when spring came one could walk for miles on the dead bodies of the stock without having to step on the ground. It took years for the county to get over it. and some of the richest stock men in the county went broke. The First White Baby. 2nd Priie-By DON BOYER 5 th Grade. The first white baby that was bom in all that part of the Inland Empire lying between The Dalles and Walla Walla spent most of her life in Morrow County. About the year 1HD2 the family of William and Judith Mitchell decided to join a wagon train at Kansas City and come to Oregon. They made the trip safely, having only a few scares from. Indians but no trouble. In that train a man brought a load of young fruit trees to be planted in this Western country. As they were on the road all summer, he had to keep them growing, so he filled a big wagon bed with dirt and planted them in that. Then he watered them as often as he could. Mrs. Mitchell said it looked so queer to see the little trees all leafed out and growing in a wagon as it traveled across the rough roads of the plains and mountains. That is the way some of the first fruit trees came to this Ore gon country. The wagon train in which the Mitchell family journey . ed passed along the old Oregon Trail that runs across the northern part of Morrow County. They went on to the Willamette valley and settled first at Brownsville. They lived there three or four years, but wishing to engage in the stock business they retraced their steps to Eastern Oregon and settled on the Umatilla river near where Stanfield now stands. Here they lived their first winter in a one-room cabin that had no floor hut the earth. The Indians came fre quently and Mrs. Mitchell always felt afraid of them. There in that lonely cabin on the Umatilla river on February 23, I860, was bom the first white baby of East em Oregon. She was named Jane Mitchell and affec tionately called Janie. This baby had inherited her mother's fear of the Indians and years later when they were no longer to be feared she still felt that fear. The family lived on the Umatilla river until Jane was eleven vears old when they removed to a place on Hinton creek seven miles east of where Heppner was afterwards built. From that time on to the end of her life her home was always in or near Heppner. She was sent to Pen dleton to school and when barely eighteen years of age was married to W. G. Boyer, a young man from Virginia. That was in the year 1878. When the fort was built in Heppner as protection against the Indians, she told how the people that were compelled to spend some time in the fort Entertained themselves by dancing. She lived a long, useful, and hardworking life and saw this country develop from an uninhabited, uncultivated region. She made friends with ail who came into her country. She developed a splendid personality that made its impression on all she met. Her young pioneer life and experiences she could tell about in a most in teresting way. She passed away in 11)19 leaving two sons, Glenn and Guy Boyer living in Morrow county. Her father, William Mitchell, was elected tho first judge of Morrow county. Her mother could remember when there were no cats in this country, and the set tlers were being much troubled by the mice getting into their cabins, so that in desperation a man brought a pair of cats all the way from Tho Dalles on horseback. She kept in her home the fire shovel which she carried aero hs the plains and built her campfircs with and it still remains In use in the home of her grandson Guy Boyer. Elisabeth Dyer has written of the pioneers; "Lean files of oxen ploddnig through the dust, Lashed on by half-starved men crated with disgust of famine, And tho day that follows day, In slow succession on the trackless way; And shallow graves unmarked save by the tears Of those bereft who lonely face the years; Yet ever onward march to build the state: The pioneers, unthankod, unknowing, groat." Charlie's Mistake. Third PrizeBy JOSEPHINE HEALEY 3rd Grade. One day when Mr. Mnttoson was working In the gar den his wife and little baby thought they would go to the nearest neighbor which was about mile awny. When they were a ways from home she saw an Indian feeding his horse on the side hill. When the Indian saw the woman and bnby he got on his horse and rode down to where they were and took the baby and threw It into a hawthorna bush. Tho woman began to scream. Mr. Mi, He son heard her and ran to the house to get a gun. Tho Indian saw Mr. Matteson and got on his horse and rode otT as fast as he could. In a few days Mr. Matto snn and some other men went to find the lndinn and on their way they met one Indian and he went with tho men. When they had gone to the next village they met mother Indian and he .said the Indian was in the next camp. When they got near the camp they began to gal lop and surrounded the camp. They asked the Indians where Charley was and they said he was In tho tent for he had been gambling all the night before. The white people told the Indians to bring Charley to them and Charley said ho wanted to get his moccasins, but the white people told one of the other Indians to get them because they wore afraid ho would get away from, them. They told some other Indians to get his pony. When they got quite a ways up the road they looked back and saw two Indians following them. They asked them where they were going and they said they were going to see if the woman said he was the right one. They said it was no use because she was at The Dalles. The Indians went back. After a while they came to a tree where the men were going to hang Charlie and they started to tie a rope around his neck but he said be didn't think he deserved such a death. SECOND DIVISION. The First Marshal of Heppner. 1st Prise-By ELIZABETH ELDER 8th Grade. When Heppner was incorporated, in about 1887. a mayor, city treasurer, board of council were elected. But they could find no body who would accept the posi tion of city marshal. At that time this was considered a job which no one would want, Shortly after this a man drove into Heppner with a badly jaded team, a wife, and two or three children. He applied to Mr. Morrow, who was then mayor of the city, for a job. Mr. Morrow told him that the only position he knew of that was not filled was city marshal. Mr. Locknane, which was the man's name, asked how much there was in the job and Morrow said seventy-five dol lars ($75) a month. Locknane, who was badly in need of money, accepted. One look at the man would tell you that he was very firm. Heewas not large, but he was square-built and looked very strong. The news soon spread over town that the position of miy-ahal had been filled. Curiosity was immediately aroused and the people decided to aee just what kind of a man the new marshal was. The first evening Locknane was on his job, several young men began to run their horses up and down the street. Locknane na id" that they would have to stop this. He walked to the middle of the street and when the young men on the horses got within hailing distance he raised his hand and called "Stop. The young men paid na attention to him. The next time they got near enough he put a bullet through the crown of the leader's hat, cutting a lock of his hair off. This stopped them and Locknane said that the next time he would aim lower. These fellows caused no more disorder. Not long after this a man came to town from the sur rounding country. The marshal was pointed out to him by one of his friends. The man sneered, and walking over to the marshal, who was standing leaning against an awning post, he hit him behind the ear, knocking him down. Locknane quickly jumped to his feet and gave the man a very thorough thrashing. Mr. Locknane held the position of marshal for several years, and the citizens soon learned to respect him. He was afterwards shot and killed in Heppner. v. The Early History of Heppner. 2nd Prize By VIRGINIA DIX 8th Grade. The site whene Heppner now stands was on Stansbury Flats. George W. Stansbury purchased this claim from Mr. Etes. He had a small one-room log cabin near where the Alfred Ayers house now is. The town site was covered with wild rye grass, which gave the appearance of a salt grass flat. All supplies had to be freighted from The Dalles. Henry Heppner and Jack Morrow erected the first store in Heppner. The lumber had to be brought from Van armen's mill, located on Butter creek. When the store was about completed they held a great celebration in honor of the event. On August 10, 1872, the store was opened for business. A little later O. H. Hallock started the first blacksmith shop. The settlement was gradually growing. People began to feel that their little town should have a name. Stanttbury wanted it named Willows, others Willow Creek. Morrow and Heppner kept a popular medicine called I. X. L., a panacea for all ills. Some wanted it named I. X. L. It was finally named Heppner after Henry Heppner. Up to this time mail had been brought from Scott's postoffice on the John Day or from Umatilla Landing. In 1873 a mail and stage route was established between Pendleton and The Dalies, passing through Heppner. A postoffice was established and Stansbury was the first postmaster. Taylor Spencer built the second store in Heppner. Dr. Shobe was Heppner's first doctor. He later built a drug store where the present Gilliam & Bis bee store stands. As early as 1873 the need for a school was felt. The Morrow and Heppner store furnished the first one hun dred dollars and the structure was started. It occupied the place where the old council chambers stood. A bell was furnished -by Mr. Heppner and to him the town is indebted for its first public school. Mr. Leezer built the first hardware store. The first hotel was established by Van Shull, Frank Goble and Perry Oiler. In 1877 Wells, Fargo & Co. established the first express office here. In 1883 a shoe shop and wagon shop was started. Up to this time there had been no churth building. All denomination were allowed to meet in the schoolhouse. The Baptists built the first church building. The first flouring mill was built near the present mill. It was built by the help of the citizens. It was a primitive af fuir and did little more than crush wheat and grind com. The town had grown rapidly up to this time, but in 1873 there was an Indian scare which gave a temporary check to its growth. ThiB was still a part of Umatilla county. The people being so far from the seat of government, which was Pendleton, wished to organize a county of their own. This was done and Heppner became the temporary coun ty seat. There was great strife between Heppner and Lexington for the permanent county seat. , Heppner erected a court house. The funds were obtained by pop ular subscription. They presented this to Morrow coun ty as a gift thi irking it might keep the county seat from going to Lexington or some other town. The fight still continued up to 1887 for the.county seat. In 1887 by leg islative act Heppner became an incorporated town and the permanent county seat. After this great changes took place. Sidewalks were built, streets graded and many general improvements made. Up to this time Heppner had no railroad facilities. The O. R. & N. offered to build a railroad to Heppner if the citizens would secure the right of way and depot grounds. They did this. In the spring they began work on the proposed road. It was completed the 7th of the following December. Henry Heppner drove the last spike in the railroad which was made a matter of cere mony. The day was spent in celebrating the event. John Patterson, our present druggist, was the engineer who brought the first train into Heppner. The coming of the railroad increased the value of Heppner fifty per cent. The Gazette Supplement said the entire business for 18S8 was three hundred thousand dollars, and in 1889 more than a million. Such was the effect of a railroad. Heppner is now in communication with the outer world, and has become a prosperous, thriving town. History of Morrow County. 3rd Prize-By ERMA SCHULZ. Hoppncr, the county seat of Morrow county, was named after Henry Heppner, a pioneer merchant. One of the old, rough-diamond pioneers of the Pacific North west was Henry Heppner. When ho arrived at The Dal les, in the late '60's, it was not to take the rest cure, but to go to work, which he did by hiking out to cattle ranches and using his limited capital in buying the hides that were hung on the fences, and after carrying and dragging them into town and selling them, he made enough money to buy a pack horse. Then for many months ho walked and led the pnek horse. Within a year he had enough hard-earned money to buy a small pack train, on which he freighted goods to the miners, merchants at Canyon City, 11)0 miles away. A few suc cessful trips and he had made enough money to buy ft large pack train of many mules, but on his next trip the hostile Malheur Indians captured his entire train and he nnd his men barely escaped scalping. At The Dulles men who knew Henry Heppner's good traits outfitted him with another pack train, with which he started again to Canyon City, only to bo ambushed by hostiles and again lose his train. The Dalles again outfitted him with a train and this time he packed a big cargo of freight to the Idaho mines via. the Mcach am road, away north of the hostiles. A few successful trips and he was able to repay his. backers in full, and ho was so impressed with the location at the junction of Hinton and Willow creeks that he formed a partner ship with J. L. Morrow and started the first store there, which was the birth of the town of Heppner, county sent of Morrow county. Tho Heppner warehouse has become one of tho land marks of Morrow county. Henry Heppner was its man ager, ably assisted by Phill Cohn, who has occupied that position since 1895. Mr. Heppner put over a large deal, in which he sold $35,000 worth of wool to the Siiberman Brothers, Chi cago, Illinois. Heppner's warehouse has a capacity of 2,000,000 pounds of wool and has had 75 cars of grain. It ran a wool press and bales for the Eastern markets. It buys wool on the market and does a general warehousing, receiv ing and forwarding large quantities of freight for the great interior. Henry Heppner's warehouse made cash advances on wool and grains and bought and sold wool, grain, hides, fur and pelts. It handles other things such as wool sacks, gunny sacks, bags, grain and other kir-di of articles. Henry Heppner was a very industrious pioneer, al ways ready to hellp any good cause and many a fam ily making a start in Heppner to settle down and build found that they were welcome to any goods that they needed that were on hie store shelves without funds un til they could get a start and get upon their financial feet. Hev sleeps in the sightly looking cemetery over looking the town that Uncle Jack Morrow had named in his honor, and all who knew him remember him as a man among men. Jackson L. Morrow was born in Kentucky in 1827 but his people were empire builders, forever reaching out to do their part settling up new regions. They moved into Iowa via. Illinois, largely helping to start the town of Mt. Pleasant where Jackson grew up, when the west ern spirit urged him to join an emigrant train and he made the long journey across the plains in 1853. His energetic hunting activity kept the train in fresh meat and on one of his hunts he followed a roaring noise un til it brought him to what now are known as the great Shoshone falls of the Snake river, where fresh Indian signs warned him to keep his eye alert. Mr. Morrow had the usual experience with the hostile friends of the forest and pirates of the prairies, but finally finished his journey on to Puget Sound, where he sta rated a general, merchandise store in Mason county, where Shelton now ib. He also contracted with the gov ernment to carry the mail to the distant Hood's canal settlements, which he did by hiring Indians to paddle him through in their war canoes. When the Indians went on the war path in 1855, Mr. -Morrow took his little family to the stockade fort at Olysipia and then joined the Washington territory vol unteers in the field against the hostiles, being commis sioned lieutenant and serving under Colonels Frank Shuw and S. N. Maxon. He performed many tours of special duty, one of the most hazardous of which was when he volunteered to take a band of horses through from Camp Montgomery in Pierce county to the dis mounted volunteers at Snoqualimie Falls. He had with him only Sergeant H. W. Scott and a few other men, and knew that the hostiles were watching them from the nearest buttes and soon after starting saw their signal fires, which he correctly interpreted as a warn ing to other Indians to prepare their ambuscade at the ford of the Puyatlup river. But as soon as darkness came on Lieutenant Morrow made a detour through the woods, crossed the river ten miles above the ford, finally reaching Snoqualimie with every horse and man. Another noted exploit was when he took 200 sup posedly friendly Indians from Fort Nisqually to an is land in Puget Sound, bo as to prevent the possibility of their joining the hostiles. This difficult task was ac complished by the aid of Edward Huggins, who had con vinced the Indians that. Lieutenant Morrow . was their friend. After holding these Indians on the islands for a few days, he discovered a plot that was to end in his scalping by the hostiles, who were to paddle out two nights hence. But on the day before the arranged ar rival the old war steamer Massachusetts paddled up and anchored at close range, thus saving the situation. It was hard campaigning in that war of 1855-56, but the volunteers made it so hot for the hostiles that final ly they were glad to surrender and when the supremacy of the whites had been recognized the frontiersmen went back to their homes and pushed the development of the country. In the early 60's Mr. Morrow moved to the new town of La Grande, Oregon, where he engaged in merchan dising and the people recognized his ability by electing him mayor and afterwards county treasurer. In 1873 he felt that he must do his part in opening up another new country, so he moved over to Willow creek, in Uma tilla county, opening the first store there in partnership with Henry Heppner. He had a postoffice established and asked Senator Mitchell to name it after his partner. The little settlement grew and was a great convenience to scattered stockmen. Dr. Shobe, Frank Maddock, Tom Quaid, W. P. Dutton, Jones brothers and other pioneers located there, and "Uncle Jack" Morrow as everybody now began to call him, was ever foremost in all good work, organizing the Masonic lodge and a school dis trict. His firm became known as J. L. Morrow & Sons and' was a lifesaver to all new settlers making a start in ranching and stock. The store carried them all for a hundred miles around and saw to it that they needed nothing. Mr. Morrow was elected to the legislature and suc ceeded in having a new county organized. In recogni tion of his good work and unbounded popularity the legislature insisted on naming it Morrow county and as such it will forever stand as a monument to a good man and true, whom everyone respected. In 1899, in his Heppner home. "Uncle Jack" passed to his reward, after 72 years of well doing. He was honest and just, and was loved, honored and respected by men, women and children. His only surviving son w-as J. W. Morrow. His other children were swept away in an epidemic of diphtheria. J. W. Morrow later be came un official of the O.-W. R. & N. Company. The Pakice Hotel was the finest building in the city of Heppner and was erected in 1890 by the Palace Hotel Company at a cost of $40,000. The building was a handsome three-story brick with stone trimmings and fifty guest rooms, handsomely furnished throughout with every convenience and lighted by electricity. On the first floor the office, dining room and cafe were located. The dining room was light, airy and had a large seating capacity. They employed an experienced chef who was in charge of the kitchen and the equip ment was the, pride of the management. The cafe was stocked with first class foreign and do mestic wines, liquors, cignrs and cigarettes. J. W. Morrow bought the controlling interest from the company in 1897. Mr. Morrow was a resident of this city for over twenty-five years. He was a prominent attorney and was elected once to represent this district as joint senator. He was a popular and successful hotel man. J. L. Howard, one of Morrow county's efficient county commissioners, may be considered as one of the fathers of Morrow county. Mr. Howard is a native of St. Jo seph, Missouri, and has had his full share of pioneer life. He crossed tho plains to Colorado, and was one of the freighters that freighted to Lead vi lie and Silver Cliff. In 1882 he come on one of the first trains of the Oregon Short Line to Shoshone, Idaho, and from there crossed with his wagon the main range of the Biue mountains and settled near his later home, Butter creek, 20 miles from Heppner. He followed farming and sheepraising chiefly, and his industry has been rewarded a fair re ward. H was well respected by all of the citizens and Inter served on the county board. Mr. D. E. Gilman, farmer, real estate agent, Mr. Gil man has had lurgc lists of all kinds of fruit, grain and stock farms for sale in nnd all over Morrow county. Some of his sales were in Washington, and all over the Northwest, at very reasonable prices. He is in the po sition of making special terms. He has been in the real estate and loan business quite a number of yenrs. Mr. Gilman is an honest man and can be trusted in all business affairs and other things. Immigration is again setting in, and the choicest places will be taken first. Mr. Gilman has resided in this county many years. County Surveyor J. J. McGoe camo here from Ken tucky in 1881 and was well satisfied with the country. In the 80 s he was twice elected county assessor, serving four years. In 1880 he was again elected county sur veyor and wbb again elected to the same office in 1900 by one of the lorgest majorities ever received by a can didate in Morrow county. Mr. McGec followed surveying as a profession and did a great deal of acceptable work in Morrow and other counties in the line of irrigation ditches and laying out roads. Another one of Morrow county's efficient county com missioners was Edward C. Ashhnugh. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1807. When five years old he moved to Kansas, where he lived till the spring of 1887, when he settled In Morrow county. He did own 1000 acres of the finest land of Eight Mile district, as well as a lot of high grade stock. He had 800 acres in wheat. which years ago produced 15,000 bushels of golden grain. He owned his own harvesting outfit and was one of our most enterprising citizens. County Treasurer Matt Litchenthal showed by his every act that the county was in a good shape. He was very prompt and was considered promptness itself. Mr. Litchenthal was a very hard worker. He served as coun cilman six years, having setlted in Heppner more than twenty-five years before and founded the large boot and shoe store of which he was proprietor. It was the only exclusive boat and shoe store in Morrow county and the stock carried was the best line of men's, women's aad children's shoes. Henry Scherzinger, the livestock inspector of Morrow county, was born in Wisconsin. When he was eleven years old he came to the Willamette valley, but believ ing this section offered better inducements to a young man, he moved to Morrow county in the spring of 1877. At first he was employed at a blacksmith shop. Later he was employed in the stock business and later engaged in it on his own account. He owned a fine ranch on Rhea creek and had over 3,009 head of high grade sheep, as well as other kinds of stock. He made a most capable officer and won the confidence of the people of Morrow county. A. G. Bartholomew, an early judge, was born in Peoria county, Illinois. July 21, 1845. He attended school there, after which he took a course in commercial training at the Bryant and Stratton Business College at Chicago. In 1883 he came to the state of Oregon, engaging in ag ricultural pursuits near Milton for a period of three years. In 1886 he settled in Morrow county on a ranch and for several years devoted his attention to the rais ing of horses and cattle. He was also interested in the sheep business, to which his brothers were giving their attention. In the spring of 1896 he was elected judge of Morrow county. Judge Bartholomew was a progressive and prosperous man of affairs and a strong and sturdy pioneer, who gave his full share toward the upbuilding of this county, and no man in Morrow county holds a higher place in the heart sof the .people. Vawter Crawford, one of the former coonty clerks of Morrow county, was born in Linn county, Oregon March 9, 1868. When he was very young his parents moved to Waitsburg, Washington, where he attended the public school, finishing his education at Waitsburg Academy. On leaving school he chose printing as his trade in life, and became employed in the printing office of the Waits burg Times, where he was working until 1889, when he came to Heppner and accepted a position on the Gazette, in the employ of which he remained almost continuously until the spring of 1898, when he was elected on the Re publican ticket to the office of county clerk, to succeed J. W. Morrow. After that he bought the Gazette. Mr. Crawford, during his residence in this city has won an enviable reputation. As the incumbent of the office of Morrow county's clerk he was also placed in the list of Morrow county's efficient officials. County Assessor Saling of Morrow county was born in Walla Walla, Washnigton, June 27th, 1866, his par ents being among the early settlers of that famous re gion known as the Walla Walla valley. He was educated at Whitman fcollege, where he was a student for four years. In March, 1886, Mr. Saling came to Morrow coun ty, where he engaged in teaching in the county schools for a number of years. In 1890 he was elected county school superintendent, that position he held for two good terms. Most of the time he was engaged in teaching. Once he was principal of the schol in.Sumpter, Oregon, for two years. For five years each vacation was spent in the court house in Heppner preparing the tax roll thus becoming well acquainted with the office he later held. He was elected county assessor in the election by a large majority. Most of the settlers gave their attention to stock. Mr. W, O. Minor was proprietor of the "Mountain Valley Farm." He came to this section many years ago and en gaged in the merchandising business, at the same time shipping beef stock to the Portland market, and in this way he discovered the vast difference in common stock and thoroughbred stock. To use Mr. Minor's words, he said, "About six years ago was when I had my eyes opened as regards the difference between range stock and high-grade stock, and you might say it was an acci dent then. I had brought several cars of cattle. Among the lot was eight four-year-olds which were high grade meat stock. Yet in the weight, and the price was from one to one and a half cent higher for the high grade. That opened my eyes in regard to the stock business, and I have been getting all the best grade of stock I could, regardless of price." Mr. Minor had over eighty head of the finest Shorthorn stock. That was the home of the renowned champion "Sallie Girl," who was the daughter of the champion "Royal Hero." Her weight was 2,000 pounds, and the flesh was very rich and smooth. Other noted animals among the herd have, like "Sallie Girl," taken first prizes at all of the stock shows here and in British Columbia. John S perry was a sheriff of Morrow and Umatilla counties. When he was sheriff Morrow ayd Umatilla counties were considered as one county, which was called together Umatilla county. ' THIRD DIVISION. Henry Heppner (1825-1905) First Prize By HAROLD BECKET. (Reedited for press at request of judges) The word "frontier" in the vocabulary of the United , States may well become obsolete in the sense we think of it. It has served its purpose; its usefulness is re stricted to our histories and western stories. The west ern frontier, with its untamed characters and thrilling action, exists now mostly in novels and in the minds of some of our imaginative Eastern neighbors. The "Wild West" was never so wild on the Pacific coast as it was farther inland, a little east of us. The explanation to this the most logical one it seems to me may be summed up in a few words. The cry of the public was "go West!" When people went West they went until they could go no further. The frontier moved quickly over the plains and rolling hils to the mountains and coast A few peope dropped out in the trip to the West, but the main body went on. When the last stand was established, and getting crowded, there was a natural back-flow toward the plains and grassy hills that were left. It is not surprising that those places were still uncivilized a kind of fron tier even though civilization had long since passed thru and on to the western coast. This back-flow swept through the eastern part of this state and over the mountains toward the plains. Here it met the influx from the East, and that was the end of our frontiers. The energetic but somewhat wasteful methods of the red-blooded Americans soon covered the entire country. In a few years the timber-lands started on a down-hill gallop, and of late years the grassy grat ing lands of the western range have become a thing of the past. Something in the temperment of the Ameri can caused the settlers to rush back and forth over the country like a flood getting all off it they could before they touched the soil. Some of them settled down, and the final settlement came when the plow was put to the sod. The back-flow brought with it many strange charac ters. Among all the rest, from California it brought Henry Heppner. Born in Prussia, of Jewish parents, with relatives in Poland, he came as a young man to the gold-fields of California. Athough he himself did not know the exact date of his birth, it is believed to have been 1826. The young man's progressive character shows, when at the nge of twenty-four or twenty-five, he left his home in Europe and took a long ocean voyage to a big and strange country. At that time there was no Panama Canal, and one might take his choice of going by boat around the southern end of the lower Continent or cross ing the Isthmus by the American trode route which was established by agreement in 1846. Young Heppner chose the latter and, taking another boat from the western side of the Isthmus, went on to the California gold fields. The progressive young man immediately entered the merchandise business. It wsa here( probably, that Heppner got his business experience, which with his natural acquisitive instinct, formed a redoubtable com bination in his Inter years. Perhaps, too, tho queer con ditions of tho time, when gold dust was plentiful and people could afford to spend it freely,' resulted in a growth of generosity in the nature of the young Jew, which strongly contrasted with his natural racial char acteristics. The back-flow of population brought him to The Dal les. For several years prior to 1872 he ran, in connec tion with some Mexican?., who did the actual packing, a pack train, consisting of about one hundred and fifty mules at its largest. It is said that he had tho biggest and best-eared-for mulfs In this part of the country. This pack train carried freight from Umatilla to Boiw, Idaho, and to many intermediate points. Canyon City in particular. The Cayuse Indians, of the Biue Mountains, committed many depredations upon his train, stealing several mules at a time, until finally they took the last of the train. Before he died, Mr. Heppner received re imbuisement from the United States government for the train. In 1872 he went Into partnership with J. L. Morrow in the first store in Heppner. Mr. Heppner bought the stock while Mr. Morrow went back to build a store building and they were ready for business in 1872. Dur ing the winter of 1872-73 the town, consisting of one store was named. According to the "History of Umatilla and Morrow Counties," published by W. H. Lever, there was some discussion concerning its name, there bwing some difference of opinion as to whether to call it New Chicago, Willows, or Willow Creek. Mr. George Stans bury suggested the name "Heppner,' which was adopted. Another version of the incident, obtained in an inter view with Mr. Cohn of Heppner, is that goods were shipped from Pendleton marked Henry Heppner, and in that way the place gradually assumed that name. It is reasonable to suppose that the two circumstances worked together, Mr. Stansbury suggesting the name Heppner because it was coming into use and was the logical name to consider. Mr. Heppner and Mr. Morrow were instrumental in bringing in other business houses. One of these was the drugstore, put in by Dr. Shobe. Naturally the question soon came up concerning a school. Mr. Heppner was a very public spirited man, who desired to help the town grow because it was named for him. In this instance he got on a pony and rode alt over the country soliciting for subscriptions for a school. Later he furnished the bell for the schoolhouse. The first post office was in the corner of Heppner and Morrow's store, in 1873. It took up only a small bit of space about six feet square. Mr. Stansbury was the first postmaster, and Mr. Heppner and Mr. Morrow gave him their help andT store space. In 1875, says the "History of Umatilla and Morrow Counties." Mr. Heppner entered into partnership with Frank Maddock in a store. Not very long after this he went to Arlington, through which a railroad had just been built, and there he constructed a warehouse, for grain, wool, and hides, and also built a store. Ir? his business at Arlington he was assisted by his brother, Phil, who took care of the business there after Henry returned to Heppner. In 1888 the railroad reached this town, and in the following year Mr. Heppner built a large warehouse here. His business, run by his brother-in-law, Henry Black man, and his nephews, Phil and Jerry Cohn, had been thriving allnhe time he was in Arlington. He owned a large part of the business section of the town. The building in which Mr. Prophet now has his store was formerly a warehouse with a dirt roof. Mr. Heppner reconstructed that building, and at intervals built the buildings next to it. These buildings ere not built, however, to hold his own business, but simply for the expansion of the town. When he could find someone who would lease a bulidilng for a term of several years he would provide the building. It would be hard to find a man who was more zealous ly devoted to the growth of the town than he was to Heppner. He apparently regarded it as a namesake, and treated it accordingly. Whatever his motives were, the results he obtained were pleasing. Although he would not have thought of holding a public office, he occupies a high place in our history. He was a gruff, eccentric old man, as remembered by many of the men who used to deal with him, generally poorly dressed, and rather untidy in his personal ap pearance. He slept in his store a good part of the time, and boarded at the hotel. Part of the time he lived with his sister, Mrs. Blackman. Although he was somewhat addicted to the use of intoxicants, he was not inconsistent with the customs of the time. His charac ter redeemed him from whatever bad qualities he pos sessed. He was close in business, like most members of his race, and when there was a demand for a certain ar ticle he would raise the price on it two or three times, but the very next day he would give a twenyt-dollar bill to anyone if he thought he needed it very badly. His inconsistencies extended to his subscriptions to charity and public enterprises. One day he might subscribe gen erously to anything on which he was approached, and the next day not be in the mood for givinganything. At one time he sent htre hundred dollars to buy food and clothing for destitute miners. He was gruff and surly to all with whom he talked, and not always careful about his language, but he svacd many a poor man from bankruptcy when he had absolutely no security offered him. At a Salvation Army meeting one night, when everyone was called to the front of the room, there was some one who would not answer the call, but three twenty-dollar bills were found on the platform. Part of this sum was attributed to Mr. Heppner. In addition to help ing build a schoolhouse, Heppner aided many children to attend school. A man with many children and not very much money came from the East, Mr. Cohn says that Hoppner paid the tuition for those children to go to school. It would not be true to say that people liked him immensely they did not. But it was for their in terest to be friendly with him, and naturally it wasn't until after his death that his generosity was really ap preciated. During his last sickness he was so pleased with the care and thoughtfulness of the nurses in the hospital that he gave them a check for two hundred and fifty dollars. From the time he came until he died his business pros pered. At his death he was one of the wealthiest men in this part of the country. Some of his money went to various relatives, but his estate remained intact, was incroporated, and is now run by Mr. Phil Cohn, his nephew, of this city. Mr. Heppner died in April, 1905, in Heppner, and was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery in Portland. The First Church of Heppner. 2nd Prize By MARY CRAWFORD Senior. The first church of Heppner was built in 1878. It stood where the Farmers ft Stockgrowers National Bank now stands, on the corner of Main and Center streets. This church was built by the Baptists. An old Baptist minister by the name of Clay Hill was instru mental in getting the church started, and he did a great deal of the work himself. All the citizens donated tow ard the building of it and it was to be used as a com munity church until the other denominations were able to build. The church was just one large room about forty by sixty feet, and was built of lumber obtained from the saw mill up Willow creek in the Blue mountains. It was a high buiding and had a steeple which added to its height. There were four windows on either side, the panes of which had been artificially stained by the pasting of colored paper on the glass. The entrance to the auditorium led through a small vestibule which was directly under the steeple. On the inside it was furnished very plainly, the walls were ceiled and painted white. The pews were high backed comfortable benches. To the left of the pulpit stood the organ. The church was heated by one large stove. About 1879 funds were being raised for buying a bell. Henry Villa rd , the great railroad builder, happened to be here at the time investigating the discovery of coat in the mountains. Ho was very much interested in the cause and gave a very substantial donation toward thti buying of the bell. The church stood on this lot for twelve years, from 1878 till the spring of 1890, It was then moved onto tho J. B. Sperry lot on the corner of Gate and Baltimore streets, hte deed to which was presented to the church as a gift by Mr. Sperry. In the spring of 111 16 the Baptists sold the church to Jeff Jones and in the summer of 19L7 he sold the build ing to the city. The bell, which he donated to the Christian church, was destroyed on February 17, 1922, when the Christian church whs burned. The city moved the building up on the corner of (Isle and Willow streets and made it intu a city hall and li brary. On May 28, 1918, the buiding whs destroyed by fire. Life of Jackson Lee Morrow. 3rd Prize By V AWT Ell PARKER - Senior The man for whom Morrow county was named w Jackson Lee Morrow, an early scitlvr and merttiant of (Continued on Pajje Four) Pllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll