HKmrn iom:.. CAzmn timfs. tiiuimUv. August si. wrj
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JKWt S G. 4
t uhkhink iMtiiniTV
So that we may better knot
ourwlvrs we attend to the
past. Heppner centennial
provides a timely occasion (or
each of u to rrflect on the
heritage that we celebrate
The story of James U and
Catherine liberty is unique
only m its import and pre
ciousness to their descen
dant Aside from that, it
provides an illustration in
microcosm of the settlement
and development of this fair
country Their story, though
differing in particulars, is not
unlike that of any other early
family. It begins in 1RR3 in
County Donegal. Ireland,
where James Grant Duherty
was bom and raise
The early Irish emigration
had gained its impetus from
the potato famines of 1845 and
18-tti Uy 1KK.1, emigration was
old hat and conditions in
Ireland had improved consid
erably. The litieral F.nglish
Inme Minister. Gladstone,
had assumed office in IHt8
saving. "My mission is to
pacify Ireland " My grand
father, who was one year old
at the time, was neither
impressed nor pacified But he
was patient enought to wail
until he had turned 16 before
leaving the old sod
Armed only w ith the expec
tancy of opportunity, he
boarded the steamer Kncona.
He disembaiked in New York
City on Octotier 8, 1883. not yet
having gained his sea legs. He
stayed there just long enough
to get bearings t'pon inquiry
of the way to Oregon he was
pointed west and straightforth
headed in that direction.
Horatio Alger notwithstand
ing. In Eastern Oregon, mv
grandfather had a benefactor.
Charles Cunningham had
come to I'matilla County in
1B9 and by 1KK3 w as well on
his way to becoming "Mr.
Sheepman". My grandfather,
like many other Irish immi
grants, worked for Mr. Cun
ningham. In 1K87 my grand
father went into the sheep
business for himself on Butter
creek and moved to Black
Horse Canyon, a dry -bed
canyon running northeasterly
for some nine miles from
Lexington to a point intersect
ing with Sandhollow.
My grandmother, three-times-a-Doherty.
moved with
him because they had been
married in Pendleton, July 6,
18H3. By "three-times-a-Do-herty".
I mean that both her
parents were Dohertys (be
fore marriage. Also, after
marriage i. which made her
twice-a-Doherty ; and marry
ing my grandfather made her
three-'times-a-Doherty. Any
way, when my grandparents
started having children there
wasn't going to be any doubts
that they were Dohertys. Just
to be certain there were no
doubts, they had thirteen.
Apparently, my grandmother
was patient, too. It only proves
that my grandfather's expec
tancy of opportunity was not
without foundation.
Truly. I love my grand
parent's though I never knew
either one of them. You'd have
to respect them if you could
visit Black Horse Canyon.
With thirteen kids competing
for what forage there was,
there undoubtedly was little
left for stock. Nonetheless,
they did w ell enough to get the
thirteen kids raised, though
I've heard neighbors say that
none of the thirteen were
halter-broke.
The rest of their story is the
usual one of toil, birth and
death, happiness and sorrow.
But the true story herein lies
not in the family itself, but in
the fact that two immigrants,
seeking the American Dream,
came, became a part of and
grew with the country. If my
grandparents could gather
their off-spring today, they
would count over 44 grand
children, 90 great-grandchildren
and 6 great -great -grandchildren.
They would say, "All
things considered, life's been
good to us." Life's still being
good to us and, in a sense, my
grandparents are still a part
of and are still growing with
the country.
That's what a centennial is
all about. (By Dennis Do
herty.) FRANK AND CLAYTON
AYERS
By Justine Weattierford
Two Ayers brothers were
among the earliest in the
county coming in w'ith ox
learns Irom low a. T.W. had a
squatter's claim on Big Butter
Creek and Bill made his claim
over on Little Butter Creek.
i
i
James T Ayers. Bill's sn,
came wel by train little
latter .and he too homesteaded
near line City where his sons
Frank and Clayton grew up.
The children of Mr. and Mrs
James T Avert were Arthur
who died in ltu, Kuby (Mrs
Roy Coven (of Hermiston,)
Kdna (Mrs Burl I oxen i
Salem, Frank, Harvey who
died two years ago, and
Oavton
FATHER DROVE
MAIL KOITK
Frank and Clayton's dad
worked for Joe Vey at first for
tl 00 a day, then tried the
sheep business on his own
place He epsecially enjoyed
the job of driving the mail
route from Heppner to Gal
loway i Fine Uty ) I'sing
horses, he made the 50 mile
round trip each day through
diiNl. mud or snow Mr. J T.
vcrs hved in Hermiston in
his later years and was very
proud to he able to keep his
auto driver's license until he
was almost SO years old He
died in ISM
THE BROTHERS
REMEMBER
Frank Ayers can recall
many stories about the India
ns who camped on a bench
above Pww- City. Clayton
recalls early attendance at the
Fine City Church where he
heard preacher John Hoskins
grandfather of Fred Hoskins
Jr.) Frank savs their great
uncle T.W. Ayers employed
the Vey brothers from Portu
gal for $1.00 per day; then in
time they bought the ranch
and T W: Avers moved into
Heppner and served as Mor
row County Judge.
Frank Ayers has no child
ren; Clayton's daughter
Juanita is Mrs Ray Dukek of
Pendleton and his son Ray is
in business here. Frank and
Clayton Ayers have similar
abilities. They are both mech
anical and both love to grow
flowers and vegetables
The Frank Ayers live on
Center St. where Jessie Jones
and her daughter Venice
Styles lived, and they have
modernized the house and
have the front and side yards
gay with flowers and a good
selection of vegetables grow
ing in the small back yard
The Clayton Ayers live on
Gale St.. and their yard is in
full bloon now; their back
garden has more of most
everything than they can eat,
and they will be giving much
to friends. Clayton has mod
ernized quite a few older
homes in town. These Ayers
brothers have many talents
and keep themselves busy
always
the McMillans of
lexington
John Taylor McMillan and
his wife Margaretta Dyer
McMillan came west from
Mohawk, Tenn. in 1886 with
eight of their nine children;
the ninth, Cora (Mrs. Earl
Warner) was born at Lexing
ton and lives in Corvallis
with her -sister Mary Lou
(Mrs. George Broadley). The
other children who came west
are deceased, but one son's
widow survives. The sons
were Elbert D., George L.,
William P., Samuel "Gus",
and John F., Mrs. "Gus"
(Frances) lives in the Rose
Villa Manor in Portland-she
sold her Lexington home
across from her mother-in-law's
home to the Gene
Orwicks. A daughter Elza
married Mr. Pointer, and they
are both deceased.
The McMillans were farm
ers, but William P. became a
pharmacist and ran a drug
store at Lexington; John F. is
remembered as a builder of
homes-Mrs. Trannie Barnett
Parker's large home on the
south-east side of town is one
he built as is the house across
from it where Mrs. Florence
McMillan lives now, which
was built for Elbert D.
DURING LEXINGTON'S
BOOM
During the days when lex
ington was a bustling com
munity of many stores and
homes, about half the homes
were filled by McMillans, and
the Beach family had many of
the other homes. Mrs. Mrs.
John T. McMillan (Margar
etta ) is remembered as a
small lady with only one arm
(she had had an arm amput
ated because of blood-poison-ing.thought
to have been
caused by poor dye in her long
black gloves. ) She lived in the
gray house between her dau
ghter Cora Warner's home
(now the Bill Marquardt
home) and the apartments
that the Leonards have just
sold to the Wrights.
The three brothers George,
"Gus". and John F. farmed
northweM of l-eviit.m where
Scott "IVnny" MtMillan and
the Nelton brothers larm now .
Flbrrt IV farmed a littb?
closer lo I-evington where the
C C Jones are now
PRESENT DESCENDANTS
Still living in the county are
Sittt "ivnny" McMillan and
CulliM-n i Mm Buster I'ad
herit children of John F.
(Mrs Sy Slocuml a daughter
of "Giis", and Mrs Florence
McMillan who is the widow of
W E , the son of F.ltert II
McMillan There are many
fourth and many more fifth
generation decendants of the
original McMillans living in
Morrow County and around
the state,
MRSORlS PADBERO
(CATIE FRIDI.EYl
Several recent visits in
Catie Padlwrg's home at
Lexington have brought out
some interesting facts about
her family and atxmt the
earlier arriving Henry Pad
berg family.
THE FRIDLEYS
Catie's parents were I.ewis
Fndlev and Marietta Wood
ruff Fridley who were mar
ried in Missouri and came to
Harrisburg, Oregon. Her fat
her developed rheumatism
and a din-tor recommended
that Mr. Friedly move to
Eastern Oregon and get out of
the damp valley The family
came to Social Ridge and got a
homestead from Jim Brown,
and their daughters attended
the Social Ridge School. Catie
is the oldest, her next sister.
Edna is now Mrs Lars
Langland of Modesto, Ca., and
the youngest, Lois is Mrs.
Walter Beck of Stockton, Ca.
Catie married Oris Padberg at
the old Padberg Ranch, then
Will's, near lone in 1919.
Catie. who is now 73 years
old. has an unusual old carved
table in her home. She says it
w as "unclaimed after the 1903
Heppner flood." She relates,
"My father helped gather up
bodies and restore order after
the flood. Peoples possessions
were put together in piles for
families to come claim. After
quite a long time when no one
claimed this old table, my
father brought it home and got
help in repairing it."
THE PADBERGS
The first Padberg, Henry
came from Germany, and he
settled on Rhea Creek in the
1870's. After he reached Ore
gon he married Martha Riggs
and their children were Wil
liam, Leo. John. Louis, Mary,
and Liddv. John married
Delia Lieuallen. the daughter
of blacksmith Ranson Lieual
len. and they had two sons,
Archie and Oris. Archie stay
ed on the John Padberg ranch
and married Susie Allstott and
they had four children Archie,
Vernon. Juanita. and Lola.
After his first wife's death he
married Mildred Tucker and
thev live in Heppner.
Oris Padberg worked for
Turner and Van Marter for a
time, then worked with Ralph
Jackson's machinery shop at
Lexington, then started his
own machinery shop. Oris and
Catie have three Children,
Marial Doris, now Mrs. L.D.
Vinson at Monument; Elmer
Eldon of Lexington, and
Charles Henry at Dayton, Wn.
MRS. ERNEST HELIKER
(V1DA Z1NK)
Sitting out on an interesting,
cool, patio and visiting with
Vida Heliker and her neighbor
Edith Petteys Nichoson was
surely a pleasant way to spend
a very hot Sunday evening. We
did a lot of chatting about old
times, and because I had
already visited with Edith's
niece, Vera Rietmann, about
the Pettey's family, we didn't
spend much time on them.
Edith said she is expecting her
very successful daughter
Alice home from San Fran
cisco soon, and might go back
to California with her.
THE ZINK COVERED
WAGON
Vida Zink arrived in this
county in a covered wagon as
a little girl when her parents
came from the Willamette
Valley (1889). Farmer Alfred
M. Zink and his wife, the
former Irene McKinley who
was one of 9 children, leased
the Leach Ranch out in Black
horse Canyon for some years
while their 6 children were
young and they bought the old
George J. Currin Ranch out of
lone, which is part of the
Ralph Crum's land now. Vida
and her sister Addie who was
Mrs. Claude Devine and is
now W.E.Tompkins of Glenns
Ferry, Idaho, are the only
Zinks left
CUSTODY
SVM'HII.l. CRANKS
Oiieol XiiU vivid memor
ies of her childhood years in
BUiWtiiinr i'aiti)n is lb
vearlv viil l the huge
Sandhill cranes that come in
lo the Lent h Ranch Dayton O
llsde. the Oregon Author of
Yamsi, made these cranes
famous ida recalls thai
many years ago when these
cranes slowed several ll.t-e
in the county, one struck Imle
l"earl Wright iMrs Joe
IVvinei at her family home
near Ruggs and pecked out
one of her eves
ERNEST HELIKER
Ernest Heliker came west
from southern Michigan lo the
U-wis & (lark Fair in Port
land in 16 He and his friends
were advised to come lo
Heppner to find work, and
they tiought train tickets with
their last funds Ernest stayed
but his friends went east
again Ernst loved horses and
farm life He and his friends
first worked at stamping wool
in the huge wool sacks, very
hot work which provided funds
tor the other boys to go east
Ernest then found work in a
livery stable in Heppner
where he had charge of
harnesses. Then he drove
stages to Monument and
Hamilton for awhile. He went
to farmwork and worked for
the Padhcrgs for a lime. In
1912 when he and Vida were
wed. Ernest was working at
the Howard Lane Pastime.
TO SADDLE BL'TTE RANCH
After a few years the
Helikers bought the Saddle
Butte Ranch which their son
Don Heliker is oix-rating
today They also have a
daughter Harriet who was
Mrs Lundell and is now Mrs.
Bolman and is working as a
bookkeeper in Seattle.
Vida has been living on 2nd
St. in lone for some time in an
interesting old house, built by
Tom Davidson about 1903
surrounded by lively trees and
flowers that her green thumb
keeps in fine shape. She has a
lively interest in so many
things and a quick memory of
many friends and many hap
penings. Her husband Ernest
died in Oct. 1961.
MR. AND MRS.
RAY WRIGHT
My visit with Pay and Eva
Wright in their modern home
at the base of Heppner's east
hill was most pleasing. They
have lived there since 1965
when Ray Wright decided to
retire, and they found Carl
Thorpe ready to sell this
attractive home.
The first Wrights were
Albert and his wife Julia who
came in the early 1870's to
establish a small dynasty out
Ruggs way. The family is now
in the fifth generation, or in
some cases the sixth genera
tion. Albert and Julia had
three sons and two daughters.
Their first child Julia married
Tim Bisbee who wrote an
interesting diary. The elder
son Silas and his son and
grandson farmed the old
place; the son was Orian who
married Pearl La Trace, and
their son Albert and his family
live there now. ..Albert's bro
thers Bob and Clayton are in
Hermiston.
THE ANSON WRIGHTS
Anson the third son who
farmed in Hay Canyon, bought
the George Noble place just
above Ruggs where Ray and
Eva farmed and where their
daughter Beth's husband
Barton Clark and son Ned
Clark farm today. Before
buying the Noble ranch Anson
lived up Julia's Fork one
winter in a small canyon just
below the Anson Wright Park.
Here Anson built a little old
log cabin which his son Ray
says still stands there.
the middle Albert Wright
son, George, who lived near
Lone Rock died before 1920.
The younger daughter, Effie,
married Frank Gilliam and
their offspring, Ona, Earl, and
Hazel (Mrs. Charles Vaughn)
are still in Heppner. A son
Leonard.a long-time weather
facts keeper died several
years ago.and his son Don
Gilliam carries on with the
weather statistics and works
with the M.C.G.G.at Lex
ington. Anson Wright had three sons
mature, Clyde, Ray, and Walt.
Clyde farmed a place pur
chased from the Farnsworths
which adjoins the Barton
Clark place and on which
Clyde's son Harold now lives
Harold's son Kenneth runs the
Ruggs Store with his wife
Judy Smith Wright, the dau
ghter of the Glenn Smiths. The
Walt Wrights live further up
toward Hardman, to the left of
the highway, and they have
two daughters, Patsy and
Janet.
i
Picture Courtesy of O. L. Matheny
MKKIFI SIMHtS
It is iiili-rvkling that two
Wfifclil ixMik. Clyde alld Ray,
ntaitu-d sikti-rn, Mary and
Ft a t 'aiu Hie daughters ol
Fiiglithman John CiiNin who
tMimcsteaded below Monu
men I
Ft a C.iX'ii ad Ray Wright
w-re married w years ago
this year in Hardman by
Minisier J I. Swill They re
call that alter the wedding
eery one gathered at Eva s
sister Alice s i.Mrs George
Mi Dul lie for a big dinner
The Rav Wright's daughter
IVth's hutaid. Barton Hark
is the son ol Noah Clark who
farmed at Figbtnule The
(lark's son Ned and his family
are with them on the ranch,
their daughter Nmula (Mrs
Hal Sundav is at Prmeville
Tv:
Holding the ball is Altha Devin Kirk, the captain of the 1916 girls
basketball team Bill Morgan was coach. Seated the first team
from left : Neva Haves McArgue, Lorraine Groshens Vinton.
Murial McCartv Runmon. mgr. Gladys Wattenburger. Second
team standing' Marcia Winnard Nicholson. Cecile Stevens
Musgrave. Pearl LeTrace Wright and Cecile Devore Hoyt. (No
one seems to know Gladys Wattenburger's married name.)
'o
Martin Reid, owner of garage, and Carl Cason,
U nion Oil distributor. Garage was across the
street from the present Library. About 1927.
AUGUST 26-27. HEPPNER
WELCOME, FRIENDS, TO THE
'FASTEST SHOW IN THE WEST"
It's Western Atmosphere and color at it's best. You'll see
some of the West's greatest cowboys competing for prize
money in all the spectacular rodeo events.
LVUrf t snuvv la virrcncm set
Togetherness -
liM.FIHFRNFSS
ionl and shoes have lieen
akMNialcd in lU-ppner since
I'MiS It slatted Ihcil as (only
tn. bv Fdniond and Edward
liniitv Thev wrre sons of Mrs
Mane Gouty who hud brought
the Uivs Irom Belgium when
lliev were voting Their father
dutl when "the boys were very
small
Ed father. Edward Nich
olas who learned to repair
shoes in Belgium by the lure
he us 12 years old W hen they
came to port land lo visit Mrs
Gouty Sister, Antoinette
Samoile, they planned to stay
onlv long enough lo learn the
Englikh language and then go
back lo Belgium, where Mr.
Gouty taught school While
thev were in portland. Edward
spent some time in the Seattle
Tacoma area working in a
shoe factory and a sawmill.
.-i I' a
i to
d0
o0
Hold On
IT'S TIME
Iiaiii r iMrrrnrilT rr-i- nriJCR All! 4
Your Friendly Local Cooperative
Lexington, Oregon
Gontys and
ShoesIn Heppner Since 1905
They came no from Port
land In isit the ic Groshcns.
Iliry liked the area so well
Ihev decided lo stay Edmund
hinl graduated from the I'niv
ersily ol Pans He was
interested in taxidermy He'd
sIhhiI a rubit then stulf il so it
would look natural.
The two brothers went into
business together in shoe
repair and selling shoes. Their
place of business was next to
the Frog Pond Saloon where
(he Shell Station now stands
Heppner was a booming,
miming town After a few
years. Kdmoml and his moth
er went back lo Portland.
Edward stayed in Heppner
where be married Ellen Mar
latt They had two sons,
Edmund Edward Ed Gouty of
llcppneri and Thomas of
Seattle, and so started the
second generation of shoe
men
What was Heppner like in
those days? About every two
blocks was a little building
housing n fire hose cart.
Chuck holes in the street were
a fool deep. All the kids rode
bicycles.
A family outing was a day
"down in the sands." They'd
pack a picnic lunch and hunt
jack rabbits in the area of
Junicr Canyon. Ed has lived
in the house at the end of Gale
St. all of his lile except for
about a year after he wus first
married.
Ed started working in the
store when he was nine years
old. The shoe shop has been at
home in various locations. At
GONTY'S
HAVE ADDED
MORE SHOES
TO THEIR
43rd SEMI-ANNUAL)
i 2mn i
SEM SMI
PARDNER
FOR THE
one lime ll wus in Dr.
McMui do's former office. The
Mute shop wn on the ground
level floor and the shoe
repairing was done down
stairs Ed can remember how
his Dad would run upstairs to
wait on customers. Mrs.
Gonly ran the store In I9IH
when her husband was very
ill
The shoe store was where
Miluidies is now when the old
Palace Motel burned down.
The heal from the fire broke
the windows and curled the
shoes- in the window. All the
Ironls had to he replaced The
old fronts had gingerbread
similar to the interesting front
of Jimmy Thomson's Groc
ery Store. Gilliam and Bisbee
was then where the First
National Bank is now.
Ed married Eleanor Hem
rich in I9:IC when he leased the
business from his dad. Ed has
sold shoes from high top lace
and button shoes to very
mod of today's shoppers. The
pattern of customers has not
changed. He says, "a partic
ular man is no worse than a
particular woman!".
Ed is the happiest when he is
working with woods or fixing a
motor. The entire family likes
the out-of-doot-s which in..i..rf.
es camping and rockhounding.
They have four children: Ray
of Seattle, Evie who is Mrs.
Terry Blevins of I'kiah.and
Tom and Doug at home.
Mrs Gonty has a wide range
of interests that include craf
ts, sewing, ceramics, garden
ing and helping others.
A
i
nun a
)