Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1972)
W Mi W1I001 IN M.JUROW COUNTY (continued) TIMOTHY H. BISBEE'S DIARY Tim Bisbee married Julie Wright, daughter of Albert Wright, and they came toset tie near her parents on upper Rhea Creek In March of 1875, when he began his almost daily writings. Early entries tell that he had gone into partnership with his father in-law; had built a house; that Julie gave birth to their second child on Jan. 15, 18TC. (This daughter, Lillian, be came Mrs. Charles Went worth, and died at 82 in Pasadena, Ca. The Bisbee' s son Albert S. was born in Aug. lo74 before they came east from Clackamas County.) Tint farmed and also, he writes, "1 wen! up to the mountains to work in the saw mill owned bv Coffin, Parker and Gleason on BoardCreek 13 miles from pur home and worked there until the last of Oct. running the saw, attending the lumber ard and keeping the books. On June 30, 1878, he does a bit of catching up with his diary: "On May 25, after finishing shearing (32v; sacks), I came to the saw mill to work for the summer. Julie came with me. Worked until the 29th. On June 30th the Indian War Tires Accessories Propane and White Gas excitement got so warm, I thought It best to tike Julie and the children down home on the creek. People have been flocking out of the north fork of the John Day River and camping at the mill for the past week-waiting for further news. Today we got news that the Indians were moving north, and might fight or could be leaving the coun try. "July 1-Last night 1 went home for a team and today took Julie and the children down to the creek. The "North Forkers", nearly all rolled this morning. Some for The Dalles; some for Heppner. and so on. We got home be fore dark and found the folks more frightened than we were. Things were packed up and ready for a trip to The Dalles as soon as our team, which was gone to the river with a load of wool, got back. "July 2 This morning news was brought that the Indians were within five miles of the mill 700 strong and coming this way. The women could be held no longer. Mother Wright was nearly frantic. Mr. W. Adkins, being at our place with a two horse team and an old wagon, the women chartered it for The Dalles. Mr. Adkins was captain and Cal's "For all your aufomofive S & H Green Stamps CaMn and Beverly Sherman 4 'r. - t Charlie Saplish or Wuirlwind helmsnnn. Three woman and seven or eight children piled in with their blankets and what wraps they could take and sailed out at a two-forty gate, Adkins was about as badly frightened as the wo men. He didn't know which Arco Station way his hat was on. "July 3-Our team got home last night and today father Wright loaded in trunks and bedding, etc. to make the women ascomfortableas pos sible and started for The Dalles. The news of the In dians assumed a different aspect. They are learned to be on or about Long Creek and turning more to the right with the prospect of not com ing this way. The house looks pretty naked with what hasn't gone to The Dalles with the women being hurried in the alkali bank across the creek mostly burried. "July 4, 5, 6,- Sproule.s, dayman and I hauled hay. "July7-I went to the moun tains to brand the sheepstill considerable Indian excite ment. I rode ahead of the team to be on the lookout for In dians Silas anil George were with the sheep on range. "July K- Branded the sheep with coal tar this morning. "July 9- I counted sheep this morning - smothered quite a number - 20. Got back to the mill about noon, llaynian went home audi sto ped at the mill-thinking to start up again tomorrow. "July 10-This morning In dian news was pretty warm and instead of starting the mill, B. Parker, Silas Wright and 1 went to Ileppuer, then home. "July 11-12-Worked at home needs." Repairs U-Haul Dealer haying. The Indian excltoin 'lit Is high ,,,ie day u,,d down the next. They've killed some shecpherders In the m iuii tains along their line of march, and some men on Butter Creek. "July 13-Duriiig the scare Mr. Humphrey's sheep des troyed a considerable portion of the hay In Crook's field. I had Farrens, Myers and layman look at the field today and notified hi in that some thing must be done. Went to Heppner In p.m. and stopHd at Mallory over night. "July 14-Caine home in p.m. and went to the saw mill. Excitement going down and many of the Hople that flocked to Heppner are start ing out for home again. "July 15 We started up the old s.i mill this ni'irning and during the week cut 30 M , a very good run. I continued to work at the mill until the 3rd of Nov. when we moved back to the creek. Our folks got back from The Dalles July 2'J pretty well tired out and badly disgusted with the Indians and Indian raids." DOWN AT THE DVLLES Mark V. Weatherford in his book The Bannack-Piute War relates the story of the ex odus of women and children and of their stay at The Dalles. (Pg. 84) "The men Continued