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