Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1976)
Page 3, THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner, OR, Thursday, Feb. U. 19TO FAMILIES OF ELLA By Justine Weatherford Ella, OR, a busy pioneer community of Morrow County was located near Wells Springs on the Old Oregon TraU about 7 miles east of Cecil. Now iU location is near the south corner of the U.S. Navy bombing range. The name "Ella" was chosen to please Ella Oviatt, a daughter of John Frank Oviatt the community blacksmith, at the time the Ella post office was established in April 1882. The post office was discontinued September 1910. Ella Oviatt married E.J. Lord. Her parents had come to Morrow County from Sheridan, OR. in 1879; Ella's sister Rita Merle Happold resided In Heppner until her death In 1958. In the 1880s several families lived there, and some of their decendents have been writing to the county museum for information about them and the community. Mrs. Harnett has not collected a great deal of information, but cheerfully sends what she has. About 1960 when the Morrow County Extension units prepared the booklet "Yesteryears of Morrow" they were able to gather some first hand information about Ella. It was a changing place for horse-drawn coaches that ran from Castle Rock (on the Columbia west of where Boardman is located today) to Heppner by way of Blackhorse Canyon. Mr. Oviatt, Ella's father, was also instrumental In the construction of the community school (Ella School No. 16). "Yesteryears" slates the John R. Lord family which came from Maine, after serving in the Confederate Army as a doctor, were leaders In the community. It lists early settlers as' John Handy; Johna Troedson, who purchased land from Handy and lived there 40 years; Charles Jaynet who settled in Six Mile Canyon about mile from Ella Center and later sold his holdings to Johanees Troedson; the Van Cleves who settled on the Oregon Trail near Ella on what is now the Charles Doherty ranch; and William Parsons who settled south of Ella. The Ella school was built In 1888 with lumber hauled from a mill at Hardman. W.B, Beach held Sunday School and preached there shortly after it was built. The community's first teacher was Clarence Shurte who boarded with the Wishard familv and later married Florence Wiahard. Other teachers were'Miss Etta Reed. Charles Reed, Delia Reed Corson. Some cf Mrs. Corson's pupils were Carl F. Troedson, Clara and Ann Troedson Smouse, Joe and Edward Handy, Elmer, Nora and Claude Crow and Earl Lord. In 1900 some people of the area still recalled when the famous trail master Ezra Meeker came through Ella in 1980 or 1909 on his second passage west and again by automobile A yellowing, undated newspaper story written by Idus Raines, Forest Grove, OR. tells of a visit to Ella some years ago She went ot there with one of the Grliybill sisters of lone (Ida Graybill is 94 and Ione's oldest citizen). They visited the old school yard and found some of the rock foundation of the school building which burned several years writes. "In 1905 R.R. Grabill was active on the school board. Miss Alda Byham was the teacher that year, and Miss Grace Davis taught there in 1908. Miss Byham became Mrs. j. A. Troedson. Carl W Troedson. died in 1972. He was the son of Johannes Troedson and although he never married he established the Troedson Scholarship Fund which has helped deserving young people of the county go to college. Families who have ranches in the Ella area today Include: Ou.rla Doherty who is on the old Johan Troedson place., Arthur "Sam" Crawford Just east of Ella where his father Wate Crawford was until his death last year; Bob Rietraann at Ella Butte, Roy and Art Lindstrom on the Clock place. Eric Anderson on the former Ed Rietmann Troedson place. Dave Baker on the Old Gorger Ranch, and John Proudfoot on the Gorger homestead. Today this pioneer farming community has only a green and white roadside sign marking its location on the Ella Road and the Old Oregon Trail. 2X6-2X8-2X10 ftyrxflt toti Yew tenstJif 68 ptr thousand . ALSOCLOSEOUTON Prtttur Tnsttd Petti Doutis Fir 5 In. tept ri 9 nHxevisrusT ,3M csch HsmvtlcfUfy Hwy. U7-1223 2 - 4D SALE ii $10.95 Per gal. In 55 's It NEW STOCK II 6 lb. Butyl Ester let us have your orders now before the price Increase. N Pettyjohn Oil Co. lone, Oregon 422-7254 Bicentonninl Forum CONTROLLING THE ECONOMY "The economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the Institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American Insti tutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power." FVanklin D. Roosevelt. "When hundreds of millions of dollars are given to bank rupt railroads, failing defense manufacturers, shipping in terests and the like, the words 'welfare' or 'relief are not used Instead, such things are done to 'strengthen the econo my.' " Earl Warren. The government of business has become the business of the government. From the begin ning, government assisted in the economic development of this country, but for much of our history, "free competi tion" was not just a slogan but a reality. Nothing not even the depression of 1873, the conduct of the Robber Barons, or the deepending disaffection of the workers spurred ef fective government action against what Teddy Roosevelt called the "malefactors of great wealth" until the Great Depression hit America with oceanic force. "Leave well enough alone" no longer seemed sufficient. Now gov ernment is deeply Involved in controling and regulating bus iness not only to protect con sumers but also to reduce risks to businessmen. Are these proper functions for government? When does gov ernment control become in terference in free enterprise? When does business interfere with free government? Does government paperwork create a burden that drives small businesses out of the market? Does regulation set standards only big firms can meet? The government significantly sup ports business by means of subsidies, price supports, tax breaks, depletion allowances, and purchasing power. Should it also insist on a voice in the '' management? What has sup port done to our, notions of, competition, the market place, free enterprise? Theodore Roosevelt creates a Department of Commerce and Labor and a Bureau of Corporations in 1903 to inves tigate business corporations. His first victory as a trust buster comes against North ern Securities Company which controls the Northern Pacific and several other railroads. The Supreme Court rules in 1904 that Northern Securities is a combination in restraint of trade. On Oct. 29. 1929, the stock market crashes and stock losses total SIS billion in 1929. Under FDR and the New Deal, banking and finance are reformed; the Federal Depo sit Insurance Corporation is set up to insure bank deposits ; all securities are required to be registered; the Securities and Exchange Commission is given broad powers to regu late stock exchanges. XX. "3T 1971 Vega 2 dr, cpe, blue needs right front fender Blue Book $1350.00 Sale $693.00 1972 Dodge Colt j S1895.00 J dr, 4 speed, low mileage, gold, very clean WJDafun Pickup J "0-09 1968 Chev, c 10. ton. p. "mw S1595.00 1973 Ford Maverick $2795.00 I dr. sport cpe, air, low mileage 25 new pickups & cars In stock many styles & colors to choose from Marbro Datson UAi-J 274-0330 2902 LEXINGTON ft VICINITY By 8.E. NoUon Lexington is situated nine miles northwest of Heppner, on the O R. k Railroad. Willow Creek flows through the town and furnishes water for the irrigating orchards and gar dens and also for the flouring mill. The region about Lex ington is a farming country. The land the famous bunch grass land. The soil being of volcanic origin, is practically inexhaustible. The longer it is cultivated, the better it seems to be as vegetable matter which remains after the crops are removed seems to be the thing needed to improve the condition of the soil. Wheat is the principal crop. The yield for the 1901 summer fallow land was 15-25 bushels per acre, the average being about 18 bushels. The volun teer crop ranged from 8-14 bushels per acre, averaging near 10 bushels. Although the season was unusually dry at the time the grain was filling, the quality of the wheat was good. With a little more favor able season, the yield would be considerably increased and the quality somewhat improv ed. While the yield is not so large in this section, as in some portions of the wheat growing regions, the returns to the farmer are quite satisfactory when the amount of labor necessary to produce a crop is taken into considera tion. It would be hard to find a region in which a man could cultivate more land than he can here. When these facts are taken into consideration, we think, this section will com pare favorably with sections which boast of larger yields. Barley is grown here and boasts of yields from 20-25 bushels per acre. It is usually of excellent quality. Rye and oats are grown here and the yields are light. On the land that can be irrigated, alfalfa produces three crops a year The aggregate yield is from 68 tons per acre, and the quality is first class. A fine quality of fruit can be produced in abundance on land that can be irrigated. Apples, plums, prunes, peach es, cherries and all kinds of small fruit do well. Stock raising receives some attention in this section, but as most land has been converted inlo farm land, this is not as profitable an industry as It was a few years ago. The winters are so mild that stock require very little attention during this season. The prices of land area steadily increasing and those desiring to purchase land would do well to do so now. Lexington has two churches, the M E. church, south and the Congregational. The Christian Church will probably be organized in the near future. The pride of the town is the elegant four room school house. The building occupies an excellent site, and is surrounded by ample ground, which are enclosed by a sub stantial fence. Three teachers are now employed in the school, but in the near future the fourth room will be occu pied. Miss Ada Gentry is the principal of the school. Bis omi BTfnTTTD In the business line tne store of Nichols and Leach stands first. It is a good business house that would be a credit to a much larger town. It has a floor space of 2500 feet. They carry a complete line of dry goods, staples and fancy gro ceries, boots, shoes, hard ware, patent medicines, paints and oils. Dave Porter is proprietor of a neat little .confectionary store. He has built up a thriving business. We have two good hotels. One owned and managed by Charles Barnett and the other Mrs. Sommers. The traveling public are well taken care of at these hotels. Uncle Sam's representative at the post office is Mrs. E.J. McAllister. Our vulcan is J.R. White, he hasv well equipped black smith and wagon shop. He is a first class workman and does a good business. J.M. White is the proprietor of the livery stable. The Lexington Flouring Mill is owned and operated by Joseph Burgoyne. His Snow flake Flower is such a favorite with the people that he is ui;able to meet the demand. The large warehouse at this place is owned by Mrs. Jane Penland. It is managed by Mr. W.P. McMillan, who is a thoroughly competent man in this line. The warehouse han dled about 110,000 bushels of wheat this season, and 130,000 in 1900. The difference in acreage sown in the region tributary to Lexington. Mr. McMillan does a good buiness in fuel, posts, etc. W.B. McAlister is one of the oldest residents in the town. He has brought wheat in the market here for twelve sea sons. He is notary public and deals in real estate. Lexington has the popula tion of about 200, and is making a steady growth. WELL DRILLING ATTINTION FAIMItS I MNCHItS Of lASTIIMOtfCON "WE CAN CUT IT" WMLICE VJILL DHILLIiiG Cll PtlMWiM -' WW Am 12:00 1:00 1:00-1:45 1J9'1 1:45-2.15 0lit9.iC 2 . 15-2 . 0 2:45-3:00. 3:00-4:00 4:0Q "HL J "Zl J "4 . "i ' .j-" 1 Students of Heppner High School In Construction Class 2 are putting wooden Ses on the roof of the Democrat Gulch schoolhouse. The students are nteS Tin construction and this is part of their training program. The ErStor is Ed Heimstra. From the left, Rob Eckman. Mike Orwick. Doug Harris, Dave Brandhagen and John McLean. Truchcrs insurance Legislation slated for the next session of the Oregon legislature, proposed associa tion insurance plans and other issues of vital importance to members are expected to be discussed at a meeting of the Northeast Oregon Chapter of the Oregon Log Truckers Association at Dave's Wood shed Restaurant, LaGrande, Saturday, Feb. 21, according to Larry Cribbs, chapter president. Members attending the 6:30 OTIOM FABE1EB You are cordially invited to attend an all day fertilizer, chemical and feed seminar, Friday, February 20, at the lone hTseon will start at 10:00 a.m. sharp, with lunch on us. A social hour is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. PROGRAM 10:00-10:05 . . Welcome & Introductions 10:05-10:30 Chemical Fallow 10:30-11:15 . . Importance of Sulphur in the Fertilizer Program 11:15-12:00 Soil Lunch GTC Feed D'vislon Kay Knudsfl Chemical FOllOW With PaulMallory- Ww:mn.oi rw Dist. Sales RepresentaUve Paraquat onho chemical BayfOlan Urry BoydSaW. Manager r HcMU chemical Co. Co,,ee Panel Discussion .Social Hour p.m. meeting are expected to discuss specific legislation which is likely to be introduc ed into the next Oregon legis lature, and hear reports con cerning proposed Association group pension and dental insurance plans. Other items of business SPRING TUNE-UP SPECIAL Complete Eagine Taae-np $24.95 Includes: Includes parts Adjust Valves all type Is Replace valve cover gaskets all type 2s up to 1971 Replace points Replace spark plugs $34 S5 Check compression Clean air cleaner All other types Adjust fan belt - Adjust carburetor Tires 22J!10 Adjust emission control from devices Includes mounting X J Highway 395 South Pendleton 276-3611 .Herb Ekstrom. Jr. Testing. . . . L SIEiV 422-728? J expected to be discussed will include the selection of a chapter "first lady" to repre sent the local organization at the association's upcoming Spring Conference In Eugene, and the nomination of OLTA State officers to take place at the conference. S iT S i s I Marr Waddoups-Marr Waddoupa 4 Associates I