Grave markers preserve pioneer history
by Elane Blanchet
Each small, stainless steel marker tells a story that
stands by inself, yet leaves so much unsaid: "Freize
Graves of three children of the Frieze Family"; "Infant son
THE
flh 'FFTTF
HJTu..j- 11 XL XL-
TIMES
SECTION B
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1978
BMCC nursing test
slated today
The National League for
Nursing Pre-Nursing and Gui--dance
Examination will be
given at Blue Mountain Com
munity College Thursday,
March 16 at 6 p.m. The test is
required for all students
entering both the practical
nurse and the associate de
gree nursing programs at
BMCC next year.
This will be the last time the
test will be offered at BMCC
before the opening of school
next fall. The examination
takes about five hours to
complete. Fee for the exam is
$10.
Anyone interested in taking
the examination may call the
BMCC Counseling Center.
Phone 276-1260 in Pendleton.
of Robert and Jennie Medlock, 1900"; "Grave of a man
named Ricks"; "Copple-Charles Wesley 1861-1879, William
Harvey 1868"; "Graves of 2 children of CD. Robinson".
Each marker is designated for a presently unmarked
grave on some hidden site that was once a would-be settler's
homestead.
"I have a theory that each country burial place was
established with the hopes that his would be a permanent
home for the family, that generations of the same family
would take care of the graves," commented Harold Becket,
chairman of the Morrow County Historical Society Grave
Marker Committee.
The committee is in charge of locating, researching and
marking as best it can the many pioneer graves scattered
throughout the county. Most of the graves have nothing to
indicate they are burial spots, original wooden markers long
ago weathered away or burned in grass fires.
Three years ago the grave marker committee was
formed by the Historical Society so the old graves and the
settlers they represent would not be forgotten. So far
markers have been placed on ten graves with 15 more graves
located and researched with markers ready for them when
road conditions to the out-of-the-way locations improve later
this spring.
Becket, a retired welder, constructs the Historical
Society markers out of post-card sized stainless steel plates
stamped with all of the information about the deceased
turned up by extensive research, often pitifully little. The
plates are then welded on steel fence posts with barbs on the
end to ensure they will stay in place.
Many possible grave sites are still under investigation,
Becket said, and he encourages anyone who knows the
location of an old grave to bring it to the attention of the
Historical Society.
One burial location currently being researched is in a
canyon on Big Butter Creek, identified on the county map as.
Morris Canyon. At the upper end of the canyon lies the
remains of a very old rock wall which Beckett believes might
have been built around the gravesite of a man named Morris
and possibly members of his family.
"It's very hard to research these old graves, it's been so
long with the family long since gone," Becket said.
Probably the oldest grave site found so far is located on
Luke Bibby's place on Balm Fork near where an old house
once stood. The final resting place of two children is known
almost exactly, traced by the description of a relative living
in The Dalles who left this area in 1900. Becket . estimates the
graves, still under investigation, date back to the 1860's.
Becket credits Rachel Harnett, curator of the Morrow
County Museum, and herself the daughter of an early pioneer
family, with doing much of the research involved in
ferreting out the secrets of the old graves, using famly
records in the museum.
"You learn things you've never known about the history
of the area researching these graves," Becket commented.
"Even the Heppner Cemetery is very interesting when you
think of it in connection with county history." He said the
earliest grave in the Heppner Cemetery is marked 1878.
Becket said he was especially impressed with the
inaccessibility of the old homestead locations and the
hardship this imposed on the settlers. "It must have been
very difficult to get anywhere, especially when the road and
weather conditions were bad," he commented.
The history of Morrow County is tied up with the pioneers
who settled here when life was far from easy. And in each
unmarked grave lies a small part of that history.
The Morrow County Historical Society urges anyone who
can help locate or identify an old grave to contact Harold
Becket Rachel Harnett, Delpha Jones or Ruth McCabe of the
grave marker committee.
Each grave marker helps to preserve a small bit of
county history and recognizes the importance of each early
settler in building the foundation of Morrow County.
V V-.' v . 1
, .' '. V.- ft
D
La X (
U'fc,
hp.
' v
- a r:
it
'Mi I
1
Harold Becket, chairman of the Morrow County Historical
Society grave marker committee, displays markers he made
to place on the burial places of early homesteaders.
Spring classes still open
Srping classes for the Blue
Mountain Community College
evening division are rapidly
filling up, with pre-registra-tion
due to close March 24.
Classes still open for addi
tional students include draw
ing, welding, section A tennis
(1), botany, physical fitness
for women, history of World
War II, expectant parents
class, advanced tole painting
(4), Spanish, multi-media art,
guitar, upholstery, micro
wave cooking, golf and hunt
seat riding.
Send registration forms and
checks directly to the college,
P.O. Box 100, Pendleton OR
97801. Forms and information
about any of the classes are
available from Nancy Brown
field, local BMCC coordinator,
676-5039.
Please note that the welding
class has two sessions listed.
Be sure to indicate which
session is desired.
Registration is possible for
some of the classes on the first
night of the class, but only if
an opening exists, so students
are encouraged to register
early.
J 1
farm fofir-1 s-
EQUIPMENT III 1JSfT-;- i
I SERVICE ! !
I
! se
!
i V . . v.
i
i ?
PECIAL
Guy Your OH &
Grease Now
0FF
11
OIL & GREASE
DY THE CASE
With the Purchase of 5
Quarts IID or 10-40 Oil
ii-IL
im CHANGE SPECIAL
A CASE OF SERIES III OIL
With the Purchase of Filters
totcling 1C0
il N f
l fc V,,. J
L
M
nnn
Now each and every regular savings account at
First National Bank earns 5 annual interest
regardless of the size of the account. That's the
highest rate we're allowed to pay by law, and for
as little as a $ 1 opening deposit you can start
earning 5 annual interest computed daily,
-compounded and credited quarterly.
Special Bonus! If you maintain a $2,000
average quarterly balance in your regular
savings account, you're eligible for the First
National Bonus unlimited check-writing
and personalized FirstChecks or First
Beautiful scenic checks at no charge. That's
the Bonus, and that's what to ask for.
Chances are that Uncle Sam is giving you
back some of your own money right now. And
what better place for your tax refund than in a First
National savings account especially at the new,
higher rate.
Your savings can start growing now at any
First National office statewide. Come in today,
open a regular savings account and start earning
5 annual interest. Or, ask about our longer-term
savings plans that offer even higher
rates all the way up to our First
Investment Certificate, which earns
!Vz annual interest for six years on
a $1,000 minimum deposit.
GET YOUR 5 ANNUAL INTEREST
AT ANY FIRST NATIONAL OFFICE.
f dra la and regulation prohibit the paymvnl of a tim deposit prior to maturity unlM thre months cA th lntvrMt thron i roriaitod and interval on th amount withdrawn is reduced to the regular savings
F.D.I.C.
U i
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OREGON
Heppner Branch
warn wi?mnQWDm. UU u
1 1