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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1929)
. MEDFORD MATTi TRIBUNE, TtfEPFQRD, 1 ORKfipy, SUXDAY, MAY 3. 1029. PXCIB.FIYB HISTORY OF PIONEER COLVER FAMILY ERECTION OF OLD HOME NEAR PHEONIX (By Ncllio Hose Jones) Tho Culver houno Ht Phoenix. Jackson county, Orosnn, now Known as "The . bluo V I o w i r I.odgc." Ih tho olilcMt hutiHO Htuml inB In Jacksoir county today. It was completed In 1805. and la. perhaps, one of tho most inter esting structures erected in Ore Bon during the pioneer period of tho slate. It was built by Samuel Colver and ills wlfo, llulduh Cul lender Colver, on their donation land claim number 4 2. It was constructed, primarily, for hotel purposes and also as a refuge for the, various families In the set tlement duiinit the Indian up risings. As Mr. Colver did not tako kindly to the idea of pre siding over a hostelry, the hotel project., was abandoned and the building was never used for that purpose during the more than seventy years when the Colvers and their descendants occupied it. It furnished protection from the Jr Indians to the neighbors for miles around on several occasions. Considering - the early, day In which it was built, it ' was an enormous- structure . being 60 by GO feet, built of smoothly hewn logs, 14 inches In thickness. The logs were planed smooth on their outer surface .and .dovetailed to gether at the corners. .The port holes in the second story are not now visible as the outside has been weatherboarded over. The house is plastored throughout, and originally contained four fire places. Tho kitchen fire-place has been removed. This historic old home was the old community center. Tho largo second floor, now divided Into thirteen good sized rooms, was. et ono and' tho same 'time, school room, dance hall, church, lodge and play-house. , Old timers still refer to this old homo as tho "block house." Originally, an up per balcony extended across the entire front of tho house, connec ted by an outside stairway with tlie lower porch. This upper bal cony was removed In 1918 in or der to give the house a more mod ern appearance. This home re mained in the Colver family from the time of its construction in 1855 until 192.1, when it was sold to Miss Edith Prettyman, who converted it into an inn known as "The Blue Flower Lodge." Tho "History of Jackson. Jose phine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties," published by A. -G. Vailing. In 1884, says, in writing about Phoenix. Oregon, (p 374 375): "Samuel Colver In tho fall of 1861 ho being one of tho very first pioneors took up a dona tion claim where tho town now stands and has ever., since con tinued to occupy it. In 1864 Phoe nix had reached Its cllmacerlc. , and all was prosperity. The town 4 was tho homo of lawyers, doctors, I artisans and merchants. Busi ness was very brisk and the mines were producing well. But this era of prosperity had an end sometime along tho last of tho sixties; aud in 1874 a stray trav eler wroto of th place; 'decay, desolation, death are Inscribed on her walls; dusty in summer and muddy in winter. It is the abode - of hard times.' But the dyspep tical fellow cheered up some what, and going into details, add ed: 'Tho peoplo aro Industrious, tcmperato and always ready for a religious revival. ' It contains two gristmills, a store, tavern, school and a Good Templar's or ganization.' Tho chief point of Interest about Phoenix are tho grave, now empty of Captain Stewart, U. S. A... the 'Forty-nine' mines. Camp Baker and tho S. S. Colvcr's residence. Tho curious visitor would do well to Inspect the latter remarkable building, a relic as it Is of times of Indians' assaults had to be . provided against. In 1854 the town of Phoenix was laid out on the land of Samuel Colver. In 1855 S. M. f Walt built tho largo flouring mill on land donated by Mr. Colver. In tho summer of 1852, Hiram Colver eamo bringing tho families of both Samuel and Hiram, who had been left with tho Geers and Davenports, relatives, who lived In the Waldo Hills near Salem. Samuel and Hiram Colver each took up a donation land claim of 640 acres. Also in 1852 came Samuel VanDyko, Matthew Little, E. B. Ooro and O. V. Hoxlo. In 1853 came James Sterling, John and H. M. Coleman, Cleorgo T. Vlnlng, Clrldlcy, C. S. Sergeant, James P. Burns, W. Lynch, Mil ton Llndlcy, William Matlies, Hur ry and Harvey Oatman and Henry Church. Harvey Oatman built the first hotel in Phoenix, and Henry Church and Harrison B. Oatman were tho first merchants. Col ver and Davenport, and Wait and McManus were also engaged In mercantile affairs In early years. Judge Orango Jacobs, of subse quent celebrity, (Jacobs became Judge of tho Supreme Court of tho State "of Washington) was a teacher of youth for tho carl' settlers of Phoenix and also prac J tlced his profession of law In that locality." , Judgo Orango Jacobs married Lucinda Davenport who was a first cousin of Samuel Colver. Lucinda Davenport was an aunt of Homer Davenport, the famous cartoonist. Hon O. A. Stearns, deceased, of Ashland. Oregon, was closely associated with Samuel Colver ovor a period of forty years and has left some Interesting notes concerning tho life of this well known pioneer and builder of the colver House. Mr. Stearns relates that "Samuel Colver was a native of Ohio (b 1816). and attennea the common schools of that state until, In his early teens, no. in company with a yoiyiger brother, Hiram, was sent to a well known college to complete his education. Hero he found the strict ortho dox requirements so distasteful toi him that he was often in erim f conflict with his teachers, and his ryming witticisms and caustic criticisms soon brought him to open conflict with tho faculty un- Historic Old til, finally ho was publicly reprl- manded and given his choice of publicly apologizing or leaving the college. Ho t hose tho latter love for horses, dogs and all ani-1 lo country in IMS wlin -.o-courso which terminated his scho- mals was a dlstlnculahlnir liecu-1 ?rnor V,n,hroB- and waa a mm" lastio career. About that time tho j state of Texas attempted to throw Off Ihfl Vnl'A tt tla-Un nn.l ' Colver i.pnt . i,i where there was abundant room ; for adventurous spirits, and no restrictions by narrow orthodox teachers. Young Colver joined tho Texan army under the banner of Sam Houston, and served as Texas Ranger until after the san guinary battle of Ran Jacinto, which established Texan inde pendence. After the Independence of the Ione Star stato was estab lished, Colver served under tho flag on the frontier, ns' scoilt and trader with tho Indians, some- times in conflict with hostile j tribes and in peril of his life. On one occasion ho was forced to cross a wide extent of country oc cupied by a hostile tribe of In dians, and his only method of travel was on foot and by night. The cactus and other thorny shrubs soon toro his clothes to Shreds and ho had to clothe him self with the utUanned skins of wild animals and eat their un salted flesh for days at a time until he reached a settled portion of tho country. His next nd vent lire was In his ; native state, which he canvassed j prctty thoroughly as public lecfur-1 or on Jthe then " newly discovered science of niesmorlsm. Shortly after completing his lecturo tour, Colver met and married Huldah Cullender, and for a few years lived with his parents Samuel Colver. Sr., In tho' old homestead near Irwin, Union county, Ohio. Soon after tho discovery of gold and tho opening up of the Oregon country to settlement under tho liberal donation land law, the Colver brothers, Samuel and Hi ram,, together with their families, undertook tho long and perilous journey across the plains by way of the Old Oregon Trail, to tho Willamette valley, at that time tho only welt known' part of the Oregon Territory. This wns i 1S5Q,'. In 18,Sli Saimicl Colver was In dian Agent and wns pne of .the signers of the peace ireary mado by den. Joseph lain and others, September J I), 18&3, ut Table Rock, Oregon. V Samuel Colver was an athlete, and -was always an out-door, man. He was very hospitable and his house was' open to strangers. His wife, "Aunt Huldah," as she was familiarly called, was ono of the most generous nnd kind-hearted women that ever lived, a fine cook and housekeeper; a very do mestic nnd hnme-loving women; BBefff a eap.ltfs wise t epmparo ..-with'' 5.11 . So. BartleU atnd 8th Colver Homo while "Undo Sam" Colver cared little for home-life and seemed to prefer the out of doors. His I llarity of his. Sam Colver was a good debator and was always : I'A.l.lt, tn av..PAcu HI nnl.tlnm, nn ! .. .i,i,. '., i litlonist and advocate of worn 'en's rights, and a prohibitionist ! of the most pronounced type and ; ready to defend his beliefs at all times and ngainst all comers. Tho active in politics, he wns never an office-seeker. While ho was n pronounced agnostic. Aunt Hulduh was decidedly religious, ,and her house was a favorite .haven for ministers, and seemingly without protest from Unci Sam. Anoth er peculiarity of Undo Sam's was his habit of composing rhymes which he would delight in sing- ing to hfs own mus'c or reciting beforo a. crowd. Some of his compositions were very flno both hi sentiment and in rhyme. Most of Colver's verses were aimed at pome common fault or frailty in human nature and exposing the same to ridicule. About 1S60, Uncle Sam Colver went to Texas, sold his land that had been given him as bonus for his services in tho war with Mex ico, went to Canada and bought a number of very flno blooded horses. From that time on he engaged quite extensively in im- porting and breeding blooded horses and rattle. In 1867, Uncle Sam bought out the interests of his eon In what was known for many years, as the Stearns ranch in Klamath county. This ranch Is on the Klamath Kalls-Keno highway. Ho kept this property ns long as ho lived. In 1884, his only son was accident ally shot by a neighbor, P. W. Olwcll, at Phoenix. Mr. Olwell operated and owned the flourmlll at Phoenix, (now the Fred Fur ry property). Ono night he heard someone prowling around his home and thought ho wilh being robbed, as ho often had consid erable sums of money In his safe. He raised a, cry for help and IoUle Colver' nnd Dr. George Kahleiv who were clone neighbors, were the first to reach the Olwell homo Louie Colver carried a lantern and seeing Mr. Olwell standing at the window, waved bis luntern and shouted to Olwell not to ghoot ns this was Colver. Mr. Olwell was so excited that ho d: not hear, at least ho did not heed the call, and fired, killing Louie Colver, one of his best Jriends. Ths was In March 1884. In April 1885. Isabelle Colver Rose (wife of Lewis Albert Rose), Uncle Sam's only daughter, weakened by grief over tho loss of her only 1 brother, succumbed to the ravages THE IMQi ft Some people make a fundamental mistake when they go to buy a car. They receive a demonstration and they compare the new cap only with the car they are about to trade in. To help you avoid this mistake we have arranged a special demonstration of the New Pontiac Big Six. Sec the others, by all means. But see the New Pontiac Big Six, if only for the sake of comparison. THtM $74$ la $995, f. b. Ponlfee. MUhlgmn. plua rfUrrr thmrgttt. Bumper; tprlr tmwmt mmd Ljoy ihock btorbor rtgulmr 9qulpmnt mt Hht ..Ira ca.l. Ganaral Jfalar. nta fmjrment lan aaflaofa al minimum rata. Consider the delirered price as well its the list price when comparing automo bile raluea . . . OaUand-Pontiac delivered price, include only reasonable charges for deliver and financing. Sanderson Motor Co. Robinson Motor Co. Ajhland, Oregon of diphtheria.' This double trag edy left Uncle Kami and Aunt llul dah Colver childless. From this dato Uncle Sam spent very little time In Rogue Klvef valley. The loss of his children preyed on his mind and ho seem ed to want to . bo away from scenes that would remind him of them. He hud taken a very active pint In the Modoc Indian war In Klamath county and had boon one of the first property owners In tho Klamath country and had many warm friends among tho pioneers of this region. In Feb ruary. 1891, while attempting to pay a business visit to one William Spencer who lived on tho west I shore of Upper Klamath lake, I Uncle Sam was drowned or froz vn to death. Hlsbody was not re i covered until several months lat er. Ills remains aro now Inter i red in tho Phoenix cemetery be jside those of his wife. This com j ctery is a part of his donation i land claim. j Family Ilittory i Tho Colver family hus d most interesting historical background. I Samuel Colver was sixth In dca- cent from Edward Colvor,, the Puritan, founder of tho family '" America. Edward Colver camo bcr of tho Massachusetts Buy Colony. Ho served In tho Colo nial wars. Ho was given a Krant '"t 600 acres of land for scrvlco j in these wars. Ho was anions th founders of BmUon. pedhum nd Roxbury. Massachusetts and New London and Mystic, Con necticut. Samuel Colver was tho grand son of Nathaniel Colver and Ruth Kilbourn Colver of Litchfield, Conn. Nathaniel Colvor '.was a member of the Provincial Cong ress -from Albany county, : Now York and Ensign in tho Revolu tionary war (1775-1783). ' Huldah Callendor Colvor was tho daughter of Samuel Callcn der, who served as fifer in tho Revolutionary war and in tho war of 1812. Captain John Callen dor, captain of artillery at the Battle of Bunker Hill, was great uncle of Huldah Callendor Colver. Her great grandfather was Eliozer Cullender who served in the Rev olution ns Captain of tho Virginia Stato navy. Both Capt. John Callendor and Capt. Eliozer Cal ender, 'his father, were members of the Society of tho Clnclnnata of Virginia. Lewis Albert Rose who married Isabella Colver and who also lived in tho old Colver homo for four years after his . marrlago, was the great grandsln of An drew Rose who also served' In tho Revolutionary war. Lewis Albert Rose was thcr; second 1 cousin of President William McKlnley, thru tho Rose lino. Colver Grandchildren Grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs Samuel Colver who aro still liv ing are: Mrs. Charles Hemstreet, Portland, Oregon; (Efflo Rose, who was tho first child born in the old Colver homo at Phoenix), Mrs. Arthur Furry (Lita Colver) Mrs. Wilbur Jones (Nolllo Rose Nowbury), Klamath Falls,r Ore gon; Mrs. Albort Solfss (Bertha Roso Rador), Arthur Roso, Lloyd Colver and Louis. Colver, all of Phoenix, Oregon. Great Gramk'hlldrciv Groat grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs, Samuel Colvor are: Mrs. Lawrence Mehaffey (Maud New bury), Antloch, California: Don ald R. Nowbury, Mod ford, Oregon; Carl Nowbury, Minneapolis, Min nesota; Armond Taylor, Cle- El lum, Washington; Colver Furry, Phoenix, Oregon; Aubrey Ferry, Birmingham; Alabama; Mrs. Jua nta Furry (Mrs. Nell Franklin), Med ford, Oregon; Jean Rose, Dor Is Roso, Tluldah Rose and Lewis Albert Rose, Phoenix, Oregon; AgnesColver, Harold Colver and PRODUCT OF GENERAL MOTORS Phone 1381 Klbert Colver, Phoenix: Wilbur Jones, Jr., Klamath Falls, Ore gon. (Nellie Hose Jones, who wroto this story, was a charter member of tho Oregon stato chapter Daughters of Founders und Pa triots of America. Ed.) BIG 1NCREASMN Announcement for plans for an Increase In production during the remaining spring months duo to tho heavy volume of orders has been mado by tho Ford Motor Company. The manufacturing schedule has been balanced to provide for an output of the entire line of passen ger cars and commercial vehicles, which now includes eighteen dif ferent automobile types, tho recent additions being the chauffeur driv en town car, town sedan, sport cab riolet, taxirah, station wagon nnd tho do luxe delivery wagon. A member of the Ford Motor Company, says; "Tho production program bos been arranged to In clude tho new body types designed for the Model A chassis and pro duction has been stimulated duo to current orders. Tho new types are being built without curtailment of the probram for tho other standard cars. Orders on hand nre large and reports from branches nnd dealers Indicate that tho spring de mand is greater in volume thau was anticipated. "During March the rate of pro duction was Increased to more than 8,000 cars and trucks a day. Total production for March was 181,894 cars, as compared with 125.984 in February. "The six-day factory woo U, which went into effect at Dearborn March 1, has been of great assist ance In building up tho production schedule and has permitted tho de velopment of an expanded program for the spring and summer months. Tho output of the new body types will bo increased in accordance with this schedule. "The commercial vehicles consist of the Model AA truck with ex press, panel and platform bodies, the light delivery piokup, and the panel delivery and tho do luxe do livery." GOLD BEACH, Ore. May 4. (P) Disagreement of many years ntand Ingr' has been settled by th'e Curry oounty boundary board -which has allowed the area surrounding Ag- neas- on the Ttoguo Mver in a re mote aectton of tho'coast range, to be divided. Wednesday rival fac it's th e COSTLY CAR BEAUTY AT AMAZINGLY LOW PRICE i WZ entire line of new Superior Whippet Fours and Sixes is distinguished by such beauty of design and rich ness of color as have never before been associated with inexpensive cars. And Whippet is a big car, too, with plenty of room for you to lean back, stretch out your legs and relax in absolute comfort Mechanically, no other low priced car has so many impor tant advantages full force feed lubrication, silent timing chain, big four-wheel brakes, extra long wheelbase, oversize balloon tires, invar-strut pis tons, "Finger-Tip Control," higher compression engine giving more speed, pick-up and power and, in the Six, a heavy seven-bearing crankshaft. WHIPPET FOUR COACH - i !550 tSSO; C-f tsl"l $6ts 04 Imm him ftyj; IWiw Sfxl 4-fu. Himr fjjo; CVH-j.M Umiim ls9Si T"'t StVJI Cmrnrf tul (Mm, fjSa. ttuns appeared before tho board. and for the first time In tho hU- try of tho long feud, agreed that ttwy wanted to permanently din- aKreo and have two school districts. L'ntlt this time tho Kucue river had cut through tho mtddlo of the diatrlct. jl-oii can't compromise with Pride of Ownership De Soto Six MEAD-FURCH MOTOR CO. 114 South Riverside HEY ALL DAY smartest NEW. SUPERIOR W 0 Y f FOURSjf X S .WILLYS-OVERLAND, INC.; TREICHLER MOTORS, INC. 30 North Holly ' HALF CAMPUS IS FARM Bl'T XO "AG" IS TALGUT TOP10KA, Kan. (jP) Washburn college offers na academlo coura- v In farming, yet half Ha camp- ua Is operated as a farm. The "south 80" of tho school's IfiO-nern cnmpiifl forms a ctilrkn The owner of a De Soto Six has a sound basis for his pride of ownership he is driving exactly the car that he wants to drive a prod uct of Chrysler Motors. Cars of lower price attracted him not at all. He knows they lack many of his essential demands. And he didn't need to buy a more expensive car because he found complete satis faction full realization of his personal standards of performance, comfort, economy and durability in the De Soto Six. Here is a car that is literally built to order for those whose budgets are not unlimited a car that even the most discriminating motorist can own without either sacrificing his pride or straining his pocketbook. ' Before deciding on your purchase, give the Chrysler-built De Soto Six your most critical inspection. You will find all the advantages and comforts, all the zestful driving, and all the pride of ownership that are associated iu your mind only with cars of much higher price. CHRYSLER MOTORS PRODUCT Medford car at the club" Phone 615 and stock farm this year.' Last -31 year corn was the principal crop. the barn on the farm, which in i J leasod by tho school to prlVaU, : f , fur-morn, waa Washburn's first - gymnasium. m Malt Trlbuno ads are read by X 20.000 peoplo every day. i $845 and upatthm factory Famton . . . . . $tti Boadtter fUpanal BS Sedan Cockm S4S 4S M5 B83 : 953 Cupa BmhutM Sedan . . Cupe de Lujo . Sedan de Lujo All Phone 1109 " ".S. 850 Cut S9SI C"f S & ( StJtntStO- Mlriltyf-OnrlmJprkm ', jttl tweiengt trfiiaf mitm, ; TOLEDO, OHIO Icq to: ;r. .1 h! 1 lol if in t til 1 T til u 111 lo 3d A.