TWO MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Monday, September 10, 1956
Native Daughter Recalls
Olden Days in Rogue Valley
A visitor in the vailey last week was Mrs. Elva Person, Bur
bank. Calif., oldest member of the pioneer Taylor family of south
ern Oregon. Mrs. Person, who is 33 years old. came north for the
annual reunion, held September 2 at TouVelle park. About 75 at
tended the event.
Mrs. Person, born May 12,
1868 in Grants Pas, recalled her
girlhood days during an inter
view last week. Her parents
were Mr. and Mrs. John Whee
ler and her mother was the for-
handwoven material, the sam
pler has the traditional letters
; and numbers on the top, but the
! bottom of the design was never
completed.
mer Rachel Taylor, daughter of j wlllcd jt to voun. irl amon
the pioneer couple, Steven and : tne Tav,or descendants and
Abicail Taylor, who came to
Oregon in the early 1850 s and
took up a donation land claim
on the slopes of Roxy Aim in
Jackson county.
Recalls Toll Bridge
The visitor remembered that
a highlight of her girlhood days
were the visits of her grand
mother, who lived with a son
alter the death of her husband,
but who frequently stayed with
the Wheelers in Grants Pass.
The Wheelers, would drive by
farm wagon to the Rock Point
toll bridge near the '"lime
works' at what is now Gold
Hill, and there would meet rela
tives who would drive from
their home farther up the river.
''We always crossed the bridge
by foot." she said, "because we
couldn't aftord the 50 cents toll
which Mr. Cavanaugh, the
bridge owner, charged for wag
ons. The family members
would enjoy a picnic meal to
gether before each wagon load
started on their return trip in
opposite directions.
Mrs. Person, who was a guest
of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Clifford,
1211 West Main street, dis
played a number of family
treasures. Some of these have
been placed together under
glass in a large frame in order
to preserve them. The articles
Include a picture of the school
house in Colerain, Mass., where
Abigail Taylor went to school
as a small child and which, ac
cording to the inscription, shows
the first raising of an American
flag over a Massachusetts
schoolhouse.
Also displayed is a scrap of a
dress made for Grandmother
Abigail with the notation that
the seamstress "cut and basted
the dress for the sum of 25
cents." Another scrap of mate
rial is from a counterpane spun
and woven by Abigail Clark
Taylor in Shelbourne, Mass., be
fore her marriage to Steven
Taylor, the counterpane having
been part of her "setting out."
Mrs. Person explained that the
articles collected by early-day
brides - to - be in Massachusetts
were referred to as her "wed
ding setting out." much as later
day girls referred to their
"hope chests."
Another memento is a scrap
of "linsey woolsey" material
from a dress worn by Hannah
Clark McKowen, w ho was killed
by Indians in Massachusetts in
1759. Hie thrifty pioneer wom
en made the dress into a quilt,
with a homespun lining, and it
was given to Abigail, who used
It to iiang in a doorway of her
pioneer cabin on Roxy Ann.
Picture by Brilt
Another article in the frame
was a picture of Hobart Taylor
one of Steven and Abigail's
sons, and which was taken by
Peter Britt. pioneer Jackson
ville photographer. Mrs. Person
recalled that Hobart had joined
the United States Army as a
young man and had been train
ed at the old Camp Baker, (for
which the Jackson county road
is named). The young man join
ed the Army with the promise
that he would be sent east, she
said, because he wished to re
turn east and meet again "the
girl he left behind.'' His com
pany was sent to Oregon City
on the first lap of the journey
east, and there misfortune befell
the young man. He first learned
that "the girl'' had married
someone else, and the troops
were ordered into eastern Wash
ington to quell an Indian upris
ing Hobart Taylor spent the re
mainder of his Army service
fighting Indians and guarding
immigrant trains, and never was
sent cast, she recalled.
Another of Mrs. Person's
treasures is a sampler made by
her grandmother, Abigail Tay
lor, when she was four and five
years of age. Embroidered on
hopes that it will some day be
completed.
Favorite Story
Mrs. Person related what she
said was her grandmother's fa
vorite story about the crossing
of the plains to Oregon. When
the immigrant train reached a
point in Nevada where the trail
branched, one road going to
California and the other into
Oregon, two men appeared on
the trail, each carrying a small
girl on the horse with him. They
asked the women of the train to
take charge of the two young
sters, saying the mother had
hired them to take the three to
Portland where she would seek
medical aid, but that she had
died shortly thereafter. One girl
was two small to talk, the other
spoke but with a speech impedi
ment which made it difficult to
understand what she said.
The women accepted the re
sponsibility of the children, and
the two men hurried off down
the trail which led to Califor
nia. A day or so later one of the
men in the train was idly tossing
a S10 gold piece up and down
when the older girl asked to see
it and then said "Mama had a
big box filled with these."
Only then did the adults In
the train begin to wonder what
became of the dead woman's
possessions, and to conjecture
that possibly she had not died
of natural causes. One family in
the immigrant train later took
the two girls to Portland, and
thereafter Abigail Taylor heard
nothing more of them. "All
grandmother's life she won
dered and fretted about the
girls," Mrs. Person said, and
added that she herself had made
an effort to trace the family
through the name "Wyeth"
which was what the older girl
had called herself, although
some thought the name could
have been "White" or "Wyatt."
Visits Chum
Mrs. Person, who Is a "cousin
once removed" of Mrs. Clifford,
said she planned to visit in
Grants Pass before she left
since three of her girlhood
friends still live there. She was
a member of the first class ever
to graduate in that town. Mrs.
Person was mildly annoyed
with the son with whom she
makes her home because he has
forbidden her to ride on buses.
"Last year when I was here 1
went everywhere on the bus and
got along fine." she said.
The 88-year-old woman is
busy, cheerful, and industrious.
Her visit to Medford did not
mean that she would remain
idle, for she brought along her
sewing equipment and her quilt
material. When this reporter ar
rived at the Clifford home, Mrs.
Person was busy tying a small
quilt which she was making for
a friend, and also had some Red
Cross work with her.
Mrs. Person believes In help
ing others she has been a Red
Cross volunteer worker for no
less than 39 years. O S.
Townsend Club Plans
Picnic for Wednesday
Medford Townsend club has
planned another picnic meeting
for Wednesday, September 12.
in Hawthorne park. A potluck
luncheon will be served at
12:30 p.m.
The secretary asks members
having birthdays in September
to attend, and it is stated also
that urgent business is on the
agenda.
At last week's meeting 23
members and guests were pres
ent. A short business session
closed with a program of vari
out readings.
The club and auxiliary alter
nate, meeting every Wednesday.
Visitors are welcome.
Wants farm price supports cnt
-
Society
Auxiliary Members
Resume Program
Women of the auxiliary to
Crater Lake post. Veterans of
Foreign Wars, have already
started the fall program of ac
tivities. Members are at this time as
sisting Girl Scout Troop 158,
which the auxiliary sponsors, in
the collection of old newspapers
which the troop delivers to fruit
packing plants. Funds from the
project will be used for a future
trip to Yellowstone National
park which is being planed.
Mrs. Maurice Ritchie and Mrs.
E. Warren are troop leaders.
At the last meeting of the
auxiliary it was announced that
the sewing club will hold the
first fall meeting at the home of
Mrs. Ivan Lusk. on Manzanita
street in Central Point Septem
ber 19. Dessert will be served.
Plans for a District 7 meeting
of VFW and auxiliary to be
held at Shady Cove September
16 were discussed. Many mem
bers plan to attend.
Mrs. Ben Allison reported on
the Field day held September 3
at Camp White, saying that it
was well attended and that
many veterans participated. At
tending from Crater Lake post
and auxiliary were Mr. and
Mrs. Lusk, Mrs. Amy Randle,
Mrs. Ralph Pittock, the auxil
iary president, Mrs. Allison and
Mrs. Fred Lawrence.
Guests at the meeting were
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Krotz, Shady
Cove, Bert Swigh and Henry
Albrecht, Grants Pass.
Vicki Lee Milnes
Gives Swim Party
Miss Vicki Lee Milnes enter
tained her kindergarten class
mates last Thursday with a
swimming party, held at the
home of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Victor Milnes, 15 North
Groveland avenue.
A "back to school motif was
used in the playroom where the
children gathered at refreshment
time. The centerpiece decora
tion depicted a typical school
room scene. Primary pencils
with the names of guests en
graved were used as place cards.
The children attending were
all graduates of the East Side
Kindergarten and all will at
tend Roosevelt grade school this
fall.
Special honored guests were
the kindergarten teachers, Mrs.
Jack Walker and Mrs. Norman
Hillyer.
Children attending were Janet
Price. Cindy Walker, Jimmy
Knight. Tommy Caspey, Ricky
Groomes. Marty Brown, Bruce
Legas. Billy McNair and Vicki
Milnes. Miss Gail Bender assist
ed Mrs. Milnes with arrange
ments for the party and acted as
life guard at the pool.
The pioneers who crossed the
plains in Conestoga wagons car
ried with them slips of roses as
hundreds of old fashioned roses
blooming today in western states
will testify.
Party Server
CALENDAR
Calendar nttice nd ne for
the tociety tection of The Mail
Tribune must be mbmitted in
writing and deadline for the Sun
day edition ii 1 p.m. Friday. Dead
line tor the weekly calendar it 8
a.m of the day of publication and
for week day news is 5 djd. the
day before publication.
7272
Old-fashioned cirls in jsimole
embroidery stitches their bon
nets forming pockets on this
pretty serving style! Make an
apron for yourself, for gifts, ba
zaars! Pattern 7272. Transfer, direc
tions for apron 17 inches long.
Pockets, ruffles of gay rem
nants! Send TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
in coins for this pattern add
5 cents for each pattern for 1st
class mailing. Send to Medford
Mail Tribune Household Arts
Dept.. P. O. Box 168. Old Chel
sea Station, New York 11, N. Y.
Print plainly NAME. ADDRESS
and PATTERN NUMBER.
Two FREE patterns printed
in our ALICE BROOKS Needle-
Monday:
6 p.m. Christian Business and
Professional Women, Jackson
hotel.
7:30 p.m. Eagle Point Lions
auxiliary, Teen-Age club.
7:45 p.m. Gorsline circle.
First Baptist church, home of
Mrs. Gary Shuler, 17 Corning
court.
7:45 p.m. Westminster guild.
First Presbyterian church, at
church.
8 p.m. Degree of Honor, Red
man hall.
8 p.m. Epsilon Sigma Alpha
sorority, home of Mrs. Lyman
Smith, 317 Howard street.
A nm Npiphhnrs nf Wood
craft, Moose Hall, 11 Newtown
street.
8 p.m. St. Mark's evening
guild. Parish house.
8 p.m. Scottish Rite Women's
club, Masonic hall.
Tuesday:
10 a.m. Woman's Mission so
ciety, Eastwood Baptist church,
at church.
10:30 a.m. Reese Creek Ex
tension unit, home of Mrs. Jim
Duncan, Ball road.
12:30 p.m. First Presbyterian
circles: Charity, home of Mrs.
Jasper Grigsby, Eagle Point;
Faith, home of Mrs. O. R. Emig,
18 Glen Oak court: Grace, home
of Mrs. E. B. DeVore. 12 Glen
Oak court: Hope, home of Mrs.
Scott Davis, summer home on
Rogue River; Mercy, Fireplace
room, at church; Temple, home
of Mrs. C. R. Fry, 407 Laurel;
Trinity, home of Mrs. Marrs Gib
bons, Route 2, Box 252.
1 p.m. Bethany. First Pres
byterian church, home of Mrs.
Richard Alley, 3 Greenway cir
cle. 1 p.m. Women's Fellowship,
First Baptist church, church an
nex. 1 p.m. St. Anne's Altar soci
ety. Sacred Heart parish hall.
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.it,:' nA
Published at a public ttrv
iot in cooperation with Th
Adiirtising Council and
the Xetcspaper AditTtts-
ir.g .xecuiwei A Mtoaanon.
Ad No. KVa-lOO Umu.
Do ye groef
WW your confess mart
vote your way 7
Do you fcnowT
Jat what the farm ..aiinQuitf Paris
from rending, talking. wmm. arg
inc. watching will tvflp yo form ra
opuuon. Thu more fwea vthi ha. the
minder ww orxroon nd trw auwr
for too to rote for to eandjdete ban
able to royirtwi ut yo
vote Birr Don votj m m dark
L B tart ros'ra registered.
2. Study tb i&sses and candidates.
1 Mark up a sample, ballot w
advance.
4. Set aside time for otjng-and
get there!
TRADE IN YOUR OLD
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Bridge Club Plays
For Master Points
Riverside Bridge club played
for master points when the club
met last Wednesday at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Pruitt.
Mrs. W. W. Stevenson and Mrs.
R. J. Conroy scored 82 points
to lead north-south players, and
Mrs. Fred Purdin and Mrs.
George Dean headed east-west
players with a score of 74 lz
points.
Other north - south winners
were Berg Marten and Dr.
George Dean, second, 76 points;
Mrs. B. B. Hughes and Mrs. H.
J. Boyd, third, 70' 2 points; Mrs.
F. R. Baker and Roy Pruitt,
fourth. 68 points.
Additional east-west winners
were Mrs. T. J. Fuson and Miss
I sob el Stuart, second. 72's
points; Mrs. Van Gilbert and
Mrs. C. L. Howard, third, 62
points: Mrs. B. L. Sanderson and
Mrs. Fred Rehling, fourth, 59! 2
r
Baptist Women Plan
Meeting for Tonight
Gorsline circle of First Bap
tist church will meet tonight at
7:45 o'clock at the home of Mrs.
Gary Shuler, 17 Corning court.
A missionary program on For
mosa will be given by Mrs. Don
Minear. Visitors will be welcomed.
West Side Mothers
Announce Meeting
West Side Mothers' club will
hold the first meeting of the
school year Wednesday, Septem
ber 12, at 8 p.m., at the home of
Mrs. Fred Beck, Old Stage road.
Committee chairmen have
been appointed by the execu
tive officers and are Mrs. John
Gates, hospitality; Mrs. Allyn
A. Monroe, ways and means;
Mrs. Robert Kagy, library; Mrs.
Fred Beck, publicity. Room
mothers are Mrs. Robert John
ston, Mrs. M. A. Salade, Mrs.
Chauncy Florey and Mrs. John
E. White Jr.
Chapter Announces
Fall Homecoming
Central Point Nevita chap
ter, Order of Eastern Star, will
celebrate homecoming night
Tuesday, September 11. A pot
luck dinner will be served at
6:30 o'clock and memajers ere
asked to take table service.
A stated meeting and initia
tion will be held at 8 p.m. with
Mrs. Melvin McGrew, worthy
matron, presiding.
Mrs. Walter Turnquist is chair
man of the dinner.
Party Celebrates
Tenth Birthday
Fritzie Beck, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Beck, Old tage road,
celebrated his tenth birthday
last Tuesday with a swimming
party and wiener roast.
Present were Jimmy and Bob
by Barry, Donald Kengla, Brian
Porter, Dick Florey. John Gates.
Jimmy Dawson, Jeffrey Monroe.
Jerry and Terry Winetrout.
Ricke Gilcrest of Arcadia, Calif.,
a former West Side resident,
and Fritzie's sister, Betsy Beck.
Union Daughters
Announce Meeting
Elta Deuel Hubbs tent. Daugh
ters of Union, Veterans, will
meet Tuesday, September 11, at
8 p.m. in the county courthouse
auditorium.
A stiff tab shirt collar can bo
buttoned easily if the tabs are
wet slightly.
LONGER LIFE
FOR ELASTIC
In Shorts, Socks, Bras, ate
How many times have you had
to discard otherwise good gar
ment because the elastic has
stretched to uselessnesa? Thift
is a needless waste that can bs
prevented by using White King
Soap. No other type of wash
day product preserves elaauc
like White King Soap. So. from
the day you buy them, be sure
to wash elaaticized socks, petti
coats, undershirts, girdles and
bras only in White King Soap.
You'll add months to the life of
garmenta with White King Soap-
Hmr.RTlSPMtNT
If your shoes get wet, apply
saddle soap and let them dry
with the soap on to keep the
leather from stiffening.
WINNIE & BETTY HAVE RESIGNED!
We Will Take Appointments at
227 SOUTH CENTRAL AVE.
Call 2-2186 or 2-9558
Until I Can Open My Own Shop At . . .
528 East Main About Oct. 10th
WINNIE
Is your boy a
Feast Beast
makes his meal on
drumsticks alone
Make the whole meal appeal to him
Serve it with Holsum Bread
Too busy gobbling turkey? But you know he needs a
balanced meal. This growing boy needs fresh Holsum Bread
because it tunes up his stubborn appetite.
Then he'll want some of everything. Some savory
Holsum Bread dressing and fresh Holsum slices on the
side. Delicious with holiday cranberry sauce.
And he gets plenty of pep and energy
in delicious Holsum enough for even busy holidays
every day, buy Holsum.
MAKE IT TASTE BETTER
Serve if with Holsum Bread
Other Fluhrer's Favorites. . .
100 WHOLE WHEAT - BUTTER CRUST
and SVENSKA LIMPA