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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1960)
MAIlTRIIUNf, Mee'fere", Of. A Sunday, April I, ! McBirkers Commemorate mmmmwrmm mm, m."p,4 111 J "flfiiV . AT SPINNING WHEEL Mrs. Jennie Young, 90S West 10th st, Medford, is shown at the spinning wheel. She is among the few southern Oregon residents who remember living in Log Town when it was a gold mining community. Mrs. Young will be 90 in May. Deadline for Filing Earnings Reports by Beneficiaries Hears The deadline tor iVUng an-, nual earnings reports by working Social Security bene-1 ficiaries is nearly here again, Edward B. Jacobson, district malinger ui ma Jueuiuru ui- nee, nas reminnea area resi-ithe aems. ' Any Social Security bene- uviury. muii, wuiimiL or ciiiiu who earned more than $1,200 in 1959 and was not 72 years old by the end of January. 19S9, must file an earnings report by April 15, 1960. If Eagle Scout Banquet Planned April 29 The second annual Eagle Scout recognition banquet will be held at Kim's restau rant on Highway 99, south of Medford, at 8:30 p.m. April 29. Alpha Phi Omega, sponsor of the banquet, is inviting all Eagle Scouts In the area to attend. Eagle Scouts and persons knowing such Scouts are re quested to send names and addresses to the Boy Scout of fice, 500 East Main St., or call SPring 3-7371 by April 8. The average length of a truck trip in the United States is 10.1 miles. " ' i:.a.MI I A Tribute to Jj National Library Week P April 3-9, 1960 For a better-read, better-Informed America. Reading can open wonderful new worlds of challenging ideas, of creative adventure, of quiet contem plation. National library Week it a good time to stort your personal read ing program . "". . to expand your personal horizons. Wake up and readl a j i f n f I i P Medford Pharmacy 10) North Central, Cor ner 6th Ph. SP J-62S3 Open Week Daysi 8:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. Sundays and Nolldoysi 10 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. We Salute Our Town! benetlciary became 12 alter I January and he earned over $1,200 in the year, then he must make the report too. The nurnnsp nf 1lio r-r.,.Pt I. i0 .ollj- npcniinl. hotuaan Social Security adininia- tratlon and (lie workine- bene- ficiary. Jacobson said. Anv nerson miner 72 whn pjirni more than $1,200 can lose a check for every $80 he ex ceeds $1,200. Accordingly, a person who earns $2,080.01 would lose all 12 checks for the year, he noted. Important Exception Ai with most rules, how ever, there is an important exception; no matter how high the 1959 earnings were, the administration can pay a check for any month the beneficiary does not earn wages of more than $100 and does not operate his business, Jacobson said. All these facts are brought out on the annual report form, Jacobson explained. He said that every beneficiary re ceived a card in February which they can use to order the report form. Anyone needing help with the. report can get it by tele phoning or visiting the dis trict office at 1005 East Main St., Medford. Ml 'MM iiiHii i ' il ! " i it John McKee Family Settles on Creek; Move From Midwest By MAUDE ZIEGLER Mail Tribune Correspondent It is only a mediocre spot along the highway. The rains fall on the gentle slope, spring flowers bloom, and the sea sons pass. A couple of markers com memorate the site of old Log Town, one of many mining villages that sprang up a cen tury ago and are now extinct. A cemetery is there. But this is where the fam ily did the washing in a big kettle down by the creek. They heated the water there in a big barrel, and when there was bedding to be done the children got in the barrel barefooted and jumped up and down. . At night there were no lights but the candles, and "kicking up the fire" would always make it real bright in the room. Cooking Over Fireplace There was no stove, just the fireplace. That is where all the cooking was done in big kettles hung on brass bars, or in a Dutch oven. They made their own cornmeal and flour and the bread baked in that fireplace was the best. Folks didn't know what white bread was. Sometimes they went out in the grain field and played all day, because Indians might come to the house, iwo squaws were digging cameras one time, and came in the house. The mother could see them in the mirror, and how one held an axe to show that she could strike with it. But they only wanted bread and made themselves some corn cakes. Chinese Cook They had a Chinese cook, but he didn't want to wash the diapers. The father gave dancing lessons, and there was one big bedroom, where they could have two sets of quadrilles, as well as schot- tisches, polkas and waltzes. Folks came from far outside the little village for their Saturday night "hoe down. There it one living today " " cM'1 and relates these stories ...... Mrs. John Higginbotham of Central Point, now 84. She was too young to re member some of the events, but has related them as she heard her parents speak of them. She is a daughter of John and Maryum McKee. who were married in Sullivan county, Missouri, and came to Oregon by ox team in 1852. Numerous members of the family came along, and today there are many descendants living throughout southern Oregon. Arrive During Uprising The family arrived during an Indian uprising and took refuge in a military fort at Phoenix (Gasburg), later homesteading at the foot of Roxy Ann east of Medford. It is said the butte was named for Maryum's step mother, Roxy Ann Bowen, since they were the first white settlers in the region. They became discouraged with the "sticky" soil, and moved to a mining claim near the confluence of Poor Man's creek and Forest creek, then called Jackass creek, about six miles southwest of Jack sonville, which later became Log Town. Great Grandfa ther Bowen died and was bur led at Log Town. Supply Point - Log Town became the sup ply point for many mines in the area, and was on the pack CHAIN LINK You can erect this lifetime fence yourself! All the materials and hardware, the tools to do the job and the help of profeuionali when needed, available at PAR ROOF & FENCE CO. 111 N. FIR - MEDFORD Estimates Without Obligation Phone SP 2-2461 trail from Crescent City to Jacksonville. In the Sixties many of the miners left to go to new strikes in Idaho, and many Chinese moved in, bringing the population at one time to 250 whites and 400 Chinese. Besides many homes, there were two blacksmith shops, a livery stable, a store owned by the Law's, two meat mar kets, one of which belonged to the Ish brothers, a hotel school house, and church, three saloons, and two Chi' nese stores, according to in formation given by descend ants of these families The Chinese lived in huts across Forest creek, and when they arrived in such great numbers many of the miners returned from Idaho and took the mines back, burning the Chinese stores, and in one known instance killing one. Large Log Home The home that John McKee built for his family was a large one of logs with a porch across the front, where they liked to sit when they had time. One of the blacksmith shops belonged to him, and it was he who invented the "strap-eyed" pick used by miners. One of these is on dis play at the Jacksonville mu seum. John could make five dol lars before breakfast most any day sharpening picks for the miners. Their meat was venison, pork, bear or mut ton. They made their own candles from mutton tallow, wicks and a mold. Often they merely inserted the wick in the fat. . Maryum McKee was a busy woman with 12 children to care for. She washed fleece, carded wool and spun it into yarn, then knitted th" socks and stockings for the family. Oak bark boiled in water made prettv brown dyes. Mrs. Higglnbotham was 13 before she had any "bought en" stockings. Maryum rode her little lnnnv , wh.. h.. .,.- sickness or need: she also was called when babies were born. Yellow Rose Slip She was not too busy to bring with her from Missouri a little yellow rose slip which she planted at the gate. The rose has been classified as the Harrison yellow rose orig inally from England. Long after the last trace of buildings at Log Town had rotted away, the rose bush remained, and finally the Jacksonville Garden club en circled it with protective white posts, and in Oregon's Centennial year, the Apple gate Valley Garden club planted 60 of the rose plants as a decorative hedge at the front of the cemetery. Some years ago the rose was eulo gized in a poem published by Fred Law, grandson of John McKee. It was also during the Cen tennial year that dedication ceremonies were held by the Jacksonville Garden club, and a granite marker com memorating the yellow rose was unveiled by Teri Lee Wolfe, daughter of Leonard McKee and great great grand daughter of John McKee. The Jackson County Centennial commission also erected wooden markers commemo rating both Log Town and its rose. , First Burial The first burial In the ceme tery was that of James Dun- PIONEER FAMILY This is a reproduc tion of an early picture of John and Maryum McKee, pioneer family of Log Town, Many of the couple's descendants live in southern Oregon. The McKee't arrived in southern n. S YtL,LOW ROSE Tnis is the marker which has been placed at Log Town cemetery marking the rose which was planted by Mrs. John McKee in 1853 soon after they moved to the area. The marker was erected by the Jacksonville Garden club. The Applegate Valley Garden club planted 60 similar roses to form a hedge around the cemetery. lap in 1862. A rail fence once enclosed the cemetery. For a period of years the burial spot was neglected, but in 1939 an association was formed for improvement of the plot. The first board of directors included Mrs. Har ry Whitney, Leonard McKee, John Black, and Mrs. Anna Jeffrey Lozier of Medford. Parents of John Jeffrey, Port land attorney, are buried there. . Mrs. Ed Smith was Instru mental in compiling records, and markers were placed at all unidentified graves. Other improvements have included a wire fence, log archway over the gate, and water pump. Other pioneer cemeter ies still in use in the Apple gate area are at Sterling, Watkins, and Missouri Flat. School District Formed County school superintend ent's records show that in the early 1860s a school district was formed known as Log Town-Uniontown, No. 27, and among those attending school at Log Town was B. F. Irvine, noted blind editor of the Portland Journal prior to 1937. He lived with his father, Jesse B. Irvine, on Forest creek. Volume 23 of the Oregon Historical Quarterly gives pertinent notes on doings of the area in the '60s and '70s. Mining laws of that time said "This creek from the forks of Jackass and Poor Man's creek near Log Town to its junction with Applegate shall be called 'lower Jackass.' " The name of J. B. Irvine was signed as chairman, with D. K. Henderson as secretary. Other documents were signed by Samuel Hinkle, John D. Buckley and Francis Logg. Miner's Meeting Recorded in the Quarterly Is a miners' meeting at 'the house of Miller and Savage, Jackass creek in 1876. At one time mining laws prohibited Chinese from hold ing claims unless they had citizenship. It is said that Jackass creek was so rich for a time that a man shoveling into a sluice box could make $100 day. It Is believed that Log Town (recorded in some instances as Logg Town) was named for Francia Logg. The last re maining house of the little village was destroyed by fire about 1910, and about this time the name of Jackass was changed to Forest creek. The town declined as mining ceased Thcre is another person re- nrniiuijirr iti, Site of Id siding in Medford who re members living at Log Town as a child. That is Mrs. Jen nie Young, 908 West 10th st., formerly Mrs. Fritz Ruch, who will be 90 in May. Be fore marrying, her name was Jennie Estes, and her step father was Calvin Hinkle. She remembers the log cab- Ins without floors, and it was Visual Care Topic Of Rotary Meeting A child "learns to read" in grades 1 to 3 and "reads to learn from the 4th grade on ward, Dr. Thomas C. Ander son, a past president of the Southern Oregon Optometic Society, told a recent meeting of the Medford Rotary club. The optometrist pointed out that since vision has not been a cost to the individual, it is often neglected. He stressed the need for visual care start ing with pre-school children in order to teach them good visual habits. In pointing out the need for pre-school visual examin ation, Dr. Anderson stated that vision problems are npt inherited. Less than 1 per cent are born .with visual weaknesses, and yet nearly 20 per cent enter first grade with their vision already sub normal or out of balance. On entering junior high school, the figure is 40 per cent and it reaches 80 per cent at the high school senior level, he said. Most of the symptoms of visual problems, Dr. Ander son explained, are easily rec ognized by teacher or parent and preventive measures may be taken before the problem becomes acute. Some of the symptoms are day dreaming, rubbing the eyes and hold ing reading material too close. Dr. Anderson stressed the importance of early detection of vision problems and pre ventive care rather than al lowing vision to deteriorate to the point where corrective treatment must be given or i lenses prescribed. i Some 15,000 newspaper salesmen and marketing men in the U. S. are available to local retailers to assist them in making their newspaper ad vertising pay off. Retailers appreciate this service that i is why they regularly adver- 'Use In their local newspapers. il j 1 1 v im r jjj untsrr MEDFORD PAINT and Wallpaper Store th ft Holly Diaejonallf Acnti from Port Ottice PHONE SP 2-9321 Oregon in 1852 from Missouri during an Indian uprising here. They took refuge in a military fort at Gasburg, now Phoenix, before homesteading near Roxy Anne Butte. They later moved to Log Town. the custom to dig a hole in one corner to bury gold. She tells of baking biscuits in a 14-inch Dutch oven set in a bed of oak coals. The lid was put on, and coals heaped on top. Cookies were baked in this way, too. She remembers they would use oxen to go visiting, as well as for hauling logs and other work. Log Town was not without its tragedies. There was a murder and burning of a home there, and details were printed in the Oregon Senti nel, Jacksonville newspaper in 1861, according to Paul Pearce, whose father, J. D. S. (Doc) Pearce, came to Log Town in the winter of 1857 via Crescent City and San Francisco. Paul Pearce re members hearing his father relate the story. Robber Seeks Gold A robber came to the home of a Mrs. Hinkle looking for gold. He killed her and set the house on fire to cover up the crime, also burning her two grown daughters who were sleeping in the house. A few days later a team of blooded sorrel horses was stolen from a Mr. Hill in Ash land. That crime remained unsolved until three years la ter when Doc Pearce, togeth er with Mr. Hill and other riders, was taking a herd of beef cattle to Virginia City, Nev., through Harney valley, where they stopped to feed and fatten the cattle. They were told by people who lived in the neighbor hood that another party was camped just over the hill with a span of beautiful sorrel horses. Mr. Hill investigated and recognized the horses as his stolen team. "Getting the drop" on the two culprits in camp, they tied them to a tree and were about to hang them for horse stealing, when the thieves confessed to the even greater crime of the fire and murder of Mrs. Hinkle and her daughters. The hang ing was carried out. Gave Themselves Up Mr. Hill and Mr. Pearce rode on into Virginia City and gave themselves up to the sheriff there. They were turn ed over to the judge who heard their story, reprimand ed them, and set them free. When the men returned to Rogue River valley they told their story, which was print ed in the Sentinel. A second tragody was the drowning of Mrs. Hannah DeLong Herd as she attempt ed to wade across "Jackass creek," an account of which is given in a newspaper clip ping belonging to her grand son, Leonard McKee. Referring again to the John McKee family, it is noted that a brother, Silas (Si) Mc Special Purchase! 18" Hiah Border fmncinm jnd fan shaped Trellises at IftUAL KKItti! them today at . . . 5MITH Log Town Kee, fought in the Rogue River Indian war in the bat tle of Table Rock, and served as a guard until the treaty was signed in 1853. All of the John McK.ee lam- ily except the eldest son, Adelbert, was born at Log Town, and the family contin ued to live there until the children were almost grown, when the family moved to Butte creek. Children of Couple Amos, one of the sons, -was married to Charlotte Pence. Ernest and Floyd McKee of Medford and Mrs. John Byrne and Mrs. Rolland Smith of Applegate are children of this couple. Adelbert McKee, John Mc Kee' eldest son, took up a ranch about two miles above the present Star Ranger sta tion. The McKee bridge and campground is at the lower end of that ranch, and were named for him. During the time that the Blue Ledge mine was in oper ation his ranch was the half way point between the mine and Jacksonville and served as a stage station. Relief horses were kept here and lodging and board provided for travelers. Some of Adel bert's children still live in Jacksonville, including Mrs. Verna Culy, Mrs. Luella Dun nington, Mrs. Riley Norris, Mrs. Albert Hackert and Leonard McKee. Glenn Smith, another well- L 2100 Columbarium Cemetery JOE HOSICK Funeral Director Medferd's Only Crematory Congratulations to the Crater Lions Club and all of the fine merchants of the area who participated in the Sportsfair. Another wonderful program that makes Southern Oregon a perfect place to five, IF you are one of the 10,000 people who have not registered to vote please do so. Remember this Is one way you can express your opinion and make it count. SISKIYOU FUNERAL SERVICE Investigate and Save , PHONE Siskiyou Memorial Park ONLY MEMBER OREGON INTERMENT ASSOCIATION IN MEDFORD 605 HIGHLANl SAVE ON PICKET FENCING and Trellises Pre-palnted pure white woven picket fences In 4 heights and choice of even or curved top. Easy to install ... fine protection from stray dogs, etc. Adds beauty to your yard. Comes in SO ft. rolls but we will sell 25 ft. lengths, also. alio 50 Ft i 36", 42" - DYNGE LUMBER known resident of the area, is a great grandson of another of John's brothers, Joe Mc Kee. Fortunatus Hubbard, one time co-owner with his broth er of the pioneer Medford hardware store of Hubbard Bros., married Tressie, one of John McKee's daughters. The McDonough family is another of the pioneer families of Log Town. ORNAMENTAL IRON Cultom made railings snd col umn! at a very reasonable price. Phone Keith Childreth (or FREE Estimate without obligation SP 3-3588 2231 Orchard Home Drive SP 2-5488 ALL WITHIN $14 95 ONLY and 48" High Qllr .ess "v m m n Ittawtilmei : j We Gie Corner 8th and Fir St. S1H GREEN STAMPS Phone SP 2-716 1 f.M:.ft,.slv5lIJ 1.1.
