-,000 Population VERNONIA EAGLE -~r landed, and Oh! the horrors that creaped over me! I can feel them now by imagination. But when we reached the other side I felt like a hero! Yes I did! The next morning we returned and had to go through the tame lake. My heroism fell to the courage of To the Evangelical Church and Com­ made. What became of the member­ side of his body by a mere happen. a genuine eoward. Fisher launched in munity of Nehalem Valley, assembl­ ship, if any, I have no means of Well! I caught the fortieth fish and to the lake. I said “If I must I must” ed in picnic festivities, at Vernonia, knowing. However during the winter we had him for breakfast. Pardon and Oh! what horrors! But when I Oregon. Greetings! of this year, 1890, Rev. Marshion, this digression. landed on the other side my heroism Over the wire came a phone mes­ of the M. E. dhurch was appointed I think thia was the year the came back to me again. I could have sage from one of your members, Mrs. by the Presiding Elder, Rev. H. I. church and parsonage was built. At shouted. Spencer, asking me to write up a Bittner, who did render some service, any rate they were begun. The result The great menace to the develop­ brief sketch of the Evangelical but with what results there is no of thia year was 30 convenions, and ment of the mission work in pioneer Church doings of pioneer days in the record to show. 49 accessions to the church. The Sun­ days, was the almost impossible roads Most of the years there was no way Nehalem Valley, which I consented During the year 1891 Rev. M. Bur­ day school enrollment numbered 46. to du. of going but afoot or horseback. But The conference appropriated $280.00 lington served as pastor. At a bush The Nehalem Valley had its pion­ meeting or campmeeting in the sum­ from the mission funds, leaving $275 mostly it was afoot. But the more eer day, and was a little world all mer of this year, Rev. T. S. Fisher for the local church to raise, which serious menace was the people mov­ by itself, shut off by a huge timber of Portland, Oregon, as evangelist, was large, considering the financial ing out of the valley, caused by the belt and the Nehalem Mountain from held a meeting of great and happy re condition of the society. The Presid­ money panic of 1893 to 1899. This Willamette-Valley Communities, but suits. This was a memborable meet­ ing Elder received $38.24 for his panic worked a great hardship on the Map showing the location of Vernon ia, with reference to Portland and is destined to become a great residen­ ing, never to be forgotten. Many services. Rev. Streyfeller was return­ church and community. The people the Columbia River. Vernonia is fifty-miles from Portland. tial community of prosperous homes, were converted at this meeting. And ed in the year of 1893, and had a of the valley were dependent and there was no enterprise to earn the of which Vernonia is the hub and cen a society of 28 members was arrang­ fairly successful year. » needed money to meet the demands ter of activities. The sunbeams are ed. This was, in a way, the real be­ The value of manufactured pro-1 wonderland. They enjoy a delight ­ At the conference sessions of 1894 of the family. If there was a little smiling upon the Nehalem, promising ginning of permanent results. Ver­ ful climat«. Their group of states is and 1895 Rev. G. W. Lamer was ap­ surplus of production of any sort ducts has increased 804 per cent. a prosperous future. But some of you nonia became the heart and center In every way the Pacific North-; the healthiest in the country. Their pointed pastor. He also was a young there was no market for it being to remember former days, when things of missionary opperations from man first stepping into the ministry. far from market centers. Because west is growing and developing with' cities are models of up-to-date plan­ were not so promising; days when thenceforth . I think if I remember! ning. They have the best of schools, During Rev. Larner’s pastorate, Rev. of this many families were compelled astonishing rapidity. you were domiciled in homes sur­ correctly, it was at this meeting j homes, churches, theatres, libraries, H. Schmknect was your Presiding El­ to move out, leaving their farms or To succeed in the Pacific North­ rounded with dense forest trees on that the Pecks, Kieser, William j der. It is reported to me that he will homesteads, so that many years after west is simply a matter of keeping everything that makes life finer and every side, like a mighty fortress, Spencers, Hess, Campbells, and the be present at your picnic festivities. the first settlement there were less pace with a great natural develop­ better.—We know of no better sec­ forbiding you even the pleasure of Weeds—not such weeds as grown in ' He is big enough to toot his own horn than half the number of former years ment. Of growing with a rich and tion than the Nehalem valley around seeing your near neighbor’s home. gardens and fields but real weeds— ¡ He is gray enough to tell the truth Every where discouraging scenes ap­ prosperous country. This is not to Vernonia. It is new. Get a farm or Some of you well remember the plea­ I mean such as grow over human' and to inspire confidence in you to peared. Even Vernonia, the heart of say that hard, serious work is not establish an industry. sure of packing your sugar, bacon, hearts and are helpful to church and believe all he tells you. the valley, instead of thrift and as essential here as elsewhere, But bedsteads, coukstoves and flour on society—came into the church organ­ Brother Lamer had a successful growth, carried the hoar of age and its rewards are quicker, surer and A FEW FACTS OF INTEREST ALL packhorses or mules over the Nehal­ ization. Rev. Fisher returned to Port­ OREGON CITIZENS SHOULD pastorate all things considered. The dilapidation. larger. em mountain. Some of you well re­ land with glowing clora and immort­ EXPLOIT first year there were some 50 con­ But a better day has dawned, and member the exceeding great pleasure alized Vernonia in the Evangelical A fufare Asserod versions and 29 accesion. The enroll­ as the sun is rising to her noonday of riding over the mountain, going church. I cannot furnish you with re­ ment of the Sunday school kept creep meridian the present enterprises of Portland is not only the leading Nor is this growth of the Pacific and coming, on an auto composed sults of this year because the sta- ing upward during his pastorate and the Nehalem will bring forth encour­ Nortwest a “boom” growth. It is lumber manufacturing, but also the of two shoe soles, propelled by hu­ tisticc were reported jointly with was very encouraging. aging returns, thrift and growth. The rooted deeply and firmly in the tre­ leading lumber evporting port in the man gas and prespiration, and how Columbia mission which was also At the conference session of 1896 church will rise in the strength of mendous natural wealth and econom­ world. you puffed until you got over the served by Rev. Burlingham. Rev. Geo. McElroy became pastor. her master, lift the moral character ic advantages of the country itself. Portland is the leading wheat ship­ hill! How glad you were when you At the conference session of 1892 He was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Fish into a higher plain«, lead many to ping port for American wheat in the The Pacific Northwest today has— were trrough with the jolts of Soft er in 1897 and 1898. Campmeeting the gateway of the land of many United States. Rev. R. D. Strayfeller, a young man The greatest reserve of standing mud, a half dozen inches deep, and was held each year of his pastorate manshions, a land of thrift and per- timber in the United States—960 bil- Portlan dis the leading flour ex­ arrived in your humble, but sweet just stepping into the ministry, was and proved to be a great power and petual sun shine. With beat wishes. lion feet. porting port on the Pacific Coast. appointed pastor to serve the mis ­ home. Ah! those were days of true Portland is the leading apple ex­ spiritual uplift. Souls were converted Very respectfully More than half the nation's water heroism. Had it not been for your sion, and Rev. H. I. Bittner was the Presiding Elder. A campmeeting was and others entered into deeper Christ N. Shnpp. power resources—26,000,000 hone porting port on the Pacific Coast and undaunted courage and the prospec­ is also a shipping point for large power. held on the north bank of Rock Creek ain experiences. Brother Fioles had tive outlook of a thrifty future as it quantities of dried fruits and canned up a little further than your perman­ eight preaching points. All the way Millions of acres of the world ’ s now has. ent ground later on. The meeting up the rim at the North appointment FHE LAND OF A LARGE CHANCE richest farm, fruit and stock lands. goods. Portland is the leading export in was a great success spiritually. Allow down to Jewell. Some fifty miles in But to Church Activities Mineral riches almost illimitable In the struggle to get ahead, most with mines now producing $1,000,- the Pacific Northwest. What inspired the Oregon Confer­ me to tell you a fish story, not a length. At one of my quarterly meet Pirtland now has 54 steamship ence to begin missionery opperations fishy one, but a real occurance at ings he arranged 11 services for me men ask no more than this: an even 000 a day. lines giving regular service to the and that in mid-winter, which re ­ break. that meeting. I was invited in frim Ports now handling more ocean in the Nehalef Valley, I do not know. To such men this announcement is tonnage than all the rest of the Pa­ principal ports of the world. But at the Annual Conference ses­ Portland, Oregon to aid in the meet­ quired 142 miles on horseback from Portland handled last year a total sion of 1887 the Oregon Conference ing. One evening after the meeting the time I left Houlton until I re addressed. It has no thought of lur­ cific Coast ports combined. of nearly 4,000,000 tons of cargo in turned. And roads! Ach! Ach! Ruin ing you upon a wild goose chase A splendid system of highways Bro. Bittner and I resolved to get up of the Evangelical Association (church) planted a mission, named before sunrise the next morning and every step of the way and a cold rain after easily won success. Its only reaching through the region in every ocean going vessels and 7,413,000 tons in all including that freight •'Nehalem Mission” including all of go up the creek and fish down the at that. Just before we reached Jew­ purpose is to set before you certain direction. moved by river steamers. established facts. , ell and about night fall we came to a The Pacific Northwest has within stream and catch fish for breakfast. the Nehalem Valley* Where the Portland is the gateway of an em­ These facts pertain to acountry itself the raw materials with which preaching points were located I have It was a well known fact that I could freshet lake of about 30 rods across pire containing 264,000 square mil es, which offers unique and exceptional it, and deep enough to swim a horst to continue to build an ever greatei not catch fish. I could fish but not no menns of knowing. Rev. M. H. Jackson, who had come into the Ore­ catch them It seemed that when I part of the way. I said I cannot pass opportunities to any man who is ser­ future with ever greater opportunit with ten railway lines including five transcontinental ilnes, giving service. gon Conference from the United took hook and line to fish, the fish through thia lake, I am a coward in iously concerned with the business ies for its people. Ships of the principle marintime of his own advancement. The Proof of Opportooity water and have not sense enough to assembled in convention and resolved Brethern Church, was the first mis- You owe it to yourself to weigh But there is no greater proof of nations of the world indydiny sionery with an allowance from the not the bite at my bate. At any rate swim if any thing should happen. the opportunities offered by the Pa­ largest freighters afloat are nr mission fund of $75.00. No other re­ they never did, no matter when and We parlied. Brother Fisher said, and consider them carefully. Wlsat the Pacific Northwest cific Northwest than the prosperity ing the Columbia River chano “ there is no possible way around it ” where I attempted to fish. They seem sults of his labors are reported than Offers Yoe of the people who make their home« Portland to the sea. that he received fifteen persons into ed to laugh at me and say “Shopp is I said “you go on and fill my appoint Portland ha sfour munici About the Pacific Northwest, the there. no fish catcher”. But for once I fool­ ment at Jewell, and I will go back church fellowship. ■nals, thirteen private lun» basic truth is this; it offers you a Their per capita income is not- and stop all night at the first house ed them. That morning, fishing down For the years of 1888 and 1889 ten private grain and f abel higher than the average foi great opportunity to get ahead be ­ I come to” . He said “ it is ten miles Rev. James A. Ray, who had come stream until in sight of the camp, seven private general > the nation. The number of home cause the Pacific Northwest itself is back to the road there.* ’ “ Then I will Rev. Bittner then placed the fishpole into the Evangelical Church from the .nfail Free Will Baptist Church, was ap- into my hands saying now you catch sleep out here”. He said “You will getting ahead at a rate almost phe- owners is 24 per cent greater. Fif­ as well as a number oF teen per cent more of them own ity docks, and the mar painted missionary. I think Rev. Ray the fortieth fish. Of corse I was freeze to death, having no blankets nomenal. »iiich ' s Consider these few facts. In the automobiles. They spend per child er docks. had taken up a homestead in the val­ game! I took the pole and threw the to cover you.” Then I remembered