History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 56

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

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EVANGELICAL CHURCH .- This church was organized in Corvallis by Rev. J. Croassman, in the court-house, in 1867, where the services were then -held. Rev. J. H. Bates followed as pastor. The church was afterward, for a long time, without a regular minister, being served at intervals only. When Rev. W. C. Kantner was appointed in the fall of 1877, but few members were remaining in the city. . At King's Valley and the independent appointments, the work had developed and at the former place a church was built. During Mr. Kantner's ministration an appointment was taken up at Oak Grove school-house, where eighteen members were received. The church in Corvallis, also the Sunday school, prospered and received a number of accessions. The next to take charge was Rev. J. Bowersox, the present pastor being Rev. Mr. Kreger. The congregations are large and the interest fair, the outlook being hopeful. The membership in Corvallis is in the neighborhood of fifty, with congrega- tions averaging one hundred. Membership at the Independent appointment is about thirty, with about forty at Oak Grove, each having a fair prospect for the future.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHAPEL .- Was built in the year 1861 and consecrated by Archbishop Blanchet. The parish extended over the whole county and in 1875 was under the charge of Rev. Father Van Lin. There are about one hundred and forty communicants of over twelve years of age and some two hundred children who are

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being educated in the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church. Father Van Lin's pre- decessor was Father Macklin, and before him was Father Gibney. The parish is now in charge of Rev. Father White. Until 1869 the charge was served from Salem. The church edifice is a neat wooden structure, standing on Fourth street, in the immediate neighborhood of the Presbyterian Church.

There is also a Roman Catholic Church at Monroe, which was built in 1881. It is seventy by forty feet with a steeple ninety feet in height. It was dedicated in May, 1882, the first pastor being Rev. Father Wenderline; the present incumbent is Father White, with whom there is a congregation of about twenty families. The building, which cost two thousand dollars, stands on a lot donated for the purpose by A. Wil- helm, who was mainly instrumental in bringing about its construction.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- This church is called The Church of the Good Samaritan, but has now ceased to be a regular parish. The congregation was constituted in the year 1872 by Bishop Morris and Rev. M. Babcock was the first clergyman. There were at the beginning but eight communicants and a small congregation. Rev. R. L. Stevens followed and divided his time between the charge of Albany and of Corvallis, but after his serious illness, the congregation was left nearly a year without the regular services of a clergyman. The Rev. R. A. Habersham, then took charge of the regular duty, and since his removal to another scene of labor the services have been most efficiently performed by Wallis Nash Esquire.

In the month of June, 1882, this church received a gift of a baptismal font pre- sented by Mrs. Nicholson as a memorial to her son I. Herbert Nicholson, who died in Corvallis December 24, 1881. It is carved in stone by Ira Miller, of Corvallis, from a photograph sent by Mrs. Nicholson, of the ancient font in Aller church, Somerset- shire, England, in which Alfred the Great caused King Guthran, the Dane, and the rest of his prisoners to be baptised after the decisive victory near Langport, Somerset- shire, in the ninth century-more than one thousand years ago.

THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST .- The church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized about 1774 by Rev. Wm. Otterbein at Baltimore, Maryland. On account of its opposition to slavery it never operated in the Southern States until after the rebellion, but spread rapidly in the North and Northwest. Its opposition to secret orders and the use, manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors which together with slavery have always been prohibited by it, has prevented it becoming popular in some localities, and although it has done the major part of its work in rural districts, it has large congregations in many cities in the East and is building up in the rapidly growing towns of the West. It operates upon the itinerant system, is thoroughly republican in government and differs but little in its cardinal doctrines from other evangelistic churches of the Arminian faith. It has a membership of over 160,000, has prosperous missions in Africa and Germany and among the Chinese on the Pacific Coast. It is abreast also with denominations of its size in the educational work, having a prosperous Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and one or more educational institutions in almost every State where it has an organized membership. The U. B. Church organized its first annual conference in Oregon in 1855, and did a great deal of evangelistic work among the pioneers. Its membership in this State is at present

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about 2000. It has three organized churches in Benton county and a membership of about two hundred.

· CHAPTER XL.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.

Chronicles of Organization and Political Annals.

BENTON COUNTY was organized by Act of the House of Representatives of Oregon Territory, the bill being signed by Robert Newell, Speaker, and approved by Governor George Abernethy, December 23, 1847, its boundaries being described as follows :

Commencing in the middle of the Willamette river, at the southeast corner of Polk county and running south along the main channel of said river to the Middle Fork thereof; thence up said Middle Fork to its source ; thence due south to the forty- second parallel of north latitude; thence west along said parallel to the Pacific ocean ; thence north along the coast of said ocean to the southern boundary of Polk county.

By a glance at the map of Oregon of to-day it will be seen that this vast tract included nearly all of the present county of Lane, and the whole of Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine and Jackson counties.

The early settlers in this immense district gave but little attention to the legal forms of law, much less of their observance. The community of interests was sufficient for the needs of the little settlements ; each individual member seemed to vie with his neighbor in his efforts towards good-fellowship and the maintenance of peaceable relations.

With the granting to Oregon, in 1849, of the rights of a Territory the govern- mental machinery of Benton county was set in motion. The records of the County Commissioners Court open with these words :

Be it remembered that by virtue of an Act of the Congress of the United States of America, approved August 14, A. D. 1849, entitled " An Act to establish the Terri- torial Government of Oregon," and by virtue of an Act of the Legislature of the Ter- ritory of Oregon established by the Act aforesaid of the Congress aforesaid, entitled "An act to establish a Probate Court and define its duties and powers " passed Septem- ber 29, A. D. 1849, and "An Act to authorize the Probate Court to do County Busi- ness," and also "An Act supplementary to the Act aforesaid, of the Legisla- ture aforesaid fixing the times and places of holding said Courts in the several Counties of the Territory of Oregon aforesaid": A regular term of the Probate Court in and for Benton county, in the Territory aforesaid, occurred on Monday,

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September 2, A. D. 1850, but there not being a quorum present the Court stood adjourned until the next day, when a quorum still being absent the court adjourned until the third day, when the Hon. O. F. Clark and George Belknap, Judges thereof, and William Knott, Clerk thereof, having been previously qualified and commissioned, were present to wit: At Fuller's school house, on the fourth day of September, A. D., 1850, at which said term the following proceeding was had : The court being called it was there and then adjourned until the following day, at which time they duly met. The first act performed being the filing of the assessment roll of the county made by Samuel F. Starr, Assessor of the county.

The Probate Court again met December 2, 1850, O. F. Clark and George Bel- knap, Judges, with Wm. Knott, Clerk ; the business being the approval of letters of administration and bonds granted to William Taylor, Administrator of the estate of Thomas Taylor, deceased ; and the like grant to Mary Morgan in the case of Daniel Morgan, deceased.

The first term of the District Court was held at the house of J. C. Avery, on Mary's river, Hon. O. C. Pratt, Judge, September 3, 1849, but there being no business to be brought forward, it stood adjourned until the next regular term, which sat Sep- tember 29, 1851, when A. G. Hovey was appointed clerk of the District Court and Master and Commissioner in Chancery for the county of Benton. The first case tried by this Court was that of Thomas M. Read versus Oscar Clark, an action of " Trespass on premises," which was continued; while, at the same sederunt John Feichter declared his intention of renouncing fealty to the sovereign of Baden, and becoming a citizen of the United States.

On September 5, 1850, the Probate Court, as transacting the business of the county, directed notice to be given to the authorities of Polk county to have the boundary line between it and Benton county surveyed, and appointed J. C. Avery to represent them in the matter, which was duly done, but it was not until September 5, 1854, that it was officially defined. The southern boundary of the county was estab- lished January 15, 1851, upon the creation of Lane county, and again more definitely fixed in 1861, on the third day of April of which year, the County Commissioner, whose office had been created, appointed George Mercer to survey and run the county line between Lane and Benton, commencing at a point due south of Hinton's ford on Long Tom ; thence east to the Willamette river ; thence running west from said ford, so as to include all the settlements. This Mr. Mercer did and on the following day made his report as follows: "Beginning at middle of Hinton's ford on Long Tom ; thence running south three miles to a point in B. P. Richardson's field, about one chain south of north boundary : set stake marked fore an aft, C. L. (county line); on the north B. C., on the south L. C. (Benton and Lane counties), deposited charcoal and built mound six feet square; thence running east across Long Tom, running through Luther Hashbrouck's field about four chains south of north boundary : passed about four feet north of John Williamson's house and about one chain south of Cooper's old house : marked white oak on slough of Willamette about ten chains east of Cooper's house, eighteen inches in diameter, C. L., B. C., and L. C. same as at stake, for eastern terminus ; thence west from stake three miles, south of Hinton's ford, over north part of Long Ridge, south of Kizer's, passed through the north part of Mahew's pasture 48+

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over Long Ridge, bearing northeast and southwest, passed a little north of dividing ridge, between the waters of Muddy and Baird's creeks, crossed mountain, on to Alsea creek, about one-fourth of a mile south of D. Hawley's saw-mill, marked hemlock twenty-four inches in diameter for western terminus: all trees on line marked with blaze and notch near the top, at all prominent points where trees could be had, marked the initials C. L." This completed the survey of the boundary line of Benton county, leaving them as they now exist.

The next duty devolving upon the court was the order for a tax levy of two mills on the assessable property in the county, which completed the arduous labors of that term so far as is of especial historical interest.

It now became necessary to officially recognize a county seat; for this purpose Joseph C. Avery, under date July 8, 1851, tendered a bond conveying to the county forty acres of land in the town of Marysville (now Corvallis) for county seat purposes, but which, after consideration, was returned to him, September the first. On the same day he again presented another instrument which too was rejected by the court; but on that following, a deed conveying blocks numbers thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-one in the town of Marysville, and lands on the south and west sufficient to make forty acres, to the county for the erecting of public buildings was accepted. It must not be forgotten, however, that William F. Dixon had also donated a like amount of ground for similar purposes but the deeds which granted it not meet- ing with the approval of the authorities, for reasons which shall appear in the history of the city of Corvallis, once more returned them for rectification, which was effected, September 6, 1852, and the land ordered surveyed by J. P. Welsh. On the eighteenth the survey and plat was accepted, the blocks and lots ordered numbered and "that portion not heretofore recorded " directed to be so placed on record as the "County Addition to the Town of Marysville." Immediately thereafter these county lots were offered to purchasers at the following terms : one-third cash ; one-third in six months, and the remainder in one year, there being realized under this head the sum of three thousand five hundred and forty-nine dollars, up to and inclusive of July 5, 1853.

The deed of J. C. Avery as recorded in the office of the County Recorder in Liber B. p. 252, et seq, is dated August 27, 1856, and shows a consideration of one hundred dollars. It recites that the party of the first part doth "grant, bargain, sell, alien, remise, release and convey unto the said party of the second part [the county of Benton] and to her assigns for ever, all their title and interest in and to all these town lots, parts and parcels of land, described as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the center of Third street where Jackson street crosses the said Third street in the town of Corvallis, Ben- ton county, Oregon Territory, according to the recorded plat of said town and running north seventy-seven degrees, thirty minutes west twenty-eight chains and thirty-one links ; thence south twelve degrees, thirty minutes, west ten chains; thence south eighty-eight degrees, thirty minutes, west one chain and seventy links; thence south eighteen degrees, forty-five minutes, west three chains and forty-nine links; thence south seventy-one degrees, fifteen minutes, east twenty chains and fifteen links; thence north eighteen degrees, forty-five minutes, east along Fifth street three chains and forty-nine links; thence south seventy-one degrees, fifteen minutes, east through the center of Blocks twenty-two and sixteen, eight chains and thirty links ; thence north

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eighteen degrees, forty-five minutes along the center of Third street fourteen chains and twenty-one links, to the place of beginning, containing forty acres, all in the town of Corvallis, in the county of Benton and Territory of Oregon.

Jos. C. AVERY. [Seal]

MARTHA AVERY. [Seal]

Witnesses : E. HOLGATE,

J. K. SMITH.

Acknowledged August 27, 1856; Recorded December, 1856.

The deed of William M. Dixon, as recorded in Liber B. p. 254, et seq, is dated November 19, 1856, and shows a consideration of five hundred dollars. It recites that the party of the first part "doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, remise, release and convey unto the said party of the second part [the county of Benton] and to her assigns forever, all the right, title and interest to the said party of the first part, to the follow- ing described tract or parcel of land, situated in the town of Corvallis, Dixon's Addi- tion, to-wit:

Beginning in Jackson street at the center of Third street ; thence running north in the center of said Third street, forty-six rods; thence west far enough to include forty acres, after excepting lots numbers one, four, nine and eleven, in block nine in the said described land, being previously disposed of in the town of Corvallis, county of Benton and Territory of Oregon.

W. F. DIXON. [Seal]

JULIA ANN DIXON. [Seal]

Witnesses : J. W. DIXON, J. W. HARRIS.

Acknowledged before William L. Cardwell, Judge of Probate, November 19, 1856; Recorded December 12, 1856.

Benton county was first divided into precincts for election purposes by order of the court, July 8, 1851. Those then created were but three in number, viz:

NUMBER ONE .- That portion lying north of a line commencing at Oak Point on the Willamette river running in a westerly direction north of the residence of William Knotts to a creek known as Rinehart's creek; thence along said creek and in a westerly direction to the divide between Mary's river and the waters of the Luckiamute.

The place for holding election was declared to be at the house of Joseph Hughart; Judges, James Watson, Francis Writsman, Arnold Fuller.

NUMBER Two .- That Precinct No. 2, shall be known as that portion lying south of Precinct No. 1, and between a line commencing on the Willamette river, running in a westerly direction, including the residence of Thomas Norris, to the mouth of a slough between Jacob Martin's and Liggett's school-house; thence up said slough to the mountain.

The place for holding elections was declared to be at the Marysville school-house; Judges, John Trapp, William Knotts, William Matzger.

NUMBER THREE .- That the remaining portion of Benton county, on the south, be created Precinct No. 3.

The place for holding elections was declared to be at Lloyd's school-house; Judges, John Lloyd, Jacob Martin, Jesse H. Caton.

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This last precinct was found to be too unwieldy, therefore, April 3, 1854, the court created from Precinct No. 3.

NUMBER FOUR .- Commencing on the Willamette river, at the southeast corner of Precinct No. 2; thence westerly on the south line of Precinct No. 2, to Muddy creek ; thence up said creek to the residence of Widow Starr, in the Belknap Gap; thence due south to the county line; thence east on said line to the Willamette river; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

The place for holding elections was established at Jenneyopolis.

Under date April 5, 1854, another precinct was called into existence as

NUMBER FIVE .- Commencing at the Polk county line at King's Valley ; thence south embracing all the settlements in said valley and all the settlers on the north side of the north branch of Mary's river above and including the settlement of William Caldwell.

The place of holding elections was established at King's valley school-house, on L. C. Norton's claim.

On April 4, 1855, the inhabitants of Alsea valley were attached to Precinct No. 2 for election purposes, it being then ordered that the line of that precinct should be 80 changed as to include all the inhabitants thereof. April 5, 1858, the voting place of Precinct No. 1 was removed to the town of Tampico ; while those of Precincts Nos. 4 and 5 were transferred to the home of Dr. Aaron Richardson and the Inlow school- house respectively.

There was created, February 6, 1866, with the following boundaries, the under- mentioned precincts :

NUMBER SIX .- Commencing on the county line between Benton and Lane coun- ties, where the section line between sections three and four in township fifteen south, range seven west, intersects said line; thence north to the township line between town- ships twelve and thirteen ; thence west to the east line of the Reservation ; thence south to the county line; thence east to the place of beginning.

The place of holding elections was established at the house of Jacob Holgate in Alsea valley.

NUMBER SEVEN .- Commencing on the county line between Polk and Benton counties, where the section line between sections seven and eight, township ten south, range seven west intersects said line; thence south to township line between townships twelve and thirteen ; thence west on said line to a point directly south of a point on Yaquina road one-fourth of a mile above Tide City (the old steamboat landing); thence north to said point last named ; thence up Yaquina river and valley to the east line of the Reservation ; thence north to the north line of Benton county ; thence east to the place of beginning. To be known as Pioneer Precinct No. 7.

The place of holding elections was established at the house of George W. Bethers.

NUMBER EIGHT .- This precinct to embrace all territory and settlers in that part of Benton county, lying and being west of and not included in Precincts Nos. 6 and 7.

The place of holding elections was established at Oysterville, at the house of Cap- tain Dodge.

Precincts Nos. 3 and 4 were, March 7, 1866, partitioned into three precincts as follows :

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MONROE .- Beginning at the Willamette river on the township line between town- ships thirteen and fourteen south, range five west; thence west on township line to the section line between sections three and four, township fourteen south, range seven west; thence south to the county line between Lane and Benton-counties ; thence east to the Willamette river ; thence down said river to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at the school-house in Monroe.

WILLAMETTE .- Commencing at a point on the south boundary of Precinct No. 2 where the section line between sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, township twelve south, range five west, intersects said south boundary ; thence east along the south line of Precinct No. 2 to the Willamette river ; thence up said river with its meanderings to the township line between townships thirteen and fourteen south, range five west (being the north boundary of Precinct No. 4-Monroe); thence west on said township lines of the section lines between sections thirty-three and thirty-four, township thir- teen south, range five west ; thence north to the place of beginning. The place of holding elections to be at Winkle school-house.

MUDDY .- Commencing on the south boundary line of Precinct No. 2 where the section line between sections twenty-seven and twenty-eight, township twelve south, range five west, intersects said line; thence westerly following said south boundary line of Precinct No. 2 to the east line of Precinct No. 6; thence south to township line between sections thirty-three and thirty-four, township thirteen south, range five west ; thence north to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at Feichter's school-house.

Thus it will be seen that at the half year ending June 30, 1866, the county was divided into nine precincts which, besides the numbers they bore, were named Soap Creek, Corvallis, Willamette, Monroe, King's Valley, Alsea, Pioneer, Yaquina and Muddy. This distribution continued until 1868 when the southern line of Precinct No. 2, was re-established as follows :

CORVALLIS .- Commencing on the Willamette river ; thence running in a westerly direction, including the former residence of Thomas Norris; thence in a direct line to the southeast corner of section thirty-one, township twelve south, range five west.

PHILOMATH .- Commencing on the section line between sections four and five, township twelve south, range five west, at a point where the township line between townships eleven and twelve south, range five west, intersects said section line ; thence south to Muddy creek ; thence following Muddy creek to the township line between townships twelve and thirteen south, range five west ; thence west on said township line to the east boundary of Precinct No. 6; thence north to township line between town- ships eleven and twelve; thence east to the place of beginning. And that the voters at the head of Wells creek, vote in said precinct. The place of holding elections to be at the College in the town of Philomath.

PIONEER .- Commencing at a point on the county line between Benton and Polk counties, north from the dividing ridge between Wiley Norton and Carter Troxell; thence south (including Alkali valley,) to the section line between sections sixteen and twenty-one, township eleven south, range seven west; thence west to the range line between ranges seven and eight ; thence south to the Alsea precinct; thence west to the east boundary line of Elk City precinct, No. 11 ; thence north to the county line ;

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thence east to the place of beginning. The place of holding elections to be at the house of T. Lytles.

ELK CITY .- From and including Charles May's claim on the Yaquina road south to Alsea precinct, north to the county line; on the west, from Mill creek, running south to the Alsea precinct and north to the Siletz Reservation. Elk City school- house to be the place of holding elections.

YAQUINA .- All that territory lying west of the west line of Elk City precinct, be and is set off and established as Yaquina precinct, No. 8, and that the place of holding elections be at S. Dodge's, in Oysterville.

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History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 56

Author: David D. Fagan Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: David D. Fagan
Publication date: 1885
Publisher:
Number of Pages: