History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 57

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

USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

By this new arrangement there were eleven precincts, viz : Soap Creek (No. 1); Corvallis (No. 2); Willamette (No. 3); Monroe (No. 4); King's Valley (No. 5); Alsea (No. 6); Pioneer (No. 7); Yaquina (No. 8); Muddy (No. 9); Philomath (No. 10); Elk City (No. 11). . On April 4, 1870, the places of holding elections in some of these were changed to a more convenient locality, thus : In Yaquina precinct the Ocean House at Newport was substituted for the residence of Capt. Dodge at Oysterville ; in Pioneer, it was removed from the house of Jesse Heptonstall to that of. T. Lytle ; and in Alsea, it was transferred to the school-house, in lieu of the residence of Jacob Hol- gate ; while, it was then ordered that J. McP. Brun, William Burge and William Hammond be attached to Philomath precinct for the purpose of voting.

On April 2, 1872, Precinct No. 12, was created, as under :

TUM TUM .- Commencing at the junction of the Yaquina and Little Elk rivers ; thence running south to Big Elk creek ; thence up said creek to its head, including all the voters up said creek and its tributaries from the junction of the western line with said creek ; thence in a northerly direction to and including the farm of George and James Cross ; thence in a westerly direction to the dividing ridge between the waters of Little Elk and Yaquina rivers ; thence down said divide to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at the house of James A. Parrish, in Tum Tum valley.

At this term of the court the place of voting in Pioneer precinct, No. 7, was changed from the residence of T. Lytle to the Pioneer House, kept by Caleb Mason ; while, April 8, 1874, Precinct, No. 13, was created, viz :

LOWER ALSEA .- Commencing at Scott creek on the Alsea river ; thence south to the south line of Benton county : thence west to the Pacific ocean ; thence up the beach (north) to Beaver creek; thence east to a point due north of the place of begin- ning ; thence south to the place of beginning. The place of holding elections to be at Thomas Toby's, on Alsea river.

ALSEA, No. 6 .- Ordered that the west boundary of Alsea precinct be extended to the east boundary of the Lower Alsea precinct, No. 13.

YAQUINA, No. 8 .- Ordered that the north line of the Lower Alsea precinct, be the south line of Yaquina precinct, No. 8.

This arrangement obtained until April 3, 1876, when Precinct No. 14 came into existence :

TOLEDO .- Commencing at the middle line of township eleven south, range ten west, where it intersects the Yaquina river ; thence in a northerly and easterly direc- tion (to include the Siletz Agency) to the county line; thence west to a point due north of the section line between sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, township eleven

Digitized by Google

375

BENTON COUNTY.

south, range eleven west ; thence south to the north line of the Alsea precinct ; thence east to a point due south of the middle line of township eleven south, range ten west ; thence north to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at the house of John Graham.

This step necessitated the relocation and re-establishment of Precincts No. 11, and No. 8 as follows :

ELK CITY .- Ordered that the territory included in the following bounds be set off and established as Election Precinct No. 11, Elk City Precinct. On the east from and including Charles May's on the Yaquina road ; south to Alsea precinct and north to the county line; on the west by the east line of Toledo precinct, No. 14; on the south by Alsea precinct ; and on the north by the county line. The place of voting to be at Elk City Hotel in Elk City.

YAQUINA .- Commencing at a point in the county line between Tillamook and Benton counties, due north of the section line between sections twenty-six and twenty- seven, township eleven south, range eleven west; thence south to the north line of Lower Alsea precinct ; thence west to the Pacific ocean ; thence northerly to the county line and thence east to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at Pioneer House in Newport.

The east line of this precinct was changed, however, April 1, 1878, when the Court directed the location of the precinct line on the section line running north and south between sections twenty-five and twenty-six of township eleven south, range eleven west, thereby placing the eastern boundary of the precinct one mile farther east. On the same date, upon petition of the voters the name of Pioneer was altered to that of Summit precinct, while, April 8, 1879, Precinct No. 15 was created, and Nos. 13. and 6 re-located, as under :

TIDEWATER .- Commencing at the northwest corner of section four, township thirteen south, range nine west ; thence south to the county line ; thence west to the west line of township ten south, range nine west ; thence south to the county line; thence west to the west line of township thirteen south, range ten west; thence north to the north line of township thirteen south, range ten west; thence east to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at Thomas Russell's.

LOWER ALSEA .- Commencing at the northwest corner of township thirteen south, range ten west ; thence south to the county line; thence west to the Pacific ocean ; thence up the beach north to Beaver creek ; thence up Beaver creek to a point due north of the place of beginning ; thence south to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at the old Mead place.

ALSEA .- The west boundary of Alsea precinct No. 6, be extended to the east boundary of Tidewater precinct.

On August 4, 1880, the place of voting in Tum Tum precinct was changed, for the sake of convenience, from the house of Mr. Parrish, to the school-house; while, February 9, 1882, that in King's Valley was transferred from the old to the new school-house near the residence of Rowland Chambers.

April 3, 1882, the Board of County Commissioners ordered the consolidation of Willamette and Muddy precincts under the name of Willamette precinct No. 3, with the following boundaries :

Digitized by Google

376

BENTON COUNTY.

WILLAMETTE .- Commencing on the Willamette river, on the south boundary line of Precinct No. 2, where the section line between sections thirty and thirty-one, town- ship twelve south, range four west intersects said river; thence up said river to the township line between townships thirteen and fourteen south, range four west (being the north boundary of Precinct No. 4); thence west on said township line to the south- west corner of section thirty-four, township thirteen south, range seven west, where it intersects the east line of Precinct No. 6; thence north to the southeast corner of sec- tion thirty-four, township twelve south, range seven west ; thence east along the town- ship line to the southeast corner of section thirty-one, township twelve south, range five west; thence in a direct line easterly to the place of beginning. The place of voting to be at the Willamette Grange Hall.

On April 7, 1884, the place of voting in Lower Alsea precinct was moved to the Ruble school-house ; that in Alsea precinct No. 6, being at the same time changed to the post-office ; while, September first, that in Soap Creek precinct was transferred from the Gingle school-house to the town of Wells, in the old Gibson store-house.

The precincts as they stand, November 1, 1884, are fourteen in number, viz : Soap Creek, Corvallis, Willamette, Monroe, King's Valley, Alsea, Summit, Yaquina, Philomath, Elk City, Tum Tum, Lower Alsea, Toledo, Tidewater, in all of which, as we write, the greatest excitement prevails as to who shall be the next President of the United States-James G. Blaine or Grover Cleveland.

One criterion of the rapid development of a hitherto sparsely peopled country is the want immediately felt for carefully laid out roads and easy means of transport. He who has experienced such a desire can readily appreciate the comfort of well-graded thoroughfares and smoothly macadamized streets. The scarcely-to-be-recognized trails give place as if by magic to the skill of the surveyor ; the compactly built ferry-boat to the dangerous ford ; and the mighty forest trees to the road-maker's ax. In a few short years miraculous changes are worked ; science brings places within comfortable travel and neighbors within ken.

The first order for the survey for a road that appears in the records is dated September 1, 1851, and called for a thoroughfare commencing at or near the house of Thomas Reed, and terminating by the way of Hubbard's mill at the southern bound- ary of Benton county. The applicants in this instance were, E. Hartless, A. N. Locke and A. Newton ; the viewers, Chatman Hawley, Charles Johnson and Abner Drumm ; and the surveyor, G. E. Cole. It is not our purpose, however, to follow the thousand and one petitions for original roads, changes and repairs, nor have we the space at our command to even outline the localities of those, save in a very few instan- ces. It is proper, however, to record that the first division of the county into Road Districts was on April 5, 1855, when the following distribution was made :

NUMBER ONE .- Commencing at the northeast corner of the county on the Willam- ette river ; thence up said river to the township line between townships eleven and twelve; thence west on said line to within one mile of the township line between ranges four and five west ; thence parallel with said township line between townships ten and six, ranges four and five west to the north line of Benton county ; thence east along the county line to the place of beginning.

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

A.WILHELM

WILHELM & LDONEY

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

A. G. Walling, Lith. Portland, Or.

STORES AND RESIDENCE OF ADAM WILHELM, ESQ .. MonTOS, Benton County, Oregon,

377

BENTON COUNTY.

NUMBER Two .- Commencing at the northwest corner of District No. 1; thence along said line south to the southwest corner of the same ; thence west on township line between townships ten and eleven until it strikes the township line between ranges five and six; thence north along said line to the north line of Benton county, thence east along said line to the place of beginning.

NUMBER THREE .- Commencing at the northwest corner of District No. 2, and running south with said district one mile beyond the southwest corner of township ten south, range six west ; thence west, including all settlers ; thence north to the county line ; thence east to the place of beginning.

NUMBER FOUR .- Commencing at the southeast corner of District No. 3; thence south, to the line between township eleven and twelve south, range six west ; thence west on said line, including the settlements; thence north to the south line of District No. 3; thence east along said line to the place of beginning.

NUMBER FIVE .- Commencing at the northeast corner of township eleven ; thence south to the Willamette river ; thence up said river to the township line between town- ships eleven and twelve ; thence west with said line to the southwest corner of town- ship eleven ; thence north, bounded by District No. 4; thence east along District No. 2 to the place of beginning.

NUMBER SIX .- Commencing on the Willamette river, on the township line between townships eleven and twelve; thence west two miles ; thence north two miles; thence east two miles to township line between ranges four and five west; thence south to the river ; thence up said river to the place of beginning.

This portion of territory was taken from District No. 5 and included the northern part of Corvallis, and two miles from it.

NUMBER SEVEN .- Embraced all that portion of territory which lay in fractional township eleven south, range four west.

NUMBER EIGHT .- Commencing on the river; thence west on the township line between townships eleven and twelve, two miles; thence south two miles; thence east to the Willamette river ; thence down said river to the place of beginning.

This boundary embraced the south part of the town of Corvallis, and two miles from it.

NUMBER NINE .- Embracing all of the township twelve south, range five west, except that portion which is included in District No. 8.

NUMBER TEN .- Embracing township twelve south, range six west, including all settlers to the mountain.

NUMBER ELEVEN .- Commencing at the southeast corner of section twenty-four, township thirteen south, range five west, including " all hands" living on the river ; thence due west to the mountains ; thence north, including all settlers, until it strikes the southeast corner of District No. 10; thence east to the river ; thence up said river to the place of beginning.

NUMBER TWELVE .- Commencing at the southeast corner of section thirteen, township fourteen south, range five west, thence due west, including all settlers to the mountains ; thence north, including all settlers, to the southwest corner, on line of Dis- trict No. 11 ; thence following said district line east to the Willamette river ; thence up said river to the place of beginning. 4C+

Digitized by Google

378

BENTON COUNTY.

NUMBER THIRTEEN .- To embrace all the remaining portion of Benton county lying south of District No. 12.

The supervisors appointed for these road districts were : James Gingles (No. 1), Jacob Martin (No. 2), Lucius Norton (No. 3), Charles C. Davis (No. 4), Abner Drumm (No. 5), William L. Caldwell (No. 6), James Stewart (No. 7), E. E. Taylor (No. 8), Harvey Young (No. 9), E. Hartless (No. 10), Lewis Dennis (No. 11), Aaron Richardson (No 12), Silas Belknap (No. 13).

It will be sufficient to say in this place that the county was re-distributed into twenty-six districts, December 7, 1858; and into the number of fifty-two, which it comprises at the present writing, February 4, 1884.

With the settlement of that portion of Benton county known collectively as Yaquina Bay some public artery of communication became necessary to enable its residents to have easy access to civilization generally and the county seat particularly, therefore, February 6, 1860, the court received a petition praying for the location of a road from Corvallis to tide water on Yaquina bay, which, having been read the first time, B. R. Biddle, Stephen Robnett and Ichabod Hinkle were appointed viewers. The report made by these gentlemen, April 3, 1861, was duly adopted, and the road constructed ; while, August 6, 1877, that between Elk City and Seal Rocks, was declared a public highway.

About the year 1853-54 certain of the citizens of the county had devised the scheme of bridging Mary's river at the town of Corvallis and in order to do so desired to organize a joint-stock company for the purpose, but, April 3, 1854, a petition was pre- sented to the court by Richard Irwin and other citizens living south of Mary's river, denouncing the scheme and protesting against the incorporation of toll bridge companies on that stream. The document was ordered filed, and the matter would appear to have sunk into oblivion, until brought to light, April 10, 1856, by an application to the court for a charter to construct a toll-bridge but whether this was granted, or not, the records do not state. It is to be assumed, however, that it was, for, July the ninth, the court granted authority to John Pike to charge toll over the bridge built by him over Mary's river, at the point where the territorial road crosses that stream, with the con- dition that the bridge shall be duly completed and that it shall cost the full amount of fourteen hundred dollars, stated by him in his petition to have been subscribed by individuals in the sum of one thousand dollars, and leaving a balance of four hundred dollars. The time for such opening of the bridge was limited to the first Monday in September, 1856. On the third day of that month Mr. Pike reported the completion of the bridge at the above cost of one thousand four hundred dollars, of which amount eight hundred and sixty-four dollars and fifty cents had been procured by individual subscription, only five hundred and seventy-five dollars being collected, leaving a bal- ance due of eight hundred and twenty-five dollars; whereupon the Board of Commis- sioners directed the appropriation of certain county property in the town of Corvallis, valued at three hundred and twenty-five dollars, and certain promissory notes in hand amounting to five hundred dollars, for the purpose of liquidating the debt, provided that Mr. Pike, after using due diligence, should fail to collect the balance subscribed and unpaid, and also to procure by subscription a sufficient sum to pay the amount due. In the course of time age told upon this structure and caused another petition to .

Digitized by Google

379

BENTON COUNTY.

be presented to the County Commissioners, September 3, 1861, praying that an appro- priation be made from the public funds towards building a new bridge, to which the court acceded, the material of the former structure being placed at the disposal of the signers of the petition at a valuation of seventy-five dollars and an additional sum granted to make up the full amount of the county appropriation, equal in total to the amount raised by subscription, which would be forthcoming at the proper time. July 7, 1862, upon the bridge being completed and accepted by the court the county paid its quota of six hundred and fifty-nine dollars, and gave to the public one of the most serviceable structures of the kind in the district.

Another useful means of inter-communication is the ferry. At the session of the court held July 8, 1851, two applications were made for licenses to operate ferries, one by William F. Dixon, which was refused; the other by A. M. Rainwater, was granted, the location being across the Willamette river opposite the town of Albany. On the first Monday in December, 1853, license was granted to Harlow Bundy to establish a ferry on Mary's river on the land claim of J. C. Alexander; also one to J. C. Avery for the same purpose, on the same stream about a quarter of a mile from its mouth. April 3, 1854, Thomas Allpin was granted a similar boon for a point across the Wil- lamette, three miles below the town of Albany, at the landing that bore his name. December 3, 1855, Charles Knowles was granted a license to operate a ferry about one mile from the mouth of Mary's river, on his land claim, while, April 6, 1857, Wayman St. Clair received permission to operate the ferry at the town of Corvallis. April 2, 1861, A. Hash was given official authority to keep a ferry across the Willamette oppo- site the town of Peoria; J. C. Avery receiving a licence, September 3, 1861, to maintain a ferry across Mary's river, below where the State road crosses that stream, running south from Corvallis. July 3, 1865, license was granted for a like purpose, at a point opposite the town of Albany, across the Willamette, to Milton Hale, Samuel Houghton and William Hale; while, March 7, 1866, Samuel Case received authority to operate the ferry at the mouth of Yaquina bay, while, April 8, 1874, L. E. Davis received the like permission between the town of Newport and a point near his house, on the same arm of the sea. June 11, 1880, license was granted to G. W. Hobert to maintain a ferry across Alsea bay, and, September 4, 1882, Jacob Holgate, received the like per- mission, at a point near his residence, on the same inlet.

The foregoing notes have been procured from the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners, but it is presumed that ere the governmental machinery was moving several of the ferries earlier named were being operated, notably those at the towns.of Corvallis and Albany.

Among licenses granted for other purposes-we may notice that to C. W. Wilds, September 1, 1851, to keep a grocery in Marysville. In the month of December, 1853, the price for such licenses was increased to the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars a year; while, July 7, 1857, that for peddlers was regulated as under: with wagon or carriage per month, ten dollars; pack-horse, five dollars; each additional horse, two dollars ; foot-man, three dollars.

The first grand and petit jurors summoned in the county, under date December 3, 1851, were: Arnold Fuller, Francis Writsman, William F. Dixon, Jacob Martin, Monroe Hodges, James Watson, Silas M. Stout, Nahum King, George W. Bethards,

Digitized by Google

380

BENTON COUNTY.

J. W. Starr, John Stewart, John Lloyd, D. D. Davis, Elijah Liggett, S. K. Brown, Johnson Mulkey, Tolbart Carter, James Gingles, Robert W. Russell, Jacob Hammer, Jesse Belknap, Wayman St. Clair, Haman C. Lewis, Orin Belknap, H. C. Bucking- ham, Luke Mulkey, Alfred Rinehart, J. A. Bennett, O. C. Motley, John Trapp, Row- land Chambers, Stephen King, Lazarus Vanbebber, Nicholas Ownbey, R. B. Hinton, J. C. Alexander.

To perform their duties it was necessary to provide a suitable place for them and for the sitting justice, therefore December 3, 1851, the clerk was directed to rent a building in which the ensuing term of the United States District Court should be held, which was duly done, and the Court having concluded its session June 29, 1852, the sum of one hundred and ninety-two dollars and fifty cents was ordered to be paid out of the county funds to Hon. O. C. Pratt, Judge ; R. P. Boise, Prosecuting Attorney; Sheriff Starr ; Deputy-Sheriff S. M. Stout, and A. G. Hovey, Clerk.

At the term of Court mentioned above one Nimrod O'Kelly was convicted of the crime of murder in the second degree and sentenced to imprisonment, but there being then no penitentiary where he could be incarcerated his custody then became a charge upon the county, who paid between June 29, 1852, and April 5, 1853, for this purpose no less a sum than one thousand three hundred and eighty.three dollars, and twenty- five cents. Another heavy item of expense borne by the county in those early days was that for the care of insane persons, it being on record that, July 6, 1852, four hun- dred and twenty-three dollars, and twelve cents was ordered paid for the care of Henry Shepherd, for seventy-seven days, being at the rate of about five dollars and a half per day.

The first mention we have of the official division of Benton county into school districts is on September 7, 1852, when the following partition was made :

NUMBER ONE .- Commencing at the northeast corner of Benton county ; thence running up the Willamette river to the mouth of the slough leading from "Strands ; " thence westerly including the residences of Thomas Bowers and Lewis Morris; thence north to the county line, so as to leave Gingle's school-house in District No. 1.

NUMBER Two .- Commencing at the south west corner of District No. 1; thence running west of Soap Creek ; thence north along said hills to the county line.

NUMBER THREE .- Commencing at the Willamette river at the southeast corner of District No. 1 ; thence up said river; thence west, including the residence of John Sylvester and H. C. Lewis; thence far enough to inclu le the residence of Phillip Mul- key ; thence north to the line of District No. 2.

NUMBER FOUR .- Commencing on the Willamette river at the line of District No. 3; thence up said river to Harvey Young's; thence westerly, including the resi- dence of said Young and the claims of J. A. Bennett and Prier Scott; thence north including the claims of Charles Johnson and James L. Mulkey, thence to intercept the line of District No. 3.

NUMBER FIVE .- Commencing at the line of District No. 4 on Mary's river; thence up said river including David Henderson's claim ; thence northerly, including the claims of W. St. Clair, William Wyatt, Luke Mulkey and Stephen Robnett; thence eastwardly to the line of District No. 11.

NUMBER SIX .- Commencing at the line of Polk county ; thence running south to

Digitized by Google

381

BENTON COUNTY.

the " divide " between "Burget's" and John Philips, including King's Valley settle- ments.

NUMBER SEVEN .- Commencing at said " divide" and running south to Mary's river, including all the settlements west of District No. 5.

NUMBER EIGHT .- Commencing at the junction of Muddy creek and Mary's river ; thence up said creek to the southern line of John Feichter's claim ; thence west- erly to the " Mountain," including John Foster's claim.

NUMBER NINE .- Commencing on Muddy creek, at the line of District No. 8; thence up said creek to the northeast corner of Silas Belknap's claim ; thence west to the " Mountain."

NUMBER TEN .- Commencing at " Kelsay's Foot Log" on Muddy creek ; thence south to the county line, including all the settlements on the west.

NUMBER ELEVEN .- Commencing on the Willamette river, at the line of District No. 4; thence up said river to a point east of Nimrod O'Kelley's claim ; thence west to Muddy creek, excluding Asa Stark's claim.

NUMRER TWELVE .- Commencing on the Willamette river at the southeast corner of District No. 11; thence running up said river to the southern line of Benton county, including all that portion of the county lying south of District No. 11 and east of Dis- tricts Nos. 9 and 10.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 57

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

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