History of Benton County, Oregon, Part 59

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


USA > Oregon > Benton County > History of Benton County, Oregon > Part 59


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).


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DATE.


Purposes.


County


Purposes.


Territorial


Purposes.


State


Purposes.


School


Bounty.


Officers.


missioned


Relief Com


Warrants.


standing


State out-


Volunteer


Purposes.


Poll Tax


Military


Poll Tax.


Mills


Mills


Mills


Mills


Mills , Mills


Mills


Mills %. .


60


September


5


1850


2


1


1851


23


50


7


1852


4


2


1 00


2


1853


4


5


1854


4


1


2


1 00


July


5


1855


44


1₺


1


1 00


September


3


1856


5


1


1


1 00


7


1857


3


1


1


1 00


6 1858


2


2


2


1 00


1859


No record


5


1860


6


2


1


1 00


2


1861


5


·2


1 00


1862


5


2


1 00


9


1863


5


3


2


2 00


7


1864


5


3


2


2 00


12 00


2


1865


5


5


2


1


2


1 00


1 00


5


1867


6


2


1 00


1 00


October.


9


1868


2


1 00


1 00


September


7


1869


2


1 00


1 00


October


22


1870


2


1 00


1 00


September ...


4


1871


2


1 00


2


1872


75


2


1 00


November.


3


1873


94


3


1 00


September


10


1874


124


3


1 00


October.


7


1875


54


3


1 00


September


4


1878


8


4


Paym't.


3


1 00


September ...


8


1879


8


4


1 00


8


1880


8


4


1 00


October.


12


1881


7


1


1 00


9


1882


7}


4


1


1 00


3


1883


7


4


4


1


1-10


1 00


1884| 7 4-10


4


4


1


13


1 1-10


Table showing the Receipts and Disbursements from 1851 to 1884


YEAR. Receipts. Disbursements. |YEAR. Receipts. Disbursements. IYEAR. Receipts. Disbursements.


1851.


... $


$.


1863.


11999.74.


9002.52 1875 .. 34798.94 ...


32034.07


1852.


.1029.09.1


906.59


1864


17176.33.


13168.50 1876.


41179.66


40909.16


1853 .. ... 2089.33.3


2049.46


1865


22996.67.


21659.00 1877


39557.28


34885.52


1854


.4456.28.5


4407.01.7


1866.


23565.14


22289.41


1878 53969.87 50747.34


1855


.7960 06.3


7936.99.3


1867


16521.77.


18145.50 .1879


35.079.87 33141.97


1856


7509.17.8


7396.80


1868


19897.68.


19244.47


1880


50.055.99 48851 95


1857.


8797.95


8612.61


1869


20.313.14


20226.45


1881.


36562.96


34979.29


1858


6389.65


5488.41


1870


19166.06


18633.45


1882


41569.06


37.741.59


1859.


.6711.71


6426.57


1871


22.024.40


21728.94


1883.


53813.79. 52.579.45


1860


19524.18.


18169.50


1872


28177.26


28538.58


1884


54788.75.


1861


15437.35


13027.17


1873.


38210.80.


36086.05


1862


12763.67


11223.76


1874


43582.57.


27818.97


66


9


1877


6


4


3


3


1 00


3


Insane Asylum.


Modoc War Bonds.


State


3


3


Univer- pity


3


4


3


5


8


1876


13}


5


3


14


1 00


October.


72


55


1


October. September


3


1866


41


5


1 00


1 00


73


5+


72


5


5


1


Google


Digitized by


..


Military.


State


Poll Tax.


48693 77


3


3


Volunteer


1 00


390


BENTON COUNTY.


Table showing the Yearly Assessment of Benton County from 1850 to 1884.


YEAR.


DOLLARS


YEAR.


DOLLARS.


YEAR.


DOLLARS.


1850


No record


1862


No record


1874


1,462,502


1851.


1863


861,771


1875.


2,044,337


1852


66


1864


973,634


1876


1,496,332


1853


1865


.1,193,972


1877


1,744,579


1854


1866


1,144,174


1878


1,761.362


1855


66


1867.


1,251,738


1879


1,722,115


1856


1868


1,137,574


1880


1,766,282


1857


66


1869


1,133,097


1881.


2,447,676


1858


1870


1,299,616


1882.


2.436,795


1859


1,846,583


1871


1,496,903


1883


3,218,625


1860


1,277,123


1872


1,467,525


1884


3,218,592


1861


960,901


1873


1,457,742


Table showing the Manufacturers of Benton County, as Compiled from the Compendinm of the Census taken in 1880.


Number of Establishments ..


52


Amount of Capital invested.


$174,100 00


Average number of males employed above sixteen years of age.


69


Total amount paid in wages during the year


$ 25,983 00


Materials


124,340 00


Products


209,462 00


Table showing the Assessed Valuation and Taxation of Benton County, Compiled from the Compendium of the Census taken in 1880.


ASSESSED VALUATION :


Real Estate


$1,000,000 00


Personal Property.


726,387 00


Total


$1,726,387 00


TAXATION :


State


$17,264 00


County.


14,622 00


City, Town and School District


3,369 00


Total


$35,255 00


Table showing Farm Areas and Fasm Values in Benton County, Compiled from the Compendium of the Census taken in 1880.


Number of Farms.


701


Improved Land-acres


138,654


Value of farms, including land, fences and buildings $3,188,251


Value of farming implements and machinery 148,948


423,632


Cost of building and repairing fences in 1879. 32,354


25


Estimated value of all farm productions (sold, consumed or on hand) for 1879.


716,096


Google


Digitized by


Value of live stock on farms, June 1, 1880.


Cost of fertilizers purchased in 1879.


391


BENTON COUNTY.


Table Showing the Live Stock and Chief Productions of Benton County during 1880.


Horses


Number, 3,300


Mules and asses .


86


Working oxen


144


Milch cows


2,560


Other cattle


3,752


Sheep


28,759


Swine


6,599


Wool


Pounds


129,290


Milk.


Gallons


130


Butter


Pounds


87,684


Cheese


5,127


Barley


Bushels


5,168


Buckwheat


304


Indian Corn


790


Oats.


256,832


Rye


162


Wheat.


Value of orchard products.


$16,404


Hay.


Number of Tons, 10,793


Hops


Pounds, 13,276


Irish Potatoes


Bushels, 34,202


Tobacco


Pounds,


379


Table showing the Population of Benton County for the years 1860, 1870, 1880.


YEAR.


White.


Colored.


Chinese.


Indian.


Total.


1860.


3059


10


5


3,074


1870.


4569


10


5


4,584


1880.


6262


8


53


80


6,403


Population by Precincts, ete., ctc., 1880.


NAME OF PLACE.


Population.


Alsea Precinct


.327


Corvallis, " including Corvallis City


1,786


Corvallis City


1,128


Elk City Precinct.


94


King's Valley Precinct


504


Lower Alsea


193


Monroe .. . .


801


Muddy . .


349


Philomath ..


746


Soap Creek.


549


Summit.


153


Tide Water ..


86


Toledo. ..


232


Tum Tum .. .


185


Willamette ..


181


Yaquina,


including Newport town


217


Newport town


52


Digitized by Google


..


497,068


392


BENTON COUNTY.


1849-1850.


Representatives in Legislature, J. C. Avery, A. M. Locke.


Officers of Benton County from 1850 to 1884, as taken from Official Records. 1850 TO 1852.


Member of Council, A. L. Humphrey. Representatives, J. C. Avery and George E. Cole.


County Commissioners, George Belknap and John Stewart. Clerk, A. G. Hovey.


Assessor, Silas M. Stout.


Probate Judge, O. F. Clark. Sheriff, Samuel F. Starr. Treasurer, Wayman St. Clair. Surveyor, George Stump.


Justices of the Peace, R. B. Hinton, Prect. No. 2. Jas. H. Slater, Prect. No. 3.


Notes :-- Sept. 1, 1851, J. A. Bennett to be Assessor ; Abiatha Newton to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2. 1852 TO 1853.


Member of Council, A. L. Humphrey. Representative, James A. Bennett.


County Commissioners, A. N. Locke and James Watson.


Probate Judge, O. F. Clark. Sheriff, S. F. Starr.


Clerk, A. G. Hovey.


Treasurer, Wayman St. Clair.


Assessor, Smiley Carter.


Coroner, Richard Irwin.


Justice of the Peace, Abiatha Newton, Prect. No. 2.


Notes :- Oct. 18, 1852, John Grimsley to be Justice of the Peace vice Newton, resigned ; Tal- bert Carter, to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 1. Dec. 8, S. M. Stout to be Sheriff vice Starr, resigned ; J. L. Mulkey, to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice Grimsley, resigned.


1853 To 1854.


County Commissioners, James Watson and John Probate Judge, A. N. Locke. Lloyd.


Clerk, B. R. Biddle.


Sheriff, T. J. Wright. Treasurer, A. G. Hovey.


Assessor, William Willson. Justices of the Peace, Talbert Carter, Prect. No. 1. J. L. Mulkey, Prect. No. 2.


Notes :- July 5, 1853, D. W. Russell to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice A. Benedict failed to qualify.


1854 TO 1855.


County Commissioners, James Watson, John Probate Judge, A. N. Locke. Lloyd and Jacob Martin.


Treasurer, A. G. Hovey.


Clerk, B. R. Biddle. Auditor, B. R. Biddle.


Assessor, Charles Wells. Notes :- Oct. 21, 1854, Robert Irwin to be Probate Judge vice Locke, resigned.


1855 TO 1856.


Sheriff, John B. Congle. Treasurer, N. H. Lane.


Clerk, T. B. Odeneal.


Assessor, O. F. Clark.


Surveyor, Lorenzo A. Davis. Notes :- Sept. 4, 1855, J. A. Bennett to be Sheriff vice Congle, resigned.


1856 TO 1857.


Representatives, J. C. Avery and James A. Sheriff. S. B. Fargo. Bennett.


Treasurer, N. H. Lane.


Clerk, T. B. Odeneal.


School Superintendent, Silas Newcomb.


Assessor, S. H. White.


Auditor, T. B. Odeneal. Coroner, W. B. Magers.


Notes :- July 7, 1856, A. N. Locke to be Commissioner vice Watson, resigned ; Sept. 2, W. L. Cardwell to be Probate Judge vice Newcomb, resigned ; Sept. 3, J. H. Slater to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice Hargrave, absent ; April 6, 1857, J. H. Slater to be School Superin- tendent vice Newcomb, resigned.


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Google


Digitized by


A. Q. Walling, Lith. Portland, Or.


FARM AND RESIDENCE OF EARNEST & CLAUDE WARREN, Nashville, Benton County, Oregon.


.


BENTON COUNTY.


393


1857 TO 1858.


County Commissioners, JohnLloyd, Jacob Mar- Probate Judge, William L. Cardwell. tin and James Gingles. Sheriff, S. B. Fargo, Treasurer, Andrew Roberts. Assessor, John D. Bryant. Clerk, T. B. Odeneal. School Superintendent, J. H. Slater.


1858 To 1859.


Member of Council, A. A. Smith. County Commissioners, James Gingles, Perman Henderson and J. M. Currier.


Representatives, Rueben C. Hill and James H. Slater.


Sheriff, S. B. Fargo.


Treasurer, Horace Matheson.


Probate Judge, William L. Cardwell. Clerk, T. B. Odeneal. School Superintendent, W. H. Johnson.


Assessor, George E. Knowlton.


Surveyor, George Mercer.


Notes :- July 6, 1858, M. L. Charles to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 3 ; James A. Ben- nett to be Sheriff vice Fargo ; Sept. 6, James P. Stewart to be Sheriff vice Bennett, failed to qualify ; Dec. 7, Joseph White to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice Holgate, resigned ; Dec. 28, George P. Wrenn to be Sheriff vice Stewart, resigned ; Jan. 5, 1859, R. L. Gillespie to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice Matteson, resigne-d ; Jan. 26, Andrew Roberts to be Treas urer vice Matteson, deceased ; March 3, W. H. Johnson to be Probate Judge vice Cardwell, resigned.


1859 TO 1860.


County Commissioners, Jacob L. Halter and County Judge, James R. Bayley. William Barclay. Assessor, M. H. Bell.


Clerk, T. B. Odeneal. Coroner, T. J. Right.


1860 To 1862.


County Judge, J. R. Bayley. Clerk, Eugene L. Perham.


Sheriff, A. N. Locke. Treasurer, Andrew Roberts.


School Superintendent, Elisha Vineyard.


Notes :- Feb. 7, 1861, H. T. Inlow to be Justice of the Peace vice Bowers, absent ; Sept. 3, D. W. Russell to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 2, vice Myers, resigned.


1862 TO 1864.


County Commissioners, James Gingles and James Edwards.


Treasurer, George Mercer. Assessor. Jesse Wood.


Justice of the Peace, B. F. English, Prect. No. 1. .


Notes :- July 6, 1863, John Creel to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 1, vice English resigned.


1864 TO 1866.


State Senator, A. G. Hovey. County Commissioners, James Edwards and Larkin Vanderpool. Sheriff, Julius Brownson. Treasurer, George B. Waters. Assessor, R. R. Rounds. Coroner, J. G. Kriechbaum.


Representatives, J. Quin Thornton and James Gingles.


County Judge, T. B. Odeneal. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent. F. Stilson. Surveyor, George Mercer. Justices of the Peace, H. T. Inlow, Prect. No. 1. D. W. Russell, Prect. No. 2. John E. Porter, Prect. No. 3. R. B. Hinton, Prect. No. 4. A. H. Gordon, Prect. No. 5.


51+


Digitized by Google


Sheriff, J. C. Alexander. Clerk, E. L. Perham. School Superintendent, T. H. Stinson. Coroner, J. G. Kriechbaum.


Coroner, J. L. Coombs.


394


BENTON COUNTY. 1866 To 1868.


State Senator, J. R. Bayley.


County Commissioners, J. L. Lilly, James Ed- wards. Sheriff, Julius Brownson. Treasurer, George B. Waters. Assessor, William Garlinghouse.


Justices of the Peace, E. Holgate, Corvallis; A. J. Williams, Corvallis; J. L. Halter, Soap Creek; Thomas Garrett, Willamette; C. W. Starr, Mon- roe; James M. Watson, King's Valley; J. K. Mc- Cormack, Alsea; E. H. Baber, Pioneer; J. M. Currier, Muddy; Solomon Dodge, Yaquina.


Representatives, F. A. Chenoweth, J. A. Gin- gles and R. S. Strahan. County Judge, T. B. Odeneal. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent, E. Woodward. Surveyor, George Mercer.


Notes :- Sept. 3, 1866, David G. Clark to be County Treasurer vice Waters, deceased; E. H. Baber to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 7; May 9, 1867, Joseph Kellum to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 6, vice McCormack, resigned; R. A. Bensell to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 8; Nov. 4, William Blodgett to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 5.


1868 TO 1870.


State Senator, J. R. Bayley.


County Commissioners, James Edwards, William Pitman. Sheriff, J. S. Palmer. Treasurer, P. Avery. Assessor, W. Viditto. Coroner, M. A. North.


Representatives, J. C. Alexander, R. A. Ben- sell.


County Judge, T. B. Odeneal. Clerk, B. W. Wilson.


School Superintendent, E. Woodward. Surveyor, J. Cauthorn.


Justices of the Peace, Jacob L. Hatter, Soap Creek; W. J. Robertson, Corvallis; Henry Kompp, Willamette; P. Gilbert, Monroe; Isaac Norton, King's Valley; Geo. E Knowl- ton, Alsea; Wm. Oglesby, Pioneer; W. J. Dunn, Yaquina; N. P. Newton, Philomath; J. J. Galloway, Elk City.


Notes :- Oct. 5, 1868, T. J. Blair to be Justice of the Peace, Elk City Prect .; Joseph M. Laf- ferty to be Justice of the Peace, Monroe Prect., vice Gilbert resigned; Dec. 7, Thomas Russell to be Justice of the Peace, Alsea Prect .; May 4, 1869, N. B. Hughes to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 8, vice Dunn, resigned; Jan. 18, 1870, Abiatha Newton to be Justice of the Peace, Elk City Prect., vice Blair, resigned; R. A Bensell to be Justice of the Peace, Yaquina Prect


1870 TO 1872.


State Senator, A. M. Witham. County Commissioners, David King, James Gin- gles. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent, E. Woodward. Surveyor, George Mercer.


Representatives, W. J. Kelly, W .. J. Dunn. County Judge, John Burnett. Sheriff, J. S. Palmer. Treasurer, Hiram Flickinger. Assessor, W. B. Smith.


Justices of the Peace, J. L. Halter, Prect. No. 1; W. J. Robertson, Prect. No. 2; William Adams, Prect. No. 4; W. H. Watson, Prect. No. 5; Thomas Russell, Prect. No 6; A J. Porter, Prect. No. 7; Samuel Case, Prect. No. 8; William Ownbey, Prect. No. 9; J. Brownson, Precinct No. 10; E. N. Sawtelle, Precinct No. 11.


Digitized by Google


:


1


1


395


BENTON COUNTY.


Notes :- July 5, 1870, J. M. Lafferty to be Justice of the Peace, Monroe Prect., vice Adams, resigned; Dec. 5, S. P. Baldwin to be Justice of the Peace, Yaquina Prect., vice Case, resigned; D. Carlisle to be Justice of the Peace, Elk City Prect., vice Sawtelle, resigned; Oct. 2, 1871, J. M. Currier to be Justice of the Peace, Prect. No. 9, vice Ownbey, resigned. In this year a contested election took place, and Messrs. Witham, Kelly and Dunn were superceded by R. S. Strahan, D. Carlisle and W. R. Calloway.


1872 TO 1874.


State Senator, A. M. Witham. County Commissioners, James Chambers, James Edwards. Sheriff, J. S. Palmer. Treasurer, William Groves. Assessor, W. H. Johnson. Coroner, T. J. Wright.


Representatives, Benjamin Simpson, James Gingles.


County Judge, John Burnett. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent, A. R. Brown. Surveyor, George Mercer.


Justices of the Peace, J. L. Halter, Soap Creek; William R. Privitt, Corvallis; H. A. Cluk, Willamette; C. W. Starr, Monroe; James Townsend, King's Valley; E. Mckinney, Alsea; James Stover, Pioneer; L. P. Bald- win Yaquina; J. B. Brumfield, Muddy; J. Brownson, Philomath; W. T. Bryan, Elk City; William Oglesby, Tum Tum.


NOTES: - March 3, 1873, M. P. Newman to be Justice of the Peace, King's Valley Prect .; E. Holgate to be Justice of the Peace, Corvallis Prect.


1874 To 1876.


State Senator, Dr. J. B. Lee.


Joint Senator, A. M. Witham.


Representatives, James Bruce, John Chambers, County Commissioners, Britton Wood, David W. J. Kelley. King. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. Treasurer, Wallace Baldwin. Assessor, Peter Withers. Coroner, T. J. Wright. County Judge, Erastus Holgate. Sheriff, J. S. Palmer. School Superintendent, E. A. Milner. Surveyor, H. N. Bowman.


Justices of the Peace, C. N. Stewart, Soap Creek; J. H. Lewis, Corvallis; A. Holder, Willamette; A. J. Loomis, Monroe; Dillard Price, King's Valley; E. Mckinney, Alsea; H. N. Bowman, Pi- oneer; G. King, Yaquina; J. Brownson, Philo- math; T. Thrasher, Elk City; G. B. Hunsaker, Lower Alsea.


,


NOTES :- July 9, 1874, William Speer to be Justice of the Peace, Monroe Precinct; July 10, B. R. Biddle to be Justice of the Peace, Corvallis Precinct vice Holgate, elected County Judge; Aug. 3, C. W. Starr to be Justice of the Peace, Monroe Precinct, vice Speer failed to qualify: August 6, James A. Cauthorn to be County Surveyor, vice Bowman; January 4, 1875, Paul Van Wostrow to be Justice of the Peace, Lower Alsea Precinct; George Mercer to be County Surveyor, vice Cauthorn; Nov. 1, Lycurgus Vineyard, to be Justice of the Peace, Corvallis Precinct, vice Biddle removed from the county; Ed. Phelps to be Justice of the Peace Yaquina Precinct, vice King, resigned; January 5, 1876, Jacob Modie to be Justice of the Peace, Soap Creek Precinct, vice Vanderpool, resigned.


1876 To 1878.


. State Senator, Dr. J. B. Lee. Joint Senator, J. S. Palmer. Representatives, James Chambers, Jno. T. Hughes, County Commissioners, E. Skipton, James R. A. Bensell. . Wiles.


. Digitized by Google


396


BENTON COUNTY.


County Judge, Erastus Holgate. Clerk, B. W. Wilson.


School Superintendent, E. B. McElroy. Surveyor, W. T. Webber.


Sheriff, Sol King. Treasurer, Thomas Graham. Assessor, Jacob Modie. Coroner, J. A. Davis.


Justices of the Peace, J. M. Risley, Soap Creek; J. C. Alexander, Corvallis; M. Seyan, Willamette; W. J. Kelly, Monroe; Willis Vidito, Alsea; E. C. Phelps, Yaquina; J. S. S. Powell, Muddy; J. Brownson, Philomath; J. H. Blain, Elk City; E. Grant, Tum Tum; E. Mckinney, Lower Al- sea; A. D. Perkins, Toledo,


NOTES .- October 4, 1876, T. Thrasher to be Justice of the Peace, Toledo Precinct; February 4, 1878, William Mckay to be Justice of the Peace, Toledo Precinct vice Thrasher resigned.


1878 To 1880.


State Senator, John Burnett. Joint Senator, J. S. Palmer.


Representatives, Tolbart Carter, H. Green, I. T. County Commissioners, James Edwards, Hugh Hughes. County Judge, W. S. McFadden.


Clerk, B. W. Wilson.


School Superintendent, E. B. McElroy.


Surveyor, George Mercer.


Heron. Sheriff, Sol King. Treasurer, Thomas Graham.


Assessor, Jacob Modie. Coroner, J. A. Davis.


Justices of the Peace, J. M. Risley, Soap Creek; W. H. Johnson, Corvallis; W. Winkle, Willam- ette; W. J. Kelley, Monroe; W. L. Price, King's Valley; David Ruble, Alsea; A. J. Porter, Sum- mit; E. C. Phelps, Yaquina; J. S. S. Powell, Muddy; J. Brownson, Philomath; J. S. Eddy, Elk City; E. Grant, Tum Tum; G. Hunsaker, Lower Alsea; W. S. Hufford, Toledo. .


NOTES :- October 6, 1879, George H. Nutting to be Justice of the Peace, Corvallis Precinct, vice Johnson, resigned; December 3, F. A. Johnson to be County Physician; March 4, 1880, James Chambers to be Justice of the Peace, King's Valley Precinct, vice Price, removed from the Pre- cinct.


1880 To 1882.


State Senator, E. Woodward.


Representatives, F. M. Wadsworth, Allen Parker, G. A. Waggoner. County Judge, W. S. McFadden. Clerk, B. W. Wilson.


School Superintendent, E. B. McElroy. Surveyor, A. J. Locke.


Joint Senator, R. Clow. County Commissioners, Caleb Davis, Jno. Row. land. Sheriff, Sol King. Treasurer, J. W. Williams.


Assessor, E. Skipton. Coroner, F. A. Johnson.


Justices of the Peace, J. H. Miller, Soap Creek; George P. Wrenn, Corvallis; T W. B. Smith, Willamette; W. J. Kelley, Monroe; W. J. Head- rick, Alsea; P. Bryant, Summit; J. S. S. Powell, Muddy; J. Brownson, Philomath; J. H. Blair, Elk City; J. J. Maxey, Tum Tum; H. A. Lutjens, Lower Alsea; W. S. Hufford Toledo; E. McKin- ney, Tide Water.


NOTES :- February 12, 1881, A. M. Witham to be Inspector of Sheep; March 9, 1882, S. T. Jef- fries to be Justice of the Peace, Corvallis Precinct, vice Wrenn, deceased.


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BENTON COUNTY. 1882 TO 1884.


State Senator, Thomas E. Cauthorn.


Joint Senator, R. Clow.


Representatives, Tolbert Carter, W. P. Keady, County Commissioners, Caleb Davis, James Allen Parker. Edwards. Sheriff, Sol King. Treasurer, T. J. Buford. Assessor, Perry Eddy. Coroner, George Natting. County Judge, J. R. Bryson. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent, E. A. Milner. Surveyor, George Mercer.


Justices of the Peace, J. H. Miller, Soap Creek; D. Carlisle, Corvallis; M. G. Wilkins, Willamette; J. P. Alford, Monroe; A. Hallock, King's Valley; Judson Seeley, Alsea; J. H. Aldrich, Summit; Wm. B. Stout, Yaquina; J. Brownson, Philo- math; B. Morrison, Elk City; Hill Rice, Tum Tum; David Ruble, Lower Alsea; A. Aclom, Toledo; William Peek, Tide Water.


1884 TO 1886.


State Senator, Thomas Cauthorn. Joint Senator, J. D. Lee. Representatives, W. P. Keady, J. A. Henkle, M. County Commissioners, E. H. Hawkins, G. G. J. Connor. Newton. Sheriff, Sol King. Treasurer, Thomas J. Blair. Assessor, J. P. Alford. Coroner, T. V. B. Embree. County Judge, J. R. Bryson. Clerk, B. W. Wilson. School Superintendent, E. A. Milner. Surveyor, George Mercer.


Justices of the Peace, T. Harris, Soap Creek; G. W. Quivey, Corvallis; Wallace Post, Willamette; M. Shannon, Monroe; F. A. Chenoweth, King's Valley; C. L. Malone, Alsea; D. Junkins, Sum- mit; W. B. Stout, Yaquina; J. Brownson, Philo- math; N. P. Stevens, Elk City; J. Holgate, Low- er Alsea; H. W. Vincent, Toledo; John Steep- low, Tide Water.


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CHAPTER XLII.


CRIMINAL HISTORY.


State-Nimrod O'Kelly -- Murder of John Clark -- Homicide of William Grubb -- An "Unknown" -- Indians -- Tootootena Jack-Silas White -- Ringo -- Dr. Hutchinson -- Melvin McKee -- T. J. Dennis.


It seems as though the hearts of men are set in to evil and that the reign of the devil had been fully established in the earth. The newspapers are literally filled with accounts of cruelty and blood, and human life is no more regarded than that of the brute. No community or fireside is secure from the destroyer. In the stillness of night, in a secluded spot, or in the bright light of day, a human being-perchance a devoted husband, an affectionate and doting father, a loved son, or dear brother-is stricken by the hand of the assassin-the family circle and community bereft-and a soul, without a moment's warning ushered into the presence of its maker-and mayhap the entire scene veiled, for the time being in impenetrable mystery. The heart sickens at the awful tragedy. The guilty wretch and perpetrator flies the hand of justice, but the brand of Cain is upon him-innocent blood cries from the earth against him and has entered the ears of the Most High, while the messengers of law are on his track. There is a tribunal from which he cannot escape-the lashings of a guilty conscience -although he may, for a time evade and escape the violated and outraged laws of God and man, his sins will inevitably find him out and his detection is almost certain.


It is a pleasure to state that Benton county has been particularly free, in her long life of nearly forty years, of these deeds that bring disgrace not only upon the relatives of those who take life, but upon the community and district in which they dwell. The public executioner has been once called upon to perform his dread duty, only one of the slayers having had to expiate his crime upon the scaffold.


THE STATE versus NIMROD O'KELLY .- The first case of homicide in Benton county was the killing of an Irishman by Nimrod O'Kelly, who was accused by him of tres- passing on his land. From a first accusation the matter came to high words, until O'Kelly shot his opponent with a gun which he said he carried for the purpose of frightening crows from off his grain. June 29, 1852, he was duly tried and convicted of murder in the first degree and on the first of July was sentenced to be hanged, but was subsequently respited by the Governor of the Territory. He became a great expense to the county, but by an act of the Legislature passed in January, 1853, the sum of six hundred and thirty dollars was appropriated as relief to the county for expenses incurred in guarding and safely keeping the prisoner after conviction.


MURDER OF JOHN CLARK .- It would appear that John Clark and Philip George were partners in a boarding house in Corvallis, the latter being a dissipated fellow while the former was a sober and estimable member of society. George the evening


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BENTON COUNTY.


before the murder, had been drinking heavily, and had threatened his associate with a large kitchen knife, but Clark making his escape from his room wherein he lay in bed at the time of the assault, his associate returned to his boon companions and kept up his carouse. The following morning he returned to the house, found his partner weighing some hay which he had sold, and an alercation ensuing George seized some lethal weapon at hand and struck Clark on the head. On receiving the blow the unfortunate man, still holding the money he had received for the hay in his hand, came round to the front of the building, where two or three men were standing, and remarking to them that he (George) had killed him, drooped over, and while he was being supported in the arms of one of the by-standers, breathed his last. George was taken into custody, and a true bill for murder brought in against him by the grand jury. At his trial he put in a plea of not guilty, but he was convicted, April 14, 1860, and hanged June 22, 1860. This was the first and only execution that has occurred in Benton county.


KILLING OF WILLIAM GRUBBS .- This homicide commenced in simple scuffle between the two men who had hitherto been on more or less friendly terms. When the altercation began William Robinson had been whittling a piece of wood and in the fracas that followed Grubbs was stabbed, from the effects of which he died. Robinson was duly arrested, tried, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to one year's imprisonment, April 12, 1864.




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