History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources, Part 51

Author: Walling, A G pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Portland, Or., A. G. Walling
Number of Pages: 832

USA > Oregon > Douglas County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 51
USA > Oregon > Jackson County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 51
USA > Oregon > Josephine County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 51
USA > Oregon > Coos County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 51
USA > Oregon > Curry County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 51

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).

363

JACKSON COUNTY.

that they were the miscreants who lay in wait at the very threshold (of the town to slay unoffending whites ; there was not the slightest evidence that they had committed any crime-they were too young to be warriors-but in the bitter anger of the moment it was sufficient that they were Indians. They were soon seized by an excited crowd who scarcely knew what to do with the terror-stricken prisoners, and some of the roughest shrank from the commission of an act that they knew was not brave, and that they feared was hardly just. The mob swayed and surged, wavering between desire and doubt, when T. McF. Patton sprang upon a wagon and in a few words decided the question. The boys were hanged on an oak on the bank of Jackson creek, while protesting piteously that they had never wronged the whites. Sober reflection brought regret for an act that by no means exalted the white character, and it is very probable that the dreadful savagery subsequently experienced by white families was in retaliation for a deed that, in calmer moments, was regretted as neither cour- ageous nor justifiable.

This was the last session of the people's court in Jackson county, for on Sep- tember 5, 1853, a regular court was held in Jacksonville, by Hon. Matthew P. Deady, who had just been appointed United States district judge for the Territory of Oregon, by President Pierce, and it is almost needless to say that his honor presided with distinguished ability. The officers of the court were, L. F. Grover (subsequently governor of Oregon and senator in congress), United States district attorney pro tem .; Columbus Sims, territorial prosecuting attorney ; Joseph W. Drew, deputy marshal ; Matthew G. Kennedy, sheriff.

The first case tried was R. Hereford vs. David M. Thorpe-in assumpsit ; and the court adjourned on September ninth. The extension of the territorial juris- diction over Jackson county was exceedingly satisfactory to the people, for it sur- rounded them with the decent forms of law, to which they had been accustomed · elsewhere, and relieved them of a great responsibility. The crude judicial system born of pioneer necessity now passed away, but it can be safely said that it was stained with few errors, though sometimes swayed by passion; and, simple as it was, it afforded ample protection to the community. During the spring of this year a large religious element arrived with the immigration, mostly from the western and middle states, and steps were taken to found a Methodist church. The most active workers were Rev. Joseph S. Smith, afterwards representative in congress from Oregon, who had been assigned to Jacksonville as pastor, his wife and the Misses Overbeck and Royal, the two latter going from camp to camp and soliciting money from the miners for the church. Times were flush and there were few financial difficulties, as the gamblers and sporting men, with proverbial liberality, provided a large portion of the means, and the edifice was soon under way. Possibly, the sporting fraternity, to use their own phrase, were "hedging" against bad fortune in the world to come. The church was not finished that year, but it was removed to the spot where it now stands, finished by T. F. Royal, and used as a joint place of worship by Methodists and Presbyterians for over twenty-five years. In May, of this year, communication was opened up by ('ram, Rogers & Co., of Yreka, a branch of the express house of Adams & Co., of San Fran- cisco. C. (. Beekman, still a prosperous and honored citizen of Jacksonville, was reg- ularly dispatched as messenger, extending his trips over the lonely mountains to Cres-

364

SOUTHERN OREGON.

cent City, carrying letters and papers, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold dust. It looks strange that, during all the troublous times, the plucky messenger was never molested, although travelling generally alone, and always choosing the night to cross the Siskiyous. On August 27, the first child was born in Jacksonville-a son to Doctor and Mrs. McCully-and every miner and trader in the neighborhood consid- ered himself a godfather to the newcomer, and made it his especial business to spoil the graceless little scamp, and teach him lessons that required years of Sunday school attendance to eradicate, and the boy's name is James Cluggage McCully, in honor of the founder of the town. This was a year of the greatest prosperity. Exceedingly rich ground had been struck, not only on the main creek, but on both its branches. Large stocks of merchandise had been packed on mules from Crescent City, the nearest sea- port and distant one hundred and twenty miles. A hasty peace had been patched up with the Indians, and the miners, allowed to work without molestation, poured large quantities of treasure into the town, which was now the distributing point for a large territory. On Saturdays and Sundays the streets were crowded with buyers and sellers, Mexican packers, red-shirted miners, ranchmen, and an occasional "siwash" who moved sullenly among the motley throng, with ill-concealed hatred of the strangers, who were pushing him from his hunting grounds. Night, however, was the season of gaiety and enjoyment. The miner was always prodigal of his dust, probably always will be, and the Jacksonville miner was no exception. Gaming and drinking were little disgrace, if the one was successful, or the other not pushed to the verge of debauchery, and it is often remarked by early settlers that there never was a mining camp where personal liberty was less restrained, better enjoyed or less abused than in the Jacksonville of '53. This year a kiln of brick was burned for the store of Morford & Davis, and its walls were well advanced before the close of the season. Marl from the "desert" beyond Bear creek was used instead of lime, while, strangely enough, there was a splen- did ledge of the finest limestone within ten miles of town, and daily passed over by scores of miners. The building, the first brick in the town, was finished in the next spring, by Maury & Davis, and stood among the best preserved buildings in Jacksonville, until burned in 1873, and replaced by the present town hall. During the pinching want of the winter of this year there were many sharp and decided con- trasts. Generally, the small store of flour was fairly divided till it was exhausted, but occasionally it was hidden with an almost pardonable selfishness by some one who was more lucky than generous. One evening when flour had become so scarce that it was no longer talked of, Henry Klippel and John Hillman were passing through a back lot on their way home, when Klippel stopped suddenly and said, "John, I smell bread." "So do I," said Hillman; "let's prospect." In a few moments they found two delicious loaves, set out to cool, in the rear of premises occupied by a trader named Sam. Gold- stein. The temptation was great, but, with proper generosity, they divided with the owner and took but one loaf. The next morning the two gentlemen visited the trader, priced clothing and boots till his patience flagged, and at last ventured to touch on the subject of breadstuffs. "Ah, ha!" exclaimed the merchant; "I smells somedings; you ish de rascals dot stole mine loaf!" "We are," replied Klippel, with the air of a man who had the situation in hand; "and we just propose to have you divide flour as we divided bread with you last night, so, shell it out." Approaching the boys with

WALLING-LITH - PORTLAND-OR.

MISLETOE HILL. RESIDENCE OF J.F. SHEFFIELD, SOUTH UMPQUA VALLEY, DOUGLAS CO.

365

JACKSON COUNTY.

uplifted hands, and a countenance beaming with truth, Samuel, in a voice husky with emotion, assured them, "so help him Abraham," that it took the last spoonful of flour in the house to make that loaf, and, burying his face in his hands, he wept at his utter destitution. The boys departed in silence, deeply touched, but subsequent information as to the state of Sam's larder, caused a life-long regret that they had not taken the other loaf. During the winter of this memorable year, salt was the precious article, but neighbors kindly divided with each other-a pinch at a time-and even after the lapse of thirty years, old pioneers in the country bring little presents to acquaintances in town, always refusing pay, with the remark, "Could I take anything from a friend who divided salt with me in '53?"

At the close of 1853 Jacksonville was in a prosperous condition. It was now the center of trade and the distributing point for a large area of rich agricultural land, as well as an extensive mining region. Those carrying the heaviest stocks at the begin- ning of 1854 were Maury & Davis, Appler & Kenny, Birdsye & Etlinger, Sam Gold- stein, John Anderson, J. Bruner, Wells & Friedlander, Fowler & Davis, and Little & Westgate; the latter being also the proprietors of a flourishing saloon and bowling alley. A number of smaller establishments were kept by Joseph Holman and others, who have almost passed from memory. A commodious hotel-the Robinson House, on the site of the present United States Hotel-was owned and conducted by Dr. Jesse Robinson, while a private boarding house, patronized by the elite, was managed by Mrs. Gass, afterwards Mrs. W. W. Fowler. The Arkansas stable, yet standing, a mouldering relic of the past, was run by Joe Davis, and was a flourishing institution. Dr. MeCully was proprietor of a bakery, and Hazeltine and Gilson were in the same business. Pyle & McDonough carried on a successful carpenter shop, and quite an extensive furniture shop was run by James S. Burpee. Zigler & Martin, Cozart & Ralls, and Thomas Hopwood did the blacksmithing, and the latter is credited with having made the first plow manufactured in Rogue river valley. The winter of 1853-4 was exceptionally cold and dry, diminishing the water supply and checking the yield of gold from the mines ; but most of the miners were flush and enjoyed the idle months in gaiety or in dissipation, adding largely to the fast growing town. Society began to crystallize into shape, and caste slowly asserted the right to draw social lines. The gentler sex, increasing in numbers, began to refine the community, and draw, as a magnet attracts to itself, the better portion of society from the rougher mass, and dic- tated greater conventionalism in dress and manners. The rough, unkempt, blue- shirted miner, or greasy packer, could hardly cope in ladies' society with the young bloods, attired in " boiled shirts" and white vests, and those who desired the entree among the creme de la creme of Jacksonville society were soon provided with broad- cloth and fine linen, and their wardrobes were always at the service of friends, during the owner's absence. With the increase of families came a necessity for a school, and early in the winter one was organized by Miss Royal. The attendance was small, and the studies did not run high in the educational scale; but, nevertheless, it gratified the pride of the friends of education, and many a miner shook an ounce from his purse into the hand of the enterprising teacher, when she visited the claims soliciting contri- butions for the support of the little school, that through many struggles, and some subsequent opposition, has grown to be one of the best in the state. As population

366

SOUTHERN OREGON

increased, and the means of civilization were nearer, there seemed to be no progress in public morality. A regular court, with all the necessary legal machinery, had been organized under the territorial laws; but it failed to awe evil-doers, or to suppress outlawry, as effectually as the more primitive mode of the pioneers that preceded it. An examination of the court records for 1854 shows an alarming increase of crime, from murder and rape, to larceny. The civil docket is burdened with every species of litigation, and it may have been that increased facilities for wrangling made men more captious and less inclined to observe their obligations, and gave assurance to criminals. But whether or not this view is correct, the fact remains that the record is extremely discreditable. On the sixth day of February a new judge called court. The enemies of Judge Deady had been busy at Washington, it is said, and by the most gross misrepresentation procured his displacement, the executive appointing O. B. McFadden, a citizen of Pensylvania, to the territorial bench. Court was held in a building next to the "New State" saloon, and it was a most unpretentious temple of justice. The bench was a dry-goods box, covered with a blue blanket, and it is quite probable that the uncomfortable seat occupied by the judge was so irksome, that it had something to do with his rapid dispensation of justice. The officers of the court were Columbus Sims, prosecuting attorney ; G. Kennedy, sheriff; and Lycurgus Jackson, clerk. On the first day of court, Payne P. Prim and D. B. Brenan were admitted to the bar, and the grand jury was empaneled. On the seventh, true bills were returned against Indians George and Tom, charging them with the murder of James C. Kyle, on 1853; October 7, on the same day they were arraigned and put upon trial, Prim and Brenan having been appointed counsel for the accused. The proceedings were brief, the evidence, mostly that of Indians, who were anxious to preserve peace with the whites, left no doubt as to the guilt of the prisoners, and the jury, with little deliberation, announced a verdict of guilty. In the meantime the grand jury had found another indictment against Indian Thompson, for the murder of Edwards, in the spring of 1853, and he, too, was quickly convicted. On the ninth, it appears from the record, Indian George was sentenced to be " hanged by the neck until dead," the time of execution being fixed between the hours of ten and twelve of the succeeding day; but it does not appear that the other two convicted murderers were ever sentenced ; and the impression is left that time was so valuable that, in their cases, the fornrality was dispensed with. In passing sentence upon George, his honor assured the prisoner, with becoming gravity, that he had had as fair a trial, and as ample means of defense, as if he had belonged to the white race ; but the lightning speed with which the judge hurried the doomed wretch out of the world throws a slight cloud on the sincerity of his remarks. Indeed, it can not be fairly doubted that if the murderer had been a white, he would have been granted thirty days for repentance ; but his honor probably concluded that the Indian had no soul, and repentance was therefore improbable, although he closed by requesting God to have mercy on the spiritual portion of the culprit. Though the record is silent as to the other two convicted murderers, all three were swung from the same gallows on the tenth of the same month. Large numbers of people came from the mining camps, and a few, whom the news had reached out in' the valley, came into town to witness the first legal execution, but the event was marked with decorum, and nine out of ten acquiesced in the justice of the punishment.

367

JACKSON COUNTY.

This was the last court held in Jacksonville by Judge McFadden. Judge Deady's friends had righted matters at Washington and procured his re-instatement, MeFadden being transferred to Washington territory.

On May 1, 1854, Judge Deady convened court, with Drew as marshal ; Kennedy, sheriff; R. E. Stratton, United States prosecuting attorney ; Stephen F. Chadwick (subsequently secretary of state and er-officio governor of Oregon), as territorial prose- euting attorney pro tem .; and Jackson, clerk. Little of public interest transpired at this term, except some futile presentments against several murderers who could not be reached, the docket being mostly burdened with civil cases that seemed to multiply from term to term. This year the Methodist church building was completed, by Pyle & McDonough and David Linn. The frame had been removed to the present site, which had been deeded gratuitously by James Cluggage to the conference. A new subscription list was opened by Rev. T. F. Royal, successor to Rev. Joseph Smith, and early in the fall the building was formally dedicated to the worship of God, by Rev. J. H. Wilbur, presiding elder of the Umpqua district. While Protestant churches and schools were being organized, it would have been strange, indeed, if so promising a field had been overlooked by the Roman Catholic arch-bishop of Oregon. That zeal, springing from the unswerving faith of the priesthood and children of the old church, that fears neither the rigor of the Arctic winter, nor the deadly fevers of the torrid zone, has already manifested itself here. No matter how small in numbers a Catholic community may be, they are not long suffered to want for spiritual sustenance, and in September, 1853, Rev. James Croke, a missionary of the arch-diocese of Oregon, visited Jacksonville and celebrated the first mass in the house of Charles Casey. Look- ing forward to the permanent establishment of a church-to be delayed, however, several years-the reverend father obtained by deed of gift from James Cluggage four of the most desirable lots in the town. A mission of several weeks, spent in administering to the spiritual wants of his people, disclosed a strong, steadfast and faithful Catholic society, and a third mission, in 1855, by Rev. James Cody, of Yreka, found it increasing in fidelity and numbers by virtue of the salutary admonitions and counsel of the visiting fathers.

The second brick building erected in the town, a very substantial structure, still standing on the corner of Main and Oregon streets, was finished in the fall of 1854 for Bruner Brothers, and a large number of dwellings were added to the fast growing town. On March 15, 1855, Warren Lodge, No. 10, A. F. &. A. M., was organ- ized under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the territory. The lodge was weak in numbers, but has grown to a membership of eighty-five, culled and sifted from among the best material in the community. The first officers of the lodge were T. McF. Patton, W. M. ; Patrick Dunn, S. W .; A. M. Berry, J. W. ; A. B. Carter, Treas- urer; S. H. Taylor, Secretary ; Lewis Graf, S. D. ; Jacob Solomon, J. D. ; J. S. Burpee, tyler.

The serions and bloody war that bad Indians and worse whites precipitated on the settlements of Rogue river valley this year did not retard permanently the material progress and prosperity of Jacksonville, nor did it diminish its population in any per- ceptible degree. Many of the single men, "the boys," in the old time vernacular, and many also who were heads of families, not caring for the causes of the conflict,

368

SOUTHERN OREGON.

shouldered their rifles in defense of their neighbors, abandoning profitable pursuits, many of them to catch Indian bullets, and by bravery and determination pushed the savages to unconditional peace. While they were in the field their places were filled by panic-stricken settlers, who flocked to the towns for safety, and whose presence was rather advantageous than otherwise. The community, especially the female portion, were in a state of continual dread, fearing a night attack by the Indians, but the vol- unteers were keeping the savages so busy in the field that no extra precaution against surprise was thought necessary. This apparent neglect aroused much comment among the women, and at last the excitement among them reached fever heat and forced them into a ridiculous position. A timid old man named Holman, with more imagination than courage, averred that he saw an Indian skulking through the brush at the out- skirts of town, but among the men his story was generally discredited. Playing on the fears of the weaker sex, the old man induced them to call an indignation meeting in the Methodist church, in order to arouse the men to the necessity of greater vigi- lance. A chairwoman and secretary were elected, but before the meeting proceeded to business, the men, to whom they looked for protection, were invited to step outside, and informed that the meeting was strictly a woman's one. Poor old Holman was hustled out with the rest, and this somewhat unkind treatment of the stronger sex was received by them with cheers and laughter and not taken seriously to heart. Meanwhile the ladies held a boisterous secret session. Resolutions denouncing apathy and lack of vigilance were passed, and the meeting adjourned with a general feeling that a well merited rebuke had been administered. That night some wags, lacking in due respect for the ladies, hoisted a petticoat at half-mast on the flag pole in front of the express office. The exposure of this piece of feminine apparel in so conspicuous a way was like flaunting a red flag in the face of a Spanish bull. It was not the red encasement of the famous scold, Zantippe, but a modest looking garment, possibly intended as a flag of truce ; but the act was misinterpreted as a declaration of war, and it was met with the spirit of incensed and outraged femininity. Knots of angry women gathered and discussed the situation, and two, whose ire knew no bounds, marched to the foot of the pole, armed with Allen " pepper boxes"-a fire-arm most dangerous to the holder-one with an ax, and fully determined to haul down the obnoxious garment. Men gathered round them, some in bad temper, and a word or blow might have created a bloody riot. One of the women demanded that the men haul down their colors, for- getting that a petticoat is an oriflamme that always arouses man's chivalry. There was no response. Again the demand was made, and a vigorous blow from her ax made the pole quiver. At this juncture Dr. Brooks stepped forward and agreed to haul down the hateful bit of apparel, and the women marched off in triumph, firing their little guns in the air, totally regardless of the feelings of the poor men whom they had forced to an inglorious surrender. The end of the war was not reached, however, for the next morning an immense pine tree on the bank of Dairy creek was adorned with a male and a female effigy, the latter in a gorgeous silk dress, and occupying a sub- ordinate position in mid air, taken to be indicative of man's superiority. This was a master stroke of agressive strategy. There was no woman strong enough to chop the tree down, none bold enough to climb it, and no woodman could be found who dared bury his ax in the sacred trunk. The storms came, the winter winds whistled and

WALLING .LITH-PORTLAND-DR.

RESIDENCE OF THOS. SHRUM, NORTH UMPQUA VALLEY, DOUGLAS CO,

369

JACKSON COUNTY.

moaned through the leaves of the pine, and still the effigies swung and swayed to and fro, as evidence that the weaker sex was fairly out-generaled.

The most conspicuous mark of progress this year [1855] was the establishment of the Table Rock Sentinel, by Messrs. T'Vanlt, Taylor and Blakely. True, the dimin- utive sheet did not require a double cylinder lightning press, but it was the first news- paper in Southern Oregon, and as a reflex of public opinion and a record of current events it soon exerted considerable influence. The initial number appeared on Novem- ber 24, 1855, and the few quarts of type that spread disjointed, yet most acceptable news from the "States," and from the Willamette settlements have been replaced many times by new fonts. The first number asserted itself as " Independent on all subjects and devoted to the best interests of Southern Oregon," but subsequent issues developed a tendency towards the dissemination of unqualified democracy and the bitterest hatred of any thing inimical to the interests of that communion. Its editor, W. G. T'Vault, was a man of ability and force of character, compensating for lack of culture by force of will, uncompromising in his animosities, but fair to his friends, and the copies of his little sheet on file show a very fair record of the times, if not always a temperate dis- cussion of public questions, or the characters of public men. The venture of the partners was unprofitable, and Mr. T'Vault subsequently became sole owner of the paper, until 1858 when he associated W. J. Robinson with him, and the name was changed to the Oregon Sentinel, which has been ever since retained. In October, 1859, the Sentinel passed into the hands of O'Meara and Freanor, the latter retiring in less than a year and the senior partner abandoning it in May, 1861. Under their manage- ment the political sentiments of the paper were intensely democratic, and at times so radical that citizens loyal to the Union refused it patronage, and its financial affairs became quite unsatisfactory both to its proprietor and its creditors. At this conjuncture Henry Denlinger and Wm. M. Hand, both practical printers, took it, Hand retiring in less than a year to enter the U. S. volunteer service, leaving Mr. Denlinger sole owner. Mr. D. only retained it until July, 1864, when it passed into the hands of B. F. Dowell. During the management of Denlinger the Sentinel was an uncompromising Union paper. Its editor was Orange Jacobs, afterwards chief justice of Washington territory, and its editorials were marked with dignity and strength, always sustaining the govern- ment. The proprietorship of Mr. Dowell continued for more than fourteen years, during which time it was under the editorial management of J. M. Sutton, D. M. C. Gault, Wm. M. Turner, E. B. Watson, Harrison Kelley and Ed. F. Lewis, who at various periods conducted it and always in the interest of the Republican party. It seems that the Sentinel, although fairly supported and patronized, was never a profitable invest- ment, and in 1878, Frank Krause became its proprietor, afterwards associating Mr. Turner with him, who retained his interest about two years and then left Mr. K. sole owner. It is usual to expect a community with the ability to support one newspaper to be able to support two, and in 1857, Messrs. Beggs and Burns started the Jacksonrille Herald which was short-lived and its plant experienced more changes of ownership than did the Sentinel. In 1861 O'Meara and Pomeroy took the outfit of the Herald and started the Southern Oregon Garette, the first number appearing on August 14. The Gazette was intensely democratic ; indeed, so bitter and shamelessly disloyal to the government that in a few months it was refused the privilege of the U. S. mails and 48

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 southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources, Part 51

Author: Walling, A G pub Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Portland, Or., A. G. Walling Number of Pages: 832

Author: Walling, A G pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Portland, Or., A. G. Walling
Number of Pages: 832