USA > Oregon > Douglas County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 60
USA > Oregon > Jackson County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 60
USA > Oregon > Josephine County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 60
USA > Oregon > Coos County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 60
USA > Oregon > Curry County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 60
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FRENCH SETTLEMENT .- The community known as the French Settlement inhabits a tract of land belonging to Cole's valley precinct, and lying at the foot of the Coast Range, about eight miles northwest from Roseburg. The tract is bounded on the east side by the South Umpqua and surrounded on other sides by spurs of the Coast Range. The land is fertile ; grain of all kinds grows well and fruit attains remarkably fine flavor. The locality is protected by the heights of land surrounding it and in many ways enjoys high advantages. The entire tract is four miles by one and a half miles and is watered by a small stream known as Champagne's creek. The surrounding hills and mountains furnish feed for cattle and other domestic animals, while the plow lands produce abundant and certain crops.
Thomas Flournoy first settled in this valley in 1850, but soon abandoning it he was succeeded by A. B. Culver, now of Coos county. Within a year or two certain people of French extraction settled in the valley, giving it its present name. Their coming is thins accounted for ; Mr. H. B. Flournoy, returning from the California mines in 1851 induced a number of French Canadians to accompany him and settle in the valley adjoining that which goes by his name. The names of these people were Francois Archambean, Joseph Champagne, - Gouler and David Grenot. Mr. Gouler died about 1862. About a year after their arrival their numbers were increased by the coming of several of their fellow countrymen, Narcisse Laraut, Ferdinande La Brie, Charles La Pointe, M. M. Moran et Fozet and Ferdinand Fortin. Most of these gentlemen still reside within the settlement where they live honored and useful lives. All those named except David Grenot were Canadian French, the exception being European born.
OAKLAND .- The thriving town of Oakland is situated on the line of the Oregon & California road sixteen miles north of Roseburg, and is one of the most prosperous communities in the county. Surrounding it is a large area of agricultural and grazing land, for which it is the shipping and supply point. There are two town sites, one of them, now known as the "Old Town," being the original business center. This town was situated in an oak grove, which inspired the title it bears.
In 1851, Dr. Dorsey S. Baker, now a capitalist of Walla Walla, settled here and built a residence, store and grist mill. In 1857, he sold the mill and a greater portion of the land to E. S. Young, who still resides in Oakland. The same year Lord & Peters opened another store, and Mr. Whitmore built a hotel. Other settlers at that time were Messrs. Butler, S. Wheeler, -. Banks, J. L. Gilbert and others. Quite a
WALLING - LITH-PORTLAND.OR.
DEPOT HOTEL, PROPERTY OF RICHARD THOMAS, OAKLAND, DOUGLAS CO.
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town sprung up at Oakland, and, about 1860, a small school house was erected, which was supplanted in 1868 by the commodious structure now standing there. Oakland continued to grow until 1872, when a revolution was made in its affairs by the appear- ance of the Oregon & California railroad, which passed some distance to one side of the town. A depot was located and three of the four stores then doing business in the town-Crane & Pike, Abraham Bros., and Marks & Zelinsky-removed to the new location. Young & Vail remained in the "old town" until 1878, when E. G. Young, being sole proprietor of this store, also moved to the present town, which had then become a place of considerable importance. The mill still remains at the old location and is the property of Eubanks & Batty. It is operated by William Wheeler, and has a daily capacity of twenty barrels of flour.
The present town of Oakland stands on parts of the donation claims of Resin Reed, Sr., and L. H. Crow. Crow sold to Thomas Banks and James Smith, who in turn conveyed to G. Mehl. Reed sold the north half of his claim to C. H. Bennett. In 1871 A. F. Brown purchased all these claims and James Sterling's homestead of 240 acres, and upon this land the railroad company located its depot. Oakland remained the terminus of the road for about six months, during which time it was an exceed- ingly lively place. The town has gradually expanded with the development of the surrounding country, and now contains three general stores, two hotels, one boot and shoe shop, one harness shop and livery stable, three churches, one academy, and a number of neat and comfortable residences. Chenewoth, Stearns & Co. occupy a brick building, which was erected in 1873 by J. E. Pike. The present firm purchased it in 1883 from R. Smith & Co., successors of Mr. Pike. A warehouse and steam cleaner are used in connection with the store. The building occupied by A. F. Brown was built in the old town in 1869 by Abraham & Bros., and removed to its present loca- tion in 1872. Mr. Brown became a partner in 1875, and in 1883 became sole pro- prietor. He has a warehouse for storing grain and wool. The store of E. G. Young & Co. was founded in 1868 in the original town by Young, Vail & Co. In 1872 Mr. Young purchased Mr. Vail's interest and in 1878 moved the building to Oakland. The firm deals largely in grain, and owns a warehouse. Taylor & Hall's hardware store was founded as a general merchandise store by Wheeler Bros., and was purchased by its present proprietors in 1879. J. H. Shupe opened a variety store in 1878, and in 1871 formed a partnership with Dr. J. C. Shambrook, and embarked in the drug, grocery and notion trade under the firm name of J. H. Shupe & Co. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express office is located in this store. The drug and variety store of Page & Dimick was founded by Venable & Nudley. In 1877 the firm became Page & Ven- able. The new store building was built by them in 1882. Subsequently Z. Dimick became a partner upon the death of Mr. Venable. G. B. Barr's saddlery establishment was opened in April, 1883. Wm. Moore is proprietor of the boot and shoe shop, John Beckley of the livery stable, and R. Thomas and J. Smith of the hotels.
Until 1881 the old and new towns were comprehended in one district, since when they have been distinct. Oakland has no school building, but the publie money was devoted to the Oakland Academy, where a public school is taught independently of the ordinary course. This institution was founded in 1880, by Prof. G. T. Russell, a graduate of Harvard. Three sessions are held each year, and three teachers are
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employed, this number, upon occasion, being increased to five. There are five church organizations, which, in connection with the school and academy, indicate a high moral and intellectual standard in the community. The Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Episcopal denominations have church edifices, while the Presbyterians and Southern Methodists hold services frequently.
The Masons and Odd Fellows each have organizations in Oakland. Winchester Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., the first in the county, was organized August 1, 1857, at Winchester, with the following officers : L. F. Mosher, W. M .; J. J. Patton, S. W .; James Odle, J. W .; W. J. Martin, Treas .; L. P. Brown, Sec. ; R. P. Daniels, S. D. The lodge was granted a dispensation to move to Oakland in the spring of 1860, where the first meeting was held on the first of March. In 1862 the charter was surrendered because nearly all the members had left the place to work in the mines. At that time D. C. Underwood was W. M .; W. H. Brackett, S. W .; R. C. Underwood, J. W .; L. P. Brown, Sec .; W. Hotchkiss, Tyler. In 1872, the grand lodge of Oregon granted a dispensation to organize Oakland Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., and this was effected on the nineteenth of July, with officers as follows: A. F. Brown, W. M .; J. W. Johnson, J. W .; T. Barnard, Treas. ; J. B. Smith, Sec. ; C. D. Dearling, S. D .; J. W. Howard, J. D .; A. J. Chapman, Tyler, Stated convocations are held in the hall over Page & Dimick's store. The officers for 1883 were: R. Smith, W. M. ; William Stephens, S. W .; D. W. Stearns, J. W .; A. F. Brown, Treas .; G. T. Russell, Sec. ; M. Partin, Tyler. Umpqua Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., was organized April 10, 1872, by the following charter members : H. Abraham, N. G .; George Coun, V. G .; J. E. Pike, R. S. ; W. S. Pinkston, Treas. ; S. W. Miser, J. R. Dodge, S. Abraham, H. Zelinsky, J. W. Howard, G. R. Ellison, James A. Sterling, H. C. Dimick and F. A. Metz. The lodge has now a membership of twenty-six, and meets in the hall over A. F. Brown's store. The officers for 1883 were : F. A. Metz, N. G .; M. Partin, V. G .; G. A. Taylor, R. S .; J. Dodge, Treas.
Oakland became an incorporated city by the act of the legislature in 1878, and the elections held each year have resulted in choosing the following officers :
TRUSTEES. *
RECORDER.
TREASURER.
MARSHAL.
1878
J. D. Mckinnon, E. J. Page. L. A. Pike, G. R. Sacry, J. N. Shupe.
P. C. Parker.
M. H. Hobart.
A. R. Patton.
1879
J. R. Redman, L. C. Wheeler, James Haz- elton, William Hargan, Jas, C. Voung.
George Settle.
Paul Renhaven.
Alex. Hobart.
1880
J. H. Shupe, R. Smith, G. A. Taylor. J. W. Canaday, George F. Merriman.
A. F. Brown.
L. A. Pike.
J. B. Murray.
188I
J. H. Shupe, R. Smith, J. W. Canaday, E. C. Sacry, C. M. Hall.
George Settle.
L. A. Pike.
J. W. Norwood.
1882
J. H. Shupe, A. G. Young, W. F. Kerley, Geo. R. Sacryt, William K. Hanna.
R. Smith.
L. A. Pike.
John S. Beckley.
1883
A. G. Voung, J. C. Hutchinson, G. A. Taylor, Geary Young. George Barr.
J. H. Shupe.
Z. Dimick.
John S. Beckley.
The one first named was president of the board.
+ Failed to qualify, and James Chenewoth chosen to the vacancy.
Oakland lies in the midst of a splendid agricultural region, and is one of the most prosperous of the younger towns of Oregon. Its growth has been slow but steady and permanent, keeping pace with the development of its surroundings. Its business is
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established on a firm basis, and is gradually increasing. As a place of residence it is very desirable, both on account of its pleasant location and its agreeable inhabitants.
DRAIN .- One of the most important business centers of Douglas county is Drain, a station on the Oregon and California railroad thirty-six miles northerly of Roseburg and twenty miles north from Oakland. It is, also, the point from which stages run to Scottsburg, Gardiner and other coast points. The town lies on Pass creek near its junction with Elk creek. It is some twelve miles south of the boundary line of Lane county, and is the shipping point for an extensive region. The greater portion of the land in the immediate vicinity is used for grazing purposes. The town lies in a canyon, and the surrounding hills furnish good grass and plenty of timber. On the east is the fertile Scott's valley, on the north Pass creek canyon, on the west Putnam valley and other agricultural districts, and on the south a portion of Yoncalla valley, all tributary to Drain. Northeast, northwest and southwest is a considerable area of government and railroad land valuable for grazing, timber and farming purposes, as yet unsurveyed and unsettled.
The site of the town was first settled upon in 1847, by Warren N. Goodell, who took up a donation claim of 320 acres. This was purchased in 1858, by Jesse Apple- gate, who sold it in 1860 to Charles Drain for farming and agricultural purposes. When the Oregon and California railroad reached this point in 1872, in its progress southward, it was surveyed and platted for a town, and was named in honor of Charles and John C. Drain, who donated to the company the sixty acres upon which the town was laid out. Two stores were at once built by J. W. Krewson and C. E. Tracy, also a hall which was used for a church, school-room and other purposes until 1882. Drain has grown steadily in size, population and business since its founding-until the past two years, since when its progress has been more rapid. Since 1881, the population has doubled, and the town is in a highly prosperous condition. Fully 500 people are living within the limits of the school district.
The business interests of Drain are quite numerous. J. C. and C. D. Drain are proprietors of a general store, and have just completed a large brick building. Joseph C'ellers has a large store which was founded by a grange association in 1877, was sold to Krewson & Co., in 1878, and in 1883, was purchased by the present owner. Kuy- kendall & Estes have a variety and drug store, founded in 1882, also the post office and Wells, Fargo & Co's., express office. Jesse Gross established a hardware store in 1883. M. M. McCulland keeps a hotel, R. L. Shelly has a store, shop and harness shop in Dr. Stryker's brick building. This structure was erected in 1881 by the Doctor and his sons, burning and laying the brick themselves. There are, also a blacksmith shop, cabinet shop, butcher shop and livery stable. On Pass creek Johnson & Ellenberg own and operate a grist mill, built in 1877 by Krewson & Drain. The mill consumes 18,000 bushels of grain annually, or all that is raised in its neighborhood. Palmer & Bros. have a steam saw mill on Pass creek in Drain. The yearly product is 1,500,000 feet, though the mill has a capacity of 10,000 feet per day. The timber, principally fir with some ash, oak, alder and maple, is cut on Pass and Sandy ereeks and rafted down to the mill. Another mill is situated on Ritchey creek, a tributary of Pass ervek, and is owned by B. R. Fitch. The annual output is about 1,500,000 fect.
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About 1861 a school district was organized, and a log school house was constructed by Charles Drain, C. F. Colvin, J. M. Gardner and S. Ensley, two and one-half miles from the site of the present town of Drain. In 1869, a new house was erected near the old one. When the town was laid out, a hall was erected, in which school was main- tained until 1882, when the citizens subscribed very liberally to the construction of an academy, which was placed under the supervision of the Methodist church. In 1883, Prof. H. L. Benson and Miss Anna Geisendorfer were given charge of the school, which is now a flourishing and meritorious institution. In 1878, the Christian denomi- nation organized a society of thirteen members and erected a church edifice. The membership is now thirty. The Methodists hold services in the academy.
November 7, 1878, the grand master of Oregon issued a dispensation to organize Pass Creek Lodge, A. F. & A. M. The organization was effected with the following officers: Jonas Ellenberg, W. M .; John Young, S. W .; A. Hickethui, J. W .; W. N. Boots, Treasurer ; J. W. Krewson, Secretary ; John Barker, S. D .; J. Cellers, J. D .; B. R. Fitch, Tyler. The charter was granted July 13, 1879. The lodge is now in a healthy condition, with officers as follows : Jonas Ellenberg, W. M .; McChien Johnson, S. W .. J. E. Payton, J. W .; J. Cellers, Treasurer; J. W. Krewson, Secretary; Martin Andrews, S. D .; William N. Boots, J. D .; B. R. Fitch, Tyler.
WINCHESTER .- Situated on the North Umpqua, five miles north of Roseburg, is Winchester, the oldest town in the original county of Douglas, and the former county seat. The town was laid out in lots by A. R. Flint, now a resident of Roseburg, in 1851, on the farm of John Aiken. Messrs. Carter & Emory bought the first lot and erected the first building soon after the town site was selected, and opened a store for the purpose of trading with the settlers then fast locating in the surrounding region. Goods were purchased and packed on mules to this pioneer store, whose customers were scattered over a radius of fifty miles. S. W. Cram was proprietor of the first hotel. Winchester became a noted place, and had prestige over all towns in Southern Oregon or Northern California for a four years, and when Douglas county was organized, it was designated by the legislature as the seat of justice. Later the county seat was removed to Roseburg by a vote of the people. Even at that time the town was wan- ing, and it soon lost its commercial importance as its neighbor grew in size and wealth. The first sermon preached south of the Calapooia mountains was delivered in the house of John Aiken in 1850, before the town was laid out or even thought of.
GARDEN VALLEY .-- Situated just below the junction of the north and south branches of the Umpqua, is four and one-half miles long, and derives its name from the character of the soil which is especially adapted to vegetables and garden products. The first permanent settlements were made by B. J. Grubbe, now a resident of Wilbur, Sol- omon Fitzhugh, now residing near Port Orford, and E. T. Grubbe, at present residing at Wilbur. The proprietors of the fertile bottom lands of Garden valley are Charles La Point, Narcisse La Rout, E. E. and T. J. La Brie, J. O. Booth and Jefferson Gil- liam. The valley was completely inundated by the great flood of 1861-2, so that the main current of the river flowed over the body of the valley. The bridge across the Umpqua at Winchester was washed across the valley complete, and all improvements, except the residence of E. T. Grubbe, were destroyed.
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WALLING - LITH PORTLAND. OR
MRS. CHARLES DRAIN.
WALLING-LITH PORTLAND OR
Charles Drain
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DOUGLAS COUNTY.
DEER CREEK .- This stream drains the region immediately to the castward of Rose- burg and flows into the South Umpqua at that place. The total length of the stream is some twenty miles, and it has three branches, known as South, Middle and North Deer creek. The valley of Deer creek is of considerable breadth, and contains a large quantity of excellent farming land. About its headwaters are mountains of consider- able altitude by which its valley is separated from those of Myrtle creek and the affluents of the North Umpqua. The soil of the Deer creek valley is capitally adapted to the culture of cereals, and produces excellent erops of every cultivated species of grain. Some of the first farms of the county are found here, many of the owners of whom might be mentioned as progressive and intelligent agriculturists. The industry and enterprise of the settlers has borne fruit not alone in improved farms, good fences and comfortable residences, but in school houses, churches and other improvements.
Grazing is an important industry of the valley, the surrounding hills affording the finest of grass for the sustenance of cattle, sheep and horses, and a considerable amount of mast from the forest trees is of material aid in the rearing of hogs. Generally speak- ing, agriculture is in a very forward state on Deer creek, and the farmers have signalized themselves by a steady devotion to the interests of their craft.
Deer creek received its first settlers in 1851. Among its pioneers the name of Philip Peters takes the first rank. The population of this part of Douglas county centered at first at the mouth of Deer creek, and until the year 1856 or thereabouts the thickly settled locality at that point was known by the name of Deer creek-a cogno- men soon after changed to Roseburg in honor of Aaron Rose, and the former name has since been confined to the stream and its valley.
The resources of the country around Deer creek are various. On the hills and mountains about its head a very fine quality of timber prevails, being mainly sugar pine, red and yellow fir, and cedar. The hard woods are oak, madrone, and a few less important kinds. Lumbering will doubtless be a pursuit of considerable importance in days to come. A considerable amount of lands, suitable for grazing or tillage still remain unoccupied about the head of the creek but will doubtless be taken up by the immigrants very soon. This land, even on the highest elevations, is productive and would doubtless well repay its careful cultivation.
YONCALLA .- Lying in the extreme northern end of the county is Yoncalla valley, one of the most beautiful of the mountain-locked valleys of the Pacific coast. It is some eight miles in length from north to south and about three in width. It is drained by the Youcalla, a tributary of Umpqua river and a stream of considerable sice. The valley was settled in 1848 by William and John Scott, sons of Captain Levi Scott. They were followed by Robert and Thomas Cowan in 1848, by Jesse Applegate. J. T. Cooper (who had come into the Umpqua to explore the stream) and John Long and - Jeffery, in 1849, and by Robert Smith, Charles and Lindsay AApplegate and William Wilson in 1850.
When the Oregon and California railroad was built through the valley in 1872, at station was established called Yoncalla, on the donation claim of Mr. G. A. Burt, who gave 48 acres to the railroad company in consideration of building the depot on his limil. This is the general shipping and receiving point and has become a town of consider- able importance. It has two general merchandise stores, kept by R. A. Booth and (.
56
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E. Tracy. Mr. Booth is postmaster and Mr. Tracy is agent for Wells, Fargo & Co. A school and church organizations are well supported. Yoncalla, or, as more properly spelled, " Yoncolla," is a word of Indian origin, derived from yonk (eagle) and colla (mountain), and was originally applied to Eagle mountain, five miles northeast of the town. A saw mill was erected in 1882, by R. A. Booth, with a capacity of 10,000 feet per day. In the north end of the valley and but two miles from Drain are the celebrated Payton mineral springs. Much attention is now being paid to stock, though the valley is the best wheat land lying south of the Calapooias, and prob- ably no section of the state can present so great a proportion of well-to-do, and even wealthy citizens.
ELKTON .- On the Umpqua river; sixteen miles west of Drain, is the little village of Elkton, at the mouth of Elk creek. By this name the stream was known in early times by the Hudson's Bay Company men, and right opposite the mouth of the stream was located the company's old fort spoken of in the early history of the county. With the exception of the employees of the company, the earliest settlers were H. B. Hart, James F. Levins, Ira Wells, Dr. Wells, W. F. Bay, George Payne and Zachariah Levins, who all located on the creek in 1850. In the fall of that year Winchester, Payne & Co. surveyed a town site where Elkton now stands, as has been related in the county history. They could not hold possession and therefore abandoned it. The next effort to make a town was in 1854, when the county of Umpqua surveyed a town site for a county seat upon forty acres of land donated by James F. Levins ; but this was found to be impracticable and the project was abandoned. The first convention in Umpqua county was held under an old oak tree on this same spot in 1851, which tree still stands near the corner of Mr. Levins' woodshed. That building possesses the dis- tinction of being the one in which Judge Deady held court in 1853. A saw mill was built at the mouth of Elk creek in 1878, and the next year a grist mill was erected by a company composed of Henry Beckley, John Smith, D. M. Stearns, Levi Kent, H. B. Hart and Levi Berkley. The yearly capacity of these mills is 200,000 feet of lum- ber and 2,000 barrels of flour. A little town soon sprung up, and in 1879 H. B. Hart and George Dimick opened a store, which was afterwards purchased by C. W. Baker, and later by Henry Beckley and J. W. Stark. The population of Elkton and vicinity is now about 350. Among the prominent and successful farmers and stockmen may be counted H. B. Brown, Charles G. Henderer, Levi Kent, John Smith and Ira Wells. A good public school is maintained. Elkton Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M. was organ- ized under dispensation granted August 14, 1874, in which were named the following officers : Robert Booth, W. M. ; E. B. Smith, S. W .; W. R. Patterson, J. W .; W. W. Wells, Treasurer; James McCahey, S. D .; August Wood, J. D. Charter was granted June 14, 1875. The present membership is twenty-one. The soil of the val- ley is black, sandy loam, and is very productive. Being somewhat removed from a market, agriculture has been made secondary to stock raising. No section of Doug- las county produces better sheep, bacon or beef. The old Roseburg and Scottsburg road and the Coos bay mail route unite at Elkton and cross the creek over a truss bridge which was erected in 1879. Much of the product of the valley is sent down to Scottsburg and Gardiner for shipment. When the employees of the Hudson's Bay Company deserted the fort at Elk creek during the gold excitement in 1848-49, the
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large bands of cattle owned by the company there became scattered. They soon be- came wild, and the early settlers were compelled to slaughter them to protect their own animals. For several years the settlers and freighters supplied themselves with meat from this source.
SCOTTSBURG .- The first town of Southern Oregon, the former metropolis of this whole region, and the county seat of Umpqua county before its consolidation with Donglas, was Scottsburg, situated on the north bank of Umpqua river, some thirty miles above its mouth, and at the head of navigation on that stream.
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