USA > Oregon > Marion County > Salem > Oregon and its institutions; comprising a full history of the Willamette University, the first established on the Pacific Coast > Part 6
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The present church edifice, which, when erected in 1850, was considered large and commodious for the population, is now too small to accommodate the multitude that attend the service. Since its first or- ganization in 1841 the Church has shared in a good degree of prosperity, and for several years past its membership has varied from one hundred and fifty
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to two hundred and fifty persons. At the present time, under the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Wythe, M. D., it has enrolled a membership of over two hundred, and a Sabbath-school varying from three hundred to four hundred members. This Church owns a prop- erty consisting of the house of worship and lot, val- ued at ten thousand dollars, and a parsonage prop- erty, the result of a donation from the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1845 through their agent, Rev. George Gary, worth five thousand dollars. It is in contemplation soon to erect a neat and commodious church edifice, which will seat from eight hundred to a thousand persons, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This Church was permanently organized in 1853 by Rev. O. Dickinson, who, under the auspices of a mis- sionary society, then took charge of the infant Church, having only four members, and no church building. Until the present year he has remained the pastor, and has labored with great diligence, perseverance, and success in building up the interests of his denom- ination. The Church was greatly prospered under his administration, and now comprises a membership of about one hundred persons, and a flourishing Sun- day-school connected with the congregation. Mr. Dickinson also saw erected a very neat and suitable church edifice in a central part of the city for the accommodation of his rapidly-growing Church. Re-
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joicing in these abundant fruits of his labors, he ap- plied for and received a dismission from his charge in 1866. Soon after this the Rev. P. S. Knight, one of the alumni of the Willamette University, received and accepted a call to the pastorate of said Church, where he is laboring with great ac- ceptability and usefulness.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
This Church was organized in 1859 by laymen in the absence of ministers, and commenced with nine members. Its first regular minister was Rev. J. L. Fisher, and under his administration the Church rapidly "grew and prevailed." A beautiful church edifice was commenced in 1862, and finished in 1864. The Church property is estimated as being worth six thousand dollars. The Rev. J. P. Hungate is the present incumbent, and has now in charge a large congregation, a good Church membership, and a flourishing Sabbath-school.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
This is an Episcopal Church, and was established here by Bishop Scott, under the auspices of the Mis- sionary Board of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America. This climate seems not to have been fa- vorable to the kind of Christianity inculcated in this Church. It has never prospered much. It is said that the communicants now number thirty-nine, and
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the congregation is correspondingly small. The Sab- bath-school numbers about sixty-eight.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This Church was established in 1862, and finds enough of the Catholic element in the town to sus- tain it in all its peculiar interests. Rev. Father Goens is the present priest of this Church, and labors diligently to build up all of its interests. Connected with it is a kind of nunnery, under the name of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, which is under the di- rection of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Mary and Jesus. This latter, however, is for educational purposes, and its advantages are enjoyed only by young ladies. This Church contemplates the en- largement of their institutions, and they possess the power beyond any other organization to carry out their designs.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. (CAMPBELLITE.)
This Church has recently been organized, and have erected a fine substantial brick building for the ac- commodation of the large number of people of that faith in the vicinity of Salem. In relation to the present condition of the Church as to numbers, Sabbath-school interests, etc., the writer is not informed.
ZION'S CHURCH.
This is a Church which was started by the Rev. James Croasman, a missionary of the "Evangelical
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Association of North America." Mr. Croasman commenced his efforts in the midst of a city of churches, and in a few months had completed one of the handsomest in the town, had dedicated it, and organized a society of about fifty members, and se- cured the attendance of a good congregation ; a measure of success that might well be coveted even in the midst of circumstances vastly more favorable than surrounded him.
THE METHODIST CHURCH, SOUTH.
This denomination has a church building in Salem, but it is not much occupied, and the association does not seem to prosper. This gives the city eight churches ; a number, perhaps, as great in proportion to the population as commonly falls to the lot of such towns to possess, even in the Atlantic states.
Embraced in the institutions of Salem, and requir- ing a passing notice, are those associations which, though not strictly religious, are designed to promote the moral and financial interests of all connected with them, and commonly known as secret societies. These are the following :
Of the Masonic Fraternity there are two depart- ments : Salem Lodge, No. 4, and Multnomah Royal Arch Chapter, No. 1.
Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows there are three departments: Chemekete Lodge, No. 1, Anniversary Lodge, No. 13, and the Willamette Encampment, No. 2.
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Of the Good Templars there are two lodges : Capital Lodge, No. 11, and Salem Lodge, No. 30.
These institutions are all in good repute, and are well sustained, comprehending many of the most influential and best men in the country. The I. O. (. F. have established, for the benefit of the frater- nity, a library association, and have already placed upon the shelves, in Holman's block, five hundred volumes. They have also purchased ground one mile from town, which they have neatly improved, for the purposes of a cemetery.
The institution of Good Templars was introduced into the state mainly through the labors of Rev. George B. Taylor, of California; and lodges have been established in almost every neighborhood, and the result has been beneficial to the country.
The State Library also deserves special notice. This is kept also in Holman's block, and, according to the report of P. H. Hatch, Esq., the state libra- rian, numbers three thousand one hundred and thirty- seven volumes. These consist mostly of law books and public documents and state papers, published by authority of Congress or of the respective states.
The county of Marion, of which Salem is the seat of justice, as well as the capital of the state, has been surveyed, somewhat, in the general descriptions we have given of the Willamette Valley ; but to a proper understanding of the country embraced within its limits, it will be necessary to call attention to a few additional particulars. To accomplish this we will start from Salem on a tour of observation, and take
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the stage road leading north toward Portland, and passing through a skirt of timber of some four miles, we cross a low marshy place called Lake La Bish, and strike the upper end of the French Prairie, so called, because it was first settled by Canadian Frenchmen from the Hudson's Bay Company. This we find is an extensive, fertile, and beautiful prairie, from four to six miles in width, and about twenty miles long. We traverse the whole extent of it, noting the rich and well-cultivated farms on each side of the way, the fine farm buildings, with every other sign of prosperity. We have passed a few snug school- houses, and now we stop a moment at a little town called Waconda, twelve miles from Salem. To the left of us, our faces to the north, the flourishing town of Fairfield, five miles distant, stands upon the river's brink. To the right of us, two miles distant, Fow- lerville, with her mills, driven by the water of Pud- ding River, enlivens the eastern border of the prairie ; while between the two places the country is as beau- tiful as any the sun ever warmed. Proceeding a few miles, we pass Belpassi, a lovely point, where stands a Christian church and academy, sustained by the Cumberland Presbyterians ; ten miles further, bring us to the flourishing town of Aurora. The country through which we have passed we pronounce to be little, if any, inferior to the best portions of the state. The French Prairie is now mostly occu- pied by Americans, the first occupants having sold out and left for other quarters.
Aurora was settled, and is now owned, by a
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German Association, who are bound together by a community of interests. They are a very wealthy company, and have done much to enliven, develop, and enrich that portion of the country where they live.
Butteville, on the bank of the Willamette River, some five miles west of Aurora, is a point of some im- portance, situated near the northwest corner of Marion County. Eastward from Aurora, along the northern line of the county, the country is diversified by tim- bered land and prairie, plains and rising grounds, for more than thirty miles to the foot hills of the Cascade Mountains. The whole distance the country is good, and being brought into a state of cultivation. We will not attempt to trace the eastern line of the county, as that runs along on the summit of the Cascade Range, but will turn southward, and pass along over what we have called the foot hills of these mountains. These we find to be occupied some dis- tance back from their base, and to constitute a fine country both for farming and grazing purposes. As we proceed southward we pass over a number of dashing streams, clear as the crystal and cold as the bubbling spring, which come leaping down from the mountains, in their course forming many beauti- ful cascades, and hurrying on to unite their waters with the Willamette. Among them is Butte Creek, Abaquaw, and Silver Creek. These all fertilize de- lightful portions of the country, and on the latter, where the stream leaves the Waldo Hills, is situated the beautiful and flourishing town of Silverton.
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Not stopping to survey particularly this delightful locality, we pass for several miles over the round, smooth, elevated summits of the Waldo Hills, which we find to be under a very fair state of cultivation ; and on the southern border of these hills, and over- looking a most delightful country, we reach a little town which, from its locality, but more especially from the grandeur of the mountain scenery in its rear, is called Sublimity. From this point we de- scend into the Mill Creek Bottom, and pursuing a well- traveled road for some fourteen miles, along which farms are scattered at convenient distances, we reach Jefferson City, nestling among the evergreens of the Santiam Valley, and on the southern border of the county of Marion. Contemplating for a moment the business-like aspect of this little town, and especially surveying the fine flouring mill built and run by the indefatigable Jacob Conson, Esq., and the fine lum- bering establishment and carding machine conducted by Absalom Smith, Esq., and the several stores and shops of various kinds, not forgetting the Methodist church, built entirely by the benevolence of Rev. Father Parrish, as he is familiarly called, we then step down a mile below, and find another little town which goes by the name of Santiam. We are now fifteen miles directly south of Salem, and, as there is not sufficient importance in Santiam to detain us at that point, we will pass over the Salem Hills, which we have already described, along the great thorough- fare tracked by a daily stage in each direction, noting the many substantial improvements which
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dot the country in all directions, and descending an inclined plane, we again enter, from its southern side, Salem, the pride of Oregon; soon to be num- bered among the most beauteous of the cities of America.
LINN COUNTY.
This county is bounded north by Marion County, east by the Cascade Mountains, south by Lane, and west by Benton, from which it is separated by the Willamette River. Embracing the portion of the Cascades that would come within its limits, it con- tains an area of not less than one thousand five hundred square miles, equal to nine hundred and sixty thousand acres of land. The whole number of acres under cultivation is forty-nine thousand four hundred and five. The population of Linn is second only to Marion, and amounts to about eight thousand souls, there being an exeess of males over females of about six hundred. The number of voters at the last eleetion was two thousand two hundred and fifty. The value of assessable property was two million five hundred thousand dollars. Albany is the county seat, and is situated on the east bank of the Willamette River at the mouth of Callapooia Creek, twenty-five miles south of Salem, and seventy- five miles south of Portland. It occupies a beautiful locality, and is one of the most prosperous towns of the state. It is adorned by a magnificent court- house, which the people of the county have erected at a cost of thirty-one thousand dollars. It is aided
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by extensive flouring mills and other manufactories. The spires of four churches point heavenward, as if to indicate the religious character of the inhabitants. The public schools are of an elevated character, and a college, established under the auspices of the Old School Presbyterian Church, promises great useful- ness to town and county and state. The private dwellings of Albany are more tastefully ornamented than those of any other town in the state. The ex- portations of produce from Albany are greater than from any other inland town. In fine, Albany pos- sesses all the elements of a continued and an en- larged prosperity. It is now the third city in the state.
The county of which it is the seat of justice is one of the best on the Pacific. The Santiam River divides this county from Marion. This river comes down from the Cascades in two branches, the north and south, and there is quite an extent of country between these branches. This is called the "Forks " of Santiam. This is in Linn. The scenery is fine, and the country is not undesirable. The land is rich, and well adapted to farming and grazing purposes. At a central point in the Forks, on a beautiful tributary of the Santiam, is the little flourishing town of Scio. Rapidly growing, and blessed with manufactories, schools, and Churches, it will advance to a place of considerable impor- tance.
Leaving the Forks, and crossing the south branch, we come to the growing little town of Lebanon,
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standing on the borders of the largest and most beautiful prairie in the state of Oregon. This town contains several stores, workshops, etc., and is the locality of an academy which is under the patronage and control of the Oregon Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. This is an institution that would be creditable to a place of much higher pre- tensions, and is now under the able management of the Rev. J. B. Calloway. Its influence for good in the vicinity where it is located is great, and, in pre- paring students to enter the advanced classes in the Willamette University, it is becoming a useful adjunct to that institution. The building is of wood, of fine appearance, and sufficiently large to accom- modate the school for years to come.
Three miles from Lebanon, in a southerly direction, is a bald prairie eminence known as Washington Butte. Beyond this, and further out in the prairie, are Ward's Butte and Saddle Butte. These are elevations of great beauty, somewhat isolated from the foot hills of the Cascades, and from their summit command a view of the largest, the most beautiful, and the best prairie in the state of Oregon. This prairie is, on an average, about ten miles broad and forty-five miles long, being cut, in two or three places, by streams that meander through it. This prairie is all divided up into beautiful farms, the most of which are under a good state of cultivation, and, with their beautiful and cozy farm dwellings, their capacious and well-filled barns, their broad and fruitful fields, their apples, peaches, plums, and
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grapes, and their numerous flocks and herds, consti- tute most delightful homes for their occupants, con- ferring upon them not only a competency of the good things of earth, but even a superabundance.
Brownsville is another important town in this county, and is situated on the Callapooia Creek, twenty-two miles southeast from Albany, and fourteen miles south from Lebanon. This flourishing town has excellent water privileges, which are beginning to be extensively used. Here is a large woolen factory in successful operation, a fine grist mill, and other manufacturing establishments, with a number of stores and business shops of various kinds, all of which give satisfactory evidence that this town, up among the foot hills of the Cascades, possesses the elements of a certain prosperity. It is surrounded by an excellent farming and grazing country, and for many miles up the Callapooia, east of Brownsville, the valley is broad, and composed of the best of farming land, and the foot hills are very fertile, and are settled up for miles back, and constitute one of the best grazing districts in the state. There are several small valleys on the tributaries of the Willamette, among the foot hills of the mountains, which are worthy of mention : Brush Creek, which is a better valley than its name would imply; Mo- hawk Valley, which for some reason took its name from the Mohawk of New York state; and "Sweet Home" Valley, hidden among the mountains, yet as delightful as its name would indicate.
Leaving this eastern portion of the county, and
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traveling westward over a most delightful plain, and taking a survey as we pass along of the nice farms, the splendid orchards, and other objects of interest, keeping within the limits of Linn County, we at length, after proceeding some fifteen miles, reach a point of interest on the east bank of the Willamette River. This is Harrisburg, another prosperous little town, commanding very considerable trade from the rich and extended prairie over which we have just passed. Here also is a large flouring mill, and all the appurtenances of a fine growing town. Steam- boats reach this point quite regularly for six months in the year. Now we will turn to the northward, and travel down along the east bank of the Willa- mette River ; and we will look at the pretty farms, the snug cottages, the noble barns, now and then looking down upon the silvery river flowing at our left as we pass along, and twelve miles below Harris- burg we come to another point of interest called Peoria. It is a little town close upon the river's brink, on a beautiful spot, and commanding con- siderable trade from the fertile prairie on the margin of which it is located, and will doubtless grow in proportion to the advancement of the country around. Again we will proceed northward, and passing through a country of surpassing loveliness for fifteen miles more, we reach Albany again, and here, climbing to the elevated dome of the court-house, we will take a parting view of the county of Linn from that altitude. Looking south, we have a distinct view of Spencer's Butte, and the range of hills form-
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ing the southern boundary of the Willamette Valley, fifty miles distant. We see the mighty Cascade Range, with Hood and Jefferson and the Three Sisters, stretching along to the right and left, and casting their shadows against the eastern sky the distance of at least one hundred and fifty miles. And we also see every foot almost of the beautiful county of Linn, checkered with farms, traversed with roads, dotted with cottages, and teeming with industry, and with the whole panoramic scene before us we are ready to exclaim, "Surely this is a scene of natural beauty and grandeur worthy of the pencil of the most skillful master properly to portray.
Scattered over the fine and extended prairie which we have been surveying are quite a number of houses of worship which have been erected by different de- nominations, and on the Sabbath day nearly all the people are in the house of God.
Numerous white school-houses dot the prairie in every direction, neat, tasteful, and commodious, where the children rally to receive the rudiments of an education. In fine, here, as in every portion of Oregon, are seen on every hand the evidences of an advancing Christian civilization. A few years only have elapsed since an unbroken solitude reigned over these extended plains; but now the solitary places are rejoicing with gladness, and the wilderness is bud- ding and blossoming like the rose. Leaving our high post of observation we come down to the com- mon level of the country, and finish our description of Linn.
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There are two weekly papers published in Linn, both in the city of Albany: the Albany Journal, by Wm. Pickett & Co., and the States Rights Democrat, by Abbott & Brown. Both are popular with the respective parties in whose interest they were estab- lished, and both are useful in developing the resources of the county and state.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY.
This county is principally embraced in the city of Portland, so far as its population is concerned. It lies on the banks of the Willamette River in the north part of the state, with Clackamas on the south, Washington on the west, and Columbia on the north. This county contains a population of near eight thousand souls, with a large preponderance of males over females, as in all other counties on the Pacific. As the land outside of Portland is mainly heavily timbered, there are only four thousand one hundred and fifty-one acres under cultivation. The total value of assessable property, by a recent valuation, is four million dollars. This makes the county of Multnomah the wealthiest one in the state. Port- land is the county seat, as well as the commercial emporium of the state. It stands upon the western bank of the Willamette River, on ground that but a few years ago was covered with a dense and heavy body of fir timber, It extends for two miles up and down the river, and the ground is mainly covered with buildings one half mile back. It has many very
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beautiful and substantial blocks of stores and private dwellings, and it is affirmed that, in proportion to its population, it is the wealthiest city on the Pacific coast, if not in America. There is a road extending from Portland by the way of Salem and Jacksonville, to the city of Sacramento in California, the distance of over six hundred miles, and a line of daily stages ply between the two points. This is a very impor- tant fact in the description of Oregon. This line of stages was first owned by a California company, but by purchase became the property of H. W. Corbett, who was subsequently elected a United States sena- tor from Oregon, and was himself a resident of Port- land. This place is greatly benefited by this line, as is also the entire country. Portland also constitutes a center for Washington Territory and Idaho, and there are daily departures to and arrivals from these portions of the country.
Besides this, Portland is at the head of ship navi- gation on the Willamette River, and here sailing ves- sels and steamboats from San Francisco land all their freight and passengers. If Portland can retain these advantages she must continue to be the commercial center of this part of the Pacific coast. Portland, like Salem, has her "institutions," and we call attention to a few of them.
HER SCHOOLS AND SEMINARIES OF LEARNING.
Portland, like all other towns in Oregon, pays great attention to the subject of education. Her public schools, of which there are several, under the
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management of competent teachers, rank with the best in the country, and are, indeed, decidedly popular.
There are also private schools, concerning which we have little information.
Besides these, there are denominational institutions which are exerting an extensive influence.
The Catholics here also, under the direction of a society of sisters, have established a school, as usual, for the exclusive benefit of girls. They are influ- enced, doubtless, by the consideration that if they can get the girls they will soon have the mothers, and if the mothers, the children that may follow, and conse- quently the country.
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