USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 5
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To the People of the Territory of Oregon. to all of whom these Presents shall come:
Know ye, that, pursuant to the constitution and laws of our said territory, we have ap- pointed and constituted, and by these presents do appoint and constitute, Thos. D. Kaiser captain of the first volunteer company of rangers of said territory, with rank from April 3, 1844, to hold the said office in the manner specified in and by our constitution and laws.
In testimony whereof we have caused our seal for military commissions to be hereunto affixed.
Witness: D. HILL, Esq, J. GALE, Esq. A. BEERS, Esq.
[L. S.]
Executive Committee of said Territory, and Commanders-in-Chief of all the Militia and Volunteer Companies of said Territory.
Dated at the Willamette Falls, the third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and forty-four.
Attest: O. JOHNSON, Sect.
THE MAN THAT MAKES HAY.
Hurrah for old "hayseed," the king of the sod,
He lives close to Nature, and Nature's part God;
He's rich in her friendship, for say what you may, Nature's in love with the man that makes hay.
He don't cut much figure in codfish or dress ;
Is scant of the buncomb that fools do possess;
But if we want friendship, the kind that will pay.
See how we all look for the man that
The merchant, the banker, all seek tor his aid;
For he is the sinew and life of all trade. He prospers-we prosper; he fails-woe the day,
For life even hangs on the man that makes hay.
Then throw wide your doors, and wel- come him here;
Our best earthly friend-the one to hold dear-
And give all of honor and good will to- day,
To Earth's noblest worker, the man that makes hay.
-C W PHILLIPS.
35.
1755265 TWO CHAPS. IN A BOY'S LIFE.
TWO CHAPS. IN A BOY'S LIFE.
Preface.
the school yard was an untrimmed he ige Late in an autumn of early days there lived in McMinnville, Yamhill county, a stately, old-fashioned professor, who always wore a tall "stovepipe" hat, a broadcloth suit, with long-tailed coat, a very high, sharp-cornered collar, and an old-fashioned "choker." He was smooth-shaven, angular, severe to the verge of cruelty, and presided over the destinies of the "college." The boys cordially hated him, while the girls stood in dread of him. Such . of wild rose bushes, the branches of which were covered with vicious thorns. Charlie selected a bush about six feet high, which was finally cut down, trimmed of its branches, two hand holds- provided, and in triumph this was deliv- ered to the teacher, with all its thorns in a good state of preservation. As he en- tered the room the teacher laughed heart- ily. There was no whipping that day, but Charlie was stood up, facing the wall. The professor relented later on, honors rested easily on his sloul- and sent him to his seat. Before the pro- ders, however, and, instead of feeling,, fessor had gone, he discovered Charlie badly, he accepted them as a tribute to his ability. His name was M-, and his title "professor," but the boys usu- ally called him "the old man." with one of his boots off. This shocked the dignity of "the old man," and he made a lunge for the rose bush. Not noticing hand holds prepared by the cul- Chap. I. prit, his hand was badly torn by the thorns, which raised his ire, and he flour- ished the stick over the culprit's head, with all its thorns bristling in the sun- light. Charlie was badly scared, but, with his fright, however, he conceived a bitter hatred for "that big fellow with a stick."
Will B- and Charlie W- were two schoolboys who sat together. The latter always had a limited supply of chewing- gum, which was left in his desk while at recitations. He soon discovered that his companion improved the time by chewing it in his absence, and deter- mined to put a stop to it. One day he gathered from his boot a little mud, which was carefully rolled into a ball. A little gum was then pressed out very thin, and as carefully wrapped around the mud, all of which was stealthily slipped into its accustomed place in the desk. In a few minutes, without the slightest warning, Will's fist came in contact with Charlie's ear. und there was an exhibition of "the manly art," which was interrupted by the teacher, who sent Charlie out for a stick with which to be punished, along with the other fellow. Now, Charlie had a bran-new Barlow knife, of which he was very proud. Near
Chap. 2.
On the way to school there were two houses side by side and about six feet apart. The one toward the schoolhouse had been moved back from the street 15 feet, and raised six feet from the ground. Rough boards were nailed from the porch to the ground in front, and also on the side toward the school. A bright, lusty billy-goat lived in this vi- cinity, and was subject to the treatment usually accorded to such pets by boys in any healthy neighborhood. On a cer- tain morning Charlie and several trusted friends were annoying the goat, just be- yond the first house, when the stately tread of "the old man" was heard ap-
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
proaching. By the united efforts of the whole crowd, the goat was restrained until the professor was "right onto 'em," when all hands let go and skipped under the house. The goat shook his beard, rolled his eyes ominously, kicked one hind foot, then the other, worked his jaws spasmodically, kept time with his tail, and backed off, just as the profes- sor showed up. Billy was on the war- path and understood his business. Like a battering ram he jumped into the air, and lit on the professor, just below the small of the back. "The old man" went off the sidewalk head first, and his til? rolled into the gutter. As quick as pos- sible he started to his feet, but Billy was on hand a second time, and while the professor was yet on all fours, planted his head right where he did first time. Tell you what it is, Billy was a center shot. He always fought fair, too. As
long as the professor laid perfectly flat, Billy would walk around, work his jaw, but not say a word. He would kick one hind foot, then the other, roll his eyes from side to side, glance up town, then down town. All this time he was shak- ing his whiskers that the wind might blow through them. If the enemy moved, he backed off, lowered his head, and prepared for en:ergencies. After a long period, that seemed to the profes- sor unduly protracted, he managed to crawl to the fence in a perfectly flat state, and with one quick motion he went over, assisted by Billy, who caught him in mid- air, and helped him along. In his haste the professor failed to select a good spot on which to alight, and went sprawling in a mudhole, with his clothes torn, and with divers and sundry bruises that were not described in the village paper. Charlie was satisfied.
THE HORSE.
From the records of geology and a knowledge of the present it can be said that on two different occasions the val- leys of Oregon have furnished this noble animal with pasturage. In the perusal of the writings of Professors Huxley, Marsh and Condon, recognized authori- ties on geological research, one will find that in our own state was the home of the original horse. His remains dug from the sandstone deposits near The Dalles are offered as evidence. Today we again find him proudly stepping over the grave of his past. From this paleon- tological age until the landing upon this continent of the Spanish explorers, there is no sign of his presence. With them came a stock descended from the steeds of Asia. These may have been worthy of the stride of a king, but their get, through running wild and attendant influences to degrade, retrograded into
what is known as the "Cayuse" ponies. With the advent of the pioneer came an- other breed, destined to push from the pastures the ponies, and they are being driven, together with other inferior stock, to the corral of the canners of horse- flesh. The supplanters were for a time said to be of the English strain, which, by attention, climate and breeding, re- solved itself into a new-the American- and it will not be many years before the world will acknowledge another-the Or- egon-horse. Other sections of the Union have given years of attention to reducing the seconds in which a horse could be driven a mile, Oregon but a short time, and during these brief years her progress has been wonderful. She can claim as hers the first of but four stallions in the world to be rated as hav- ing to their credit a get of over half a dozen 2:10 performers to their credit.
37
ONE ON COLONEL NESMITH.
Oregon holds world's two-mile trotting and pacing records, and of her horses one has a mile record of 2:072 and sev- eral inside of 2:18. Two have a pacing record of 2:044, and a dozen better than 2:15. What the future will bring forth in speed is yet to be learned, but if the
past is an index of its future, the predic- tion made will surely come true-that the Oregon horse is ahead. Our pas- tures, climate, in a word, the environ- ments by which he is surrounded, will force the issue.
ONE ON COLONEL NESMITH.
About the only person who ever got the best of Colonel Nesmith was a Cay- use Indian called "Sticcus." The colonel was very fond of elk meat, a dish which was not often to be had, even in pioneer times, and, with a prospect of securing a good meal of this savory flesh, he was, during a trip to Eastern Oregon, con- strained to accept of an invitation given by the Indian to dine with him. As his dusky friend could not speak "Boston," and "Chinook" was equally Greek to him, the conversation had to be carried on by pantomime. The Indian's spreading of fingers convinced the colonel that he meant elk antlers, and that the dinner was to be elk meat, so he prepared him- self for and did eat at the meal to his utmost capacity; but imagine his cha- grin when he found outside the camp the ears, tail and hoofs of a mule, instead of some evidences left of the noble ani- mal he supposed he had dined upon. Long afterwards the colonel smiled when any like signs were made, but it was years before he told the joke the Indian had unwittingly played upon him.
Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spaulding were the first American women to come to Oregon, and the first white women to cross the plains and the Rockies. They came in 1836. In 1814 an English woman by the name of Barnes came here on the ship Isaac Todd, but did not re- main here long.
IN OREGON. -
No extremes of temperature, no cy- clones, no blizzzards, no drouth. Bu. little feeding and less housing of stock is required. The products of the field, the vine, the orchard and the garden grow in abundance and are second to none for quality. Timber, varied in kind, cut from Oregon's inexhaustible forests, goes to all parts of the world. The lordly salmon, taken from her streams, is sent to the ends of the earth to be the choicest dish on the festive board. Her stock from a thousand hills have fed the multitudes far away, and from these hills have been taken silver, gold and precious gems to enrich the nations and bedeck the highest with jew- els rare.
"A region where all glories of scene, all charms of climate and all riches of resource meet and clasp hands."
TIMBER IN OREGON.
It is said that government statistics show that there is more timber in Ore- gon than any other state in the Union. Enough to make a belt around the earth over a mile wide. Six hundred million feet of lumber was sawn in 1898. Such amount would make 20,000,000 co ffins and nearly that number of bedsteed's, cr a plank walk over 25 feet wide from Portland, Or., to Portland, Me.
The fishing industry of Oregon is worth about two millions annually.
38
OREGON NATIVE SON.
PURPLE AND GOLD.
Mr. H. C. Wortman has held two offices in the Grand Cabin until recently, those of Grand Treasurer and of Trustee. The latter position he resigned, and Pro- fessor A. P. Armstrong was elected to the vacancy.
Abernethy's cabin has been presented with what is hoped to become the nu- cleus of a fine library. The gift was an appropriate one-a history of Oregon. It was written by Hon. Wm. H. Gray, a pioneer of 1836, and one of the most prominent among those who brought about the formation of the provisional government. The donor was Captain James T. Gray, a son of the author.
During one of the January sessions of the Grand Cabin it was deemed advisable to add another office-Grand Librarian --- to the number of officers in such body. It will be the duty of the incumbent of the position to receive, care for and en- deavor to secure material of a historical nature incident to the history of the state; documents, manuscripts and publications of every description, appertaining there- to; narratives and records of the pioneers of the Oregon Territory: the Indian names of mountains, streams and locali- ties in Oregon, and their interpretations and significations; the Indian traditions relative to the history of the Pacific Northwest prior to white settlement; views of historical incident, place or ob- ject; photos or other pictures of rio- neers; in fact, any and all materials which would be of interest or value to future generations as a museum showing the difficulties, the labors and the triumphs of the pioneers in founding our great state, and who these heroes and heroines were, are to be used for the building up of a library and museum for the benefit
of the people of Oregon. It is also the purpose of the order to own a building suitable for the keeping of such and for the use of the Oregon Pioneer Associa- tion, Indian War Veterans, Oregon His- torical Society and for lodgeroom pur- poses of the Native Sons and Daughters. All of these various associations are mov- ing in the same direction, and Oregon will in time, through their efforts, have a creditable, instructive and valuable col- lection of relics, documents and other matter, which all can mention with pride. It will not be the intent of this move on the part of the Native Sons to divide the wonted articles which should be collected, but rather to act in conjunction with all interests, and, when the exhibit will jus- tify, form with them a collective museum and library. Mr. F. H. Savler has been appointed Grand Librarian, and earnestly solicits that pioneers, their descendants and others, aid in forwarding this good work to their utmost, that the objects sought for may be attained. All remin- iscences, however brief, or article of his- toric character, small and perhaps looked upon as insignificant, will be most ac- ceptable. Address F. H. Saylor, Grand Librarian Native Sons of Oregon, rooms 716-17 Oregonian building, Portland, Oregon.
If any member of Abernethy's Cabin is entitled to consideration for services rendered, that Native Son is Sol Blu- mauer. He has been the means of plac- ing more names on its roll of member- ship than nearly all the rest put together, and he keeps going right ahead, not only for his own cabin's welfare, but also for the order's good throughout the state.
39
PURPLE AND GOLD.
Abernethy's Cabin, as well as the state at large, has sustained a loss through the tragic death of Hollister D. McGuire, late fish commissioner of the state, who was drowned in the Umpqua river on the 8th inst., while seeking a location for a salmon hatchery. Mr. McGuire was born Aug. 18, 1843, on a farm located a few miles west of Portland. In his early years his parents removed to the city, where he received his education in the public schools, and grew to man- hood. He was active in various enter- prises which were a benefit to the com- munity, and for several years was in the cattle business in Crook county. In all his transactions he conducted himself as a progressive citizen and an honest man should. On March 1, 1893, he was ap- pointed to the position held at the time of his death, and he was such a capable officer that politics were set aside and merit considered through the succeeding administrations, and he was reappointed as often as a change came, much to the satisfaction of the people of Oregon in particular, and our neighboring states in general.
Mr. McGuire leaves a wife and five children to mourn his loss. He was not only a member of the Native Sons, but was also an honored member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, the Elks, the Woodnien and the Artisans.
Grand President Leasure will have his hands full of organization if the pros- pects for the institution of one-half of the new cabins talked of are realized, and there seems to be no doubt whatever about such being the case. The Grand President is the right man in the right place, for no one could have accom- plished more than he has for the order, especially under the difficulties attending and sacrifice of personal business affairs.
Grand Secretary White is as equally er .- thusiastic, and never allows anything to go unnoticed or passed over which will be of a benefit to the increase of the pres- ent number of cabins or the welfare of those now established.
The Grand Cabin hopes to have cabins of Native Daughters established in the near future. While it has been the in- tention to do so all along, it was deemed advisable to not have too much in hand at once, and their institution has been deferred until the establishment of the Native Sons was an assured fact.
The poem, "Peerless Oregon," which appears in this number, though a reprint, is very appropriate for this issue. It has been set to music by Clifford W. Kantner, a son of the author. Musicians pronounce the composition a gem. The composer is an Oregon boy, having been born in Corvallis in 1878.
Who will win that gold emblem of the order ?- the member who secures the most members for Abernethy's Cabin during this term. Reader, will you try to get it?
On Tuesday evening, May 2, Aber- nethy's Cabin will receive the Native Daughters, at which time a fine pro- gram of entertainment will be given for the benefit of the fair visitors, after which refreshments will be served. Ladies whose husbands are Native Sons will be for that evening considered Oregonians. It is expected that a move will be made at such time to get up a charter list for a Cabin of Native Daughters. It is to be hoped that such will be done.
40
OREGON NATIVE SON.
NESIKA WAWA.
For many years a feeling has prevailed throughout the original Oregon that some sort of united effort should be made to collect and systematically classify in- formation as to the early history of this region, but, for one reason or another, such efforts have not met with the hearty support they deserved, and nothing in the way of fully united endeavor seemed to be accomplished. The pioneers, as an organization, have worked faithfully on this line, and, through the energetic efforts of their secretary, Mr. George H. Himes, a great deal of good has been ac- complished, and a vast amount of docu- ments and miscellaneous information collected. However, the pioneers have been continually hampered by lack of funds, and it has been almost entirely due to the indomitable will and perse- verance of Mr. Himes that so much has been accomplished. The unique place of Oregon in history, the peculiarly in- structive character of its history, and the comparative neglect of its sources, afford- ed an historical opportunity which was appreciated at the State University. Pro- fessor F. G. Young began the copying, editing and distributing of the "sources." He hoped in this way to inspire a move- ment with resources adequate for the na- ture of the work waiting to be done. His efforts led directly to the formation of the Oregon Historical Society, which has been incorporated under the laws of the state, and it bids fair to become just such an institution as is desired. Of course, the bone and sinew of Oregon history clusters about the Pioneer Association, which, however, is not so much a history collector as a history maker. This is largely true also of the Indian War Vet- erans, among whom Mr. T. A. Wood
has labored unceasingly and wisely, gath- ering priceless trasures of historical value.
A vast amount of valuable informa- tion has been lost forever by the death of pioneers, whose narratives should have been, but were not, preserved. It is not too late, even now, to render valuable service in this line, and who is there interested in the work equal to the chil- dren of those gone before? Such are the Native Sons, who are proud to take up the work and preserve a record of their fathers. All these institutions work in harmony, and, like the matches, the kindling and coal, neither one is all in all, but all necessary to the fire. It shall be the aim of The Native Son to act as a medium between all interests, and make itself invaluable to every one. To ac- complish this we want your individual support, and your co-operation in secur- ing the assistance of your neighbor. A magazine cannot be maintained on good will alone, but it must have cash, in ex- change for which will be given the mag- azine itself and advertising. It shall be our aim to maintain a high standard for accuracy, and in no manner to mix pol- itics or religion with history. The make- up and general mechanical appearance shall be as fine as the patronage will per- mit. The publishing of a periodical is strictly a matter of business, and it de- pends on the residents of the original Oregon as to whether or not this one shall be a success. We rely with the utmost confidence on such support, and want you to realize that hope. All of the gentlemen named are upon our ed- itorial staff, and the public can rest as- ' sured that all that can be done to bring out the unpublished pioneer history of Oregon will be done.
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NESIKA WAWA.
It is our intention to give the names and date of institutions of the several cabins now organized, together with their first officers. As space will not per- mit for listing of them all in one issue of The Native Son, we will of necessity be obliged to give a resume of only one at a time. The first to be organized was on August 29, 1898, and was given the name of
ABERNETHY'S CABIN,
And was named after Governor George Abernethy, the only provisional govern- or Oregon ever had. It was numbered "I," and from its beginning rapidly in- creased in membership, until now the large hall used for council purpose will hardly accommodate the membership. Its first officers were:
Junior past president, Rev. C. A. Wooddy.
President, Hon. John M. Gearin.
First vice-president, Professor A. P. Armstrong.
Second vice-president, James P. Mof- fett.
Third vice-president, Lansing Stout. Marshal, Wm. H. Warren.
Recording secretary, T. C. Powell. Financial secretary, Sam L. Beary. Treasurer, S. W. Herman.
Trustees, Charles T. Kamm, Marcus Fleischner, F. C. Geer.
Inner sentinel, Wm. N. Barnhart.
Outer sentinel, J. M. Stott.
At the present time, Professor A. P. Armstrong is the president and Frank M. DeWitt is the recording secretary. Coun- cils are held on the first and third Tues- days of each month. Meeting-place, Elks' hall in the Marquam Grand theater.
For several years the fairs held at the Exposition building have been conduct- ed for the benefit of the business inter- ests of the city. As these interests were
the ones which guaranteed the expenses, it was just that they should reap what- ever reward the fairs brought about. There is no doubt but what the city and state in general was benefited throughi the work, but a much greater benefit, and a permanent one, might be secured to the city of Portland and its business interests if the ideas for holding these fairs were enlarged upon. This could be accom- plished if the promoters would advertise, in short: First, the expenses to be paid; second, the surplus, if any, to be set aside as the nucleus of a fund for the gather- ing of and caring for historical relics and objects of interest for a museum. Ad- vertise the undertaking as a pioneer and native son and daughter move, and the business men need not want for assist- ance and patronage. The time has come when the history, relics, mementoes, etc., connected with the building up of the city and state should be collected and placed on exhibit where all could see them. With these have samples of our woods, grasses, grains, fruits, min- erals, etc., and every one will take pride in showing what Oregon was, is, and can become. There has never been a surplus but once, and that was donated to the charitable institutions of the city. Get the patronage of the pioneers, the gratu- itous assistance of their descendants, and, combined with the interests of our busi- ness men, there will be a surplus this year, and it will not be long before the museum we should have will be estab- lished, and all will wonder how easily it was brought about.
In our next issue we will publish a sketch of Homer Davenport, written by his father, Hon. T. W. Davenport. It will not only be unique in its character, but the only article ever published which gives a full resume of the life of this cele- brated native son of Oregon.
42
OREGON NATIVE SON.
It shall be the policy of The Native Son to speak from time to time of the luscious fruits, the blue skies, the rich mines, the fields of golden grain, the speckled beauties, the moaning tide and the grand old mountains in this "land of red apples and rain," where crops never fail, and the heart of the farmer is made glad by bounteous harvests and the pres- ence in our harbors of merchantmen from the uttermost parts of the earth. All these blessings cannot be enumerated in a single issue, much less expatiated on at length, but every month such refer- ence will be made to them as space will permit.
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