USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 52
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THE SETTLER AND THE MISSIONARY.
How are you, Mr. Missionary; I'm sure that I don't wish you nary
Thing but just the very best of luck
In the job you've undertook with your Bible and hymn-book To reform the red man out on Skookum Chuck. But to make you understand the job you have on hand.
When you try to save the average Siwash soul. I will give it to you cool, what befell the last damned fool
That tried to corral those critters in the fold. His head was full of facts, and his pockets fuli of tracts.
Ail concerning how the red. man was oppressed; How the sinful pioneer had driven off the deer From the lands the noble savage once pos- sessed.
And when. we would declare that it didn't seem quite fair
That one lazy, naked, worthless Injun cuss Should ten thousand acres claim, just for pas- ture of his game,
This Boston prophet came down hard on us.
He said, "That copper skin hid a heart as true within,
As ever throbbed beneath a white man's vest:" That he'd go forth to meet 'em, and with words of peace he'd greet 'em,
And he'd trust the Lord himself to do the rest.
Well, he went to Skookum Chuck, and assem- bled all the bucks,
And he preached to them in jargon, which he'd learned;
And the old chief he looked solemn, and the warriors, almost all of 'em,
For their soul's salvation seemed to be con- cerned.
And then, as daylight ceased, with a soul re- plete with peace,
He laid him down to slumber just and sound; To his mind there came a vision, Jacob's ladder so Elysian,
With converted Injuns climbing every round.
But when his slumbers broke, and he to the world awoke,
The vision of his sieep was wholly gone:
And instead of Jacob's ladder, there was that which made him madder
For he hadn't a darned garment to put on.
When at last he sought the chief, clad in un- dershirt too brief.
And laid before that red man all his woes;
He was met with "klatawa nika hyas solelex tumtum nika!"
"Klonas ka mitlite mika clothes."
Then the tribe all gathered 'round him, and with lariats they bound him, And with sticks and stones they pelted him full sore:
And the Injun dogs they bit him, and the little Injuns hit him,
And his shirt from off his back they tore.
And in spite of all his tears, they whittled down his ears:
'Though he begged to have them spared with- out avail.
With a piece of cedar plank, his body they did spank,
Then started him upon the homeward trail.
And when he'd been clothed by the settlers that he loathed,
An mind, by rest and quiet, had been calmed.
And I asked him his opinions about Christian- izing Injuns,
He said he thought "the red man should be damned."
What? You think you will return, and your spirit doesn't yearn
To be a martyr? Well. perhaps 'tis better luck; Or at least you'll do as weil saving white folk's souls from heli,
As to waste your time up there on Skookum Chuck.
On the 15th Joe Lane's Cabin, Native Sons, and Julia Abraham's Cabin, Na- tive Daughters, of Roseburg, gave a re- ception to the pioneers. Grand Presi- dent Blumauer, of the Native Sons, was one of the guests of the evening, he be- ing there on official visitation. Governor T. T. Geer, who holds membership in Abernethy's Cabin, was also an honored
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
guest, as well as a large number of pion- eer fathers and mothers. Adresses, reci- tations, vocal and instrumental music comprised the numbers on the pro- gramme. After the programme had been concluded a social session, devoted to conversation, music and games, was held until midnight. An excellent fea- ture was the elegant lunch prepared un- der the direction of the Native Daugh- ters. Taken altogether the affair was a success socially and will long remain a pleasant memory with those who were present.
On the evening of the 16th, Grand President Blumauer made P. P. Prim's Cabin, No. 15, of Jacksonville, an official visit. The meeting had been called to take the place of the regular meeting of Saturday, the 18th, and though but two days' notice had been had of the intended visit, the occasion called forth members from all parts of the county, who came through a drenching rain. The cabin is one of the most flourishing and enthusiastic in the state and already has a membership of 102. Among their number being A. E. Reames, grand trustee of the grand cabin, who is es- pecially active for the good of the order. The cabin is now fitting up a new hall, which, when completed, will be one of the finest in the state. If every cabin in the state had the same enthusiasm as this one, the order would double its membership within the coming year.
Since our last issue several of the cabins have given receptions or enter- tainments, which brought the partici-
The first regular camp meeting among the white residents of the Pacific Northwest, and on the Pacific coast as well, was held on the Tualitan plains near where Forest Grove now stands. It is said that Colonel Joe Meek was among those converted at this meeting. The meeting was under the auspices of the Methodists. This circumstance hav- ing been made known to some of the native sons who were born subsequent to that date, they fell. into query mood, and have asked whether scrub horse racing was not also inaugurated about
pants an evening of pleasure.
Elizabeth Thurston Odell's Cabin No 7, was instituted at Salem, Or., Novem- ber 24. The officers are as follows: Past president, Mrs. Olive Stanton Eng- land; president, Miss Margaret J. Cos- per; first vice-president, Mrs. Nellie Riley Pearce; second vice-president, Mrs. Ella Chadwick Gray; third vice- president, Mrs. Abbie Hatch Farrar; re- cording secretary, Mrs. Mary Woods- worth Patterson; financial secretary, Mrs. Emily Geisey Hendricks; treasur- er. Mrs. Esther Hall McNary; marshal, Miss Edna Price; inside sentinel, Miss Evelina Royal: outside sentinel, Mrs. Amanda Rishardson Judson; trustees, Miss Lena Breyman, Miss Mary Par- menter and Mrs. Nellie Hall Gray.
Lucinda Carter Hill's Cabin No. 8, was instituted at Hillsboro November 25, with the following officers: Past president, Mrs. Lydia Humphrey Gault; president, Mrs. Dora Keindt Elliott; vice-president, Mrs. Letitia Hoover Connell; second vice-president, Mrs. Zula Warren Linklater; third vice-pres- ident, Mrs. Susie Brown Morgan; re- cording secretary, Miss Minnie Warren; financial secretary, Mrs. Mary Boscow Archibold; treasurer, Miss Jennie Arch- ibold; marshal, Mrs. Minnie McCourt Down; inside sentinel, Miss E. Archi- bold; outside sentinel, Miss Mamie Pet- tinger; trustees, Miss Bertha Tongue, Mrs. Ellen Beauchamp Northrop, Mrs. Rose Bronsen Davis.
the same time, as the latter was always a sport indulged in whenever a camp meeting was being held. The reply is somewhat beyond the interviewed, for as long ago as memory could look into what has passed, the race course ran close to where the sermons were heard.
Charles B. Talbott, who arrived in Oregon in 1849 from Illinois, is believed to be Portland's first newsboy. He be- gan carrying the Weekly Oregonian on December 18, 1850, starting out with No. 3, volume 1. He has lived in Taco- ma since 1886.
Icostal
LITERATURE.
Sir Walter Besant begins in the De- cember Century a series of papers illus- trating life in East London, as it is to- day. His manner of treating the subject is that of the novelist, rather than the essayist, for he takes as his point of departure the birth of a typical girl of the East End-"One of Two Millions in East London,"-and traces her career to the time of her marriage at seven- teen to a young countryman who has come up to town to make his living as a porter. Liz is a "Board school" girl, and Sir Walter holds that what the av- erage East Londoner learns at school he afterwards forgets; but that the civiliz- ing influence of the schools is incalcula- Lle, and has marvellously transformed the East End within the past thirty years. No one knows more of the life of the poor in London than the author of "All Sorts and Conditions of Men," and no one is better known as their pic- torial interpreter than Phil May, who collaborates with Joseph Pennell in il- lustrating Sir Walter's article.
David and Anna Matson and Other Poems.
Among the many books occupying the library shelves of Oregon's pioneer homes, is a handsomely printed and il- lustrated volume of poems bearing the above title, written and published over twenty three years ago by Abigail Scott Duniway, a pioneer of 1852, the best and widest known of the many representative women whose names are synonomous with the history and progress of Oregon.
The book, which ran rapidly through several editions, is now virtually out of print, its author having practically abandoned versification and devoted her maturer years to journalism. to which she adds the pursuit of her chosen ca- reer as a platform speaker, chiefly in the interest of woman's enfranchisement, of
which she is a famous and popular leader.
The principal production, from which her poem derives its title, is founded up- on a prose story by Whittier, which the author transformed into rhyme during the few idle days of a trip across the continent in the centennial year. It was not written for publication, the author not deeming it worthy of the attention bestowed upon it by her eastern friends, nor of the favor with which it was re- ceived during the period of its sale after it was put upon the market.
The poem, though not an imitation of Enoch Arden. reminds the reader of Tennyson's creation, and is, as stayed by an English critic, the reverse, or woman's side of a similar experience.
Of Mrs. Duniway's shorter poems. "The Dirge of the Sea." "West and West." "The Nocturnal Wedding," "The Destiny of Freedom." "Thoughts in Storm and Solitude," "Laudamus." and "After Twenty Years" are. perhaps. the best. The latter poem will be found in this number of the Native Son.
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"Where the Four-Leaf Clovers Grow," a song adopted by the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs, is before us. The music is by George Elliott Simpson and the words by Mrs. Ella Higginson. The music we will leave to the criticism of musicians, although to our own uneducated ear it appears ryth- metic and nicely in accord with the senti- ment of the verse. The words. however, are worthy of the beautiful ideas por- trayed in all the writings of Mrs. Hig- ginson. So simple, yet so grand and sweet. One imagines himself down on his knees, on nature's velvety carpet, looking-looking-ever looking for the sweet emblem of luck, down in that nook "Where the Four-Leaf Clovers Grow." Truly, there is one ray of sunshine added to the brightness of the world whenever Mrs. Higginson writes.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
SAMUEL SHERLOCK.
Samuel Sherlock was born in the county of Wexford, Ireland, in the year 1820, and died in Portland, Oregon, in 1876, aged 56 years.
Early in life he was apprenticed to a trade obnoxious to him, and at the age of sixteen he left the Emerald Isle for Eng- land. Here he remained until 1851, when he, with his young wife, crossed the ocean to America. He made his home in the city of New York for the first six years thereafter. In the spring of 1857 he removed to Ore- gon, coming by way of the Isthmus. The voyage was a very stormy one, and at one time the steamer ran aground and barely escaped destruction, a circumstance most trying to him, as he was accompanied by his wife and their two children, one of them being but a babe in arms.
Arriving in Portland, they found a village of about two hundred people, the female portion of which was made up almost ex- clusively of squaws. The young wife, reared in luxury in her English home, was for a time appalled at her strange surround- ings. Buoyed up by her energetic husband, she, however, soon became reconciled to the new order of things, and to the present hour blesses the hour she first set foot on the soil of Oregon. Shortly after his arrival, Mr. Sherlock engaged in the harness and saddlery business, owning and operating the first establishment of the kind in the city. His trade grew to immense propor- tions, permeating all sections of the Pacific Northwest, and was profitable beyond his most sanguine expectations. From its pro- ceeds, Mr. Sherlock acquired large blocks of property, which became exceedingly val- uable, and at his death left to his widow not only a delightful home, but a handsome competence. After her husband's death, Mrs. Sherlock conducted the harness and saddlery business successfully for eighteen years. Mr. Sherlock was among the first of the volunteer firemen, and until his death was a member of Hose Company No. 2.
He was a man generous to a fault and a great favorite among his gentlemen ac- quaintances. One of his favorite pastimes was billiards, a game he was an expert at playing. He was a leading spirit in the Masonic fraternity, and none stood higher in the esteem of its membership. Politi- cally, he was a democrat, though never seek- ing or accepting office.
Mr. Sherlock was married in England in 1846, his bride being Miss Rosetta Whale. she being but sixteen years of age at the time. Six children, two sons and four daughters, were the fruits of this union, four of whom
were Oregon-born. Both of the sons are now dead; of the daughters, excepting Kathelene, who has her home with her mother, are residents of Spokane, Wash- ington. One of these, Frances, the second daughter, is the widow of Frank Moore, de- ceased; Aimee Louise, is the wife of Wm. Norman, and Mary Estelle the wife of J. L. Prickett. The sweet-faced and bright-eyed children, whose portraits are shown with that of Mrs. Sherlock in another part of this magazine. are her grandchilden, Louise Prickett and Kathelene and Mary Norman.
WILLIAM SHERLOCK.
Among the sons of the Emerald Isle who emigrated to the United States and came to Oregon at an early date, helping to build it up and make it the grand state it is to- day, was the subject of this brief memoir. His parents were John and Dorotha Sher- lock, and their home was in County Wex- ford, Ireland. Here Mr. Sherlock was born and here be received his education. In the forties he came across the ocean to Amer- ica, and in 1850 to Oregon. After a few years' residence in The Dalles he removed to Portland where he has resided continu- ously ever since. Here he associated him- self with C. P. Bacon in the livery business, and their enterprise became one of the lead- ing and most remunerative in that line of trade in Oregon.
After the lapse of twenty-one years, Mr. Sherlock sold out to his partner and de- voted his attention to real estate interests. His good business sense led him to invest in and plat the properties now known as Sherlock's Addition to Portland, a move that greatly contributed towards making him one of the wealthier citizens of that city.
Mr. Sherlock was married prior to his coming to Oregon, the issue of the marriage being eight children, seven now living, a son and six daughters, the two eldest of which were born previous to the family's crossing the plains.
Politically. Mr. Sherlock is a Democrat. but never had any aspirations to be an of- fice-holder.
Since his becoming a resident of Port- land, Mr. Sherlock has always taken a deep interest in its public school system, and en- couraged, assisted and labored for its de velopment and welfare in all ways that his affairs would permit. His home is in a beautiful location, its appointments elegant and in good taste, and here he finds com- fort and contentment in his declining years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL ..
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DENNY H. HENDEE.
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The subject of this sketch descended from the French Huguenots, who were ex- pelled from that country on account of their religious views, and settled in Eng- land. Richard, the ancestor of the Ameri- can branch of the Hendee family, emigrat- ing to the United States with the Puritans. Boston became his home, but his descend- ants subsequently removed to Connecticut. From thence, the grandfather of our sub- ject went to the Green mountain state, set- tling on a farm which remained in the fam- ily many generations. Like his father be- fore him, Mr. Hendee was born on this farm, the date of his birth being February 26, 1826.
Up to his seventeenth year he lived at home, attending to the farm duties and en- joying such school privileges as were of- fered at the district school, one mile dis- tant. After his mother's death in 1843, he left home and followed various avocations until the spring of 1844, when hereturned home again. In the fall of 1845 he began attending the Brandon Seminary, continuing his studies until the summer of 1846, when he went to New Mexico to learn the new and then wonderful art of taking daguerre- otypes, after acquiring which he traveled in various sections of New England and Northern New York, in the latter state fol- lowing his profession until the fall of 1849 when he came by steamer to California. ar- riving in San Francisco in January, 1850. He soon secured employment in the only art gallery in that city. In March follow- ing, he went to the mines, and in a short time met an emigrant having a daguerreo- type outfit, which he purchased, and ran a gallery of his own in connection with min- ing, receiving $16 for each picture taken.
From this time until 1853 he was in var- fous places in California, the most of the time following his artistic career. In May of that year he removed ·to Oregon, becom- ing the pioneer maker of daguerreotpyes in that state. For a time he was located in Portland, but soon traveled about the Wil- lamette valley, stopping at various places, when he again returned Portand. 1856 he returned to California, locating at Oroville, where he continued his profession. in the meantime learning photography. He remained there until 1859 when he returned to Oregon, but did not permanently locate until 1861, choosing Portland at that time for his future home. From that time until he retired from business he was one of the best known photographers in the state. He was burned out in 1872 and again in 1873, but by perseverance, attention to business and popularity he soon retrieved the greater portion of his losses, when he retired to pass his closing years in peace and content- ment, and in the enjoyment of scientific re- search, in which he is deeply interested.
In
veteran association. In politics he is a re- publican, unough not active.
Mr. Hendee was first married May 19, 1853, at Marysville, California, his wife be- ing Miss E. S. Vineyard. To them were born four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter being now deceased. On May 10, 1862, the mother of his children also died. On march 10, 1864, he again mar. lied, his bride being Mrs. Maria (Ricket) White, a native of Bath, New Hampshire. By this marriage he has no children.
ELIJAH CORBETT.
The portrait on another page of Elijah Corbett, deceased, is that of a selfmade man. He was born in Westborough, Massachu- setts, December 16, 1824. From early man- hocd he made his own way in the world, at first in his native state, then in the state of New York, and finally in Oregon, where he left behind him a name that is honored by all who knew him in life. He arrived in the latter state in 1864, and for several years was part owner of the stage line run- ning between Portland and Sacramento, Cal- ifornia, a distance of 715 miles. The com- pany ran a line of fourhorse coaches, re- quiring 450 horses to operate it. The route lay across the Scott and Trinity mountains, which are 6000 feet above the level of the sea; and in the winter, after a snow fall of sometimes fifteen feet in depth, to make the trip was one filled with danger; but notwithstanding, Mr. Corbett passed over the line every month and paid the bills due at various places. While interested in this line, the company carried the mails, and, having secured a first-class contract and travel being good, the returns on the in- vestments made were very handsome ones to all the owners, and to him the founda- tion of the large fortune he left behind.
In 1870 he disposed of his interests in the stage line and confined himself to the livery and private carriage business, one he had been carrying on since his first arrival in Oregon. U'p to 1878 following. he did a very remunerative business until he sold out.
Mr. Corbett was one of the original pro- moters of what is now known as the City & Suburban railway, of Portland, branches of which permeate every important section of the city and its environments. To. the sorrow of a community that cherished his . honorable career, Elijah Corbett passed from this life on May 12, 1894. mourned deeply by his surviving wife and regretted by an extensive acquaintance. The beautiful home he erected at 275 Sixth street is still oc- cupled by Mrs. Corbett, where she is sur- rourced by the many comforts provided for her by the fore:ight of the deceased. In politics, M. Corbett was a democrat. He ..
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of these he was found capable and honest. and might have been further honored had he been so inclined. In all things, he was the embodiment of good citizenship, an honor to himself and his family and a credit to the community in which he lived.
JUSTUS M. STROWBRIDGE.
This well and favorably known citizen of Portland, Oregon, is a native of Pennsylva- nia, having been born near Danville, in that state. August 22, 1332. Until he was about seventeen years of age he remained at home assisting to perform the duties inci- dent to the conduct of the large farm owned by his father. During this time he enjoyed such school privileges as were afforded at the district school located near his home. In 1850 he started with his elder brother, William, for the gold fields of Caifornia, making the trip across the plains with a mule team.
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On the North Platte, at one of their en- campments, they went to rest, believing themselves in security from depredation of red skins, but the latter stole upon them, stampeding their mules, together with the horses belonging to others. and being in darkness and having no means for pursuit, they were compelled to wait until morning before steps could be taken to recover them. By the time day came, the more fortunate trains, camped not far away, had been no- tified of the thieving and horses were mounted by a number, and after a chase of about twenty miles, they came upon the camp of the thieves. recovering all the stock stampeded. They saw no indians on reach- ing such location, except a few squaws, the men having decamped to a safer place.
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He arrived at , Hangtown, now called Placerville, August 29. 1850. From that time until 1853, Mr. Strowbridge gaged in mining in various sections of Cal- ifornia, when he came to Oregon. In the fall of that year he bought a few bushels of appels, with a view of shipping them to San Francisco, where he knew there were none, believing that he would realize on his in- vestment, and he did, receiving $125 per pound, and in one instance. $8· for a sample apple of unusual size and beauty. He also shipped one hundred and ten hogs and shoats and some turkeys down at the same time For shoats he did not receive less than an eight-cornered 850 sing. and for some of the best breeding sows as high as three slugs, or . $150. The turkeys brought $12 each.
From 1854 to. 1856 he continued in these shipments, together with his brother. Jos- eph A., with very flattering results. They, however, lost heavily through the failure of the Adams Express Company bank, which failed February 23, 1855. For several years after quitting the shipping business. he was engaged in trading in Idaho, when he
retired with a sufficiency to keep him the remainder of his days without further ef- . fort . Since this time he has lived in his well-appointed home in Portland, enjoying the comforts of life. He has considerable property therein, the most of which is or- namented with structures that would adorn any city. Two children, a son and a daugh- ter, came to brighten his home, but on the arrival of his beautiful daughter in her teens, she sickened and died while traveling in Europe. The son, Thomas H., resides in Portland, where he is well known in busi- ness circles.
CONRAD G. SAYLOR.
Mr. Saylor was born in Martinsville, In- diana, October 6, 1818. At the age of 23 went to Iowa and there followed the trades of brick making and brick laying, first as em- ployee and then as contractor and builder. and as a master mechanic in that line some of the fine buildings now in that state will attest his skill.
He was married November 3, 1842, to Miss Mary A. Black, the fruits of the union being five children, of whom a son and daughter died in infancy. In the spring of 1852 he started across the plains, and among those leaving for far-off Oregon, there are but few whose experience during the trip was fraught with more sadness than his. On On reaching Elm creek, a small tributary of the Platte river, his wife was stricken with cholera. which was raging to an alarming extent that year, and was quickly called from earth, leaving four small children behind. the youngest being but eighteen months old. After a wearisome and sorrowful journey The Dalles was reached. Here he pleaced his litttle daughter in charge of a lady, kind- ly consenting to assume charge of her for a short time, and he with his sons came on to Portland. That was the last he saw of his bage; for on the way down the river she took sick, and, in spite of the motherly at- tention she received from the lady having her in charge, her spirit passed away. Her remains were interred at Hood River.
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