USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 80
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
1
OREGON NATIVE SON.
600
This was too much for the poor na- tives. They had seen the small-pox enough to regard it as the embodiment of the evil spirit. They gave over all de- signs against the white men and begged for their lives. And it is told that Mc- Dougall generously spared the natives from the scourge.
At Seaside, on the banks of the Ne- canicum river, today dwell a few Clat- sop Indians-all that are left of the nu-
First Court in Washington .- The first territorial court held north of the Co- lumbia was called by Judge Wm. P. Bryant, at Steilacoom, on the first Mon- day of October. 1849, for the purpose of trying some Snoqualmie Indians who had murdered Leander C. Wallace, an American settler, during an attack on Fort Nesqually the previous May. The population of that section being so small at that time, the court was obliged to take along enough citizens from the Wil- lamette valley to act as a jury. A. A. :Skinner was prosecuting attorney and David Stone plead the defense. The whole company went by canoes and on horse back to Steilacoom, carrying all provisions and camping utensils. While several Indians had been arrested, but two were convicted and executed.
The first mass celebrated by a Catho- lic priest in the Pacific Northwest, out- side of what might have been done by the clergy who probably accompanied the Spanish navigators, was celebrated at Vancouver, November 25, 1838. The first in Willamette valley, January 6, 1839, at French Prairie. The first Cath- olic church erected was built at St. Paul in 1836, but was not consecrated until 1839. Archbishop (then Father) Blan- chet officiating. This church was super- ceded by a brick one in 1846, the first house of worship to be constructed of that material in original Oregon. The first sisters to come were those of Notre Dame de Namur. Six of that order coming by sailing vessel from Antwerp direct. On their arrival they established
merous horde that inhabited the plains of the Columbia's south bank, less than a century ago. Among them dwells Mar- chino Marccell, a half-breed Indian and Canadian French. He came with Hud- son's Bay Company when the United States were in their infancy. He is now eighty years old. The last of the voy -. ageurs is he.
GEORGE NOLAND. Astoria, Or.
a convent for the education of girls at St. Paul, French Prairie. This was in 1844.
It is a source of wonder among many as to how an Indian can travel unknown forest paths without getting lost, as the white man often does. The reason is plain, and had the white traveler given as much heed to nature's doings as the red man, there would be less liability of their becoming bewildered. As a rule, as long as one can see the sun they have a guide for their footsteps, but hide that luminary behind darkened clouds, and many of the whites do not know which way to turn. Not so the Indian, he has another compass, as unerring as the orb of day, and finds it in nature's building. Ask him the points of the compass, and, if he can find moss growing upon the rocks or trees, he will at once indicate them. He knows that he is right, for the mosses are always found upon the north side of the rocks or trunks and branches of the timber.
Original Oregon embraced an im- mense area. All of the present limits, together with those of Washington, Ida- ho and a portion of Montana, and possi- bly an additional unknown quantity, comprising its extent. In 1778 it was called "New Albion" by the British. One portion, in 1792, was by them called "New Georgia," and another "New Cal- donia." It was designated by the Span- ish navigators as "The coast of Califor- nia in the North Sea." It was also a part of the Louisiana purchase, and bears the nickname "Webfoot."
ANNA'S LOVE.
"Well, this is comfortable!" exclaimed Harry Wyndham, throwing himself into the large easy chair before the glowing grate. "I haven't seen such a fire for three years; it does a man good to go from home once in a while, to know how he is appreciated. You feel quite proud of you handsome brother, eh, Sis?"
"Pshaw, Harry, going abroad has not cured you of your vanity. But, Anna," she added, turning to a young woman who sat sewing in the corner, "bring some more coal; and Anna, do get my work-box as you come down stairs. It is awfully stupid here with nothing to do .. "
"Thank you, Carrie, for the compli- men; but who is Anna? I have surely seen her before."
"Don't you know Anna Weston?"
"What! Cousin Anna! Is it possible! So she is exalted to the rank of an upper servant in her uncle's family-a sort of a maid of all work?"
"Harry! I don't ask Anna to do what I could not do myself.'
'Ah, let me see, coal is apt to soil deli- cate fingers. I suppose Anna does not play on the piano. and is not invited into the parlor. Perhaps my memory is at fault. but I believe her father was a wealthy lawyer, while ours was as poor as a church-mouse. and depended a great deal on our rich uncle and
Carrie's face flushed crimson, and she was about leaving the room in indignant astonishment when Anna returned with the coal and box.
"Excuse me. Anna." said Harry, tak- ing them from her. "Excuse me for not knowing you. But three years make great changes. I am sorry, however, that you still think me such a scapegrace that you have not spoken to me since I came." Here Harry playfully put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
The tears rose to her eyes, and her voice trembled as she endeavored to an- swer. but Harry continued:
'I am very sorry to see this, Anna. I heard of your father's misfortunes and death, but I did not imagine that you would be treated thus in this family."
"Don't say anything, please, Harry; you can do nothing to help me."
"Why have you remained here? An- na, you have-you must have-borne a great deal. You used to be a fine musi- cian. It would have been better-"
"Yes, Harry," she answered, inter- rupting him, "I should have gone long ago but for little Effie. She clung to me and seems to depend on me more than anyone else."
"Bless you, Anna, for your kindness to her," said the really affectionate brother, "the poor child has not had too much sympathy since I left."
Here the ringing of the bell announc- ed the entrance of visitors, and Anna hastily retreated.
When Harry next saw her she was patiently standing by the table ironing a delicate neck-piece of his own. He had often wondered who fluted these so beautifully, but he had vet to learn how necessary Anna was in household affairs.
"You shall not do this for me," said he, attempting to withdraw it from her hand.
'Suppose I say it gives me pleasure to work for you." she answered with a gen- tle smile.
"In that case. I shall say I do not de- serve such kindness. But. Anna, it pro- vokes me to see you take everything so meekly. If you would just speak out boldly, and tell them you would not bear it, they would not dare to treat you so. I am astonished that my father can suf- fer his sister's child to become a menial in his house."
Anna laid her hand on his arm and re- plied very gently. 'Come with me, Har- ry: I have something to show you."
He followed her up stairs, and she stop- ped at the door of a small room which she softly opened. On a low bed near
602
OREGON NATIVE SON.
the fire lay a feeble child whose wan face was even more pale and worn than he had ever seen it. One thin hand was un- der her cheek, while the other was thrown over the pillow. She was asleep.
"Harry, I think Effie is sinking. No one seems to notice it but myself. She has seemed to care for nothing for sev- eral days, and has hardly tasted food."
"Dr. Gordan must come and see her. He is to be here tonight, and I will ask him to come up."
Harry watched Anna as she moved noiselessly about the room, putting ev- erything in place, and preparing some- thing to tempt the child's delicate appe- tite, and thought how little the world knew of the beautiful life of patient goodness in that upper room, of the scenes of gentle kindness and unweary- ing devotedness daily enacted around the bedside of the little sufferer.
Effie had long been hopelessly deform- ed, and her lower limbs were shrunk- en and wasted. Acute pain often kept her moaning hour after hour. Anna was for four days the only one near her. In fact the child would seldom let Anna leave her, and no one seemed to think that anything could be done for her: so, in time, all became accustomed to her illness, and it was deemed hardly worth while to inquire about her. Her mother was dead, and her father believed that in asking Dr. Gordan to come around sometimes and look at her he was per- forming all a parent's duty, and could do no more.
Carrie complained that a sick room made her head ache, and in consequence seldom honored it by her presence.
Harry was really affectionate and kind to his sister, and had often brought a smile to her pale little face. that nothing else could. But with Anna's arrival there had come peace and happiness to the child's heart that had never before found place there. Anna felt that her mision on earth. though through sorrow and tears, was one of deepest and purest joy.
That evening. the parlors resounded with laughter and song. Harry came up
once or twice to see Effie, and finding her quiet, went back again to the parlor.
In the course of the evening Dr. Gor- dan asked Carrie for a song, which she told him she had forgotten.
"Why, Anna can sing that," exclaim- ed Harry.
'Who is Anna, if I may ask?" inquired the doctor. .
"Oh! a cousin of ours; who nurses Effie."
"A cousin! I did not know -"
'Certainly not," interrupted Carrie; "few know Anna, because she will never come into the parlor."
"She is very backward, indeed," said Harry- significantly. "I will go and see if I cannot persuade her, for one night, to overcome this reluctance to society."
Carie bit her lips with mortification and rapidly passed her fingers over the piano keys, to preclude any further con- versation.
In a few moments a servant came in with a message from Harry, that the doctor would please walk up stairs.
"Harry was always so ridiculous about some things,' said C'arie, turning to a young man who leaned over her chair and leaned cver her chair, and looked down languidly into her face.
A shaded lamp was burning in Effie's room and Anna was holding the child in her arms. Harry held one of the little cold hands, so sadly attenuated, and she loked affectionately in her face, while a faint smile lighted up her features.
"Anna," said the child, softly, pres- sing the hand that was around her, "you have been very good to me, and God will bless you. I am going home, and I will ask Him."
The thin finregs relapsed their hold, they were growing weaker.
The doctor looked on silently, he felt that a greater physician than he was re- lieving Effic's sufferings.
When the morning light stole into that litle chamber, it fell on the face of a still, white figure, with hands crossed upon its breast, and whose better part "had gone to be an angel."
.. .
603
ANNA'S LOVE.
The endeavor to alleviate the suffer- ings of Effie, during the three months previous to her death, had been more of a trial than Anna should have undertak- en without asistance, and when her hours as nurse had ended, she was in such a state of health, through loss of sleep and strain on mind that she was compelled to take to her bed; Harry in- sisting that Dr. Gordan be called at once, which was done.
Although Anna did not require many professional visits, the doctor came quite frequently to see her. None of the fam- ily, however, attributing his visits to any interest in her further than a medical ad- viser would be expected to manifest in a patient.
A month after this, Dr. Gordan was shown into the sitting-room at Mr. Wyndham's. Carrie was very beautiful in her mourning silk, for it set off her fair complexion to great advantage. Anna was quietly working in her usual dress, for it had been thought too expensive for her to have black.
"She was only Effie's nurse," said Harry, sarcastically.
"You ought to be ashamed, Harry; you care more now for Anna than for your own sister." replied Carrie, with tears of anger and mortification.
"It is well that someone does care for Anna," he answered, taking his seat by the latter as he spoke.
"You know, Harry." she said, looking up quietly. as she always did, "that the dress makes no difference to me. Noth- ing could make Effie's memory dearer."
A smile of peace rested on her sallow features as she spoke-a gentle, patient
smile that seemed to light up the soul within, and made her almost beautiful. She looked a moment at Harry, and then her eyes went back quietly to her work.
"If Miss Weston will oblige me," said the Doctor, "I called to see if she would go with me to visit a sick woman near by. She is sadly in need of some cheer- ing words, such as only one of her sex can give. She has every necessary com- fort for the body, but is extremely de- presed and nervous. My horse is wait- ing for me, and if you will get into the carriage and go with me, I will be great- ly obliged."
Anna was quickly ready for the ride. The Doctor handed her in ,and stepping in after her, they were soon far from Carrie and all those little petty cares, from which Anna had known no respite for many a weary week.
The fresh air seemed to impart a glow to her cheek, and a light sparkled in her eye that made her seem another crea- ture.
During the return trip the Doctor said to her:
"I wanted to say this to you almost from the first, Anna. My home is sadly in need of its mistress, and I hope you will not make me wait too long."
"Carrie," said Harry, about a year af- ter this, "guess where I dined today. But you never will. With Dr. Gordan and his wife; and Anna is actually beau- tiful. Happiness and foreign travel have so much improved her, and their home is so charming. that I have made up my mind to go and get married myself."
ELLA HENNEBERRY.
John B. Jackson, a pioneer of 1843, was the first American to take up a claim north of the Columbia river, locating on Cowlitz prairie in the fall of 1845. Al- most immediately thereafter he was fol- lowed by Col. Michael T. Simmons and others, pioneers of 1844, who had win- tered at Washougal during the winter of 1844-45.
Idaho was named by Mrs. Wallace, wife of Governor Wallace, the first ter- ritorial governor thereof and the first delegate to congress therefrom. She named it after a niece of hers. The name is Indiait and was formerly borne by a chief, after whom her niece had been named. Its meaning is, "Gem of the Mountains."
2
- OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY. GEO. H. HIMES, Assistant Secretary. -
The following letter, written by one of the first Baptist ministers to come to the Pacific Northwest, will be interesting:
Oregon City, 9th March, 1852. Mr. John McLoughlin, Esq .:
Dear Sir-Having learned that you intend shortly to visit Washington City, and know- ing that you have been misrepresented by our delegate from this country, and wishing, as an honest man, and a friend to truth and justice, to contribute something toward the ยท correction of these misrepresentations, I sub- mit to your acceptance and disposal the fol- lowing:
I arrived in Oregon in the fall of 1844, and have been an observer of your treatment of, and conduct of the American immigrants. I know that you have saved our people from suffering by hunger, and I believe from sav- age cruelty also. I know you sent your boats to convey them down the Columbia river, free of charge, and that you also sent them provisions, when they were in a state of starvation, and that you directed them to be distributed among the immigrants, to those that were destitute of money, equally with those that had, nor did your kindness stop there, as many of us lost nearly all that we possessed, by the time that we arrived ir the valley. You continued your favors, by letting us have both food and raiment for the year. Seed wheat, and charging no more than the same number of bushels the next harvest; plows and cattle to plow with. To conclude I do affirm that your conduct ever since I have known you, has been such as to justify the opinion that you was friendly to the settlement of the country by Amer- icans. I judge the tree by its fruit. You did more for the American settlers than all the men that were in it at that time.
With sincere wishes that you may obtain yours rights, I subscribe myself, yours,
1
VINCENT SNELLING,
Ord. Minister Gospel, Baptist.
In pioneer days the Sandwich Islands were of much more importance on the map of the world than the original Ore- gon, and nearly everything not coming across the plains, either came from there or by there. The following communica- tion goes to show that more assistance was likely to come from that quarter than could be secured from the national capital, and could be much easier reach- ed at that time:
Oregon City, Dec. 26, 1847. To the American Consul at Honolulu:
Dear Sir-The undersigned members of the house of representatives of Oregon, (provisional government), have been ap- pointed by said body to write to you and re- quest that you will cause an Americal ves- sel to be sent to the Columbia as soon as possible, if it be in your power to do so. Many of the Indian tribles by which we are surrounded have combined for the purpose of commencing hostilities against the set- tlements. They have already committed deeds of bloody violence; Dr. Marcus Whit- man, his wife and nine others have been most cruelly massacred. This inhuman and bloody deed has kindled a flame in the breasts of our citizens which nothing but the blood of the mureders can extinguish. Though we are determined to sesent the hor- rid injury, we are at the same time sensible of our inability to support a prolonged war- fare with the Indians, inasmuch as we lack many of the essentiable of war. We believe that the presence of a ship of war in the Columbia would have a tendency to deter the Indians, and would be of invaluable ser- vice to us in case of protracted hostilities.
It is therefore the earnest request of this government that you will exert your influ- ence to have the American vessel of war sent to the Columbia as soon as possible.
Very respectfully, yours etc.,
J. W. NESMITH,
W. RECTOR, L. A. RICE,
Committee.
PURPLE AND GOLD.
D. W. Jenkins'. Cabin No. 25, Native Sons, was organized at Canyon City, March 12, 1890. The following were the officers installed: J. W. Powell, past president; A. J. Stephens, president; R. R. McHaley, first vice-president; B. C. Herbert, second vice-president; Wm. Bryam, third vice-president; R. K. Chambers, secretary; C. H. Bell, treas- urer; W. E. Overholt, marshal; W. Lynn George, Jack Chambers and John Hyde, trustees; E. O. Martin, inner sen- tinel; E. Southwirth, outer sentinel. The cabin starts out with a numerous and enthusiastic membership.
Messer Smith's Cabin, No. 26, Native Sons, was organized at Lebanon, March 1900. Officers, as follows, were elected and installed: B. A. Millsap, past pres- ident; Rev. J. Sherman Wallace, presi- dent; Phillip Ritter, first vice-president; Ernest Elliott, second vice-president ; L. A. Armstrong, third vice-president; W. C. Peterson, recording secretary; Charles A. Smith, financial secretary; C. W. Matthews, treasurer; J. C. Peebler, marshal; Dr. L. M. Jones, M. D. Wheel- er and S. B. Coyle, trustees: J. B. Hope, inner sentinel, and W. W .Powers, out- er sentinel.
Martha Avery's Cabin No. 18, Native Daughters, was organized March 26, 1900, at Corvallis. The following were the officers elected and installed: Mrs. Esther Reed, past president; Miss Helen Crawford, president; Mrs. Wilhelmena Wagoner, vice-president; Miss Hor- tense Greffoz, second vice-president ; Mrs. Mae Irvine. third vice-president; Miss Edna Groves, recording secretary; Miss Mabel Davis, financial secretary; Miss Rosalie Greffoz, marshal; Miss Bessie Irvine, inner sentinel; Miss Hat- tie Hoover, outer sentinel; and Mrs. Mary Hoover, Mrs. Gertrude Irvine and Miss Hattie Hoover, trustees. It is named in honor of Mrs Martha Avery,
widow of the late J. C. Avery. Mr. Avery was the founder of Corvallis, and one of the earliest arrivals in Benton county, having pitched his tent on the present site of Corvallis in 1845. He was a prominent figure in early Oregon politics, serving as a member of the first and second sessions of the territorial legislature. Mrs. Avery arrived in 1847, and on the identical spot where she then took up her residence, she still resides, surrounded with life's comforts and hale after 76 years of life.
Naomi Janette Walter's Cabin No. 19, Native Daughters, was organized at Brownsville, April 18, 1900, with the fol- lowing officers: Ella McHargue, past president ; Ollie Stanard, president. Sarah Cooley, first vice-president; Mrs. Mary Hale, second vice-president; Ger- tie Roby, third vice-president; Minnie Hale, recording secretary: Clara Starr. financial secretary and treasuer; Callie Templeton, marshal; Kate Cavender, Naomi Templeton and Lissie Temple- ton, trustees; Lissie Hunter, inner senti- nel; Clara Stewart, outer sentinel.
Rebekah Maple Parrish's Cabin .- In our January number we gave mention to the fact that a cabin of Native Daugh- ters had been organized in Jefferson, but we were unable at that time to state the name selected by the membership. * We learn that it was named in honor of Grandma Parrish, a pioneer of 1844, and one of the earlier settlers of Marion county.
Grand Secretary White has resigned, intending to leave for the Nome gold fields on the 15th of next month. The Board of Grand Officers elected F. H. Saylor as Grand Secretary for the re- mainder of the term. This election caused a vacancy in the office of Grand Historian, but as yet no one has been. elected to that position.
605 .
NESIKA WA-WA.
Two new and valuable works concern- ing Oregon will soon be ready for plac- ing before readers. One of them, "Mc- Loughlin and Old Oregon," will be pub- lished by McClurg & Co., of Chicago, and the other, "Stories of Oregon," " by Whitaker & Ray, of San Francisco. The latter volume is dedicated to the Native Daughters. The author of both of these works is Eva Emery Dye, the well known and interesting writer. All read- ers know that anything coming from her pen is much sought after .. In conse- quence of this, the volumes will meet with a large and ready sale.
The Quarterly (magazine) of the Or- egon Historical Society for March, 1900, is now published and for sale. This is . . the first effort towards a work that
should have been undertaken a long time ago, as much data has undoubtedly been destroyed by reason of no one showing an interest in such matters and the possessors not fully recognizing the importance of placing them in the hands of those competent to weave a history out of the tangled threads that have laid and are now lying, musty and mold- ed, in the old comphor trunks that cross- ed the plains a half of a century ago. Again, there has been no one with any semblance of authority to receive these papers, and people hesitate to place them in the hands of individuals. All this is different now, the character of the officers and gentlemen whose names ap- pear are a sufficient guarantee that his- tory will be writ as it transpired.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN AND SUSAN D. MELDRUM.
Both of these well-known pioneers were Kentuckians, and both born in Shelby coun- ty, therein. The date of Mr. Meldrum's birth being March 27, 1808, and that of Mrs. Mel- drum, formerly Miss Susan Depue Cox, July 25, 1817. The ancestry of Mr. Meldrum was Scotch-Irish, immigrating to America in 1806, and that of Mrs. Meldrum, French- Hugenot. The parents of each of our sub. jects removed to Illinois when their children were still young. Here Mr. and Mrs. Mel- drum met and were married, the date of their nuptials being December 11, 1834. Their golden wedding was celebrated in Oregon City, in 1884.
In 1834 they removed to Iowa and in 1845 crossed the plains, arriving in Oregon in the fall of that year. The family first located at Linn City, a town then on the Willamette river immediately opposite Cregon City, but in 1861 washed away by high water of that year. In the spring of 1816 they removed to a claim situate on the Molalla river. known as the Harrison Wright place. They subse- quently resided in several localities in the Willamette valley, their neighbors being few and far between. as the population at that time was very limited outside of the older settled places. Then the Indians out-num- bered the whites, and at times. were very insolent and a constant menace to the lives and property of the settlers. Fortunately, however, the family were not molested, ex-
cept by an occasional theft of some article of no consequence.
In 1849 the California gold fever had reached Oregon, Mr. Meldrum being one of those effected. He made his family as com- fortable as the times and circumstances then existing would permit of, and set out for the mines, crossing the intervening wilderness on horseback. After a twelve-months season of prosperity in the mines he concluded to return home, and started on the return trip with a party of others, little expecting seri- ous troubles while en route, but on hteir ar- rival in the sourthern portion of the state they were attacked by the Rogue River In- dians, barely escaping with their lives, loos- ing their saddle horses, pack animals and packs, together with all their guns but two and their gold dust. Thenceforth the way to the settlements was toilsome and dangerous. and they were obliged to subsist upon what they could kill with their guns.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.