The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 64

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072

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T. F. Hayes was but eight years of age when his parents started across the plains and because of the death of his father it was necessary that he begin earning his own livelihood while he was still young. At the age of fourteen he began working out dur- ing the greater part of the year, devoting but three months in the winter to school. By this means he was able to assist his mother in the support of the family. Three years later, in 1862 he went to the Florence gold mines in Idaho, where he remained for seven months before going home for a short time. He soon returned to Idaho, locating in Boise, where he worked in the mines for two years. In 1868. however, he again re- turned to Oregon and engaged in agricultural purusits. During the following summer he again worked in the mines but before winter returned to Oregon and purchased his mother's donation land claim, where he re- sided until 1888 when he sold this place and bought another farm in the vicinity. Until 1900 he resided upon this property and was engaged in its cultivation, a pursuit which he found both agreeable and remunerative. Because of his varied experience in several states he found himself well equipped to undertake the development of the soil along careful and scientific lines and because of his thrift and industry he succeeded in earning a competence sufficient to allow him in later years to enjoy the comforts and pleasures of a retired life. In 1900 he rented his prop- erty and moved into Woodburn, where he is still residing. Nine years later he disposed of the property and is now interested in real estate in Woodburn only, where he owns his own substantial dwelling and several other properties. In addition to his real-estate in- vestments he is also interested as a stock- holder in a general mercantile store in Woodburn.

In 1869 Mr. Hayes was married to Miss Mary J. Brown, whose birth occurred in Iowa. Her parents both died when she was very young and she was reared by Josiah Beaman, who came across the plains to Ore- gon in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Hayes four children have been born: Henry M .. whose birth occurred in 1871 and who is now married and residing in Linn county; Mrs. Cynthia A. Robbins, whose birth occurred in 1873 and

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who is a resident of Hood River; Mrs. Leona G. Hendricks, born in 1875 and living in Portland; and Mrs. Addie L. Doud, who is living in Woodburn. They all received com- mon-school educations and subsequently were given the advantage of courses in busi- ness training.

In politics Mr. Hayes gives his support to the democratic party but is liberal in his views, and while as a general rule he be- lieves in the broad and expansive policies of democracy, he is not bound at any election by the dictates of his party. For fifteen years he has served as justice of the peace and has executed the duties of this office with skill and discernment. In religious faith the family are Presbyterians, holding membership in the Woodburn church. Mr. Hayes has spent a useful and well ordered life and his services, not only to his mother and his family, but also to the community in which he resides are beyond estimation. His geniality and social nature have won him a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.

MRS. CATHARINE S. DAVIS. Volumes have been written concerning the part which men have played in the development of vari- ous sections of the country during pioneer times, but comparatively little has been writ- ten concerning what has been done by pio- neer women, whose work, on the whole, has been of a quieter and therefore less conspicu- ous character but is none the less important. Enshrined in the hearts of all who knew her is the memory of the life of Mrs. Catharine S. Davis-a life fraught with good deeds and kind words. The spirit of helpfulness seemed to find its embodiment in her, and no task seemed too difficult when it would alleviate the suffering or add to the happiness of those who, like herself, lived in the Willam- ette valley in pioneer days.

Mrs. Davis was born of Dutch parentage. in the state of New York, January 23, 1811. Her father, William K. Sluyter, belonged to the old Knickerbocker stock of New York. Unto him and his wife were born eleven sons and two daughters, Catharine and Elizabeth. and the mother and daughters, in addition to doing the cooking and caring for the house, carded, spun and wove all the wool and flax used in making clothing for the entire family. Catharine S. Sluyter was but nine years of age when the family removed to Pennsylvania and was a maiden of eighteen when they went to Ohio. There, three years later, she gave her hand in marriage to Benjamin Davis. They were both strict Quakers and were mar- ried on the 26th of October, 1831, according to the Quaker rite, which requires the an- nouncement of the intended marriage read in meeting a certain number of times, and then at the appointed hour for the marriage the couple "stand up in meeting" together and marry themselves. They lived in Ohio for about seven years and in 1838 removed to Indiana, settling near the present site of Plymouth. In the spring of 1847, with their six children, they joined the train of Captain Peek, preparing to cross the plains to Ore-

gon. The journey was without startling in- cident during its earlier stages with the ex- ception of some annoyance from the Pawnee Indians and the exaction of toll by them. The train divided at Fort Hall, the Davis family traveling with that section which made its way over the southern or Applegate route across the desert, through the Modoc country and the Rogue river valley. They had hardly left the old track when they experienced great trouble with the Indians, especially in the Modoc country, the red men harassing them on every hand. When they reached the Rogue river valley complete annihilation seemed almost certain, for two hundred war- riors surrounded their camp, in which were not more than eighteen men capable of bear- ing arms. Had the attack been made the re- sult, to say the least, would have been doubt- ful. By a bit of strategy, however, Mr. Davis prevented the attack. In the back part of his wagon was a cook stove with a drum and from this the smoke was issuing through a pipe that extended through the top of the wagon cover. Mr. Davis made signs that this was a cannon or some sort of explosive machine which . at his word would destroy them. Fancying its resemblance to artillery, of which they had some knowledge, and not daring to approach near its gaping mouth, the Indians gradually withdrew and allowed the train to pass. Some years later, at a council of these Indians and the whites, the chief recalled this incident and said they had planned to destroy the whole train and would have done so but for the big gun in the wagon. Hardly had the train reached the Indian country before Mrs. Davis became seriously ill with a fever which continued to grow worse until one morning her condition .was such that her husband decided that he would stop in camp until she became better. as it appeared that it would surely be fatal to her to proceed. The captain and the balance of the train, however, determined to continue on their way, as they were in a hostile Indian country, far from their des- tination. Mr. Davis adhered to his resohi- tion to remain, fearing that it would prove fatal to his wife to journey farther. The remainder of their party started on their way except the wife of one prominent member of the train, who was ministering to Mrs. Davis. When her husband called to her to join the others, she replied: "Father, you can go on if you want to, but my duty is with Cathar- ine and these little children, and I will stay with them." The husband therefore turned his wagons to rejoin his wife; the next wagons, seeing this, also turned, and soon the whole train was in corral again, where they stayed until the fever had abated and Mrs. Davis was able to resume the journey.

The party proceeded on their way until the beauty and fertility of the land in the vicinity of Eugene led Mr. Davis and his wife to secure a claim there. But seventy- five cents remained at the end of their jonr- ney and they were compelled to trade off a portion of their cattle for flour and seed wheat, which could only be obtained sixty miles away. A cow brought them twelve

MRS. CATHARINE S. DAVIS

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bushels of wheat and a yoke of oxen was traded for a thousand pounds of flour, which it seemed would be sufficient for the family until springtime, but their liberal hospitality to the immigrants who came straggling through the mountains exhausted their sup- ply until the family were compelled to live on boiled wheat. In the spring an abundance of milk and delicious wild strawberries, with. out sugar, constituted a part of their diet until William Dodson, an earlier settler of the upper Willamette, discovered their lack of money and insisted on loaning Mr. Davis an amount sufficient to purchase provisions at Vancouver, one hundred and forty miles away.

Mrs. Davis not only shared in all the hard- ships which the family experienced but was ever ready to aid her neighbors who were in need of medical experience or the care of a nurse. She had read medicine and nursed under a brother-in-law, Dr. Peter Crumb, of Plymouth, Indiana, and again and again her services were sought by families from Marys river to the Calapooia mountains.

In 1857 Mr. Davis, having prospered on the farm and owning a number of horses, cattle and sheep, to make use of his horses took a contract to carry the mail from Corvallis to Winchester. He made his headquarters in Eugene, which was equidistant from the ter- minal points of his route, and there he pur- chased property and built a livery stable on the southeast corner of Ninth and Pearl streets and a residence on the northeast cor- ner of the same streets; but after a short illness he passed away on the 6th of April, 1858. After coming to Oregon, remembering the trials and vicissitudes of his own journey across the plains, hie twice traveled eastward with supplies and provisions to the assistance of incoming immigrants. In 1849 he went over the old trail as far as Fort Hall, and in 1852 aided in rescuing the lost train coming down the middle fork of the Willamette over the present route of the Oregon Eastern rail- road. These immigrants were almost fam- ished when aid reached them. He always bore his part in the work of pioneer develop- ment until death claimed him. His widow was left with the care of the three younger children. In the family were seven chil- dren, one son having been born after their arrival in Oregon. Mrs. Davis continued at the old home until 1874, when, the last of her children having married and moved away, she broke up housekeeping and thereafter lived with her children as she felt inclined until her own demise on the 24th of Jan- uary, 1898. Never will her memory cease to be revered and honored by those who knew her. She was indeed a ministering angel to the isolated families of pioneer times, scattered for perhaps a hundred miles through Lane county and adjacent terri- tory. She was skilled in the methods of medical practice of that day, using herbs and the simpler remedies, which, however, proved effective in checking many an ill- ness. Never was she known to fail or to refuse to go on her errands of mercy when the call came. Seldom did she ever re- Vol. IV-1S

ceive any remuneration for her services. It was at a time when all good neighbors "helped out" and it is probable that those who sought her services had no money with which to pay; but with the spirit of the Good Samaritan, she never remembered those things and was always prompt in the role of the ministering angel of mercy. No mat- ter how dark or stormy the night, how long the distance or from whom the sum- mons came, her horse was quickly saddled, the saddlebags put on and she was gone. The midnight journey might be across the paths of wild beasts, along treacherous trails into the foothills of the middle fork or the Mckenzie or over to Lake creek; but never was this fearless, stout-hearted woman known to ask or expect escort. Often, late at night. the family would hear the clatter of a hard- pressed horse's hoofs on, the "big road." They knew it was a messenger after the mother, and even before the rider had reached the door one of the boys was saddling up the horse that Mrs. Davis rode for many years. This horse was a mixture of In- dian cayuse with some high-grade animal, and she could easily outdistance anything in the country. It is vouched for that her pony would pace away from the fastest mount known to the early settlers of Ore- gon. She would return at dawn if her mis- sion was ended, but at times such a call required days or perhaps weeks of faithful nursing of the sick and frequently she would also have to act as cook, housekeeper and caretaker. She continued in her work and her errands of mercy until the limitations of age caused her to desist. In an account of her life published in the Oregon Journal is found the following: "The Davis home was for almost a lifetime an attractive white house of the L type, surmounting the crest of a sightly knoll set back a short quarter of a mile from the main highway. Once a mere Indian trail, this avenue became the 'big road'; now it is the 'river road.' Here, where the Calapooya Indians made friends with these settlers, and deer swarmed, the Davis family remained and the world with all its wonders have come along the ‘big road' to their yard gates. As one turns in at the big gate the vista of the old home- stead is framed between two giant fir trees that mark either side of the drive to the house. They are the only reminders of the thick grove of firs that once marked this spot. In her lifetime Mrs. Davis conceived a great natural affection for these splendid speci- mens of the primeval forest. When the time came the old farm was sold, she stipulated that the buyers should not cut down or otherwise destroy or mar those trees as long as she lived. It is pleasant to note that, al- though Mrs. Davis passed away about four- teen years ago, her wishes have been re- spected and in all probability sentiment will decree that the trees shall remain as a memorial to her as long as they survive. At a recent gathering of Lane county pioneers, the incalculable services of this grand pio- neer woman were discussed appreciatively and it has since been suggested by Colonel

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W. G. D. Mercer that, with the consent of the present owners, the pioneer society might well distinguish its existence and express a well deserved tribute by erecting a memo- rial tablet on the big tree nearest the high- way in commemoration of this woman's faith- ful service to her countrymen." How much more splendid it is to trace one's ancestry to a woman of this character, a woman whose life was filled with deeds of kindness and mercy, than to the most eminent of the crowned heads of Europe!

JOHN A. LEWMAN. For fifty-three years John A. Lewman has been a contin- uous resident in the vicinity of Applegate creek in Jackson county, this state. He is numbered among Oregon's early pioneers, his arrival in the state dating from 1852, when he was a young man of eighteen, his birth having occurred in Plymouthburg, Kentucky, on August 15, 1834. He is the son of Amos and Rebecca (Bramble) Lewman, both of whom were natives of England and who with their respective families emigrated to this country when they were small children.

John A. Lewman left his Kentucky home in 1851, making his first business venture in the state of Iowa and in the following year he crossed the plains with ox teams, arriv- ing in Portland, November 22, 1852, after having endured a perilous journey of nine continuous months. He remained in Port- land until May, 1853, after which he journeyed to the Puget Sound country, spending one year in that locality and then removing to Jacksonville, Oregon, where he became interested in various mining ventures in and about Jackson county. He shortly after removed to Yreka, California. Here he was engaged in the saloon business until the spring of 1859, when he removed to Fraser- ville, British Columbia, going there on a min- ing venture which proved to be an unfort- unate investment. Two months afterward he returned to Jacksonville and soon after established himself in the saloon business in Williamsburg, where he remained for the following eighteen months. This business establishment he later sold and again be- came interested in mining in Whiskey Gulch, where he continued to live and engage in mining for a period of eight years. Event- ually retiring from the life and occupation of the miner, he purchased a ranch in the Applegate valley adjoining his present ranch and there established his home, later selling a portion of his original holdings, retain- ing, however, for his personal use forty acres of choice, rich agricultural land.

In the year 1853 Mr. Lewman was united in marriage to Miss Celia Smith, who came to Oregon from Michigan in 1852. To them four children were born, as follows: Wil- liam, now a resident of Grants Pass, this state; Charles, living at Chico, California; George, of Trinity county, California; and Anna, the wife of George Glass, of Oakland, California. The mother of this family passed away in 1860. In 1875 Mr. Lewman was again married, his second union being with Miss Isabelle Meek, a daughter of George

Meek and a cousin of Joe Meek. To them were born eight children, as follows: Richard, who makes his home at Roseburg; John, de- ceased; Thomas, still living at home; Ever- ett, a prosperous ranchman in the Applegate valley; Margaret, now the wife of William Ash, also a ranchman in the Applegate valley; Alice, the wife of Charles Hardman, of Wenatchee, Washington; Ora, the wife of Roy Powers, residing at Wilderville, Wash- ington; and Edith, who has passed away. The mother of this family died on December 30, 1897.

Mr. Lewman is affiliated with the demo- cratic party and served for a number of years as postmaster of Applegate in the early days. He is one of the well known early pioneers of Jackson county and dur- ing his active business career he has been successful in his ventures and, all his natural powers being still unimpaired, he is actively engaged in his business affairs, to which he devotes his undivided attention. He is uni- versally respected by his associates and al- ways identified with the interests relating directly to the advancement of the people in the valley and throughout the county and to the industrial development of the country.

DR. WARREN L. CAMERON is one of the well known and highly educated physicians of Jackson county, his home at present be- ing maintained in the Applegate valley and located on Big Applegate creek. He was born in Jackson county, in the house in which he now resides, on March 7, 1879, his parents be- ing Robert J. and Esther J. (LeFever) Cam- eron, who were natives of New York and Virginia respectively. They were married in Iowa, to which state they had removed with their respective parents when they were children. Robert J. Cameron emigrated to Oregon in 1852, making the long journey by water by way of Cape Horn. Ten years later he returned to Iowa, at which time lie was married and immediately thereafter crossed the plains with ox teams and on reaching this state located the family home on Applegate creek. He afterward largely increased his holdings by the purchase of adjoining lands until at the time of his death, which occurred May 6, 1910, his estate in real property consisted of five hundred acres of excellent farm and range land. His wife, still surviving him, has her residence in the city of Medford. The first hydraulic mining undertaken in this state was done on the home ranch of Mr. Cameron by a Chinese company which had purchased from him forty acres of suitable placer ground.

Warren L. Cameron was reared in his father's home and acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools of Medford, being graduated from the high school of that place with the class of 1896. He then entered the University of Illinois for a short preliminary course of study and in the fall of 1896 be- came a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago, being graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1901. He later pursued a post-graduate course in the Bellevue Hospi-

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tal of New York during the years 1905 and 1906. After obtaining his degree he spent a few months in the city of Chicago and then made his first location in Leeds, North Dakota. Here he remained for one year, after which he returned for a brief visit to his home in Medford. Subsequently, going to Pomona, California, he pursued a post-grad- uate course for one year and then again re- turned to Medford. In 1910 he took up the study of a special course in medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chi- cago and in the year 1911 returned to his home ranch on Big Applegate creek for rest and recuperation.

In Chicago, on the 25th of April, 1901, Dr. Cameron was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Vail of that city, by whom he has one child, Lloyd V. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the following organizations: Rose- burg Lodge, No. 326, B. P. O. E .; Medford Lodge, No. 103, A. F. & A. M .; and the Royal Arch Masons, of Jacksonville. Dr. Cameron has very materially contributed to the well- being of Jackson county, bringing into service in the practice of his profession a mind thoroughly skilled in the delicate scientific field of surgery and general medicine and de- voting his entire time exclusively to the service of the people in the practice of his profession. To him belongs the credit of hav- ing established the first hospital in the city of Medford, to which institution he devoted his energies and skill, assuring its complete success, until failing health compelled rest and retirement from active practice. He is universally respected throughout his county and regarded in every sense as a public bene- factor in the community in which he was born and where he still maintains his home.

LOUIS W. GIBSON has for many years been one of the enterprising agriculturists of Josephine county, where he is engaged in the cultivation of his farm of forty acres located near Merlin. He was born in Lane county, this state, June 23, 1861, and is a son of L. D. and Sarah (Crow) Gibson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Wisconsin. The father emigrated to Ore- gon in 1849 and settled in Lane county, where he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Crow. To them fifteen children were born, thirteen of whom are living. The father continued to reside in Lane county until the time of his death, which occurred in June, 1911. The mother is still living and resides upon the old homestead.

Louis W. Gibson was reared in his parents' home and educated in the public schools in the district in which he lived. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty- three years of age and at that time he moved to Josephine county, where he pur- chased a ranch of forty acres, upon which he has since continued to reside. He is the owner of ten choice and valuable residence lots in Merlin.

Mr. Gibson was united in marriage in 1889 to Mrs. Ellen (Houser) Bland, who is the widow of John Bland and a native of Michi- gan. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson four children,

all of whom live at home, have been born: Barak D .; Alean; and Dow and Bee, twins. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are loyal and active members of the Baptist church of Merlin. Mr. Gibson is possessed of integrity, is highly respected for his upright character and well known because of his progressive activities in business.

HUNDLEY SEVIER MALONEY who is serving for the second term as county re- corder of Yamhill county, making his home in McMinnville, was born in Tennessee, Feb- ruary 28, 1849. His father, W. C. Maloney, was also a native of that state. He died January 5, 1882, when about sixty-nine years of age, his birth having occurred in 1813. He had devoted his life to farming and sur- veying. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Louisa C. Cureton, was born in Tennes- see, and has also passed away. H. S. Ma- loney is the only survivor of their family of ten children, although eight reached maturity. Of these H. D. Maloney who served four years during the Civil war under the confederate General Wheeler, died in Tennessee, leaving five children. Sallie became the wife of J. P. Johnson, and died leaving a son in Tennes- see. Thomas, who served two years as color bearer of the Eleventh Tennessee Union Cav- alry, is survived by a daughter living in Ogden, Utah. Nannie became the wife of J. H. Herring, and at her death left a son who is now county surveyor of Yamhill county. John A. died leaving three children, two of whom are in Tennessee, while one is in Port- land, Oregon.

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The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Part 64

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1072

Author: Gaston, Joseph, 1833-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1072